+++ Whoops! Here comes the cheese! +++

redofromstart

I think we are stuck with it for now LAPlan, I probably should have got the offspring to signup as students, but I got four years of student discount when I had a university email address for work so I can't complain.

Bird watchers, I think I have mentioned before that since MrRedo stopped working we have increasingly fed the birds, and have been delighted this last year with the number of visitors we have. I was reading a bird watching magazine on a free library app (I know, I laughed at me too), and read about a bird sound identifying app called Merlin.  Free to use, free to download the European birds pack - the pack was slow to download and data intensive - but we have really enjoyed confirming that our visual IDs have been right (greenfinch and great t*ts I am looking at you!) but also identifying the things we had not been sure about - the Dunnock for example. I think it'll be brilliant when we stop for lunch on our walks.  Absolutely one of those moments of pleasure as we sat and watched it say that it could hear the robins, blackbirds, Siskin, various t*ts and finches, dunnock, magpies, collared doves, the pigeons, etc. massive gratitudes for me.  I'll be trying again for the dusk chorus shortly, and again the morning. 

EssexHebridean

Dunnocks are fabulous little birds - really shy almost all year, they can usually be found skulking in hedges pretending to be sparrows. Then at this stage of the year through to about May they suddenly find their years supply of bravery and start standing on top of bushes shouting the odds with the most beautiful little song!  As spring unfolds listen out also for the Chiff Chaff - it's a drab looking little thing, but helpfully tells you it's name as it's call goes "ChiffChaffChiffChaffChiffChaff" - very distinctive. As you learn to piece the various calls together it's a complete joy to be able to pick out what things are it has to be said. 

redofromstart

I have spotted the Dunnocks now thanks EH, they do indeed hug the hedges.  We are currently walking 3 or 4 times a week to celebrate my time off, and to my great delight we found some ChiffChaffs yesterday - and yes indeed they do announce it. My noise memory is a poor as my visual memory but that is one even I will remember. 

The half price meat offers (and veg for pennies) are kicking off for easter and I picked up a nice bit of silverside in the co-op earlier.  It is in the instant pot for beef madras, which will be served with some of the very lovely basmati later.  I might make some dhal just to pad it out a bit.  

Smaller sized (go me!) walking trousers collected from the co-op - hence the beef -  and a trip to Aldee and MrM as the eldest finishes today for the next month so no trips to supermarket 

redofromstart

10km walk from home today, which felt like more due to the mud we squelched through but it was lovely in the sunshine.  We went to the (aptly named) stinking woods and brough back some wild garlic.  The bluebells are not far off flowering - absolutely love bluebell woodland walks and we have found a few new places to go this year which will clearly be carpeted shortly.  

Tempted to have a takeaway but instead we had HM burgers with salad - much cheaper, and probably far nicer.  Roll on pension payment day (although I will still have to dip into savings as we bought tools, consumables and materials needed for the house to progress).

EssexHebridean

We’ve got wild garlic too! MrEH picked our first batch earlier in the week and pesto has been made and now frozen. I might try to get batch 2 over the weekend at some stage. 

You have also reminded me that I was going to take a look and see what meat offers have appeared - thank you! 

Great walking too - we didn’t get all that far this morning due to persistent drizzle. 

redofromstart

I note that MrT have updated their meat offers since I last looked and now have more half price including the better cured gammon, although no cheaper veg yet which is part of my plan. 

redofromstart

Drizzling this morning so we set off later than usual but got a decent walk in.  Sustained by the thought of a chip cob on our return...

MrT rolled up this afternoon with some good household deals (4 for 3, on offer, and a discount voucher) so we are good for laundry stuff for a while anyway. The Easter veg offers don't start until tomorrow but we will probably call in via one of our walks this week as I want more meat for the freezer as well as the veg for pennies.  I note that MrM has kale on their offer, and leg of lamb which MrT does not.  The Easter spin thing on the MrM card would have meant a free creme egg, 40p of points and £1 off a plant today so worth checking before a trip.

a slug got into my unheated propagator. Meh!

themadvix

redofromstart said:

a slug got into my unheated propagator. Meh!

Oh no! At least it’s not too late to start again, even if it is annoying 🙄

redofromstart

Thank you,  I've poked more seed in and poked the slug out. Makes a change from Mrs Brady sleeping on seedlings I guess. 

The DC mowed the lawns for the first time this year and filled two green waste bins, ready for collection tomorrow.  I pay enough for the bins and I really want to maximise the use this year. 

A significant amount is being spent in feeding the birds atm. Any supplier recommendations? We have mostly gone via Big River for sunflower heart, worms and heat treated mixed in big (10/15kg) batches. Need some more nyjer seed as the goldfinches, Siskin and various t*ts ripping through it but buying in small bags is not sensible.

strandedinaber

Hello @redofromstart, I'm popping over from my diary and see garden discussions here as well - definitely one of the most fun things to talk about this time of year! I hear you on the cost of the garden bins - our price has just doubled

Re. bird seed, have you visited olio? I tend to see bird seed on there all the time in my local area, presumably when people either stop feeding the birds for whatever reason or because their birds prefer a different mix.