Another lovely day getting hot in the afternoon and warning of thunderstorms from 7pm right through the night. That should fill up the waterbutts but make the garden very wet for my visitors tomorrow. Making cakes today and scones early tomorrow morning. Big online shopping coming this evening from my supermarket. i am so glad I became IT literate when i reached 80. It is like having a whole horde of servants when necessary.
I don't think I'll ever get grocery deliveries here - even the pizza shop won't deliver - apparently, they arrange to meet their customer near a bridge (which is about half way). Thankfully, we aren't into pizza. I've got a pot of Osso Bucco on for us tonight, so that might help with warding off the cold.
However, I agree that it is so enjoyable to be able communicate with you all over there. I can relate to your uncomfortable hot weather as easily as to the cold. On the newscast last night they showed lots of people in the UK as well as Germany sunbaking out in parks and around swimming pools - ARE THEY MAD! We are taught from an early age to protect ourselves from the sun because of skin cancer and here are these photos of people just lazing about out there. Unbelievable! Especially when they are not used to it.
OK. Rant over.
My garden is sorely in need of my tender care, but I just can't force myself to go out there and get freezing fingers every day. My raspberries should have been dealt with by now, the bed we are in the process of moving from the vicinity of next door's rapacious pine tree, but the ground is too moist from frost and dew to get the tractor up onto that hill, so the re-located bed is only half done. I'm planning on using it for potatoes this year instead of broad beans - I've still got lots in the freezer. I haven't even been near the roses to dead head nor to think about pruning. I did manage to remove some of the old leaves from the Day Lillies so that I can see my various bulbs emerging.
I hope you have a goof weekend with family Marion. We're in for 3 weeks of short sleep while the Tour is on.
Aah Pat I remember so well sitting glued to the TV with my French 15 year old pupil who had come to learn English in Bristol in his summer holidays. He came the following two summers as well so I was well up on the sport of cycling. Yes we get warned to protect from UV A and B when UV is high like it is now and to wear a hat and light cotton clothing. We were also warned to keep away from tea, coffee and alcohol this heatwave. The forecast for tonight is dire. I think there will be a lot of flooding. There have been a few scrub fires so the rain might put an end to them.
Has anyone noticed they forum is is out of line with our pictures? Lovely pictures again Marion, did you get the thunder storm in Bristol?, the lightening was right over our house scary But at least the gardens have had a good water and the water butt is filled again , Marion I hope you have a lovely time with your family and everyone is well
No rain here yet, flumpy. I have made two large cakes tonight and will get up early and make a big batch of fruit scones. I have also made a strawberry jelly from some of my strawberries to go with ice-cream as my two youngest grandchildren are only 11 and 12. The forecast is for heavy rain tonight but no sign of any yet.
Marion, is your patio set from Ikea? My husband had to visit the chiropractor for several weeks after putting together a small side table for me, a few years ago! I'm now cautious about which flat pack I buy.
The dam nearest the house has a shimmering layer of ice on it. It's nice to look at, but I'm glad we don't need to go down there. Saw a new animal yesterday morning carefully moving along the edge of my flower bed in front of the house, not sure if it was a Wallaby or a Wallaroo. I'm hoping it comes by again when I'm looking out the window so that I can get a better look at it. It has a smaller, more pointed head than our kangaroos and had a brown ruff over its shoulders and didn't use its tail to hop along. They tend to be solitary, whereas the Roos like to be in groups. They also seem to like flowers rather than grass in their diet, I've got photos somewhere of a fat little wallaby enjoying pansy flowers from one of my tubs. If I can I'll post a photo.
My current flowers are jonquils and a few remaining calendula. The bulbs that are poking pushing up leaves are daffodils and irises. I'm hoping for a clear day today so that I can catch up on some the jobs in the garden that I've been letting go.
Flumpy I've noticed that they are out of line, too. I wonder why.
Went for s drive out the back - thought you might like to see some photos of one of our native flowers - Leucopogon virgatus - like many of our native plants, it is a rough looking woody shrub, but when you are walking around near these ones, you start looking around for the source of strong smell of honey. This is it. It's amazing how strong the smell us especially coming from such a small shrub.
Sorry the photos are a bit blurry. The little petals are fringed - you might just be able see them on the bottom right of the third photo.
More photos. Hubby was walking around and could hear lots of buzzing - found this old dead eucalyptus which honey bees had converted to a hive, these photos were taken in summer and the bees were very active. They are hiding at the moment - no doubt waiting for some warmer weather.
