Monday 1 January 2018

January Days

The January page in Edith Holden's Book -  The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Country Lady


January brings the snow
Makes our feet and fingers glow

so said Sara Coleridge in her Months of The Year poem  written in 1834 for children. We are more likely to get snow in January or February nowadays rather than December, and January is one of the wettest months of the year and often the coldest, this very old weather saying is usually right.

As the days lengthen so the cold strengthens 
 January is named after the Latin for door or opening , ianua, and Janus a Roman God with two faces, looking backwards and forwards.


I did the looking backwards bit on yesterdays post (and a HUGE thank you everyone for all the lovely supportive comments, it's  really good to know that people enjoy reading) so now I'm looking forward.
Of course lots of things will depend on Colin's health, how quickly will he recover from this treatment? and has it worked? But the year will march along regardless so I need to have plans and ideas.

The Garden:-
One of the things Col was able to do in November was to get the frame of a fruit cage sorted for the raspberry bed. The canes arrived two days after he went into hospital and I got them planted. They won't produce fruit this year but from 2019 onward we should have a good crop. The very cheap canes I got from Poundland and Wilkinsons before we moved  and the few that were here already should give us some to eat this year.
The new strawberry bed is looking healthy, I just need 5 more plants to fill it up. We might get a few gooseberries this year from the new bushes.
We now know that the pears don't keep - even in the freezer - they defrosted into a slimy mess -  we must start eating them sooner. The amount of cooking apples our tree produced didn't last us long so I shall be picking up cheap bags full when I see them at car boot sales this year.

I'll be growing much the same as last year in the vegetable beds and greenhouse and we have a couple of extra foot of space now some dahlia tubers have been moved. My tin is stocked with seed packets and I'm ready to go......

The House:-
 I hope we get round to swapping the massive deep roll-top, claw-footed bath to a normal bath with shower over. Then the random shower in the bedroom can be removed and bedroom redecorated from dull cinnamon to something much more cheerful.  Kitchen unit replacement will wait another year, there's only 1 missing drawer front and a few missing kick boards...... Everything is still use-able.

Crafting:-
I could say that this year I'll learn to crochet, to knit more than dishcloths and to rustle up quilts and clothes.........but I know myself by now and it won't happen! I'd rather be reading.
So I shall just make the years birthday cards from the stash and maybe get to use that willow kit I got from a boot-sale last summer.

That'll do for now. Back Tomorrow with Budget 2018
Sue


41 comments:

  1. What a shame about the pears. Can you use the mush as a fruit puree to have in smoothies or in yogurt?
    J x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were really nasty turned to brown slime as soon as defrosted. They went on the compost heap PDQ!

      Delete
  2. Happy New Year! I know it can't be much fun trotting off to Addenbroke's so often, but do your best!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You could make perry!! That'll preserve your pears! Maybe that's why you see them bottled! It looks like a busy 12 months ahead! X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too nasty for anything - don't know the variety but Not a keeper

      Delete
  4. I enjoy your quotes from the Edith Holden Book. It looks like that book has lovely illustrations too. You already have a good plan in mind for the year. That helps when we can get a basic guideline down for the things we plan to accomplish. You always get so much done - I could learn a lot from you as I never manage to complete everything I hope to get done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't feel I do much compared to some crafters and gardeners

      Delete
  5. Hope the year is a good one for you both, Sue. We haven't really thought about plans yet....other than making time to go out more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We could/ought to have gone out more last summer when Col was well but ended up just enjoying our new space - maybe this summer?

      Delete
  6. Thank you for your lovely , inspiring blog .
    Wishing you a happy new year .

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have learnt to really enjoy the quieter months of January and February this past couple of years, but I've had to dig deeper to find the gems. You have got some good plans in place by the sounds of it.
    Arilx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For many years when we were smallholding I used to sink into deep depression each January but then learned to take it as a rest month before the busy-ness of spring

      Delete
  8. What a lot you have achieved, Sue. Today I am packing away the decorations, culling any that are surplus and hopefully having a swap round of some cupboard space. Exciting stuff but necessary to give me some clear headspace. Catriona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have cleared my minimal decorations away, had plans to sort but shoved them in the box as per

      Delete
  9. Just to send my best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and Col and your family.
    Margaret P

    ReplyDelete
  10. I often read your blog in the morning on my mini-ipad and then mean to comment when I get on my laptop and a proper keyboard, but of course forget! You have achieved a lot and I have enjoyed your adventures in your new place.

    You could perhaps bottle/can your pears? They should last then.

    Wishing you and Col all the best for 2018, with Health and Happiness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't worry, if all 500+ readers commented everyday I would be so busy reading and replying that I wouldn't have time to write anything.!!
      I think they are a variety of pear that doesn't keep. They went brown as soon as they defrosted and slimy

      Delete
  11. Happy New Year Sue and interesting post today. I am not one for lists or plans being more of a spur of the moment type person. However, since leaving work I have realised that it is necessary to do more planning of my time than I am used to or else there is a danger of "drifting". I have therefore put a few things in place for at least the first three months of the year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got into the habit of lists and plans due to being a Cub Scout leader for 20+ years. Then having three children then always planning the veg garden and caring for animals - it comes naturally now

      Delete
  12. Good plans for the year ahead. I hope all your hospital trips last year will reap rewards of a healthy 2018 for Col :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just one trip to hospital this week - Hooray!

      Delete
  13. Happy New Year. Hope it's a good one for you and your family.
    Lesley.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like how you 'know yourself' - I should take note of this when making my plans! I have enjoyed your blog and adventures so look forward to more this year. Best wishes to you both for 2018.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know that reading is my favourite pastime.........so many books and not enough time.

      Delete
  15. Lots of things to keep you busy and I will enjoy reading about them.
    Happy New Year.
    Hugs-x-

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I shall enjoy reading about your sewing, quilting etc - all the things I'll never do!

      Delete
  16. I am sure you will understand Sue that we are all out here hoping that things turn out well for Col this time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Pat, lots of fingers crossed and prayers being said so we have to hope for the best.

      Delete
  17. Just dropping by to wish you, Col and the family all the very best for 2018. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many Thanks and to you all - enjoy that caravan

      Delete
  18. Happy New Year Sue and Col. Wishing you all the best in 2018.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hope 2018 is good to you and Col. I love January as it's that new start, that new beginning yet I dislike February so much!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Try the pears in alcohol next year. Just lightly poach and then put into jam jars and top up with brandy. It should help them keep at least a couple of months, especially if you keep the jars in the fridge. It makes for a lovely quick dessert with some icecream :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Your garden sounds like it is going to be lovely. Nice to know about the pears as I would really like to plant one this coming spring.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy new year to you, Sue. Our January days are hot and sticky and stormy. I'd like a bit of snow right about now! I hope Col's health improves and that he responds to the treatment so that you can both move through the year more easily. I have just taken down the xmas cards we received last year and I have set them aside for making next year's gift tags. I hate to throw them away. Meg:)

    ReplyDelete