Teddy in the snow...

The dog is officially mad. He buried Teddy in the garden some time ago (It never occurred to me to give a dog a soft toy until I met M) and chose today to dig him up and play with him in the snow.

Teddy used to be grey but now he's a rabbity shade of brown... so you can imagine what I was about to shout out to M when I saw a dead looking bundle of brown fur on the decking this morning! I realised what it was just in time.

E and J were not too impressed that their school was open today. The school bus service wasn't running so not surprisingly only about half of the usual numbers turned up today. Had it not been for M insisting on school they would have had a day off today. Bah humbug!

Flash and Batman...

Sadly the hamster died a few days ago. It was a bit of a shock all round. She was extremely well looked after. Clean, fed and fresh water daily. Naturally as a Mum I questioned my decision to allow E to have the pet and therefore the upset but I can safely say she did nothing wrong; we must have just been unlucky.

Initially we were not going to replace the hamster with a new one but on speaking to the pet shop to double check whether there was anything we did wrong we did come away with two new hamsters. Roborovski Hamsters! They are incredibly small; about the size of a Ferrero Rocher! Extremely cute but extremely fast and therefore tricky to photograph.

They are girls but they have been named Flash and Batman. They are very entertaining. They don't go round each other, they go over. The speed at which they scratch an ear would give a hummingbird's wings a run for their money. Fingers crossed they last a bit longer!

Mmmmarmalade...

I think it could be very productive if we were snowed in more often. As well as a bit of gluten free baking (muffins), M has been labouring over a batch of marmalade. Seville oranges no less. I do like marmalade but the smell of the oranges whilst simmering was quite overpowering. I won't be consuming very much of the finished product because of the high sugar content but I have had a small taste and it is extremely good! M is very proud of himself!

The ingredients came as part of a kit from Riverford (www.riverford.co.uk) which includes oranges, lemons and the recipe. They also have a video tutorial online. Just add sugar and your own jars. Easy peasy apparently (M did work up a sweat though and at one stage didn't think it would reach the setting stage).

Snowed in...

I believe some serious snowman building is going to take place today; just as soon as E and maybe J (he is a bit poorly) complete the 'see who can get the most layers on' competition. I fear J will not last long dressed up for arctic conditions when he is already running a temperature.

J and I have some kind of unpleasant flu thing. This photo is my view for the moment. A bed tray with a pile of books and a packet of flu capsules. Those are the only two things I need at the moment and even the books are quite challenging to concentrate on.

M is doing a sterling job of keeping the tea flowing and very nice tea it is too. With our new tea pot we use loose leaf tea from Stokes in Lincoln; a blend which is ideal for hard water areas, and for the first time the tea actually tastes like tea. I am converted.

So today will probably be like the last few days; have a cup of tea, sleep, read a few pages, sleep, have a cup of tea...

Funny how dogs know when you are ill; Harvey keeps sneaking his way into my bedroom and cautiously snuggling up under my chin while I sleep. Aw!

Today...

A frozen old oak tree
Frosty bamboo
Cobwebs on my workshop
Icy beech leaves
Cobwebs on the shed
Cobwebs on the playhouse
Come on! It's only minus 6, walkies!
Throw me a snowball!
Ah, defrosting slowly

And then it snowed some more...

Icing sugar...

I happened to look outside at midnight last night and saw the first of the snow falling. The novelty and excitement never leaves you it seems. I tossed and turned and got up to have the occasional peep. This morning it wasn't as deep and crisp and even as I would have liked but it still looks like a dusting of icing sugar.

The dog was the lucky one who got to make footprints in the freshly laid snow. Several thousand of them probably; he runs about like a headless chicken. I have never known a dog feel the cold so easily though! He comes in shivering on a day like today; it's very strange.

He is tucked up in his basket under the old church pew in our hall, next to the radiator. He will soon warm up.

I feel very snug in my flannel lounge pants and sweatshirt. I'm on my second cup of tea of the day. I have been so unfocused since the start of the new year that I am only capable of crocheting something that needs no thought or concentration.

I had thoughts of a scrappy scarf and cast on about 5 feet of foundation stitches, did several rows and realised that no-one in their right minds would wear such a thing around their neck so I will keep going but turn it into a blanket. Just straight rows of half trebles on a 4.5mm hook using mainly DK scraps. Should be done in about a year!