General Chat

Cutting and cutting and watching out for Ollie and his quick paws....why does he like the sound of the scissors. He can be anywhere in the house and be on the table a second after I start....cats!!!
Fred, my runners don't have any beans?? Lots of flowers but now I see that they have either died off or been eaten....no beans. Well there are maybe 6 and they are skinny like a green bean...woe is me!!! I love runner beans. Ate my first zucchini last night, made it into zoo sticks with a mustard dip..yummy.
Going to get my locks cut off today, new hairdresser, sure hope I don't end up like Shawn the Sheep shorn...LOL
You are right, Edith, where is everyone???
Lesxx

Morning all, Where are all the folks hiding????
Did you get buried under the fabric Les? I've had a busy week with all the volunteer stuff, but that will be sorted later to-day and I can get back to a regular schedule again. My wee garden needs some attenion as well. I left one cuc to see how big it will grow and it is now time to harvest it.
The others can then grow bigger too. Have to get all the herbs in soon as we usually get frost in early Sept. and I don't have room on my window sills for the pots.
Hope everyone is well and it would be nice to hear from you. Be back soon, Edith XXXX

Just a quick rescue job before i go out to the dentist this morning oooooer ,he he.
I didn't come on at all yesterday ,spending the whole afternoon up til 7 pm getting squared up in the gardens ,knackered but hey ,it was well worth it ,all looks pretty pristine again after i had finished.
I have now started collecting my seeds for next year ,finding three packets at half price at Tesco's.one packet of tomato.one parsnip ,and one packet of dwarf french climbing beans which i was looking for.
Already have 8 bags of runners frozen down ,and the plants are still full of flower,so if the climbing french do as well next year i will be well chuffed.
We are doing the courgette cum marrow for tea ,seeing as i will be missing a molar when i come home ,and besides ,i love my stuffed marrows ,very tasty they are too .
I might just do a few stuffed mushrooms to go with it ,using a packet of piri piri flavoured cous cous on them ,Bu**** the expense ,lol.
Have to go now ,time to get ready ,catch you later Fred,xxxx

Morning all, Another sunny day. It seems we in middle Canada are having the good weather while east and west are going to pot in some way or another,
Yes, Mary go for toms on the patio. I have a large pot with good soil and drainage and they are doing very well. A total of 31 toms from 1 plant I think is "great". Also the cucs climbing the wall are doing well, this is the first time I have tried growing them up . Space is limited so it works.
Getting to like this type of gardening after having a huge garden at ground level. Every year I have added something new and am happy with the results. More herbs this year so I will give loads away to friends for winter use.
Les,here's hoping your weather changes for the better soon. Are you still having bear problems?Ours are too busy slurping all the blueberries so are staying away from town.
Have a good week-end everyone, I'm off to the festival to help with the kid's craft day etc. Edith XXXX

oooooh! Fred, you make me blush....LOL My veggie meal was my old trusty veggie lasagne. It is really a winter dish but easy to eat and is enough for two days so no cooking tonite....yippee!!!
Well we can see the sky today but there is still an air quality warning in effect. They are calling for rain yet again this afternoon. Hmm! they keep on calling day after day but does it rain...nah!! Obviously not calling loud enough...LOL!
Daughter is the lower mainland told me last night that Vancouver was gripped in grey smoke yesterday. She lives further out in the valley so it didn't seem to be quite so bad.
Did you guys know that Port Alberni is the home of the Mars water bombers?? You can google for a peek, they live out on Sproat Lake just west of town. Anyway the Hawaii Mars is in the Interior for the next while and that makes everyone a bit tetchy here in town in case we do get a fire. The Phillipine Mars is still awaiting parts to get her in the air so virtually useless at the mo. And Mary your lot are trying to put together a contract for your summer months and have the Mars in Oz.....wow!!
Oh well another day another pinny or however the saying goes. A lady contacted me yesterday and asked my to do the Woman's Business Show so I must keep at it.
Have a great weekend
Lesxx
Oh BTW Fred we have a Welsh lady here in town who is making welsh cakes and victoria sponges and selling them in the farmer's market. I asked for a Bakewell tart and tomorrow it will be mine...yummy, yummy!!

