Today I shall be Mainly...

[Stanley]

Young people taking their own lives.... such a tragedy. I like the rose.
I shall be doing all I can to get in the shed, lots to do!

[LizG]

Spent time today doing final preparations in the veggie garden. Tomorrow I shall plant squash and beetroot seedlings. I usually spread pea straw when I've planted but I could only get lucerne mulch. Hopefully it breaks down just as well.

[Sue]

Apples picked, potatoes picked, parsnips, pumpkin , butternut squash and courgettes picked. Veggie gardens cleared fertilised with compost and rotivated. Just got to finish pruning back the apple trees. We couldn't do them earlier as they were laden with apples to the ground.

[Marilyn]

Blimey.
Time for a bubble bath, a glass of wine and a good rub with the Nurofen Gel/ Heat Rub, girls.
I watered and swept the edges of the garden beds where the mulch had blown about during our mini hurricane. I could have done a lot more...I was so determined to do some pruning but hubby kept calling me back into the house to sort computer problems and in the end we both gave up and went for a long walk. Still, there is always tomorrow. I am pleased the Fuschia cuttings and Camelia cuttings I took from son's bushes about 8 weeks ago are thriving and ready for transplant. Looks like I've had 100% success there. Paid a fortune for the right potting mix, so would have been cross if they didn't take. I have also harvested and dried more Parsley and Mint than I am likely to use.
No place to grow veg yet, so we may need to get inventive...taking into account frequent visits by ducks and other birds to our garden.

[LizG]

We also have a lot of ducks in the garden but they never get into the veggie garden. Maybe because it's raised? (or maybe they just don't like the veg I grow!)

I grew broad beans once and when they were ready to pick about 20 crows flew in and did the job. They flew off with the pods in their claws. It would have been funny if I hadn't been so cross.

[Marilyn]

Come to think of it, I have never seen the ducks in our raised garden beds either...though we have other wading birds with long legs and pointy, hooked beaks that peck at the base of plants and make an awful mess of the mulch.
I am getting quite used to deposits of Duck Poo on my front doorstep.

[Stanley]

Ducks can make a mess of anything, particularly Muscovy ducks!
Shopping etc today and I might write an article.... Shed might take a miss.

[Wendyf]

My 2 ducks can create mud from anything in a matter of minutes, they have been driving me mad this year by muddying the ponies water up as soon as I put it out.

Heading for the archive room down in Earby this morning, we are very busy at the moment preparing for our WW1 exhibition next weekend.

Today should be completion day for the sale of Mum's bungalow, so fingers are crossed that it all goes ahead as planned. Colin had another bladder operation a couple of weeks ago that has set him on the road to good health again, so all is looking up after a tricky few months!

[PanBiker]

Today should be completion day for the sale of Mum's bungalow, so fingers are crossed that it all goes ahead as planned. Colin had another bladder operation a couple of weeks ago that has set him on the road to good health again, so all is looking up after a tricky few months!

Finally light at the tunnel Wendy, glad to her that Colin is properly on the mend. House sale is no doubt secondary but good news, I hope it all goes well.

[David Whipp]

Tomorrow, I'm cheffing for the Barnoldswick in Bloom cafe at the Rainhall Centre.

Mostly healthy eating, with veggie favourites Chickpea Chilli and Carrot & Lentil Soup on the menu. (There are also naughty desserts and cakes...).

All proceeds are for Barnoldswick in Bloom's work to improve our town.

The cafe is in conjunction with the centre's Yarn and Fabric event and also a Community Action Day for the bloom initiative.

You can get hands on with planting bulbs tomorrow morning to work up an appetite for the cafe, of just come along and scoff some good grub!

The Action Day gets underway from 10am; meet up at the Rainhall Centre or join the team during the morning.

Hot food from 11.30, with teas, coffees and cakes on demand all day.

[Marilyn]

Good news re Colin, Wendy...and the house settlement.

You have made my mouth water, David. Pity we are too far away to attend. We have a nearby country show on this weekend and hope to get there this afternoon...can't imagine it will be much...but I am hoping there will be plants on sale.

