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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 9, 2021 10:06:22 GMT
Morning Girls, the Sun is shining, and the Sky is Blue, sounds like the beginning of a Song, I might be starting a new Career, looks lovely Outside, but that could change in the twinkling of an Eye, wonder where that Expression came from? Hope this is the end of the end of the very cold Spell, and things can get going in the Garden, see what has survived the Winter, it is never as severe as this usually, might find a few surprises in sheltered Spots. Made out my Seed, and Plug Plant Order, so will put that in Today. Got Groceries coming this Afternoon, will be a struggle to put away, but the frozen Stuff is easy enough, and can leave any heavier Stuff that needs hefting into the Cupboard, and put it in bit by bit, Potatoes will be the heaviest Item, but will manage, I always do. I buy big Packs of Basic Items, like Tea Bags, could not bear to be without my Cuppa. As you know, I love my Birds, and have quite a lot visit my Garden, as it has everything they need, and different Foods to suit them, but every couple of Days I make up Bags of Scraps for them, with Tit Bits in, like Ham and Cheese, suppose the Ham is like Worms to them, they love it anyway, and their little Beaks simply flash, they gobble it so fast. Put out a largish piece of Quiche, Daughter's Homemade, she makes a very deep One, with plenty of Cheese, and the little Birds would not touch it, but along came Mr Crow, and demolished it in no time. I used to have an old Crow, he had White Feathers in places, who used to bring hard Crusts, and dip them in the Pond, my Son, objected to cleaning it out, because it was full of Bread! I better make a start, meant to say, if you have any questions, about 'my Story', I will answer them as best I can. Have a good Day, love Tina x
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Post by brightspark on Jan 9, 2021 11:39:08 GMT
Morning (just!) :-)
Oh Aly, handing over the keys, I can imagine you feel a whole weight lifted from your shoulders - I'm not surprised you were tired - it made me tired just thinking about what you'd been doing at the old house. Golly, making a hole in the wall for a cat flap sounds like a lot of work, so it can't be put in a door? It'll be a lot easier for you if the dogs can be allowed out on their own, wouldn't it, so I imagine the fencing is probably one of your other priorities.
Iris, the packers in the supermarket don't seem to be able to understand how to pack bags - we too have had bananas packed under 2.5kgs potatoes, it seems strange that it isn't obvious to them!? Ha ha, interestingly, our heating controls are also a mystery to me - in our former house it was so simple, so why does it have to be so complicated. OH complains that working on the cars is a lot more complex now that computer engineering is involved (and lets us down more frequently than good old-fashioned mechanical engines).
By the way, the pastry I made from this recipe: weekendatthecottage.com/all-butter-pie-crust/ was, in fact, the best I have ever made - it's meant to be shortcrust but it cooked more like puff pastry. Very good indeed. Much enjoyed.
Tina, enjoying your story of times gone by - looking forward to reading more. It is a lovely thing poring over seed and flower catalogues, I always find lots I'd like then OH says "but we have no more room!", which is true, but I can dream. We tend to have lots of shrubs filling the garden, some spring flowers (firstly the snowdrops, then tulips and crocus, then forget-me-not, which helps fill in the ground cover around the spring bulbs), following with blossom on the trees. Our veg patch became unusable, in that after it's initial good crops gradually has gone downhill, until nothing grows except raspberries, which have actually taken over! We still have the fruit trees of course. But no veg.
Jan, hope everything's okay, and you haven't risked going out in this (maybe) icy weather...as you can read that Tina's carer slipped and fell. You don't need that!!
