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... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
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Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 18 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you for the Christmas greeting Gregotyn. You may not see this until after Christmas when you return to normality, but I wish you a very Merry Christmas too. Hope you enjoy yourself with all your friends.

Cassandra, it doesn't help much, but at least you have had a reasonably 'episode' free period from your neighbour for some time. Is there anyone in the medical line you could get to visit her, as it seems to be mental health, as well as perhaps being a not very pleasant person, that is behind most of it. One way or another I hope you get it settled again and have a quiet Christmas. Hope the insensitive one decides not to buy as well.

Looking at your bullock festival picture, I can just imagine the effect that would have in all our villages round here. Apart from a bullock cart probably not being seen in any of them for several hundred years, donkeys and horses being the preferred option, it would cause chaos.

We delivered the last (I hope) of our log sacks before Christmas yesterday. Are hoping for a day off today, unless we get a frantic phone call for more of them, and will sort out most of the Christmas things tomorrow. I have to find and decant any liqueurs and similarly wine and jam for two hampers I do for son and DIL and for her parents, and deliver the presents to MIL and husbands side of the family. We normally do that after church on Christmas Day, but she isn't cooking the family dinner this year, so may not be available.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 18 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I suspect it was a bit of an over-reaction to my disclosure that I have electronic surveillance these days. As we both know she does come onto my property from time to time to cause mischief, but she has assumed I was unaware of this. And my pot shot about entering my property without permission accompanied by the advice about the surveillance obviously gave her a fright. And I have observed in the past that she tends to ascribe her own behaviours and actions to me when she is in a corner.

It is partly mental health, and certainly a bad temperament, but it's also psychological. She has major trust issues and a bit of a general chip on her shoulder. Her doctor is also my doctor so while he is unable to discuss her with me, he is willing to hear my descriptions of her actions, which hopefully help him as her own level of self-awareness is low. In her mind she is a sweet natured, loveable person who is cruelly mistreated by the world. And she is actually quite surprisingly timid. It's all very complicated and not my problem to solve. My priority is simply getting on with life with the minimum of aggravation.

Today's drive to Swansea (an hour and a half each way) was actually very pleasant. My passenger turned out to be one of the hidden gems of the community - he has been a long-time participant in serious conservation actions in Tasmania, and as a consequence we have many mutual friends, including friends of very long-standing - it is surprising only that we have never met before. He has also lived in the Northern Territory and we discovered a few mutual acquaintances up there too. So it was a very short hour and a half on the way over.

Coming back the holiday traffic had started to build but was mainly going the other way, so not really a problem. And I stopped in at Campbell Town for lunch where I picked up a large quantity of colourful glass beads plus some shell fragment beads which will come in handy for some projects I have bubbling away on the back burner.



This is a bit of blanket I dyed a month or so ago which I intend to felt. the colour reproduction doesn't do it justice and it is upside down to stop the darker colours running into the yellow. Basically it is an underwater environment which will be felted eventually, but not before being embellished with seaweed (crochet and sheer fabric), fishes, perhaps a jelly fish, some shells (now I have some, I might knit one or two as well), and silk cocoons. Then it will be made into a small handbag (small as it will shrink once felted) - the sort girls take to dances with them - and lined with some linen doileys. At least that's the plan.

Hope you all have a very merry christmas - I have more food than I know what to do with.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 18 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Your joint doctor may well be pleased to know how your neighbours behaviour strikes others. While, being at the receiving end, you may not be entirely objective, you at least can give a coherent description of how she appears, rather than here, I suspect, incoherent one about how the badly the rest of the world treat her. I hope she settles down again and gives you some peace.

Sometimes a job like your driving can end up doing both you and your passenger a good turn. He sounds a very interesting man, and no doubt if he stays in the area you will be seeing him again and enjoying more chats.

Edit; Almost forgot the felting. That sounds as if it could be quite spectacular when made up. I look forward to seeing the result.

We went our yesterday, more to take something to our son that he needed to complete a Christmas present than otherwise, but also as husband wanted to buy me a Christmas present (at least he didn't wait until Christmas Eve). We found the town son lives in very quiet, so decided to go on to Southampton, and that was quiet too. Not sure if everyone has already bought their presents, have bought them on line, whether everyone is so worried about the effects of Brexit, or just have no money this year.

Anyway, as it will be Christmas Day with you before we go to bed tonight, Merry Christmas, and hope you have a peaceful one.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Mon Dec 24, 18 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Let me wish you all the gifts of peace, health, and happiness in the holiday season.

I've decided on our menu for tonight and tomorrow, so check that off my "what am I doing" list.

The weather is precipitating but in liquid form so not too bad.

In other news - We're renovating the bathrooms, replacing pedestal sinks with vanity cabinets, also replacing toilets with dual flush / low flow. There were 16 cartons delivered, as there should be. Except one was a cabinet door we did not order, and one cabinet that we did order is not there. Apparently nothing much can happen until January 2. Bah humbug.

The two young men who deer hunt on our property were here yesterday, unsuccessfully. But before leaving they did carry the toilets upstairs.

