Epiphany

Adoration of the Magi, Christmas comes down, a tiny present for the boys. In honor of the youngest going camping (!?) 2 nights ago, with a few mates who are part of their World Challenge trip to Mongolia in June, I gave them a small metal pocket torch, (you can never have enough light when camping) & a huge bar of toblerone chocolate, well, it wouldn't fit in their stocking ;)

The middlest has no work at the hotel at the moment which is good as he's planning his working/holiday trip to New Zealand & Australia next month. As a physical release from too much planning he asked me for a project. I said I was desperate for a door so he made me one!

He's pretty much a hands on kinda guy, only a couple of questions for his dad & asked the youngest to hold one or 2 pieces for him. My friends down the road have had these corrugated iron roof pieces leaning behind their garage for me for...years! Behind this working woodpile screen is the compost & oil tank area, only about 5' deep - we can talk to our neighbors when they're up over the compost heap (she calls me the compost queen ;) but with my new door I can shut away the world & sit peacefully in my 'courtyard to be' I'm delighted!

I'll get him, & the youngest (when he wants/needs a break from studying for his prelims later this month) to dig some trenches in the grass stripped, marked out bed around the lawn at the back. We've been here 10 years but without a windbreak for the southwesterlies there wasn't much point in planting...till now when it's grown up, so its a case of removing stagnant earth & filling the trench with a mix of found soil (from local builds) a bit of the de-stoned (within reason) original soil, bought compost & my homemade compost. A laborious process, so great to have help from strong lads keen to keep fit. One day I'll be in the position to have a 'no dig' garden, but it's not just yet. I can feel myself starting to get excited about bringing the garden to life again!

I had a wonderful package in the post today, my win from Maggie Grey her fabulousl "silly bird" brooch. I just love it & have put it on my black cardigan-coat showing it up beautifully.Thanks Maggie!

I must ask her if that's a script stamp, or a newspaper transfer behind the brooch, Id love to get that look...I'm sure she'd tell me or it would make a great article for the wonderful Workshop on the Web - see the badge top right of this page - Maggie gave me easy to follow instructions to get that there ;)

Right.better get on with the collages!