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Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 19 7:33 am Post subject:

Working outside I find most people like it too hot. I went to help at food bank yesterday, and one of the women was wearing 2 thick jumpers. I was in a long sleeved tee shirt and quite warm enough. Us outdoor types are hardy, but don't think I am as hardy as you Gregotyn as I do like a bit of warmth through the winter in the house. As for the log sacks, we have just delivered another 20 to one of our outlets; one of my jobs for Thursday was to fill the sacks.

Weather holding up, although a bit cool once the sun goes down, but pretty warm during the day.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 19 10:10 am Post subject:

The only bits of me that feel the cold are my hands and for some reason my lips crack and bleed, so I have a large beard in winter which covers my lips and also acts as a food store on occasions. I am now in warm times so the beard is well reduced and the hair-on the sides-is also short now, in winter I look like an hairy monster, now I am almost human. I also have 2 hot water bottles when it is cold, but not for a couple of weeks now.

The weather was not too bad this morning at 5 am., but has now become overcast.

I have been and done my w/e shopping and then to the wood shed to chop wood and now down to the library for an hour before back to the wood. I was starting to get short of potential stick wood. However a neighbour came to see me to say his sister is married to a chap who wants his large rubbish wood pile reduced and did I want it?, answer yes please, so he collected for me, some lovely imported timber and it is being reduced at a rapid rate. Lots of nails and screws, and some staples which are holding the cardboard outer covering but the timber is very dry and easy chopping. Some of this is suitable for the machine I take the wood to, for chopping-basically a friend chops the big cross section wood, over 2inch by 4 inch by a machine, which saves my arm aching, and all I do is to tidy it up and leave no splints to cause any trouble to my customers.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 19 7:43 am Post subject:

We had our coppice group AGM yesterday, so out quite early as it was the other side of the county. Good turn out and a good meeting followed by a walk round the Tree Trail near the building. It is a tree house; that is, part of it is built around some trees, and there is a tower that can be climbed so you are up in the canopy. One access is by a wibbly wobbly bridge, which I didn't like very much, so used the solid ground option after the first time.

Glad you are getting into summer mode now Gregotyn. I must say that since I had my hair cut I have had to wear a hat a bit more this winter as I don't have so much hair to keep me warm.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 19 1:28 pm Post subject:

Snap with the hair MR, the difference is that I have been short of hair on top for the last 40 years, and getting less now!

Afraid I don't do wibbly wobbly anything now, or heights if I can help it. And roads with sheer drops are out completely. Annoyingly I could do it all when I was a child, obviously a nut and bolt has come out of some place in the head-nearly said brain, but that went about 40 years ago, when I married the wrong girl, which took 4.5 years to rectify!

Going back home to start cutting kindling again. I thought it was reducing but this am has put the clock back a month or so and it is cold again, I thought it was getting warm then I went to the shop and they had 4 where they would normally have 14, so I turned round and went home for another 10 nets. Basically I am too cheap. I also only chop good wood and it is dry, or it doesn't go out until it is. Some of the oppositions' wood in another shop in the town is so obviously wet.

The wood from the neighbour is very good chopping and luckily dry. I have used the sheeting that came attached to it when it was in its previous life protecting quad bikes imported into the UK.

Did I mention the fact that the end of a shed blew out? Well it had a lot of wood in there and so that has come into play, (and I don't need to find the key now!), although some of it is too good for firewood, I am now using its "straight through" aspect as a timber drying area. Wood that could have been drying forever in the closed wood shed is now dry in a few days, so something good came out of my near miss! Half past 2 better get on and see how much kindling the locals have bought today, I am down to a stock of 13-panic.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 19 6:12 am Post subject:

We keep thinking we have got to the end of the log sack season, but with this cold weather again, I am sure we will get more orders. Luckily we stocked up out main outlets over the last couple of weeks, so they should be all right for now...I hope.

This week it is besom broom making. On Monday I did the handles for 10, so plenty for now, and we brought in quite a lot of rods that will do for handles or for morris sticks, for which we also have an order. I made the first 8" diameter head, just to make sure I could do it without my clamp. I find the 10" very hard to do without it, but I can do the smaller ones with a mixture of holding it, balancing the birch on top of what I am holding, and using the angle on the shave horse to hold it in place a bit. I then have to put the strap round, but it worked out quite well. Want to do a few more today if I can, and also sort some birch tops to make sure I have the right size for making more as a demonstration.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 19 1:19 pm Post subject:

My fire wood is the same, when I hope I can start to stock a bit the weather changes and down goes what I hoped to be selling this time, but next year. I take it you are off to a show, if you are taking besoms?

I keep telling myself to give up work, but the money keeps coming in and it makes me get out of bed in the morning. The problem is that when I get to the weekend I'm half dead and don't do as much as I could if I was at home all week, and just plodded on gently. I have to cut and chop 3-4 nets today and every day for the next few months. I guess I could find another source of income somewhere if it became necessary, or learn to draw the horns in, shop once a week instead of every day, and start on a vegetable plot again-I can get the timber to make raised beds, and I have plenty of wood to cut down for fuel, my original plot being taken over by a network of tree suckers which will involve a digger for a few days, more expense! I can always let the land for grazing and get a cash return, which I haven't done as the couple who use it are good to me in other ways-she does the washing which is a serious bonus so I give the grazing for that, and she gets good discounts for things I want from where she works. The boyfriend helped me when the end blew out of a building and shored it up and is now the new improved drying shed!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 19 7:04 am Post subject:

Could you reduce the number of days you work Gregotyn? That way you would still get some income from the job and have more time to make your kindling nets. I would think in fact that the day job is more lucrative than the nets, but if you enjoy doing the nets, the art is to balance the two without tiring yourself out too much. Sounds as if the neighbours do a fair amount for you in return for the grazing, so might be better to keep the arrangement if you can afford to do so.

