Photos and Memories from possibly the weirdest year most of us have ever lived through.............
January.
Stacked the logs from the poplars that were cut down and put onto pallets ready for splitting.
Logs to burn, logs to burn
logs to save the coal a turn
here's a word to make you wise
when you hear the woodsman's cries
never heed his usual tale
that he has good logs for sale
but read these lines and really learn
the proper kind of logs to burn
Beechwood fires burn bright and clear
Hornbeam blazes too
if the logs are kept a year
and seasoned through and through
Oak logs will warm you well
if they're old and dry
larch logs of pinewood smell
but the sparks will fly
Pine is good and so is Yew
for warmth through wintry days
but Poplar and willow too
take long to dry and blaze
Birch logs will burn too fast
Alder scarce at all
Chestnut logs are good to last
if cut in the fall
Holly logs burn like wax
you should burn them green
Elm logs like smouldering flax
no flame to be seen
Pear logs and Apple logs
they will scent your room
Cherry logs across the dogs
smell like flowers in bloom
But Ash logs all smooth and grey
burn them green or old
burn up all that come your way
they're worth their weight in gold
BiL is very dismissive of the lightweight quick burning Poplar I have as the wood he cuts and sells is more likely Oak and Ash, but as I said "beggars can't be choosers" and suddenly he was quite happy to clear this lot away to his house when I decided to move. (There is still enough left here for this winter and next for the new family)
February
The three oldest have all grown up so much this year. Oldest Grandson is a school boy, Oldest Granddaughter goes to a school nursery class and Youngest Granddaughter will soon be 3 and the baby will be a 1 year old even sooner.
March
The first Lock down and I started to cycle more for exercise as the weather was so good, down to the old part of the main village.
April
I made a map of the garden and meadow, hadn't really thought about selling the house then. But another year of having to drive everywhere, all the garden work and things going wrong changed my mind.
May
My Greenhouse in May. Getting a greenhouse will be my first plan at the bungalow after I move. It will probably be too late for growing in 2021, depends how soon I can get a base down.
June
A few strawberries from the pots on my patio. I'm taking some new plants in pots to the bungalow. Luckily Brother-in Law had enough spare so that I could make jam.
July
There were a few boot sales in July - it was so good to get out and about again after the long lock-down, although I didn't find much
August
It was lovely to get back to swimming when the pool re-opened. The first time for 5½ months.
I went as many times as possible between August and the next lock-down in November.
September
I used some of the huge peppers that the 3 plants from Thompson and Morgan produced to make mango chutmey
October
All through the year there were many many posts about books. I've had lots of comments from readers who say they enjoy my library book photo each month - of course the mobile library was locked down too for months and I seem to have bought more books this year than any previous year. But there are no regrets about that!
These were my shelves in the living room in October and since then some have these have gone off to Ziffit too.I've sold more than I've bought
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November
A fast moving month despite being in lock-down again. After Col died I knew it was impossible to stay here for ever, it's too big and too old and too many things that need sorting all the time. After looking at the houses for sale for several months and seeing how quickly things were selling I had this place valued and it was such a good price that I could move and have money left over. The house sold within 4 days of going on-line!
I'm moving just 4 miles to a 3 bedroom bungalow with a small garden but
there is room for a greenhouse and a couple of vegetable beds. The
best thing is that I can walk to a shop, post office, library van stop,
chip shop, doctors and the hairdressers where I go is just 3 houses
away. The village has a village hall where in normal times lots of
things happen and a big childrens playground for when the grandchildren visit.
December
Getting ready for Christmas, which was almost cancelled and then tier 4 the day after. I enjoyed my double edition of the Radio Times, I like all the extra bits of reading in a year when TV has been a constant companion for me.
so my 6th Day after Christmas treat is the new copy.
That was my year in photos and now it's the last day of 2020 and all we can hope for is that 2021 is better for everyone.
Thank you all for your company in blogland through 2020
