Another Early Start
Me and sleep just ain't friends at the moment, it's been a while since I had a real nights sleep and yet again this morning I sit here with an early morning cuppa wishing I was still snuggled up in a warm bed like most people. I may have mentioned before that a lot of my older family all had problems sleeping, some only ever getting a few hours every night and I'm just hoping this isn't going to be my problem, I just put it down to the odd bit of stress or worries but I'm beginning to believe that's not the case, maybe a I need a small glass of something every evening to help, home made sloe gin sounds a good solution.
Yesterday went really well with a good selection of beads being made followed by an hour in the garden getting bed number seven sorted, more seeds were sown in the greenhouse including cabbage and yard long french beans plus more flower seeds were sown for Yvonne, so all in all it was a very productive day.
Last night my head was full of ceramic ideas so like always my note book never left my side, the plan is that I spend this fri, sat and Sunday in the ceramic room catching up on the last few freezing cold weeks, but I'm guessing I'll be very lucky if I manage to get all three days out there.
Ok I better get my post sorted ready to send out later today, I need to photograph more beads to list this evening too, so I think this morning may not just be an early one but also a busy one.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Grey Start
No Sunshine This Morning
After the last week of bright mornings we are back to those damp grey starts today, the rains of last night leaving the ground dark and heavy and shrubs still hang with water jewellery, really not the best of mornings.
It's another full day at my torch for me with so many beads to make, I think the morning will be spent making focal's while this afternoon it's lentils and tyres, I really love days like this, days where I have a full nine or ten hours ahead in which I'm free to make whatever I fancy, in how many jobs are you able to do that ! No orders to sort or large amounts of spacer beads to make, just me and my flame left alone to play all day, bead makers heaven.
One good thing about this milder weather is the fact I can get some ceramics done, it was so cold out in the clay room in the last few weeks that there has been no pot throwing, water, clay and freezing temperatures made for very cold hands, so they were put on hold for a few weeks. Now I'm glad to say my evenings can once again involve getting clay on my hands.
I'm pleased to say I managed to get some time in the garden yesterday after work and another bed was set, that's six in total now, just another three to do plus the strawberry tables and runner bean trenches. The seedlings in the greenhouse are getting stronger every day and later today more seeds are to be sown, onion sets are to be set in one bed then covered with fleece until they get up and running and I need to plan the new site for my Gooseberry bushes, they were potted up last autumn now need a permanent home again.
Ok, cuppa time over and my flame calling, I hope you all enjoy your day and get lots done and tho it's a grey day just remember spring is around the corner.
After the last week of bright mornings we are back to those damp grey starts today, the rains of last night leaving the ground dark and heavy and shrubs still hang with water jewellery, really not the best of mornings.
It's another full day at my torch for me with so many beads to make, I think the morning will be spent making focal's while this afternoon it's lentils and tyres, I really love days like this, days where I have a full nine or ten hours ahead in which I'm free to make whatever I fancy, in how many jobs are you able to do that ! No orders to sort or large amounts of spacer beads to make, just me and my flame left alone to play all day, bead makers heaven.
One good thing about this milder weather is the fact I can get some ceramics done, it was so cold out in the clay room in the last few weeks that there has been no pot throwing, water, clay and freezing temperatures made for very cold hands, so they were put on hold for a few weeks. Now I'm glad to say my evenings can once again involve getting clay on my hands.
I'm pleased to say I managed to get some time in the garden yesterday after work and another bed was set, that's six in total now, just another three to do plus the strawberry tables and runner bean trenches. The seedlings in the greenhouse are getting stronger every day and later today more seeds are to be sown, onion sets are to be set in one bed then covered with fleece until they get up and running and I need to plan the new site for my Gooseberry bushes, they were potted up last autumn now need a permanent home again.