Have a good day, ladies, x
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Post by irist on Jan 9, 2021 13:42:03 GMT
Afternoon ladies. A very cold day again here. We did see a brief glimpse of sun earlier but now it's overcast and miserable. I have put the towels on the small line but the wind has dropped so don't think they will dry very well but at least they will smell of fresh air! Still haven't been able to get a new line to replace the long one which broke a couple of weeks ago. Will have to resort to Amazon. Not a problem as I need to order some mirror screws to reattach the full length mirror to the wardrobe near the airing cupboard. I put the original ones somewhere very safe and now can't find them. We thought it prudent to take the mirror down in view of the major upheaval in the bedroom. Will also try to get a replacement insert for the basin tap in the bathroom. All our taps now take water straight from the mains and the little insert in the mouth of the basin tap was forced out by the extra pressure the first time OH turned it on. He got an unexpected cold shower The plumber reduced the pressure for us so that's sorted. This morning I've hoovered the house from top to bottom and everything is back where it belongs except the rather large pile of "stuff" destined for the charity shops when they open. Now have to deal with all the paperwork relating to the new heating system. Then I shall put my feet up and tackle cleaning the bathroom and steam cleaning all the tiled floors tomorrow. I will have to clean a section of carpet in the bedroom where the men were working. One of them has dripped what looks like tea on it. When the spring comes I'll use my carpet cleaning machine to freshen up the lounge carpet. You have been busy, Aly. No wonder you were tired. Hope you don't have the struggle putting the cat flap in your granite wall like the poor lad encountered here drilling for the pipes to go through the wall. I miss having the wood burner in the lounge already. No lovely fire to look at but I've already started looking online for a small model I like! It will be a very expensive ornament most of the time but a godsend in a powercut and bring life back into the room. I do not miss traipsing across the yard to collect wood in the minus temperatures we are having at the moment! Take care all. Hope you are OK Jan. Bye for now.
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Post by Aly on Jan 9, 2021 18:23:34 GMT
Evening Another long day spent emptying out the big barn that P used as a workshop.. two more trips to the dump. We now have everything we want from the barn and it is just about empty. A few bits left to go to the dump which we hope the new owners will deal with. Have covered the trailer with a tarpaulin tonight as too tired to empty it. Putting together a quick shepherds pie for dinner ( lentils for me) which we will have with a much needed and indeed earned beer. Still a lot to sort out here but now we have finished the old place are keen to get started. Hope to order the new chicken coop this week as am very keen to have some again. Bitter cold again but this house is lovely and warm. Must sort out dinner but wil be here earlier tomorrow
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 10, 2021 11:08:59 GMT
Morning Girls, well the sunny Days have ended, and we are back to 'normal', Weather, still as cold, however, but think the Ice has melted, which was making it so dangerous underfoot' You will be anxious to get everything going, Aly, but at just at the start of the growing Season , with a bit of leeway, before the Seeds need to go in. You did say there was a Vegetable Patch, or something that could be One, so that is a start. Which Hens will you be buying, I know my Gran favoured Rhode Island Reds, might not even exist as a Breed any more, and a Black and White One, am not going to be able to spell it, Wyandots. Groceries came half of it missing and a couple of silly Substitutions, but lucky to have my main Items, so will not starve, got so many 'ready Meals', in the Freezer, had to offload some on to my Daughter, to get some Frozen Stuff in. Was just thinking, am so lucky to always have had enough to eat, never went hungry even in Wartime, but that was down to my inventive Mother, but that's another Story, I do remember though, an Onion, being a Raffle Prize. Can't go down that Road, but maybe, my next 'Story'. I was always going to be a Writer, but Children took over my Life. Really want to make Bread, you get to the Stage where sinking your Gums into a Slice of new Baked Bread, becomes a Compulsion. First Job is to put the rest of the Shopping away, could not manage the Tatties, and other Veg. So will get on with that Job, once Ihave had my Morning Latte. Have a good Day. bye the noo, Tina x
