I set off at 8am but have to be scraping the windows at 7.30am, I will drive slow as it's not been gritted, think I may stay indoors today and stay warm
Definitely an indoors day despite the sunshine. My fridge freezer gave up the ghost just before Xmas so the Camembert and Brie cheeses are stinking out the kitchen and seeping into my study next door so I am dreaming up how to get them safely outside in the cold - I could empty one of the Xmas biscuit boxes - that would be big enough, Luckily the rest of the house smells nice from the lovely bathroom smellies I had as presents. The new fridge freezer I got in the sales with £100 off is coming Tuesday and that is our rubbish collection, first since Xmas so i have a lot of recycling to sort out tomorrow too. Ah well keeping active keeps you warm. Oh and three cheers I have just noticed my 2014 thread has gone over 50,000 views! before the end of the year!!!
Manic Monday for me despite it still being only -3 degrees in Bristol. The new fridge freezer is being delivered tomorrow so I have to get the old one empty and dry and clean or it will not be taken away. Washing is on as it is Monday but when that it drying on the clothes horse I will have to clear away all the Xmas presents from the kitchen and move the table to leave a clear area for the removal and installation of the new one. Rubbish is being collected tomorrow so will have to see to recycling too. That should get me warmed up anyway. I bet the coldframe lid is stuck down with frost but forecast is for sunshine all day so that should help.
Fridge freezer has arrived and in place.I have to wait four hours before switching on and wash all the inside fixtures, then another four hours before I can put food in it so seven o'clock tonight is all systems go. It certainly is very smart and shows up what needs cleaning in the kitchen but then I knew it would. Perhaps a Premium Bond will come good in the New Year and let me have a cleaning firm in for a few hours. The half hour it took to get all the packaging off the shelves knackered me so I think heavy cleaning is beyond me now. Changing beds, vacuuming, dusting and inside windows I can still do and of course gardening.
Last day of this thread and my goodness I have enjoyed it. Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments and input. Today I will reminisce not just about this wonderful gardening year- the weather was so kind to my garden this year - but abiout the highs and lows of the last fifty years. The part the animals have played in the saga makes a good place to start as it is a wildlfe garden, indeed designated the Best Wildlife Garden in Bristol 1990 and 92.
The foxes caused one of the lows when they massacred our 55 hens and ducks. I shall never forget the children's faces that day. But then later on when our finances dictated after my husband died that the garden earn its keep I shall always remember the delight on the faces of the French children, aged 7 to 17 who came to learn English when they saw the fox cubs playing with the toys the vixen had brought them from neighbouring gardens.
Frogs too have been a delight. From the perpetually wet T shirt my youngest child had from carrying his "pet" frog around the garden in his pocket to the older ones that dutifully scrambled over the shoes of the Judges from the Keep Britain Tidy organisation who awarded the wildlife prizes.
I shall add more of my reminiscences throughout today as I return some food to the kitchen now it has a working fridge freezer and put the "old year" dirt out of the house like Scotswomen are doing the world over.
Awww TY chicky. To continue my reminiscences it was not just the wild animals that bring back the smiles and tears. About forty years ago we used to "borrow" a nanny goat in the summer to keep the grass down for playing football. She escaped her tether one day and I spent the rest of the day after bringing her back to the garden searching for well grown wallflower plants in the local shops to replace the ones she had eaten in the neighbours' gardens. She delighted in butting the youngest, then two, who would come running into the kitchen dusting off his clothes and spitting out "I hate that Jenny". A hug and a cake would sort it out and a warning to keep away.
But then i have much more welcome visitors. My garden is stuffed with trees and shrubs now - no grass but oodles of fruit and veg and flowers. Which means loads of safe places for the birds who love the delights like grapes they can find here and are not at all fazed by the six or so cats which visit from the seven neighbouring gardens that abound mine. Some I know the name of and can get to do roll over tricks and pose for my camera, some I just make up names for. Most are very happy to sit on a path in the sunshine and keep me company as I garden. They all stay away when the little white Scots terrier visits with the club of church ladies who visit in the spring. He is allowed to go round smelling the flowers which he loves to do. He is very fond of forget me nots which of course makes him unforgettable too.
