Wednesday 4 January 2017

Very cold weather

Very cold weather means that the farmer does not stay out for long.   He takes Tess for her morning walk round the fields - and this includes a look round the sheep at the same time - then sees to the hens.   The ban on letting them outside has been extended; because of the bird flu risk they must now be kept in until at least February 28th.

He feeds the wild birds too.  I suppose there is an argument against this when thinking about the flu, but we have done it for so long that a great number and a great variety of birds rely on us now.

The farmer makes sure that the kindling box is kept full and that the log supply is kept in good condition, makes sure everywhere is neat and tidy, and then he is in for the day (apart from a short walk with Tess after lunch and another walk around the sheep at late afternoon).

There are two newspapers to read (and he reads them from cover to cover and does the Sudoku puzzles too) and there is always a jig-saw on the go.   In addition of course we sit and chat.   Today friend C came for a cup of tea this afternoon and also to relieve me of a lot of surplus sewing/embroidery supplies so we had a pleasant couple of hours sitting by the woodburner, chatting.

Offloading all my embroidery bits and pieces has also been quite a relief.   I spent the morning sorting them out for her.   Does anyone else get a weird sort of pleasureable 'cleansed' feeling from a good sort out?

24 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

Hours sitting by the woodburner! - I've also had this image of northern people being rough and tough and sitting around indoors with big coats on and frost on their hair and moustaches, not sitting around all day by fires or with the central heating on like us southern softies. -3 while I walked round the reserve at first light this morning for two hours.

Toni said...

Sounds so comfy at your house.

Heather said...

I always feel that January is a good month for sorting out and getting rid of things. I have been doing just that in recent days and it is quite refreshing. Everywhere looks better for it too. Enjoy your cosy home and pleasant pastimes - just the thing for cold winter days and evenings.

donna baker said...

Yes, I do get a lot from getting rid of things and I wonder why that is? The high is in the 20's today and with the wind, it isn't fit for man nor beasts outside. And, I need to do some things outside, but can't stand it. How did man ever achieve critical mass with winter upon us?

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I LOVE getting rid of things. I live with a "saver". It makes for interesting times. That is too bad that you still have to keep your hens in. When we had hens, they were happiest when you opened their little chicken door in the morning and they would tumble outside and start pecking around. -Jenn

Gwil W said...

We're expecting snow and cold air from Siberia. Some mountain valleys will feel temps of -20C to -25C over the weekend. We've had gusts of 130 km in breezy Vienna today.

Tom Stephenson said...

It's been a while since I had a good sort out.

Joanne Noragon said...

Passing along supplies we no longer need to someone who will use them (or pass them along again), is the way the world should operate. Why let someone spend money when it's not needed is win/win for everyone, the earth included. Right now I have knit boot cuffs for one granddaughter, and have one and a half finished from some lovely, donated forty year old wool, the likes of which we don't see today.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

It is cleansing to sort through stuff and clear some of it out. What better time than with the new broom of a new year. Funny about having Christmas cake on hand; I use it exactly as you do, as Hubby's sweet after his evening meal which postpones my having to make something else. I've read Life after Life and enjoyed it very much. I've not read Dorothy Whipple but I've noted her name to take a look. Happy New Year from me in the snowy, blowy Ottawa Valley.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

THe indoor bits sound very "Hygge" - the outdoor birs sound insanely cold, especially with the forecast for tonight

Frances said...

Pat, while you and the Farmer were welcoming opportunities to be cosy indoors during a chilly first week of January, over here in New York, it was a strangely mild day...the sort we'd love to experience in late March. It was a fine day to have a walk out doors whild accomplishing taking care of errands I'd jotted down on a slip of paper I kept in my coat pocket.

Letting your friend have your un-used embroidery and sewing items is so great. I know she will use them well. This afternoon, I was knitting away, in an attempt to reduce some of my stocks of yarns. I prefer using 4 ply weight yarns, so a little skein can have lots of yardage. (What term is used for yardage when one's country has gone metric?) I am using a mix of yarns, most of which are all wood, but the main yarn is a blend of linen and alpaca, something I've never before used.

About half-way through this project, I am already hatching a plan for the next winter knitting project. My aim is to reduce my winter yarn supplies by springtime.