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Post by irist on Jan 10, 2021 15:55:50 GMT
Afternoon ladies. Another very cold, grey day but it is January! I've finally finished catching up on my normal housework. I've managed to get rid of all the fine granite dust from the lounge. It's amazing all the nooks and crannies it found to lodge in. I'm burning a scented candle during the day to mask the smell of the paint curing on the new pipes in the inglenook and the lingering odour of soldering. I've also carved some polystyrene packaging to fit an old ventilation pipe which runs through the granite wall near the new air pump just outside our lounge. It's now dampening the sound when the unit is operating. It's an annoying buzzing but much muted now the hole is filled. When the weather is better OH will cement both ends of the hole which will help even more. OH was poring over his catalogues yesterday but there were only two sorts of veg for which he hasn't already bought seed. I will get them from the garden centre when I am passing on the way to the supermarket. I want to continue with the cottage garden theme for the borders this year. I've bought some seed but never get quantities quite right. The space is always greater than the supply of plants I love your stories, Tina. You really should write that book! You really do spoil the wildlife in your garden but it must be good to just sit and watch the birds' antics. Will you take part in the Great British Birdwatch next weekend? We don't get as many birds visit our garden now because I had to stop feeding them. There was a rat running around under the feeder in broad daylight on several occasions and that was the last straw. I do have lots of plants and berries which the birds can feed on but they are not directly within sight of the house. We must have had a mouse in the woodshed back last year because it had left evidence - there were the seeds from rosehips hidden in little gaps in the woodpile. It'll soon be time for our son's Zoom call so I'll bid you all farewell.
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Post by Aly on Jan 10, 2021 16:03:29 GMT
Evening again. Failed once more as started early with sorting out . The day ran away with me. I now have my half of the hobby room set up and all my boxes unpacked. Hope to get some sewing done soon. Also shifted all P’s paperwork up to the hobby room as that is where it will live now. He needs to sort out the filing cabinet and arrange his office corner. The other corner will be for his art stuff. I suspect I will use the room most . We now have a laptop that can be used anywhere. Really need the cat flap putting in but cannot put any pressure on P. He has blood tests booked for Wednesday which is playing on his mind. Very cold overnight but not so bad during the day. The dogs are being very good about staying on their leads when out. The chap from the house opposite came today to sort out the horse and cows. He made a fuss of Bruno so is now a friend for life as far as our big dog is concerned. He doesn’t live there but keeps animals on the land. The house is empty.. Sunday roast underway and made an apple pie for pud. Couldn’t find the rolling pin so had to be inventive. Think it will be knitting this evening as want to get the latest jumper done for grandson.
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Post by brightspark on Jan 10, 2021 20:30:27 GMT
I'm late again.
My sister-in-law still has a broken arm - nearly five months now, and I have to say, the NHS were struggling before Covid, but now it seems as it is being used as an excuse. She told me that she cries with the pain - she has been given a velcro-secured brace but it only hurts her and hasn't helped in the least. Her daughters have been fighting to get something done - one has written letters, but they are not replied to, and meantime my SiL has found her depression dipping lower and lower. So today OH and I have spent some hours talking to them and helping them with letters, etc. One feels so helpless.