It is a wake up, as to how aging has reduced our physical capabilities - Mr Jam Lord has gotten a wonderful hand truck that has three wheels on each end of the back axle. They rotate, making it easier to go up / down stairs. Even so, I refused to become involved with getting the heavy items - toilets, for example - out of the garage and up the stairs. The young men simply used the hand hold cutouts in each carton, picked them up and up the stairs they went. Ah youth!

Himself said the hand truck will make it easier to bring my large plants in / out / up / down stairs as the seasons change. Additional justification for its purchase, but it will be a useful thing.

Love your knitting, Cassandra. The fishy purse sounds quite special. Looking forward to seeing its progress. I'm going in the reverse direction, frogging my most recent project. Wish you could visit and join the Wednesday morning knitting group. We'd love to have you join in, and you'd love it too.

Stay well, all of you, and have a very merry Christmas.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 18 6:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Renovation rarely goes smoothly - at least you will have one functioning bathroom which beats having to use the outhouse, lol. And handy to have visiting lads to give you a hand JL.

My Christmas Day has been a repeated cycle of wake, take dog for a walk, eat, drink, nap, wake .... at present I am committed to staying awake till its a suitable bedtime, but the dog has just gone back to sleep. A nice sunny but cool day - perfect weather in my humble opinion.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 18 7:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nice to hear from you Jam Lady. And may you have a Merry Christmas and new bathrooms early in the New Year.

I must say it was useful having our son at food bank on Friday to carry the hampers around. We do tend to get several young men come to help as one of the larger employers in the area lets some of their people come. Otherwise several of us ladies are fairly strong so can manage a hamper with only one layer of tins on our own, or two layers between two.

Just as your Christmas Day is over, ours is beginning Cassandra. You and Seb seem to have had a restful day anyway as I suppose your kitten has matured a bit by now.

I made some shortbread yesterday. It seems crumbly enough, but not sure if it is cooked enough, so hope for the best. One of the things I always have trouble with.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 18 8:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've just had another Christmas Day with my friend and her children plus wife. She has just inherited a spinning wheel so I gave her a quick 'points of interest' tour of mine (which happened to be in the ute) and showed her various fibres I had to hand. then we ate too much food, sat around and chatted and now I am home again.

the animals are being unbearably affectionate as I brought christmas treats home with me and they hope for more, and when I bring out the chicken carcass to pick at there may be blood, haha.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 18 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Glad you had a good day Cassandra. Sounds as if your friend got repaid for feeding you with the guidance on spinning, and no doubt if she lives close enough you will be helping her learn to spin.

We went to church, cooked dinner, which we ate in instalments. We were too hungry to wait for the main part to cook, so had the starters early, then main course (turkey) and Christmas pudding later.

I got a good offer on a rather large turkey from our farm shop, so now think I have to cut up and freeze half of it for future reference. The remainder of the half we started on should last a few days. I have declined husbands offer of putting it through the band saw we usually use to plank wood, so will end up with a lot of meat, and then boil the carcass up for stock which will make stew and goodness knows what else. I think I have to start making soup.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Jan 02, 19 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Had a good clear out of the walk in larder over the last couple of days. Got right down to floor level yesterday, which meant taking a scrubbing brush to the floor. Ir's amazing how many odd sultanas and odd bits of fruit get on the floor and stick. Upside is we now have a tidy larder that we can walk into properly and reach all the shelves. Downside is that we had to throw so many plastic boxes. Most of them were ice cream tubs, some dating back over 30 years to when son was a child, as we don't eat much ice cream now.

Also pretty well finished sorting out the turkey. Cut all the meat off that I could easily, and made it into a rather nice pie and some turkey and bacon patties for future reference that went into the freezer. The carcass, giblets, stock and remaining meat went into the pressure cooker. I have to go through that today now it is cool enough and divide it into potions of stock and meat to form the basis of future stews, then freeze that as well. I think we are turkeyed out for the present.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 19 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have read all your posts ladies, but that doesn't mean I have taken it all in!
Today is the first day the library has opened since the last time I posted-rather a long time but I am not in charge here; and I'm obviously too mean to buy a computer and its associated "extras". So I hope you all had a good time and are all well.
There is a good reason why, I haven't bought a computer, I would never do anything else, and 5 acres plus firewood and me are well occupied without another distraction at home! But I do appreciate your "company",-thank you.

I am a hoarder, MR, but I am slowly learning to throw away-with some difficulty. I am burning stuff, so no reprieve! I am preparing for when the place is too much for me. I have so much to do and sort from when I moved a couple or so years ago. My friends tell me to retire from working, but over £200 a week for part time is worth having and I can start as early as I want so I am usually there before 6am-as sleep doesn't last too long with me. I go to bed early to at least rest.

I am sorry to hear about your annoying neighbour, Cassandra. I really do think your doctor should know and appreciate what you are having to endure from her. The sooner the better I think.
I am not sure how the blanket will shrink to next to nothing as it looks about 6ft by 2ft to me, but I know nothing about fabrics of any sort.
I understand about getting older. I have no relatives, but do have friends locally so when I am in trouble I have someone who will do what I can't. I have had one of the tripod wheel hand trucks and so useful. My house is 2 steps up at the front, and 2 down at the rear of the house. And of course I am no longer as fit as I was!

