Sunday 8 March 2009

Bog Oaks and other bog standard stuff

Lovely sunny Sunday morning here in the Fens,thats if you are indoors looking out !it is very windy and cold ,I think the wind is blowing straight from the North Sea ,and being the Fens nothing much to stop it ,March winds doth blow and we shall have sn .....NO dont even go there !
Last Tuesday I went along to the News letter meeting ,as you know I am on the editorial team ,I wore my new red jacket that Maurice had bought me for my Birthday ,(as well as the Laptop)!
I also wore the yellow jumper I had made, and had finished the previous evening ,do you like it ,I made it quite long to keep my back warm !

I had missed the previous meeting (because I was incapasitated with my back )and in the main the news letter was complete ,but they were just a bit of copy short ,so I was asked to do something ,below is the result ,The first picture goes with the item ,the others we took whilst out ,


Spring 2009 Bog Oaks .
There has been a lot in the media recently about the amount of ‘Bog Oaks’ that have come to the surface this year, as our Farmers have been ploughing the fields ready for spring planting,
And naturalists and farmers across Cambridgeshire believe more will continue to be discovered as the Fenland soil continues to dry out.
The trees were once part of a thick blanket of Oak forests, but couldn’t survive the floods which resulted from large lakes formed when the rivers Ouse, Nene and Welland began to silt up with tidal sands. The Oaks couldn’t survive with their roots soaked in water, as they began to rot; they either toppled over or were blown over by the infamous Fen blows, with result many of the trees trunks were found facing in the same direction. Over the years reeds and other dead plant material gathered on top of the wood to form a peat.
This acted as a natural preservative over the trees, because there was no oxygen to rot the wood.
Natural curiosity led my partner and I to look out for these old trees ,we have spotted markers in fields left by ploughmen to avoid the area and to remove these monsters at a later date, or to see fields where these great oak trunks have been
Cleared to the headlands, the one in the picture is at least twenty feet long and there were piles of others in the area. And to think I am sitting on something that last saw light of day, many thousands of years ago.

A pile of the Oaks left at the side of the field ...

Right behind the telegragh pole, is a dyke ..see it ? part of the drainage system in the Fens ,they vary in widths throughout the Fens some as wide as rivers ,and controlled by locks and sluice gates ,this one is narrow beside a field as many are .



Oh yes ,after dinner on Tuesday evening ,Maurice and I were discussing our days ,when he suddenly burst into laughter ,for no apparent reason ,when I questioned him ,he said put your arm up again ,I did so only to find I hadnt ,finished sewing up the seam on the sleeve of my jumper ,Durrr ,yes folks I losing it ! ( wonder if anyone noticed? ) hee hee










Have a Blessed Sunday Everyone ,With love from ...

25 comments:

mortonlake said...

great entry jan,and i love the pics.take care,love mort xxxx

Marie Rayner said...

Jan, what are you like!! I love your yellow jumper, seam sewed up or not! I have had equally embarassing moments. Too embarassing to mention actually, lol. Your are such a pretty lady! It's very windy and cold here today as well, the wind has a real bite!
Enjoy your Sunday and the rest of your week!

Unknown said...

oh I love that I am laughing out loud - that;s great not sewing up your jumper! Glad I am not alone in dumbsville.

We have high winds and snow - lovely (not)

Couldn't read your newsletter bit as it was too small for me........

You suit yellow~!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I love your new jumper, just the thing to keep one warm in these last few days of cold...we hope it won't be much longer til warmer weather comes anyway. I do hope you didn't lift the arm at your meeting. That sounds like something I would do. I always say the good Lord does keep us humble. Just when we are so proud of our accomplishments something like that happens. Your pictures and the article were quite interesting. It is amazing how those logs are resurfing now after so many years. It is a rainy day here and getting cooler. We were blessed by a little warmth for a couple of days, now we'll head back into winter this week.
Hope your Sunday is a great one!
'On Ya'-ma

Lucy said...

Jan, I love your pictures and if I could sew like that I would be so happy. My sister next to me was a whiz on the sewing machine. The 3 of them could embroidery, sew nearly anything, Knit and I got left behing because I was the last kid aND NO ONE WANTED TO TEACH me. Take care Jan. I love your blog. It is aN ADVENTURE every time you change it. Lucy

Joan said...

Hi Jan with my hot turns the airvent in your jumper would be very handy. Have a lovley Sunday. Love Joan

Bunny said...

Great post, Jan, interesting and funny. I've often heard of bog oak furniture, but never wondered where it came from. It would take a determined woodworm to attack that!
Glad you are able to give hand signals once more....
Bunny xx

nancy said...

