Orange is the new Black(ie)

Meet Satsuma, our new puppy.

How hard is it to take a photo of a black puppy?

We have been looking for a puppy for nearly a year. We didn't want too big dog, not too small. Not too eager to chase game, but eager to go to long walks. Not too hard to train, but not too timid. She's been with us since friday, and so far so good - no fights with kittens, no pooped carpets.She was not supposed to be house trained, but seems to be. When she has to go, she goes to nearest door and sits very nicely to wait. Last night I got to sleep all the way from 11pm to six o'clock in the morning.

Winter wonderland in gray

We have been living in the winter wonderland. Thick frost has covered practically everything, and without sun there is only shades of white, blue, grey and black. One of the villagers has made country skiing tracks with his snowmobile, and our kittes use track as their jogging path.
There is a lot of footprints, cats, rabbits (hares), deers, but I didn't find any fox prints.
Two youngest might ski on that track, I haven't skiing since sixth form, hate it with a passion.
Behind the trees tehere is a little pond, now frozen, we are planning to go skating there (right after I have bought a new skates for D because she has once more overgrown her skates...).

Oh bugger

Yes, I have noticed the winter is here. First i the November the polytunnel was blown away (plastic cover). We set it back and tucked it tightly and neatly, no sagging  anywhere to prevent water or snow accumulating on it.
And then came third or fourth storm this winter, and with very sticky wet snow there was at least 20cm pile of snow, which turned to slush and there went crashing down my tunnel... It's broken. Metallic pipes of frame were bent and stretched, but the covering is intact. In the morning when I left for work, there was no snow over the tunnel at all, and by 3pm the whole thing was down ( I left work ealry just for specific purpose to take snow off the tunnel... too late).

I'm so mad and sad. Of course I know I should have to build a supporting extra frame inside the tunnel, but I haven't had time to do it. It's been three months of darkness after five o'clock pm when I get back home from work (and then I have to make dinner and make sure kids do their homework), and on free time I have been working on the dining/sitting room and toilet. There is only limited hours in my days and weeks...
So I have to buy a new polytunnel. Were it only the covering, I could have bought that separately, but of course no, it's the framing... Buying a new polytunnel is not a problem (yes, I have a plenty of other things to use my money, but right now it doesn't make me bankruptcy because I have money I was planning to spend on other things on the veg plot and polytunnel and greenhouse...). The thing is I can't begin to sow/plant anything outside now before I have a working polytunnel or big greenhouse and I can't build a new polytunnel until spring when all the snow has melted and ground has softened enought to put new foundations on ground. And by then it will be at least May.

The whole idea of having a big polytunnel was to get a headstart in spring with seedlings (I was planning to put a kind of a greenhouse inside the polytunnel), so aaaaargh. Growing season is so short here north, two weeks delay might lead to unsuccessful season.

Thank you and move on.

On the other news we got some venison to the freezer (one joint from the hunting party that is allowed to use our forest and a couple of pieces from hb:s co worker), as well as lamb from my brother. First small piece of venison made into a stew, a bit too sweet to my taste (I used beer) but no leftovers... D found some edible mushrooms at Christmas when she went to fetch some branches and moss for flower arrangements (all four of our children know their 'shrooms, they have been with me in the forest since they were babies). Wild chanterells go well with game.

Dining/sitting room is missing skirtings (they are waiting in the hallway) because Christmas got on the way, I hope hb puts them on place while I'm at work, otherwise I would have to put them myself and I.m not comfortable with glue or nailgun. And the ceiling is not finished, but I have no idea what kind of wood I need for the planned lattice I have in mind... Work on process.

All I want for Christmas is...

The end of the year is coming closer. We do celebrate Christmas, not because of its religious background but rather of its ancient function - turn of time. Days keep getting darker and darker towards Christmas, and by the 21st Dec day is at shortest. It is by no means turning point of winter, because winter usually starts properly just around the New Year.

Of course there is a feast - or feasts, and gifts. I love giving gifts! Not just gifts, but really thoughtful and meaningful gifts. I have been asking my closest people what would they like to have for Christmas, and by now most of them do understand I DO want to know. I want to give gifts that are wanted and needed. They don't have to be practical or useful - if someone indeed wants to have a snowglobe with singing elves, I'm delighted if I can find one!