Christmas was very good at my friends' house; their 3 grand children were there, with parents, so I am "a few bob" shorter in the money department. Their toys were good to play with when I got a chance, including some drones, a bit like those over Gatwick Airport, but very small and able to fly in the house! I tend to give them money as the children are short-always-and can then choose what they actually want as opposed to what I would want as a child.
I went to a NYE party to the couple over the road, and that was good, as I met his relations who I didn't know before. I did his mother a favour-I accused her of being his sister- which she appreciated. I thought she was about 35 oops!

I hope you all have a good year ahead.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 19 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nice to hear from you again Gregotyn, and glad you had a good time. Never a bad thing to guess a lady is younger than she is.

We started work again this week; husband and son on Wednesday while I did the shopping, and me yesterday filling log sacks. I managed 26 yesterday, which gives me the 30, including a few a did last week, for one order. I now have 10 to do for another outlet and 15 to do for someone who ordered some more log sacks for themselves. They had some before Christmas. Then I just carry on, but need to get on with the birch cutting too, so plenty to do.

The garden is fairly well up together, although there is a lot more I would like to do, but need husbands help for most of it, so it has to wait until he feels in a garden mood.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Jan 04, 19 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you, MR, it is good to be back after the holiday with no chat anywhere on line.I am back into battle at work too. We are a man short, as one left and his replacement is internal, but still doing his old work too, so of no real benefit to me, and my immediate boss is now doing his old job as well as his new job, so he is spread pretty thin on the ground; and I am running around as well as trying to serve customers who want obscurities-to me, but if only they knew the numbers I could help. In reality I should bring home a tractor manual and learn the bits and bobs, but I'm a bit long in the tooth to take any more information in!

You are well on top of the log sacks MR. I wish I could get hold of more larger pieces of dry timber 6"x6" down to 3"x2" which I take away to be cut by a machine and they do 10 times what I can achieve in a week in an hour. All I have to do is cut it to length, take to the cutter and go back the next week and it is done. I only pay by the net after I have got it home and trimmed it up and netted. The people concerned are friends so they know I don't cheat and I always add 1 more than I do to be sure they get a good deal. It is his 4 children who do the job-15 to 21, (including twins!).

I assume the birch cutting is for the besoms you make MR, or is it that birch just needs pruning. However much I like my old oaks and beech, I only have experience of cutting wood from the round to some manufacture. I have felled a few spruce and larch, but not many, and I wasn't very good at it either! I often think I would like to try making wooden hurdles, but I wouldn't know where to start, I assume hazel?

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Jan 05, 19 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You might try learning a few bits a night Gregotyn; that might help. Nice to know they really need you though.

I thought I was doing all right for the log sacks, then one of our other outlets phoned up and only had 6 left, which they had just sold before husband and son made the delivery from the ones I had done. So I have to replace that 20, and make 25 more, which I reckon at 45, so rather a lot of work next week.

The birch tops are for the besoms. If the stems are large enough they will go for firewood or charcoal, but some I cut last week were only about 1-2", so not much use for anything.

Sheep hurdles are usually made of hazel, but gate hurdles are made of what ever you have. For best results the uprights that touch the ground are often made of sweet chestnut and the rest ash, as that is a lot lighter, but any other wood will do.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Jan 05, 19 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I promise I won't say a word regarding your log sacks completed again, MR.! With tractor parts my main problem is I forget all too quickly-sometimes en route to fetch what I want-so am now writing down all numbers needed for locating and fetching. It is called getting old and I realise how old; when I had a former girlfriend from Kent emailed me to see if I am still alive! This morning she has informed me that a granddaughter is 21 today and I remember her being born! I am not sure why she is in touch again, and rather wish she wasn't-afraid she was the type who was always asking why don't you (me) do this or that, she of course could do no wrong in her eyes.

Thank you, MR, for the birch info. I have never had any dealings with birch, but still like to "know" a bit about it. The hazel is for something I have thought about for some time now. I have a lot of rampant hazel and thought that it may be worth doing my front garden fence out of my own hazel. Finding the straight bits will be a challenge. I can easily make a base jig. Knowing the right gaps for the uprights is another issue-trial and error!
I am thinking it is getting time to retire and thought that I would want an extra enterprise to compensate for the lower income though I have just had a small rise in pension and there is a limit to how much kindling I want to chop. This year will be a record number of nets sold, and my stock of nets is looking too low. I am only glad I didn't take on another shop who asked if I was interested a couple of months back for next year-retirement may force the issue!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 19 7:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If it helps, I never have been able to remember numbers. Strange thing is, husband has no problem, but I can do maths and arithmetic and he can't.

The school I used to go to is organising a couple of reunions over the next two years, and it is rather bothering that several of our number have died. Sadly, at least one died soon after leaving school, in a car crash, and several others seem to be deceased for various reasons, so not entirely age related.

The number of log sacks on order has just increased. I got an e-mail from one outlet asking to up their order to 50 from 30. I was managing to keep up before Christmas, but it is getting a bit difficult at the moment. Still, if I can get the wood, I will just have to work hard all this week making them.

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