Cybergarden: Spring into Summer

[Upwardandonward]

Here's a new thread for us.

Thank you so much for birthday greetings upward, and thanks again to Merivel, now I've found the second painting. I usually think of the American painting "The Peaceable Kingdom" rather than actual ark, so it was a surprise, and I really love the idea of dancing jigs.
Time for the non-alcoholic champagne I think - cheers!

Cheers , shodatin< clinks with upward , Nilgiri, madmouse & kizzie*

< HF lands time machine in shodatin's living room carrying trampoline for eagle to entertain birthday girl >

< packs away Catherine wheel -making >

< wheels in gigantic birthday cake , made by our kindly fairies >

< summerhouse table groans >

Wonderful party! Trampolineing beagle and huge cake, who could want more for a birthday - just let me turn off phone ringer for a few minutes - and I see I've got another email from someone else- back soon.

Glad you're enjoying it , shodatin - have a after all these wellwishers

Am gutted to say I manage to miss the Post Office , - I had to go on other errand in oppoite direction in order to be able to go there , but was hot and just missed the PO counter , and they tell me the rules have changed & not so easy to chance it by guessing ... will go do it tomorrow

Please look away ifbeating ... have had my ears syringed and everything very loud now ! HF sunbathing and sending restful vibes to us all

< winces at loud rustic music >

Happy Birthday shodatin!

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=cake&hl=en&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1036&bih=567&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsle&tbnid=ibqT6T9DBmwifM:&imgrefurl=lavenderbakery.wordpress.com/tag/chocolate-cake/&docid=V9tND8oTbTy8-M&imgurl=lavenderbakery.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/leos-bday-cake.jpg&w=2304&h=3072&ei=EzqgT5CLC6fP4QT1kYXIAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&dur=1033&sig=103083964200308549599&page=5&tbnh=178&tbnw=134&start=56&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:56,i:281&tx=105&ty=223&vpx=263&vpy=197&hovh=259&hovw=194" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cake

Thanks for the Merivel, could do with reviving, as almost everyone I know has phoned/skyped/called, sometimes more than one at once, which was fun. Sorry you had such a difficult time with the P.O, plus having ears done - remember when DH had his syringed, so hope you're soon back to normal.
What a beautiful cake Nilgiri, chocolate with maybe lavendar icing? Don't know how you found it, but it's most impressive. (I bought ingredients for lime cheesecake, but still in fridge, so will make it at weekend when I'm seeing other friends). I never thought I'd have such a cake, or such a trampolining beagle, and am very pleased indeed I have such lovely new(ish) friends.
Hope you're not short of spoons upward, having so much to sort out at home after long time away, and hope you're not too tired after dancing a jig with Merivel.
(Loved the Maypole Dance too, had actually forgotten doing that at school, as well as being a May Queen).

< head spins with overindulgence > Inspired baking , Nilgiri - one of the most heavenly taste experiences ever , lavender icing - let alone with a rich chocolate cake

How lovely you had so many calls , shodatin ! Not surprised your friends all want to wish you many happy returns < ndt nuzzles up in celebratory manner >

Sorry , pc froze again- hope I didn't do a tuneless karaoke turn or any other such horror (don't worry , I can't sing ) < drags upward to the microphone instead

Shall we have our
farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/1890592355_2f36a60194.jpg

epicfireworks.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=52
now ?

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwWhat a truly original celebration - as you can see am not doing well as can't keep eyes open, but have really enjoyed today, inclkuding super fireworks, so many thanks once again. Who's birthday's next?
Good night all, have happy dreams.

Many happy returns , shodatin !!!!!!!!
www.skylighter.com/i/fireworks-display/finale-fireworks.jpg

< turns music down and lowers lights >

< switches on lava lamps for swirly coloured effects >

< festive fairies whirr round sweeping up crumbs & ensuring birthday cards & banners are straight > >

What a wonderful parade of calls and Skypes you've had, shodatin! Many happy returns once more.

Hope Upward & Merivel have recovered from the wild dancing - that Maypole dance was superb, M. And so very appropriate that you were a May Queen, s, on your birthday.

Merivel, you do a fine party! Upward today has been OK for you too.

Hope we all sleep refreshing and peaceful sleep tonight.

Ooooh , just realised I haven't offered my weighty opinion unswerving agreement on the age of Greensleevesto your DP ,Nilgiri . I agree with Dh , who declares "Reformation" - is it ?

HopeDP continues to feel better 7 that you don't get lurgy

Thank you for your concern and ark -floods drained away !! Phew - HF very pleased

Thank you for berberis info- am fascinated , especially that you say shodatin that it can grow in similar way to my beloved haawthorn < plots roadside hawthorn heist >
Goodnight all
< plumps cushions >

Ah , missed you there, Nilgiri < tucks rug round our cyberfriend >

< dozes off , dreaming of dances >.

