the daydream fund challenge thread

lostinrates

RAS wrote: »

Has he got an entrance block in place? Makes it easier for the bees to defend the space?

We have been advised to set up wine bottles with a bit of jam and water to trap wasps; I do find them hunting our bees.

yes, and last weekend DH narrowed the entrance...it seems to be working, there were no wasps in the hive, though they all appeared when he inspected this week (he's inspecting weekly).

We were told jam too, so I'm planning on making traps this week. We were told plastic milk bottles and a bit of overflow pipe. I've got some less than nice jam from last year (I usually make nice jam:o:o) so that's a good use for it.

choille

Haven't got owt done here coz of midgies & going over East today.

Dave - I have Round Up so I'll get summat done in the next few days hopefully.

RAS - Rhods are a complete menace if left to tangle away. There was a talk & demo down at Inverewe - (by demo I mean demonstration! But not a violent one & although I couldn't go there is a technique devised where you twist the plant out - takes two of you to do it but really can get an awful lot out relatively easily. There are acres of the stuff up the West Coast & when left completely tangle woodlands up.

Midgy machine packed up - motor burnt out :eek: nightmare amounts of money that dashit thing has cost each year in repairs - co went to the wall a few years back - cost & repairs of it must be in excess of a grand - doh!:mad:

Got someones excess insulation for cheap today - not enough to do the whole place but a good amount.:T
Went to visit a woman that works in a feed shop today & what a set up - raised beds, poly tunnel ( with massive vine - hanging with black grapes that were sweet. sweet - wow) sheds & veg & &.....all in the middle of a town - amazing to see. She is pretty upset as she kept/bred hens but neighbour gave her such grief she got rid of the lot - incubator everything. Funny to go up this council scheme & go round the back & see all this stuff growing. Mind you they did buy an extra piece of spare ground that was cheap & has made a massive difference to what they have. She gave me 3 rhubarb plants she'd grown from seed - great stuff.
Raided the charity shops - ( not like you do down South, I did actually pay for the stuff! ) sure it's some sort of comfort/diversion tactic coz I don't have a house - I need some sort of aversion therapy to get over this addiction. Got two wonderful Khasmiri shawls that are huge & very beautiful & would make amazing table covers. A load of old tins - one for air raid precaution sealant tape - with tape. That'll come in handy.........

Rummer

I made the most of a lovely evening yesterday to do a lot of weeding in the front garden, they are really big and totally thriving in the blend of sunshine and rain that we have had over the last few weeks. Anyway it looks a bit better and it was nice driving into the drive tonight to see a tidier garden. Mind you my muscles were sore this morning, got more of a work out than I had bargained for!

John_Pierpoint

choille wrote: »

RAS - Rhods are a complete menace if left to tangle away. There was a talk & demo down at Inverewe - There is a technique devised where you twist the plant out - takes two of you to do it but really can get an awful lot out relatively easily. There are acres of the stuff up the West Coast & when left completely tangle woodlands up.

.

http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/rhododen-2.htm

Davesnave

Last night, I acquired a ride-on mower, thanks to a friend who "just had one lying about." It's not exactly a newish model, but it will make a big difference to the rough grassed areas, or rather the time/effort needed to keep them under control.

Rhiwfield, how is your hen with the beak ring? Ours still has the odd peck at other hens, so she's not over her 'problem,' but as the beak has grown around the ring, she can eat things like greens OK and even hunt earwigs. However, we've noticed that this hen's comb is pale and we wonder if the ring is somehow affecting her health. Mind you, she's healthier than she would have been if we'd had no way of sorting her feather-pecking! :rotfl:

We're not sure, but DW has the idea that our Welsummers from the local source may have scaly leg. It isn't pronounced and none of the others seem affected, but it was way back in about April when we got those birds, so I'm sceptical. Anyway, we have been taking them off the perch and giving their legs the Vaseline treatment for the last three nights. If nothing else, my hands are really soft now!

Sorry to hear about the demise of your midgy machine, choille; I'd think one of those would be well worth it if it enables you to sit out.
Here, we just have hundreds of swallows and a fair bit of breeze, so midges have a rough time of it.

rhiwfield

Rhiwfield, how is your hen with the beak ring?

Came off a while back but no real featherpecking going on atm and all 3 laying well.

One of the things I dont miss is cutting large amounts of grass, nice that 1 can of unleaded will last all year long including making up 2 stroke fuel

Choille, I've never experienced scottish midges in summer, but from telly they look like they could make life pretty miserable!

Still selling via car boot and ebay, and its amazing that we keep finding household stuff to sell as yet another wardrobe is cleared. Its made a real difference to finances as well

Will trim the sqaush monsters today to stop them invading next door

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

Last night, I acquired a ride-on mower, thanks to a friend who "just had one lying about." It's not exactly a newish model, but it will make a big difference to the rough grassed areas, or rather the time/effort needed to keep them under control.

OMG, after a whole day spent with the borrowed and pain inducing hover and not getting it all done can you FEEL my envy???:D:D Congratulations!

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

can you FEEL my envy???:D:D Congratulations!

Not yet...... Today it won't start because the battery is flat, so I've got it on charge.

I know it may not last long, but I want to find out what it will do before putting down serious money for a newer one. I realise something like this is essential long term.

It's like the brushcutter; I hired one before I bought, just to find out more about them. Ive already discovered I can remove the silencer and drown out Mr Dog's dogs!:rotfl:

alfie_1

A load of old tins - one for air raid precaution sealant tape - with tape. That'll come in handy.........

oh my *** that sounds brilliant, sort of thing i love [sad or what!!:o] if you want to sell it/them let me know please??

sorry to hear the midgy machine has gone kaputt !
great youve got a mower DAVE
sorry you havent LIR!
really jealous that you "did" the bulldog bash CTC

right ive managed to keep up,just, with all the posts ..iv been off the radar [sorry to those that are starting to miss thier peace and quiet already!:D]

BF and i have been constructing my shack and verandah for the last week. i was determined to ONLY use recycled wood ,roofing etc but had to sucumb to BUYING :eek: some weatherboard stuff and i was horrified at the cost.... BUT it is almost finished..im determined to complete by my BBQ on the 28th. i have all the plants on standby to plant enroute and around said building !:)

what is it with men [my sexist apology in advance here:)] when they look at you like your an alien when you suggest an easier way of doing something?? disbelief at the suggestion or anger that your right ?;) followed by " well yes ,i HAD thought of that before,i was just contemplating the options!" ...... YEH,RIGHT...:rotfl:

as i informed BF i do occasionally know what im talking about...was that withering look aimed at me??:D

i am picking amazingly perfect tomatoes from the plants i shoved in pots outside the gate and forgot about !! i am getting rubbish tomatoes from the carefully nurtured ones IN the garden ??? my rhubarb has decided to go on holiday.... and my chooks ONLY lay eggs on the days i let them out in the garden??:mad: but until shack is complete[fence not finished] they can sneak into "my" garden unless im here all day....

still cant catch RUBY....
and im knee deep in 50s dresses....:o

choille

Alfie - I think I'll bang the tins on ebay next free listing day.

The midgy machine may be rebuild & flogged as I am so stressed with it & I don't think it's big enough for here as it is really bad with typical West Coast conditions.

Still not got my dockens up/sprayed & still shearer hasn't been to do the sheep - I feel stressed with that too......grrrrrrr.
I do wonder what life would be like without animals & the possiblility of getting away would be grand.
Nice evening but quite low cloud & dashed midgy & there is a big hint of Autumn about.