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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: Tue Feb 27, 18 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just for once we don't have mud;it has freeze dried. Very cold over the last couple of days, and set to stay that way for the rest of the week I think. We had several snow showers yesterday, and although I was working in the log store, it was blowing in. Being pretty well an easterly wind, and the log store being east-west with open ends, it seemed to come straight through. Husband and son have rigged up a tarp over part of the eastern facing end, and will pull it a bit higher before the end of the week when we are expecting heavier snow.

There was one primrose plant in flower up the track into the private bit of the woods. That area does get the sun well, but I think it is misguided, as no self respecting insect is going to be out in this weather to pollinate it. Sadly the snowdrops are going over now down the lane, but they have been really lovely.

Did another 30 log sacks yesterday with help from husband and son, and they will be going off tomorrow. Have to do another 30, and then just carry on, as no doubt with this weather they will be selling well.

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 18 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It is rather cold outside. Make sure you wrap up warm MR.

I had some good news. Janet's (the owner of the shelter) son has fallen in love with Dingo and is going to adopt him. I'm really pleased because he's a special dog who deserves a good home. He only stayed with us for a few days but he demonstrated that he was going to develop into a lovely loyal dog with the right person.

Cassandra: sounds like the driving is going well and the kitten has well and truly decided she's landed with her bum in the butter.

Gregotyn, I hope you are feeling better. Isn't it funny how one is never ill at a convenient time?

JR, I have to say, I think that the person who gets free wood should be a grateful person, especially when it's oak! Well, once bitten, twice shy.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Feb 27, 18 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I wish someone would give me an oak tree for any kind of use-planking up, would be good. It would fetch a lot of money over here if well 'seasoned'. Mind, I probably haven't got that sort of time left in life to lay timber down to season! It would have gone quickly, before you changed your mind, Jam Lady. Thank you all for your good wishes for my health. I am much better and got over the worst before I went to the do, and am now snivelless and no aches or pains

How exciting Cassandra to have a "nosey" dog, get training and then join the police for tracking duties and get well rewarded for the process and you get to wear a uniform! Or offer private services of hunting things for locals; a whole new and potentially lucrative business for you-walking the dog and getting paid for it! Anyway Poppet seems to be 'at home', and survive the others!
I am pleased you get free travel to the shops whilst you wait for the object of the trip to be attended to and return for the homeward journey. Do they tell you how long they expect to be? Or are you expected to be there the whole time-with a good book? It may be better to check the personality on the way there, if doing the plum dropping off. If you do it on the way there, then there is always the possibility of panic, "will the driver get me there in time I don't want to be late". On the way back then there is not call for panic as the object for your passenger has been executed and they are less likely to mention it to the car company.

I am much better, and had a good week end too, though a lot of money spent, well he is only 40 once and by the time the next significant one for either of us arrives, I probably won't be around, I have discovered that I can't be doing as much as I did, almost to the point that I may be starting afternoon naps, and take up full time wood chopping, my granddad chopped firewood till he was 80odd!and I had to stack it for him at age 22!

I have just looked out of the window and the snow has stopped-even after they sent the children home an hour early. It is now a beautiful afternoon though very white! I have to say the council are very good with keeping the roads open 24 hours a day in this weather, they are usually out in the mornings before me and have done the steeper of the hills around, and by the time I am on the road they are doing the flat bits. It is good overtime for the men who do it, and good for those who need to be out early.
Got to go I will be timed out!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Feb 28, 18 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have been wearing my winter trousers the last few days Shan; Ram trousers. They are padded and have waterproof panels. I am also wearing a waterproof on top of my other jackets, and gloves when I can.

Gregotyn, that cold must have got you down. You are probably good for quite a while yet, even if going to work at 5am in the freezing cold is getting a bit much for you. All of us, even son, is finding working in this cold a bit tiring. All of us are aching, and everything takes just that bit longer, especially starting the tractors.

