December birthday and raspberry vodka

Sounds like a good combination right :)


It was my birthday yesterday and also my long day at work, however it was great fun.  I heard from people I've not spoken to for a while, saw my family, was lucky to receive gifts and got to taste my raspberry vodka which we started off in summer.  Oh man, it was lovely.  I've been having a few drinks through December to celebrate and feel festive with friends when they visit etc and now I have this, we're taking a bottle next door with us to celebrate Christmas Day Night with our lovely neighbours.  It'll be the perfect end to the day when I get to chill after a hectic day no doubt.

So in true Tracy style, I was given a greenhouse heater and 2 huge propagators and a thermometer for min/max and current temperatures from Steven, along with some long socks, a bottle of Baileys and other items.  How lucky am I?

I also got a personalised notebook which I just love, that I am going to use to record all of next years info around eggs, veg seeds sown, grown and harvested (weights etc, thanks Dawn!).  My lovely parents got me a new coat to do my smallholding jobs in Winter, for which this weather is far too warm to wear it yet, so I am wanting a bit more winter weather please.  I got a Bake Off apron and £60 cash which has been spent on something for the smallholding that I will do another post on.

Hugely exciting too - the farmer has confirmed the litter of piglets which we're getting ours from is due 2nd Feb so we will take them once they are ready.  In between now and then, I need to learn all about caring for them (already done a lot) and Steven is going to get their shelter/ark sorted.

Later in the year we are hoping to get goats too but that pending what Mother goat delivers in the Spring.  More on that once it's firmed up.

Ooh and Christmas is still firmly underway, home made cards have been made and the kids put SO much effort in to them.  They were gratefully received which I was super happy about.  We didn't manage to do all the cards as homemade, I didn't realise how long they will take.  That's ok though.

Did you know, apparently, Boxing Day is the time to sow onion seeds traditionally.  Don't ask me who's traditions or in what country, but that's what I was told! 

Plans for the weekend?  I'm going to put some winter lettuce in my propagators this weekend.  We also need to get the Christmas meat sorted - a goose and duck from the smallholding will be dispatched this weekend.  They have had a wonderful life and this is what they were raised for.  We know what they have eaten and have been with them from cradle to grave.  Next year I am hoping for all home raised and grown produce as the main Christmas lunch.  There are a million and one other things on the list, which I'll post as I get round to them,  In the mean time I leave you with how my work place was decorated for me! 

Where I work - a lovely lady always makes us feel special.