Hobbies and Crafts

Strange I never suffered from hayfever although my Mum did, badly. But in the last 10 years or so pollen, strong smells and perfumes, cats, even the wind in my face, makes my eyes itch like anything and i often sneeze 10 or 12 times on the trot. I think it is more mild allergy or irritation rather than hay fever, and it is all year round. But I can go for days without being bothered and am rarely bothered in Tenerife when we are there. :-S :-S

I've just had an email from T&M who are doing an offer on mildew resistant busy lizzies.
Slowly getting my plants organised before the holidays.
Take care
Von

Hi, got here with no problems, heavy traffic but no hold ups except going into Taunton Sainsburys for coffee when they were grass cutting.

Lovely accommodation on three floors so plenty of exercise, gallery kitchen dining room, balcony off smallish very smart lounge, utility room with washing machine and freezer two beds, one twin, one large double with ensuite, one separate bathroom and toilet, one cloakroom, one store room. Heating all in, flat screen TV, free WiFi. Man already been to ask if all ok. On the table small bottle cider and box of fudge. Hotel milks, sugar, tea coffee for arrival. All inside electronic gates.

Balcony at rear and patio at front, don't seem to be many in.

And they let us in early too.....3pm instead of 4.

That's good Ann, you must have caught Taunton at the right time, it can be a nightmare sometimes, there have been ongoing roadworks for months now on the north east side of town.

Hope you have a lovely time, weather is supposed to get really good as the week goes on.

Staying in Surrey for the weekend as ( whisper ) it's my birthday this weekend and the kids, apart from eldest son, whose birthday it was last weekend so we saw him then, in Somerset, are all coming here.

Something secret going on but I don't know what.

M.

Advice wanted please.

As an experienced gardener, with low energy problems - I find that my "lawn" is out of control.

Grass is very long - too long for my mower - and there are also a lot od weeds, including nettles and possible some bramble.

Someone has told me that I should use a strimmer

I've been bewildered by info on the internet - spoilt for choice and not understanding all the jargon.

Also need something light-weight, as I'm rather weak (esp. my wrists).

Any advice welcome.


Tess

P.S. Probably won't be back till tomorrow evening.
Thanks in anticipation.

Hi Tess,

Oh says Home base did do a lightweight strimmer that was very good.

Could you afford to maybe get somebody in to return it to a manageable length?

B & Q also do strimmers and you may be able to find somebody in the shop to advise you. :-)

Hi Tess,

I would say the same as Ann. My wrists are also very weak but I can manage our two strimmers.

They are Black and Decker one from Argos the other from Homebase and are light enough for me.

Give it a strim, leave it a day or two then strim again then mow it.

One last thing, make sure you have a good strong cutting line. We gave in and bought £ shop stuff. Not worth it. It keeps breaking.

Good luck. M. :-)

Glad you said that Maryanna I saw that in the pound shop. Fortunately we had plenty at the time. OH got some for grandson when we were down, in Homebase, his strimmer is homebase and OH was very impressed with it.

Hello Tess, I have a very lightweight Bosch cordless strimmer that I take in the car to use on our family graves.

It weighs just over 4lb and runs for about 30 minutes without needing to be recharged..I like it very much.

Lesley x

Thank you all ladies.

Will be on the look out at Homebase to see what I can get.


Should be able to cope with 4lbs, so that sounds good too.

Doing it bit by bit (or level by level) sounds good too.

Just need to get organised now. :-)

Tess x

For all the lady gardeners out there grow your own Cucumbers, here is why. :-)

CUCUMBER TIPS & TRICKS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!!

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2.For a pick me up in the afternoon... Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. Slice some and put in your water bottle.

3. If you rub a cucumber slice along your bathroom mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Place a few slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.
Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean. :-)

Wow BK, thanks for those tips.

I am growing cucumbers for the first time in years, this year, so when I get my bumper crop :-). I will know what to do with all the extras !!

M.

Because we have a lot off grass to cut we had a ride on mower, I say had because today in broad daylight someone has stolen it...I am so angry I could cry...we have reported it to the police and they will very kindly (not) get someone out to us at 5pm tomorrow.

I will have to try number 10 from B Ks list to see if it helps me calm down.

Lesley x

Thanks for that BK. :-)

Oh Lesley, how annoying, I would be feeling pretty mad as well.

Let's hope that when the Police finally arrive they actually do something to get it back. We have had quite a few garage and shed break ins round here. Garden tools and machinery, bikes, toys and even a wheelchair. Scum.

Let us know how it goes, fingers crossed.

M.

Lesley so sorry to hear that, doesn't it make you furious that people think they can just help themselves to your property that you have paid for? Will it be covered by insurance?

Yes Ann we are covered by our insurance.

The insurance company have told us to get 3 quotes, when they have decided which quote is acceptable we have to buy the mower then they will reimburse our money, grrrrrrr what a palaver.

Lesley x

Everyone working hard in their gardens now then. We cleared and tidies, as you may have read, before we went away. But everything had a growth spurt while we are away so off we go again. I bought three small herbs and planted them in pots before we went away and all three died. Our neighbours looked after everything very well, I can only assume they didn't spot them on the patio. Luckily not too expensive to lose but annoying all the same.

I have just been reading sharron's thread on the gen board and wonder if anyone on this thread has any ideas for unusual containers that they use. Our local garden centre has an old wheel barrow planted with small shrubs and it looks great. :-D :-D but, we don't have a wheelbarrow!!!

I once planted up old colanders. Plenty of drainage ;-) ;-)

I also planted an old plastic ball shaped lampshade with busy Lizzie's. Gave me a ball of colour.
Those were the days when I had little money but lots of time. :-D :-D

Saw some saucer shaped planters yesterday that had been planted with the small white daisy erigeron,alyssum, and trailing rosemary. They looked lovely and smelled
delicious.
Ann - you could try free cycle for a wheel barrow.
Von

Mmm Von I could but can't honestly think where I would put it!!

Garden is back to looking good now, so pleased with it this year. OH cut the lawn which always finishes it off. The Hostas have done well despite earlier misgivings and the gravel beds are looking good too. Must take more photos in a few days when I have finished downloading the hundreds taken in Cornwall and Dorset.