Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

We have tried most things: white noise, human urine soaked rags and intruder lights, they work for a while but then the Deer get used to them. We can't have a fence, it is a very large boundary, surrounding more than our house.

 

Hello all, Nanny duty this morning with Tom, my youngest grandson then off to work but I have promised myself a day in the garden tomorrow weather permitting. Sunny and dry here long may it continue!

 

Morning all, late to the party today! The menus look delicious @Punkdoc and @shiney .
I've been out and got a car boot full of supermarket shopping for my parents which I'll deliver in a bit when I've had a cuppa or two, so another no-gardening day unless I get roped in to help with something there.

 

Morning all.
Another pleasingly mild day (forecast high 15C), but this time overcast and humid. Ground is very, very wet. Yesterday was the warmest day on the island so far this year, it cracked 17C in some parts apparently.

@Tui34 I always say this to everyone, but... pace yourself in the garden and be careful.
@redstar Hope you and your friend had a wonderful evening.
Sorry you are having such a terrible time with the log burner installation @Goldenlily26 .
@Dovefromabove I was wondering where @Didyw was (and also @Coccinella ). Good to hear that she is keeping well, and that you all had a nice time together.
Very delicious menu @Punkdoc
@Busy-Lizzie Glad you had such a nice time at the Gardening Club anniversary.
Enjoy your lunch @pattie & @shiney .

The salty air of Storm Kathleen may have mortally wounded one of my two surviving patio roses. They were the "wrong" roses anyway, so it is only a very minor misfortune.

The annual seeds I have sown haven't been germinating very prolifically, and I have put this down to two factors:
i) Gross incompetence on my part (naturally)
ii) Using last year's seeds
However, early this morning I became aware of a third factor. The pots where the seeds were sown are covered over by a rectangle of chicken wire to deter birds. However, it transpires that - because the chicken wire rests on top of the pots and is only about an inch above the soil level - those pesky birds are simply standing on top of the chicken wire and feasting on my seeds an inch below. I foresee the procurement of additional chicken wire and wood to fabricate a structure with a less flawed design...

Best wishes to everyone as always.

 

@shiney - celeriac remoulade is one of my favourite things to eat. I was very disappointed when W'rose stopped selling their ready-made version for a while. Then they reintroduced it and it's a regular on our menus again. I can see that it would be very good with beetroot. I've often made a raw beetroot and carrot salad (a sort-of remoulade but with oil & vinegar dressing rather than mayo).
Wasn't a great fan of mackerel until I had some beautiful, spankingly fresh chargrilled mackerel with a very crispy skin, served on sour dough toast with a large heirloom tomato salad - absolutely fabulous. Followed by a crab stottie.
That was in St Ives, on a sunny day, in a rather nice cafe overlooking the harbour. The same holiday when we met up with you and your OH @Dovefromabove. Happy days. Are you going back this year?

 

Oops - clearly need to have a lesson in quoting

 

Not going back this year @Topbird … son’s accident and convalescence rather got in the way when it was time to book the cottage that we favour. And to be honest, driving back and forth to Broomfield Burns Unit every other day for all those weeks rather took the fun out of driving for a while. We’ll probably do something more local this year and then have a think. We have so many glorious places near at hand.

 

Certainly do Dove

 

Good afternoon all.
Missed the wakey wakey call as was travelling to son’s in Stockton on Tees. The journey can be achieved in 1hour 45 mins normally but today took us 2hours 15mins due to all the 50mph speed limits for the roadworks on the A1.
We shall be travelling back tomorrow using the M1 instead.
Lots of flooded fields on the journey but nice to see the Rapeseed in flower.
It does brighten up a dull day.
Enjoy your weekend

 

Afternoon folks, it was brilliant sunshine when we awoke so I hastily donned gardening gear as soon as breakfast was over and enjoyed some gardening, weeding, pruning and poking one of the compost bins, think there's good stuff in the bottom half. Then I had to drive OH up to the private clinic for his appointment with the hip specialist and the good news is that he hopes to get it in done in June, which is far earlier than we had anticipated. It might scupper holidays though but we can can work round that.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner last night, courtesy of our DIL, warmish roast chicken with salad and new potatoes followed by fresh fruit with yoghurt. Quite healthy, apart from the bottle Picpoul de Pinet which probably wasn't! We 've just had the leftovers for lunch and OH has nodded off on the sofa. I must go and get more gardening done whilst it's dry.

Enjoy your Friday folks and the weekend to come.

 

Thanks all. Had a nice day yesterday at the galleries. And a good fun gathering in the evening with "the girls". Good conversation, good wine, and snacks. Now today, just doing stuff around here. Even if its a holiday home, we still find "fix it" things and to "improve" areas. Nice and cool here, 70 degrees. Still 7 more days to be here. Later.

 

Sounds like everyone is keeping busy.
Had a free day today so went out for lunch and visited some garden centers for some inspiration. Didn't but anything today but got some ideas. Everything seems so expensive!

 

Good evening all,

It’s been a pleasant day here today, quite warm and no rain. The sun has now decided to put in a late appearance.

Managed to get into the garden and begin some tidying up - pulling up weeds, clipping last years growth off some plants and snipping the heads off any finished daffs. There’s more to do, but will do some in the morning.

Fish Friday at the local GC this lunch time and very nice it was, too. Saves me wondering what to do for dinner this evening. If we feel peckish, it will be easy enough to rustle up a sandwich later.

I hope everyone has a pleasant evening.

 

Spent two and a half hours in the garden( in two sessions to save my back) and dug up two huge gardening bags of brambles. The digging hoe was ideal, not too much bending. OH came out and gathered up twigs from the grass, looks like he is planning to give it a cut soon. Just waiting till there is more grass than moss!
Even had our morning coffee sitting outside. Could this be spring?