[Stanley]

Ian is right, house sale is good but the news about Colin is brilliant! I suspect things have been worse than you have let on... Please tell, him that I am sooooo happy for him! (And for you, a weight lifted...)
Healthy eating... Northfield in Minnesota is very similar to Barlick and I always remember going to the show in the town on Jesse James day. We had a cardioid-vascular surgeon with us and as one of the party bought a Corn Dog (A cob of corn deep fried in sweet batter) he said "You realise of course that what you are eating is 'heart attack on a stick?".
Could be in the shed this morning and F1 quali at dinnertime. Then a sleep....

[Marilyn]

Local show seemed popular and was very well attended...though a lot of it was taken up with dog judging...and I guess you have to have a real interest in that sort of thing to stay enthralled. Weather was perfect though, with wall to wall sunshine.
I was a bit old for the children's petting zoo...though I would have liked to get closer to the piglets ( nothing cuter than a baby pig). All the usual rubbish food on sale (fairy floss, hot chips, hot dogs), but I wasn't tempted. It was really only something different to look at as we did our daily walk!

[Stanley]

I'm with you all the way on the pigs Maz. I loved my cattle but pigs are so full of character. A very intelligent and clean animal if you give them a chance. Piglets are as hilarious as lambs and more active. I used to love to see them racing round the croft at Hey Farm playing follow my leader.

[David Whipp]

OK, that's enough displacement activity...

The pans are on the hob and it's time to chop!

[LizG]

How about a photo with the pans full?

[David Whipp]

Not sure I can do this on OGFB in real time... but here's the onions and carrots much chopping later.

[Sue]

Dads house has fallen through. When will it sell.

[Wendyf]

Sorry to hear that Sue, especially as everything has gone so smoothly for us.
I'm hoping to get some tidying up done outside today, though I might celebrate the house sale by have a little shopping expedition.....it's been so long I can't remember how to do it!

[Marilyn]

Have to admit to being the world's worst shopper, Wendy...I absolutely HATE shopping ( possibly with the exception of hardware stores and dusty old junk shps)...but I am sure it is like riding a bike!
My rule of thumb when clothes shopping should give you some clue as to my hatred of shopping. "Try item on...and if it fits and looks semi-ok, buy it in blue, red, white, black etc". Pay for your load of clothes as quick as you can, and leave the shops!

David...great pic of gleaming pots and pans on pristine hob. Love the tiles. I think that pic is as good as any cook book. ( bet I would love your kitchen).Put it this way...as someone who has invested a lot of time polishing kitchen/ bathroom tiles, I can appreciate shiny surfaces!
( small bit ' o' muck front left hot plate on second look??? Shock! Horror! Back to scrubbing lessons for thee!)

[David Whipp]

Sue, sounds like a rollercoaster...

Here's my pan full of Chickpea Chilli (sorry hob not perfect Marilyn!).

[Marilyn]

Yum. Bit 'o' muck overlooked....
( I am the woman who once threw a dirty T-towel over her shoulder...intending to deposit it in the laundry...but forgot about it and walked to the local shops still sporting it...complete with dried muck from previous night's stew...only to have it pointed out to her by check out lady! Oh the shame! Therefore, I casteth no stones...)

[LizG]

Here's my pan full of Chickpea Chilli (sorry hob not perfect Marilyn!).

Now that looks good enough to eat.

[Sue]

Buyers tried to knock us down £20 k saying it needed a new roof and new boiler. Rubbish they were checked out by two builders and boiler serviced every year including last year. All sound we were told. We had already been offered a low price but knock off £20 k and we were back to the silly prices before we did the darn place up!

[PanBiker]

Sorry that your sale has fallen through Sue, £20K, that's a joke!

Amongst other stuff, I'm on a mission to select an appropriate helium balloon for our Isla's birthday tomorrow. I'm hunting for a "Frozen" job for her 5th birthday, she's turning into a proper little princess just like her mummy before her. She's a grown woman but still my princess of course and I'll be escorting her to her wedding on December 21st. Note to self, need new suit.