Ice Ice Baby

The temperature 'only' hit -6 overnight (we got around -11 a little before Christmas), but that was enough to freeze over our unintentional pond (are area at the lower end of the field that stays vaguely boggy during summer, but at this time of year is almost permanently flooded). Only an inch or so thick - fun to stomp through in wellies.

The teeny bramble cider batch has been bottled (just 7 bottles), but the brew night postponed again, partly due to the absence of one particular type of grain, and partly because the boiler would have to work harder to get to temperature*. That's a job for the weekend now.

*#1 fermenter is supposed to be holding the temperature at 22 degrees from last Wednesday's brew, but is sitting at about 16.5 at the moment because of the cold. Need to get a jacket for it, but fortunately the yeast is still doing its job, with the gravity dropping.