The Dawning of a New Day

Last week I was lucky enough to catch the sunrise over our frost laden garden on my camera.

The moon was still in the sky. It was bitingly cold, but well worth nipping out in my dressing gown to capture all the same.

The evenings are well and truly pulling out now which is lovely. Sadly I haven't been as active as I would have liked due to inevitably succumbing to covid which has rattled through my workplace like never before. That being said, with the aid of paracetamol and ibuprofen it has been tolerable if not enjoyable. This morning I tested with just a feint line showing, so soon hopefully it shall be a dim and distant memory.

One day I ventured down to the deserted woods for some much needed fresh air. There are definitely signs of Spring stirring. A few stray ash twigs came home with me to light the fire.

I must admit that today I really missed the little people next door. We obviously have been keeping apart for several days now, though it has allowed me to rest when I needed so for that I must be grateful. Hopefully before long it will be back to cuddle and play time.

Anyway, rest and recuperate, and plan some downtime as I really feel our immune systems must be running low after all the bugs they have had to deal with lately. 

Blessings, J. x

Wish Me Luck

Shortly heading to work...nearly half of our residents have Covid...my headache though diminished still remains...and the sky looks like this...

Hope to be back here again soon...

Blessings, J. x

To The Wheel Of The Year

Imbolc is upon us. Candlemas tomorrow. Well today after dark I suppose. Time keeps a turning no matter what is going on in the World. 

Yesterday I mixed up some Christmas puddings. Using up part of a crusty loaf of bread I had made and we hadn't eaten. I usually make rolls for this reason. Freezing them in twos. Anyway, me and him who does are rather partial to a spoonful of Christmas pudding in the depths of Winter, and so mini delicious concoctions have been steamed in a very large pan in the Aga oven. I always freeze them to be on the safe side with keeping them as we don't like ours over-boiled. I only have eight of the smallest size of pudding basin, so had to utilise my eight ramekins also and one Weck jar with sides that will allow for the removal of the pudding. That one has been transferred to atop the woodburner and will be for us tonight after scoffing some lamb chops. It's not all bad here you know.

The headache is improving slowly. Can't quite believe how it can still be so sore, and if I move around too much or too quickly I get soundly reminded that it's not far away and could come back unless I behave. I made myself take a short walk in the afternoon loveliness though. I'm sure the fresh air must have done more good than harm.

Headache remnants or no I intend to raise a glass to the Wheel Of The Year this evening. What a magnificent and powerful thing it is. Certainly deserves a whiff of sherry or something raised in its honour!

That's enough for sixteen more yummy puddings...

And so to Imbolc, and Candlemass...

Blessings, J. x

Fiddling

 

Just fiddling a little...no real purpose. I had an asthma episode on Friday, which led me to use my rescue inhaler. On Saturday at work I kept thinking my glasses were misting up. Sunday...well Sunday what can I say. Headache central set in with nausea. Possibly a side effect of the inhaler coupled with frustratingly still wearing a mask at work. Hubby thinks that as it was a bit warmer on Saturday I may have become dehydrated as well. Whatever it feels as though the six nations rugby teams have used my head as their practice ball. Really trying hard not to feel sorry for myself, however I am slightly fed up with January and hope for much better health in February and beyond.

Really ought to be thinking about wedding plans, and finishing the decorating upstairs. Not just yet though. All in good time as they say. How can a head become so sore though, seriously. The sun is just poking out a little and is a very welcome sight, though too much and I'll be reaching for dark glasses! Just no pleasing some people is there!

Hopefully back soon in better form.

Blessings, J. x

First Stirrings

Already in January signs are evident of the shifting seasons.

Birds are singing.

Bulbs are popping up, seemingly unharmed by the cold of Winter.

The cats...they are spending more time outside, and less time sound asleep in one of their various favourite  nesting spots.

The first snowdrops will soon be opening

Wilbur spending some time near the pond

And us...well yesterday I along with my two daughters and two grandsons enjoyed a first outside hot chocolate on the patio in some beautiful sunshine after having taken a short walk. 

But what a difference a day makes. Today is grey as can be with regular light rain showers. I have brought in just a few armfuls of logs. The fire is already lit. It's been a muddle through day so far with no real purpose. I have the boys to pick up from preschool this afternoon.  

