Our garden is blooming at the moment with every plant and tree covered in leaves and seeds. The first few leaves falling to the ground indicate that it’s the right time to start trimming in preparation for the cold temperatures ahead. Dead stems and branches are cut and any overgrown bushes are chopped back. The result? Lots of empty space in the borders and a big pile of green stuff on the lawn.
It’s taken several weeks for the border to be cleared and many hours of hard graft. This bucket has been filled and emptied into the composter many times over. And when crawling around in the undergrowth, knee pads are essential.
Meanwhile, around the corner, our boys were hard at work stacking wood for the winter. We will burn about 15 cubic metres this winter and it all gets heaped in the driveway for us to stack. The boys helped me stack the leftovers from last year to make room for the new.
Finally, after various unsuccessful attempts at procrastination, the woodpile was finally piled neatly. Well done boys! It was well worth the 10 zloty for Dad not having to do it!
Actually, I had my own problems in the drive. You know I mentioned making way for the new? This was my job for the day given that the blocks of hornbeam were slightly too heavy for the boys to handle. A few more years…
And my stack was slightly bigger…not that we were competing (this is only half of it).
The night-time temperatures are falling and on one morning last week, my car showed 0°C at 7am. Once we receive a really hard frost, the leaves will fall in a matter of days as per the norm in Poland. Back in the UK, the seasons blend gently into each other; here they change in a matter of 2-3 weeks. The smell of woodsmoke will fill the early evening air as open fires are lit in the neighbourhood and the cosy warmth of winter afternoons will be upon us.
Oct 07, 2012 @ 12:16:45
Benji is growing up fast by the looks of it.
Watching the things you have to get up to to survive makes me think a TV series is on the cards. You’ll make Ray Mears seem like a pussy. “The Richardsons – Extreme Wilderness”. Get in there!
Oct 07, 2012 @ 12:20:51
Oh yes, and stop getting all poetic on us! “The gentle glowing embers of the log fire and the heady fragrance of Norwegian Pine cones………” . Big girls blouse!
Oct 07, 2012 @ 12:24:44
Now I come to think of it, there’s a distinct lack of dead animals. Can you skin a few local dogs and hang them outside as reserve food for the deep winter months when even the hardiest of trackers is unable to find your hut and bring supplies? Better than eating the kids.
Oct 09, 2012 @ 10:32:27
Thanks Ian. There are also dead animals, but most are brought in by the cat and too small or half-eaten to string up.
We’re fattening the kids up just in case, but I don’t think it will come to that. Especially when there’s a Top Market down the road!