Snowed in...

Well not technically, but the school has been closed for a week now, since last Tuesday. We have been advised against unnecessary journeys, so I have only been out to the local pharmacy yesterday for provisions. Sunday we went out in the Land Rover to town (20 mins drive) and got lunch and some Christmas gifts that I wanted to have in storage, I really didn't want to find on the 23rd of Dec that the shops were all sold out.
While in Argos, buying toys, it became apparent that their plastic bags would hide none of the gifts they held, so while I debated about buying another 3 plastic bags at 22c each, to hide my things, a lady came up and placed a black sack on the counter and said that I was to have it. I could have hugged her, a bit of good will goes a long way. I thanked her three times! I will pass on the gesture one day soon...next time I get out maybe....
In the meantime, I have been baking most days to feed hungry children, who are either playing in the snow, or suffering from cabin-fever!

I made two of these in one day, using this recipe which I originally found through Nina



The other one was eaten warm, and this one was iced after this. The original recipe was for individual mini rolls.....they are delicious.

Some friends of ours had a baby boy a while ago and I made him this quilt....




The top photo is of a mini quilt I made for Christmas, for hanging on the wall. The tree part of the pattern came from here. I have, for quite a while, followed the blog of the lady who designed it and she makes the most wonderful things.

So I suppose being snowed in isn't too bad.....except that I am my own best customer when it comes to baking, so I have probably gained several pounds!

Colm is managing on the farm, with some difficulty. The milking machine, which is used to milk the cows morning and evening, has to be drained to within an inch of it's life, not a drop can be left in it...and it is a big system with loads of pipe-work. If water freezes in it, it will not work, full stop. All the water has to be kept defrosted as best as possible...almost all our animals are indoors, and as usual, also have to be fed. Traveling to the yard which is about 5 minutes drive on the road, is made easier by the fact that we recently bought an oldish Land Rover, which is a bit of an animal in bad conditions. So at least he can get up the two slopes on the journey.
Everything is just more difficult for him in this weather, and yet he goes around in only two sweaters over a two t-shirts (short sleeved t-shirts). Oh yes and blue latex gloves, seriously, like the ones doctors wear! If he has to weld he wears a cowl to protect his face under the shield...he got incredibly bad chilblains last year, on his nose after welding in the snow. I had to dress them twice a day.
My Mother tells me that after living in New York State for the first 21 years of her life, and then moving to Ireland in 1965, that she got chilblains, and had no idea what they were...it seems to be the damp cold that causes them. She still suffers from them, on her feet. My best friend gets them on her thighs...nasty things!