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.
Beautiful sweater! My husband has also removed a stump himself, hard work! We are enjoying our new buffed orpingtons, a big difference from our previous Hyline browns, in a good way! ❤😊❤
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.
@@EnglishCountryLife I will keep you informed. I can't claim it as one of my ideas although I had seen vids of people planting potatoes straight into straw bales and having success so I suppose it's a natural progression. Another advantage of using bales for raised beds is that you have somewhere to squat your bum whilst tending your vegetables (not a euphemism! ) and a convenient shelf for tools and other paraphernalia.
@@a.b.9707 Several reasons really. Cost. It would cost around €200 to use masonry, and €20 to use bales. The bales would last about 2 years so that's about 20 years for the same price. Aesthetics. Bales look so much nicer than bricks or concrete blocks. Flexibility. I can move bales around to change the shape or location far easier than masonry. Environment. Straw is infinitely renewable and can be composted or used as mulch when they need to be changed. I have built a raised bed out of wooden boards and for the reasons just mentioned, I almost instantly regretted it.
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 😂
In respect of stump removal have you thought about drilling a large hole in the centre vertically and a connecting hole from the side as far down as possible light a fire in the middle and try and burn it out? Talking about caring for relatives etc and not saying you are there yet but have you given any thought to what will happen when you need to retire? from small holding.
@@livingladolcevita7318 I've tried burning before but it would take several days with large stumps. We will eventually downsize to a bungalow...with land. We hope never to retire as such
We had 90 mph winds in our area from Storm Darragh. We had roads blocked in three different directions from fallen trees (solid trees that we thought wouldn't be in any danger of falling.) One neighbour's roof came off his shed and another neighbour's house was lost in a house fire caused by a back-draft down his chimney from the high winds. (Might be something to cover.) We were without power for three days which is nothing compared to some who are still without electricity. It has shown us how important it is to have a wood stove and fuel because small as it is, we managed very well compared to others on our road. We were able to cook on ours. The biggest problem we had was water. Our well works off an electric pump system. No electricity, no pump - no running water. Do you think you could cover something regarding how someone could overcome this problem please? We've had a number of power cuts due to maintenance work before this, so we've learned not to be so dependent on freezers for storing our food. We were told by one neighbour who works as a refuse man that it was frightening the amount of gone off food from freezers that had arrived at the dump because people didn't know what to do in that situation i.e. keep it closed and insulated or cook it if you have the means. What do you do in such situations? Are there any alternatives? How would you approach a week long power gone situation? Fiona, kudos on the cardigan. Its beautiful. Well done. Hugh, just looking at you working on that stump is giving me back and knee pain. My sympathies.
@@a.b.9707 Sure we can cover electricity provision in emergencies. One thing that is well worth considering is a portable power station th-cam.com/video/XwVPRcsUal4/w-d-xo.html
🤭Thank you. I have watched that (memory like a sieve) and we are considering a generator/portable power station as we can see more events like this happening in the future. I was thinking more along the lines of accessing the water without electricity if possible. The well is over 110 feet deep, so a bucket would be dodgy. Do you know of any hand pump systems you would recommend? We were thinking also to have a back up water system for washing, toilet flushing, gardening etc to conserve drinking/cooking water if something like this happened again but for a longer period.
@a.b.9707 There are hand pump systems that can work IF there is room in your well casing but 100' is a big lift for a hand pump. Any good electrician could convert your well pump to being on a plug not hard wired in about 5 minutes. Then you just plug your well into your power station & it works!
I’m in awe of your skills knitting that cardigan!
@@JanCherryJovi Isn't it great Jan? Super comfortable too!
You have had a tough time. Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year 😊
@@chrisfiller465 Thanks Chris
I don't know how to knit but wow this jumper is awesome 😍
Thanks so much 😊
Fantastic cardigan, well done and well done on removing those stumps.
@@KirstyHart-nq4wk Thanks Kirsty! We still have more stumps to go (cutting up that tree for our neighbour got in the way!). That's life though 😉
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!
Wishing you and family a very merry Christmas, thank you for the updates ❤
Thank you James, and to you & your family
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!
