Awful weather - typical Brits talk

pink_poppy

Ooh, look who’s making an appearance tonight… 😍

twopenny

I sort of envy your Poppy - but I wouldn't swap for your cold house

Farway that's good news all round but particularly the Aquawhatsits. Mine that were thick on the ground seem to have vanished. I don't blame them after this winter. They probably floated off.

I wonder if Taff got stuck in the mud at the allotment and hasn't made it back.

The sun shone here and I've got another 6/8 brass handles done sitting out there. Not wildly warm as big grey clouds kept coming over and the wind got up again (unforcast) and everything kept blowing off the table.

There's been some rain too this evening but it's staying ok temps around 9 or 10c so that's good.

It's been nice to have doors and windows open and fresh air in the house.

Tomorrows gardening is digging around the dodgy fence post to see if it's the whole thing or a cement prop that will have to be done.

Annoyingly it's propped up with my SweetPea pot which I need.

Oh the joys of house ownership!

pink_poppy

I don’t blame you, twopenny 😂 it’s 13.5 degrees at the moment, which I suppose is not bad for silly o’clock in the morning, maybe some residual heat from the fire 🔥 

The aurora carried on through the night, but it was cloudy and raining most of the time - so frustrating that I got the green arc but not much colour above…


Did anyone see the huge planet last night?? It was so strange, kind of like the moon with an aura around it. These pics were taken a minute apart - I think the second one looks like an evil eye…

OT - it’s raining again…

Farway

I have Aurora envy again, too cloudy as well as too far South, and no planets either. Oh well, just have to settle for Saharan Sand sunsets I guess.

Dull & dampish, so no sunsets or anything except grey gloom.

As a change from broken cars, may I add my duff dishwasher? It has a Blinking Red Light of Doom and leaves everything wet.

Woe and more woe. First world problem but still a PIA.

More temptation folks, for last minute sweet peas? Peas from 89P BTW

T & M have clearance seeds, from 49p + P & P

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/newsletter-special-offers-tuesday2?source=newsletter-seed-250225&acq_source=

Offer ends midnight, 26th February 2025 or while stocks last. Normal delivery charges apply. Use order code TM_TN5693W.

All my ordered seeds packets are on the way.

Naturally, once the order for replacement dwarf dahlia seeds was placed and on the way I found those I knew I had somewhere.

Found in my airing cupboard last night

Discovered I had sown them on the 16th and put safely in the airing cupboard to germinate , much blushing at Farway Towers

Honestly, I completely forgot about them, and I can't blame drink or anything apart from dopiness either

Slightly “drawn” but I think they will recover, now on window sill and in with a chance

pink_poppy

It was so frustrating, Farway, because if I looked South it was clear skies and stars, but North was mostly cloudy.

Funny about the dahlia seeds   At least they're growing.

Sunshine and showers here this afternoon - I did think about doing the Hokey Cokey in the garden, in and out every five minutes, but decided to read a book instead after I'd brought the logs and kindling in for the fire. One of my robins has reappeared and there was also a wee wren dotting about in the garden   

Dustyevsky

Super photos again, pp! Tonight and tomorrow night are supposed to be the best nights or viewing the planetary alignment, cloud cover permitting, but I'm happy enough with the not-at-all straight sighting I had the other night with just 3 of them.   Let's face it, recent times haven't been the greatest for standing outside staring upwards, but I'm sorry you have an uncomfortable experience indoors too in winter.13.5c!

Farway said:

All my ordered seeds packets are on the way.

Naturally, once the order for replacement dwarf dahlia seeds was placed and on the way I found those I knew I had somewhere.

Found in my airing cupboard last night

My DT Brown seeds are winging trundling towards me too, thanks to you. Nothing I didn't need, mind!

Taff needn't worry; if we have a dahlia race there will be plenty of tips....No1. Remember where you put them!

You're way ahead of me anyway. I put the propagator in the conservatory yesterday and checked the temperature at lunchtime without having switched it on. It was 30c!  So that's one place I certainly can't put it. Normally, I site it in a corner, between east and south-facing windows, but with the blind pulled partially down on the south side. That works, fairly well, so despite logistical problems, it'll have to go there again.

Meanwhile, out of doors, I had good germination on some annual persicarias in the cold frame.

https://www.specialplants.net/shop/seeds/persicaria_orientalis/ 

They require a touch of cold, but this morning I find they've been molluscularly abused, with only one unscathed.  They're indoors now.

Dishwasher?  We forget we have one. We've just finished the pack of tablets that came with it in 2015.

It's a lovely day here; a bit of a brisk wind, but plenty sunshine. The rest of the week looks OK too, so before we all get carried away, here's a reminder of the Beast From The East in 2018. This was just before it relaxed its icy grip....

Working_Mum

Wow it sounds like you've all had a touch of crazy weather this weekend. It was wet and windy for me by the river - but I am in the final throes of sorting my garage so I had my wet weather gear on and ploughed through!

Loving the aurora pics PP - they are beautiful - talk about making the most of being awake so early. We had a clear night last night as I walked the river with a friend it was quite bright and we could really see the stars. I've got a note to check the sky on Friday for something special (can't recall what it is now if I'm honest!)