Ok, cuppa time over and my flame calling, I hope you all enjoy your day and get lots done and tho it's a grey day just remember spring is around the corner.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Day In Garden
Glad The Week Is Over
It's been what seems like a very tough and long week with work and other things going on here at the barn so we decided to spend our day working in the garden, for me it was building yet more raised beds in the kitchen garden and for Yvonne it was cutting back any of last years growth on shrubs and having a good tidy up in the greenhouse.
I was happy to get two more beds made and four beds all dug over and raked ready for sowing. My first crop of shallots for pickling are now set and a few rows of early radish are also sown, now we just need the weather to stay half decent.
So far I've managed to keep all the seedlings in the greenhouse protected from any frost and fingers crossed it may mean a great early start to the growing season. Today I've sown some cabbage and french bean seeds under cover, the cabbages and most other greens will be sown every few weeks which I hope will mean fresh greens for most of the coming year, they are so easy to grow and full of goodness, it's a pity more people don't give them a go, they even grow really well in containers so lack of space is no reason not to.
Next month the real fun will begin with most of the root vegetables being sown direct into the beds, carrots, beetroot and parsnips being my favourites, a lot of salads will also be sown next month both in beds and in pots, I still sow spring onions in pots as they grow so much quicker in the greenhouse and lets be honest a salad isn't a salad without spring onions.
Tomorrow is a full day making beads for both of us, I still have focals to list in my ebay shop but they won't be going on this evening as after working in the garden I'm not sure I'll be able to move later haha ! To think I used to be working 9 or 10 hours a day landscaping yet now the odd day and my body feels like it's been hit by a train, oh well I guess we all get older, it's one thing to bike for miles but digging is a different excercise and one that I need to get used to again.
Ok it's time for a cuppa while I watch the rugby, I hope you all enjoyed your day and tomorrow we get more sunshine.
It's been what seems like a very tough and long week with work and other things going on here at the barn so we decided to spend our day working in the garden, for me it was building yet more raised beds in the kitchen garden and for Yvonne it was cutting back any of last years growth on shrubs and having a good tidy up in the greenhouse.
I was happy to get two more beds made and four beds all dug over and raked ready for sowing. My first crop of shallots for pickling are now set and a few rows of early radish are also sown, now we just need the weather to stay half decent.
So far I've managed to keep all the seedlings in the greenhouse protected from any frost and fingers crossed it may mean a great early start to the growing season. Today I've sown some cabbage and french bean seeds under cover, the cabbages and most other greens will be sown every few weeks which I hope will mean fresh greens for most of the coming year, they are so easy to grow and full of goodness, it's a pity more people don't give them a go, they even grow really well in containers so lack of space is no reason not to.
Next month the real fun will begin with most of the root vegetables being sown direct into the beds, carrots, beetroot and parsnips being my favourites, a lot of salads will also be sown next month both in beds and in pots, I still sow spring onions in pots as they grow so much quicker in the greenhouse and lets be honest a salad isn't a salad without spring onions.
Tomorrow is a full day making beads for both of us, I still have focals to list in my ebay shop but they won't be going on this evening as after working in the garden I'm not sure I'll be able to move later haha ! To think I used to be working 9 or 10 hours a day landscaping yet now the odd day and my body feels like it's been hit by a train, oh well I guess we all get older, it's one thing to bike for miles but digging is a different excercise and one that I need to get used to again.
Ok it's time for a cuppa while I watch the rugby, I hope you all enjoyed your day and tomorrow we get more sunshine.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Warm Spell Is Coming
Will The Weather Man Be Correct ?
So we are looking forward to a warm spell by the sounds of the weather man, well if we are it will be great news for all us who want to get the garden jobs done, but I'll believe it when I see it. I must admit yesterday wasn't as cold in the barn tho it was as always a job to get my feet warm, I think those woollen socks need another outing.
