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... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
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gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 18 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Poppet has landed on her feet now-cats usually do one way or another; usually the action of man is not so good towards stray cats, especially feral ones. I was thinking of what to do with folks who abandon pets, Shan, and conclude neutering is the right/best option-yes both of them!

I loathe spaghetti, MR., I only eat it from Tesco's in one of those plastic boxes found in the sandwich area with lots of mayo. chicken, honey and mustard; and it is not my favourite, but I will eat it that way and only that way. My family got into other foods when I was small, but not me and never will. I am better when I am out, but not spaghetti or that flat stuff-lasagne is it or tagliatelle, or any other foreign stuff as I used to call it. There is a lot of UK stuff I am not keen on, I used to be a pigman, but don't eat pork, kept sheep and don't like lamb. By choice I always eat beef or chicken. It is why I am best on my own. "I can sit both sides of my fire place," as my maiden Aunt said in a fine soft South Yorkshire accent. I enjoyed being married, but the dear wife couldn't understand why I enjoyed being outside in the garden all the time and she thought it was her fault. Or I had another woman. Her sister thought I was the perfect husband keeping out of the way when her man was under her feet all the time, and he was a farmer! I do broccoli with cheese too, MR, with some mince beef and a jacket potato. Though after the vein operations, I have reduced the cheese intake a lot. Nothing used to eat better than a jacket spud filled with ripe Camembert-French or Cornish-but when the cheese is ready to run away is best, smell is the best guide!

I hope son gets better soon MR, nothing worse being ill at the time when you are needed, I always feel guilty when I am off ill and know that one of the 'boys' is away too. It puts so much extra on the last man! But if you are ill then there is only one place to be, at home, not spreading the germs! I get the feeling that you are doing more logs this season than normal for the winter, is this more customers or much colder?

Off home to change the oils in the tractor transmission and engine.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 18 2:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Poppet now has her own bed - a high-sided ring with a comfy cushion (apparently ideal for hiding toy mice under) - and the carry box has been transferred to the top of the pen so as to provide a further place of retreat if she is too hotly pursued to make the tight turn into the pen (I have a small rock holding the pen door ajar as the opening of the bathroom door closes the pen door). And today she is able to come and go as she pleases (which she doesn't - she remains obdurately indoors). She has ventured out a few times and Seb has, today, shown rather more restraint than yesterday. Pretty sure I can trust him, and I have left them un-supervised for short periods with no harm done, so I will leave the pen open overnight and see how much sleep I get.

Grey skies and more cool weather today so not much achieved at all. I would like to do some comprehensive tidying up but that will stir Seb up, so I won't (any excuse is a good one when it comes to avoiding housework).

Shan I am constantly appalled at the irresponsibility of people - leaving pets when they move flats, dumping litters, generally being neglectful. I do think the cost of neutering is a major contributor and the sooner rescues manage to organise a method to make that easier the better. And regulating pet ownership. Here in Australia a dog must be registered with the local council. Cost of registration depends on neutering status, though my own council makes the cost differential so minor it is ineffective. And microchipped so they can be returned to the owner if found. The same should be done for cats, along with curfews after which they can be trapped and either handed on to a rescue or returned to the owner with a fine if they are chipped. We have the regulations to do this, but enforcement is pretty unhelpful. Mine all live indoors, but many don't and they can be rather harmful to our native wildlife (though not as bad as the activists suggest - mine, when they roamed free, brought home several kills a day, but only four natives over a five year period).

Hope all sorts itself out a home MR - not a good time of year to be loafing around being sick.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 18 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It was a nice day yesterday, so making the deliveries wasn't too bad, even though the half load had to be loaded from the log store mainly by me. Husband split some of the bigger bits. We had a sandwich lunch at the place we made the first delivery as they have a rather nice café. Two log sacks didn't make it so the store; someone asked for them before they got there, so as she looked older than us we carried them to her car for her. Looks overcast today, but hopefully dry, as we need some dry weather.

We have certainly done more log sacks than ever before, and think we are well up on the loads. We have a reasonable number of new customers, but some of the regulars seem to be taking at least the same amount, although less in one case.

The celandines are still taking it in turns to come out. There was one in flower further up the track yesterday. Rather more elsewhere, but still not anything like all of them.

