Still cold and season's end

 It was another clear and cold morning...

So that called for another hour of hibernation!!

I'm still sorting things after the Visitation....and there are still some things that have disappeared!!

Before lunch I did half an hour on the turbo...nothing excessive, but it does enliven the metabolism!!

I went over to the gallery to clear my work...but it took ten minutes to clear the frozen windscreen...inside and out...and be sure that it was going to stay clear!!

Just one box full to come back...and we will be having a clean and painting session sometime, so that the gallery will be ready to reopen in April.

I stopped to shop at the Co-op shop in Maybole on the way back...scored quite a bit of Reduced to clear things that I'd usually buy..and when I came out at 15.45 the sun was heading down and the light changed 

And it was snowing...the sort of large soft "dry" flakes that settle...I think that it was a passing shower..but quite widespread. 

When I arrived home the layer of snow was frozen and crunchy..and feet left no imprint.

After dinner I started a most necessary job...replacing the ironing board cover...using an old cotton sheet.

It has lasted well...for an inexpensive one from IKEA...about twelve years..and the pad that goes under it is still good.

And chatting online to a friend who collects mugs...she has at least enough for one a day...for six months.! She sent me a photo of the slatglaze mug I gave her...

I taught her to throw thirty years ago...she doesn't work in clay any longer...but I wouldn't be surprised if she started again if they can succeed in selling their house and moving to near some of her family in Scotland 

Wolf full Moon

 In the morning... At 6.40

Then just after 8, moon set and sunrise 

A cold but dry and sunny day...and at 16.40...

Moonrise and sunset 

Alone...and a step in the right direction

 Alone again in the house...feels most odd after having a houseful for nearly a week.

The Oily One and friend had a good clear day to start their journey southwards.

Fortunately they weren't going North as north of Glasgow and Edinburgh the snow has arrived. Aberdeen airport was closed today due to snow and ice.

Hopefully they are calling on The Geek...son#2...on their way , as I gave them a few things to give to him and partner.

Family courier system.... sometimes it works!!

With a fine day here, all the visitors' bedding has been washed and beds put away. It mostly dried too, despite being bitterly cold outside. Ironing has been done and I'm making a list of jobs to tackle tomorrow, starting with making a new cover for the ironing board.

Another job is to clear a space for fresh pots, as with freezing temperatures unfired pots will freeze...which doesn't do them any good.

I got brave....as there is a special offer of 20% off the price..I enrolled on a course with the Alliance Française in Glasgow....nine Saturday mornings...plus homework...

So from 31 January to 28 March I shall be out for the 7.11 bus every Saturday!!

New Year

 Bonne Année !! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!!

Today we had a day off.....and a walk after lunch around Hannahston reserve.

The wind was bitterly cold...making us glad of tree shelter.

A modicum of sorting.. and the Oily One's friend starting to learn to throw..... give them a year, if they can find somewhere near where they live outside Bodmin to be able to practice....

I wish that the Oily One had carried on with potting...but he has a minimum wage job in a small factory, a place to live and a paying hobby (getting oily...what else?!) all in and around Bridgend in Glamorgan in Wales.

They'll be off tomorrow...I'll miss him!

Busy afternoon

 

And there's more....!! I'll be glad to see the back of it all..and more!!

This morning we had lunch out in the vegan restaurant in Ayr...I'd never been past when it was open!

After a good lunch, what better than a walk on the beach.esoecially as the view towards Arran was the clearest we could remember seeing.

I'm not sure what the development is at this pavilion..it has been "Pirate Pete's" for a while, a children's play centre. Thirty years ago my Pirate used to go to Country and Western nights there!!

..then shopping for a few supplies before heading to Nae Sae New in Mauchline.

The Oily One found two Haynes manuals he could use..and friend found a Portuguese painted clay kitchen luck charm ! (I'll photograph that tomorrow)

Back home....and friend is teaching themselves to throw....while the Oily One is fixing the flue....

Sky and progress

 

This was the morning sky at 7.35 yesterday....but the day before and today the clouds hid the sky and light hasn't filtered through for another half an hour.

Yesterday was cold all day but at least dry.

A good day for daughter and SiL to start their journey home.  Plus a good day for Oily One and friend to haul out shed contents to sort....

There is a long row of black bags full of rubbish.  And a heap of boxes of metal bits and other metal things to go for metal recycling. 

The sewing room is no longer chock full...I'll be able to move things around to paint the walls and sort things ready to go to a bike jumble or sell online.  The packaging corner needs reviewing....

A lot of progress has been made!

Today we may look at the kiln flue..but they need to review the weather forecast.

So far there are weather warnings from this evening, but mainly further north from here....

Sorting

The pile is twice as big now....

 I have been sorting clothes and shoes and books with Daughter.

SiL has been in the Bike room, doing tools and bikes and bits.

The Oily One and friend have been working on Pirate's shed....

There is much rubbish....a lot of metal to go to the artist blacksmith in the artists collective...quite a few things handed over as they can be of use to them.

Daughter and SiL leave tomorrow...my 15 year old autistic grandsons have been with SiL's 90 year old dad....they have been cooking and he took them to the Waterways Museum.   Great fun being had all round!!

The Oily One and friend are here for a few more days....when work will be a little less intense and stressful!!