Saturday 23 March 2013

Friday Night Snow In!

Honestly..... I'm jinxed!    First time in nearly three weeks I get some free time and along comes a blizzard!



Now I bet you're thinking what a perfect opportunity to sit in front of the stove and stitch.  That's what I thought too.... till the power went out!    How women managed to sew by candle light beats me.  I couldn't do it even with the benefit of bi-focals!  

I'd just settled down to stitch when the power failed for the first time....


I was really enjoying working on Vignette (which from here on in will be called Old Faithful) when the lights went out.    There was a fair bit of fumbling in the dark (not that sort) before I found a candle and the means to light it.    That's when the lights came back on!  Figures!

Terrified the power would go again I dashed into the kitchen and threw some fish into the oven.... no way did I want to miss dinner!   Plated up a salad and crossed my fingers.   In the time it took to cook the fish the power went out 4 times  Still... I got to eat in the end.   In case you are wondering where Mac was in all this.... he was tucked up in bed sound asleep and blissfully unaware of the gale force wind howling through the trees and the 'white out' conditions outside.   Did I mention he's nocturnal now....  

Because I've nothing much by way of progress to show you from FNSI I thought I'd show you the little present I made Chris for her birthday (it was Tuesday).....


It's a little needle book......


I used a great little tutorial from NanaCompany.  If you haven't visited there before let me tell you it's fabulous!  Just be prepared to be there for hours.   

Chris liked her pressie.... but that was a given... it's PINK!! 

If I'd had reliable power last night I might just have made another one.... they are so addictive.....


had the fabrics cut out ready.....


managed a few minutes between black outs to practise my free machine embroidery (with hoop).   Honestly.... 59 and I still can't write my name!! 

I'm afraid there is not much else to say about Friday night except that I really did enjoy it.... blizzard and all.   I'm off now to check out what you all got up to last night so I'll leave you with some snaps of the day after the night before.....


so silent... not to mention white!


The big greenhouse  (behind the little one) is almost buried.   That drift is 8 feet high if it's an inch!  


The bridge at the bottom of the garden looks so pretty.....  only the roof of the wishing well (on the right) is visible above the snow.


The road out of here.....  which is impassable.   I walked it this morning and the snow came up over my knees.   Reckon I'm going nowhere till there's a thaw!



Down around the bend there a part of the Hawthorn hedgerow has fallen under the weight of the snow.   It's blocking the track.   Before anything gets in or out of here I'll need to get to grips with the chainsaw.


It's just so darned pretty though.......


The sheds look so wonky.... like they should have a gnome in residence.  Wonder if I can persuade Mac....   The doors are not going to be opened any time soon.... the whole of the back of the garden is under 3 feet of snow.

It's not all pretty though.   Just heard the horrible news that a large shed roof at the farm behind us collapsed under the weight of snow....... crushing and suffocating the cows inside.   Mums to be and mums with their new calves........ makes me feel sick to my stomach.  

We are totally cut off here.   There's been no traffic on the through road since yesterday morning.  Not surprising as there are 8 foot drifts blocking it in both directions.   Just seen the weather forecast and we have a warning of more snow to come tonight.

Its forecast to freeze later too which could make things difficult for Mac when he gets up at 2am.   I cleared snow in the little courtyard this afternoon.   All for the good.   A while later I discovered Mac with the garden hose washing away the residue!!!   What part of  'it's going to freeze tonight' isn't clear?   He's said he'd put down some salt.   So... we have a salt water feature now and that's supposed to make it alright.   I'm not happy! 

I'll need to set my alarm to wake me around the time he gets up.  He goes straight outside to his workshop  to watch TV.    What if he finds himself figure skating in the dark?  Lands badly after an unexpected Triple Salchow with back flip.   What if he breaks something or  knocks himself out.  He could be an icicle by the time I woke up and found him.   I don't think the emergency services have a team of sled dogs available to transport him to hospital.    You may think I'm getting worked up about nothing but believe me...... the way things go around here anything is possible!

OK.... I said I was going ages ago and I'm still here.   This is one of those times when my Dad would say I'd been vaccinated with a gramophone needle!  

I leave you in peace....... while I try to calm down.  

Have yourself lots of fun and frolics......
See ya sooner rather than later....

