As a knitter of many years, that is a cracking first colourwork cardigan, Fiona! I just wanted to say, this year I tried your parsnip wine, dubbin and low salt bacon recipes and have been thrilled with the results. So much that I'm planning to make a cold smoking chamber in 2025. I liked your 'work is never finished on a smallholding'. My set-up is more urban nano-holding (pokey back garden and tiny front path) but with chronic pain and fatigue condition I can totally relate. But every year I chip away, establishing more systems and habits, inspired by what smallholders do on a larger scale. And when a gift horse looks you in the mouth you find a way to juggle. With you it was precious wood for Essie courtesy of Storm Darragh; here in London I managed to scavenge fallen birch branches to grow some mushrooms on in the darkest dampest corner of the garden.
I'm always in awe of that kind of patterned knitting! Beautiful! I just don't have the patience, which is odd, because I'm perfectly happy doing very intricate, faffy cross-stitch 😂
Great update, and yes, a lovely cardigan. I've changed colours in the past, but only row by row in blocks of plain colour, never for a multi-row pattern like that, I'm in awe. Your work on securing against Storm Darragh, and dealing with the aftermath, is also very impressive. Along with the fluffiest chickens I've ever seen! So glad to hear you say you're back on track for 2025, that's very much how I feel, even though this year for me hasn't been anything like as problematic as it has for you. Happy Christmas to you both.
We got the outskirts of Darragh here, nothing like the poor people in south and west Wales but like you, we had winds in excess of 60mph. We spent a lot of time making sure that our small temporary polytunnel was lashed down using old tides, a wheelbarrow full of compost, some 40 litre containers with the last of the potatoes in them, some slabs and an old tractor battery. It worked. Then there was the chicken run and an apple tree that was threatening to go over which would have been a tragedy as this year for the first time in our 4 years here, it had a bountiful crop of apples. We were worried about the chickens as well so I tried a brick to their legs ( a brick each of course) so they wouldn't get blown away. 😀 Like yourselves, we are spending time sitting next to a log fire. We have just done the GCHQ Christmas quiz, it's a bit tough, but we did it and then did last year's as well. That one was harder. I have been musing about what to do with our 2 old raised beds which are completely rotten and falling apart. Inspiration came from you tube land and I am going to build new ones not out of wood, but out of straw bales no less. Ok, they won't last as long as wooden ones but they are way cheaper, when they have started to rot- possibly get 2 seasons from them, then it's easy to replace them , change the layout or size if needed and the old straw can be composted so nothing goes to waste.
Wishing you and family a very merry Christmas, thank you for the updates ❤
Thank you James, and to you & your family
As a knitter of many years, that is a cracking first colourwork cardigan, Fiona! I just wanted to say, this year I tried your parsnip wine, dubbin and low salt bacon recipes and have been thrilled with the results. So much that I'm planning to make a cold smoking chamber in 2025. I liked your 'work is never finished on a smallholding'. My set-up is more urban nano-holding (pokey back garden and tiny front path) but with chronic pain and fatigue condition I can totally relate. But every year I chip away, establishing more systems and habits, inspired by what smallholders do on a larger scale. And when a gift horse looks you in the mouth you find a way to juggle. With you it was precious wood for Essie courtesy of Storm Darragh; here in London I managed to scavenge fallen birch branches to grow some mushrooms on in the darkest dampest corner of the garden.
Exactly - there's always a way to find the good!
I don't know how to knit but wow this jumper is awesome 😍
Thanks so much 😊
I’m in awe of your skills knitting that cardigan!
@@JanCherryJovi Isn't it great Jan? Super comfortable too!
That cardigan looks really smart and stylish and 100% wool too - that would cost a fair old bit in somewhere like Marks & Spencer or John Lewis.
Hugh really likes it - that's what matters!
I'm always in awe of that kind of patterned knitting! Beautiful! I just don't have the patience, which is odd, because I'm perfectly happy doing very intricate, faffy cross-stitch 😂
Cross stitch is a weird mystery!
Great update, and yes, a lovely cardigan. I've changed colours in the past, but only row by row in blocks of plain colour, never for a multi-row pattern like that, I'm in awe. Your work on securing against Storm Darragh, and dealing with the aftermath, is also very impressive. Along with the fluffiest chickens I've ever seen! So glad to hear you say you're back on track for 2025, that's very much how I feel, even though this year for me hasn't been anything like as problematic as it has for you. Happy Christmas to you both.
@@janarmo2920 And to you!
We enjoy your videos, thank you.
@@sunnyday2044 Thank you
We got the outskirts of Darragh here, nothing like the poor people in south and west Wales but like you, we had winds in excess of 60mph. We spent a lot of time making sure that our small temporary polytunnel was lashed down using old tides, a wheelbarrow full of compost, some 40 litre containers with the last of the potatoes in them, some slabs and an old tractor battery. It worked. Then there was the chicken run and an apple tree that was threatening to go over which would have been a tragedy as this year for the first time in our 4 years here, it had a bountiful crop of apples. We were worried about the chickens as well so I tried a brick to their legs ( a brick each of course) so they wouldn't get blown away. 😀 Like yourselves, we are spending time sitting next to a log fire. We have just done the GCHQ Christmas quiz, it's a bit tough, but we did it and then did last year's as well. That one was harder. I have been musing about what to do with our 2 old raised beds which are completely rotten and falling apart. Inspiration came from you tube land and I am going to build new ones not out of wood, but out of straw bales no less. Ok, they won't last as long as wooden ones but they are way cheaper, when they have started to rot- possibly get 2 seasons from them, then it's easy to replace them , change the layout or size if needed and the old straw can be composted so nothing goes to waste.
Love to hear how you get on with the straw bales. It's a great idea