No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

flowertotmum

Hi..
Kate the girls and i have just looked at the fuzzy ducklings...we were oohing and aahing..they are just so cute..Iris said"don't let them poo on your hands"..bless her..they are so in love with the ducklings...

You rebel you..new washing line and seed potatoes...we have a cherry tree..lots of cherries every year..if we get there before the sparrows...

Hi mlw..the girls asked what duck and cherries meant...i told them and they were horrified..lol

We are going to Annies for lunch today and have a sit in her little garden..then a walk home through the cemetary..sounds weird but its so peaceful and i enjoy the walk..flowers and trees all over..one of my fave places(thats the weird thing)...
love to you all
ftm

[Deleted User]

SORRY....... Please tell the TOTS that I have a very odd sense of humour and I wouldn't really eat them, poor little babies, they're much too nice for that. Fully understand the cemetary, it's odd that like motorway verges they have become safe havens for our wildlife and wild flowers, I love the peacefulness that you find, it's like being 'Out of the Madding Crowd' and a little out of time isn't it. Have a lovely day with Annie and tell the Tots that Duck is definately NOT on the menu!!! Cheers Lyn xxx.

katep23

FTM, the picture of the ducklings in my dad's hand came with a message from my mum that that's exactly what they did! Thought the tots might like the pictures!

Have had some great news today - my old company which I left last September have asked me to come back for some temp work. At least 6 weeks, maybe more as they have a number of people out long-term sick. The pay is quite good although not the salary I was on when I worked there as a manager, however it all helps massively.

They have agreed to let me do my old hours (8.30 to 4.30) as I have a 20+ mile commute so I will get home at a reasonable time.

I start on Monday, will be popping in on Thursday to finalise details with the manager.

scottishminnie

Well, the phone line is fixed at last (9 weeks) however in doing so my broadband seems to have slowed to dial up speeds. BT are adamant it's a different fault so have closed doen the original one, against my wishes. I'm sure that's so they don't have to admit to their shocking failings.

Anyway, our short break in the US is well and truly over and I've been home for a week now. Had lots of catching up to do in the garden. I think it was quite dry while we were away and the carrots and celery which I planted before I left look pretty pathetic so I've drenched them and will keep a close eye on them to see if I can recover them. My potatoes seem to be doing well and the onions also look healthy.

The fruit bushes have quite a bit on them so we netted them last night. There is nothing on the raspberry bush and I was sure there were fruit before we left however hubby thinks I'm imagining that so we covered them anyway.
My eating cherry tree has masses of little green berries so fingers crossed we will get them before the birds! It's not so much sparrows we have a problem with right now as hundreds of little starlings which sound like they are wearing doc martens when they congregate on the roof at 4am for the day's first flying lesson!

Your ducklings are adorable Kate. When I was young my grandmother had hens and geese (they were noisy and quite scary) and any kind of small fluffy creature melts my heart.

I still haven't picked out a replacement fridge freezer. I've been dithering dreadfully on this. My initial plan was to buy the cheapest I can find. Now I've seen a nice Samsung and I'm really smitten as it has a non plumbed water dispenser and an ice cube maker. It's around twice the price of the cheapest I could find though so I'm still trying to justify it. What I would really like is a retro Smeg one however at £1300 or so it's utterly ridiculous just for the utility room.
I must make a decision soon though as we are beginning to miss the extra fridge space for drinks etc.

Hope your job is going well Kate - it's easier to slot back into somewhere that you've previously worked but knowing you don't have to stay forever if you know what I mean!

[Deleted User]

Morning SM, garden is looking good here. Today we have some much needed rain and hopefully that will help the actual plants to grow on as well as the grass and weeds!!! I am starting to harvest the polytunnel, have beetroot, little gem lettuce, courgettes, parsley in use and some early peas set to pod and fattening up. The climbing beans are luxuriant foliage but no flowers yet. In the garden we have gooseberries set for the first time, redcurrants set for the first time, figs also and a handfull of blueberries on the bush. The apple trees look to have much fruit set, but the jury's out on that one until I see how much drop we get. We have a greenhouse full of tomatoes in flower so hopefully we'll get a crop this year. We've had a couple of good cuts of asparagus but now I.m letting them grow on to strengthen the plants and our latest addition is 10 globe artichoke plants which I am very excited about as I love them both as veg and as cut dried flowers in the autumn, they have a wonderful perfume which seems to stay all winter long.Sorry you're still having problems with BT and hope you can find a fridge you like soon, Cheers Lyn xxx.

scottishminnie

The phone line issues continue:( on and off so I'm connected one minute and not the next which makes it quite difficult to plan anything much. One of my family friends has been taken nto hospital rather unexpectedly so I've been making sure her husband is properly fed and popping in to visit her too so my routine has truly gone to pot.

My fruit bushes have been under attack by caterpillars. They have massacred 2 gooseberry bushes which I don't think stand any chance of recovery. I've sprayed them with Derries but I think it is too little too late. I've been so busy I hadn't checked them for 2 days and couldn't believe the damage.

I've had a whole 2 strawberries from my plants however there are lots ready to ripen so we may actually be able to have a whole bowl of them soon!
The potatoes and onions look healthy so I will keep my fingers crossed for a good crop there.

The replacement fridge freezer is due on Friday so we've been eating strange combinations in the meantime. It is certainly working in terms of getting the supplies down.:)

Anyway, lunch time over so better get back to work. Hope you are all well.

