Finding the rhythm again.

I've been having fun finding some sort of rhythm once again, now the kids are back to school and I've nearly recovered from the flu.

The unseasonably mild weather means I've been doing all the winter jobs I usually have to do at the last minute in early spring.

All those "Winter chores" gardening books tell you to do between November and March are usually redundant up here. The ice comes hard and fast and the snows not often far behind.

The only trouble is that daylight is still at a premium. 

Today it really wasn't proper light till nearly 10 am this morning, and by the time you've had lunch its on the way to getting dark again.

But who's complaining?

Not me Jack.

Anyway... a few (bad) pics from today.

The new rhubarb bed planted  up. 

The sad demise of this chest to damp and woodworm has provided me with somewhere to plant some early potato's this year. Bashed some holes in the bottom, filled with muck and soil, all ready for early March. 

The chickens are all doing well so far this winter, although their winter run has taken a hammering with the heavy rain and then snow. They need moving ASAP but wire and posts aren't cheap.

A little forced rhubarb? Oh alright then....

Its a never ending round of wood chopping of one form or another. One of our projects this year is to seriously look into alternative energy, possibly a combination of wind and solar.  

..... Although it must be said, the log burner makes lovely Indian food :)

Merry Xmas Blogger

So that's Xmas over for another year.
Was it a good one?
Sadly we've had Norovirus in the house for the last ten days, although thankfully Xmas day was drama free with only Middle child being a little sick in the morning. But lets face it, its not Xmas if you can't lay in bed all day watching movies and putting Lego together ;)

We still had a good time though and I was pleased as anything that lots of the gifts I gave this year were either made by friends or relatives or I managed to pick up second hand.

Sadly I didn't get round to taking pictures.

Here's a few from the day itself though :)

Our little tree, its over 30 years old and still going strong. Decorated in the main, as always, by  the knitted decorations my mother gave me a few years ago.  

Mince pies :)

Home made "posh" chocolates,.  

Mushroom and cashew pate.

Reaction shot to the big box of 2nd hand transformers and transformer DVD's. 

Redmills "Cheatin' turkey roast" was a big hit!

"Merry Bloody Xmas"

Anyway..... 2013.... I have high hopes.

The veggie garden had a major overhaul last year and will be ready to plant up properly this year. We have plans for the house and possibly even a business venture.

Watch this space... blogging will resume in earnest ;)   

      

space saving

Space saving in a tiny home is not a frivolous past time, its an all consuming passion borne of necessity. 

In our never ending quest for more space we've been quietly down sizing appliances and maximizing storage options. 

Nowhere near finished but he's some pics so you have a rough idea of where we're heading. 

Theres no wiring (or money for) for a real cooker so we have a toaster oven and combination microwave instead. Yes I cook for 5 (+ sometimes) and even bake in this.

In the winter we can use the logburner to stove top cooking.

    

With no pipe work for an airing cupboard we customised a shelf unit (which was itself customised from an old  wardrobe)... A curtain keeps the ash/dust off the sheets..... 

.. and open.

The kitchen is a large room, but awkward in that it leads onto EVERY other room in the house, so we find zoning helps. An old hygena cupboard used as room divider is made to work extra hard. 

... On the back we put up shoe storage and even somewhere to hang the dogs leads!

Opposite the "coat zone" (noooo we don't actually call it that :P) leads into the living room/bedroom. A second hand futon works as both seating and a spare bed, or just useful for family movie watching when pulled out.

We're trying to keep specific shelves for office materials, art supplies and paper work. 

Books shelved at the back of the steps.

Build in wardrobe space.

..and open.... yes... Kim has more clothes than me ;)

The Steps up to the bed.

Sock drawers!!!

Next project is to make a small desk here, probably on the side of the shelves, big enough for the laptop so I have somewhere specific to work.

Built in shelves above the door. 

Views of the bed.

Utilising all the space we can find with shelving....

Entering the kitchen from the hall...

Drop leaf table gives us a huge amount of space... room for one.. 

......Three.....

Or even all five of us!

And now ....some dogs...!

Well slap my wrists! Heres some pictures to keep you happy !

My goodness I've been slack of late!!! Lots going on, as there always is this time of year. So to say sorry I took a bunch of pics around the croft to show you whats going on :)

Enjoy!

Jenny dog waiting for me to come out. The Front of the house has been getting an extensive overhaul the last few months, its now looking much less of an eye sore! 

Jenny and Merle in the front herb garden. Kim built this for me this spring and its slowly getting filled with herbs. Some of the Thyme and Sage is even grown from seed on  the windowsill over the winter! 

This year I planted lots of pots and beds with wild flowers to attract more incects.

Elder flowers waiting for a sunny day to be picked!

Yes. That is a toilet cistern! We follow the three R's up here!

Growing lots of sunflowers to use primarily as bird food in the autumn.

It hasn't all been rosey in the garden. We've had major tree problems, namely coral fungus. 

Hens are laying 2 eggs a day at the moment. Sadly we lost two last month and are down to four hens again.

Sally aka Purple chicken, escaped to come and see what I was doing in the veg garden.

Lots of DIY planters made this year. Curly kale growing in this old feed trough.

Salad in this old wheel barrow.

Rocket in a supported bit of black plastic.

The new rhubarb bed has exploded!!!!

More wild flowers

Jerusalam artichokes.

A no dig experiment with potatoes this year!

Two old tractor tyres utilised to grow courgette and pumpkin in.

Onions, salad potatos and garlic.