Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Evening folks.

I hope everyone is ok - I’ve been working the last 2 days so only peeped in. I’m shattered tonight - feel like I’ve been fighting a bug the last few days and the heat zaps your energy too. Nice long weekend now.

Just catching up in garden after a failed post work nap. My potatoes have put on so much growth the last few days! I had to earth up again! Seedlings are in the greenhouse - one tray of Cosmos hasn’t taken at all. Could I have forgotten to sow?? I’ve put a few more in to see. They are dwarf ones.

Have a lovely evening folks. I hope all funerals, outings and appointments went ok.

 

As long as dubious just means a bit old @Tui34 the mushrooms should be fine in a risotto.

I used to buy radicchio plugs in Belgium but have never found them here or even in the grocery store or markets (just pointy red chicons which are not the same texture or flavour) so this is my first time sowing them myself. I sowed these in early April in the polytunnel and in cells. 14 out of 15 have come thru. I only sow broad beans direct in the soil.

I found this online - In cold weather climates, direct seed radicchio in early spring two to three weeks before the last frost for a late summer harvest. In warmer regions, sow seeds in late summer for either a fall harvest or an early winter harvest. Depending on the specific cultivar, radicchio typically takes 65 to 90 days to mature.

I've been out playing and getting grubby - mulched the afore-mentioned pots, watered babies and moved more cuttings and divisions outside, fixed the leaky end on the hosepipe, cleaned out the hens' water pot and set some old garlic to soak in a covered bucket to make a pest deterrent spray. Oh, and made up some more chilli oil for the kitchen. It's amazing how much time all these little jobs take.

Needless to say the rain has not materialised yet and is now expected around midnight but will only be a dribble.

 

Enjoy your weekend @AuntyRach. I must sow some Cosmos for OH. Thanks for the reminder and hope yours pop.

Our potatoes are a bit giddy too and there's a whole bunch of them just apepared in the patch I thought had been cleared for a permanent crop of fartichokes. Best laid plans and all that.

 

Lovely, peaceful photo of the river @Ergates.

We went to Blickling Hall in Norfolk today. First we had lunch in a pub nextdoor to the estate. It was really good. Adults all had Cromer crab thermidor with big battered prawns, salad and asparagus with garlic bread. Then we looked around the house, then the walled garden. Then we went to the Blickling bluebell wood which was beautiful, better than the one we went to a couple of weeks ago.

 

Good evening all. Had a good catch upwith all of the gang today - though we were three members down. Two who have gone up to Newcastle to watch the rugby league fest up there this weekend and one who bowls during the summer months so is busy. The meal waslovely and the staff were delightful - couldn't do enough to look after us. We were so comfortable that we didn't break up to return to our respective homes until quite late. I always prefer to avoid the time that the rugrats are coming out of school. Road chaos!
@Debs64 I hope that the funeral went as well as these things can. I doubt anyone would have even noticed what you had on your feet. I've got another funeral next Tuesday. There have been too many so far this year.
I noticed that more of my dahlias are through now so they will need sorting out this weekend along with getting some hanging baskets planted up. Similar to other comments, it has been much cooler here today. Bestie was a bit upset at this - she's a sun lover - and she and her daughter are going away tomorrow for a fortnight's holiday to Pine Lake at Carnforth.
Whilst driving to the pub today I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the hawthorn is looking, smothered in white blossom. It seems to be much prettier than last year. Always reminds me of the debates I used to have with my Grandma about the saying 'Don't cast a clout 'til May be out' wondering whether it meant the appearance of the may flowers of the Hawthorn or the actual month.

 

More glorious pictures @Busy-Lizzie I hope you are working on your albums as you go because I know how long it took you to sort the special ones for your family.

 

@Penny_Forthem I hope being driven didn't shake your arm about too much. Isn't it a nuisance when delivery men don't come up to expectations? I must admit that I have not had any experience of non delivery when they claim it HAS been delivered but I know how I would feel.
@Ergates your picture of the stream is so tranquil. Thanks to you and @Busy-Lizzie for letting us share in your experiences.

 

Signing out now to go and watch GW. Enjoy your evenings. See you tomorrow.

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DPD managed to find our house! We have compost!

 

Evening everybody, seems most of you have been busy as usual, beautiful photos @Busy-Lizzie, especially of the bluebell woods. We met Dove for lunch at Blicking Hall when we visited Norfolk but unfortunately OH couldn't walk far (painful hip) at the time so we didn't see much of the grounds.

I've been driving most of the day in 24c heat so I'm shattered tonight. Coming home on the M4 on a Friday afternoon before a Bank holiday was not one of my brightest decisions but it was quicker than the A roads would have been. Took some flowers and paid my respects to my late Mum and my Grandparents, then enjoyed a pub lunch in the local French run pub nearby. I had a delicious crispy duck salad with tomato (instead of cucumber), finely cut tiny spring onions, salad leaves and hoisin sauce. I expect the chef tut tutted when I asked for the substitution but although I like cucumber, it really doesn't like me! I also treated myself to a scoop each of vanilla and chocolate icecream - all I had room for.

I'm just going to watch GW then I'm heading for bed, I was awake early at 5.30 this morning.
My daughter is coming to stay tomorrow unexpectedly so I've a house to clean, beds to make and shopping to do, so another busy day.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

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Hello there everyone. Looking like a super day outside. I'm glad it isn't raining as I have a planned meeting with one of our friends from GW and here. This came as a lovely surprise out of the blue on Thursday whilst at Bestie's so gardening plans will be tweaked.
Whatever you have got in your plans for today - please don't make it HW! Glad DPD got their map round the right way and tracked you down @Penny_Forthem but don't you even think about shifting those bags of compost yourself.

 

Good morning @Ladybird4 and late(r)comers. I'm volunteering at the museum today, then got friends over, so no chance of gardening today - unless it's late. Just watering probably.
Hope the dry places get rain soon. We certainly need some here.

 

Good morning @Fourmerkland. What does your volunteering at the museum involve? I know, don't tell me, you are in one of those dioramas that comes to life to scare the life out of visitors! No, seriously, do you help explain things to visitors or help with the maintenance of the items? I bet it is interesting.

 

Good morning all.

Daughter 2 and family are going back to France today. It has been fun having them.

We will have a couple of days to clear up and do washing then we are off to Cornwall for a few days via OH's niece in Bristol. We'll stay with friends on the way back in Wiltshire.

 

Enjoy your meet up with the GW friend @Ladybird4. Have you met before? May we know who it is?