Managed to get a bit more birch cut yesterday. The people cutting in our coppice had a few trees down for me, so I took all the good stuff off 4 of them, and started on another while husband and son were out delivering log sacks. The bad news is that that outlet wants another 30, ideally before the end of the week, as well as the other 30 to another outlet to go today. I managed 6 of them with the wood I had, and split some more down yesterday afternoon of another load for log sacks. The processor does a good job, but several of the pieces are rather big, so need further splitting. All jobs kept me plenty warm enough anyway.

The flush in the chemical toilet up in the woods had frozen up, so had to have the heater on it for a while to thaw it out.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Thu Mar 01, 18 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We have a major nor'easter rain storm heading our way. Coastal flooding. Maybe snow. They're saying maybe 16 inches of snow in some parts of the state depending on how the second cold front tracks.

I moved all the firewood on the near side of the big bridge, finishing yesterday after the garden club meeting. The starting right with seeds program that the three of us presented was very well received. Always nice.

This morning I moved a pallet down into the woods and started moving firewood from the far side of the seasonal brook. Shorter distance to move it (to get it off the ground and onto the pallet), not as many pieces, and not as good quality either. Then I returned some books at the library, went grocery shopping, bought some eggs at the farm & feed store so whatever the storms bring, we're all set.

And I finished the entry on my web site for the orchid show. Enjoy. Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 18 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you for the blog Jam Lady. You seem to have enjoyed it. Somehow for me plastic tube looks like plastic tube, but an interesting idea to use it as a transparent support.

We had a lot less snow than you are expecting, but it has drifted. Not been out yet, but could be interesting doing the food bank run today. Son is not coming in again as we are expecting more snow from lunchtime. We don't have snow here that often so we are not geared up for it. No winter tyres on vehicles, not enough snow ploughs to keep all roads open etc. The gritters have done a great job though; yesterday we only had to go along one ungritted road to deliver at a fairly out of the way farm shop.

Yesterday husband and I delivered a load of firewood cut the evening before. The recipient was really grateful to us for turning out in the falling snow. We then filled 25 log sacks and delivered them. After that we had had enough as it was cold, windy, and snowy.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 18 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The Library was closed yesterday as I went past, and the schools were going home early, so not open in the afternoon, and only open now because the lady on duty lives in the town. Schools shut today as well. I didn't go to work this morning as the weather was bad, and at least a foot of snow in front of me. I am glad in some ways as I have been able to catch up on wood cutting and and been able to shop in the village which is at the bottom of a long steep hill, delivering a load of kindling nets at the same time. The shop was not out but down to one so needed the delivery. It is cold outside but not too bad, I don't think, 'I can't go out in this weather', I suppose that is why I did the sticks. I'm hoping to get another lot cut when I get home as it is light till 6pm, so I plan to get a couple of hours cutting. Ready for tomorrow as the library is closed the girl i/c today tells me.

The down side of not going to work is that the chap on today is on his own. The other chap in charge when this man is off is having some holiday, because today's man is away for 4 weeks lambing. The other chap will have it all to do alone.

I won't be on much longer it is snowing again! As I came down this afternoon there was a snow plough trying to force a way through at the top of my road along what we call 'top road' to 2 other villages, and the main road across the Berwyn Mountains. That will be impassable for a day or so I expect.

I have just looked out of the window at the snow and there was a female Blackbird on the library window box, obviously well fed, but pecking away at something.

I will be back in on Tuesday. In the mean time those of us in the Northern hemisphere keep warm. I hope all going well for you down under Cassandra and your storm Jam Lady, doesn't prove to be as much as 'they' say.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 18 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Watch out for yourself in the snow Gregotyn, and hope yours isn't too bad Jam Lady.

Although we have a lot less snow here, schools are shut, and there have been some major roads blocked. Seems one across the New Forest had a major incident and the army has been called out to help on some roads. We are fortunate that our road is a bus route, so one of the second to get sorted. It wasn't so deep or cold that gritting didn't keep it reasonably clear, but still think we had 2-3 inches, a lot for us. Seems to have warmed up now, and we now have fog.

We gave up in the woods yesterday as we had been cold and snowed on too much, so husband came to food bank with me. He helped sort the donations while I helped with the clients. We still had most get in, in spite of the weather. We had to pack up early though as it started to snow again, and we all had to get to various odd places to go home.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 18 5:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

From what I see of the present weather over your way you should all be staying at home, keeping warm and making sure you have a well-stocked pantry. I would certainly be declaring it a snow week if I were there.

