The Cybergarden - Midwinter Edition

[shodatin]

Hope this is Post No. 1001 equivalent, having just used up the thousandth space and feel I shouldn't ask Madmouse to organise the next one again.

Have just looked into summerhouse to check fire is burning gently, tray of [brew} organised by upward to turn into one's favourite hot drink of the moment is standing ready for visitors, along with a few pounds of chocolates from huge box sent by DSis. (Before DB eats any more today)

It's usually tianc, upward and hob who remember to be hospitable and also remember to send good wishes to previous visitors, including said madmouse and mouselet, kizzie and family, NanaNina, Butterpie and another name which eludes me just now, but am hoping you'll find your way to this new part of the Cybergarden
and continue visiting in the New Year, along with hob's time-travelling cat Her Felinity and her welcome associate ndt (next-door's-tom), who visit us quite often, bringing gifts of when they remember, instead of the usual dead rodents which they know are unwelcome in the cybergarden.

Have just had lovely large lunch, plus Skype visit from rest of relatives, so will have a little potter round RL garden, hoping all is well and welcoming now in cybergarden's summerhouse.

Morning all, lovely sunny morning here, so hope everyone has something to enjoy today. Hope to check out morris costumes at last, maybe brush up on C16th styles, as am very vague nowadays.
I don't feel at all wise, hob, just rather old sometimes when I can actually remember solutions from the past.

Time for , with plenty of espressos available.

Oh no shodatin , it's not simply a matter of you remembering solutions from the past ( though with us , remembering is a feat ) it's that you've cultivated open mindedness so you assess a situation really clearly

< sounds of feline giggling at "busy days nuzzling and sitting under hedges" > May your relaxation have become less feverish & fretful overnight , Nilgiri< strokes hair >

Thank you shodatin for s , including espressos - sympathies 8Nilgiri* on difficulty making the filtersort , but am inspired by shodatin's's suggestions for using minimum energy for maximum caffeine

< festoons Nilgiri with spring blossoms , presents basket of baby wrens to thank for her joyous post last night > < warms rugs & prepares sweetmeats for diverse entertainments on cyberlawn , hoping upward will be relaxing with us >
Sorry for taking it upon myself to thank shodatin for you yesterday - was thanking her for comforting effect she has on us all

Am still dancing about at being designated witch healer in our little town . Niligiri will have hilarious roles for us all , but in meantime I mused upon the talents of we inhabitants, & was astonished at the overlap in capabilities . Our town has spawned several citizens elected at one time or another to bring matters to the attention of Parliament , or keen to overturn its power en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggers... I see both Nilgiri and shodatin as eminent bards / playwrights , energetically creating enlightening yet hilarious works by day & by night holding citizens advice sessions under madmouse's keen eye . Surely shodatin in charge of schooling ? I can picture her setting up pioneering evening schools & sociable crafting goups , plus exchange visits over the water , now we have made peace with Holland .

Undoubtedly upwar is our elected mayor in charge of resource allocation , also ombudsman of the almshouse ( in her spare time away from being learned Abess in charge of renowned convent on edge of town )
No restrictive gender stereotypes of course , & many townsfolk employed in the childcare co operative , seeing as we've all got at least 15 DC
I think the justice system our town has pioneered will be most influential , with all 5 of you as justices

< off to c17th Ebay to stock up on suitable garb for us -www.fashion-era.com/english-costume/hollar-engravings-womens-gowns-1639-40-4.htm#Image_19_-1640-Lady_In_Wide_Brimmed_Hat_And_Brocade_Underskirt
www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=55301#s2www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66081

What amazing creativity hob, almost a play in itself, but in what alternative universe am I to do anything in the evenings?

Have just struggled through Morris article - anything goes seems to be suitable slogan - but don't yet have time to look at costumes, so will be back later.

I know , shodatin < HF concentrates very hard to try to get time machine to take us to land of much energy >

HF has frolicked round the garden in the sunshine ( hope we've all had some sun ) whilst ndt snoozes on tree stump

I'm so sorry , clothing link did work but the one which did was to a site where I was searching for amusing c17th pasttimes for us < search continues > . What nightmareish morris text have I caused you to trudge through , shodatin ? < panics> revivings

Wikipedia hob*. Have you seen it? I did eventually get to some impressive artwork, but not seen anything I'd be happy wearing.
Would really love trip to Land of Much Energy, or even a few hours of Hiking Along Seashore would make me very happy. Know I can't complain while upward's just longing for some time at home with night in own bed.
Time to get back to the one new curtain which needs hanging completed before night-time, second one planned for tomorrow if not a spoon shortage, and only had a break as DB skyped me.

