General Chat

nudge

Lucky you Edith glad someone is enjoying better weather lol,i think i am spoilt after last year at this time of year when i was sat out by the patio ,crumpets and cuppa at the ready he he.
We have a window in the bad weather that last's until tomrrow when they reckon the gales and snow returns,but ,at least i brought my gloves ready for the rose ,and Fushia pruning ,so i am ready now no matter what ,so long as it isn't snowing or raining in the morning ,pruning here i come ,lol,and most of the buckets are empty of greenery and ready for the manure and lime.
I Have all my seeds in now ,and will start mid week to sort out where each load of veggie is going ,and when i need to kick off the stuff in the seed trays,cor ,it staarts again ,and i still get exited at the start of the season.
Have to go now ,my turn to make the tea today ,leek, orange & parsnip soup ,with which i will have a small French stick with toasted cheese on top,yum.
See ya later all ,Fred.

Hi every one Though I better tell you that my darling brother is near deaths door in ICU but we are praying that he might recover,,but at the moment he is on virtual life support.. Will get back as soon as I can..Any spare prayers would be gratefully received..

Love Mary xxxxxx

Morning Here we go again, everyone has deserted us so will try and keep the site open.
Mary, how was the meet? Look forward to the pics when you get them!!!
Fred, our weather is getting better every week so of course my dreams of a balcony garden are also getting closer.
My herbs are ready to plant and I will try purple basil again this year,found the licorice flavor goes great with a lot of the cheeses. yum
Hope the "kids" are behaving Les. Pics are welcome any time hee hee
Stay well all. See you soon. Edith XXXX

Hi All not a bad weekend for us north of the tyne river,although rather chilly with more snow expected.
Wahey ,Fred has his boots at last ,a nice pair of Dunlops lol ,so ,Les, the race is on providing it's dry in the morning ,starting with the roses so that i can get that screening up to hide the weed and thistles next door ,
That done i can start clearing the buckets and freeze some of the late crops down.
Edith ,i found the Parsnip seeds this morning ,canker resistant ones too ,and found a smashing ,heavy cabbage that should do very well,so we will be starting work in the greenhouse shortly.
Your two pets sound a real delight for you Les ,i wish you joy and lots of fun with them ,pets can make the world go round if you have the right ones.
Don't think i could stand two of Hissy lol,the one has me worn out he he.
Off to make my tea now ,jacket tatties with a small salad for me and tuna mayo with the tatties for the wife,i am having some fresh salmon to share with her majesty.
Catch you later all Fred.

Morning all, Hi, Les I can only imagine what you folk have to put up with for the Olympics.Nowadays the security is ridiculous for most events.
Soon over and your life will get back to "normal" !!!!
Nice to hear the "kids" are getting along hee hee.
Hi Ian, I am enjoying our winter this year, very mild and not a lot of snow so no room to complain at all. Mind you our snowmobilers are a sad lot as they just don't have enough snow in the woods to travel too far.They can travel on the lakes but that is limited as to distance.
Only 3 more weeks and our clocks go ahead so spring is not too far away.
Then I too can start planting flowers etc. yaaay
Time for my breakfast so will say bye for now. Edith XXXXXX

Hey Christine, Ollie now lays on his back, fully stretched in front of Bella. Bella, silly dog, has to stick her nose on his belly and the fight is on. Today I saw Ollie charging sideways across the kitchen floor after Bella's tail...such fun.
Our WDYTYA is an American version and the first person on is Sarah Jessica Parker. I will report back after I have seen it.
Interesting your comments on the Olympics...most folks here in BC wish that we had not won the bid. They have already cut back our health care and restricted the use of MRI machines plus a new "harmonised" tax which will result in things costing more. Oh! and the security aspect. Remember I live on Vancouver Island quite aways from the Olympic hullabaloo but we have security planes droning over head every night. I will be glad when its over!!
Sunny again today...had really bad insomnia last night so have put the gardening on hold until tomorrow.
Hey! where is everyone???
Catcha all later. Lesxx

Good Evening Everyone,

The weather is still beautiful here - supposed to get up to the forties during the week but I never trust the weather bureau.
Mary - the only problem I have with 40 deg. days is all these Aussies wanting their air-cons fixed the day before they break down!!
Cousin Edith I hope you are well and Les I'll go and have a look at your bear.

Best Wishes to All

Ian

Edith when is Ancestors in the Attic on?? Haven't seen it advertised here at all.
Last night Bella had to get up for a potty call...most unusual. Well of course that woke up his lordship and it was high jinks again. They did finally fall asleep and I slept until about 8....so a bit better!!
Yesterday Norm and I went to Nanaimo for the day. We went to look at some new houses for sale and were pleasnatly impressed until suddenly on the way home we realised that our kitchen is about as big as the kitchen, dining area, and living room in these houses. We don't mind small bedrooms but we love to cook so need out kitchen space. However it has made us think a bit about the next few years and where we might like to be. I think we have given up on the Mainland...just too expensive.
Sunny again today so tomorrow it will likely be dry enough to start digging. So today I will enjoy my genealogy and then tomorrow....the spade!!
Lesxx
PS. Go to www.bcspiritbear.com and you will be able to see our famous kermodie bear in hibernation. He moves around and is really very cute.