MorningAfternoon alls

I imagine we're all still recovering from our whirrl of dancing , especially shodatin - even our beagle is a bit sluggish after his portion of birthday cake

Hope you are getting some time for relaxing , upward , and will be able to get out a bit if the deluge might be over for the season < looks up forecastst >

Good to see lots of rallies for Mayday - did a link but it froze my pc so had better not inflict same on you - plus the traditional English rompery such as Morrisdancing / Beltane / Oxford colleges

Bah , someone has knocked on door then returned to repeat - amjust not in a state today to answer/ have visitors ( not ill , just the usual, which I'm sure you all "get" , from less slovenly standpoints of course )
Oooh, sun is out- wishing same for us all

< puts out tin of very light snacks and sparkling water and s>

Even more superb fireworks! I don't know how you find such amazing stuff Merivel and it's most impressive.
Sorry I couldn't stay up /type properly, but I don't get much notice these days.
Today seems back to normal, although up earlier than usual, as if I'd actually been at champagne. Weather's ok and have got tomato seedlings into garage (near windows in temporary cloche system to protect against frost), so house looks much tidier for second birthday celebrations.
Have today sent your Berberis second-class Merivel, sorry I should have opted for first rather than usual economy, just didn't think about timing, but there's plenty of damp ditchen roll and two lots of waterproofing.
Have previously had hawthorn hedges but not now, but will enquire of local friends, remembering collecting the flowers with French neighbours who dried them for medicinal purposes, heart I think, but I don't know, and never heard of medicinal berberis, although think there's also a darker-leaved version which might be useful.
I think I might have decided on this year's present-to-myself, having received some samples of artificial grass in post (back garden has pebbles where lawn used to be, and I think decent grass would look better altho not prepared/able to mow again).
I'd forgotten about this typing, better post it now..

Oh dear, something else I thought of then forgot:- dogs used to get scrap of birthday cake etc. just to join in festivities, but nowadays we're advised that they're allergic to chocolate and shouldn't have it, (even with lavendar icing), so maybe that's why beagle seems a bit under weather (apart from spending too long jumping up and down, which they're not designed to do, of course.

Glad we're in agreement with Nilgiri's DP, particularly as he's been unwell, and hope upward's recovering from all the noisy dancing and fireworks etc. It was a great party, even though I couldn't stay, and good to continue looking up references this morning, so thanks
to all.

< doses dyspectic hound with shodatin*'s special tincture >

Thank you so much , for Berberis < jumping up & down ! > Am sure your

xcellent system will deliver them beautifully . Please don't worry about my greed for hawthorn - last week I have found a hedge with "babies" below , at the roadside - Dh warned mme police cars often cruise past there watching out for laawbreaksuspicious activity , & indeed htey do but the roots are deep
dstubborn so must nip back there

Pleased to hear your tomao seedlings ae doing well . I was worried about oury seeds rotting from overwatering & obviously under watered ... poor Dh was dismayed when his trays were a wasteland- are growing OK now , though

Am What a charming mental picture , your French neightbours collecting hawthorn flowers . I believe they are used for a heart condition - aren't the flowers gorgeous ? I love the thought that you actually had such a hedge - am qite obsessive about their beauty

Oh wow , I remember you were thinking of artificial grass , & I think it looks rilliant . Am wondering whether these sorts of sites might be of use , but you sound very methodical win your research !

www.reviewcentre.com/reviews236000.html

www.landscapermagazine.com/features/reviews/synthetic-grass/
( -you probably know all of this )

Good weather indeed today -I hope we can all at least smell spring
scents coming in the window

Sorry bit rushed - disorganised . Hope upward has rests between Battles otO

< felines bask contentedly >

Thanks so much for grass information Merivel, I only have samples from one firm so far, so very pleased to learn more. I had damped-off seedlings this year, first time, (Purple-sprouting Brocolli) which still look unhappy but are definitely recovering, and sure yours will too.
Glad you've found small hawthorns, and police don't usually take any notice of roadside "harvests", being wild.
My own hedge/s were not at all impressive, as had to cut when I could and rarely saw flowers, but can remember the scratches and physical hard work, sometimes leaning into a strong wind to reach neglected bits while standing on footstool from livingroom - hard work I remember.

I will get out tomorrow - local elections where I am. This has been a party thread recently, no wander people are running out on spoons (good though).

