Year end

A few minutes before midnight and the start of a new year.  Where December has gone, I have no idea, but it went mighty quickly.  In the end I gave up spinning plates and gave myself permission to let them all drop.  There was a bit of a crash but looking back, everything that needed to get done, got done.  Best of all, we got to spend time with family (baby grandson right at the top of that list ;) ).  I managed to finish the quilt just in time and other handmade goodies were also completed for the festive season.

There are plans afoot for next year, lists have already been started and I have already ticked something off that list!  Starting as I mean to go on.  

I'm now off to refill my glass, wait for the chimes of Big Ben and listen out for the fireworks outside.  Here's to 2016, whatever it may bring.

Catching up

There has been rather a lot of 'life' going on these past few weeks and I've not got around to blogging as often as before.  There's quite a bit happening behind the scenes at the moment, and the old brain is struggling to keep up with it all, let alone forge ahead!  I'm back to the "just do the next thing" strategy, and finally I'm seeing some progress being made.  

We have spent quite a bit of time recently contemplating old age - ours (in years to come) and others - and the impact that has on those around us.  We try to learn and take note.  It's an on-going lesson and worth our time.  

November came and went all too quickly, and today someone enquired if I was ready for Christmas yet!  The answer is 'no'.  I will be, I usually am, but not at the moment.  However, I certainly won't be bullied into believing I need to go on a massive spending spree - Black Friday and Cyber Monday passed me by completely.  Present-buying is kept to a sensible level, even if that puts me at odds with mainstream consumerism.  

So, rather than getting caught up in the hype, here's a few things that have gladdened my heart recently:

the sun's rays picking out some yellow and brown leaves in the hedgerow, turning them a burnished golden colour;

deciding on a pattern for a quilt, and piecing some blocks together;

buying a large sack of locally grown potatoes and so being able to support local farmers;

seeing photos of my grandson smiling;

hyacinth bulbs growing on the window sill;

finally completing a knitted jumper for myself, after numerous attempts (it's been unpicked and knitted up again four times!)

homemade soup on a cold winter's day.

Sometimes I just need to stop for a minute to appreciate the simple things, especially when life seems to be getting a little complicated.  And when it's busy and I can't always see the way ahead too clearly, just doing the next thing means there is one less thing to worry about.  And it always surprises me how other things begin to fall into place by just taking that first step.

Foghorns and fireworks

We began the week being serenaded by fog-horns, and have ended it to the sound of fireworks, as Guy Fawkes Night was traditionally celebrated yesterday.  There was plenty to see and hear without having to leave the house!  It's been typical November weather, damp (pouring with rain, actually) and dreary, with very persistent low cloud shrouding everything.  Not the sort of weather conducive to drying clothes!  

We spotted a few long-tailed tits flying over the garden earlier in the week, the first we've seen this year.  The green woodpecker was busy digging for worms on the back lawn yesterday, and on my one and only walk into town this week (I got wet!) I was delighted to see a red squirrel scamper across the road right in front of me, dash up a nearby tree and then stare me out from his vantage point.  It's always a treat to see these little creatures up close, it never fails to lift my spirits for the day.  I'm really hoping there's a bit of a break in the weather soon as I dislike being cooped up for so long.  A good brisk walk is required.  

There's something in the water . . .

A foggy day for the beginning of November.  Very little wind; the dampness just hung around.  However, this weather does make for some atmospheric photo opportunities, and we were out in the garden early to capture a few autumnal images.

The last few days have been damp and grey and dismal and we've not found much motivation to do a great deal.  Today, despite the fog, it was actually not too cold so we wrapped up and took ourselves off for a walk.  It was good to get out and about.

Very atmospheric ruins

We ended up at the ferry terminal, and watched the car ferry coming in.  As we watched, a movement in the water caught our attention.  It disappeared, then reappeared shortly after.  We looked at each other, fairly certain, but pretty surprised, at what we were seeing, and made our way along the shoreline in the hope of getting a better look.  And soon after, we did.  To our amazement, there was a seal bobbing around off-shore.  We have seen enough seals in Orkney to be very sure of this sighting.  It was an unexpected but delightful surprise.

We're looking at the 'blob' in the middle!

With the clocks going back last week, the mornings are lighter again and consequently we're waking up earlier.  The temperatures drop off quickly during the afternoons, though, and it's dark before we have dinner.  Winter is just around the corner.