Glad Poppet is getting on well. Once Seb has the idea that she isn't going to play and is still a little nervous she may go over more of the house.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 18 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yesterday I went to the living history farm for their winter kitchen event. Had a splendid time.

Then yesterday early evening when I looked outside the snow gauge showed this



and this morning looked like this



Sunny and warm today so winter is melting away. Though 6 inches of the white stuff will take a while to completely disappear .

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 18 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Wow! Fancy having snow deep enough to need a gauge! Ours is rarely so productive, though judging by the wind that's been about today, there is snow somewhere on the hills.

I slept well last night, so either Seb behaved himself or Poppet is very clever at protecting herself. Billy came to the bedroom door to complain about prowlers, but Seb just sighed and went back to sleep. And a nocturnal excursion on my part went unaccompanied. I did spot a flying kitten heading toward the bathroom, and Billy flying in the opposite direction.

I have left the pen open today and will continue to do so (though perhaps tomorrow morning it will be shut as I will be out for several hours with the driving activities.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 18 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Looks so lovely like that. We seem to be in a cloud again, so rather wet. Son has called in sick. He isn't sure if he has a cold or flu, but has a nasty chesty cough with it. The cough seems to be getting better, so that is something. We have to go up and do some work if we can, but not sure how much we can do if it stays like this, as it is the sort of rain that soaks you through in no time.

I managed to get seed potatoes, onion sets and seeds yesterday. I couldn't see the onions anywhere, but then discovered them by the flowering bulbs, so got all I needed. I have the potatoes chitting up, and have to move a compost heap off the onion bed, then they can go in. The onions weren't brilliant last year, but at least I got a bit of a crop, so have decided to persevere and do more of what I did last year. I have also got some summer cabbage for the first time for years, so will see how they do with a bit of extra water when needed.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 18 7:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If he develops a temperature order him off to the doctor MR - no point messing around with the flu that's about.

We seem to be rapidly approaching autumn and today was a perfect Autumn day complete with cornflower blue skies and light winds. I drove someone down to Hobart for their appointment and got back in time to be greeted by a couple of local blokes. One was the chap whose fence was knocked down by a falling tree during the strong winds recently. I had run into him at the shops and offered some sheets of corrugated iron to fill the gap and he was coming to get them. Turns out he was quite oblivious to that particular downed tree and thought I was talking about one elsewhere on his boundary so it took a bit of fast talking to ensure he didn't take everything! It was simply a case of crossed wires rather than an attempt to rob me blind, but as he had no idea what I was talking about in terms of the second hole, is a bit deaf and more than a bit dim, it did take some time. They also removed the chook run and were very pleased to get it. It was free to me, so it was free to them. I only charge for stuff i have paid for myself, and these chaps would help me out if I needed it.

Dinner tonight is something I had time to acquire while in Hobart, so a bit tastier than average, so I had best get it before it's bed time!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 18 7:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

He has seen the pharmacist and got some cough mixture, and seems to be getting a bit better, but if he gets worse I will make sure he sees a doctor. Luckily he doesn't suffer from lung problems, so should clear all right.

Husband and I went up to the woods after lunch, as it was raining all morning. Cut some logs and started log sacks, but after about half a dozen my back suddenly seized up. It is across the pelvis, and muscular, but just seemed to cramp up and is now rather stiff and sore, so I won't be doing log sacking today.

The celandines are still taking it in turns to come out one at a time, but saw some lovely purple crocus mixed in with the snowdrops coming up the lane. It was quite mild yesterday, but they are promising cooler weather again for the next few days.