Morning all, Will try again to send a post without the jumping text!!!
Les, sounds like you two had a great time making all the soup etc. now you can sit back and enjoy!!!
I didn't watch all the Olympics only the opening and did enjoy that.
Do you get Ancestors in the Attic Les? They have a lot of Canadians on it and the fellow that does the research is a regular jack ---but entertaining
See Fred may be travelling to Plymouth, my husbands family were from there and I thiink there are still some of them in that area.
Looking forward to the growing season but will have to wait a bit more.
I start out every year with big ideas for my balcony and then run out of room!!!
Happy to hear "the kids" are getting along better Les but the bed antics
would get to me as well. The site is jumping again so it's bye for now Edith XXX

So I did make maybe a gallon and half of tomato soup. All the toms and the veggies filled my stock pot to the top. I simmered it for 2 hours so that even the tomato skins were pretty much gone, then I used my stick blender, strained it and hey presto....yummy soup. Fred I did at the end put in one teaspoon of salt and 3 teaspoons of sugar....nice soup. Norm made about a gallon of spagetti sauce...the freezer is looking a bit full!!
The rain has held off for another day....soon I will really be able to dig in the garden. I want to dig up the flower beds this spring, thin the perennials and then replant. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it!!!
For those in Canada "Who do you think you are" airs on NBC on March 5th. I figured that it would be about 5 ish pacific time, maybe check that out. *Eight episodes, the first is Sarah Jessica Parker and I believe that they uncover that she has a witch from Salem in her family....should be good.
And the latest on my two "kids". They manage to go nose to nose now without fighting altho Ollie is a tease and Bella is always up for the challenge. Ollie likes to get up at about 4 am each night and perch on the headboard of our bed, looking out the window. So Bella gets up too, on the bed and soon it's hide and seek in the covers, Norm is snoring, I am awake....and four days later...bloody exhausted!! Love 'em!!
Later Lesxx

Here we go again peoples ,lol,i added .or tried to ,yesterday with a longish missive,after i had finished doing my factory restore of my acer laptop.
I was feeling very chuffed and proud of myself and wasn't concentrating and hit the wrong button ,reply instead of submit ,oh bu***r ,i was so miffed i quit altogether he he.
Hi Mary ,i am so slow these days that i do one or two rooms a year so it takes four years to do the full house,gone are the halicon days where i could do a whole house and then do the outside too,besides ,there is now a biggish garden to see to.
The best thing i ever did was put in full double glazing the year we moved in ,and got the pointing done as well ,so ,no more painting out side apart from the down pipes from the guttering ,and the shed which only needs done once every three years.
We are off to Blackpool in April ,the first weeks holiday,and i am toying with the idea of going to Cornwall for two weeks in the fall,giving the new battle wagon a try out long distance [for us anyway].
Well done Les' way to go ,far in advance of us [again] he he ,we have loads of four year compost t o use in the veggie patch ,and a good load of chicken ,and horse pooh,as well ,the onions ,leek and brassica should grow a treat.
Plenty of herbs you can put into soup instead of salt,i use quite a bit of celery, or celery salt in my soups ,they add a new dimension to the taste ,and take the place of the dreaded white stuff.
We have a couple of food firms over here doing reduced sugar and salt products ,soups baked beans and the like,which are only 4 pence dearer than the normal recipes,but i know there are many firms doing this who take the water ,charging much more for putting less ingredients in ,they should be ashamed of themselves..
Still drooling over my seed books Edith ,i notice quite a few new brassica seeds here now ,all club root resistent,and others tolerant to mildew ,makes things lot's easier to grow.
Try your cucumbers Edith choosing an all female variety which you will only need one plant of [they are self pollinating ],all you will need to do is feed it every few days and remove the odd ,if you get any,male flowers to prevent any sour fruits.
Another few months Les ,and you will find your two furry chums will be best buddies and may even pine if seperated .
I am off now ,dinner to get out to thaw ,i cheated today and got a boxed chinese meal to do the two of use ,sweet and sour chicken and chicken curry,from Morrisons,adding four duck spring rolls to the menu,all in all it cost us £4 and it makes such a change at having to cook,
Catch you later all[making sure he hits the right button this time ],Fred.

Just a quickie...hope all are well. Sorry Edith I am not watching the Olympics at all....not my thing.
We had a gloriously sunny day yesterday. Norm and I dug compost into our veggie garden...pretty muddy out there, had moon boots at the end but it was good to get that done.
Chatted to one of my BHC cousins in Ontario...interesting chat about our crazy rellies.
Going to make gallons of tomato soup for the freezer today....since my doc got on my case about salt I have been missing my cans of soup....so I guess I will make my own, salt free. Life!!
Take care.
Lesxx

nudge

Morning all, Hope some of you watched the Olympics opener.
I really enjoyed the Northern Lights and the BIG bear. The problem at the end was too bad but the torch was lit, so turned out O.K
What are your thoughts Les?
Mary, I plant mostly flowers on the balcony but do have all the herbs and toms. Will try cucumbers this year as I have a wall for them to climb up.
Put up a trellis last year and just let a vine climb it but this year will try the veg.
Fred you seem to be getting our cold weather. We have been quite balmy and not a lot of snow. My down coat was only out of the closet twice and I usually wear it all winter.!!!! Not complaining tho' as it can still get bad.
Hope this finds everyone well. Time for breakfast. Edith XXXXXX

