Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Good evening all. I feel like a limp lettuce. Its been a bit toasty today hasn't it? Canasta was fine but everyone was complaining about the heat and the walk I had to make for home once I got off the bus seemed to be four times as long as usual and I was dripping by the time I got in. I was so zapped I couldn't do anything apart from feeding Cricket. Plus point my washing was as dry as a bone. I caught upon the tennis and now I am about to bid you all good night. I am sorry @Penny_Forthem that Bentley doesn't seem to be the dog for your 'pack'. The right one will come along now you have your mind set. See you all tomorrow.

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Just seen your post @AuntyRach. That is so interesting about the Ceanothus. I did know about the plant Saponaria officinalis having that effect and it forms a gentle cleanser. Night again.

 

What a pretty rose in your picture @Ladybird4.

 

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A very good morning one and all. I am going to the Church Hall this morning to help get everything set up for the Strawberry Fair tomorrow. I hope that the Hall is as cool as it usually is!
It is a pretty rose @Blue arbour and there is a rose called Scentimental that it could be but I'm not an expert. Stay cool and hydrated today and thank you so much for the advice @AuntyRach .

 

Very hot all day so did nothing. Watched tennis. The first semi final was brilliant. The second not so good. It looks like a repeat today. I left all of the roof light windows open all night so the whole house is cool at the moment. I was even quite chilly in bed as one of them opens right over my bed.
My neighbour has gone off somewhere for the week-end to take part in a charity cycle event. In this heat! Must be mad.
The forecast for this week-end is to be the peak of the heat wave, I hope so.

I tried making some cinnamon and apple turnovers using shop made, all butter, ready rolled pastry. OMG! what a mess. It was so hot the pastry went soft very quickly as soon as it was unrolled, it was like playing with play gung. Rough and ready might be a good description of the end result!

The "bride to be" in No 1 cottage has warned my neighbour they are going to use the field at the back of our cottages as their wedding venue next July. They are having a marquee and guests will park in there. Should be interesting, especially if it rains! The field belongs to the future groom but he has let my neighbour run her 2 horses on it for the last 3 years so she will have to move them into livery, not sure for how long. My neighbour is not very happy but nothing she can do.
I have a feeling it is going to be a very raucous affair. We shall see.

I should water again today but not sure I will make it.

 

Not convinced pastry is a good idea in hot weather @Goldenlily26. We have friends staying overnight on Thursday and she is vegetarian so, as it was going to be cooler, I thought I'd do an potato, apple and cheese pie. Now they reckon 36C so it'll be a cooled, roasted carrot, lentil and feta salad with home made bread and a light dessert.

Jolly hot today too so I made sure all my pots were well watered yesterday evening and will work in the shade on the terrace re-potting hostas in a bid to clear out snails. After that, staining the new wooden step boards in the shade in the garage.

I hope all goes well for your fair @Ladybird4 and that everyone stays cool and watered.

 

It’s turned very hot now the sun has broken through. It was lovely and cool and fresh feeling first thing as the sky was overcast. I managed to water all the hanging baskets first thing before the sun got out. The remaining pots can wait until this evening. It’s more difficult to do now the hosepipe ban is in as it means filling watering cans, but it is what it is.

I hope the fair goes well @Ladybird. At least the weather will be dry for it tomorrow.

 

Afternoon all.

Visitors have gone for a short walk, to work off their lunch and give the children an airing. I think they'll be getting ice lollies from the shop, then coming back - it's too hot for either of us to go with them. Fortunately, my prediction that OH would go walking whatever the temperature, has proved wrong. I think he's been reading about the number of heat-related deaths on the continent, and seen sense.

Yesterday evening I made the meringue for a pavlova which we've just consumed. Last time I made one, the meringue texture was perfect, with no stickiness. This one - same recipe, cooked exactly the same way - was very soft and sticky in the middle. (It tasted pretty good, though!) Can anyone suggest why it doesn't always turn out the same? Is it related to the age of the eggs (these were very fresh), or to their exact size? Labelled as "large", but what does that mean? And anyway, the proportion of white to yolk in an egg will vary...

 

Hello all. sorry have not kept up with all of your lives. Me, just pulling weeds, sweating, focusing on clothes buying for upcoming events, some cleaning. Lining up bags of stuff in hallway for donations. Have a feral female cat to catch and get spayed. Been raining off and on. Take care all.

 

Send it here @redstar please!

 

We've been to a village Open Gardens.It was a nice leafy tree edged road and there was a small breeze, quite pleasant in the shade, but hot in the sun. Some of the gardens looked very dry but others had been watered. Garden owners were complaining about opening in July.

We visited a few years ago so I looked at my photos. Last time it was on 17th July 2021 and all the gardens were looking nice and green. We had blackcurrant squash and cake in the village hall.

Now chilling in the sitting room of our old cottage. It's wattle and daub with beams and an outer wall of concrete blocks that were added later so well insulated. 23C.

 

Well I've just watched the ladies final and it was rather disappointing but my heart was breaking for the loser as she was so obviously agonisingly upset making her speech. All credit to her she managed to pull herself together. I just wanted to give her a great big hug. I hope this does not put her off her sport.
We got the Hall all set up for tomorrow so fingers crossed now that everything goes smoothly. @Liriodendron, I'm sorry but I do not know the answers to your meringue questions. I think you need to send me samples so I can judge!
Pleased to read that your Open Garden Visit was better than the last visit you made @Busy-Lizzie. I like anything blackcurrant flavoured.

 

Well, I’ve just googled it for you @Liriodendron, and apparently, hot weather can adversely affect a meringue as the sugar absorbs the moisture in the air which makes it soft and sticky apparently. Every days a school day, I didn’t know that, either

 

Signing out for today so I'll wish you all pleasant evenings whatever you have planned. I guess most activities will involve keeping cool. Catch you all tomorrow.

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Thank you, @Blue arbour !

Visitors have gone, taking some of the leftover lemon squares with them - a good thing, because we'd be scoffing them otherwise. It's a real tonic to have them come to see us.