I'm also casting my eyes over my bookshelves, wondering if I am quite ready to donate any of my old books. Perhaps some of the paperbacks.

I am rambling. Thank you for starting my mind traveling in New Year directions. xo

John Going Gently said...

Keep safe pat!

thelma said...

Sounds good sorting stuff. The weather has turned cold as you say and the log fire always looks tempting. Sad about the fact that hens have to be kept in for another 6 weeks, though they are getting used to it.

Rachel Phillips said...

We all do when we do it.

Bovey Belle said...

I need to go through the sewing cupboard in the sitting room as it is full to bursting. I have wool stashes and material stashes elsewhere and a pile of craft books that - if I am honest with myself - I know I shall never refer to again. That would be a job well done . . .

Librarian said...

Sorting through and clearing out are my hobbies, Pat! I usually sort through my wardrobe twice a year and I plan on sorting through the cabinet in the Third Room soon. It holds tools, gift wrapping supplies and some bits and bobs I couldn't find a reasonable place for elsewhere. Often, such bits and bobs are the first to go.
How nice that your friend now benefits from your sorting out your sewing and embroidery supplies!

We're in for some VERY cold nights here now - for Friday and Saturday nights, -14 and -17 Celsius are forecast!! During the day, the highest temperatures are supposed to be around -2 and -4 Celsius. If it is not wet and the sun is out, we will still go out for walks. I just can't handle wet cold very well.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Very cold here - we still have snow on the ground and it is getting down to about 14 degrees at night (-10, wow that sounds a lot colder to us) and that is fairly unusual for the Pacific Northwest to have cold for so long - and they say at least another two weeks of it - it has been cold and snowy since before Christmas.

I do love to sort and get rid of things. All this winter I've been at it - gave away boxes and boxes of dishes - lots of baking things I no longer use - craft items and christmas decorations that have outlived their usefulness to us. Don works with a lot of younger people and it is a joy to see them enjoying getting pretties and useful things to help them as they settle into their homes. I feel good about them enjoying their new things - and I certainly feel good about clearing out stuff. I'd say we have gotten rid of the equivalent of about 20 or 25 laundry baskets full of different items. Hurray for us and Hurray for those who are now enjoying them.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Mr Farmer looks after his ladies very well - you, Tess, the hens and the sheep. He must have a lot of stamina. I guess it's clean living and all that country air.

Mary said...

Bringing home a raging cold from Europe (they are always much worse than any we seem to get here for some reason) has hd me spending the first week of this new year doing similar - "going through stuff".

It is cathartic to get rid of things, especially when others take them and find good use for them - rather than just throw them out. I have a huge bag of clothing sitting out on the front porch this morning awaiting pick up by the Vietnam Veterans' truck. Their current push is for small household items - which I don't have at present - and warm clothing. The latter I managed to fill a bag with as I admit to some serious clothes shopping on this last trip to Europe! Spain was the culprit, and also the reason for purchasing another suitcase when in Devon to haul my treasures home! So, cleaning out closets whilst going through several boxes of tissues has been keeping me busy. Come to think of it I too need to get to sorting stuff such as embroidery and scrapbooking supplies as sadly I no longer seem to have time, or good eyesight, for such pastimes. I took me several minutes this week to thread a needle to sew on a button - very frustrating!

Stay warm and safe during this winter weather Pat. We could possibly get snowed on this weekend here in the south!
Happy, healthy New Year to you and the farmer.

Maria said...

I have given plenty of my stored-away stuff to friends and family and it's a good feeling to know it is getting better use.
Greetings Maria x

Coppa's girl said...

Yes, I always feel a tremendous sense of a job well done, after I've cleared out things that have remained unused for years. It's about time I started again with what used to be my sewing room but has, alas, become a junk room and repository for all manner of other things !

Elizabeth said...

You obviously hit a nerve with the 'giving away stuff' -recycling -'repurposing' etc etc.
Yes, very liberating and allowing one to breathe easier
and maybe even leaving a little room for the excitement of finding something new!

Jennyff said...

Oh yes always good to move some 'stuff' on, salves the conscience to think someone else will make good use of your long held and never used stash. I too am in semi hibernation at present, though the Mr is planning more projects. Keep cosy.

Derek Faulkner said...

Hello Pat, have you fell asleep in front of that fire, it's now Friday and no replies.