Rewind the clocks

The clocks went back at the weekend (end of British Summer Time, and an extra hour in bed) and the weather seems to have changed too - it's got cold.  We had the first hint of a frost Sunday morning, the windows were streaming inside, and as the temperature dropped to 11 degrees yesterday afternoon - that's inside the house - we sensibly decided the heating could be switched on for a couple of hours in the evening.  

The leaves are falling very quickly, it seems.  I keep meaning to get out for a walk to capture the autumn colour before it disappears; maybe tomorrow.  We've not been out much recently, we've been trying to catch up on a few bits and pieces at home, including some of those annoying little jobs that keep being put off.  I've had to remind myself of that mantra - 'Doing it gets it done' - and once I'd decided to, of course the work got done far quicker than I thought it would.  It's always the way.

I have worked my way through the pile of mending and sewing alterations that had accumulated (sometimes I think it would be far quicker to start from scratch rather than trying to alter shop-bought clothing) so I now have a clear conscience about spending some time sewing clothes for myself.  Having had such a thorough decluttering of my wardrobe at the start of the year, I am now in need of one or two extra layers for winter so I shall be giving this some attention in the coming days and weeks.  There's also a quilt to design and make, and I'd like to make one or two gifts for Christmas this year.  

Good intentions as ever, just running out of time, as usual!!

Winter preparations

With rain forecast on and off for the rest of the week, we took advantage of some sunshine yesterday to do some more tidying up in the garden.  This season we had a good number of pots in production (tomatoes, peppers etc) and now the veg has all been cropped, all those pots needed to be emptied and cleaned.  The compost is good to use again but needed to be put through a riddle to eliminate roots, stones and such like.  It's good exercise for the stomach muscles!  The sieved soil is now bagged up and will probably be used when we come to plant the garlic for next year.   Today N is in the greenhouse cleaning pots. 

The carrots planted in the summer have now been pulled - a really good crop to tide us through autumn and into winter:

When we returned from our break we were a bit alarmed to see the cabbage plants sporting a rather holey look, reminiscent of lace doilies ;( .   Despite netting the bed some time ago, the cabbage white butterflies have found a way in and the caterpillars have been munching away.  That is not the idea at all!  We are now having a daily caterpillar patrol in the hopes of stemming the onslaught of little green marauders!  Those cabbages are destined for our Christmas dinner table.

Having reacclimatised ourselves to English temperatures again, the heating has been firmly switched off and hopefully will stay that way until the end of the month at least.  The mornings are getting darker, and it always surprises me how our bodies readjust to that; we're waking much later than during the summer.  We've rearranged a couple of rooms, as we tend not to use the big lounge during the winter, preferring the cosiness of the dining-room; it also means we're not heating the entire house unecessarily.  The quit is now in use on the bed (and it keeps us lovely and cosy at night), and winter woollies are being dug out of cupboards.  Keeping busy and active through the colder months helps too, and we have more than enough projects lined up to keep us occupied.  The summer days of salad are now at an end, although there are just a handful of cherry tomatoes left on the kitchen window sill together with a couple of rather skinny cucumbers, and we are looking forward to warming casseroles and home-made soups.  I have promised myself a new pair of 'proper' slippers by the end of the month and I shall then be all set for winter.  

Maintaining a positive outlook helps too ;))

Sunshine and jumpers

We climbed this set of steps every morning - 130 steps in total!

A few days away in the sun; Thursday morning we left temperatures of 25 degrees C and returned to a chilly English autumn afternoon of barely 12 degrees!  We had to put the heating on to thaw out  :(

It was, as always, a lovely relaxing break.  Lots of walking in the sun, good food and drink, friendly locals and a lifestyle we find very agreeable.  Everything looks somehow better in sunshine!

Back home again and we are reminded that winter is not so far away.  The summer clothes are washed and put away for the year; jumpers and extra layers are reached for to stave off the definite drop in temperatures.  It's taken a couple of days to get ourselves back into our routines again (or perhaps we're just taking time adjusting to the drop in temperature!) but I'll be back baking tomorrow, and tackling some of the pile of mending and alterations that seems to have manifested itself recently.  And I've been reminded that Christmas is not so very far away (surely not?) so I guess a bit of thought in that direction would not go amiss.  Obviously time for another list .....

September gratitude

A few pictures to remind me of the garden in autumn; there's still so much to enjoy out there.

Palest pink cyclamen

The cotoneaster is smothered with berries

Yellow peppers!  A first

Under the netting the winter carrots are growing strongly

Our squash harvest!  Not quite enough for a pie ...