I managed to get some more small besom heads made up, but am now off sick with a throat infection. As I am having trouble swallowing, the doctor has given me a liquid antibiotic which tastes foul. Hoping it will work in a day of two and I will be back to normal for the show.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 19 2:29 pm Post subject:

To be honest the day job, savings and my pension mean I don't have to work, but when I started to supply the shop, I was not so well off about 15 years ago. And now I can't stop, sort of insurance and desire not to let people down. I have chopped firewood all my life, one way or another, since I was 8yo, when my father died, and it was my contribution to the household, along with collecting the manure from the milkman and baker's horses-yes I'm that old!- to grow pansies for sale at the front garden gate-3d each plant. And I gave up pocket money, 6d, for that. I think my mum's widow's allowance for me was about Â£3.00 a week in the mid 50's. My neighbours help, but I don't want to live in their pocket, they are there if I need them, I don't charge them for the grazing because they do help and would be needed in an emergency! I have just had a hike in rates up by 25%, which I find extortion. They said 9.5% was the extra needed this year, but not for me it appears!

Sorry to read of your infection M.R. I hope you get better quickly and you can go to the show. Foul liquid works fastest!

It is at this time of the year that the gardeners start on me for work on the wooden bits in allotments and so on, makes a change from kindling and more lucrative per unit of time, but the chopping still has to be done!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 19 9:02 am Post subject:

That is the problem when you start something like that Gregotyn; you feel people rely on you. Have fun making the bits for the gardeners. I need some new bits for my raised beds and one new one, but so far husband hasn't 'got round to it'.

I am a bit better, although it seems to be a bit slow. I managed to eat something solid yesterday, although it took a long time as I had to chew it very thoroughly.

Trouble is with rates that various councils all add their bits. I would check your bill to make sure they haven't made a mistake though.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Mon Apr 08, 19 9:23 am Post subject:
First show of the season yesterday, and it was sunny, but nasty cold wind. In the end we put up one of the tent sides; cut out the sun, but also the wind, so slightly warmer. Did well with besoms, but about only thing we sold, so not brilliant. A friend who also had a stall said people just weren't spending.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2507
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 19 1:31 am Post subject:

Absurdly warm weather. It reached 78 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday afternoon. Plants are hurling themselves into bloom. Which means, alas, they will also pass rather promptly.

But I am getting some rather nice images with the new camera.

Cut some Lenten roses and floated them in a saucer of water.

Bees are enjoying the Christmas roses too. Rather more like Easter . . .

And the star magnolias are looking quite splendid, don't you agree?

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 19 6:48 am Post subject:

Those are all lovely Jam Lady. The Lenten Roses arrangement looks particularly dainty. Our star magnolias have been out for some time; not sure if they are finished yet, because there aren't any immediately round home, but the later ones are coming out.

Our bluebells are starting to come out, so the signs have to go up asking people to behave nicely. In particular not walking in them or picking them. The latter has been illegal for years, but people still do it. If I get a chance today I want to see how the early purple orchids are getting on, but think I have an appointment with some more log sacks, and perhaps some charcoal.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 19 1:37 pm Post subject:

Glad to hear you are a bit better-look after yourself MR.
Sorry the show was not so good, MR, I guess it was the first show and if your weather is like ours it may be sunny, but it is not warm. Today is a fine example very sunny, but I have been in my working clothes with the extra jacket on all morning.
I quite enjoy the gardening wood working bits for folks, making a change from my normal sawing wood to 6 inches and chopping thin strips! It is worth doing and makes a change, but being an "'umble woodcutter", pays some of the bills.
I will be keeping the neighbours' current arrangement, it suits me well, with their horses, I just wish they would collect the manure into one heap and I could spread it evenly all over, in the autumn. I have asked, but it seems beyond their understanding and/or ability!! And of course it would be an excuse for buying a manure spreader.

I am impressed with the flowers Jam Lady. 78 degrees is a bit on the warm side of comfort for me, I am a cooler weather man myself, but at this time of the year that would be decidedly hot for this area.

I don't know if I said, but local chap brought some wood for chopping from a man who constructs knock down condition-KDC- farm machines and they all arrive in this country in large crates in bits and he puts them together normally burning the crates wholesale. So neighbour volunteered to bring some over. They all seem to come apart with my crow bar quite easily, and the chopping is easy generally so I am hoping for more soon, we'll see.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15578

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 19 6:22 am Post subject:

That seems like a good source of wood for your kindling Gregotyn. Odd how some people find simple things like gathering manure together into a heap impossible.

We had a wet day yesterday, so husband decided it would be a good idea to get the shopping out of the way yesterday, so took me there in the afternoon. I may now get the log sacks done today, but still need to take it a bit easy as I get tired rather easily and have a talk to give this evening.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2507
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 19 12:25 pm Post subject:
That's why I especially like llama and alpaca for manure. Most useful - they have a dominance thing and they all poop in a single pile so it is all nicely gathered together for you. Secondly, their manure is nice little pellets - think deer or rabbit. Lastly, the analysis is 5-3-3 so doesn't burn even if used fresh. Good stuff!

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