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.

Just now got back from dormousing - such a nuisance.
Apologies for non-event of video, it was via Yahoo as I remember, and might come up for "Snoring Dormouse", but sorry I can't think of any other way to recall it.

Lovely to have news of HF and ndt enjoying the early spring weather, and good to know that today had a spring smell. I did the first line-drying today, which was not a great success as I doubt the sun rose high enough to hit the washing, but it did smell good.

Have to go again, I'm afraid, so will say goodnight.
Dormouse now "internet sensation", so hope you can find it.

Oh poor you with virus-y thing, Upward. Hope that's over soon, for everyone in your ward. Absolutely no fun at all.

shodatin that video is perfect! I've found another version: Snoring Dormouse. DP's just asked if he sounds like that too... (yes yes, he does!) I'm going to click that every day now.

Such lovely links from s and hob. I can't keep up with commenting, but am trying to click them all.

Loving hob's description of HF on her tasselled cushion - and then a time-machine whirl to a springy garden. Hope nothing too delicate's poked its nose through the soil though hob, as the cold is sweeping the country again. Brrrr.

And I think I remember Upward's guiding skills including sheepskin poncho-making, dealing with fires(?) and dealing with teenagers. So she should be able to marshall us very effectively to survive the cold without C20th comforts.

Talking of which...

Thanks for keeping summerhouse cosy on cold night Nigrili, and true there's more cold on the way. Found your dormouse, and believe it's the same one, looking at bandage and wedding-ring on hand which holds it, and guess it's same noise too (not actually too bad for a human, tell DP).
Thanks also for repeating water mantra - that should be on my gravestone, as everyone's tired of hearing it from me but people rarely do drink enough water, particularly when ill, when it can make a big difference, which is why I go boring on about it.
Espresso-time for me, (makes extras plus more general own-choice varieties, not forgetting the s.

Oh gorgeous , incredible dormouse , shodatin - quite sniffly to see it . at Nilgiri's DP sounding like him
So sorry for absence -didn't wake till nearly twilight

Am also known to beg people to drink more water ,shodatin, as DH has had bad kidney stones in past & consultants advised 2litres a day - though that's more a man -ssized dose , I think
Hope DB is recovered , and you've heard good news about friends / family when Skyping

Lots of healing wishes to you , upward, and hope you're not feeling too weak & wobbly , which of fcourse makes feelings of stress pop up even in easy scircumstances . Hope you get lots of good neews this week .

Really hope we're all adequately warm . , & that upward isn't finding the ward miserably overheated . Atmospheric white mist round here today , but no snow - anyone expecting any ? Fingers crossed for the green shoots here , Nilgiriv- mostly just daffs etc , though hoping buds on lovely yellow blossom bush survive

btw shodatin , do you fancy a spot of gooseherding as mentioned by Nilgiri instead of the very weighty jobs suggeested so far ? I know you have experience with fowl & I perhaps you'd train me? aI think we should have lots of job rotation .

Thank you for enlightening me as to some of upward's many skills , Nilgiri* including that most precious of talents , "dealing with teenagers " . Those practical skills sound especially useful in this cold weather

< adds sinful quantities of applewood to fire >
< warms soft oversocks for all >

btw shodatin , not much use now , but Time Team is on now , new series

Know just what it's like to wake up much later hob, and hope you've not missed too much. Two litres was recommended amount of water per adult, then I heard that could include coffees and teas etc. Since hearing from various people about "slow" digestion, have been amazed to hear how little water was being drunk, and reckon most problems would be solved if water intake was doubled. I checked on how system worked when DB was in hospital, in order to simplify for him, and wondered how many more people were having similar problems for same reason...

Can't help with geese hob, being attacked by them at
boatyard, and used to avoid ducks same place, sorry, but would be happy to do washer-woman duties, or find five interesting ways to cook turnips if you need some very basic volunteering? Can probably still remember how to make quill pens, and ink using lampblack if no oakgalls available (although amazon have both these days).
Thanks for news of TimeTeam, but am not really a fan.
Has anyone here watched the Midwife programme on tv?

Hi Nilgiri, good to see you, and thanks for .
Would love to stay, but eyes want to close and would hate to wake up with nose on keys, so must say goodnight now, hoping you've had a decent day.

Thank you, shodatin, v good day here! Tomorrow hope to start on the postponed tasks that have piled up during this month's March to the Scaffold. Nothing on the awesome scale of your curtains, though.

Morning all and thanks to Nilgiri for good wishes. Am enjoying period details of Midwife but only seen two rather soppy story-lines so far.

