Slowly sinking…..

Firstly a HUGE thank you for all the lovely comments again. 
Its so good to feel the positive vibes and it is helping.

There is the possibility of some storage in Wooler – or maybe a container on the lawn.  The house is still chaos, utter chaos.

I feel as if we are slowly sinking into this snow.  Its a strange sensation as you look at familiar objects but they are much “lower” and shorter than normal.  The snow is now way over my knees on the lawn.

A four bar fence becomes 2 bars…

  

A reminder of the weight of snow.  We are now worried about the kitchen roof and DH has been up clearing some snow off.  Would you believe it is snowing again?

 

Looks as if the dresser is doing a good job of holding that roof up at the LH side (above and below).

 

If I walk across the lawn the snow is well over my knees.  Richard can’t get around.

A good note to end on – ASDA got to the end of the lane and we walked down to get the shopping so we have fresh food…..and look how beautiful it can be.

 

End of a long day

Somehow writing the blog at lunch time was quite therapeutic.  I can’t thank everyone enough for their support, kind works and virtual hugs, and offers of help to get back to “normal”. 

But especially my neighbours for helping so much all day.

The container is basic but almost waterproof and will have to house the tables and other furniture that has escaped unscathed.

Damage includes the sewing machines, Pfaff quilting frame, tables, dresser (its holding the roof up), mount cutter, two dress forms and one dressmakers form, several bookcases (ok, all the bookcases), table lights, sofa, display cases, storage chest, plus numerous “bits” like the Bernina embroidery hoops, the gallery hanging system,  piles of new sketchbooks and some fabric. 

All the fabrics were boxed and the dresser protected the threads and beads.  Paints were on bookcases around the edges and so were saved.  Its the stuff in the centre that was damaged.

Here’s a better picture of the Bernina holding up the roof.

A very squashed dress form, sketchbooks and some fabrics and work I can’t get too as they are well and truly squashed and trapped.  My old anglepoise lamp is under there too.

It has been freezing today – even working like mad to get everything done before it got dark we were very cold.

 

You can see how the roof has caved in here.

   

And this is how we left it – the roof was propped up whilst we got out what we could.

That long box is a new mount cutter…. think of the weight on that bookcase.

This is how cold it is here and its snowing again tonight. 

I truly cannot believe how much snow we’ve had here, its snowing now and more is forecast for the next few days.  We heard that some farm sheds had collapsed too – with the animals inside.  Poor things. (Our rabbits are fine – never joke about rabbits being squashed as I did on AD last night).

Doesn't take much imagination to work out how the house looks….. this is a good bit.  But hopefully I’ve found some storage – when we can get out, the lane is totally impassable atm.

Not a good day

That's possibly an understatement but I am in shock atm.  Just resting for lunch.

This was the view from my bedroom window this morning…..

can you see what's wrong?

Yes, the roof has collapsed.

The Bernina Artista was holding up the roof. Can’t say they aren’t solid machines. 

The Pfaff was holding up the other side of the roof.  The other Bernina on the Horn cabinet was sent smashing through the cabinet to the floor.

Everyone has come and helped and we have guys propping up the roof so we can get in and get stuff out.  Can you imagine what the house looks like?

We’ve had a container delivered to put the tables and such in and an insurance form is being posted to us.

We were planning to get stuff out today – thank goodness we weren’t inside.

OK, back to work, there is so much to do before it gets dark and there is MORE snow forecast tonight.

More snow pictures.

Aren’t you fed up of snow pictures yet?  No.  OK, here are some more. 
We guess another 5 inches or so landed overnight.  In the last 18 days I’ve only been as far as Wooler and only twice.  The sales have passed me by….. (though there was a bit of online ordering but nothing has arrived yet) the demise of Borders has passed too…..*sob*.

 
We had to dig and push one of the cars out so we could head up into Wooler as I had an appointment.  Thank goodness we parked it at the end of the drive. 
We just made it down the lane and onto the main road.

Driving through the High St.  (Cleared by local guys, not the council note).

Main car park by the surgery.

DH cleared the path to the studio this time…… its way over the step now.

Someone was really enjoying themselves!

Did I say escape?

No chance!!!  The snow is back with a real vengeance.  All the schools are closed and we are stuck again.  And yes, that darned drive is going to need shovelling out AGAIN.  And the paths. 
And the studio roof needs clearing off. 

Even DS says he’s fed up now!

I’m just about to grab a coffee and then head out and feed the rabbits…. its a real blizzard out there and I feel so sorry for them, but have no where else to put them.

…….OK, rabbits are fed, re-strawed and defrosted and the bird feeder is full.

Ian got up and cleared some snow off the studio roof.  I cleared the paths for the FIFTH time.

DS and I went for a walk – this is the main road and our snowy lane.  Ian managed to get out and went for some more animal supplies and more fresh vegetables. 

He was appalled to see how bare the shelves were in the shops… no milk, veg or bread.  Deliveries hadn’t got through (or up the hill, whichever way you go Wooler is uphill).  Not so good.  This weather is supposed to get worse tonight and last all week at least.

We saw these poor little chicks – they were racing inside with their mum who was sensibly taking them to keep warm in the straw by the cattle.

DS and I spent an hour drawing – DS colouring in a dragon and me designing Goddesses. 

If you go to the Photo a Day blog you can see another snowy picture.

Preparing for escape

That wall again, thanks for all the lovely comments about the last wall picture.

Icicles on the studio roof

 

Snow hat on the car

 

Pixie hats on the flowers

I had to dig out the rabbits to open the cage

I’ve dug out the paths 4 times

And worst of all is digging out the cars and drive…. its a long long way.  Not sure which part of me aches most – legs, bum, shoulders, arms or wrists.

More snow……

Yes more snow.  I think we may even have made the national news.

Yesterday we measured – 12 inches!!!!!  = 30cm.

I am sitting here hoping and hoping that the electricity holds out
(and therefore the heating, lighting and laptop in that order). 

I am also hoping my ASDA food shop can get here.  I can see us loading up the wheelbarrow and collecting it from the main road in our wellies and woolly hats.  That would have to be the Photo of  the Day.  \

Yes, I’ve started taking a photo a day again.  I did this in 2008 http://ne71.blogspot.com/ and loved it, got sidetracked in 2009 and stopped and then regretted it.  So here we go again. 
The URL is http://ne71-2010.blogspot.com/.  Please add it to your subscriptions (do you use Google Reader? its wonderful for tracking blogs).

Here’s yesterdays page;

Meanwhile today is a hibernation and cleaning day
(I’ve just looked at the cooker hob and was truly appalled!) 

This morning I’ve been finishing off editing a new book.  I’ve used Blurb to print out the blog from May-Dec 2009.  Its a great diary and record of life.  It’s uploading as I type.

I did June 2005-May 2009 last month.  Though heartbreakingly as you know I lost 2 years of photos when the blog was swapped from blogger to my web site.  Real *&^%^%.

And there is Australia and Dubai to order too.  Yes I know we were there in 2008, but I’m a bit behind here.

What other picture could you use for the cover?

Well the book processed and should be here before the end of the month (along with Australia).