Woooooooahhhhh, we're half way there! Countdown to Christmas 2026 (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

183

Phew, it's a scorcher!

Happy birthday to 70's DD. Best date for a birthday ever!

I bought nematodes from them and I hope it’s saved my sprouts! Ylu mix them with water and spray them on your items, but you have to use them as soon as they are delivered which is easy to miss!

I’ve just trimmed my pots I made the other day and discovered they are wonkier than hoped and I ruined two of them just moving them and it was a lesson that I need to slow down.

one more day to the weekend! It’s going to be a weekend of two halves, ashes scattering and then a family bbq the next day. Thankfully I’m off on Monday as I’ll be on the floor.

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Up way past bedtime as was waiting for DS to get home. He brought friends home which I much prefer to them wandering the streets (or pubs).
I got some slug nematodes from amazon and you water them into soil. Quite straightforward. I did try beer in shallow trays which I thought was a nicer way to go but then I was faced with loads of dead drunk slugs!!

We tried beer traps and they were ignored!

Morning.
I’ve never heard of nematodes but will keep them in mind as last year my potatoes were demolished by slugs and this year they’ve had a good go at my peppers and a lot of my flowers.

We finally had a long rain yesterday, heavy like a tropical storm. I swear you could feel the atmosphere on my street change (we all grow things in our gardens).
I’m so glad as I have 2 water butts and one is completely empty and the other is very very low.
It’s also meant I’ve started to feel more ready for Christmas planning.

Fluffy I hope the homeschooling works well. I think a lot of people are quick to dismiss it as a good option (I get it, I’m not sure I could do it, I don’t think I have the patience).
A few of LOs friends from his groups are home schooled for various reasons and they all attend local meet ups and a forest school type thing too.

I’m doing a half day at work today then going out for a meal. Work is doing my head in as I’m waiting on stuff from about 5 different people/teams and it’s slowing me down. Sigh.

Evening!

Well, despite Google lying to me telling me that rudbeckia aren't eaten by slugs because of their furry leaves, I've had to swap mine with the hebe I put out the front at lunchtime as it was being annihilated. I've lost a few flower heads from it, annoyingly. So far Google is right that slugs don't eat hebe.

The front is south-facing and likely too hot / dry for slugs (thankfully).

Meeces, our butt filled really quickly with the ridiculous downpours we had. Local rivers were under flood warnings. Couldn't make it up really, could you?

126

Morning!

Just pulled a massive fat slug off my dahlia - can't remember where I watered the nematodes in so might have to redo. I also used some of that dried compost in a block that you need to rehydrate (bought from Amazon). Its really shit and I would not advise using it as potting compost but I spread some round the base of outside plants - its really coarse, like coconut hair and seems to keep the slugs off so that is worth a try.

I just downloaded tiktok as I was looking for a semifreddo recipe and lost 20 minutes of my life just scrolling through videos. Can see why it is so addictive. 😬Nearly bought a Korean roll-on collagen balm that can make you look 10 years younger. 🙄

Yes, I avoided dahlias as Google said slugs eat those! So it got one thing right. 🙄 No sign of slugs on the hebes yet either, so maybe 2 things! 🤞

I've never seen that compost, Magnolia, but you aren't selling it to me!

I've seen compacted compost on QVC , fine if you only need a few pots filled and less storage but it probably takes a bit of effort to soften and make it useable .

125

Accidentally nodded off on the sofa, but I'm now in bed...domestic chores day tomorrow. Exciting times! 🤣🤣

I bought two hebes to go in pots with a variegated ivy (contained so they won't run riot ) then nearer Christmas I can put some LED candle lanterns in the foliage for outdoor decorations.

That's a nice idea 70.

I had hebes once in the borders and they went nuts and I had to dig them out.

124
Tomorrow is another Rudolph Day then after the Bank Holiday we're into the "ber" months. ( It took me ages to work out what that meant but it's September/ October/November/December) <DOH!>

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Morning!

We're off on holiday today. We're not going too far, just to a cottage near Settle for 4 nights. It'll be good to have a break from work though. ☺️

It was very autumnal again this morning as there was a chill to the air and quite heavy dew on the grass. Perfect dog walking / running weather.

Oops. Should've refreshed!

