Month: December 2022

Monday: Up and about early to get the routine jobs done and then off to do a bit of Christmas shopping, well try and make a start anyway. I don’t go overboard but I also don’t like buying presents that won’t get used and I like to try and find something a bit different each year. That proved difficult it’s all much of a muchness and I have a mental block at the minute, the grandchildren are all sorted it just the adults. Back home via a quick stop at Sam’s to borrow a back pack for the plane. We got in and made a cuppa then I could hear patch yapping constantly, I looked out of the window and he was yapping at something behind a large wooden board. I went out and heard some growling noises and behind the board was a fox! Great that’s all I need, the dogs must have disturbed it when we let them out on our return, we shut the dogs in but it was reluctant to come out and kept going for John when he tried to move the board. Obviously he was cornered so he was going to be feisty, we came inside hoping he would move on but it didn’t and so we went back out with a plan. Eventually we managed to get it to move in the direction we wanted it to go and then through the fence and away. It was not in a very good condition, mangy and bedraggled and I definitely did not want it hanging around the yard any longer than necessary. Flipping typical because I will be away for a few days and the dogs will be in while John is at work although either Sam or Charlie will be over for a couple of hours each day to let them out and provide someone via ale around the place.

A quick sit down once my case was packed and then after school finishes I will be going round to Shelley’s where Josh and Flo will find out that we are going to Lapland 🥰 Weeeeee I can’t wait, John hates flying so he did not want to come but I will be going with Shelley, Martin and the kids plus Martins Mum, exciting stuff and I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to do that 😁

Friday: Back from a three day trip to artic Lapland 🥰 lovely that it was nice and frosty when we got back it kind of continued the experience lol. What an amazing time we had, we packed a lot in, reindeer sleigh rides, husky sledding, ice hole fishing, tobogganing at every opportunity, hot chocolates, pancakes, wood fires, amazing food, warm berry juice, igloo ice bar, the northern lights and of course the very reason we went, a visit to Santa. The scenery was stunning just like something from a film or a picture, the food was plentiful, simple and tasty, the people were friendly and accommodating. The company that we booked with were top notch, couldn’t fault it at all, so well organised and run every step of the way. Absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about it.

Oh and the naughty elves need a mention too, the were brilliant, from greeting and entertaining us at the airport and trying to pinch everyone’s suitcases to greeting us at Santa’s and pulling everyone hats over their eyes and taking elfie selfies with our phones 😂

Back to reality now where I have to get on with all the normal stuff 🤪

It’s Monday morning before I can get to write any more or even think about publishing this. Friday afternoon I began to feel really tired and then was pretty much out of action for the rest of the weekend, no idea what I have picked up but it totally floored me. I don’t think I picked it up while I was away although I won’t rule that out as Flo was poorly too but John was poorly while I wasn’t here and so was Luke and I hadn’t even seen him so could have got it at anytime. It felt like a massive hangover without the drinking part 🤪 I still feel delicate this morning but better than I did, I have not eaten for two days I didn’t even feel hungry just incredibly tired and blah, not able to function very well at all. Consequently I have done nothing and now have a lot to catch up with and need to build up a bit of strength again.

It snowed yesterday morning which was a great extension to the Lapland vibe but I didn’t really get to enjoy any of it this time. The temperatures are going to be below zero for at least another week which will make life difficult, water buckets to break all the time and plenty of hay ferried to the animals.

I have a fair few Christmas table decorations to make for customers this week and next as well as Christmas shopping to get sorted and even a tree as we have not done that yet but hopefully it will all be done in time.

This is going to be the last blog for this year, I hope everyone has a lovely festive time and I will be back in 2023. Merry Christmas everyone 🎄

Monday 28th November 2022: Getting ready for round three of wreath making workshops tonight, the final one. I think three nights was enough but I really enjoyed doing them and the participants did to I think.

Tuesday: I was up early and making wreaths with the excess foliage, I made four in total throughout the day. I had a couple of customers come and look at flower bars and then spent the rest of the day tidying up.

Wednesday: More flower bar sales today 😁 I also spent a ridiculous amount of time on the internet trying to get a piece of information, I can’t even tell how frustrating it all was lol. Basically I had contacted a company a while back and bought something from them, they emailed me with the paper work. When I needed to look at a piece of specific info I had to log on to the site through the email link, we do not recognise this email was the first message, what but wait you emailed me how can you not recognise it 🤪 and so it went on for at least an hour. Finally I managed to resolve it and move on with my life 😂 I had more tidying up to do to get Johns pool room back to how it started, it’s always surprising how much there is to tidy and get straight after an event. Once I had done that and then hoovered indoors I ordered a new roadside board for the cut flowers. One that is direct and can hopefully be seen at a glance while driving past, Fresh flowers grown here 😁

Friday: Yesterday I whizzed round a bit doing some tidying and then went out for lunch with Charlie and Oscar. Today the last big fresh flower bouquet has gone to a customer and I have spent the afternoon cleaning out animals 🤪 quail, guineas, turkeys, rabbit and refreshing the straw in the goose hut. I don’t make new year resolutions as a general rule but I need to get a lot fitter than I am at the minute. After the full o work of spring and summer comes a lull in autumn and winter and I most certainly slow down a lot. This is not much good really because I really feel it when I do have to do something manual.

I have also been busy looking at next years diary and planning more workshops, hand tied bouquet afternoons with tea and cake would be good I think. I can run one a month in summer and that way the flowers are constantly changing, I also think that a flower crown workshop is on a lot of peoples lists so that will go into the mix as well. With the new bucket stand I can also be mobile for events and activities, I will be including the wreath workshops again next year as well as a table top decoration workshop maybe 🤷‍♀️ who knows, there is plenty to think about and plan for over the next couple of months.

Tonight is the local town Christmas light switch on and so we might pop along to that, I need to get some shopping as well, two birds, one stone.

Saturday: Not sure what I actually did today 😂 after lunch Josh came over for a couple of hours while Flo was at a party, Sam called in with the twins while Mia was out with a friend and that is about as much as I can recall.

Sunday: I spent the morning sorting clothing and items out for packing as I am leaving the country for a few days tomorrow 😁 John is staying here and I will tell you all about it next time but it’s a very exciting Christmas trip 🎄 Meanwhile John was busy outside cleaning out the birds, it is becoming soul destroying seeing them in all the time, it is definitely not something we will continue to do for much longer. The flower side of things is beginning to take over, we have put plans into action to convert stables into a flower workshop and that is the direction we are going in for definite. As I have said before it is more enjoyable than poultry, not so much hard work and a better return, it’s a no brainier really.

John got called out to a leaking cylinder (me, not happy on a Sunday morning 🙄) Spent the rest of the day shopping, chatting and eating lol.

Have a great week x