NST May 2020: May the force be with you. (Star Wars 1977)

Toni'sfriend

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Very hot. Today it's looking dull but it's still muggy.

We're starting to get the books moved but there are so many it's going to take a long time to sort them all out and Himself seems to be going through a lethargic phase at the moment. Aren't we all?  Well, apart from Mothernerd who packs so much into her day I feel tired just reading about it.

I've been going through my cookery book and earmarked a lot of new recipes which I want to try. Iceland delivery coming tomorrow so I've added a few different ingredients to the order. Having a beef and mushroom casserole in red wine tonight. Made it yesterday and it tastes (and I'm told smells) amazing.

We're going to hear later how Scotland plans to come out of lockdown. Very, very slowly I suspect.

Just having another cup of coffee and then I'm off to do something productive that includes giving the kitchen a good clean.

mothernerd

PurpleFairy26 said:

mothernerd I’ve found yogurt pots good for planting seeds in (in the absence of seed trays) some big ones come with their own plastic lid which make a little propagator of their own. Or you can cut them up for labels. 

All the large yoghurt pots have beans in them - three to a pot. Hardly anything has gone in the brown recycling bin. Grape boxes are mini propagator lids, mushroom boxes all have seeds in. Even the soil is mainly 'recycled' - scraping bits from here, there and everywhere and mixing it with the 'good' stuff, which is newly bought. My seed trays and stuff had run down. Thanks for the suggestion.
It started out as stealth gardening. When mum bought the bungalow it had a low maintenance garden and she's since had nearly everything hacked back or taken out completely and replaced with flags and stone chippings on the borders. There's good soil underneath but it's buried under variable amounts of stones. I told mum I was having a polytunnel and I have been buying (mum's paying but she's decided it's in lieu of the cleaner's money as I'm covering for her) large pots. All the garden centres/ seed and supplies stores have been overrun with demand so I've got what I could, where I could and in nearly every case, wished I'd got more when I had the chance.
Mum is now getting reconciled to and even enthusiastic about the things I've done so I've mentioned the possibility of going to raised beds next year. I had some link-a-bord stuff which I brought here and used to make her strawberry bed. I did look at their website and they now do a blue colourway which would fit very well with the colour she uses for wood paint. It's recycled plastic and very easy to build and reconfigure. At the moment all the planting area in mum's garden is flat to the ground and 5 years on from my total hip replacement, I still struggle to get down to the ground or kneel for very long (not to mention getting back up again).

mothernerd

Toni's friend I think I'm actually doing very little - it just takes so long to do every little thing. I am busy but not getting through anything like what I would like to and tv and reading time have been cut to the bone. I know mum is bothered by the 'mess' - I hate it too but don't have time or energy to 'clear everything away' especially when I need to continue with a particular task. I am trying to get mum not to move my knife and chopping board after each use - I'm probably only resting before doing the next bit. She is leaving 'veg waste' alone since the week I explained that the broccoli stalk gets 'peeled' and chopped into tiny cubes and I got really distressed that she had wiped all the broccoli scraps away and binned them (the bits you get when you chop the broccoli into pieces can just as easily be swept by hand into a curry or casserole). 
Having a lazy hour. I did try to continue with planting but my knees are so creaky. I'm hoping they work better after a bit more rest (or at least require less ibuprofen throughout the day).

crazy_cat_lady

Mothernerd - I never, ever read your posts and think that you do very little. I think you sound as though you're always on the go and I get tired just reading your posts.
I have been struggling a little with a rollercoaster of mood and emotions over the past couple of days, topped off with a migraine and a little bit of sunburn. So I'm trying to just keep my head down and get on - this too shall pass.
Life is plodding on as usual. Trying to work, trying to keep the house running and trying to encourage my children to work. There's not much else to report.

Toni'sfriend

Oh, Mothernerd, I know what you mean. I'll be cooking. Himself will be creeping around in the background. As soon as I use an implement he's got it washed and put away whether I'm finished with it or not and I'm frequently not. Wish he would be as tidy with other things. He hates waste though and would never dream of throwing away broccoli stalks or anything else for that matter if he thinks it can be eaten.

So we have our lock down exit plan now. Not a lot of change at first as expected but I've decided to start walking a little from the end of next week. Not far from home but I really need to get out in the fresh air. To be honest, I know that a lot of people are already meeting up outside and visiting other people in their homes. I just hope the infection rate doesn't rise.

Not a lot going on around here either. I thought I might like to learn to bake but no flour to be had anywhere.

Well. off to see to the casserole.

apple_muncher

Had an afternoon session at work with the kw pupils, and was able to chat with a few other big people who were in to sort out all the things that need sorting to get the place ready for what we've been told to prepare for. My sch runs from nursery through to y13, so everything that has been said re schools is applicable to us! I am quite worn out from being so sociable!

Today I am grateful that I have a job, for working with some wonderful lovely people, for the paddling pool to use when I got home, for a good liddle shop, for dh unpacking the shopping and putting it away.

mothernerd

Cabbages and beans - the whole day has been cabbages and beans (and finding soil, and sifting stones out of the soil, and putting up netting for them to climb).
Today I am grateful for plant deliveries (don't know where the lollo rosso got to though), for mum and I working together quietly in the garden (I made her sit on the walker, moved the heavy things so that they were round her but easy to reach, and kept telling her she needed a hat and sunscreen), for parts of the garden starting to look organised, for fresh fruit and yoghurt, for cook together items in the oven.

misstara

Yesterday I was grateful for receiving a letter about a wee pay rise, thoughtful work colleagues, escaping work a little early, OH making scones and an easy freezer tea of fishcakes, wedges and peas.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi everyone
This week has been better work wise as had some video chats with boss & colleagues, so feeling less isolated. Also been busy at work which helps. I've continued with exercise classes via Fb which offsets extra food I've been eating! DD1's best friend has come back from her parents where she stayed during lockdown so weve seen her from a distance which is nice. DD1 is furloughed but works in a school so is preparing herself for a return on 1 june.... DD2 is finishing off uni work. 
Gratitudes- DDs for being mostly positive; DD1s bestie for bringing flowers & cake as a thank you for looking after her house & garden (mowing her overgrown lawn took ages!); 'seeing' work colleagues; supportive friends; 3 day weekend 😃
Love to all turtles 
Deni x 

crazy_cat_lady

I have gratitudes today!
Got all of my washing dry in less than 2 hours as it's so windy outside. Had to pop out a couple of times to rescue things that had blown off the line.
Exam board are making a payment to me as a goodwill gesture for the lost exam work this summer (I should be in London now) and it is very generous and a huge relief.
Chief examiner has told me that I will be re-employed in my senior role next exam series.
I have finished my school work and it is half term next week.
Sun is shining in spite of the windy day.