October began as September ended, with glorious sunshine, but today it has poured all day.  We made the most of the good weather knowing that it couldn't last and the garden is pretty much tidied up for the winter.  Thoughts are very much turning indoors and we both have plenty of projects ready for the winter months.  

September has been a highlight of the year with the birth of a little grandson, a very precious and welcome addition to the family, and we look forward to our role in his life as he grows.  At the moment, that means lots of cuddles ;))

I've not really given October too much thought, to be honest.  I think I'll take a bit of a breather and simply enjoy what we have.  Our life is full of good things and for that I am very grateful.

Through the woods and across the fields

Another lovely autumn day to be taken full advantage of.  We know that all too soon it will be cold, wet and grey so we get out whenever we can.  The warmth of the sun today was wonderful.

Checking us out as we crossed their field

We paid a visit to the pigs; they came running over to see us, squealing and grunting

As we walked along the track through the woods, we came across a fresh molehill, and as we looked, to our amazement, it moved - a little mound of earth was pushed to the surface.  The making of a molehill as we watched!  It was quite extraordinary and kept us glued to the spot for several minutes in the hope (ultimately unfulfilled) of actually seeing the little mole doing all the hard work underground.  

Granted, the photos do look a bit unremarkable, but neither of us had ever seen a molehill being built before, and we were quite mesmerised by it.  Nature is full of surprises, if you take the time to look.

Early autumn morning in the garden

I took the camera out into the garden first thing this morning, hoping to capture this trail through the wet grass:

We are fairly certain this winding path, all around the back lawn and again on the front lawn, is made by our hedgehog.  We haven't actually seen him for several months, but his night-time meanderings are much more visible in the autumn dew, and if we search, we can often find other evidence of his visits ;)  Perhaps we need to mount a nocturnal vigil to see if we can spot him.

I love the garden early in the morning while the dew is still on the ground.  And this morning, there seemed to be colours of autumn all around me.

Don't laugh; this is our best squash!

I need to make the most of these glorious autumn days.  Before long, we'll be huddled up against the wind, rain and cold.  Days like today are to be stored up and remembered with gratitude.

Autumn mists and classic cars

Misty morning

Autumn is definitely under way here.  Temperatures have fallen off in the morning and evening (and during the day, according to N!), and some parts of the garden no longer get the sunlight at all.  I often open the curtains to find a mist hanging about and the grass stays damp with dew most of the morning.  

The last of the peppers being prepped
 for the freezer

Homemade tomato soup served with homemade bread - delicious!

We're doing our best to spend some time in the garden every day, rain permitting, and it's surprising how much can be achieved in just an hour or so.  The sweetcorn, beans and some of the tomato and pepper plants have been pulled, the beds weeded and dug over.  Considering that this time last year we barely had a garden to speak of, we are very happy with how productive our little plot has been this year.  The beds that are being rested over winter will have a covering of manure to replenish nutrients, to prepare them for  the next growing season.

More time is being spent with indoor pastimes and hobbies - crafting comes to the fore in the colder months.  I seem to have more sewing-related projects on the go (or in the pipeline) than I can sensibly manage; I always like to have plenty to do but it's all got a little out-of-hand recently.  That may, of course, have something to do with a certain tiny person who has crept into my life :))  

A trailer just big enough to sleep two!

Over the weekend, we managed to get out for a walk along the front.  It was the annual classic car rally, and there was a magnificent array of cars parked all along the esplanade.  We were duly impressed; much gleaming chrome and polished paintwork, and trips down memory lane.   There were so many people there, admiring the wonderfully restored old vehicles and chatting to their owners.  Another very enjoyable day out.

While we waited

The past few days have been a bit of a rollercoaster as we have first waited for, and then delighted in, the birth of the newest member of the family.  It has been a very special time.

We tried to fill our days beforehand but to be honest, our thoughts were always elsewhere, so it is surprising that much got done at all.  However, in between the waiting and anticipating of phone calls, the vacuum cleaner has been taken to pieces, cleaned and repaired, and we have saved ourselves the considerable cost of replacing it - a definite result.  If something can be mended to extend its use then we will certainly have a go, and it is quite satisfying knowing you have saved a few pennies in the process and prevented adding to landfill.