I have been dying of the lurgy which struck suddenly and without any warning apart from feeling a bit tired at the end of Monday. But since Monday had included a very long trip to Hobart, meeting the wood man with a load of wood once I got home, then having unloaded that lot, walked the dog etc I had the dog to walk so feeling weary did not sound any particular alarm, till I woke the next morning with a cough that was pretending to be asthma, sore throat, clogged sinuses and goodness knows what. I took myself of to the doctor but apparently it is 'something that is going around' so I have been dosing up on cough mixture, sinus tabs etc and was feeling reasonably well till this morning when it returned. But that may just be a general feeling of desolation after our election results.

We have a blackout on media reportage and comments during election day here (odd, I realise), and just before it settled in, it became apparent that one of the conservative politicians had entered into a deal with certain gun owners to relax our gun laws! And the negotiations had been carried out in secret, not negotiated with the very police departments said politician was in charge of, and were potentially very alarming indeed. So I set to work trying to distribute it widely only to find my battery was flat on the phone, the laptop mouse was not functional (and the external mouse was not responding) and the new laptop wanted me to load 12 months of updates before it would let me play (more of that later). So in all it has been a fairly torrid few days.

And the party in question was re-elected to my complete horror. Their campaign was fully funded by the poker machine industry which resulted in them being able to saturate all media (and every roadside) with their presence, splash out highly expensive and unaffordable promises and basically buy their seats. And Tasmanian voters, not noted for their awareness of matters political apart from election times, fell for it hook line and sinker. The Left is all sitting in stunned horror and the concession speeches of both the Labor party and the Greens were both full of commitments for more transparent donations policies, real-time reporting of donations (we will have evidence of what is blindingly obvious in 19 months time), and capping election expenditure. Hopefully at least it will shake Labor up enough for them to do what they have resisted so far in relation to the above.

Meanwhile, as someone whose neighbours virtually all own guns and use them regularly, I am nervous, haha. But there were quite a few shooters also getting vocal in their opposition to the need for change, and some of them have private messaged information to me that was useful in my own engagement on the subject. I hasten to add that as someone who has served in the Army Reserve, gone spotlighting and been to Ag College I am fairly aware of the beneficial side of gun ownership, and quite enjoy a bit of hunting (though that has not been an option since gun control since I don't have a licence and no-one with a licence can lend me a gun for such purposes) so willing to listen if there are problems, but some of the proposed changes are poorly conceived responses to the perceived problems and have the potential to create real problems - American-style, in the State which initiated our gun control approach in Australia.

So, now I am wondering (in a fevered and generally 'what do I do' way, whether I should stand for the Legislative Council elections in May (our upper house that can shut down or modify proposed legislative change). Of course I have also to consider whether to tender for some work that is right up my ally too, so I will talk to a few people before I decide.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Mar 04, 18 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The first thing is to get better, then you will be able to think straight. Don't do anything in a hurry, and think it all through with advice. I have been following your posts on FB, and if what you say comes out, it might make a good few voters feel very silly and get the reaction you are hoping for.

The snow is melting where we are, so now it is at the slushy stage. Had some rain yesterday, so hoping it didn't freeze in the night. Temperature expected to rise to 'average' this week, to about 10C. I am going to have to try to get the rest of my birch sorted out as soon as possible otherwise even the cut stuff will come into leaf.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Mar 05, 18 7:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Went up to the woods yesterday as we wanted to get out. Dry and mild, so got the birch in. I cut some more from the trees that were felled, and we got another layer in the store. Most of it was surprisingly dry, but two bundles out drying off a bit before they get put away.

We didn't have too much snow, but it drifted and on the way back came along a road where drifting would have been a problem. There are some good drifts at the top of the hill in the woods too, or there were; it rained last night, so back to normal.