The duck pic is adorable 2P - they are so perfectly framed. I am also a sucker for tempting treats whenever I visit a market etc - will buy them saying to myself "I'll make this last over two meals" knowing full well I'll be eating them the minute I get home! I love jam too - I made a brilliant bramble jam last year but have finished all of that now so am on the shop bought stuff.

Wow Farway you have a lot of work incoming with all of those seeds you bought! I have self seeded lobelia and pansies in the block paving by my front door. I never pull them up as I think they look really cute!

I am so jealous of those hazel rods Dusty - I, too, am a collector of sticks for various uses in my garden. Mainly I edge the borders with them. They look nice and rustic and I think they're adding to the biodiversity as they decompose. I have a hazel which needs cutting back so will make sure I won't get rid of the twigs (they can't be called branches or rods!).

I've been meaning to tell you how much I love your lottie -taff - it is really coming on. Don't envy you having to deal with the stinky council compost but you can see it taking shape after all of your hard work.

You have the same attitude as me towards DIY Luna! I moved into this house 4.5 years ago - spent two years knocking it about and then ran out of steam and energy! My hallway is being decorated in April and then I am almost at repairs and renewals stages!

My garden seems to be moving a little - I have bulbs popping through in pots and in my borders. I've planted up the three dwarf fruit trees I ordered at the back end of last year so am hoping they'll be happy in their new pots. During my garage mega sort out I found four boxes from T&M - there were some dahlias which I need to plant up in March I think but there were two boxes of alliums (a 100 in total) I was supposed to plant last October November time - they wouldn't have been super expensive so I'm going to get them planted in the next few weeks and cross my fingers!

OT I had the actual sun on my back as I walked the dog this morning - wished I'd been wearing my sunnies it was that bright. A fab way to start my day but Rome0 is now looking at me rather bored and wanting another walk!

twopenny

Sorry to hear about your dishwasher Farway

I had the washing machine stuck the other day. I went to off and switched the wall switch off and left it to think about it. Then put it on a final spin prog and it was fine. Fingers crossed for the DW.

Wonderful lights Poppy, and that's not too bad a temp. I've lived with worse!

Tried to see the planets tonight, tempted to go to the dark skies area but other things crept in. Maybe Friday.

Dusty, I don't need reminding of that.

But I do have some amazing photos from then which I got before anyone got out and spoiled it.

WM I still have the garage to do but so much else. If you would like to use your skills again I can drop you a line

I heard Canada Geese flying overhead early this morning. That means they are coming back to breed and spring is on it's way.........bulbs have popped up all over and lots of blossom. Just too cold to go out and enjoy.

Had the GC folk come to look at putting a concrete support for the post in. I know they would charge like a wounded bull but £250!!!

But they could come tomorrow. Tempted as I could be waiting ages for someone I don't know. So no treats for quite a while if I accept. Looks like a coffee out will be my limit.

pink_poppy

Brr, don't remind me about the Beast from the East, Dusty, we were living right on the North East coast at the time.

Getting work done is so expensive now, twopenny. Have you decided to go ahead??

I love hearing and seeing geese go overhead. Honk honk    

Another grey morning with rain forecast...

Farway

Rainy start this morning, in fact it is hissing down & very windy, BUT it was a clear night when I got up to check the plumbing, so managed to see some planets. 

No idea what they were, one was bright but not as bright as I've seen Venus, so assume it was not that.

Anyway, made a change from clouds and feel like something seen for a change

Dishwasher, may not be terminal. 

The drain hose had come out of the drain pipe gubbins, which of course resulted in DW water behind the kitchen cabinets.

I have suspended wooden floors, so that will sort itself out, may pong a bit while drying out , but I've had floods behind there before and, like Noah, survived

Stage two is trapping & then prising a young & bendy grandchild under the worktop to re instate the drain hose, lure has been cast, but cruel parent, DS, informs me GC are on fence post replacement duties at his this weekend.

Seems he was paying attention as I dragged him up. He has already informed me his bad knee prevents him from doing it

twopenny said:

Looking at my strawberries I wish I'd gone for the T&M offer but I'll find something because I'm pretty sure mine have had it.

And I've been watching the Hairy Bikers cooking Strawberry & pepper scones .

Your wish is my command, they are back on offer

offer ends midnight, 27th February 2025 or while stocks last. Limited to 1 per order. Normal delivery charges apply. Use order code TM_TN5705W.

18 bare roots, 3 varieties, 6 of each, £4.94, delivery charge of £6.99

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/strawberry-full-season-collection/CWW3188TM?source=newsletter-season-260225&acq_source=

However, with concrete jobby, maybe not?

My DW long term will need the drain pipe moving to a more accessible spot, so I expect eye watering time then. Like your concrete post, a simple job but beyond one's own ability these days!

The forgotten dahlias are tinging green now, and on the way to getting straight

My sweet peppers have proper green seed leaves, and Ta Ra, hint of a chilli seed showing.

No sign of the older seeds I sowed at same time, probably rotting away

Working_Mum said:

Wow Farway you have a lot of work incoming with all of those seeds you bought! I have self seeded lobelia and pansies in the block paving by my front door. I never pull them up as I think they look really cute!

That is what I hope to do, sun is forecast for the next few days once it stops hissing down, and by then my seeds should have arrived so I can get going, plus BF & B on the bulbs

Photo, taken Sunday, when sun popped out, the Shoo fly waiting to get self seeding.