Hi all... Glad to see you are slowly getting out of winter..so that will mean we are slowly getting into it..not that it makes to much difference to us here..we are still getting hot weather but the humidity has been bad this year..Don't mind the heat but hate the humidity...roll on winter...hee hee hee,,
Les Glad to hear that Olly and Bella are coming to some sort of truce and are at least acknowledging each other...LOL..Butter about the aprons though..do you have a market somewhere you can sell them..Stay home for the Olympics,,you get a much better view and its a lot warmer..LOL..

Edith..What do you grow on your balcony..and is it successful..

Fred.. So glad we dinny buy a Toyota to.. Very happy with my Hyundai i30..You just redecorated the house ..Why are you doing it again..Take a year off and you and Liz enjoy yourselves..

Christine.. Hope you are well and sounds like you are having fun with the photos..

Got to babysit tonight so better go and get some dinner ready early..Stay well all and keep warm..

Love Mary xx

Seems to be OK at the mo, Edith. Hope everyone is well. I am submerged in my Darbons again. I have tried to create a character and a life for the great grandfather of one of my British Home Children.....an interesting feat.

I promised myself in the Fall that after xmas I would devote myself daily to genealogy until it came time to dig in the garden. So I work away at that and it does somewhat "fill" my head. However the weather here has been balmy and I notice that some of my neighbours are already pruning and digging....so must contemplate that on the next sunny day.

Bella and Ollie now manage to have a few peaceful moments each day, sniff noses and even sit with me together. Last night Ollie crept onto the bed in the middle of the night and snuggled up....firt time...pretty nice.

I have not sewed any aprons since the Fall. I am pretty discouraged as are many of the artisans here in town. We certainly did not get the "traffic" or sales at the xmas shows and most of us have lots of stock......oh well....devine inspiration will strike soon I think.....hope!!! In the mean time the gals that organize the spring fair have decided not to hold one this year. They asked me if I wanted to....but nah!! too much effort in an already busy life!!

I had an email from a several times removed cousin who I have never met and who is moving to Vancouver Island. So Normie and I went into Parksville and had lunch with them. It was good fun altho Norm gets a bit bogged down with genealogical chat. Anyway we will be pleased to see them when they move here.

And talking of Vancouver Island, at the moment you need identification to get off our island re: the Olympics and security...I mean we all look like terrorists!! . I sure hope everyone enjoys watching the sports. Just know that here in BC we will be paying for this for years to come mainly thru a lack of monies into education and health care...and that my lovelies is my rant for today.. Be well and be happy
Lesxx

Morning I just sent a post but it dissappeared.
As the whole site is jumping about I will say Hi and Bye and try again later.
Please stay well. Edith

Morning all you over the pond,and everywhere else too,from newcastle upon tyne ,in the not so frozen north of England [for a change.
Hey Mary ,you go for your pots lass ,and remember ,at the end of the season ,any unripened toms can be wrapped in newspaper where they will ripen pretty quickly.
I would suggest a bush variety though ,so that the wind ,if it gets strong will not blow the pot over and damage the plant ,besides ,a bush variety will give you a lot more fruit per plant.,i would think that two bushes would keep you in fruit pretty well,and in the temperatures you get ,you should have a pretty good change of loads of cucumbers from a pot too,a good all female variety will do the trick.,and ypou can even use a little washing up water once in a while to keep the bugs away.
We are going out to the Metro centre later this morning lol,i need to get out of the house for a few hours for a rest he he ,spring cleaning and decorading are taking their toll and i feel i'm getting brush happy.
Am i glad now that in ordering the new Nissan for June i made the right choice ,i soooooo nearly went Toyota [ouch] ,but i would have gone for the new Skoda 4x4 if i had seen it in time ,looking a bit like a land cruiser, tough looking and economical ,i'm sure it will catch on over in aus' based on the running gear ,chassis and diesel engine of V W.it looks like being a winner.
That's about it for now ,i must sit down with pen and paper to work out how to go on with the garden this season,there is so much to do to get ready ,buckets to clean out and filling to mix ,the chalet to clear out ,borders ditto ,and roses to prune ,and i MUST get the new birds nesting box put up ,or it will be too late [again].
Catch you all later Fred.

Hi everyone..We have showers which is so good.. It has made the days cooler but the humidity is still high..Roll on winter..

Fred.. I am going to have a go at growing things in a pot this year..Some toms would be great..only trouble we dont have a place where it gets sun all day..only the back patio that gets afternoon sun for a few hours..Still will have a go..

Edith.. Do you get much sun on your patio..if not how is growing things in limited sun going there..

Les...How are the terrible two going,,made peace yet..LOL...

Well have a pile of ironing to do,,the maid has gone on strike. so its up to me..LOL

Have a lovely day /night

Love Mary xxx