Deluge

Midweek the rains came like the floods and the frogs left the pond.  They were hopping and creeping and stacking all over the yard and even in the shed.  Could hardly put a foot outside without it squelching and squalling.

I never did see anything to match it in all my born days, no I never did.  Was like a veritable plague of Egypt come again and Amos did say it was a sign of the end times as the frogs be the familiar sign of fhe false prophets who will arise at the last days foretelling the doom of the world and all that is in it.

Well it be the seventh night now and the world still be here.  The frogs be back in their rightful place now but the buzzard is waiting down by the old badger site so I don't think we be out of the woods yet, not by a very long piece of string.

Screech Screech

My how those foxen and vixen do make such screeching and howling about out there in the dark night surrounding the humble shack,.   I hardly dare creep out to the woodpile to fetch in another twig to stoke the fire.

And I done spend weeks upon weeks cleaning up the pond making it all nice and clean and tidy.  Then them frogs come in and mess it all up again with their antics like it was never done.   The elder tree been cut down by hands unknown and the water ceased to run.

A Special Day

Seein as it be nigh on a score and half dozen years since me and Amos sealed our fate tis time to share what be our favourite repast

Stuffed chine
Chine, parsley, marjoram, mace, salt, leeks or chives

Soak the chine one night in water having first weighed it.  Wipe dry then cut well into the bone on  both sides.  Mix stuffing made up of the other ingredients press it well into each split, wrap up in cloth and boil allowing half an hour for each other pound.

It was taken from the back of a big fat pig.  My grandmowther used this recipe when she was young.  She has been dead about thirty five years and she was nearly seventy five when she died.

A fleeting glimpse

Tis so unseasonable I be sat here with nary a fire in the grate.  Amos be sick the other week so he did say we could break out the logs under the ole sheet for a treat.  I see the poor boys from the middle gathering a few sticks in the woods at dusk most days now.

Strange happenings the other night, when I did go out to put the old gander indoors, there be flashing lights seen  from the cricket pavilion.  Gave me the screaming nadgers it did, I can tell you for sure.  Then when I got indoors there was a fairy cake in Reuben's place with the top all chewed away.  What can this mean?   It be the gumprints of an enormous cat.

New year old clothing

I treated mysell to some new buttons the other week.  Well, I say new, they were from the old army stores counter so they been used afore, I well reckon.  I sewed them on the jacket that I been given from the rectors wifes friends mother when she passed away.  Then I thought to mysell, I be using the thread from my departed uncle's widder to sew these here ex naval buttons on. What  portent be this for the coming year?

A fine gift

Did commemorate the shortest day with our annual outing together to the market.   Amos surpassed hisself in magnamaniousness above all this year.  What did he do but turn round and get me a bran new mop!  I be so excited I can scarcely stand beside mysell...

Shame we dinna have no floor to use it on..

A Meagre Festivity

Twas the seasonal fest at the workhouse today. The cuts be so bad now we get nothing but a potato each. We huddled about thinking of the good ole days when all was merry and bright and we did even get a bottle of wine each to take back. Nowadays we don't get so much as a thank you for working to the bone all year.

Then when I get back to the shack I find a mountain of bark chippings in the yard, so things might be looking up for a change...