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.

Am sure you'll have realised by now that I didn't want to upset Nilgiri with the G-word, upward, because of previous comments on the first one I found to add to DB's collection. His garden was originally overgrown, so the gs only appeared one by one as bits were cleared, then he realised they were actually quite cheerful and low maintenance and I realised it was an easy way round the present-problem.

Must go to bed before eyes close, night all.

Morning all, a misty morning here, but plan to check weather and see what's in store, after I've had the necessary espresso, but will make extra plus more interesting plus s as required.(opens window while renewing log supply, tidies hearth, closes window as just too b.cold and generally does some useful stuff, being first to arrive and having more than enough spoons for today) And wanting Nilgiri to believe in fairies.
Hope we all slept well, and that upward is starting to feel better.

Oh , just missed you , shodatin . Thank you so much for all your efforts in summerhouse plus s ands .. < colludes wholeheartedly in helping Nilgiri to keep believing in fairies >

at lurking gs -sounds almost as though DB was "meant to be" in new place , shodatin* ... last 2 homes DH & I have lived in have both had a sense of a jungle garden & cats who attracted people who would enjoy them , & I do feel the older people whose gardens they were are looking over our shoulders , no doubt appalled at my standards of maintenance

Hope upward has opportunities to make time slightly more bearable , and particularly hope dosage increase isn't cauing her horrible sideffects

Hope we are all OK in terms of warmth and supplies ? You were needing to restock by the weekend , shodatin , I think ? Hope not too icy to do so

< adds more wood to our fire and back to washhouse for laundry day >

< beseeches HF to bring thermal undergarments in the time machine >

Agree with you about some gardens, hob, but in last one I used to feel that the wildlife were accepting me in their home,it had been neglected for so long and they were all so relaxed, including the bee which alighted on my lips while I was hanging out washing - did I mention this in a bee-conversation? I felt very nervous and just kept still until it flew away.
This garden is without "proper" trees, which makes me sad, but I had to be practical when purchasing.
Have done shopping this week thanks hob, as really only fresh stuff required now I'm stocked-up for winter, and even have small quantities of bread and milk in freezer for any weather emergencies.
Glad we're agreed on modern fabrics hob, but find I've no real desire to exchange today's fashions, being happpy in trousers and tunic plus waistcoat or shawl/poncho since about the sixties, probably back in fashion now as so practical /flattering to most first-time round.. Should I act as our bed-ridden member of community, covered up in daytime and sneaking out for fun and exercise after dark in my remarkable clothes?

Or I could be the local hermit, would quite like that...

Your garb sounds splendid , shodatin , and very individual - ooh, I love shawly things - any of them your own creations ? < fellow tunic fan >

I for one share your hermity tendencies - don't forget we have an long -established Abbey on the village outskirts for quiet contemplation . I suggest we set up one of the pioneering women's communities up there , open to women of any religion or none ( read about these pioneering places in the low countries ,but can't find anything on them atm - revolutionary & very active in worldly afairs)

I love the way the wildlife seemed to go out of their its way to make you feel included
. Some birds in particular seem to enjoy socialising , & I remember you've had some lovely experiences with them . Many sympathies on having to make difficult decisions about house , which I'm sure you were right to do . I recall you saying ony seagulls venture to your garden , which made you prize the visits of blackbird all the more - hope he turns up again soon .
Thank you for reassuring me cupboard is well -stocked for now

Hope upward has the sense of achievement of having managed another day , & being so much closer to her goal .

HF did the most joyous flips in warm sunshine earlier ( has stayed indoors , disgusted, during cold snap )
< piles hickory logs oto fire & warms rugs , hoping Nilgiri can relax here with us >

Can't recollect now why I was describing wardrobe hob, but have indeed made one top myself recently - having purchased a black fleecy poncho with plain fringe, which is just right side and shape for me, have used a square of dark-green fleece to make another! I did think of using selection of small buttons to edge hem near fringe, then thought best to stay simple, so it is. Has anyone else done any (simple) dressmaking or similar?