Oh thankyou Nilgiri, thoughtful and hospitable as ever.
Am feeling really tired, and think this is first time ever I've had a night with mis-matched curtains, one old and one new. Still, should remind self "How Important Is It?"
an d be grateful that lovely people would actually do things for me if I asked for help. Can also remind self that it's still almost light enough to read outside, although a dull day, and only a few weeks before clocks go back and it's officially Spring.

Just remembered, while waffling, I moved my new pot of scented Iris this p.m, to where I can see them from bedroom window in the morning. They are definitely blue, and will be out in about a week if weather is good, when I'll be checking for scent.

Thank you , Nilgiri and hope you're seeing signs of spring in your back garden ( bit early perhaps , and besides , it's about to become winter again)

Oh shodatin, I so wish that could be arranged . Very low-ranking next best thing -
sorry amateur film , but much better than I can achieve )://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdCrwA1l3iA&feature=related
Ah , the Wiki page on morris is massive - so many types ! You must be tired anyway , so please allow yourself evening off now < admiration at all this hemming >

Thinking of you as ever, upwardxx

Why won't my links convert anymore ? Only just started to be able to link again as it is , sorry .

Can't get the link to connect hob, although I have something near toolbar which is youtube Linked, and also typed out your ref and clicked the Convert Links Automatically just below here, trying everything I can think of!" Am definitely giving up for what remains of today, and hope everyone else is planning a relaxing evening.
Hope upward's now able to start on new medicine, and that all's well.

Really , really sorry , shodatin, it was my spacing that was at fault -best left now till tomorning anyway

Hope we all have a peaceful night , especially upward ...lemonbalm all round < hickory log on fire >< hopes for a wintry scene in morning >

Thanks hob and goodnight all.

Oh shodatin. I recognise that "but I mustn't complain because..." Making the best is how we get by, but it's very wearing being Pollyanna every day.

Hope you awake with energy levels topped up enough to finish your amazingly industrious work on the new curtains. It sounds like such a big job, and another huge achievement (not long since you did DB's curtain).

hob that's the most amazing beach excursion! Thank you! What are they called, those incredible land-yacht things? Like gaudy sycamore seeds twirling on the sands.

You're absolutely right, we'd be certain to elect Upward mayor of our C17th village. Her diplomacy and patience and scary guide-leader skills would be just what we need for dealing with neighbouring settlements. And as you say madmouse for citizen's advice and legal council (unless she fancies a complete change - as a gooseherd, perhaps, or keeper of the sluice on the pond). Kizzie is probably an energetic merchant and businesswoman, always off on the road to some distant market town.

And I'll admit to being the wild-haired playwrite (not as good as you, hob), but you know, I suspect I'm always about to finish a play. It'll be done next week. No, no, can't tell you too much I'll lose the muse. But just you wait, only best thing I've done yet!

Morris dancing? May get round to that yet!

Btw, I'm truly just being lazy about the coffee now: I'm sure I could make and drink it quite safely on good days if I just remembered.

Sleep well all. Till the morrow.

Yes, thanks hob, for amazing beach excursions (I peeked at a few others while in the area), had no idea there were such things on you-tube, so will look more often.
Am happy to be wise woman in family tradition of growing and using herbs medicinally (although have forgotten a great deal, no-one needs to know that) and early memory concerns smell of feverfew etc. in Nana's garden, and conversation about her current herbal treatments, some of which have recently been proved. Shame Father's ancient pharmacy books have disappeared over the years (although I doubt I'd have had time to actually use them, being indeed taken up with sewing one item after another.)
Seems to be time for second espresso once again, so here's a mixed trayful

Mm, thank you, shodatin.

That was some good Imagination to read, really took my mind off here/now. :)

I'm having a bit of a :( weekend, this is not a good place to be with a bug (probably a virus). I was v sick last night (hopefully better today).

Thinking of you all

Oh you poor , poor thing with sickness , Upward- I was dreading a tummy bug going round the hospital & adding to your discomfort [sad. You are incredibly brave and am so pleased our silliness can help a tiny bit

Just wondering whether there's anything you could ask staff etc might bring you anything to make you more comfortable , or any little distraction at all ? Please don't be shy to ask at such a rotten time . Wondering whether the new medication be causing or adding to gastro discomfort ?