One of our volunteers saw a firecrest in the wood yesterday while they were out for a walk.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 18 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

So I have decided and yes I will be running. I have been talking to the Clerk of the House about terms and conditions, and trying to speak to the Electoral Commission (which I suspect is still a little busy counting votes) and recruited a campaign manager (who will basically just be helping me stay on track in terms of critical timeframes and editing any publications I come up with) and worked out how to cover such a huge area on a teeny budget on a tight timeframe. I also have had an offer for help from a Facebook friend who has similar political leanings to mine. I will be standing as an independent as the upper house is not party-driven, but rather relies on debate and reflection and has only 15 members who all apparently get along together quite well.

The Clerk was most welcoming and friendly also - answering most of my questions before I had to ask them, and has given me the phone number of the current representative. This is a one-off situation where her district has been split in two, creating two new seats, rather than one. So she is till responsible for us, but will not be running in this part of the world. I am hoping she will have contact lists she can provide - at least for media and local organisations.

And I will be shutting down my current FB page MR - there will be an announcement to that effect shortly - as you will be aware some of my political commentary has been rather pungent and would not necessarily reflect well if a competitor got their hands on it. I will create a new profile with a false name from which I can continue to follow debate and which will also provide a platform to launch my 'public figure' page for the purpose of the election.

So - big decision!

Lovely sunny day, and yesterday I picked up a down jacket second hand so it is presently dripping in the shed and will hopefully be dry in time for winter. I needed a warm, shower-proof jacket that was not too bulky and which is relatively smart, and that is what this is. It's a nice bright red - of the yellow range, rather than the blue range - very nice indeed.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 18 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good luck to you Cassandra. You will have to remember to be diplomatic in your political life.

The down jacket sounds good. I managed to get a nice warm fleece for the winter in red, but mine is the blue side of red, but still quite bright. As I have a funeral to go to, I am wondering if it is a bit too bright, and that perhaps a thinner dark blue one might be more appropriate.

Went up to the uphill and windward side of the woods yesterday to see what the snow was like. It was an object lesson in hedges. Although we had about 3" of snow, it was quite powdery, so drifted badly. Where we had a layed hedge is dropped within a few feet of the leeward side of the hedge, as the hedge broke up the force of the wind. Further down the path there are some gaps in the hedge, which is a series of hazel coppice stools, and there the snow had drifted for some yards until stopped by the vegetation on the other side of the path. There is a gap where people walk through, and at that point there was still a drift 2-3 feet high right across the path, and that was after 2 days thaw, some rain, and people walking over it. Just for a change we are back to mild and wet for the foreseeable future. Hoping it dries up a bit as we have log loads, and no doubt log sacks to do. Think I have all the birch I will get for this year, so hope it is enough.

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 18 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good luck with your decision Cassandra. I'm not sure there is anything I can do to help from this side of the world but I am full of moral support. How goes it with Poppet-kitty? Has she taken over the world yet?

MS - I'd say it depends on the person whose funeral you are attending. If they were fairly flamboyant in life then the red would be appropriate, if not, go for the dark blue. Personally, I don't want anyone wearing black at my funeral, unless it's an audacious little black number.

We still have some snow here on the fields and in the hedges. The lanes are completely clear but we have not seen a postman or a courier since last Thursday. Lazy bone idle nonsense! I had a notification yesterday saying a courier had tried to deliver at 4pm... I can assure you he bloody well didn't!

I am feeling rather pleased with myself as I finally went through all the photos on my phone and on Mr Shan's phone and I have created a phonebook and ordered some prints.... I also now remember why I had been so resistant to doing it! Our internet connection is terrible, which makes uploading photos a pain in the proverbial and photobooks take forever to create! Nevertheless, it is done and I have deleted what feels like a million photos of inconsequential nonsense from both phones.

I also numbered every single box for Portugal and I've filled in the detail on a spreadsheet. This required some rather intricate rearranging, some contortion and a bit of climbing....

Oh... and I threw a snowball at a peacock and I won't lie, it was rather satisfying! They are such a nuisance. Giant dog sized turds and they make a God awful noise.

gz



Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8576
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 18 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good on you, Cassandra..wishing you well in your new occupation!

I wont say career, as you obviously care and its not just a job

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