General Chat

Weather is not very nice. It was misty first thing and it's been raining for the last hour.

Thank you for your anniversary wishes. I'm well aware how lucky we are still to be together. So many of our friends are either widowed or were divorced. I did buck my ideas up a bit yesterday as I thought OH had booked a table and a taxi to take and bring us back so the least I could do was make a bit of an effort. So I took a couple of my pills, had a good wash and changed my clothes and then put on a bit of make up and some pretty earrings. We had a very nice meal. OH started with a ramekin of baked brie with apple and ale chutney and toasted ciabatta bread and followed that with slow cooked lamb with mash and veg. He finished with apple and blackberry crumble and custard. I bypassed the starter and for my main I had fish pie with mixed green veg. I checked with the staff first that there was no shellfish in it or any chance of cross contamination from shellfish in the kitchen and it was fine and was delicious. I finished with vanilla panna cotta and berry compote. A couple of beers for OH, just 1 small glass of wine for me and coffees for both of us and we were well satisfied :-)

I didn't turn my light out till 1.30 am and was awake at 6 am but I feel more rested this morning so I must have got some good, deep sleep. Today I have managed to sow some tomato seeds and antirrhinum seeds and our Sunday dinner is almost cooked. We're having "Christmas" dinner to use the emergency supplies I bought in case we couldn't get to daughter at Christmas. So it's turkey breast with cranberry sauce (and a good slurp of port!) and lots of veg, followed by Christmas pud with either custard or cream. OH made a remark about he hoped I had crackers and paper hats so I am going to quickly make him a paper hat as a joke. Better go and do that now.

Just managed and hour and a half out there and was doing quite heavy work so tired now I have come in. I gave in and, as I still have not seen Jake I sorted out the mess he was supposed to clear up as it was on the slate bed under which my Hostas should be hiding I manually sorted out the bits of slate from the gavel and dirt that had washed over it and it looks a lot better now and I found one hosta tip just peeping through. Next I collected up all the rubble that appeared in the so called top soil in the planter and put it in an old bowl for them to take away when they do appear. It doesn't sound much but it all looks tidier and I am pleased with what I got done. Before I went out there I half made the bed and noww just have to put a top sheet on before I stop for lunch.

The red admirals were not fully grown, quite small and were flitting around celandines and other weeds that have flowers on them.

11 degrees out there now but no sun.

Morning All,

HAPPY EASTER :-D

I slept well too but my back is still playing up this morning. I hate this hour change too as it messes up my tablet times. I like to adjust the change with them by half an hour the first day and always have trouble working it out.

I hope your meal was nice Vera and hope you tell us what you had to eat! Hopefully your headache has gone now.

You have reminded me I need to paint the birdfeeder with some hammerite Mel. What were you painting, some of your makes?

I know what you mean by easy chunks AnnG. :-) It gets more done that way doesn't it. How lovely to see some Red Admiral butterflies! Did they seem attracted to any particular plants? All I have seen this year is a few sightings of the yellow Brimstone butterflies.

Better check on lunch now.

It has clouded over here now and is still only 8 degrees and no sun now either.

I meant to say did you enjoy your meal out last night Vera? and congrats for yesterday. <3

good morning all Happy Easter to you all.

I slept well last night and have been up half an hour (but not dressed yet). Lovely morning here so far I do hope it lasts as I want to get back out there to potter. A good day means a lot gets done in easy chunks. Plenty of rests. Already have my bedding in the washer.

Vera hope you had a good meal and that your headache has gone this morning.

Morning all, Happy Easter <3

Nice sunny morning 6 degrees ,it was quite a misty morning first thing but that's now lifted ,should be showery today .

Family coming later for coffee and they can take their eggs home with them .

Good morning all and Happy Easter.

Nice and bright at the moment and pc says 8 degrees and partly sunny so I expect it will rain later on.

I got some black Hammerite paint on my right hand yesterday and it really annoying me as its on my knuckles and I can see it if I look down at the keyboard.

Hope you all have a wonderful day whatever you are doing whether it be out and about or indoors relaxing.

Good morning all

HAPPY EASTER :-)

Bbl

I have heard of garlic water and did try it. Some people find it works but it didn’t with mine unfortunately..

Yes, if you cut daffodils down early it is highly likely they will come up blind next year.

My rhubarb is a later variety but it is doing ok so far.

Not sure about porridge oats Mel might it attract mice? Or even rats?

Oh yes Happy Anniversary to you both Vera I hope you enjoy your meal tonight.

I put gravel in the pots where my Hostas are in, I put it in because when I just had compost the cats were using it as their loo, so far I haven't had many slugs take a bite but I'll talk that one up now.

Yes I'd get your car looked at Mel ,all those country lanes you travel on you don't want to be breaking down when your out ,getting it looked at will be a lot cheaper than having to have it towed .

You could get some basic breakdown cover Mel. I hate to think of you driving on lonely roads without any help in place should you break down. Yes get your car checked too.

I've not heard of milk or garlic water to deter snails before. After we had gravel where the pots stand we never had any trouble for a few years or in the island beds surrounded by gravel. I don't think they liked trying to cross it, but some must have made it as we do get them now. I wondered whether some salt or vinegar around the base of the pots might make them turn back. It would need replacing after rain though. I'd be fancying F&C with the pots near the arbour where we sit! :-D

Just been for a walkup te orchard. I have loads of daffs up th eside of the box hedge and have only had about 10 flowers on them in all. One lot are later than the otthers and they hav'nt even got any buds in. I am wondering if BIL cut them down last year too early as I don't always keep an eye on him or tell him not to mow till June. I did tell him not to do the snowdrops last year so perhaps forgot to say about the daffs. Teres loads of leaves.

