Extreme gardening

Following the recent tree demolition there was so much to clear. We have spent the last two days collecting branches, twigs and so much mistletoe.  The French don’t use mistletoe at Christmas as we do in the UK so it has no real commercial value.  I wish I could get it all home I could make a fortune!

I walked over 5 miles yesterday just back and forth between the felled trees and the farmyard where we had the fire.

Fire day 1

All the loose stuff has now been cleared and either stacked or burnt. The large pieces of tree are awaiting their turn to be cut into logs. Then they will be carted to one of the wood stores to dry ready for use next year.  A piece of fire wood certainly keeps you warm more than

once!

Fire still going day 2

Today I spent the morning ironing but still managed 3.5 miles this afternoon clearing more wood and leaves.  Everywhere is looking tidier, and there aren’t too many more leaves to come down. 

Tomorrow I think we are back to indoor work, all those paper free walls need washing down ….

Sunday funday

A different kind of work today. This week they have had some trees removed/thinned out and to keep the price down were left with all the wood in various sized pieces and all the brushwood to deal with.

As the weather was reasonable we got outside and made a start clearing the branches left on and around the tree that was felled by the lake.

We couldn’t convince Laurie to help but Rufus kindly lent a hand 

The tree was rotten so needed to come down. Earlier in the year it had already started to loose limbs so it was only a matter of time. Three trailer loads of branches, the rest will need cutting with a chain saw but it st least looks tidier.

During lunch we had a hailstorm but it cleared over quickly and we headed out for a walk 

Still some colour in the garden

On the knitting front - Finished the headband last night and cast on another hat 

How was your weekend?

Wallpaper be gone

It’s been all go at the Chateau these last three days.  

I’ve had great fun with the wallpaper steamer, stripping walls and getting frizzy hair!

Three rooms plus the hallway and loo completely stripped. 

Peter and Tim removed the landing wall to open up the back stairs.  This space will become a sitting area for the boys with galley railings to stop them falling down the stairs. 

They also removed a wall downstairs but I’ll show that on another post as Beck hasn’t posted that on social media yet.  You can check out her videos on Instagram chateaudelaruche she has saved her stories in the highlight - Our Side

The grim loo will be completely refitted

Above is the current bathroom which will become Lauries bedroom 

This was Lauries old bedroom which will become the boys shower room

This wallpaper was found in the back of the bathroom cupboard. So pretty 

Landing minus wall, I still need to remove this bit of paper

This is Rufus’s room, it will be remodelled with lots of shelving for books and a double bed
 

Not sure what’s next on the agenda, washing down walls I guess, then the ceilings will be reboarded as most are in a rough state. Then it will be filling and sanding. All the prep work.

But for now I’m going to make a cup of tea and do a bit of knitting 

Knitting news

 

For the last week I’ve been working on this cowl.  I saw a photo of something similar on a blog and scanned in on the picture to work out roughly the pattern.  I used dk yarn from stash and cast on 140 stitches,  it measures 30” circumference x 14” long. It’s wide and long enough to pull up onto your head should the need arise.  A good use of oddments, I guess you could use any combination really.

I now need to decide what’s next. Maybe another headband

If you are looking for me

 I’m here, doing this

Lots more later …….

Weekend

We’ve had a wonderful weekend with the littlest grandkids

Picked them up from school on Friday. Parents already enjoying their weekend away in London.

Saturday morning we went into St Ives to choose birthday presents for their daddy.  We had a good look round at the stalls set up for the annual Christmas lights switch on weekend - swear it gets earlier every year.  They had already spied the candy floss which we promised for later.

Back home we wrapped presents and made cards before heading back into town at 3:30.  Some of Jess’s’ school friends were singing in the school choir performance at 4:15 and she was keen to get a good position to watch 

Father Christmas was in attendance and he turned on the Christmas lights and then we watched the fireworks.  There was a really good turnout and the kids had a great time,  though we were all cold standing around for so long.

Today, was bright, cold and breezy but after baking a cake for Stu we went to the park for a run around and sunshine.  We chased, but failed to catch any falling leaves, the wind whisking them from our grasp. But it was fun trying

Back home we decorated the cake whilst Peter went to collect the weekenders from the station

Happy 40th Stuart, glad you enjoyed your weekend as much as we did xx

Knitting news

My needles are empty once again. Three finished projects this week.  The baby cardigans have been posted and received and my cardigan, which I started mid October done. 

This is the Mdina Cardigan, the second one I have made.  The first in the original Alpaca, at a very princely sum. This one at a fraction of the price in a Cygnet aran weight.  Both look very similar and knit up the same so no complaints on my cheaper version!

I treated myself to some new brown cord jeans the other week and this will go perfectly with them.

This was the finished Ruffle cardigan, cute, but rather than ruffle the sleeves I just gave it a normal rib.

What to cast on now?  I’m thinking maybe another cushion cover to have as a pick up when I fancy project.  And then some more hats and headbands, someone always needs one.  What’s on your needles?

In other news I had my Covid booster this afternoon. Who’s had theirs?

Autumn in the Fens

Wicken Fen, a nature reserve run by the National Trust. 20 miles from home, we’ve been before, looking back in my photos it turns out it was Nov 2018,  but it’s certainly worth a revisit. I really didn’t think it was that long ago, where does the time go?

It has been a beautiful day, brilliant sunshine, cool in the shade, perfect walking weather.

We parked in the National Trust car park, which as members we get free.  We didn’t actually go into the Trust area this time just stuck the Adventurers Fen pathways and public footpaths

The photos have loaded in reverse order but it doesn’t really matter

The first four were outside the visitors centre

Lunchtime pint and packet of crisps at the Five Miles from Anywhere pub in Upware

The National Trust graze wild Konik ponies on the Fen, we were lucky enough to see them.

A good 7.7 miles walked, plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Not too many people about either, which is always a bonus these days!