Not much room left in the preserving pan 

Our first sweet corn

When the weather has allowed us (we have had some torrential downpours recently) we have spent some time in the garden, preparing it for winter.  With the colder temperatures, fewer tomatoes and peppers are ripening now, and we had the usual glut of green tomatoes left on the plants.  Not wanting to waste them, we made them into a spicy chutney, adding the last couple of courgettes and the remainder of the cooking apples we were given.  The smell may linger overnight but the chutney looks wonderful.  And this evening we enjoyed our first full-grown sweet corn cobs - with a dab of butter, they were delicious!

I still make bread every week but I'm keen to learn and make improvements where possible. Although the bread is very tasty, I think it's a little on the heavy side, possibly because I think I get the dough too dry so I have been experimenting with a much wetter mixture.  It's certainly very sticky to work with so I have had to find something to assist with mixing it - I found the little plastic scraper used to de-ice the freezer is ideal!  However, using more water and working with wetter dough, and baking at a higher temperature for a little longer seems to be resulting in a much better-textured loaf.  I'm glad I persevered; a bit of trial and error seems to be paying of and my bread-making skills are gradually improving.  The loaves always seem to get eaten so they can't be too bad :)

Grandmother

A very short post today.

14 September 2015, a beautiful baby boy.

Welcome, precious little grandson xxx

A walk (in the sun) down memory lane

September is spoiling us with glorious sunshine, it's been just beautiful this week.  We're doing our best to take every opportunity to get out and about and enjoy these end of summer/early autumn days.  

Another walk earlier this week, something of a nostalgic wander along half-forgotten pathways I used to know as a small child in the company of my very special Auntie S.  Happy memories came flooding back, and I recalled ice-cream blocks in wafers, and paddling in the island-shaped pool.  It was such a delightful walk, and so peaceful in the woods.  We spotted two red squirrels in the trees (always a treat), and spent what seemed like hours just looking out to sea.  In the midst of so much rushing around and general busy-ness, it was such a pleasure to be able to just sit and be still.

The good weather means we can continue the garden tidy-up in sunshine, a real bonus.  Gradually the summer crops are coming to an end - the runner beans are finished and the fine green beans are not too far behind.  N's called it a day with the squash plants, sadly they never really got going and the very few fruits that formed have failed to thrive and survive.   We had the last of the lettuce leaves yesterday - we haven't bought salad leaves at all this year, so that's been very successful.  A few days of sunshine and warmth has been very beneficial to the tomatoes and peppers, and every day a few more fruit are turning red.  More tomato sauce for the freezer.  The courgettes are almost at an end, I think there are 3 left to crop, and the sweet corn is coming along well.  We're looking forward to sampling those in the not too-distant future :)  And on a walk into town we spotted damsons for sale in someone's garden, so we bought a couple of bags to make jam.  I remembered to count the number of fruits that went into the preserving pan (124), so I could make sure I retrieved the same number of stones before bottling - it makes for a bit of fun.  Sadly we could only find 123 stones.  Oh well ...

Getting out and about

It's been a lovely early autumn day today - sunshine and blue skies - so we packed a picnic and drove a few miles to the other side of the island and had ourselves a delightful riverside walk.  We certainly weren't alone, either.  There were lots of people out and about making the most of the weather; walkers like ourselves, but also many cyclists taking part in the cycling weekend being staged on the island.  We did manage to have one or two moments of complete peace and quiet, but it was good to see so many people, all different ages, just enjoying a really great Sunday afternoon outdoors.  Signs of autumn were all around us - acorns, sloes, hips and haws, and blackberries.  We walked about 5 miles, a nice and easy stroll, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

We had a lovely get-together with old friends/colleagues a couple of days ago and it was just so good to see so many familiar faces, and a chance to catch up on everyone's news.  There was a lot to talk about, which meant a very late night (for us, at least!) but it was such a good evening.

We went to watch the illuminated carnival last night, and it was a good turn-out to support the parade.  There's something a little magical about a night-time carnival; it was colourful, loud (!) and lively, which seems like a recipe for success.

The kitchen has seen a flurry of activity over the weekend; we've processed  tomatoes into pasta sauce for the freezer, stewed apples (a very welcome gift), and made bread and cakes.  I've managed to get the lap quilts washed and dried on the line so they'll be clean and fresh to wrap ourselves in when the evenings get cooler, although we are noticing that autumnal nip in the air already.  Everyone is commenting on the change in temperature and it makes us determined to make the most of good days when they come along.  We are making plans to keep busy and productive in the winter months with various projects but hopefully autumn will provide us with plenty of days to get out and about.