I hope you dozed off again Geoff. I had a short night’s sleep too.

Up early and showered, it’s my trip to the Cotswolds today, I catch the coach at 8 am just outside the estate. Bach around 6.30pm.

Thin cloud here, forecast to be warm in the Cotswolds.

Doug

Good evening all.

Last day of autumn here and it is finally cold. Stop sniggering northern people. One town in Queensland bottomed out at -6.1.

Given the dreams of summer have come to fruition, I cleaned the fireplace. After ripping down the side of my little finger I thought pooh I’ll put on another jumper. After dressing it of course.

At present I’m fit for a vicar’s tea party.

Morning Doug and Geoff. Enjoy your day out, Doug.

Annie, your turn of phrase makes me laugh.

JJ, charming video.

Ellen, looking forward to hearing all about the wedding.

We have a young friend from church coming to eat with us tonight so I will have to clear the dining room of art stuff 🙁.

Take care everyone.

QS

Good day all,

A sunny day today.

Doug, hope you’re having a great tour of the Cotswolds. It was crowded when I was there.

JJ, cute!

Geoff, too bad about the possible infection.

A good day to work outside today.
Bill

Good Morning from sunny, yes, you read that correct… sunny SW of Ontario! We almost felt the need to protect our eyes from the brilliance… but, knowing it will be short lived with rain predicted tomorrow, we’re braving the light.

We’ll be planting the flowers in our porch pots today. Ted will do the wall hangers and I’ll do the terra cotta pots. Then, we just have to power wash the deck and bring up the lawn furniture from the basement.

I will make a quick run to the grocery store, needing milk and butter. I’ve been buying unsalted butter because, of course, Ted cannot have the sodium. Frankly, I hate the stuff. I rarely use much butter, but now I don’t use it at all for myself because I just don’t like it. Minor irritations in life.

I’ve nearly finished my rose painting. I am pretty happy with where it’s going. I found a decorated bottle of hand wash while shopping at Giant Tiger, lately, and it’s covered with peach roses. The painting and the soap will match.

Now that the trees are fully leafed out, our internet is virtually non-existent. It takes several attempts to get anything to load, or post. A tech was here yesterday and made adjustments, which have actually made things worse. He’s coming out again this afternoon. This is a great way to avoid all social media. Frustrating beyond belief, though…

Ellen, wishing the very best for Ash’s wedding.

((Geoff)) I hope you can snag a good nap today! What a shame about your possible infection.

Have fun during your coach tour today, Doug and Ruth.

Annie, since I can imagine how much that finger ripping hurts, I shuddered on your behalf. And all cleaned up, I’m sure you look mahvelus!!

JJ, with my internet problems, I can’t view your video. Wish I could. Happy Birthday to Tania.

QS, so many of us will relate to having to clear the dining room table in order to eat there! Enjoy your visit and meal together with your friend.

Hi Bill and all yet to come… and all who’ve no doubt posted while I’m trying to get my comments to appear online. Have a great day Everyone!!! :grouphug:

Good morning. Hot and sunny with clouds drifting by with a slight chance of pop up showers. We had a mild winter, just a few cold spells and no ice/snow, and we are already into summer here.

This morning we are taking my car in for it’s semi-annual oil change. I don’t put enough miles on my car to warrant oil changes every three months. Then to Ikea to try to exchange a broken telescoping table leg that will not lock in place.

Uschi, I guess we are to be considered one of those areas since we can grow pansies, flowering cabbages, and my magnolia tree does not lose it leaves in the winter. When I look out my patio doors, I can see my magnolia’s deep green against the brown grass. Always cheers me up nicely.

Char, I thought it was only me who hated unsalted butter. Is olive oil too salty to use instead of butter. Amy brought home a devine bottle of olive oil from Spain, and I used that instead of butter for about three months. It was delicious. EDIT: I just looked it up, olive oil has no sodium. You might consider using a high-grade one to use in the place of salted butter.

Geoff, :grouphug: I hope you do not have an infection in your eye. :grouphug:

Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday. Off to eat breakfast and then to get ready for our day’s adventure.

Good morning all –

Foggy here (!), but 76 expected by end of the afternoon and that’s the weekend forecast as well. Sounds mild, but I just don’t like “hot” anymore and 76 is more than warm enough for me (which means a long, too-hot summer ahead).

I went out and wrestled blackberry vines last night. I will never, ever win against them. At some point in the past, some had rooted near the rhodies and there are HUGE root balls (clusters? whatever!) that I’m not strong enough to dig out myself, plus, I suspect they are so entertwined with the rhodie root systems, it would involve killing them as well. I just cut down to the ground. Repeat as needed. The neighbor on the other side has an empty lot there. They mow the whole darn lot EXCEPT for a strip of blackberries. The only thing I can figure is that they use it as a “natural” fence to keep potential intruders from getting near the back of their house. But I constantly have blackberry vines trying to grow over/under the fence in that spot. Last year I had to cut one of my rhodies WAY back (too much as it turns out – poor thing is trying to recover) just so that I can get to that part of the fence area to prune.

Anyway…it was the first time this year I’ve tackled it so it will be easier now. Uschi, I am feeling you on the weed front! All of my stuff has had a serious head start on me!

No firm weekend plans here, but my sister’s birthday is next week so I may go visit the studio of a jewelry artist she really likes and pick something out for her.

Doug, I hope you are having fun in the Cotswolds!

JJ, I’ll watch the video later, but it sounds like you had a lovely lunch and visit with Tania.

Wow Geoff, that sounds kind of serious with the infection in your eye – I assume they’ll be following up on that some more to make sure it clears up?

Nancy, are you into the Swedish meatball lunch when you visit IKEA? I used to live just 10 minutes from the Seattle IKEA and during long, rainy spells, I’d go to IKEA on a Sunday and “hike” the store and have lunch there.

Lynn, I’m really enjoying seeing your art work!

Char, did your trees just grow that much more this year, or did a winter storm alter the alignment on your dish? I’m glad you are getting at least a brief spell of sun. I’ve been reading reports on how far behind the farmers are this year and am regretting this is the year I decided not to have a vegetable garden. It’s probably not too late for me to put in a few things if I get motivated this weekend. (at least green beans and then I can put up dilly beans for Christmas from my own harvest)

Greetings to everyone else – and sending good thoughts toward Memphis for Steve and Lisa!