Think Hob and I will have to be excused trebuchets and put onto bandage-rolling, or whatever Quakers did at that time, apart from negotiating non-violent solutions - yes, people have been making the effort for hundreds of years in this country, probably longer.

Making s and contemplating v.cold-looking view before venturing out to town.

Thanks for the

Good to see you ,upward< clinks in a toast to your recovery from horrible weekend .

Oh shodatin , what joy you have brought me with your quill -making knowledge , & as for 2 types of ink !!! Ah , the beautiful records our settlement will keep < hopes trebuchet proves uneccessary >

As for turnips , my favourite - please do let's cook up a feast when upward's stomach is fully recovered . Am very excited at the possibilities for our little village < HF and ndt regard c17th lack of cat food with astonishment >

So happy to hear you had v good day yesterday , Nilgiri , and hope you can take pleasure in the postponed tasks .
Oooh, could yellow double blooms be a winter jasmine ? We can't find it in gardening books, thank you

Agree with you about water & common ailments , shodatin - it's so hard to drink much when you feel icky , so is a vicious circle . Hmm , I like the acting in the Midwife programme , but agree plots bit soppy . DM says it looks earlier than the '57 it is set in , the year when she lived briefly in London, & housing conditions were mostly better by then in poor areas www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/1384286-Call-the-Midwife-I-love-Sunday-night-telly

Still catching up with replies as unable to post last night . This morning the cars outside had snow melting off them !< stamps foot for temp to reduce so sleet can freeze >
Hope you have a safe journey , shodatin

Hello again, I thought I'd made a mistake when I got onto the main road just as snow flurry hit windscreen, but that's all it was for a few seconds, and have been and got back again without even being wet. Now I can stay home in the warm until the weekend if necessary, when hopefully the weather will improve.
Re double yellow blooms, wonder if it's witch-hazel, another scented winter-flowerer?

Glad you managed to post upward, as it means you must be feeling a bit better after the virus set-back. It must be miserable having that in hospital, wondering who'[ll get it next as it goes round the ward, and hoping there'll be enough staff to keep things going. I suppose it means you'll have lost some more weight though, a very small bit of brightness during a miserable time. I do hope things are improving now with the new drugs, and that the side-effects are really minimal.

Relieved it was only a flurry , shodatin, & I know you make such precautions to stock up for weather etc .
You and Nilgiri are so knowledgeable !. I had to look up both winter jasmine & witch hazel & was charmed by both , but no , it's neither . Not forsythia , either - been puzzled for years & if ndn & ILs don't know ,it must be a difficult one !

Thank you for your generous assessment of my meanspirited efforts with MIL, Nilgiri . She is on PEG feeding only permanently , & being very brave about it . However , related problems make me suspect more nursing care will be needed soon.
Good news is , MIL loves chatting all 4 of the carers who nip in briefly twice a day , and the district nurse etc, so I hope she'll find compensations in extra nursing / residential care

Ah , fFriend shodatin HF is taking an extended course in Peace Studies, if you remember from last year , & will be delighted to debate with us all on the the dilemmas of pacifism and the abolition of the monarchy from her tasselled cushion . Would our fellow villagers consent to our buillding a small Meeting Room when resources allow ?

Hope tasks are being gradually whittled down , without the copious MNing & junk snacks I've been use to get through same
and hope upward is able to resume eating , if only lightly

< wraps Nilgiri's apple tree in humungous fleece >

Had forgotten HF's course in Peace Studies hob, something to do with eating one's friends and neighbours originally, wasn't it? I do hope it's successful.

Any chance of a photo of yellow flowered plant? Am now very curious, and remember when I had something equally mysterious and un-nameable (and yellow, in fact) which turned out to be of the pea family but not the one variety usually found in gardens. Person who planted it round front door was same gardening enthusiast who planted Japanese Knotweed in her front garden, in the days before anyone thought it might be a nuisance. Last I knew, my new neighbour was attempting to dig it up and burn it before it crossed the lane to my house, and actually awaiting visit from The Ministry as it's notifiable.

Hope everyone had enough spoons for today. I finally managed to put small bolt on bedroom door to slow down possible burglars, so am pleased with self. Can remember when we used to leave front doors open at night, or at least unlocked, cars also.

Gosh, glad you're back in safely, shodatin. And be careful what you wish for hob, if it sleets first and then freezes. Hope you and DH are able to go carefully when out, and that the rest of us are indoor dwellers for the rest of the week. My apple tree thanks you profusely...

Hope you're mending, Upward. Did you get the snow as well?

Negotiating non-violent solutions definitely preferable, shodatin, and you and Upward will have that well in hand. Can we still have a trebuchet for festive fire-tossing displays or something? Pretty please?