Good that HF was able to get out again and enjoy the sun, and wish I'd seen an animal frolicking recently.

Don't remember hearing of new women's communities hob, but would be interested if you ever get more details (and of course, time to explain).

Hope everyone's had a reasonable day, with enough spoons and enough degrees of heat for comfort.

Saying "goodnight" now, hope we can all sleep well.

Ooh, busy busy fairies!

Loving the picture of our hermit in her colourful waistcoat and shawl, sneaking out for nighttime frolics! D'you know, I really do this?! If I have spoons left at bedtime, I sometimes use them for a little stroll - just a few houses and back. Wearing whatever disgraceful no-visitors clothes I happen to have on!

I wish I could emulate your dressmaking, shodatin - and other crafty skills.

Women's abbey and contemplative community on the outskirts of the village? Yes please! hob you do have the most marvellous ideas including HF bringing thermals.

Hope you are also well stocked and you and DH are coping on any icy slipperiness. Freezer full of bread and milk as usual here, so we're fine.

Upward, hope you've been able to get outside a little if you want, despite the cold. And that you're not feeling to grim with the drug change over.

Sleep well all. Hope we all have as good a day as possible tomorrow.

Will now think of Nilgiri escaping the house at night for a very private and secret stroll! Actually, DH used to do this, after years of final- walking the dog, while we were staying in hotels while travelling, and I'd accompany him, if not too tired, so can understand the attraction.
Hope it's a safe habit these days; I usually stick to stargazing in the garden now.
Lovely sunny morning, although some snow on ground, will attempt to go out for couple of things I'd forgotten, just because the forecast is for more snow, and more again next week.

Still beautifully sunny here, and not even cold now the wind's dropped, so don't know what all the fuss was about with snow warnings, and hope everyone's having a good day including animals having dances in sunlight.

Oh how annoying to miss all these lovely posts - nose-on-keyboard trying to wave goodnight , then prolonged dormousing so am still catching up with thread , but thank you all for joyous picture of night strolls , so popular with hounds , and of warmed cats < HF frolics in sun whilst ndt basks on treestump >

How lovely shodatin that you have a pretty landscape without total standstaill . Hope journey for few provisions went smoothly . We're lucky to live near supermarket , Nilgiri , so one of us can can usually manage to reach it in bad weather , thank you , and glad to hear your freezer is well stocked .

Time must pass so slowly there , upward - hope health not a total barrier to a bit of distraction . Hopefully won't be long now till you feel well enough for discharge

< warms fresh consignment of thermal vests in front of fire >

< feeds ladybird colony who sought shelter in summerhouse last week & are rapidly filling summerhouse >.

Glad you've still got some daylight left after dormouseing, hob, and can enjoy animals enjoying it.

Looked at some snow photos at lunchtime, and seems other areas have had some, but not a great deal, remembering the horrific drifts we used to get in East Anglia, and the June clear-up during one of the sixties years, when my boss's car was lost under a drift for weeks near small West Country airport, along with a few dozen others.

Good idea to get supply of thermal vests hob; must look out the pair I still have somewhere, but with all my layers haven't used them for ages. I remember getting the idea of layers from a fFriend, who only wore blues, greys and off-whites, so always looked wonderful no matter how many garments she added or subtracted during a day, and just didn't have the what-to-wear problem. Am not yet that organised.

Hope upward's been feeling well enough to join in with what-ever's been available at the hospital, and is now feeling the benefit of new medication.

Good busy day here (actual tidying and filing), so early night.

Hope all warm and safe. Sleep well.

Smells pot of chocolate, and creeps in very quietly, hardly daring to breathe in case poor, tired Nilgiri wakes up from well-earned rest. Noticed wonderful starry sky and hoped summerhouse would be warm enough for a visit, which it is, thanks to Nilgiri's latest efforts at keeping us comfortable.
Off to bed now, having another look at moon and stars on the way - a beautiful night, but like Nilgiri, am too tired for a stroll. Sleep well everyone.