I fear my mind to be as grey as the weather...having returned to work I am really rather tired today. My body it seems has been unaccustomed to as much physical activity for a few weeks. Scheduled to work an early shift tomorrow which at the moment I'm unable to summon up any enthusiasm for. Perhaps I should consider hibernating. 

This little ring of beauty is still hanging on our door in from the passage...I've been keeping the battery lights on and will maybe keep it hung up until they run out of power...then again Candlemas beckons next week?! Decisions decisions.

Blessings, J. x

Sunrise. Sunset

Getting up early can have it's advantages...

As can walking outside at dusk

It's not as cold here this morning, and coupled with my late night unwinding after work when I fed the woodburner well into the hours of darkness, I am being rewarded with a lovely cosy fire to feel, hear and admire. The first mug of tea has been drunk, and the first ginger biscuit nibbled.

On my to do list today is making a batch of bread rolls, hopefully a weeks supply. In fact I may make some rolls, and then a crusty loaf of bread as we have some cream that needs using and who can resist fresh crusty bread lavishly coated in cream and jam or honey. Not us for sure.

Both cats have decided as they usually do first thing in the morning to venture outside. However when I am home they both like to play rather an annoying game of let me in, let me out. Wilbur gives me filthy looks through the kitchen windows, and Kitty paws and makes the windows filthy!

I can feel a need for mug of tea number two so for now...Wishing you all a Happy and Merry Burns Night!

Blessings, J. x

This Is It

Having had a less than satisfactory festive season due to work and illness, now I'm really focusing on what is important to us as a family. The pressure, and temptation to take on extra shifts in December was such a strong force and I'm afraid I totally got strung along in it all. That and all the extra preparations for the festivities meant that by the time it was time to have the fun I was totally burnt out and consequently became ill. I feel as though I have been cheated. I know that many many people suffered with illness this Winter, however I look back and realise that I worked through every holiday last year. The lure of a little extra money. Guilt. Whatever. Now I just feel I've been had. It appears that my place of work has changed how it works out our waiting sick days. This is a real thumbs down as I only have two shifts a week automatically on the rota, the rest I pick up. But pick up I do, regularly, so I have been less that enamoured at being told that they only go by the regular shifts we do now. As I said, having worked all through the Jubilee, Queens funeral, most of Easter, Christmas and New Years Days I'm reassessing my work life balance. I had already committed to working part of this next weekend, but next month I'm going to leave well alone and pick up absolutely nothing extra. To be honest I need the rest. This virus and its' effects on my body have really knocked me sideways. Today it's dawned on me that this is it...this is my life, and I'm letting too many things get in the way of enjoying it.

Anyway enough woe me...we have a glorious if finger numbing day to enjoy here today. I'm having a steady morning as I went back to work yesterday and will be doing a late shift this afternoon/evening. Oh but the sun. The frost. To see shadows, yes shadows made by the amazing sunshine! No I'm not going crazy and heading out for a romp as I will need all my energy later having had a really busy shift yesterday. On Sunday hubby declared we were going for a walk, I think he wanted to check my fitness level really! Anyway we wrapped up well and took hot tea and a snack each and headed to the Tarka Trail. We ventured to a place called Yarde and had an enjoyable if longer walk than I would have chosen. Hubby walks at hubby pace, so especially on the way back I kept saying slower please! Needless to say having done not an awful lot in January I keeled over on the sofa in the afternoon. It was lovely though. Many times I thought to myself I should be snapping some photos, but it was just sooo chilly I didn't want to take off my gloves.

The woodturner is lit. A stew concoction is bubbling away on top. I hope to take some for a very quick pitstop style tea. I don't officially get a break today but hope to shovel something down my neck in order to stop myself from keeling over. Tomorrow I've allocated myself the task of baking bread. See, slow and steady!

I had to return to the doctors surgery on Friday. Luckily the results of my ECG and bloods were normal, but I've been given an additional preventer inhaler. The rescue one is great, but gives me the shakes. They say it could be two weeks before the preventer one takes over from the rescue one. I'm just really grateful they exist to be honest. January certainly hasn't been my finest hour!

This photo doesn't do yesterdays sunrise justice 

Well I must away and have a quick pick up before lunch. 

Blessings, J. x