Morning to Mary,Les' and all the others who happen by from Newcastle ,where we are back to autumn again ,lol.
As Mary says Les ,be very careful,and keep the jalopy handy and tanked up ,just in case,hopefully it won't be needed in a hurry.
Saw a pic of Mary's local bridge in the harbour this morning ,covered in fog ,so i reckon the weather there could do with being better than it is as well.
Time to get a couple of extra bags of flour in peeps ,the fires in Russia have destroyed most of the wheat crop over there and all exports have been banned,so .along with the shortage already in oz due to the fires and drought ,there could well be a world shortage.
India is in dire trouble too i see ,most of the food crops have been destroyed in the punjab ,so what with that ,and the drought in china ,followed by flooding rice may be the next to dwindle ,what is the worlds weather coming to.
Think your Ollie ,and our Hissy would make a great pair Les ,i have had a pic taken three days ago,unknown to me ,of me tending to the brussel plants out back supervised by my grandson ,and the cat ,lol,can't do a thing in the garden ,or in the house without her there watching every move i make,.If i am a few minutes late with her grub ,she will come to the chair ,sit down and stare at me ,and if that has no effect ,she then pats my leg with her paw until i give up and get up,he he.
Think with these two felines ,together with Mr D ,cast's are very much in control,and can be very demanding if they don't get their way
We are out to tea this afternoon at my sons ,to see our Lewie into his Fifth year,my ,how time flies by ,seems only minutes ago that his aunty. Mary ,bless her ,sent him his tea shirt.which alas ,no longer fits him,lol.
I have been ordered to take the camera ,so there will be a couple of pics of the [not ,so little any more] man he he,quite the gentleman now too ,and doing very well at school.
My son at last got round to trying your recipe for the aloo.Les ,and he says ,thanks very much ,really ace ,and added to his list,,and that's from a chef ,high praise indeed.
Oh,Mary ,before i forget ,try Les's red onion in oil ,really bonzer,and the carrots too ,this lady is one hell of a cook on the quiet ,with her sewing too ,this is a person of many talents.
I am on a veggie day too ,and am off to make that potato dish i mentioned earlier ,so simple ,but should with the help of a clove of garlic,a little cheese ,and milk ,be veeeery tasty
As Our Mary says ,have a good weekend all ,and please ,stay safe .Fred.

Morning all.. We have lovely sunshine today and quite warm..Fred .. Perhaps your summer has come down under and our winter has gone north..LOL

Les Do hope you sell lots at the coming fair..Great for Christmas..A bit worried about you with those fires around..A lot start with the wind blowing embers ahead of itself and that starts fires all over the place..If they get close for goodness sake get out fast and go stay with your daughter..Cant get over how many died here in our last summers big fires..mostly in their cars trying to get away but found their way blocked by fallen trees..do take care..

Edith If you can grow toms on your balcony I will see if I can grow some in my back patio..

Fred.. Yes the container has holes in the bottom..so will get myself organised and give it a go..Made a lovely casserole in my slow cooker last night of lamb chops and a lovely tomato onion and mint gravy..I just love mint with lamb.. everyone does here in OZ..Roast lamb and mint sauce is a must..

Well Have to take John to the Quack so better get my A into G and move..Have a lovely weekend all..

Love Mary xxx

Well goodmorning to you lot from a very smokey PA. There are over 400 wild fires burning in the BC Interior and the wind is moving the smoke and ash our way. It was hazy yesterday but as of this morning they have issued an air quality advisory and that puts Norm and I on the list of folks who should not be outside for too long. They are calling for thunder activity today but unfortunately no rain. If there was to be a wild fire here in the valley I am not at all sure how our city would fare and how we would get out. as we only have one road in and out. A few days of rain would be wonderful!!!
Apart from that I am in a cutting frenzy. Ollie has taken on the job of quality control and spends hours chasing the scissors, pins and tape measure and then lolling gracefully on any fabric left lying around. He particularly likes black and you can just imagine what that looks like after he's had his nap...love him to bits!!!
I am thinking I would like to have a vegetarian day today so must scour my recipe books for something interesting and tasty.
Later Lesxx

Morning peoples ,sorry to be late this morning ,but i forgot to put my windows updates back to manual last night after doing an upgrade on the big laptop ,with the result that while i was writing an addition to 'tother thread this morning ,the puter shut down without warning to install 14 updates grrrrr,so i had to start over .
I was out early this morning [as i do lol] to give my prize cabbage a drink ,while i supped my first cuppa of the day,and noticed that the sky was a nice azure blue,and when i finished out there it was STILL ,nice and blue,hmmmm,is this our summer arrived at last?,
Fred is now decked out in shorts ,and tank top ,shoes at hand ,just in case he he.
Found a nice recipe ,needing only a casserole dish,garlic ,onion ,parmissan ,or cheddar cheese potato ,milk ,and breadcrumbs.so ,i think i will give that a go for tomorrows dinner.
The wife has just asked me if i will take her shopping this morning,to which i have replied "stuff that,i am off into the wild blue ,out front ,yonder ,with a trowel ,while it stays fine " ducks the slipper that comes my way ,and bolts for the door .Fred.

