Brian started off with a widower coming to terms with new fangled things like electric lighting. Ann gave a life time information about a family with dark secrets. Rosemary continued last month's story about the fear of flying. Sally wrote of a spooky passing away in the mountains. Sheila recounted one of the holidays in France. John an adventure story about a naval hero. I told of an intelligent school boy who ended up homeless. Joan Read the man who accepted being best man. Sue all about walking the dogs. Joan E Sam wanting to play with Dan
Pat won again - it's how you tell them Pat.
Next month "That voice again"
He Understood
Its rather hot today, 85+, and the garden has had a lot to put up with. Its the middle of August and the tomatoes are still green, even the plant we left in the greenhouse in a grow bag isn’t happy. Also, the red peppers didn’t bother to set, the runner beans are hopeless...we ’harvested’ three. What a joke. The six tomato plants at the end of the garden have developed potato blight would you believe! Of course they can’t go in the compost so another trip to the tip.
Where are the butterflies? We used to have Peacocks with their wings flat out on the roof of the shed. I creep down the garden to the three Buddleia trees in the late sun and what do I see? Two white cabbage butterflies and a few bees. What's going on.
We managed to pick over four pounds (in old money) of blueberries in three pots. We had covered them in fleece to stop the birds having a feast. They would eat them all in one day. As they have outgrown their pots we intend to plant them in the disastrous tomato bed for next year.
The begonias finally decided to bloom and the hydrangeas are putting on a show. Some of the roses are blooming for the second flush. Its water, water, water.
We are supposed to have one of those new meters, but for some reason part of our road has been done but not ours, so we can water to our hearts delight.
I keep watching for hummingbird moths. No luck. I have spotted them in previous years during a hot spell. Testwood Lakes meadow is a good place to see them, before they cut it down.
Earlier this year, we lost two boxes of blue tits. Apparently, the caterpillars were washed away with the heavy rain so they starved to death. How cruel. Nature doesn’t have a heart.
On the other hand, we have a flock of 40+ house sparrows, a nuthatch, great spotted woodpeckers...one even brought her twins to visit. There's various tits, blackbirds and a robin with two offspring.
We have finally out foxed the squirrels by purchasing a new feeder with bars! They are so entertaining, hanging by their toes and steeling peanuts, lifting lids and chewing at the wire. Now they can only get at the wild mixed seed.
The apple tree isn’t happy either, we will have to take some remedial action next year. We had three peaches and could only eat one. The ‘giant’ sunflowers are only three feet tall. Never mind, the seeds will be welcome.
I will fill up the water bowls now that it has cooled down. Spotted a teeny frog with his googly eye on me , he understood what I was doing, and patiently waited.
This weather seems to attract strange insects. I have been bitten by who knows what. The first bite had me on anti biotics and the second on anti histamines!
Roll on winter.
Pat won again - it's how you tell them Pat.
Next month "That voice again"
He Understood
Its rather hot today, 85+, and the garden has had a lot to put up with. Its the middle of August and the tomatoes are still green, even the plant we left in the greenhouse in a grow bag isn’t happy. Also, the red peppers didn’t bother to set, the runner beans are hopeless...we ’harvested’ three. What a joke. The six tomato plants at the end of the garden have developed potato blight would you believe! Of course they can’t go in the compost so another trip to the tip.
Where are the butterflies? We used to have Peacocks with their wings flat out on the roof of the shed. I creep down the garden to the three Buddleia trees in the late sun and what do I see? Two white cabbage butterflies and a few bees. What's going on.
We managed to pick over four pounds (in old money) of blueberries in three pots. We had covered them in fleece to stop the birds having a feast. They would eat them all in one day. As they have outgrown their pots we intend to plant them in the disastrous tomato bed for next year.
The begonias finally decided to bloom and the hydrangeas are putting on a show. Some of the roses are blooming for the second flush. Its water, water, water.
We are supposed to have one of those new meters, but for some reason part of our road has been done but not ours, so we can water to our hearts delight.
I keep watching for hummingbird moths. No luck. I have spotted them in previous years during a hot spell. Testwood Lakes meadow is a good place to see them, before they cut it down.
Earlier this year, we lost two boxes of blue tits. Apparently, the caterpillars were washed away with the heavy rain so they starved to death. How cruel. Nature doesn’t have a heart.
On the other hand, we have a flock of 40+ house sparrows, a nuthatch, great spotted woodpeckers...one even brought her twins to visit. There's various tits, blackbirds and a robin with two offspring.
We have finally out foxed the squirrels by purchasing a new feeder with bars! They are so entertaining, hanging by their toes and steeling peanuts, lifting lids and chewing at the wire. Now they can only get at the wild mixed seed.
The apple tree isn’t happy either, we will have to take some remedial action next year. We had three peaches and could only eat one. The ‘giant’ sunflowers are only three feet tall. Never mind, the seeds will be welcome.
I will fill up the water bowls now that it has cooled down. Spotted a teeny frog with his googly eye on me , he understood what I was doing, and patiently waited.
This weather seems to attract strange insects. I have been bitten by who knows what. The first bite had me on anti biotics and the second on anti histamines!
Roll on winter.
