NST June 2021: Jolly simple

f0xh0les

Morning Turtles !

Can you see my wrinkles now? 

Going to pot up and put out all the plants I got for my birthday.  The bees are going to love them -so it rains for the first time this month. Oh well, it will stop raining at some point, would be a shame to put them out, get a thunderous storm and knock all the blooms off.  Maybe I will wait a little while after all.

to everyone today, feeling mellow and very loving.

Must be my increased age.

mothernerd

Happy birthday f0xh0les. The wrinkles don't matter, but watch out for the hairy toes.

Still no rain here. I want it to rain because I want to spend less time watering - torn between getting on and keeping the things I already have alive. Each day it doesn't rain I feel I have to get on because the soil is easier to work with, but I really need a break.

apple_muncher

I'll send you some of our rain, mothernerd!!

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

I am enjoying the smug feeling of it being dry in the NW and raining down south!!

Toni'sfriend

Spendy day today. Trip to the optician and new glasses ordered. I haven't actually paid for them yet but the money has been put aside. Whilst I was out (for the second time this week) I picked up some more fruit and YS chicken legs which we've just had for dinner. Very nice they were too.

Beautiful day today here north of the border.

f0xh0les

NSD 7.  It has persisted down all day long - the plants need it so I am not complaining.

Food in the fridge, love in my heart, brains in my head, feet in my shoes.

It's the weekend!!!   to all Turtles.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a totally lazy day on the chaise longue, for being able to just be with dd, for my poppies, for moments of uncoiling my inner spring, for interesting WSM utube channels.

greent

Today I have fully cleaned and tidied the fridge and freezer - some things went in food waste as a result - I think we'll have more food waste this week than in total in the past 6 months (still less than our neighbours have each week, mind!) 

Thankful for the rain - not much here - more of a drizzle for some of the day- still, it all helps with the watering- although there really was that little that I still need to water the plants and pots ideally sigh.... Also thankful for a really delicious dinner and a super tidy freezer complete with inventory - and 9 cadberey flakes for 50p (total) from Mr T!!

facethemusic

Happy Birthday f0xh0les.

I have been rubbish at checking in this month, and have not even attempted to count NSDs. However, after my money splurging at the start of the month I have spent very little this week- more by necessity than choice but it all counts! I'm very glad my finances are now in a state where I can "cope" with unplanned spends, and although I'm over budgets almost everywhere the only issue is slightly less transferred to savings- I have been in the position of credit cards taking a hit and debt building up so I'm in a reasonable position really. 
I have spent a lot of time outside, done lots of riding, the house and garden are looking OK and DD is a year older so it's a happy house just now. 

mothernerd

Yesterday was productive but exhausting. Window cleaner turned up early (heard the rattle of his ladders and could see him 2 houses away) so had to moved two rows of small planters from day before and then sweep the house end of the yard. Even though he was 2 houses away he still took a while to turn up (did 2 houses across the road, then next door, possibly the cul de sac corner).

Thought of a way to get the filing drawers behind the shed (put a container next to the water butt and heaved them up onto that so that they missed the tap). First drawer went in, then the cabinet (they are starting to rot so this will continue the process until they can be disposed of). Used the soil and stones in situ to start filling then put the seed potatoes in.

Second filing cabinet was a bit more problematic. Middle drawer came out easily (other middle drawers have been used earlier to hold potted up seedlings). A few lucky finds in there. Bottom drawer would not budge (thought the runners were coming off) and it was still facing away from me so trying to work it loose over the cabinet. Pulled it out from where it had been stored (pressed into service). Drawer still would not budge so emptied the contents slowly (more toys although I have culled them considerably). Found 5p (one of the best bits).

Drawer still would not budge so thought I would have to use it as it was. That cabinet still has 3 of it's wheels so pushed it near to the shed. First attempt (much heavier than the first because of the drawer), container moved and tipped backwards. Sat down to think/rest. Took the wheels off (was going to save them but they weren't in good condition - I've started putting wheels on heavier items at home to cut down on furniture wrangling). Moved container back into position, put a chunk of edging stone behind to wedge it. Started to get it up onto the container but couldn't get it to equilibrium (flat on the top so I could let go and then start manoeuvring it). Had to let it back down. 