< HF springs eagerly from her sunny doorstep to whisk upward to her mayoral chambers >

< hob ignores her hypocrisy in creating gilded surroundings - we ought to have some ceromonial fun >

< HF thanks upwqrd graciously for her tasselled cushion >

So sorry to hear you've got the virus thingupward,
and hope you'll remember to take things easy for a couple of weeks, even if feeling better, and can't help nagging about drinking water being so important, particularly with upset tummy. Hope this has now improved, as the virus I had started the same way, and would not have minded being in hospital at all!
Am pleased that hobs alternative world has amused you, as she's really good at this, and just wish I could keep up and join in.
Hope you have some amusing visitors this weekend, to help take your mind off things, but you'd probably rather just be asleep with the flu-thing.

Hoband Nilgiri, I found a super dormouse on youtube this morning, (looking for something entirely different), but was unable to link it for you. Note above the screen was: , and hope this works.

So sorry to hear you've got the virus thingupward,
and hope you'll remember to take things easy for a couple of weeks, even if feeling better, and can't help nagging about drinking water being so important, particularly with upset tummy. Hope this has now improved, as the virus I had started the same way, and would not have minded being in hospital at all!
Am pleased that hobs alternative world has amused you, as she's really good at this, and just wish I could keep up and join in.
Hope you have some amusing visitors this weekend, to help take your mind off things, but you'd probably rather just be asleep with the flu-thing.

Hoband Nilgiri, I found a super dormouse on youtube this morning, (looking for something entirely different), but was unable to link it for you. Note above the screen was: , and hope this works.

Apologies for double posting - still attempting to link.

Oh dearshodatin, it comes up as a "malformed video ID" Perhaps if i search for dormoouse on youtube - any other text that might winkle out the little critter ? Am very excited to see it !

I wish you could have had a nurse helping you during stomach flu , shodatin but it's a nightmare of mine , to be in hospital & get tummy bug . I guess the HCAs / nurses where upward is might be unfamiliar / rusty with the extra personal care aspects too- argh .

I have absolutely no imagination , kind shodatin , & wish keeping up was easier for you , but your efforts are so dogged that you are the absoute bedrock of our thread , always posting despite exhaustion
( Oh yes , when I said I wish our time machine could transport us to alternate universe of less tiredness- well , that was probably the least of the discomfort you were experiencing ). Sorry , will leave the subject

Must report the scents of spring in RL garden earlier ! Really could smell growy , flowery sent . Both cats came to bask in sunny corner & ndt was very sheepish - HF was clearly bossing him about She uses a system of forbidding mews with both felines & staff

Ido feel like dormousing right now, having got second curtain up at last. I'd had the previous ones since the colour was last in fashion, moving them round from window to window, house to house,being originally a set of three in my favourite colour. However, came across some velvet ones in charity shop, a paler version of same colour, and large enough to fit if re-made, so being flushed with success at finishing DB's curtains, I decided I'd have new ones. Have now decided they'll probably be the last ones I'll sew, as just takes too much energy/time, but am very pleased the job's at an end.

Magnificent job , shodatin! < pins on gold medal in the Battle of the Objects > Hope you're resting contentedly now . I do aspire to altering / making up my own curtains , but not very skilful with machine yet & project is absolutely exhausting , as you say ... just thinking - did you hem by hand ? I must practice ....

Will post annoyingly long post I wrote at lunchtime , which seemed inappropriate once upward said she had been so poorly . Here's to your recovery , upward, and hope you can manage little sips as shodatin says .

Hope Nilgiri having a pleasant day after her bravery this week

"like gaudy sycamore leaves twirling on the sands " Nilgiri is unanimous choice for playwright -long may your muse inspire you

What a fascinating childhood , shodatin , not only your DF a healer but your Nana presumably inspired her DS to develop the healing too, . I love the way your memories of your Nana are herbally-scented .

< takes quill to Settlement Book of Work - hmmm , what calendar shall we use ? shodatin has ideas on this , if I recall
Such a shame about your DF's fabulous books but there is a market for old science textbooks , let alone fasinating pharmacy
oooh , may I enquire about your Nana's recently-proved theories - maybe another time ?
Better book our consultations with you quickly before MNers from neighbouring settlements flock to your practice as naturopath-cum- midwife --

Glad you liked my modest excursions- just can't find what that sand windsurfing is called - sand yachting is done in a little gokart ! Have been amazed to sit in car with sandwich & seen people paragliding over coast

Yes Nilgri , was indeed envisaging kizzie liasing formidably with shodatin's ambassadorial role , arranging links with distant lands & bringing merchants to us .

What are these scary guiding skills with which you associate our esteemed Mayor ? Such skills would indeed fit with upward's character as I get to know her < hob tries to look capable & tidy lest she be ordered extra privy-cleaning duty >

Thank you for enlivenings this morning , shodatin
Am still laughing at wild-haired creative type on verge of finishing best work yet