Sorry you could'nt sleep last night Vera and hope tonight is better.

Have any of you tried putting down porridge oats round the hostas and things. If I put them on the patio for the birds I get lots of slug trails where they have eaten the porridge. They do say spray your hostas with milk or garlic water. I must get around to sorting my hostas out I have taken the dead leaves and flower stalks off but they need a bit of a weed and a bit of fresh compost on the pots.

I have done a little minitures painting today just pots for a tudor kitchen so nothing to fancy. Did a little drilling of a couple of items but not done much else all day. I did go to the shop for my paper and when I came out the car would'nt start I had to sit there for a while and try again and still nothing but on the third try it started so I got home ok. I shall have to book it in for Stuart to take a look at it for me and treat her to a service. I am frightened to go anywhere too far away incase I get stuck not having oh to come and pick me up it would mean getting a taxe and that can be expensive.

Happy Anniversary to you both Vera! <3 So The Hare it is this evening then! I hope you have a nice meal. Oh heck I'd better check our Hostas if the snails are on the move! I did look when I tidied the dead leaves a little while ago but not since. Sorry you have had a stonking headache. OH had a migraine after he'd gone to bed last night and had to get up to take tablets.

AnnG you are showing us up getting stuck into your garden and getting so many things planted. I hope the lighter nights will help me get on with our garden. I must pick some of the rhubarb which I noticed through the window today has shot up with the milder weather.

Mandy you seem to have found some energy and have got plenty done after all. Don't wear yourself out though and have a rest.

So what have you been doing Mel with your free day?

I think the snails like the wet weather and they seem immune to slug bate these days. I guess all the stuff that used to kill them has been removed from the bait. It is so upsettin to see what they can do to Hostas that I am considering not growing them any more.

I have seen several red admiral butterflies so somebody has told them it is spring.

enjoy your meal tonight vera. :-)

You are putting me to shame AnnG. I have so much to do in the garden and seeds to sow and I just can’t seem to get on with it. I did walk around earlier and that was depressing. We are inundated with snails. I don’t like using slug and snail bait but I did put some round mini hostas in troughs and 5 hollyhocks in the garden and it has made no difference at all. They have been eaten to shreds.

I’m glad you are feeling a little better now Mandy. Don’t overdo it.

I couldn’t sleep last night. I just couldn’t settle. I could even hear OH snoring downstairs (I’m upstairs). In the end I got up and sat downstairs with a drink. I’ve now got a stonking headache. I’ve done next to nothing all day and don’t want to go out tonight but I shall just have to put a smile on my face and get on with it.

What an old misery guts I am today. Better end with a smile :-D and come back in a better mood tomorrow.

Been back out there as the sun has been out for the last hour.Put the potato pots in position then planted up the plants I bought on Thursday plus a couple more that were waiting in the conservatory. Just a couple more to do in there now but that means finding and filling the pots and I have not got any energy left now. Maybe tomorrow.

It was lovely and sunny all morning, I sorted out the two baskets that have overwintered in the conservatory (one ivy geranium and one fuchsia.And I had just got stuff sorted to do a job in the garden and was right down by the shed and I hear Cynth calling me over the fence, I could just see the top of her head. She was telling me that my friend was at the front door. Friend had called on the off chance to see if I wanted to go to the little local nursery/garden centre for coffee. So I downed tools and we went for coffee, had a good look round and then had lunch there too. It was lovely to have a surprise treat. And I got the Safari dwarf beans.

By the time we got back it was showery but I managed to finish off the job I was doing which was to plant six potatoes in the special pots I bought some time ago.

I've had a good morning I've had a good dust through downstairs ,mopped the conservatory the kitchen and the bathroom and pulled a few weeds up outside ,now I feel tired so thats it for today .
Got to get Max a new tag for his collar the other day as he got out of his bed I heard something clang onto the floor tiles and it was his tag the wire ring that holds it on his collar had caught in his blanket and pulled it off so I found another ring to hold it on but it must have pulled the actual ring bit on the tag as it came off again this morning and pulled the ring bit completely off the tag this time .

Oh goodness Ann sounds as she's a menace on the road nearly hitting you twice .

We've seen a little sun but it's quite cloudy now .

Afternoon All,

Slept well last night and my back and side are less painful today so onward and upward I hope! I popped to the shop as OH wanted some cobs to take with him for his lunch at footie on Monday. The carpark was busy and a woman reversing out of a space wasn't looking and nearly knocked me down. Then as she drove round the top and down the other side by the hedge to leave she nearly got me again! The nice chap who keeps the carpark immaculate saw her the second time and shook his head. The village was so busy with cars parked everywhere and balloons up in one place there is obviously some kind of event or fair going on today.

I've only just seen your pics Mel and loved the trails of the snow/sleet as it came down. Phil2 looked plump and well fluffed up against the cold and that is a pretty white and orange Koi in the pond. I wonder what they make of all the snow they can see.

Good idea to watch the boat race Mandy. I'm not doing anything that involves my back today!