Preparing for winter III

Fruball

shegar wrote: »

Talking of hollyhocks still out, this is what is still out in the garden from summer 2011;;osteospermums,roses,calendula,heather ,margarites, hotlips(slavias),, also noticed today whenI was cleaning out the old birdboxes, all 7 of them, honeysuckle in bud, also roses too...........admit we havent had too many cold nights,frosts, as today was sunny and blue skies and a tad bit chilly.......my son bought me a camera in bird box, so ive been looking for some place to put it , and ive decided to put it where a blue tit as nested for the past 3 yrs, I just hope he will use it..............

Oooooh what a lovely gift :j Well done Shegar's DS!!!

westcoastscot

Wish it would snow here - am totally sick of the constant rain - hasn't stopped since early december. Rannoch Moor had the snow gates closed today, so keeping my fingers crossed.

WCS

shegar

Frugal wrote: »

Oooooh what a lovely gift :j Well done Shegar's DS!!!

Cor yea im dead chuffed with it,:T just hope im lucky enough to get a blue tit or great tit in it, I had a wrens nest in a box last year, I put that very small box up just because I had it, I didnt think anything could possibly nest in it as its so small, I emptied it today carefully and the nest is so cute,small , cozy, and tiny, :Dit was made up with moss, tiny twiglets, and chicken feathers, it was beautiful, I put it in a wire hanging basket that I have hanging up outside which as lots of nesting materials in for this years build.............so it would be nice if the wrens came back to that box too..............Ive been preparing all my boxes today, it was dam nice to get outside for some fresh air, I feel better for it........:D

Fruball

shegar wrote: »

Cor yea im dead chuffed with it,:T just hope im lucky enough to get a blue tit or great tit in it, I had a wrens nest in a box last year, I put that very small box up just because I had it, I didnt think anything could possibly nest in it as its so small, I emptied it today carefully and the nest is so cute,small , cozy, and tiny, :Dit was made up with moss, tiny twiglets, and chicken feathers, it was beautiful, I put it in a wire hanging basket that I have hanging up outside which as lots of nesting materials in for this years build.............so it would be nice if the wrens came back to that box too..............Ive been preparing all my boxes today, it was dam nice to get outside for some fresh air, I feel better for it........:D

Shegar! What a fabulous idea - I am going to do one too - what sorts of things do you put in it? x

Justamum

I don't know if anyone is interested but here's a link to a site about having a store of food - she's got two years worth. I know that loads of people on here are already doing something along these lines, but it's interesting anyway http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/clay125.html I like all her kilner jars of home preserved food. When I get my own house with a garden where I can grow my own veg that's how I would like my food store to look. {envious sigh}

[Deleted User]

I was so cosy in bed but the wind is mad and very loud and scary upstairs, so I am down now and nursing a nice mug of tea. Thanks for the link justamum, it`ll give me something to do at this unearthly hour. I hate the wind

re preserves for winter: I opened a kilner jar of simple brined home grown tomatoes and they were lovely. Another excellent and very easy preservation method for me and makes growing lots of small tomatoes worthwhile. Tons cheaper than tinned

I have been thinking about where to store food, so that I am not tripping over it and also to act as a cool store for my home grown sqashes, onions and so on. It is all everywhere at the moment and feels `messy`. I have a little used room on the north side downstairs and it is always cool. It is filled with bookshelves and a dresser and a desk and filing cabinet. I am seriously thinking of using that room for a store in the future as I am hoping to have masses of our staples ie apples. Maybe not for 2 years but the apples will start producing after that and most will be long keepers and will keep well in there

Oh I am bored and can even hear the wind down here, I need to put my earphones on

rising_from_the_ashes

kittie wrote: »

I was so cosy in bed but the wind is mad and very loud and scary upstairs, so I am down now and nursing a nice mug of tea.

It's horrible too here Kittie, the wind woke me up around 4 am (but did manage to drop off for a while) and then again around 6 (late for me!).

I've come downstairs too but I think it's even worse - the outside light keeps going on/off (only happens when it's really windy) and it's quite creeps as I keep thinking someone's out there. (Still really dark).

Think I'll have to pluck up the courage to go outside soon & put the car in the garage :eek: so it's nice and safe. TBH can't see me going anywhere today if it's going to be like this all day - shame as back to work tomorrow.

I really hope the snow doesn't decide to arrive now - I would have quite happily had it for the past fortnight when I've not had to worry about getting to work ..... but it would be just typical if it came now.

Stay safe everyone (off to look at Justamum's link too!)

greenbee

Windy here too. The lights were flickering around 7am, but seem OK now. My recycling bin has gone over, so I'll deal with it when I'm dressed and have done the admin bit of my work for today, when hopefully outside will look a bit less miserable!

[Deleted User]

I am putting my trust in the bbc weather forecast and put a 60 wash on earlier. Bright and windy at 11-12 so that should dry it. I think I`ll put my fleecy dressing gown in too

re fleece and bedding. Have a look at qvcuk tsv today. Good value fleece duvet bedding sets

from £39 4 piece to £51 superking
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.frames.y.tpl.uktsv.item.tsv.cm_scid.TSV?cm_re=Hero-_-Carousel1-_-Createacosysanctuary

rising_from_the_ashes

greenbee wrote: »

Windy here too. The lights were flickering around 7am, but seem OK now.

Lights have been flickering here too so not looking too promising (if I disappear you know why!).

Have lit the pilot light on the gas fire & put the heating on for a wee while in case it does go .... think it's going to be a day of housework & cooking. Have some chicken stock I did a couple of days ago and a load of veg so thick chunky veg I think:)

It's finally light and the back garden is a total tip with stuff blown about - if it dies down later, I'll venture out to tidy up but ... certainly not yet!

Big cat came downstairs, looked out and has retired back to his bed in the bathroom (on top of the hot water pipes;)) and wee cat is howling at the door to go out ...... I don't think so!:eek: