NST July 2023: Jurassic July

grandmanerd

I had a food order coming so was downstairs by 8 am (I needed some things and took advantage of the pryme deals to get 20% off plus any separate deals on the things I would be buying anyway).

Cleared out the things that were in the vestibule. Gathered up junk mail and odd bits of cardboard (ripped up some boxes over the last couple of weeks and there were some oddments dotted around). Collected the weeds I'd pulled out and put them in the green bin.

Food order arrived and all safely stacked in the vestibule (one small freezer bag taken through). Cleared the kitchen table (my stuff - leftover screws, nails, small diy accesories). Sprayed and wiped the table 3 times and used a flat green scrubber on it.

Scrubbed out the sink. Went through the fridge and disposed of very ood stuff. (+ some things left over from recipe boxes). Emptied the salad drawer into a large bag for life. Spent the afternoon on the couch cutting up veg and salad items (sticks/ slices and diced, shredded cabbage for coleslaw). Went back to the kitchen from time to time and have cleaned all the fridge shelves, door shelves and the salad drawer (one shelf at a time as very limited on standing up time). 

Made egg mayo wraps with watercress, red onion and green pepper (bad bits cut off, ood items used up). By 4.30 pm I was really aching but didn't want to give up with the job not finished. Had another rest after doing the final shelf (alternated with putting some items away). Then looked through the new shopping and carried it through in batches. Most of the chopped stuff is in the front half of the salad drawer (it's the full depth of the fridge not a half sized one). The delicate items (peppers, cucumbers etc) are in 2 small mushroom boxes and anything I need to use up is at the front of the shelves.

Was hoping to cook but as the afternoon wore on I decided a clean table and a clean fridge with all the perishables put away was enough. DS3 has put the roll of lino on top of the wall cupboards (he moved it to rescue a bird trapped behind a farmhouse table top and it's been diagonally across the kitchen ever since). Need to sort out the bread tomorrow (bought 3 fruit loaves for £3 and will divide them into potions and freeze). 

Came upstairs at about 6.30 pm. Once the things I needed were on the bed, I stripped off my shoes, leggings and support bandages. Having a shower is the limit of my ambitions, not going back downstairs unless the house catches fire.

Grateful for getting things done (kitchen is semi-usable) even though it took a lot out of me, for DS3 moving the lino out of the way, for lots of salad items 'ready to use'.

apple_muncher

Do tell us how you make potions from fruit loaves, grandmanerd!

Today I am grateful for spending the first few hours of the day doing what I wanted, for dc having a long lie in, for chatting with a friend while our kids danced, for DH making tea, for an nsd.

f0xh0les

I think it is definitely magic how fruit loaf disappears in our house. Maybe it is a vanishing potion?

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#6

A very productive day, though didn't start too well! I was doing a sewing job & accidentally cut off too much, but thankfully I managed to fix it. Phew! Did another quick sewing job, so just about caught up 😊

The weather brightened up in the afternoon, so I went out & weeded a deep border. Had music playing on my phone, so it made me feel braver weeding round the entrance to 2 underground tunnels & not of the rabbit kind. Luckily no noses nor large teeth appeared. Shudder!! Picked lots of currants, filled 2 x 1l tubs of blackcurrants & 1/3 tub if redcurrants.

Washed up after tea, finished the memory bear, then did a little bit of my rug 

Grateful I didn't see any large vermin, all the currants (still more to ripen) & feeling excited that I'm making progress with everything

Shrewbie

Hi turtles! Happy Friday!

Yesterday wasn’t an NSD. Met up with a friend for lunch who used to live here and came for a visit. She’s thinking about moving back but the visa situation is difficult. Had a lovely time, one of those friendships that doesn’t seem to change no matter how much time has passed since you last saw each other. The day before I said goodbye to a friend who is leaving- it feels like there is a lot of change afoot. Going to try to embrace it. I’m on holidays now- flying home this evening and can’t wait to spend time with my Mum and see some friends tomorrow. It should be an NSD as I’m getting picked up from the airport and taking a sandwich, so no airport snacking. Have cleared the fridge and chopped up some onions that were knocking about and froze them, along with some brown bananas which I can defrost later for banana bread. 
have a wonderful day turtles  

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 10

Finished tidying up the plants so they are looking much better but really need to get some more to fill in the "holes". Maybe Aldi tomorrow. Planted up some basil and mint cuttings. Got a nice little herb garden on the go. And I'm looking after a sunflower that one of my little friends grew at nursery whilst she's on holiday. It looks like a triffid now. I think she'll be very pleased when she comes back tomorrow.

Other than that I'm still plodding. xxx

thriftylass

apple_muncher said:

thriftylass - will the heat in Germany be drier than here, and therefore more bearable?

It depends, atm it also quite humid and 30C. At least up here the wind helps. 

Was off sick today so not much done and dinner will be randoms. Bits and bobs that are easy. Not an NSD as I picked DS school blazer up and got cucumbers. The kids love them and there were none in the shop yesterday.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a freebie baby play mat, for dc finding a bunny toy they adore, for DH getting home earlier than expected, for cracking on with my marking, for the Tour.

pollyanna_26

Toni'sfriend said:

NSD No 10

Finished tidying up the plants so they are looking much better but really need to get some more to fill in the "holes". Maybe Aldi tomorrow. Planted up some basil and mint cuttings. Got a nice little herb garden on the go. And I'm looking after a sunflower that one of my little friends grew at nursery whilst she's on holiday. It looks like a triffid now. I think she'll be very pleased when she comes back tomorrow.

Other than that I'm still plodding. xxx

Do you like Parsley? The flat leaved french parsley grows like a weed here and seems to reappear each season like magic. I've had a little Kenwood electric chopper for years that makes quick work of chopping up loads to freeze. It's really nice in dumplings with Lamb Stew.I just add the ready chopped parsley when I'm making dumplings. Lots of different mints seem to go on for ever I think the biggest surprise was finding chocolate mint . It smelt like chocolate but can't recall if it tasted of it.

Good luck with the Sunflower. I;ve never seen a school staff room empty as quickly as when our head asked if anyone would take the School hamster home for the summer holidays. She had craftily booked a few weeks in Spain and my fellow teachers were shouting enjoy see you in September.

Neither I or my children had anything hamster like we were Cat people. Had to have a look in the school library or a looking after Hamsters , Guinea Pigs etc bookto take home with it.

Best beloved cat was curious but then furious at the strange beng living in his home and being fussed by the two youngest dds.Son didn't seem anware it was there and eldest dd said you should have refused. I said Olive was on her way out of the door and the others headed in the same direction what was I suppoed to do leave the poor thing on it's own until September and be known as the teacher who killed Harry? Even the caretaker had headed home. It felt like a very long summer, I had to take the 2 youngest to the beach etc. Older dd would head to visit a friend and son spent his days playing 5 a side ootball with his friends.

Ended up putting the hamsters cage in the  Summerhouse while we were out and keeping Ollie Mog indoors which was usual when we went out.

Felt quite sorry for the Hamster who was used to being ffussed but made it clear next time something needed a holiday home somoone else could take a turn.

Hope you all sleep well turtles. It's taken me a while to figure out the new site.

 The report button seems very close to the thanks button so I'll need to remember that.

Don't want to report rather than thank.

pollyx

Thrifty_Taylor

Had a nice day today. Had a go at making jam, think it turned out ok, it's definitely set, so must've done it right!

Met a friend at a community garden, we each took a packed lunch & had a half hour catch up, before heading to the community centre to judge the sewing section of the SWI handicrafts exhibition. There were 14 categories! Some really beautiful things & a couple of quite scary ones! 🤣 I was then asked to judge the best in show too. My friend had to dash off for a dental appointment, but I was offered a drink & sandwiches & cake, which was nice 

Did the ironing when I got home, had a nap (don't know why I'm so tired these days), washed up after tea & did more of my rug. Feel quite inspired after seeing all the handicrafts this afternoon, wonder what my next project will be?!....

Grateful for the jam setting, picnics with friends, inspiration everywhere