Hi Jan, Love your entry. Seems like no matter where you live those oak trees dies. Do you want know something funny.My jeand were rip and I didn't notice until I got downstairs.Whew. Glad no one were around at that point. lOL. They were old and worn. NOthing like your jumper.I love your jacket. Have a great week. >>HUGS<< Nancy

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan lovely to see you in your new jacket and the lovely jumper you made ,had a real chuckle at the seam not sewn up ..no wonder Maurice laughed ,I can just imagine him !!!,Like someone said yellow does suit you ,you bought me a yellow coloured jumper last Christmas.Your Article of the Bog Oak was very interesting ,I printed it off for Pete to read .Very mixed weather here today one minuite the sun shone then it poured with rain ,then sun again ,but like you said its cold!!! .We all enjoyed Sunday lunch ,Jo and co then went home to catch up on the girls homework ...With love and hugs ..Jeanxxx

Linda's World said...

You sure knit beautifully. I wish we were closer, I'd have you help me. I'm still working on a scarf that I started a year ago. And I love the red jacket. Wow~that is gorgeous. We've had cold & windy weather to for over a week now, but this morning it's different....cold & snowing. Have a good week Jan, Linda in Washington state

Sybil said...

As usual Jan, you give us something to enjoy in your journal...that is so interesting about the logs...I to had to laugh like Maurice when I saw your sleeve half sewn up !! just the kind of thing I would do.
Loved the look of your new jacket. How are you getting on with the laptop, hope you are enjoying it.
Love Sybil xx

lindachapmanuk said...

your jumper is lovely, such a nice colour too. I thought the air vent was a good idea! he he! I really enjoyed reading about the bog oaks,I love all that stuff! and your new coat looks lovely, and snug too. good old maurice! I missed your birthday one am just going to have a read now. x

Kath said...

He-Heee first let me say you are such a clever lady,designer quillows now designer knitwear too LOL!! I wouldn't have bothered sewing it up, maybe you can start a new trend with that one Jan,open armholes easier for deodarant spraying for the cooler summer days heeee,if we ever get a summer.It's been a nightmare of a day here today gale force winds and heavy rain.Your topic was very interesting Jan realy enjoyed reading about the Oak trees.Enjoyed our little natter too LOL!You look pretty in Yellow.Your new coat is lovely too.That will keep your back nice and warm I love it.Have a nice evening .Take Care God Bless Kath xx

Anonymous said...

ohh u look lovely and such great pictures!!!! Have a great week! Carolina

lunarossa said...

Love the colour of your jumper, Jan. Hope spring comes soon! Very interesting your article about bog oaks. You learn something new every day. All the best. Ciao. A.

Lucy said...

Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday and the encouraging words. My son did lose his job this morning along with 4 others, but that man will land on his feet. As for my grandson he has to figure it out on his own. Hugs to you, Lucy

Ally Lifewithally said...

Jan your pictures are great ~ your Yellow Jumper and Red coat are lovely ~ had to smile at the jumper sleeve not being sewn ~ yellow is definitely your colour ~ Spring 2009 Bog Oaks I really did enjoy reading this (Do they use the wood to make furniture or is it too rotten ???) ~ Ally x

Sandra said...

Hi Jan, I hope you told Maurice that an unfinished sleeve is very fashionable these days...lol! I love the jumper, it looks very warm, just right for the chilly winds that are blowing at the moment...brrr! How very interesting about the bog oaks, I`d not heard about them before. I wondered, like Ally, what happens to them now?

Love and Hugs

Sandra xxxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan, great entry. I like the yellow jumper, even with the ventilation. ;O)

B. x

Coelha :B said...

Lol...oh dear.. IT is a pretty jumper though! :) You and Maurice always seem like you are having fun together-no matter what you are doing--very cute. Julie

Jeanie said...

Hello Jan,

I loved your entry. Very interesting and hilarious into the bargain. I think you could set a trend with the open armholes. Lol! I adore yellow. It is such a cheery colour.
Sorry I missed your birthday.
I love your coat! Verrrry niiiiice! It suits you.
I hope you get good weather soon. We had a lovely day today here in the lakes. I sat outside for a while in the sunshine and had to put on some sun screen. I'll send it down your way for a wee treat.
Hugs
Jeanie xxx

Dionne said...

Hi Jan, You make me laugh so! How funny is that! I'm surprised you didn't feel a chill from the extra ventilation in your otherwise lovely jumper! Your new red coat is also beautiful. And now I know a little more about the area in which you live. I found that information facinating! I love hearing about places I've never been. Thank you for being a bright spot in my day today.
Cheers,
Dionne

Lucy said...

Hi Jan, just wanted to stop in and see if you had been up to more interesting things. You have a busy interesting blog. Mort is the one that told me FaCEBOOK SLOWS computer down so keep everything in order. Lucy

Angie said...

Being nobbut a sprog and having got me new glasses, I was able to read your bog oak paragaph - lol!!! Thanks for that, I wondered what bog oak was. A fictional lady detective (Miss Silver I think it was)was never without her bog oak brooch. Now i know.

love, Angie, xx

Anonymous said...

Someone necessarily lend a hand to make seriously posts I'd state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular submit incredible. Excellent task!
Fantastic site. A lot of useful info here. I¡¦m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks to your sweat!
hi!,I really like your writing so a lot! percentage we keep in touch extra about your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this space to unravel my problem. Maybe that's you! Looking ahead to look you.