Sorry im a day late but just popping in to wish shodatin a very happy birthday . Glad you got lots of lovely calls x

Glad you'll be able to get out tomorrow, upward, and I gather you're planning to vote? I'm finding it easier to do it postally these days, particularly if I'm having a bad day.
I'm running out of spoons every day, unfortunately, but the partying has certainly cheered me without being more tired than usual. We seem to have shared the firework celebrations, and I'l always remember the trampolining beagle. Hope you're not too tired upward, having just remembered you're probably still recovering from time in hospital plus earlier operation.

Thanks for good wishes, kizzie, hope you got some of Nilgiri's Lavender and Chocolate cake and had fun with Merivel's May Day celebrations. Also hope things are going well for you at work, and for DH also these days.

How lovely to see you, kizzie! Hope you've been keeping afloat metaphorically and actually in the storms!

Oh local elections where you are, Upward? Will it mean a trek back to your old place, or have you been been superhumanly organised and got your new address on the electoral roll?

Btw after everyone's intimidated support, it turns out DP is wrong! I've just told him the bad news! Greensleeves is indeed thought to be Elizabethan. DP is old romantic who likes to believe the story of it being written by Henry VIII to court Ann Boleyn so not belonging to the reign of Henry & Ann's daughter! Thank you for DH's diplomatic cover-all of "Reformation", Merivel.

(DP back in London and sounding fine, if crestfallen, and much touched by all your wishes for his health.)

Glad you're making progress with the artificial grass, shodatin - very fitting that such a long-desired and life-enhancing project should be your present-to-self. Good to hear you're getting back to normal despite birthday dissipations!

Hawthorn gathering sounds possibly challenging - good luck with that M do you think it was the police who knocked?

< screeching at you "Do you think it was the police who knocked "

Poor DP , glad he's recovered but as for crestfallen , how lovely that he is such a romantic My spouse is saying consoling things to DP here Thank you for link- I love the tune and "early" music

Great to see you, kizzie ! Hope you get some time in your garden this Bank Holiday . Did your valiant attemppts to save venerable rhododendron have the hoped-for effect ?

H , upward*- hope you have a smooth jorney to the polling centre & that
everyone in your town has a sound & wakes up ready to vote very
wisely

[sshock]n* - what an incredible method of hedge trimming - you poor thing

• and bah at noteven being rewarded with a few flowers ! Thank you for that vivid picture

Party thread indeed , upward , as long of course as we all feel free to wail & grump if we need to ,concurrently . In this house we celebrate all week for a birthday , keep cards up for week - can we enjoy your birthday week , shodatin and hold our gala in honour of upward's homecoming perhaps at weekend ? Which gentler-paced festiities shall we have next ? A

www.nga.gov/onlinetours/index.shtm ?
PS I am in the mood for this wellknown painting , if you'll joinmeuk/products/p12013471-sa-i2784742/vincent-van-gogh-s

tarry-night-c1889.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=5000084&ui=99685ec98

b144cfca4f36960b9ed7aa3&rfid=595142&ctid=1575763743
< puts out s & tightly-shut snack tin >

I'm only half-way through your links, Merivel, which have not turned blue here so have to copy them out then print myself, and it's too late for managing that today.
I remember the Starry Night painting, but it's not one of my favourites, and am assuming the other's about cats?
Will try tomorrow when brain's rested, meanwhile I'll have cards up for a week as usual, as hope to have cake ready for weekend and Monday for belated b'day visitors.
Wish I could contribute something for upwards celebrations, but only know how to put photos on my Mumsnet account.
Thanks for the , just time to grab it on way to bed and wish everyone a good night.

Afternoon , all - hope everyone is OK today < inspects beagle & pronounces him fully recovered >
s

Apologies, slept away the morning- hope it's not been too rainy for you to be able to cast your vote, upward -

Sorry links didn't work , shodatin-
www.art.co.uk/asp/View_HighZoomResPop.asp?apn=12013471&imgloc=1

4-1455-Z000RR4O.jpg&imgwidth=894&imgheight=671
From reading about it I think Van Gogh was making a big feature of the gas lamp light & the chranits effects . He also wrote ( vaguely-uas turned ino subscription only )" I feel the need for , dare I say the word, religion..so I go out and paint te stars "
www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19316720.html?key=01-42161A527E191D6A1

20C051D06224E263C4D3C437779710F720E0B61651A617F137155

I love this one , which you probably prefer
www.art.co.uk/asp/View_HighZoomResPop.asp?apn=11726159&imgloc=1

3-1351-Z000SIEX.jpg&imgwidth=894&imgheight=671

< warms rugs >

Hope we're all having a relaxing evenng after a not-too-awkward day

That terrible cheesey Italian count is on BBC4 with a programme about Shakespeare in Italy , if you haven't all fled from him