Beautiful sweater! My husband has also removed a stump himself, hard work!
We are enjoying our new buffed orpingtons, a big difference from our previous Hyline browns, in a good way! ❤😊❤
@@sandypipher5846 Thank you. Buffs are such relaxed birds aren't they?
We enjoy your videos, thank you.
@@sunnyday2044 Thank you
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!
Seasonal Greetings, Good to see Fiona now fully mended, enjoy very much your vids keep up the good work. regards
@@steveridge8168 Thanks Steve. Merry Christmas! 🎄
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
@@EnglishCountryLife I will keep you informed. I can't claim it as one of my ideas although I had seen vids of people planting potatoes straight into straw bales and having success so I suppose it's a natural progression. Another advantage of using bales for raised beds is that you have somewhere to squat your bum whilst tending your vegetables (not a euphemism! ) and a convenient shelf for tools and other paraphernalia.
@@chrishamilton-wearing3232 Why not try builders bricks? Or those hollow concrete blocks? They last decades.
@@a.b.9707 Several reasons really. Cost. It would cost around €200 to use masonry, and €20 to use bales. The bales would last about 2 years so that's about 20 years for the same price. Aesthetics. Bales look so much nicer than bricks or concrete blocks. Flexibility. I can move bales around to change the shape or location far easier than masonry. Environment. Straw is infinitely renewable and can be composted or used as mulch when they need to be changed. I have built a raised bed out of wooden boards and for the reasons just mentioned, I almost instantly regretted it.
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!
In respect of stump removal have you thought about drilling a large hole in the centre vertically and a connecting hole from the side as far down as possible light a fire in the middle and try and burn it out? Talking about caring for relatives etc and not saying you are there yet but have you given any thought to what will happen when you need to retire? from small holding.
@@livingladolcevita7318 I've tried burning before but it would take several days with large stumps. We will eventually downsize to a bungalow...with land. We hope never to retire as such
We had 90 mph winds in our area from Storm Darragh. We had roads blocked in three different directions from fallen trees (solid trees that we thought wouldn't be in any danger of falling.) One neighbour's roof came off his shed and another neighbour's house was lost in a house fire caused by a back-draft down his chimney from the high winds. (Might be something to cover.) We were without power for three days which is nothing compared to some who are still without electricity. It has shown us how important it is to have a wood stove and fuel because small as it is, we managed very well compared to others on our road. We were able to cook on ours. The biggest problem we had was water. Our well works off an electric pump system. No electricity, no pump - no running water. Do you think you could cover something regarding how someone could overcome this problem please? We've had a number of power cuts due to maintenance work before this, so we've learned not to be so dependent on freezers for storing our food. We were told by one neighbour who works as a refuse man that it was frightening the amount of gone off food from freezers that had arrived at the dump because people didn't know what to do in that situation i.e. keep it closed and insulated or cook it if you have the means. What do you do in such situations? Are there any alternatives? How would you approach a week long power gone situation? Fiona, kudos on the cardigan. Its beautiful. Well done. Hugh, just looking at you working on that stump is giving me back and knee pain. My sympathies.
@@a.b.9707 Sure we can cover electricity provision in emergencies. One thing that is well worth considering is a portable power station th-cam.com/video/XwVPRcsUal4/w-d-xo.html
🤭Thank you. I have watched that (memory like a sieve) and we are considering a generator/portable power station as we can see more events like this happening in the future. I was thinking more along the lines of accessing the water without electricity if possible. The well is over 110 feet deep, so a bucket would be dodgy. Do you know of any hand pump systems you would recommend? We were thinking also to have a back up water system for washing, toilet flushing, gardening etc to conserve drinking/cooking water if something like this happened again but for a longer period.
@a.b.9707 There are hand pump systems that can work IF there is room in your well casing but 100' is a big lift for a hand pump. Any good electrician could convert your well pump to being on a plug not hard wired in about 5 minutes. Then you just plug your well into your power station & it works!
Knew you'd know the logistics of something like this. Thanks again. We've learned so much from you both.
You don't look a bit like, Starsky! Lol.
@@HeatherMyfanwyTylerGreey Sadly, I agree!