Another beautiful, sunny morning, although rather cold, and birds' water dish (and floater) frozen solid, for first time I can remember. Just hope I can continue to get to bottom of back garden for refills while cold snap continues. We have ice here, but now snow, that I can see.
Hope upward can get glimpses of outside world while it's looking so pretty (and maybe nose out of a window to check the different smell of frost).

Oh my goodness kind shodatin , please trust that one of your neighbours will have thawed out a bird dish & do not venture down end of garden again in icy weather - neighbour & I managed several falls between us last year in spite of great care . Reminds me , we all need to carry a phone when out alone in ice , so please book a refresher lesson with DB < wheedles> sorry ... glad sunny . No snow here , harrumph

Would love upward to have glimpses of whiteness & the evocative smell of frost . Thinking of you & hoping this frustrating time will soon change into positive developments

Thank you for delicious pot of chocolate , which I sampled with you all last night , smiling as shodatin crept in for silent goodnight so as not to wake toasty Nilgiri < nose on keyboard again & vast dormousing >

Brilliant to hear you had a productive day , Nilgiri , & hope weekend penjoyable

Did I read that right shodatin , weeks of drifting snow & car not recovered till ^June* ? No , I must be bleary . I would have loved weeks of drifts
My first encounter with snow was my parents bringing 2 year old self to meet family in Britain at Easter - plenty of snow , & I recall being euphoric building snowpersons with cousins , while aunt's cats oversaw activities ... thus were my great passions born

You must miss chats on phone with DN , upward , so I hope that is possible occasionally

warming[brerw]s all round

No activity in the hoa

No activity here, bar meals and persOnsl care.

I hope everyone's safe, fed and warm.

Oh upward, I do hope things improve for you very soon, must be very boring being stuck indoors for so long.
Hope that at least the meds are working well, and you can feel more relaxed as dosage reaches optimum.

Oh that can't be much fun , upward . Great to see you , though .
Sorry if you've nothing to diststract you - are you up to any viewing or listening yet , or is nothing comfortably accessible ,eg too many people in common room .

Pleasantly dull here with spring cleaning & dormousing . Rain instead of snow but was in garden with DH & HF at exact time some snow fell earlier . HF seems a magic snowbringer ... she dislikes the feel of it but seems amused by it all the same

comforting s all round
< adds apple wood to fire >
< puts on pleasantly old -fashioned music in summerhouse >

Cheers hob, glad we still have enough scented logs for our fire in summerhouse. Snowing here at last, so will heed warning about travelling to bottom of back garden, unless I can get into old snowboots tomorrow.

Am wondering if the Easter snow you remember was the same winter we had such bad drifting in the West country, as it was still snowing then as I remember, and simply never thawed enough to get access to cars which had been abandoned on roadsides.

Yes shodatin , am getting through an improbable amount of scented wood here , aren't I ! That Easter was in '75 , maybe you're thinking of '63 ? Someone close to my heart is very jealous of family pics of elder siblings playing in the garden igloo that year as he snoozed in his cot

Oooh , West Country -no wonder you have a soft spot for the wondrous Yetties . Thank you for heeding my alarmist wailings and hope you find your snowboots now you have lots of the stuff coming down

Thinking of you , upward , and wishing you phone calls & distractions & most of all , improvements in health

Oooh shodatin , like the Butterick Retro patterns here < no hope of sewing that well , ever >
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/1398834-1940s-dress

Have thee good sisters seen this horrible list of the afflictions of our age ? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/a1399075-Ways-of-Dying-in-1665( a regular topic of fascination on MN )< assembles pomanders of antiseptic herbes >
< warms rugs for Nilgiri and lovely cybergardeners who want watch the snow fall gently in the night >

Thanks for all the good wishes, not at a therapeutic med dose yet. Hope all are well.

Ooh, not often anyone's up as late as me!