Sat down, had a drink. Had a think (totally exhausted and it's not even 10 am). Mum was shouting about the window cleaner - saw he was in the yard (by the front gate). Hammer was inside the house so got my trusty crowbar. Took out the back of the drawer. Pushed out the bottom of the drawer (only fibre board). Clawed off the two sagging bits that form the 'bottom' of the cabinet (these were cheap cabinets - the ones I have at home have a solid frame, but they wouldn't be any good as potato planters). They were what was snagging the drawer. Remainder of drawer came out, fell apart as it cleared. 

Second attempt. Cabinet onto container but would not go through. Water butt had moved (nearly empty now so very light). Put cabinet down, moved some struts for the new polytunnel. Moved the piece of stone edging that had fallen sideways and pushed the water butt forward (a critical 2 inches). Move the water butt (found out the base was modular) All bits back in place and against the shed. Wrangled cabinet up, brief rest (more water), wrangled it down and round and in place. Open sides of cabinets not quite meeting (to make one long container) so tried holding second one tilted whilst kicking bits of clinker under my end . Early lunch.

Most of the rest of the day was plodding. Most of the soil still on the flags was sifted and transferred. Several sieves worth of small stones put to one side as there is more soil in there (will do another day when I'm not aching so much). No buckets to put more stones in (lots of mushroom boxes and bottom halves of 2 l bottles and one paint tray all filled with stones I picked out as well as a large paper bag full of roots and weeds and a nearly full bin bag of detritus). Added lumps of clay or impacted soil in sparingly (potatoes will break them down and I was so very tired. Added soil from old toybox (wasn't a good container) and most of the soil from an old laundry basket (excellent container when lined with weed proof membrane). Coming back from the shed I nearly fell - just tiredness and dizziness but decided I should stop.

Peeled off filthy dress, quick wash, clean dress put on. Emergency tea (crab spread deliberately added to last order, cucumber, crackers mum doesn't like, 2 apples, large plate, spready knife and cutty knife all from stores) assembled sat on the recliner watching tv. Hurt too much sitting in the chair so retired to my room and curled up on my side in the position which hurt least. When I was transferring stuff (drinks, cup, uneaten pieces of apple, book etc) mum asked about the milk bottles (I'd used the stool sitting behind the shed). Pulled wellies back on, went to get the stool, put milk bottle bucket on the stool, behind the locked gate, locked back and front doors (front door is at the side).

Had hoped to go back outside but not possible. The day was warm and sunny but with a layer of cloud obscuring it. Late afternoon we had thunder and it went cold and dark earlier than it has been doing. But still no rain. Hayfever isn't giving me any problems but it may be all the soil coating the inside of my nose. I sneeze dirt. I keep finding it in the strangest places (inside of my elbows?).

Lay on my side playing games and reading. Glanced at the list I wrote a few days ago (all the things I need to do sometime). It took me 2 days to get through to the pharmacy to order my repeat prescription. She did say they were busy before I hung up. No pills delivered  Wednesday, Thursday or yesterday. Had none of one pill left for yesterday - not a problem but not a pill you can stop taking suddenly and presumably deliver will not be until Monday now. 

Messaged DS3, asked if Beloved could lend me some (delivery must be Monday, surely). Her prescription has changed but she had a foil left, when would I go for it. At first I said this morning (curfew fast approaching). Had tried to explain to mum (she got hold of the wrong end of the stick again because she won't wear her hearing aids) but when I was still negotiating (need a time when they are awake) mum came back and said if I went out the back door it wouldn't trigger the alarm to the control centre. So phoned for a taxi, wellies back on, manhandled a box of stuff for them down from the top of the wardrobe, hunted down a mask, quick trip home. Forget all the things I planned to do, once there (DS3 met me at the door with the pills in his hand but I insisted on sitting down inside for a few minutes). Called at the corner shop for extra drinks (I thought I had enough for at least 5 days but have been drinking vast quantities - 1 litre straight from the bottle in one gulp yesterday) and chocolate (not in the diet but if ever a day needed chocolate) on the way to the taxi office.

Got in bed with my dress on as I couldn't lift my arms to get it over my head. Grateful for difficult job out of the way. parts of the yard mostly tidy, the bed, Beloved having enough pills to tide me over, pill cutter, the bed, wellies (not sure they are doing my feet good but would be worse without them), lovely turtles, planned emergency tea (buying the crab spread was the planned bit - had worked the rest out).