#logfire

It's #timbertuesday!

With the temperatures dropping, we sometimes rely on a "Canadian Candle" to keep the coffee and ourselves warm up at the log yard. What is a "Canadian Candle" you might ask?

A Canadian candle, also known as a Swedish torch or log candle, is a simple and effective way to make a self-sustaining fire.

Using a chainsaw, we make four cuts into the log from the top, dividing it into eight sections. Cut down about three-quarters of the way, leaving the base intact. Place kindling or fire gel into the cuts at the top of the log. Light the kindling or gel to ignite the log.

Sweet Memories

2nd February was my later Father’s birthday. I went down to ‘his’ bench this afternoon. Boy oh Boy it’s in such a poor state: sorry Dad. It’s one of those little projects I could easily have delegated to him. Of course I meant to repaint it last Summer but what with being so terribly busy and all...

Anyway, it’s going to need a serious dose of TLC as soon as things dry out. 

The whole garden is going to need serious TLC. That’s the thing, it never stops does it.

I went squelch, squelch, squelch in my wellies and found virtually nothing to photograph really.

There are Hazel Catkins in the garden and in the woods.

There’s a large tree down in the woods. It’s an old tree, covered in moss and it looks like a brilliant perch for the ladies.

You can see that it’s been a good time for lichen and I’m busy looking them up and finding out more about them, starting Here at the Woodland Trust.

Meanwhile I saw the Magpie on guard at various posts around the garden. This was throughout most of the day. It’s been on Dad’s bench too.

I’ve checked the weather. Brrr. Looks to be getting colder with a potential threat of some snow after the weekend. I had to order heating oil. Shock horror, it’s gone up by 19p a litre (plus 5% tax) since we had a delivery in November! (so it’s not like I’m comparing Winter prices against Summer ones) Delivery times are long too - 10 working days. I opted to pay the higher price for delivery by next Tuesday and seeing the forecast I’m glad I did.

Thank goodness we had that extra delivery of logs too.

A real fire is cosy, especially when the blinds are down and the candles are lit, but oh how I long for the days when we throw open the windows and doors.

WHAT DID I LEARN TODAY?

Carrots are one of my favourite vegetables. Not only are they delicious, versatile - as a vegetable, in salads or for cake, but they always brighten up a plate. Carrot cake is one of the few cakes that appeal to me, not too much cinnamon and only ever cream cheese topping. I can’t be doing with butter cream or anything sweet and please no butter or anything on my vegetables - I have them steamed with a light seasoning only.

I did know about the purple colour, in fact I was listening to someone on a podcast the other day who’d had them in a veg box delivery and decided to make soup. Unfortunately as you can imagine, it had a rather off-putting appearance!  I didn’t know they originated from Iran/Afghanistan though. 

Boo hiss to that last point.

Crackling fire going while we watch House of Games before supper (mobile phone footage in the lamplight)

Footnote: RIP Captain Sir Tom Moore, veteran fund raiser, who died today