December days...

Brr...it's cold, below freezing. The kitchen wall is down and a huge draught blowing from the door that's gaping from the wall. The pipe to the oil tank was re-connected after accidentally being cut, but then something popped out of it that A managed to stick back in with a bit of wood. It makes a really weird noise as though it's about to blow so we ration out how much we use it. Early morning or late night for showers and cosy bed time. He found some big old grey wool blankets in the attic to hang up and block up the hole and it feels a bit like we're camping. 

Days are still busy with friendly builders and lots of banter, making cups of tea and coffee, bacon and egg sandwiches, construction and de-construction. Attempting to keep up with decorating but mostly getting distracted by phone calls to find plumbers or electricians, making plans and then changing them. 

Apart from the daily round of the builders' breakfast baguettes, cooking has been simple. Easily roasted chickens, pan fried fish or foil baked salmon with a good squeeze of lemon juice, salt, pepper and a dash of olive oil. Seasonal vegetables, fruit, local eggs and the odd sour plum crumble with yoghurt and maple syrup. (Oh and our neighbour's scrumptious chocolate bread and butter pudding with golden nuggets of marzipan secreted inside, that melt and burst like little surprise parcels of goodness. I must remember to ask for the recipe) 

They are good days...but at the moment the evenings are the part that we both love best. When everyone's gone home and A get's the kindling for the fire, puts on the logs and stokes it up and the hearth calls to us. That's when I get out the skeins of wool that arrived to knit another beanie to keep my ears warm, and I snuggle up and savour the last four chapters of this biography gifted from a good blogger friend. 


project: Dolan beret
yarn: Debbie Bliss, Blue Faced Leicester DK, 100% wool; gold. 
details: ravelry page

joining with ginny and nicole