The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

maryb

Managed to get my pastry made and in the flan tin before it disintegrated.  I had to put it in the fridge a few times so it was stop start working on it but tis done now.  Veg all prepared and the kitchen cleaned up so I can have a flop during the hottest part of the day

Hard_Up_Hester

I'm glad you got your flan done Mary, it's extremely hot here, I've already done a full cooked breakfast and I'm doing roast beef later. It's too hot for me to eat though.

Good news about the doggy guests Lame Wolf.

Steve's still sulking, hey ho, he'll just have to get on with it.

Florenceem

Floss - I am making them to raise funds for my local Salvation Army. I have made 2 styles of scarf so far.
18 - soon to be 19 year old DGS - got a distinction star in his tap exam.
Been to Church this morning.
I have a thing about older ladies not showing their upper arms - too warm for a cardigan so I had a lightweight wrap around my shoulders for going to Church. Mr F said that I looked summery.
Had a visit from YDS and DGS.
Then the doorbell went again - it was our neighbour - we are back to flat and fish care this week. Neighbour gave me some money - which will go to the SA and a plant as thanks for flat/fish care - plant will have to leave the house as I will kill it.

ivyleaf

Florenceem  I'm an older lady and prefer sleeves, but there are plenty of older ladies with slim upper arms, and ladies should feel able to wear what they like 

maryb

I'm ok with no sleeves but I don't think my legs have seen daylight for some considerable time.  When DD2 asks me why I tell her it's all her fault - puffy ankles never went away after second pregnancy.  And the veins!!!  Not varicose thankfully but they look like a very hyperactive spider has been for a walk

LameWolf

VJsmum said:

LW - so glad you're getting a new doggy guest.  COuld you say a bit more about Lughnasadh? IS it pagan?  I love the idea of festivals that are in tune with nature but know so little about them.

When we lived in the countryside, we often had a peacock on our roof at 5 in the morning.  "Ooh lovely", you might think - but have you heard the racket a peacock makes?  😳😂😱

Today is DD's 25th birthday.  You'd think it was her 5th birthday the fuss she's making  

Thanks for asking, @VJsmum   Lughnassadh (aka the Saxon name Lammas or "loaf-mass" - I like the Celtic name personally) is indeed part of the Pagan wheel of the year. It's the First Harvest, and traditionally, the first corn harvested would be baked into a loaf in the shape of a sheaf of wheat; but any home-baked goodies are perfectly acceptable. The bread is often accompanied by cider - the proper stuff, not $trongbow or any of that sort of rubbish.

If you want to get further into the meaning, it's when the Corn King (aka John Barleycorn) is sacrificed, and returns to the side of the Goddess until the corn seed is planted, and his whole life cycle begins anew.

Worth a listen is Damh the Bard's song "Lughnassadh" which tells the story well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03tMqhpYNQ

Oh, and I agree, peacocks to make an incredibly raucous noise.

Hoppy Birdday to your DD, too.

LameWolf

maryb said:

I'm ok with no sleeves but I don't think my legs have seen daylight for some considerable time.  When DD2 asks me why I tell her it's all her fault - puffy ankles never went away after second pregnancy.  And the veins!!!  Not varicose thankfully but they look like a very hyperactive spider has been for a walk

Ha ha, I'm the same, @maryb I can't abide sleeves of any sort in hot weather, I get overheated and cranky. If people don't like the look of my arms, tough, no-one's forcing them to look. I've worn full-length skirts/dresses pretty much all my life - well, since my teens. I'm just more comfortable that way, possibly because I can't wear nylons of any sort, so am always bare-legged under the skirt or dress.

Florenceem

ivyleaf - of course it is down to the individual to decide how they dress. I just remember my Mum always said about upper arms when she was older. I have a thing about covering my rear too - may be I should have been born in Victorian times.
maryb - my legs are not suitable to be seen in shorts - had one leg - varicose veins stripped. Plus I gave up shaving my legs when Linda McCartney said that she didn't bother.

shanks77

Ooh my arms are too flabby not to be covered and I have to shave my legs or be mistaken for a yeti lol.
VJS happy  birthday to your DD
Mar I’m a bit further north than you so it’s twilight with us from 11ish til 3am. Really discombobulates foreign guests at the hotel. I am with you on liking the dark nights and think our Monna is the same

VJsmum

I'm a huge fan of Next shape jeans for firming up a butt and / or a pair of Bridget Joneses. I have no problem exposing my upper arms - but, of course, it's good to have a range of things to use for those who'd prefer them covered! I'm guessing whoever it was that said women over forty should cover their upper arms was probably a man.

I shave my legs cos i don't like how they look unshaven (same for arm pits).  DD doesn't shave either (<<whisper - but i don't like to see it>>).

Thanks for the Lughnassadh info, LW.  We used to have a sheaf of wheat shaped loaf at our school harvest festival - I hadn't realised it was so symbolic, I just thought it was nice!

Thanks for the birthday greetings, all - we are having a lovely day. I had a photo of DD in Cinderella cosplay printed onto icing as a cake topper so she is the star of her own birthday cake - she was very pleased with it.