General Chat

That does seem odd AnnG. I understand about avoiding infection and shaking hands with all and sundry doesn't seem like a good idea but sitting apart from his wife?? I should think in their private quarters they are not kept apart.

I hadn't heard about garlic water for hostas but I know garlic is often grown around rose bushes. We stopped growing hostas in the garden and put them all in large pots with copper tape round them. We have 9 in groups of 3 along a narrow strip between the side of the house and the fence between us and next door and 2 or 3 in pots on the patio. Slugs and snails won't crawl over the copper tape and we have found it very successful. The only thing is you have to make sure the pots aren't too close to the fence or the snails crawl up the fence and come down on the pots from above. Crafty creatures. My problem is with some mini hostas that I have in troughs along a strip the other side of the house. They are up against the fence and I can't move them forward very much or we won't have room to walk by and get to the back door. I've got 19 or 20 troughs along there and only 3 have the mini hostas so I might replace them with something else. I haven't tried porridge oats but I know the pigeons would clear them before they could do any good. If I put any out for the birds, nothing else gets a look in. The pigeons are straight on them.

AnnG and Mel, you have both been busy outside today. It's been too wet here to do much in the garden. It's not actually raining at the moment but the air feels damp and there has been no sun today. Computer is telling me it's 10 degrees but I've just been out to put something in the garage and it feels a lot colder than that.

Sorry your back is still bad Annx. I hope it eases up soon.

Btw, the paper hat was a great success. I haven't seen OH laugh so much for a long time. He had tears running down his face and wore his hat all through the meal. I should have taken a photo but didn't think of it at the time.

Pleased. That you both enjoyed your anniversary meal Vera. And your meal today sound nice, I have a poussin to cook plus veg (runner beans and broccoli spears and maybe roast potatoes as well done in the air frier

I* totally agree Anng.. I would have thought that was worse than being with the family.

BIL and SIL came and had a cuppa and brought me a nice big Easter Egg a lindor one I opened the box and its all box and an egg and fifteen wrapped chocs.

Just reading the news on line and it shows The King attending church and says (quite correctly) that he will have to sit apart from his wife and family to avoid infection. And then there is a video of him leaving the church and shaking hands with loads of people. How is that avoiding infection?

You made me laugh Vera making oh a paper hat but dinner sounded lovely. I hav'nt eaten anything yet as I have been out in te garden since 11.15am. I thought |I was feeling hungry, came in and it was just after 2pm and I hav'nt taken my one oclock tablet cos I was lost in the shed sorting out and potting on some plants that were outside. I rescuedthree verbena bonariensis found a lovely cowslip all in flower so brought that up on the patio to enjoy and a plant I had on the patio as the rabbits eat it I took down the shed and split it into three. Its a white campanula and its evergreen and thats why I have lost it up the border. I had a blue one too, they were so pretty.

Anyway I am so pleased you managed to enjoy your Anniversary dinner Vera and may you two have many more of them. <3 <3

Right now what am I going to get to eat??????? May have a sandwich and do roast veg for tonight with yorkshire pud. I also have a couple of nice lamb chops in the freezer.

Weather is not very nice. It was misty first thing and it's been raining for the last hour.

Thank you for your anniversary wishes. I'm well aware how lucky we are still to be together. So many of our friends are either widowed or were divorced. I did buck my ideas up a bit yesterday as I thought OH had booked a table and a taxi to take and bring us back so the least I could do was make a bit of an effort. So I took a couple of my pills, had a good wash and changed my clothes and then put on a bit of make up and some pretty earrings. We had a very nice meal. OH started with a ramekin of baked brie with apple and ale chutney and toasted ciabatta bread and followed that with slow cooked lamb with mash and veg. He finished with apple and blackberry crumble and custard. I bypassed the starter and for my main I had fish pie with mixed green veg. I checked with the staff first that there was no shellfish in it or any chance of cross contamination from shellfish in the kitchen and it was fine and was delicious. I finished with vanilla panna cotta and berry compote. A couple of beers for OH, just 1 small glass of wine for me and coffees for both of us and we were well satisfied :-)

I didn't turn my light out till 1.30 am and was awake at 6 am but I feel more rested this morning so I must have got some good, deep sleep. Today I have managed to sow some tomato seeds and antirrhinum seeds and our Sunday dinner is almost cooked. We're having "Christmas" dinner to use the emergency supplies I bought in case we couldn't get to daughter at Christmas. So it's turkey breast with cranberry sauce (and a good slurp of port!) and lots of veg, followed by Christmas pud with either custard or cream. OH made a remark about he hoped I had crackers and paper hats so I am going to quickly make him a paper hat as a joke. Better go and do that now.

Just managed and hour and a half out there and was doing quite heavy work so tired now I have come in. I gave in and, as I still have not seen Jake I sorted out the mess he was supposed to clear up as it was on the slate bed under which my Hostas should be hiding I manually sorted out the bits of slate from the gavel and dirt that had washed over it and it looks a lot better now and I found one hosta tip just peeping through. Next I collected up all the rubble that appeared in the so called top soil in the planter and put it in an old bowl for them to take away when they do appear. It doesn't sound much but it all looks tidier and I am pleased with what I got done. Before I went out there I half made the bed and noww just have to put a top sheet on before I stop for lunch.

