A Year in Stempster

 There had been more snow in the night, filling in the footprints like in The Children of Green Knowe. The wind was bitterly cold and blowing the snow in drifts. It took a while for the gritter to come down the hill and up again to reach us. Most of the roads in Caithness are closed and Caithness itself is now only accessible by boat. The drifts had piled up against the stone wall to the sheep field. The sheep themselves were huddled in a line beside the wood, having found the most shelter the field offered, when we went for our Intrepid Adventure down the road. We got caught out in another blizzard when it was impossible to see the road. Icicles have started forming around the house, one large icicle dangling near the porch door, and several smaller specimens hanging from the eaves of the boiler room. There is a spider's web in the corner of the eaves, and two small icicles danging from the threads of the web. It shows how strong the silk is! The snow is building up on the roof, p...

 The year began with a grey mist. When I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth, I could half see Lythmore on the other side of the valley, but it was covered in a translucent curtain of sleet and rain. The wind had been wild in the night and, when I went to let the chickens out, I found that the top gate had been blown open. The chickens stayed close to me, unbothered by eating, but just wanted the reassurance and comfort. The wind has continued all day, and the snow has been ever present, sometimes falling as hail, other times as thick, fluffy snowflakes. It hasn't settled much, though there is a thin dusting, surprising as it has been snowing most of the day. Perhaps it is being blown away as soon as it nears the ground! One of my female quail has hurt her eye. I'm unsure how it happened, but imagine she has been in a bit of a fight with another one. I am concerned, but I can't bathe it in salt water while it is so close to her eye. Ouch! I think tomorrow will see more...

 We were going to have our Story Day today but it seemed a shame to spend our last good weather day inside so, instead, I did something I've been putting off for some time. My potting shed is my goal for next year. There is a greenhouse in the Kitchen Garden, but this is really Dad's, and I don't like to use it too much. Besides, it's only small and gets very full through the year. Eventually, I'd like a polytunnel in the orchard, but that'll be a long time in coming, so I've been saving up for a potting shed where I can work in the Kitchen Garden when we're having April showers. I also really like the classic designs of potting sheds, and I have great plans for decorating it! First job, though, was the thankless task of clearing the wood pile and bits and bobs from where the potting shed is destined to go! This wood pile has been a feature since before we moved in, and some of the wood was rotten beyond recognition, some had screws and nails at weird an...