Hugs
Josie

20 comments:

Kindred Quilts said...

Goodness that is a lot of snow! How nice to be secluded in such beautiful surroundings, as long as you have heat, electricity, and food! (And plenty of sewing and/or quilting projects to stay busy with!) Nana Company is a delightful blog to visit! Stay safe and warm!

Valspierssews said...

Beautiful snow pictures. Hated the bit about the cows though. It seems nothing can prepare us for nature's extremes. Glad you kept safe and managed to get some dinner . The little needle book is so pretty.

Ann-Mari said...

Love the photos, just don't send the rest of that blizzard across the pond. Want spring now. Sort to hear about the cows.

Jeanette said...

Great post Josie. Sorry to hear about the neighbour's cows. Just terrible. Great snow pictures. Hugs,xx

marina said...

how tragic for the farmer to lose his mums and bubs.
Hope you are well stocked with food and keeping warm.
Do you need a red cross food (fabric) drop?
The snowy pics do look beautiful, love the wonky gnome house.
Hope you have made some headway with your vignette.

Shirley said...

Sick I know but would pay good money to see you and Mac performing the Bolero on the ice. You have to make your own entertainment with no power. Love the stitching you have shown and I am off to stalk Nana and company. Looks very pretty in the snow but stay warm and safe. Terrible about the cows. Non stop rain here and we shall be floating away again.

Wendy said...

Oh my all that lovely snow! Such beautiful pics of all that snow! Hope you are staying warm and comfy inside. And your needle book is so cute.

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

I smile just seeing your blog header appear on my screen :o) Beautiful photos, sad about the animals though. I have been meaning to make on of those needle books, maybe I should :o) thank you. hugs

Kaye R said...

Just had a huge education about snow. Never thought of the weight, very sad about the cows. Impassable roads - I hope you have a full pantry and fridge. How long will this take to thaw? Intermittent power OMG no TV or sewing, and maybe no dinner had you not planned it. I just can't imagine it. I hope Mac strapped his skates on and his trip was safe.....

Leanne said...

Wow thats alot of snow Josie, the photos you took are beautiful. I love the pink needle case, all that gorgeous tilda fabric. Hope you get some stitching done today.

Anthea said...

Hi Josie! it's been a while, my friend!
Wow, such gorgeous snow pics - but yes quite gutting about the collapsed roof & the poor cows. I really hope Mac is not so unwise as to go outside when there is clear danger.
Your needle book is super-cute Josie - no wonder your friend loves it. And Vignette Old Faithful will just have to wait until the power is reliable again!
Take Care, be safe x

Anonymous said...

hi my friend i love your needlebook and again you made me laugh and then i was sad about the cows,no its not good for when cut off from the outside world,take care my friend and happy stitching,xx

Susan said...

How amazing.....I do hope I get to see snow like that one day. Terrible news for the farmer, and anyone else who has to work in that weather. Take care. X

Cath said...

Goodness me Josie, that is alot of snow. I hope you have sufficient supplies to get you through to thaw. Shame about the cows, that was very sad. The needlecase is so pretty!
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

Diane-crewe said...

hope you BOTH stay safe in all that snow and salt!!

Lynda said...

Wow! I think you must have been jinxed on Friday night - glad you were able to make dinner, that's important. The needlebook is so sweet.

Wendy said...

Snow looks so beautiful in photos but I'm not sure I would cope with the cold! I can understand how you would feel sick about the cows, how sad. Hope Mac survived the night, love your needlecase by the way, gorgeous!! Hugs Wendy

Marilyn said...

Wow, that sure is some blizzard. Gorgeous photos - at least for us looking at them, maybe not so good when living in it and being cut off.Not so good when the power goes out as well. Love the needle book.
Take care. Hugs xx

Wendy said...

what a beautiful needle book, and your FME looks fantastic to me!

I hope you both got through the snow and ice OK and it's thawing now.

Nicky said...

Oh gosh, winter isn't finished with you yet is it.... I'm so sad to hear about your neighbours stock, we went through such a terrible spring snow a couple of years ago, and it is heartbreaking to not be able to do anything for your animals.
I hope your snow is now all gone(again I am very behind in my blogreading) and that you have got a few more stitches done since then. I do love the little needlebook, what a sweetie!