More snow

Since early this morning it has been snowing on the mountains, and sleeting and snowing down in the valley.

We are mainly cold and damp, but places within ten miles of here have much more.

Up on the mountain here we have over nine inches of snow on the flatter fields.

This morning at 9am I went to the feed merchants for dog food for the Mountain Man. Had I gone later I couldn't have made it there, despite it being a main road.
As it was I met him a third of the way up the Mountain road and he came down in his Landrover.

I couldn't have driven any further up!

Down here in the valley it is still sleeting, up there I know the snow is getting deeper.

I tried to work yesterday, after the sun had been on the workshop for a while-

but despite the sun, and a heater, and being dressed like Bibendum....

after four pots I decided that you really need to feel your fingertips to do this!!

Canalside snow and ice

bread

With relief I managed to produce a decent pair of loaves-so all is not lost!!

Mountain Man has taken his back up the mountain.

All the foals have been chipped, the forms completed.

The snow has mostly gone, so now we have been tidying, cleaning, drying washing and being busy before the next snowfall slows everything down again.

bread

Slow Food is one thing....Dwarf Bread is another!!

This batch was definitely worthy for entry into the Dwarf Bread Museum.

Oh Dear.

rescue

The Geek Wizzard left his car lights on whilst at work yesterday.....

Result, one dead battery.

Also he made myself and the Oily One a very nice supper after being rescued!

It continues snowy and cold.

The dough isn't sulking as it does when it is cold and damp,but it has slowed considerably....ah well, Slow Food is good for you....but it can try your patience!!

job done

The last Farmers' Mart before Christmas was today- not many sales, but we are grateful for all, whatever we sell.
The baker sold out, as usual!!

The ponies are all in off the mountain. Now Colin waits for the vet so that the forms can be completed and the foals microchipped. Then we can return the forms to the Society for them all to be registered.

The Geek Wizzard and The Carpenter have started sorting The Front Room-aka The Black Hole!!

Hopefully tomorrow work will start on the kiln chimney- weather permitting!!
No more markets until February, now I must concentrate on throwing- and on keeping warm!!
The weather is getting colder, friends in all directions have snow-none here yet.

weather!!

No snow here, just ground like stone.

Good thing I lifted vegetables from the allotment yesterday and brought the last of the pumpkins in from the greenhouse.

The voles had found the potato store in the shed, so they are now safely stacked in crates in the larder!

The mountain here is clear and frozen, if anything that is harder on the stock than snow.

I should be throwing pots....but a cold workshop is not an attractive idea!!!

pottery progress....or not....

The kiln flue should be in place today....

On the other hand both the Oily One and The Carpenter seem to think that cars are more important than getting a kiln going.

My stock is reducing, I will have orders in the New Year.....

You say something and it is forgotten or ignored.

You remind them and it is called nagging! GRRRRR!!!!!

progress

I now have seven pots in the Gallery Shop at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in Cwmbran, and possibly orders for jugs in the New Year!!!

Definitely getting somewhere!!

Winterfair

The Victorian Day of the Winterfair in Usk went very well indeed.

I found that Victorian Dress is warm and comfortable! It is also very smart!!

It also helped sell quite a few pots!

The day was long, but lightened by the company of new friends, all local craftspeople.

sewing

I am busy today making a Victorian costume and blouse.

Then hopefully an apron.

I have the hat and boots, need to make a mobcap......

Winterfair is in Usk this Friday and Saturday, Victorian dress requested for shopkeepers and stallholders.

I hope I sell some pots!

For A Mouse

Inertia

I have sorted and weeded more papers. It is a relief to see the shelf full of files reducing.

Perhaps I have been afraid to throw things away .
I remember my mother throwing some of my belongings in the bin.
I remember my ex throwing out a box of letters from friends around the world spanning fifteen years.

Well, we started in 1997 by throwing out my ex.....

Since then I have moved to a smaller house several times, reducing more belongings.

It still hurts!! I don't like losing old friends either!!

However in the end your belongings can hold you back.
I am finding a good home for what I can. Disposing of what is no use to anyone.

But today I have struck inertia again.
The rain is no help either.

Market Day

Today arrived cold and wet, but at least not freezing.

On the way to Usk Farmers' Market the sun came through dove grey rainclouds and shone a pale yellow.

The rain held off for most of the market time, until after I had packed everything back into the car!

Getting known is a slow process- I need more sales- but at least I am covering the cost of doing the market.

brief respite

Today as it was dry- and even showed a little blue sky...we bought sacks of pony nuts, oats and pony carrots for the ponies, and dogfood for- well, yes, the dogs!!
The leaves are all down, and make a copper carpet in the layby.
Where you can look back down into the valley.
Then the sun began to disappear again behind the clouds and the rain started gently spotting again.

frost!

Last night was cold!

This morning all is chilly and white, and even though the mountain is getting more sun than the valley, it is seriously cold up there.

Now I must contemplate a chilly studio...but at least this morning it is not raining, so that pots can be brought into the frost free house to dry safely