Glad you got rid of your chook run and sorted out the mans iron all right. It is hard to get through to someone who is both deaf and a bit thick.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 18 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sorry to hear you are not too good MR. take care. You are right about the cooler weather, the snow with Jam Lady will reach us soon no doubt. We are in a good way, windy but warm, sunny and pleasant all round, the calm before, no doubt. It could be different at home we are around 400 ft. here, so could be a very different day up the hill. Glad for you that the logs are getting more in sales, but the work I am finding gets harder all the time even as I read about it! I hope you get better soon MR, don't go back to working before you are right-I've spoken!
Not worth letting folks get away with too much, Cassandra, you never know when you need what you have got, let alone what you have given away before. Talking food I have discovered a petit pois sort of salad at Tesco coming with a sauce of chilli and something else obscure, but it is really nice. I bought it thinking I may not like it-chilli yuk-but you have to try and I seem to be spending £2.50 a day on the stuff now! (I guess you will all tell me to make my own). I am anti-housework, not my idea of fun. I only have me to feed and please, no pets or livestock to "do" now.
You are right about neutering animal pets, should be done as a part of the injection regime for dogs, (cut and jab?), unless they are of a rare line or being kept to breed-for which a license would be needed to keep animals for breeding. Not talking farming here, but in the domestic situation. Not sure how your pig and horse keeping neighbours would fair, Cassandra.

I have a silly little tickle in my throat and am coughing a bit. I hope it clears up before the weekend as I am away at a birthday party, for the boy who is 40, I may have said before I knew him when he was 1. I will be going on Friday after work at lunch time and coming back in a leisurely way on Monday morning, to a cold house-my friends are hot house fiends, I sit there in shirt sleeves, and don't need a hot water bottle in my bed. My house is warmer than the caravan was, where I used to get up in the night and refresh 3 of the 6 bottles I would normally have in the van. Or am I getting an extra/thicker outer layer as I get older?
With going away I am getting a lot more wood cut for the shop, I don't want them to run out, so I may give up the swim on Wednesday to cut and chop a few more nets of wood for stock, as insurance for when I get back on Monday-3 more chopping days to Friday!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We had windy weather yesterday, and not too dry. Son came in to work, and they managed to get the last 13 bags for one order bagged and delivered, but then he went home. Better than he has been anyway, but didn't feel well enough for felling. Hope he is well enough today, as it is still, sunny, and an ideal day.

I have a shopping day today, so relatively easy. I will go careful and see how I am tomorrow. I really need to bag logs, but will go very easy, and try to avoid lifting if I can.

The amaryllis son gave me for my birthday is starting to flower. I have never had one before, and it is huge. I was amazed at how fast it came up; didn't put it in until the middle of January and it is already in flower. It is a lovely deep red, so rather pretty colour.

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

MR - back staring always seem to take so long to recover. Make sure you don't make it any worse. Good to hear your son is starting to feel better. This head cold has been a nasty one. I'm still coughing a bit.

Cassandra: do you think the weather is debilitating you? I find extremes of weather tend to do that to me. Your body is so busy trying to acclimate that its doesn't know whether it is Arthur or Martha!

Jamlady: snow looks beautiful. How long will you have it down on the ground?

Gregotyn: shame on you.... a petit pops salad would take you 2 seconds to whip together!

Yes, the neutering of animals is essential. I believe there are charities in Portugal whose sole remit is to trap the many animals running about the streets and to neuter/spay and then release them.

Busy few days here and a few busy more days or should I say months ahead! I have to dismantle our metal bedstead (not a bad thing as one corner is currently propped up on magazines - accident waiting to happen). Get the mattress off the spare bed and steam clean it. Find a home for the multitude of stuff stored under my bed. Move the base for the spare bed upstairs to my bedroom and warp the mattress from the spare bed so it can be shipped to Portugal. Mixed in with all of this will be an enormous amount of hoovering because the dust and cobwebs gathered under my bed are a thing of nightmares.....

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Here you go Shan: Onion Snow

Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you. Excellent blog.

I'd have thought it would have sat n the ground much longer being that thick!

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Wed Feb 21, 18 11:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Today we had temperatures in the 70s Fahrenheit. Totally weird! Days are longer, sun higher in the sky, so more insolation too.

Thank you Shan. Glad you enjoyed your virtual visit. I'm very pleased with the entry about winter kitchen event at the Mercer county park's department farm.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 18 7:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I will have to look at that later Jam Lady. At present it seems to be doing odd things on my computer, but if all else fails will look at it on a different browser.

Back feels a lot better, so I will go carefully today and see how I do. I have an urgent order for a besom, so may be starting with that today and go on to log sacks when husband and son can produce me the wood.

Weather seems to be settled for fairly dry and cold for the next few days, which with any luck should dry things up a bit and make easier to get things done.

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