Crafting Activities

This last few weeks I have been busy with my crafting activities. I now have a variety of colours of baby jackets knit - I actually have 5 done. One each of white, yellow and pink and 2 blues.
All I need now are the babies to put in them! Kyra is keeping well so far and hopefully will for another number of weeks. She will have reached the 29 week mark next Thursday.
I have also been making some patchwork cushion covers. Two matching ones of the pink / green colour for the lounge and two different ones of a more terracotta / cream mix for the sun room.
These two feature some chicken and fruit fabrics. It was very satisfying work and I was pleased with the way they turned out.
This is the latest car to join the others on our forecourt. Dad, having ditched his Vauxhall Vectra before Christmas has been using the Mercedes since so I have been rather restricted lately as a result.
He has now got this Astra ready for the road so I get my motor back.
I think there will be quite a clear out and serious valet job to be done.

Layers of ice

We had a lot of heavy rain and strong winds last night.
This morning the ice is all shifting downstream and around the pier area it is all piled up in layers.
It has pushed the signs to one side and the metal ladders at the side of the pier are also pushed over. On the last occasion that this happened even some of the upright posts of the pier were broken with the strength of the ice pushing.

Thawing at last.

The thaw began on Sunday night. I was down looking at the shore earlier today and the ice is still there with water on the top of it where it has rained and of course melting too.
The stones people have been throwing on to it are still there, It will take a good while to disperse.
Robert with the McCrabbe family.
This was the scene on Sunday. What a contrast now to see some green again after 3 weeks of pure white.

The big freeze up continues

We had a fresh fall of snow last night. It's not very deep but lovely powdery snow.
I went out this morning to capture these images.

People have been throwing stones on to the ice here.

Still frozen up

As you can see the lough is still frozen. It did thaw a bit and then froze again.
Our road has been treacherous but the main roads are alright.

You can see how low the water in the lough is now in comparison to the flood level.
On the table the crumbs for the birds have attracted robins, sparrows, blackbird and thrush.
This tabby cat was also spotted up there taking his share.

Sub zero temperatures

This morning we woke up to see that the lake is beginning to freeze over. It is extremely cold and no breeze at all so if this continues tonight we may see it closed over tomorrow. I think we could call it a white Christmas although officially snow must fall on the day to call it "white."
The sun is shining but making no impact whatsoever.
You may just be able to notice where the apple tree fell over in the orchard. Dad cut it up for burning.

On Sunday there was a nice covering of snow around. As we arrived early to have a short choir practice for the carol service, dad had time to take some photos.

Getting ready for Christmas.

Last week we spent two nights in Belfast. Robert had some work to do at a house on the Ormeau Road so we decided to go up and stay for a short break. We stayed in the Days Hotel just off Great Victoria St. There was a lovely festive atmosphere around the City Hall with the continental market there.
Robert was also getting some wood sorted out - we spent a while cutting up old boards etc. and then went up to Fivemiletown and brought home a load of burned roof timbers from there. Heidi likes to be in the middle of the action. Actually an apple tree fell over in the garden a couple of weeks ago. There was no storm but it looks as if the root system was rotting and it simply fell.
I couldn't believe it when Barry came over to tell us. I accused him of swinging on it!
We have our stove lit every evening and as it is closed in we can burn any sort of wood and no worries about sparks coming out. It gives very good heat.

I have my baby tree in the washroom window and the big tree in the sun room.
The weather was a little more festive yesterday as we had a little sprinkling of snow - just enough to whiten the ground. There are heavy falls of snow in south-east England and, of course, traffic is at a standstill.
Kyra is very happy at the possibility of more snow!