Morning everyone, Had to catch up with all the news as I have been busy with the festival. Watched the teens in the pie eating contest, what fun, all those purple faces and dripping berries off noses hee hee. They seemed to enjoy every minute and washed off with a garden hose, then onto the next attraction. Oh, to be young again!!!
Have started drying my herbs as they are over growing every pot. Tried the microwave thing but much prefer to hang them and wait. Gets better results methinks.!!
Good luck with your travel plans Mary, will be nice for you to get away for a bit. Still can't get used to you having winter in our summer time!!!
We have been blessed this year, as the days have been warmer than last year when all we got was rain.Seems Fred has been getting all the bad stuff this year. Crazy world we live in hmm.
Must get out and water all the plants before the day gets too hot, so it's bye for now. Edith XXXXXX

Howay our Les' going to all that trouble to buy Organic ,that's just a way to make people pay extra ,all food to grow veggies come out of the ground ,lol,they are all organic ,made into feraliser or left as cow and horse poo.
Just buy a normal clove where you buy the ones for cooking same as all the old gardeners do they grow just as well ,and are a lot cheaper.
Your ideas as to the carrots in oil ,and the onions sounded soooo good that i am gonna give it a shot today,and i am going to add a little fresh chopped sage and rosemary to the onion oil.
I made too much mashed potato yesterday ,and pulled some of the veggie mince from the freezer last evening ,shepherds pie today for dinner,plus your roasted carrots and onion ,and some fresh runners from the garden.
I got one heck of a shock this morning ,first thing,going out at 6 am to put the rubbish and recycle bins out ,there was a distinct chill in the air ,and i saw all the spiders webs in the hedges ,glistening in the dew,autumn?,in early August ? hmmmmm ,something fishy going on here ,lol..
My youngest grand daughter got her results from the hospital regarding her kidney reflux and i am very relieved ,kidney problems are rife in our family going back to my grandparents on my mums side,and my father on mine ,so it was such a relief to find that apart from a little scarring ,she is now in the clear,and will have no further problems.
We don't have a pussy cat problem Les' we brought an electronic cat ,rat scarer ,worth every penny ,but i don't half get some dirty looks off Hissy if i don't turn it off before i let her out in the mornings ,he he ,sometimes i think i should have called her Huffy.
Make sure your container has a few holes in the bottom Mary ,or you may land up if it Does rain by drowning your plants ,as i did a couple of years ago,and put your mint in a bucket ,or the roots will choke everything else in the container.
Sounds as though you will be getting around a bit over the next few weeks Mary ,enjoy it all while you can that's the name of the game.
Aquadulce is the best broad bean going Les' they always cook as you describe ,and the shop brought ones you mentioned were well over ripe ,and are only good for seed,they shouldn't have been on sale at all ,some stores want a kick up the butt for selling unfit gear .
My pods i try before i pick ,i squeeze a bean through the pod wall ,if it is softish ,okay to eat ,if hard it goes into the envelope for next years seed crop. Fred is a tight assed scot ,lol,won't buy ANY seeds he can keep himself he he.,i already hace four ounces of mixed pepper seed drying out in the shed ,along with the tomato seed .
Try a cheese sauce with your pottage Les ,sounds as though it can work well with those veg..
Well ,time to go and do some work ,who was it says ,housework is never done with ,wasn't me ,but i agree with the sentiment, Fred.xxxx.
Just to add before i make the tea peeps ,the red onion and carrots went down a storm ,but i never got to taste the onion ,waaah the missus snaffled it but i got some carrot ,yummy ,next time i will get my onion which i sprinkled parsley and sage on before cooking,before i put them out on the dinner Fred.xxx

Fred I did grow garlic one year. I bought 6 organic bulbs online, different varieties and we did have a lot of garlic. Had a problem with the neighborhood cats....they loved the smell while enjoyng their "ablutions"!!! Now we have the noisy Bella and maybe they stay away. Anyway we plan to grow it again this fall.

I got broad beans at the market as mine are not ready but theirs weren't either. Very green and tough even after cooking. I like the kind where the skin cracks and goes a pale mauve colour. Last year I grew Italian favas and the crop was poor this year we will see. I also got a huge red onion complete with the stalk. I quartered it part way thru and poured a little olive oil on it, wrapped it in foil and baked it....more than yummy....heaven!!!