I have been known to knit socks only few minutes before we're suppose to open gifts (and finished them on time!) because someone has told they actually would like to have knitted socks only the previous day... Because I KNOW I can make it in time - it gives me satisfaction. I know I'm different.

Our youngests are bit difficult. They usually dont need or want anything specific. Two years ago they asked for... long johns! (they were 10y and 7y at time), last year it was socks and colourful sheets! This year 4S has asked for legos (Which we have tons already) and 5S doesn't want anything.
OS doesn't need anything, but maybe (maybe) he wants to have a video game.
DD wants/needs new drawing pad/ pen tablet, she had one two years ago and it's all worn out. She has spent hours after hours drawing with both paper and pencils and with pen tablet, and is extreme skillful. I think it is not wasted money to buy her a new and maybe a bigger one.

My brother told he needs a decent bread knife, my sister's spouse would like to have a pasta machine or mincer...

So. I'm going to spent money on gifts, and I feel good about it. I don't except to get a lot of gifts, I'm fine if I don't get any. A few years ago I asked for a marble mortar - and I got one. It was lovingly wrapped in two different packages, the mortar and the pestle separately. I feel joy every time I take it in my hand, and I know for sure it didn't cost more than 15€. I could have bought it myself, I know.

It's been snowing and raining on and off, right now there is a 10cm blanket of white stuff, but it's raining water atm so bye bye white stuff. Two weeks ago my polytunnel got off, there was a big storm (power cuts all around) and one specially nastu gust of wind took my poly. It didn't fly far, so during the weekend we just picked it up and put it back. Some strings were cut off, but no holes. Now it's anchored once more and I really hope that was the big storm.

Today was the day. I  cleared top of my wood stove and lit the fire for the first time this autunm. The flue was a bit cold because i ended up having most of the smoke inside... Door open and few minutes later all was good. Maybe there is a faint smell of smoked salmon. Pork chops, some mushrooms and spices are shimmering on the stove tops and kitchen is nicely warm. It's nice to have warm fingers too, because today I work at home and I've been typing since six o'clock this morning.
We have three other fireplaces which I have been using, but lighting the wood stove for the first time is always a special occasion.

Pretty boy found home

Finally the pretty boy found his home - the owner came the other night and took him home. And after few days (three..) he was back. Happily sleeping in our veranda 😁 . Oldest had took him in during the night and gave him food... So I rang bact to his owner and she came back and again took him home. Now its been five days, so he won't be back until next week...?
They have a new puppy and pretty boy doesn't appreciate.

Kale and other brassicas survived against all odds the deep freeze. Might have some kale with supper tonight.

Oh the cold is here

Winter is here. Last week first the temperature went down to -5 °C and when it rose back near zero it started to snow. And then some more snow. During one day we got 15cm of snow - kids made snowmen and snowlanterns.
This week there has been rain and freeze (-8°C previous night).
And of course clocks had to be adjusted again.

Anyone can tell me this is not winter yet, but to me it is.

And we apparently have gained an another cat. This beautiful black and white (ex-)tomcat appeared on our yard almoust three weeks ago. At first we thought he was somewhere from our village - there are mind-boggling numbers of black-and-white cats in a little village! Nope, none of those cats were missing.
So we gave him food and when the freeze came, we let him in to our warm porch. I have made posters, called all animal shelters around in 50km radius and searched the net to no avail.
He has decided that he lives with us now and nobody seems to miss him.

Yesterday I gave up and started deworming, I have pills which need to be given three times. For our cats I just crush the pills between tvo large spoons and dilute it to water and give i to them with syringe. But I don't know how this fellow will react to such careless act, so I have to mix the crushed mess to his food. Well... He is very suspicious to his food now...
He is very nice cat, a bit vocal compaired to our kittens (which are over a year old now, so no longer kittens but my little babies always...)

Isn't he a pretty boy?

 The most suprising thing is that all three cats seem to get along. I'll try to get him to vet to find out if he has a microchip, but I doubt that - if someone chipped their cat, they probably would try to find it if it gets lost...?


Sudden winter of course meant I didn't get all things done in the veggie plot or in the polytunnel. I managed to plant strawberries and harvest all pumpkins and squashes, but I just remembered my pitiful carrots are still on the ground - there match sized so loss is hardly worth mentoning. Kales and broccolies are also buried under the frost and snow. Kale can manage little frost, but this cold temperatures this long might be a bit too much... Well, my freezer is full so I think I can handle this loss, too.