Lovely to catch up the thread. So many interesting things going on in everyone's lives.
We've had every kind of weather here including serious wind and snow but no time to deal with the effects, beyond rescuing some damaged daffs and veg.
I'm currently going through the most awful whistle blowing process, (I had to speak up) and as they say, 'the body keeps the score.' in my case quite visibly.
I've been utterly humbled by some of the most vulnerable and guileless people telling me looking after myself might be the most supportive thing I could do for them actually, so @piscofrisco from a pot to a kettle:as someone also working with community and under funded, over stretched, and guilt at taking time out, and one Ds with young people very dependent on the level of what he brings them, you 100% have to make peace with " ensure your own oxygen mask is working, and put on first." You have to make yourself do it, even when it's counter intuitive.
When our health breaks (as mines previously done, and Ds is threatening to do) we are of no use to those we are trying to not let down, and they will never understand why we didn't take care of ourselves better, for their sake, if nothing else.
What a lovely gesture from your DH.
@SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense Re chard; can I suggest lose the last half inch of the stem to the compost pot, and trying washing your chard with 1/4 teaspoon bicarb of soda and vinegar, to combat a 'muddy' flavor. It will reduce any mushiness and holds the color. (though too much will turn them mushy or soapy) It's something we do if only older dandelion leaves are available, to reduce bitterness.
General rule of thumb here is blanch don't boil, but if you do, then about 1/4 tsp of bicarb in the water.
Preferably just soak in water with a little bicarb quarter to half an hour before dropping them ion a hot skillet with olive oil and salt, or into a stir fry.
Try adding fat, or lemon, balsamic or honey, and I'm very in agreement with @martha79s approach and stir frying.
Also big yes to self seeding plants. They're telling us where they'd like to grow.
Mice: combo of good cheese and peanut butter works well here. But if you're out a lot, drill a couple of air holes in the back of the trap, or they can die (badly) while waiting to be released.
@martha79 What lovely elegant seed packets!
@RainbowZebraWarrior Wow, to your beautiful seal! What a wonderful find.
Fingers crossed for it.
It's me who wanted but couldn't really afford red crocosmia lucifer.
Thank you so much for checking out Lidle, that's an us budget price!
Will go searching ours or further afield. (what makes it to where, often seems quite random)
@ExquisiteDresses That looks fabulous, including the tin. Costco isn't VN until it is!
@Bimblesalong if you have a Costco,it'd worth the outlay of joining for the fuel savings. I actually rarely go in! The membership pays for itself on fuel savings and if you use a fair bit soon puts you in profit. They absorb lots of rises for their customers, and while everyone including theirs, has gone through the roof because of hostilities, they're still 10p a litre cheaper than anywhere else in a big distance between us and them.
Re cloches and CoL budgets etc: 2 lire drinks bottles cut down aren't quite as pretty, but they do the job well enough. Their contents aren't things we buy, so we get them get them through putting out requests on freecycle etc.
If the aesthetic annoys it's improved by cutting the neck off.
Few days in pics, including first emergency batch cook of storm damaged veg. Basic smokey veg curry which more bits can be added to.