I love the 'ber' months, 70; they're my favourites.

I love the ‘bers so much, especially September where all the trees are changing colours. I hate being cold but our house is a new build so lovely and warm.

Same here, Pearl. We were in a Victorian semi before this and it was such a cold house! 🥶 I'm not sure I'd go back to one now, as I love the comfort of the new build (and it costs comparatively very little to heat, even when it's freezing outside).

Another lover of the ‘ber’ months here too. I think November is my favourite.

Before we were in this house we were in a rented 200 year old one on the side of a very big hill.
It was stunning, stone walls, bay windows etc but my god it was cold. During the ‘beast from the east’ snow the windows froze inside and out and we had snow inside from gaps around the wooden front and back doors.
House we’re in now is from the 1960s I think. It’s all very square so I do miss the high ceilings and the character but it’s practically exactly what we need and a lot cheaper to heat/run so we won’t be moving any time soon.

Had a conversation about Christmas yesterday. Me and dsis both agreed we’re cutting down the spending this year so buying for dc only but have set a £15 limit for them (I suspwnct
she’ll go slightly over as she has several dc and I have 1 but that’s fine).
Have also instructed DH to do the same - I have no intention of buying for SILs or BILs this year. Will get FIL a small something as they help us out.
I need to simplify it all as I overthink present ideas and get a bit stressed and no one else does the same for us.

I love the ber months as well. I have always loved autumn. Not sure the leaves will be as colourful this year with the drought conditions we have.

123

That's a pleasing number, pattern-wise!

We're in a cottage on the Lancs / Yorkshire border (as in right on the border; the county line is just up the road about 20ft!). We've discovered that it's a palaver to get to any dog walks though, as there are no paths, so poor doggo is going to be subjected to the car more than he'd like.

We're off to Settle this morning where we will walk along the river before going to Booths. Then I joined Forestry England yesterday, so we will do the short drive to Gisburn Forest for the rest of his walks which he should love (other than the journey!).

Happy Rudolph Day!

Sounds like you have a lovely few days planned Fluffy.

I am taking the cat to the vet (if I can find him) as hes off his food and i think it is a pancreatitis flare up. Honestly I swear the cat causes more worry than the humans.

Also love the ber months and definitely doing something christmassy today - to be fair I will probably just buy something online as between the vets, the housework and feeding the neighbours cats/watering plants i don't have much time today.

I can't believe it's September on Tuesday 🥰I normally start Christmas shopping when my daughter goes back to school 🙂

Morning.
Fluffy is forestry England a bit like English heritage for woodlands?
A holiday to end the summmer break sounds like a great idea!

LO slipped in the park while on a climbing frame yesterday and as I caught him his elbow smashed into my forehead and today I have a lovely perfectly circle purple bruise

Not sure I’ll do much towards Christmas today. It’s absolute chaos here. DH is building my garden office, we have a company here doing our dropped kerb, next door have a company replacing his conservatory roof and the council gardeners are out cutting the grass. It’s so so loud.

On the plus side, there were some very cute children’s books in Aldi yesterday for 79p so I bought one each for the new nephews so that’s it, I’ve officially started my Christmas shopping

https://www.rexlondon.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=1342651156&adgroup_id=62313672908&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1342651156&gclid=CjwKCAjw-rTUBhAiEiwADv8gBIqgrWBFdycsQZ8Ogex8yM6D3vXyaS-ao5Ts1rbSARUSXnv9yEnOhxoCbowQAvD_BwE..

Not 100% sure this link will work but anyhow if anyone is looking for stocking fillers, Rex London have a great sale on and plenty of lovely kids stuff really cheap.

I love a bit of Rex London, Magnolia. I tend to get my cracker contents from there. Though I probably need to branch out so they're not too samey!

Meeces, the elbow to the head sounds painful. I was head butted in the nose by DS once. That hurt. 😫 Kids are very good as dishing out accidental injuries!

We went to Settle earlier which was lovely. The dog enjoyed his stroll and then I spent a fortune in Booths! Still forgot the logs we needed though, so I sent DH back in (he'd been waiting outside with the dog).

Hip Hip Hooray!

It’s the 25th today!!

So 4 months today is Christmas Day! 🎄🎅🎄 122 days to go! ⭐️🍾