Charity larks

I just read a funny story on a blog about a bag and a charity shop. It really made me laugh. Do have a look here 
It reminded me of a friend's escapades one day and set me laughing about that too.
I remembered my friend, James telling me a story.  He had spotted a must have wet suit in a charity shop. As he told me the story it was still very fresh in his mind. It had only just happened that afternoon. He was just a little traumatised by it which made it all the more hilarious. Bearing in mind we were both living in darkest Herefordshire, not known for aquatics of any kind. Just the idea of a wet suit is kind of strangely other worldy. Anyway he decided to try the wet suit on for size, in a rather pokey changing room. The suit was quite snug, a little tight maybe, but nevertheless probably worth getting as you never know it might well come in very handy for a bit of wild swimming.

The hilarity occurs when he tries to remove the wet suit in a little shop. With only himself and a couple of very sweet, elderly volunteering, charity shop girls. He just couldn't pull it off. So all he could do was ask for assistance. You can just imagine how mad a scene that would have been to come across. It cracks me up whenever I try and remember poor James telling me and I, uncontrollably laughing.

Charity shops are thin on the ground here in Burgundy. I know of 3 shops, 1 is too far and the other I can go to on a trip to the supermarket. There are depots though, 1 is about to open in April. I've never been to it so I am quite optimistic. The depots sell everything, house clearance.

It's beautiful here today, warm enough to prove bread. I am making pittas for later. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have included this photo of a caravan that I am a bit in love with today. I really shouldn't look on the internet for 'anciens' camping.

Today I went for a stroll around the garden looking to see if there was any sign of life. The crocus  are the most impressive . I bought a few woodland plants at last years plant sale. I am pleased to see they have survived after the extreme winter freezes we get. I have yet to find Comfrey, maybe someone will have some this year. My Borage is resurfacing as is the Honeysuckle.

Pulmonaria or Lungwort
These plants above and below withstood the frosts here. They flowered early but then the severe weather knocked them back a bit.  It's a good addition to the garden, as are all the Borage family, for attracting  bees. This is believed to be because of the blue colours that they are able to see. They belong to the family of plants known as Boraginaecea. They get the name Lungwort from the silver spots on their leaves said to resemble lung disease. I find them fascinating, the little bell shaped flowers begin pink/ violet and move to blue as they age. The silver spots or folia pockets, presumably these are hairy areas, help cool the plant down. The idea is the more spots the leaves have the more sun they will tolerate.
The plants retain their foliage until late winter so mostly deciduous. They grow well under trees like hazel trees.

I have discovered a native one growing beside this one. The native one has longer leaves and is more sun tolerant. I will go and take a picture in a minute. Another great thing about this plant is that it's usually undervalued and thus very cheap. Mine were only 50 cents.

Sweet Williams from seeds. They have yet to flower. The wire is a bit of protection against geese.

I took this earlier today. I notice the little shoots have been slightly burnt by a drop in temperature over the past couple of days. The Magpies and Jays seem to be jostling for space and  are screeching around the valley. 

While the temperatures dropped last month to -12° I moved to sock making, I had no idea I could manage this but with a pattern from Ravelry I mananged to learn. I now have a task to fulfil, a pattern for the neighbour translated to French. 

Yesterday I began to plant seeds in my verandah. I bought lots of seeds from LIDL this year 29cents a packet here.

New paintings looking at field boundaries.

More socks from Charity shop wool. French Blue is my current obssession.

I love the reverse of these rag rugs. This is a rug made from a sheet dyed with walnut hulls 

gathered from my tree. It's quite fun ripping sheets, takes a fair few for a sack.

Sewing purses from scrap denim.

I had another look at these images of ice formations. I think we are over the cold weather for now. 

Here is one of my iron tubs. Traditionally it would be used to cook beans in for animal food.

I use it to grow Sweet Williams in.

Yesterday we had a visit from the sun. It was so warm I found myself  allegedly tidying the garden .

I have bought a craft drill/engraver. My last one overheated. I thought I'd  have a look at making pendants and mobiles from a  large box of driftwood I beach combed from Aberystwyth, Wales. I did a Fine Arts Degree there.

Valentines Day. It's usually a challenging day here. I stayed at home by the stove making purses out of an old pair of jeans and  made a funny little purse with a heart and buttons for a special person.

Mullein seed head;

Sunday walk

The first thing I do in winter, while the grass is frozen, is give the 5 sheep their sheep nuts. Each time I do this I love it. How can you not be impressed by a beautiful primordial looking ram such as this. We don't shave them as they would be freezing in winter without the woolly fleece. They do rather well in winter. The sun shines and they seem to enjoy whiling away an afternoon lay about waiting to be fed. Their shaggy locks are a disadvantage in summer. We have very long summers and while being in the mountains it's not ever too hot the sheep stay in the cav during the hottest days. 

I walked just below the lake in the village where lies an abandoned mill. The window still exists as you can see as do all the  workings within.

The stream has a frozen skirt. Each frozen day brings ever more elaborate formations of ice.

Fox prints across the lake.

Frozen bubbles

I spotted these wonderful frozen blobs yesterday in my water tank.. The sun's been out, very dry, sparkling blue skies and absolutely bloomin brass monkeys. I did go for a little trundle yesterday just to  keep the old toes from dropping off. Otherwise I have been learning the gentle art of sock making, I am on my 3rd sock.

My atelier is soo cold. I had to abandon ship, move my computer and sit in the warmer kitchen.

We have wood stoves to keep us warm. The water was drained out of the pipes yesterday so as not to encourage the freezing and then bursts. We do have a spring here that flows very clear. Normally it's pumped to the house. While the night temperatures plunge to -12 we just fill buckets and do away with frail pipes. It is fun temporarily but soon becomes a chore. We shall tackle washing up tomorrow and have to venture out to fetch gas for our cooker as we have run out. The sun is lovely during the day, it's a great lifter of spirits. I photographed some corners briefly and tackled a little more of my rag rug, the reverse is rather attractive too. I am using a fine nosed pair of pliers to pull through my lengths of rag.

This kind of rug is a vast consumer of old tired sheets. Some of the sheets I have dyed, some naturally with walnut husks. Then after long lookings ont comp to learn the art of dying I cracked and bought dye for blue and green. I still want to learn to dye things but I don't have access to chemists for chemicals. Pot ash may help I need some plants too and winter may not be the right time. I am thinking I'd like to grow woad. But I digress. My advice to a would be starter of this kind of thing is begin smaller on a little chair rug. This way you can manage the colour combos a little more beautifully if this is your will.

I have been bitten by the bug though and I am looking for a loom next.