After working at my flame yesterday making lentil beads and focals I managed to get the second raised bed set up in the kitchen garden, to be honest with the cold winds blowing over us here in the fens it was great to to be keeping warm with some manual work. On our trip to the post office this morning I'll be keeping my eye out for free horse manure, in the summer months you see bags at gates all around this area but I'm guessing now when I need some they won't be there, sods law.
It was nice to see some sunshine yesterday plus there seemed to be every bird in the area in our garden feeding, it was more like a spring morning than that of mid february, tho we did get some rain last evening. I'm happy with our bird feeding stations this year, we kept them topped up and did our bit to help those little feathered guys through the winter. I'm not sure what number of finches we will get this coming spring as now some of the big conifers are no longer there, I know some were nesting in those monsters but I just hope they find there are enough left to build again.
As I mentioned last week I'm looking to start a new website after all the crap I've had from Mrsite and I think I've found a new hoster that looks ok for what I need, I don't want anything fancy just a reliable website from which I can show and sell my work, the hard bit is thinking of a new name for the site, I think I have 30 already noted down and still I'm not happy with any. It was mentioned that I keep the old name but I'm thinking a fresh start means a fresh start so a new site would be ideal plus I can add a link to the old site pointing people towards the new one.
Ok I better get off to the post office then back to my flame next to the warm kiln, it will be nice when those early sunny mornings of summer are once again with us and I'll be sitting in the garden with a cuppa writing this blog, I'm sure it won't be long and anyway, we have the sights of spring to look forward to before then.
So we are looking forward to a warm spell by the sounds of the weather man, well if we are it will be great news for all us who want to get the garden jobs done, but I'll believe it when I see it. I must admit yesterday wasn't as cold in the barn tho it was as always a job to get my feet warm, I think those woollen socks need another outing.
After working at my flame yesterday making lentil beads and focals I managed to get the second raised bed set up in the kitchen garden, to be honest with the cold winds blowing over us here in the fens it was great to to be keeping warm with some manual work. On our trip to the post office this morning I'll be keeping my eye out for free horse manure, in the summer months you see bags at gates all around this area but I'm guessing now when I need some they won't be there, sods law.
It was nice to see some sunshine yesterday plus there seemed to be every bird in the area in our garden feeding, it was more like a spring morning than that of mid february, tho we did get some rain last evening. I'm happy with our bird feeding stations this year, we kept them topped up and did our bit to help those little feathered guys through the winter. I'm not sure what number of finches we will get this coming spring as now some of the big conifers are no longer there, I know some were nesting in those monsters but I just hope they find there are enough left to build again.
As I mentioned last week I'm looking to start a new website after all the crap I've had from Mrsite and I think I've found a new hoster that looks ok for what I need, I don't want anything fancy just a reliable website from which I can show and sell my work, the hard bit is thinking of a new name for the site, I think I have 30 already noted down and still I'm not happy with any. It was mentioned that I keep the old name but I'm thinking a fresh start means a fresh start so a new site would be ideal plus I can add a link to the old site pointing people towards the new one.
Ok I better get off to the post office then back to my flame next to the warm kiln, it will be nice when those early sunny mornings of summer are once again with us and I'll be sitting in the garden with a cuppa writing this blog, I'm sure it won't be long and anyway, we have the sights of spring to look forward to before then.
Friday, 17 February 2012
Back To My Torch
A Full Day Working Yipeeee !
It's back to work for me and a full day in the barn, it seems ages since that happened and even the weather is mild for a change so no hot water bottles or foot warmers needed. I need to catch up on a couple of orders and there are beads to photo and list this evening, I have a pile of focals to list and a few more sets too.
Yesterday someone mentioned how good it would be if we could all go back in time when our trades and crafts would allow us to barter, exchange our products for those of others, how a set of spacer beads could be exchanged for a dozen eggs or other everyday needs. Well it sounds like a great idea and I'd be one for trying it out any day, I'm guessing there must be sites out there on the wide world of the Internet where such things are done, there must be people out there who also think it would be a great way to live. I must admit in the summer I always have spare veg that I end up giving away to family or friends so with that and my beads maybe I could have something to offer.