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I set off at 8am but have to be scraping the windows at 7.30am, I will drive slow as it's not been gritted, think I may stay indoors today and stay warm
Definitely an indoors day despite the sunshine. My fridge freezer gave up the ghost just before Xmas so the Camembert and Brie cheeses are stinking out the kitchen and seeping into my study next door so I am dreaming up how to get them safely outside in the cold - I could empty one of the Xmas biscuit boxes - that would be big enough, Luckily the rest of the house smells nice from the lovely bathroom smellies I had as presents. The new fridge freezer I got in the sales with £100 off is coming Tuesday and that is our rubbish collection, first since Xmas so i have a lot of recycling to sort out tomorrow too. Ah well keeping active keeps you warm. Oh and three cheers I have just noticed my 2014 thread has gone over 50,000 views! before the end of the year!!!
Wow 50.000 views congratulations
That's brilliant Marion your a popular person.
as for the cheese have you got a cooler box?, awe I hope you manage to save everything and they deliver your fridge soon.
well it's gone frosty again here already, we've covered the car window so as not to have to scrape too much in the morning
Manic Monday for me despite it still being only -3 degrees in Bristol. The new fridge freezer is being delivered tomorrow so I have to get the old one empty and dry and clean or it will not be taken away. Washing is on as it is Monday but when that it drying on the clothes horse I will have to clear away all the Xmas presents from the kitchen and move the table to leave a clear area for the removal and installation of the new one. Rubbish is being collected tomorrow so will have to see to recycling too. That should get me warmed up anyway. I bet the coldframe lid is stuck down with frost but forecast is for sunshine all day so that should help.
Fridge freezer has arrived and in place.I have to wait four hours before switching on and wash all the inside fixtures, then another four hours before I can put food in it so seven o'clock tonight is all systems go. It certainly is very smart and shows up what needs cleaning in the kitchen but then I knew it would. Perhaps a Premium Bond will come good in the New Year and let me have a cleaning firm in for a few hours. The half hour it took to get all the packaging off the shelves knackered me so I think heavy cleaning is beyond me now. Changing beds, vacuuming, dusting and inside windows I can still do and of course gardening.
Last day of this thread and my goodness I have enjoyed it. Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments and input. Today I will reminisce not just about this wonderful gardening year- the weather was so kind to my garden this year - but abiout the highs and lows of the last fifty years. The part the animals have played in the saga makes a good place to start as it is a wildlfe garden, indeed designated the Best Wildlife Garden in Bristol 1990 and 92.
The foxes caused one of the lows when they massacred our 55 hens and ducks. I shall never forget the children's faces that day. But then later on when our finances dictated after my husband died that the garden earn its keep I shall always remember the delight on the faces of the French children, aged 7 to 17 who came to learn English when they saw the fox cubs playing with the toys the vixen had brought them from neighbouring gardens.
Frogs too have been a delight. From the perpetually wet T shirt my youngest child had from carrying his "pet" frog around the garden in his pocket to the older ones that dutifully scrambled over the shoes of the Judges from the Keep Britain Tidy organisation who awarded the wildlife prizes.
I shall add more of my reminiscences throughout today as I return some food to the kitchen now it has a working fridge freezer and put the "old year" dirt out of the house like Scotswomen are doing the world over.
Its been a wonderful thread Marion - thanks so much for sharing it all with us - never fails to make me smile
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Wishing you all the very best for 2015 - I'll be following all the goings on next year with interest.
Awww TY chicky. To continue my reminiscences it was not just the wild animals that bring back the smiles and tears. About forty years ago we used to "borrow" a nanny goat in the summer to keep the grass down for playing football. She escaped her tether one day and I spent the rest of the day after bringing her back to the garden searching for well grown wallflower plants in the local shops to replace the ones she had eaten in the neighbours' gardens. She delighted in butting the youngest, then two, who would come running into the kitchen dusting off his clothes and spitting out "I hate that Jenny". A hug and a cake would sort it out and a warning to keep away.
But then i have much more welcome visitors. My garden is stuffed with trees and shrubs now - no grass but oodles of fruit and veg and flowers. Which means loads of safe places for the birds who love the delights like grapes they can find here and are not at all fazed by the six or so cats which visit from the seven neighbouring gardens that abound mine. Some I know the name of and can get to do roll over tricks and pose for my camera, some I just make up names for. Most are very happy to sit on a path in the sunshine and keep me company as I garden. They all stay away when the little white Scots terrier visits with the club of church ladies who visit in the spring. He is allowed to go round smelling the flowers which he loves to do. He is very fond of forget me nots which of course makes him unforgettable too.
Your thread has been a delight Marion and I've loved your stories and photos. Looking forward to seeing your 2015 garden
. Happy New Year
Thank you, Marion. Your thread has been a delight. I'll miss it next year, or can you think of a reason for doing another one? Please!