January 2010 - What happened???? A Synopsis

I always have an idea of the things II'd like to get done over a time period and this month was no exception. All in all I did OK.

It was a bit 'odds and ends this month. I made this cute chest from a couple of old, brown, wooden 6 drawer chests and the legs from an old chest of drawers. Looks nice in its posh paint and a string of beads from Emaus (not a high end brand, simply the best charity shop in the world) . How to turn beads into Knobs (sadly, I haven't managed to turn knobs into men)

All this techno diary keeping started after I was given this titchy computer and broadband. It makes the blogging thing great.

And the knitting, all snug in its basket, a 'recently returned to' hobby following a 25 year gap. I spent those years embroidering and jewellery making instead of knitting. Still do the other stuff, but blogging and knitting are making their way up my happy list.

The Dartmoor weekend was the business. Great friends, scenery, food, exercise. Can't wait for March and the return match ... Bob, you've been warned.

For exercise I managed to get to the pool every Sunday. Feeling pleased with myself, even though the place was locked up for 2 of the nights. Blooming snow. Then, of course Despite that pesky snow and frost, the customers and the garden plot were dug over. The slightly nerve wracking bit, getting in enough wood to keep us toasty, has kept me moving all month and will again next month.

Wildlife seen this month In our garden: badgers only 4 to 10 times this month, they stay in setts if it's really cold. It has been really cold - minus 8 one night. Feildfare, redwing, mistle thrush all in one flock on our small, standard holly, in our front garden. They stripped the bush of almost every berry. Even the Christmas holly wreaths, which after twelfth night, I had hung in the garden trees as bird food, had been stripped of their berries. Fed this desperate, little flock apples and raisins. Fox out the back. Yesterday 2 starlings were seen inspecting the old nest site in the eve of our nieghbours house. The back garden Robin is still getting cross with his reflection in our garden mirrors. He sits on one of the candle holders and berates his reflection. Poor little fella.

The best bits? All that snow.

FEBRUARY FORECAST

1. Dig over my friend Debbies veg patch and start some seeds in her conservatory. A joint effort, food for both families as well as sociable.
2. Cover the garden plot with Gerry the farmers old silage plastic. Pick up the other huge sheet from the farm that probably wont fit in the car .. what am I going to do?
3. Restore one of my 2 small armchairs and get it on Ebay
4. Put a few other things on Ebay
5. Put in the paperwork for and fit the new staircase up to the loft.
6. Snowboard for a week without keeling over.