When I was in school one of the school dinners was beef (hopefully..LOL) and it came with a potage of onion and carrots in a whitish sauce.....anyone have a recipe for that...I am an onion lover and that was yummy also.

I bought a bag of new carrots and have been cooking them whole in foil as well, doused with a little olive oil and dill...oh! my! oh! my!

OK off to do some serious cutting out today....the fall is rapidly approaching along with those artisan fairs.
Lesxxx

Hi everyone We have lovely rain outside and its so needed..It has been so dry this winter and my little garden is looking sad.. I am going to try and grow some herbs this summer as I have a large plastic container out back and I am going to get some good soil and fill it and have a go..It doesnt get a whole lot of sun but should be enough for some hardy herbs and a few toms..I could even grow mint as that will grow anywhere..LOL.
Life is rather busy at the moment and next week I have a lunch with all my brothers which I am looking forward to..Then on next Friday we are off to Canberra to visit our daughter and grandies..got to hear all about Kates trip to the uk and Europe..and Ellies trip to New Zealand..My eldest grandson is off to the UK and Europe in September also ..cant keep these kids home..they have the travel bug..
We hope to get to New Zealand in November but not counting my chickens before they hatch..Will see how things are in October..LOL..John is good one day and bad the next..
Daughter in Orange rang today and said ,,Mum its snowing heavily..like to come up..she knows I love the snow and would love to be there..it is so pretty to watch..It usually only lasts a day of two at the most but is lovely to see in winter..
Fred Sounds like you are getting ready for winter..You are ready for any eventuality..good for you..cant believe it is only a month from spring..it has been a rather mild winter or I just might be enjoying it to much to notice its anything else..LOL..
Got to take the car in for its 12month service tomorrow..That year has gone quickly..

Hope you are all well..
Love Mary xxxx

Morning all, sun shining and a hot day forecast!! Our blueberry festival is in full swing with loads of things to do. Went to a spaghetti supper last nite. Thay had a contest to be the first to finish a plateful using chop sticks. The owner of the local airline won handily, he was very good with the sticks !!!
The berries this year are plentiful and those who pick them say the open areas in the bush are blue fields. Taste great too.The annual blueberry pancake breakfast is tomorrow so must get to that. As there are many food venues I shall stay away as it is too tempting !!!
Our famer's market was on Friday and the variety is great this year, got my first beets and will cook them up later for supper. Green beans also.
Time for breakfast so will say bye for now. Edith XXXXXX

Morning Les' ,why are you buying garlic,when you have a perfectly good garden outside?
Buy yourself another ,split it into corms and plant them out,spacing them well apart ,they will grow into full garlic plants by next year ,and in the meantime will keep a lot of the pests away ,carrot flies can't stand the smell given off,and they also deter wire worm ,and the like ,might even keep the vampires away ,lol.
I have some greek toasting cheese here Les' and intend putting that on the B B Q,with the onion ,and sliced courgette as i do the sausage and burgers,providing the rain keeps off that is .
We have the weekend to ourselves ,so we are being lazy and are really chilling out for a change.i am sat here ,shorts and top on waiting for my cup of coffee to cool down ,before going out for a mooch around my domain .
Hope everyone over the pond's are having a nice weekend ,Fred.

Went to the farmer's market this morning and got fresh garlic, new spuds, a yellow zucchini for my world famous zoo sticks, and a huge red onion which I am going barbeque in fat slices. Then we were off to the fish market and got a nice piece of salmon....supper fixed!!
I made minestrone in the slow cooker yestereday and we had that with onion and olive oil bread...very yummy, easy and kept me out of the kitchen....yea!!!
Long weekend here and the town is full of people, mostly out on the inlet toodling around in their boats. I am cool in my basement until it is time to get naked again.....thank goodness we are not overlooked by any neighbours..they would be putting thier house up for sale..LOL
Later Lesxx