Thanks for more on Midwife programme. I'm really tempted but sounds really weepy too!

I'm sorry to hear you MIL is facing increasing difficulties, hob. But it sounds like she's comfortable, and that enjoying the care at home may ease the decision to go for residential care. One change at a time, so to speak.

Ooh, well done at another piece of DIY, shodatin!

at reminder of HF's pre-Peace Studies habits. Which I do now remember included dormice...

DP was actually mildly distressed by dormouse video, to tell the truth. He kept wanting it to take its inhaler...

Bed time here, but I'll leave the fire lit as I'm sure someone will be in later!

Sleep or rest well, all.

Loved the comment about dormouse's inhaler Nilgiri, also grateful for reminder of reason for HF's Peace Studies - must be very careful where we nod off now.
Bedtime for me too - sleep well all.

I didn't want to remind us all of the horror , Nilgiri- HF 's epiphany was prompted by realising she couldn't bear to eat up her little friend Don't worry , shodatin* , she's had a change in consciousness < radicalised puss >

Oooh , can we set up an animal healing service ? Then dormice would have chance of herbal inhalations if not inhalers

So sorry for "nose on keyboard" last night , to borrow shodatin's phrase- much dormicing between (enjoyable) chores . Hope we all have a snug day

Thank you for bringing all our pots in from frost risk , Nilgiri* - fine white landscape here this morning < plans /incorporates hearths in privies and settlement wash house >

Ooooh , which one of you lovely villagers knitted this pile of soft scarves and hats which have been warming by our night fire , thanks to Nilgiri ?

How lovely of you 8shodatin* to turn detective over about my yellow flowers ! Am complete novice at uploading / downloading photos & DH hasn't had time to help me , but will see if possible , many thanks . Knotweed , < prays doesn't cross over to you >

Very well fitted with that bolt , but shame you feel nervous . Sorry to remind you , but Was it you who had little bay trees stolen ? Local police at least until cuts offer a service of checking people's home security & advising any further measures , & I'm quite sure your constabulary will have such an advisor happy to help

< excited at thought of trebuchet firework displays >

Animal healing service would be a good idea hob, as long as you're confident that HF has overcome generations of instinct re mealtimes and snacks.

Think it was Nilgiri who lost the bay trees to thieves, and I used to be involved with Victim Support, advising people my age (and younger) about being safe at home, particularly if living alone and without a dog. Don't worry, am not actually nervous, just been meaning to do this for a long time due to increased number of people who might take a chance on breaking in due to poverty.

Lovely that one of us knitted a pile of hats, scarves etc for cold weather. The pile of dishcloths alongside were knitted by me, being about my limit for knitted objects.
(Don't laugh, foreign friend recently asked where to buy them, being much taken with design and unable to knit).

Thank you for splendiferous dishcloths , shodatin ! Is there no object you can 't make more pleasing ? Now , we must make some dish soap , with shavings of block soap methinks < consults ye recipe booke > < hopes notto poison not ourselves > The proper stuffe will have to wait till ye travelling merchant arrives with some borax www.snowdriftfarm.com/form_liquidsoap.html am sure shodatin ewill have tried soapmaking , & probably with more era-appropriate ingredients

Ah , it was Nilgiri 's misfortune, sorry wasn't sure.., I remember she and DP got a little bay tree , which I hope will progress nicely . Ah shodatin I know you did many years with Victim Support , but didn't realse they offered that sort of advice < silly >. Am relieved you're just taking very sesible precautions - police theft statistics have indeed been climbing as economic conditions have worsenedn

Oooh , an animal healing post ! < brings shivering ladybirds to warm selves in summerhouse > HF assures me she would hate to hunt any creature these days , and will speak to us as her "sponsors" should she have any concerns

< contemplates life without wet wipes >
< feels resourceful >
< lugs in large log and attempts to make wood pulp >
< fellow housedwellers order hob to woodchopping duty for bare hearth >

< signs pledge evermore to use not "ye" >
nor again make of the typos , nor attempt of the speeche whatsoever

< realises why her grammar so bad - no book learning as humbly-born woman >
< looks hopefully at playwrights & mayors for instruction >

Very funny hob, particularly when looking hopefully towards playwrights and mayors for instruction, who have been quietly following your lead, knowing less about the period altogether but nodding sagely at all hobs ideas and not at all certain about thees and thous anyway.

Have indeed made soaps, and have reminder on list to make liquid soap for friend who prefers this and has birthday due. However, I'll only be buying glycerine this time, having lemon soap in large block and ready to go.
Will check your link for any further ideas, thankyou.