OH has bought the DVD of The Greatest Showman, so we're off to watch it now. Have a good evening, what's left of it, x
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 11, 2021 9:57:14 GMT
Morning Girls, very dark and cold, that wet coldness, not the crisp sunny coldness we have been having. If you have read my Rant, is this a new Thing, how are you going to have your Birth Certificate ready, and more to the point, we are in Lockdown, and he wore no Mask, and kept pointing to his Iphone, so I said, take a Picture, but no, so will have to get someone to pick me up a new Set of Implements, unless the Powers that be, think we will all start a batter your Neighbour , with a Garden Trowel Month. I cannot tell the Family, as they might very well batter me with my old Trowel, for opening the Door at Night. Being Monday, always clear out Papers, and things like that, so bit of a busier Day, but do fancy a Fruit Scone, so for all it takes, never bother to Measure the Ingredients, will make a few, they saved me from going hungry, when I worked for titled Nobility, but that's another Story, lol. Hope you are okay, Jan, missing you.x be back later. love Tina x
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Post by Aly on Jan 11, 2021 11:16:18 GMT
Morning Made it for a change. Tina the world has gone mad. Not so long ago it was enough to have your name and address on a package. Personally I think they have no right to ask your age. Almost cleared the admin this morning. Actually made some raisin cookies. Or to be precise am making them. Shopping this afternoon and have my list made out. Tend to forget things otherwise. Age I guess. Not doing well with the knitting but now making a concerted effort as this grandson is the last one to get his jumper. He is only five and I do not want him to feel left out. Will then start again with number one. No frost this morning just damp which makes old bones ache. The house is beginning to take shape. The boxes are slowly reducing. Just as well there is no gardening at the moment as I want to give time to my new veg patch. The new chicken coop and run are ordered and should arrive later this week. Once it is set up I will go to a local market and buy my chickens. Planning on having six but no cockerel this time. As they will not free range it is not needed. The run is big and I plan to put bits in to keep them entertained. I am so looking forward to having them again.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 11, 2021 13:05:58 GMT
How many Eggs will six Chickens usually lay in a Week, Aly? how I would love to have Chickens, remember when I was little, and we lived on a Farm, I used to collect the Eggs for the Farmers Wife, and got a few Pecks while feeling around. So looking forward to how everything goes for you. What are you growing? Forgot to say Ladies, if you have any Questions to ask me about 'the Story', will be glad to answer them.
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Post by brightspark on Jan 11, 2021 16:43:04 GMT
Evening ladies,
Not a lot achieved today, though I managed to sew on all the ties for the zimmer frame caddies. I happened on a website for making felt vegetables for play. Well, I have started on making a slice of bread (plan to make 4) - may have to re-think as this first slice is proving a challenge, being small-ish and very fiddly. I'd hoped to make cheese slices, fried eggs, and perhaps some tomato, ha ha I reckon I'll be doing this forever!!
Also the 2m bolster pillow arrived a couple of days ago, so I opened it today, and the dragon fabric picture that I'd bought fits it perfectly - then I got out the flames fabric (for the backing, and I have plenty of that, I'm glad to say!), so this is the next project.
Oh Aly, that's exciting to get some more chickens - having had them for so long, I can imagine you want them again. Mmm raisin cookies - sound yummy! Are you going to make the current Attic24 blanket? I must admit I'm tempted. My ordered yarn from The Netherlands went astray. They wrote and said that GLS had failed to deliver to me, and would I give them my address again - ah, but I looked at the Tracking, and the parcel had been from The Hague to Rotterdam, then to Utrecht, then back to Rotterdam, and then returned to The Hague, so after explaining that, I haven't heard another thing... I'll just have to make sure that they don't charge me if it doesn't arrive.
Iris, it does sound as if you're getting back to normal again, and with your new boiler, and not so much log-collecting; altogether making it more comfortable for you both.
Hope you're okay Jan, talk to us...
Have a good evening, x
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Post by brightspark on Jan 11, 2021 16:50:48 GMT
Tina, with reference to your connection with the children in those early times, I have often wondered how people foster children (I believe you have fostered a few in your time) - how do you let them go, especially if they have become part of the family?
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 11, 2021 17:44:42 GMT
You need to be a certain type of Person, Val. My first little Girl, I cried all Night, we always knew She was a short term Foster, and met her Parents, who were lovely People, when they visited once a Fortnight. It was unusual in that she had Parents, they were from an African Country, he was a Doctor, who needed to specilise in something, and she was a Nurse who needed to take a Midwifery Course, but no birth Pill in those Days, and along came Baby. Mum, could get back on the Course, if she did so within a certain time, so Baby had to be fostered out. She was a lovely Brown Colour, and I used to knit her Matinee jackets in all the lovely Colours of Wool, and put matching Bows in her Hair, when Ipushed her out in her Pram, everybody in the Village would coo over her.
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Post by ambersparkle on Jan 11, 2021 17:50:46 GMT
Forgot to say, just had the Paramedics, my Heart was playing up, but they did all the Tests, and apart from my Blood Pressure being high, seems okay now.
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