[Deleted User]

SM you have probably got sawfly on the goosberries, they start on the leaves at the bottom of the plant and can strip the whole plant in no time at all, check your currant bushes too as they go for those as well. We caught the beginning of an attack and sprayed and still have some leaves, hopefully the fruit will continue to ripen anyway.

Hope your friend isn't in hospital for too long and is making a good recovery, pleased that your new fridge freezer is finally coming home to you and really,really wishing that the phone line company would remove thier digit and fix it for you, Cheers Lyn xxx.

boultdj

scottishminnie wrote: »

The phone line issues continue:( on and off so I'm connected one minute and not the next which makes it quite difficult to plan anything much. One of my family friends has been taken nto hospital rather unexpectedly so I've been making sure her husband is properly fed and popping in to visit her too so my routine has truly gone to pot.

My fruit bushes have been under attack by caterpillars. They have massacred 2 gooseberry bushes which I don't think stand any chance of recovery. I've sprayed them with Derries but I think it is too little too late. I've been so busy I hadn't checked them for 2 days and couldn't believe the damage.

I've had a whole 2 strawberries from my plants however there are lots ready to ripen so we may actually be able to have a whole bowl of them soon!
The potatoes and onions look healthy so I will keep my fingers crossed for a good crop there.

The replacement fridge freezer is due on Friday so we've been eating strange combinations in the meantime. It is certainly working in terms of getting the supplies down.:)

Anyway, lunch time over so better get back to work. Hope you are all well.

Gooseberry sawfly, and don't worry, your plant's will be fine next year, the thing I found helped me was old fashioned grease band's round the stem of the bush and black membrain that you put under stone round the root's. The female lay's her eggs in the soil round the root's, so if you can stop the perishing thing's cycle, your on to a winner, and the bad new's..... there 2 laying cycle's a year:(.hth

flowertotmum

Hello all...hope your all ok?
Lyn..thank you..hugs to you from all of us,((()))

Well i am hoping we are moving forward..we bury my fil on friday..its been a long time..some kind of kerfuffle over paperwork..inconsiderate it what it is..

So we have been keeping busy with lots of things..school work and eating through the contents of the freezer..i did a big shop today and spent £136..but thats filled my freezer with meat and veggies..we have made lots of cakes and cookies too..we have some new recipes to try as well so looking forward to doing them.

The girls are ok..Iris doesn't understand whats happened but i would be worried if she did at the age of 4..Fern is being so grown up about it all...she gave her grandma a huge cuddle and kissed her and then said "grandad is with patch now"..brought tears to my eyes and her dads..bless her..she is not going to the funeral neither is Iris..

We have finally bought ourselves a brand new sofa..well 2 actually..got them on offer and if we spent over £300 we got £100 discount..so what would have cost £600 we got for £500...they are being delivered next week..so pleased that we have just paid for them out right..its our first new sofa for 15 yrs..our old one is going to the local salvation army..its in good condition and is lovely..just not big enough for us anymore..so a new 2 seater and a 3 seater are on the way...so happy.

I have made some old fashioned lemonade..gosh how many lemons does it take to fill a cup and half..a lot i can tell you..but it is so refreshing and we like it...i made some of my own kitchen cleaner using the lemon skins and some vinegar..

I got totally spoilt on my birthday..i was given some tupperware..yes tupperware..hubby found them on ebay..my son bought me tupperware egg cups and my girls got some pastel beakers with lids..so my tupperware collection is going great guns...i just think it has more character and is very good value..they are being used daily..i also recieved some next vouchers..oohh i got 2 lovely tops..

Kate hows the job?
SM..i have the same problem with my fruit bushes...
Boultdj..thanks for that tip..
love to you all..
ftm

[Deleted User]

Good Morning FTM, I missed you posting last night, I'd had a couple of disturbed nights and very early awakenings thnks to the lurcher, they aren't too good in the heat and had an early night, feel so much better though for unbroken sleep!!!

I hope you are all come to terms with your sad loss, and beginning to move forward in life again. How sweet of Fern to understand that Grandad is with Patch and offer those words of comfort to her Grandma, children see with such clear eyes don't they? I think you're wise not to have them attend the funeral, I deliberately didn't take my girls when my Father died, there were some of his step grandchildren there and they suffered greatly from the general demeanour of the adults who obviously were emotional and sad, not a place for small people, and funnily enough my girls still have 'Happy' memories of my Dad, not overshadowed by that sadness the others have.

You sound, as always, to have been busy bunnies at home and with the home schooling and all the lovely home cooking and making. Your littlies will make such whole and rounded (in terms of experience and knowledge) adults, you are doing such sterling service with them it can only lead to a better life for them when they are grown up,brilliant stuff!!!

The new sofas sound super and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, sorry I missed it on the day, hope you all had a nice time despite the sadness in your lives. I love the idea of the Tupperware presents, retro is good and that is such fun to be collecting something practical as well as affordable!

How is your poor DHs dental problem going along? that must be so uncomfortable and I really hope that he is feeling much,much better now.

I shall think of you on Friday at your FILs funeral and be there in spirit to give you all hugs if you are in need, be strong and then when the sadness has passed a little remember him in love and affection, If you always love him and remember him fondly he will always be part of your lives and that is a lovely thing, Love and Hugs to all of you Lyn xxx.