With the idea of moving the lamp working into the clay room this summer in mind we also know there will need to be one hell of a sort out in the barn, after the last six or seven years working in there you can imagine how much junk I've collected from bead making equipment to jewellery findings, even all the tools for silver work, I'm sure it will mean weeks sorting through it all, but I guess that could be fun.
Well I better get off to my torch, cuppa time over and lots of beads to make plus I'm sure barter ideas to think about, hope you all enjoy your day and if you too like the idea of a barter town then let me know.
It's back to work for me and a full day in the barn, it seems ages since that happened and even the weather is mild for a change so no hot water bottles or foot warmers needed. I need to catch up on a couple of orders and there are beads to photo and list this evening, I have a pile of focals to list and a few more sets too.
Yesterday someone mentioned how good it would be if we could all go back in time when our trades and crafts would allow us to barter, exchange our products for those of others, how a set of spacer beads could be exchanged for a dozen eggs or other everyday needs. Well it sounds like a great idea and I'd be one for trying it out any day, I'm guessing there must be sites out there on the wide world of the Internet where such things are done, there must be people out there who also think it would be a great way to live. I must admit in the summer I always have spare veg that I end up giving away to family or friends so with that and my beads maybe I could have something to offer.
With the idea of moving the lamp working into the clay room this summer in mind we also know there will need to be one hell of a sort out in the barn, after the last six or seven years working in there you can imagine how much junk I've collected from bead making equipment to jewellery findings, even all the tools for silver work, I'm sure it will mean weeks sorting through it all, but I guess that could be fun.
Well I better get off to my torch, cuppa time over and lots of beads to make plus I'm sure barter ideas to think about, hope you all enjoy your day and if you too like the idea of a barter town then let me know.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
God I'm So Bored !
Looking After Ziggy
Well to say I'm bored silly is an understatement, but it's in a good cause, little Ziggy my gardening mate was booked in at the vets yesterday for a small operation so now as he needs to be away from the other two dogs while he recovers I'm the one with the job of keeping him busy. After lots of walks a trips up the garden he is finally asleep in his pen with a new quilt and pillows, you can imagine who was in charge of that, Yvonne thinks more of the dogs that she does me I'm sure of it !
At last the the snow as gone and the ground is ok to dig over, ideal to make a start on my raised beds tomorrow, thursday we'll all be back to work as normal so there is no way I'm getting bored tomorrow, I'm sure my little mate will enjoy a few hours helping me set beds up rather than sitting in the house feeling sorry for himself, tho even today he is nearly back to normal, I won't mention what he had done as it makes my eyes run just thinking of it, lets just say most men wouldn't want to lose them !
A lot of bead orders were posted today so I hope there are just one or two left to post tomorrow, wish I had someone here who would do all the mundane jobs such as listing, packing and posting etc then I could stay on my torch without spending hours every week sitting at the pc, I don't think I'll ever get used to the admin side of things. I wonder if you can still hire an apprentice for a shilling a week like the victorians, including bread and water that is, I'm no Scrooge !
Well off to the kitchen for me, dinner to cook and then an evening infront of the fire, feet up, notebook at my side and a nice coffee.
Well to say I'm bored silly is an understatement, but it's in a good cause, little Ziggy my gardening mate was booked in at the vets yesterday for a small operation so now as he needs to be away from the other two dogs while he recovers I'm the one with the job of keeping him busy. After lots of walks a trips up the garden he is finally asleep in his pen with a new quilt and pillows, you can imagine who was in charge of that, Yvonne thinks more of the dogs that she does me I'm sure of it !
At last the the snow as gone and the ground is ok to dig over, ideal to make a start on my raised beds tomorrow, thursday we'll all be back to work as normal so there is no way I'm getting bored tomorrow, I'm sure my little mate will enjoy a few hours helping me set beds up rather than sitting in the house feeling sorry for himself, tho even today he is nearly back to normal, I won't mention what he had done as it makes my eyes run just thinking of it, lets just say most men wouldn't want to lose them !
A lot of bead orders were posted today so I hope there are just one or two left to post tomorrow, wish I had someone here who would do all the mundane jobs such as listing, packing and posting etc then I could stay on my torch without spending hours every week sitting at the pc, I don't think I'll ever get used to the admin side of things. I wonder if you can still hire an apprentice for a shilling a week like the victorians, including bread and water that is, I'm no Scrooge !
Well off to the kitchen for me, dinner to cook and then an evening infront of the fire, feet up, notebook at my side and a nice coffee.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Warmer Day
Melting Snow and Cold Hands
It's been a lot warmer today, even the car started this morning, not like yesterday when it was around -12 and poor black Emma just wasn't starting, still the garden is covered in snow yet at last it's melting away leaving the winter shrubs green once more.
Along with my little helper Ziggy I made time to play around in the kitchen garden site to start laying out some of the timbers for the beds, talk about cold hands I think I could place them in the stove and it wouldn't burn. This was followed by a visit into the greenhouse where those tiny seedlings are still keeping warm and looking stronger every day, some of the early tomatoes are through now, far too many of each sort as every year which makes the idea of selling off excess plants at the gate a promising one. I think like most people I must sow far too many seeds and end up with what can only be called hundreds of spare tomato, cucumber and pepper plants, not to mention all the cabbage and lettuce plants. I try dumping some onto family and friends but they never all get used, so this year they will indeed go on sale at the gate.
After a morning at my torch I've spent a few hours making ceramic beads and pendants in the kitchen, I know Yvonne will kill me if I make a mess but sod it, a pan around the head is better than freezing my nuts off in the clay room, plus I've managed to find time to cook a nice pan of chili so I'm sure she won't mind. I'm happy with the ceramic beads, every set being different and all new to me, I'll make sure I get more done every evening this coming week then I'll have enough to fill the kiln for a bisque firing. Ive been making some two hole pendants too so I hope they turn out ok.
This evening I'll be parked in my chair by the fire with my notebook and pencil drawing more ceramic bead ideas, it's strange how a week off ceramics can give you new life, fresh ideas just the same as a day or two from my torch.
With a fresh week ahead and some milder weather on it's way I'm really looking forward to a very productive seven days which I hope means lots of listings in both ebay and etsy shops.
Ok I'm off for a coffee and yet another new notebook, I hope you all enjoy your evening and have a great start to the new week tomorrow, at least there shouldn't be too much ice to remove from your cars in the morning.
It's been a lot warmer today, even the car started this morning, not like yesterday when it was around -12 and poor black Emma just wasn't starting, still the garden is covered in snow yet at last it's melting away leaving the winter shrubs green once more.
After a morning at my torch I've spent a few hours making ceramic beads and pendants in the kitchen, I know Yvonne will kill me if I make a mess but sod it, a pan around the head is better than freezing my nuts off in the clay room, plus I've managed to find time to cook a nice pan of chili so I'm sure she won't mind. I'm happy with the ceramic beads, every set being different and all new to me, I'll make sure I get more done every evening this coming week then I'll have enough to fill the kiln for a bisque firing. Ive been making some two hole pendants too so I hope they turn out ok.
This evening I'll be parked in my chair by the fire with my notebook and pencil drawing more ceramic bead ideas, it's strange how a week off ceramics can give you new life, fresh ideas just the same as a day or two from my torch.
With a fresh week ahead and some milder weather on it's way I'm really looking forward to a very productive seven days which I hope means lots of listings in both ebay and etsy shops.
Ok I'm off for a coffee and yet another new notebook, I hope you all enjoy your evening and have a great start to the new week tomorrow, at least there shouldn't be too much ice to remove from your cars in the morning.
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