The red admirals were not fully grown, quite small and were flitting around celandines and other weeds that have flowers on them.

11 degrees out there now but no sun.

Morning All,

HAPPY EASTER :-D

I slept well too but my back is still playing up this morning. I hate this hour change too as it messes up my tablet times. I like to adjust the change with them by half an hour the first day and always have trouble working it out.

I hope your meal was nice Vera and hope you tell us what you had to eat! Hopefully your headache has gone now.

You have reminded me I need to paint the birdfeeder with some hammerite Mel. What were you painting, some of your makes?

I know what you mean by easy chunks AnnG. :-) It gets more done that way doesn't it. How lovely to see some Red Admiral butterflies! Did they seem attracted to any particular plants? All I have seen this year is a few sightings of the yellow Brimstone butterflies.

Better check on lunch now.

It has clouded over here now and is still only 8 degrees and no sun now either.

I meant to say did you enjoy your meal out last night Vera? and congrats for yesterday. <3

good morning all Happy Easter to you all.

I slept well last night and have been up half an hour (but not dressed yet). Lovely morning here so far I do hope it lasts as I want to get back out there to potter. A good day means a lot gets done in easy chunks. Plenty of rests. Already have my bedding in the washer.

Vera hope you had a good meal and that your headache has gone this morning.

Morning all, Happy Easter <3

Nice sunny morning 6 degrees ,it was quite a misty morning first thing but that's now lifted ,should be showery today .

Family coming later for coffee and they can take their eggs home with them .

Good morning all and Happy Easter.

Nice and bright at the moment and pc says 8 degrees and partly sunny so I expect it will rain later on.

I got some black Hammerite paint on my right hand yesterday and it really annoying me as its on my knuckles and I can see it if I look down at the keyboard.

Hope you all have a wonderful day whatever you are doing whether it be out and about or indoors relaxing.

Good morning all

HAPPY EASTER :-)

Bbl

I have heard of garlic water and did try it. Some people find it works but it didn’t with mine unfortunately..

Yes, if you cut daffodils down early it is highly likely they will come up blind next year.

My rhubarb is a later variety but it is doing ok so far.

Not sure about porridge oats Mel might it attract mice? Or even rats?

Oh yes Happy Anniversary to you both Vera I hope you enjoy your meal tonight.

I put gravel in the pots where my Hostas are in, I put it in because when I just had compost the cats were using it as their loo, so far I haven't had many slugs take a bite but I'll talk that one up now.

Yes I'd get your car looked at Mel ,all those country lanes you travel on you don't want to be breaking down when your out ,getting it looked at will be a lot cheaper than having to have it towed .

You could get some basic breakdown cover Mel. I hate to think of you driving on lonely roads without any help in place should you break down. Yes get your car checked too.

I've not heard of milk or garlic water to deter snails before. After we had gravel where the pots stand we never had any trouble for a few years or in the island beds surrounded by gravel. I don't think they liked trying to cross it, but some must have made it as we do get them now. I wondered whether some salt or vinegar around the base of the pots might make them turn back. It would need replacing after rain though. I'd be fancying F&C with the pots near the arbour where we sit! :-D

Just been for a walkup te orchard. I have loads of daffs up th eside of the box hedge and have only had about 10 flowers on them in all. One lot are later than the otthers and they hav'nt even got any buds in. I am wondering if BIL cut them down last year too early as I don't always keep an eye on him or tell him not to mow till June. I did tell him not to do the snowdrops last year so perhaps forgot to say about the daffs. Teres loads of leaves.

Sorry you could'nt sleep last night Vera and hope tonight is better.

Have any of you tried putting down porridge oats round the hostas and things. If I put them on the patio for the birds I get lots of slug trails where they have eaten the porridge. They do say spray your hostas with milk or garlic water. I must get around to sorting my hostas out I have taken the dead leaves and flower stalks off but they need a bit of a weed and a bit of fresh compost on the pots.

I have done a little minitures painting today just pots for a tudor kitchen so nothing to fancy. Did a little drilling of a couple of items but not done much else all day. I did go to the shop for my paper and when I came out the car would'nt start I had to sit there for a while and try again and still nothing but on the third try it started so I got home ok. I shall have to book it in for Stuart to take a look at it for me and treat her to a service. I am frightened to go anywhere too far away incase I get stuck not having oh to come and pick me up it would mean getting a taxe and that can be expensive.

Happy Anniversary to you both Vera! <3 So The Hare it is this evening then! I hope you have a nice meal. Oh heck I'd better check our Hostas if the snails are on the move! I did look when I tidied the dead leaves a little while ago but not since. Sorry you have had a stonking headache. OH had a migraine after he'd gone to bed last night and had to get up to take tablets.

AnnG you are showing us up getting stuck into your garden and getting so many things planted. I hope the lighter nights will help me get on with our garden. I must pick some of the rhubarb which I noticed through the window today has shot up with the milder weather.

Mandy you seem to have found some energy and have got plenty done after all. Don't wear yourself out though and have a rest.

So what have you been doing Mel with your free day?

I think the snails like the wet weather and they seem immune to slug bate these days. I guess all the stuff that used to kill them has been removed from the bait. It is so upsettin to see what they can do to Hostas that I am considering not growing them any more.

I have seen several red admiral butterflies so somebody has told them it is spring.

enjoy your meal tonight vera. :-)