Posts
Another lovely day getting hot in the afternoon and warning of thunderstorms from 7pm right through the night. That should fill up the waterbutts but make the garden very wet for my visitors tomorrow. Making cakes today and scones early tomorrow morning. Big online shopping coming this evening from my supermarket. i am so glad I became IT literate when i reached 80. It is like having a whole horde of servants when necessary.
I don't think I'll ever get grocery deliveries here - even the pizza shop won't deliver - apparently, they arrange to meet their customer near a bridge (which is about half way). Thankfully, we aren't into pizza. I've got a pot of Osso Bucco on for us tonight, so that might help with warding off the cold.
However, I agree that it is so enjoyable to be able communicate with you all over there. I can relate to your uncomfortable hot weather as easily as to the cold. On the newscast last night they showed lots of people in the UK as well as Germany sunbaking out in parks and around swimming pools - ARE THEY MAD! We are taught from an early age to protect ourselves from the sun because of skin cancer and here are these photos of people just lazing about out there. Unbelievable! Especially when they are not used to it.
OK. Rant over.
My garden is sorely in need of my tender care, but I just can't force myself to go out there and get freezing fingers every day. My raspberries should have been dealt with by now, the bed we are in the process of moving from the vicinity of next door's rapacious pine tree, but the ground is too moist from frost and dew to get the tractor up onto that hill, so the re-located bed is only half done. I'm planning on using it for potatoes this year instead of broad beans - I've still got lots in the freezer. I haven't even been near the roses to dead head nor to think about pruning. I did manage to remove some of the old leaves from the Day Lillies so that I can see my various bulbs emerging.
I hope you have a goof weekend with family Marion. We're in for 3 weeks of short sleep while the Tour is on.
Aah Pat I remember so well sitting glued to the TV with my French 15 year old pupil who had come to learn English in Bristol in his summer holidays. He came the following two summers as well so I was well up on the sport of cycling. Yes we get warned to protect from UV A and B when UV is high like it is now and to wear a hat and light cotton clothing. We were also warned to keep away from tea, coffee and alcohol this heatwave. The forecast for tonight is dire. I think there will be a lot of flooding. There have been a few scrub fires so the rain might put an end to them.
It took me an hour and a half to bolt my patio set together but I managed it and now all my visitors have a decent seat in the garden tomorrow.
Just heard another two of the family are coming tomorrow so that makes 14.
Has anyone noticed they forum is is out of line with our pictures? Lovely pictures again Marion, did you get the thunder storm in Bristol?, the lightening was right over our house scary
But at least the gardens have had a good water and the water butt is filled again 
, Marion I hope you have a lovely time with your family and everyone is well 
No rain here yet, flumpy. I have made two large cakes tonight and will get up early and make a big batch of fruit scones. I have also made a strawberry jelly from some of my strawberries to go with ice-cream as my two youngest grandchildren are only 11 and 12. The forecast is for heavy rain tonight but no sign of any yet.
Marion, is your patio set from Ikea? My husband had to visit the chiropractor for several weeks after putting together a small side table for me, a few years ago! I'm now cautious about which flat pack I buy.
The dam nearest the house has a shimmering layer of ice on it. It's nice to look at, but I'm glad we don't need to go down there. Saw a new animal yesterday morning carefully moving along the edge of my flower bed in front of the house, not sure if it was a Wallaby or a Wallaroo. I'm hoping it comes by again when I'm looking out the window so that I can get a better look at it. It has a smaller, more pointed head than our kangaroos and had a brown ruff over its shoulders and didn't use its tail to hop along. They tend to be solitary, whereas the Roos like to be in groups. They also seem to like flowers rather than grass in their diet, I've got photos somewhere of a fat little wallaby enjoying pansy flowers from one of my tubs. If I can I'll post a photo.
My current flowers are jonquils and a few remaining calendula. The bulbs that are poking pushing up leaves are daffodils and irises. I'm hoping for a clear day today so that I can catch up on some the jobs in the garden that I've been letting go.
Flumpy I've noticed that they are out of line, too. I wonder why.
Went for s drive out the back - thought you might like to see some photos of one of our native flowers - Leucopogon virgatus - like many of our native plants, it is a rough looking woody shrub, but when you are walking around near these ones, you start looking around for the source of strong smell of honey. This is it. It's amazing how strong the smell us especially coming from such a small shrub.
Sorry the photos are a bit blurry. The little petals are fringed - you might just be able see them on the bottom right of the third photo.
More photos. Hubby was walking around and could hear lots of buzzing - found this old dead eucalyptus which honey bees had converted to a hive, these photos were taken in summer and the bees were very active. They are hiding at the moment - no doubt waiting for some warmer weather.