Morning all ,from a sunny warm Newcastle [not ] where it is piddling down yet again ,i have given up on any thought of a summer this year ,and have started planning for an early autumn ,starting with the arrival of my two gas bottles yesterday.
I think i had better start bringing the green tom,s out of the greenhouse and ripen them in newspaper ,giving the smaller toms time to grow a bit,but i have a glut of cucumber ,so it is a case of swings and roundabouts ,and at least the pepper bushes now have flowers on ,so i should get a good supply of those shortly ,having at least 16 plants on the go ,plus my four patio peppers out front.
Fred's holding his breath ,as i sent Les ,the pics as asked ,and this time i had no failure indication from her email provider .which looks a lot better .
Nothing wrong with a farmers tan les ,doris Day had one nearly all her life ,and looked good with it ,many women spend hundreds of $ a year on sun beds and cream ,you get yours for free ,lol.
With those temperatures a slow cooker would be a no go here ,he he ,salads and cooking outside is the way to go for me in a like situation ,a nice salad with plenty of homegrown produce ,and a slice or two of one of your beutiful Salmon would do me fine.
Hope everyone is going to enjoy the weekend ,catch you later,Fred.xxx

Watch those squirrels Les,they will be lurking in the branches with cameras,ready to put your pics on the internet he he.
Yep ,i will start sending the pics as soon as i sort them back out for you ,starting with the garden and Bath,before moving onto others,lol you asked for it he he.
Havn't done much today apart from repairing my sons old compaque puter which has seen better days ,but i need it to update my older road angel which isn't supported on vista ,or windows 7 ,so it's back to the old ,veeeeery slow X P once every few weeks ,slow being the watch word ,with a chip less than a gig ,it makes a carthorse look rapid.if you know what i mean
If our temperatures ever go up as high as yours ,i will have to do likewise i reckon ,but at the moment i can't cover the roof with anything because the stuff in there is very slow in ripening as it is.
Well,this acer is now updated for now ,so i will get these pics sent before reverting to my big H P computer.
Have a nice weekend all,Fred

Fred, please send me the pics as I did not get them. I have a greenhouse "blanket" over the top of mine to filter the UV rays. We are in our 4th. week of 30 degree plus weather and it fries everything without protection. I am supposed to take it off in the winter but leave it on as it is really well attached.
Have been tanning my shoulders and legs for this wedding we are going to. I bought a cocktail dress that is short and cut high on the shoulders so cannot look like a farmer with my farmer's tan. So everyday I disrobe (well almost!!) and give myself an hour in the sun. They say it will switch to rain here within the next week or so, so must make hay while the sun shines etc.
Slow cooker day today so that I don't have to melt in the kitchen at dinner time.
More later
Lesxx

morning Edith ,Les, and anyone else who decides to show their face ,even the ones from oz are more than welcome.
Sounds as though you are in for a rough time for a while Edith ,at least with us over here ,it's just high winds and rain,so i can't grumble,though i am thinking of growing rice next year he he.
The new patio loungers have arrived along with the little table that completes the set ,now all we need is some sun ,lol.
They are very comfortable ,and could be used as emergency beds if needs be ,so they may come in handy if we have a prolonged power outage ,we would be snug in the front room with the gas heater and a slightly open patio door,wrapped up in two of the sleeping bags and a handy book for reading.
I was out back early this morning ,carrier bac on my left wrist ,scissors in right hand picking some French ,and runner bean ,half a collander of each as it turned out,so ,i think it's time to stuff that courgette i mentioned ,do a few new tatties ,and some mixed french and runner bean,and a couple of roasties and roast parsnips.
The only veg i have to still buy for a while is cabbage ,and tatties ,as mine have still a bit of growing to do ,but other wise ,we are doing great despite the lousy weather.
Thanks for the pics Les,your tom's look to be doing great ,as are your herbs,i did send you some a couple of weeks ago ,some of Bath ,and some of the garden ,so if you let me know what you didn't get ,i will send them again ,three at a time so they don't choke your email box.
My peppers are about the same as yours ,still green ,lol,but as you say ,there is plenty of time yet.
Noticed the poly insulation in your greenhouse ,i use bubble wrap because it insulates far better ,but never insulate my roof ,because it prevents the fruit ripening,but i noticed yours was rolled back ,no doubt so that you can use your house far earlier for starting the seedlings because of the intense cold you get.
I have just brought some onion seeds [Ailsa Craig] show onions ,and am going to have a go growing them next year ,to see if i still have the onion green fingers and choose the craigs because ,even grown really big ,they store well over the winter ,and just the right size for sarnies ,if you grow a couple of square ones ,he he.
The chimnea will be used for jackets Edith ,but the tattie sort ,not the wearing ,lol,and i will buy mine from b&Q on a Wednesday using my pensioner card ,lol %10 off the price isn't to be sneezed at .
My wife also bought some lavender seeds ,asd is busy putting them in seed trays this very minute ,so ,i had better move my Butt ,and give her a hand before i get a flea in my ear lol,Catch you later all Fred.