RECIPES

Saturday 18 April 2020

Weeds? What Weeds?


Millie's fur was so silky soft after getting wet in the rain

Our day began with heavy rain but that soon gave way to broken clouds and sunshine.



The rain was heavy enough to flood down the driveway in sheets

I was wandering around the house and wondered out loud what I could do next.  Son, so nicely, reminded me that the Little Garden needed weeding.

The Little Garden is home to sweetpeas, stock and polyanthus

Okay, I thought, I can do that.  So outside I trotted – but it was all Fake News!  He had already done it!!

Not many weeds, but the garden looked much better without them

It was good to be outside for a while though.  The little pile of weeds went to the compost and I picked some lettuce to make a salad for lunch.

A corner of the vegetable garden

Lunch was eaten watching Piha Rescue on TV, a programme about surf lifesavers rescuing swimmers who have got into difficulties.

Even locals do not always appreciate how dangerous our coastal waters can be.  Unexpected rips (strong currents) can drag people out from shore, and the large waves can sometimes be extremely unpredictable and sweep a swimmer off their feet.

The programme today was about a man who had been fishing from the rocks when a wave dragged him out to sea.  Unfortunately, he drowned.  It was very sad.


The ocean can be a dangerous place
  
The worst experience I have had was being caught in a rogue wave when out swimming.  It carried me along with it, upside down with my long hair dragging through the sand.  Thankfully it took me closer to shore and I was able to exit the water, but I have never forgotten the horror of that time.

The ocean on a calmer day, much more suited to water activities

Stay safe J
Margaret.


I have had a lot of difficulty uploading photos today, so hopefully they are all visible.  Please let me know if any have not shown up.  Thanks, Mxx



26 comments:

  1. That is the sort of "fake News" that I like. Your garden is looking good. No new flower plants here until after lockdown.

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    1. I wanted to buy some more pansies but missed out. I hope it is not too long before garden centres can open up again.

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  2. Oh Millie welcomes us all with her shiny black coat! Love it! And those veggies on your garden look so healthy! I love how those slabs make good garden boxes and I have to try that once the lockdown is over :) Stay Safe Margaret, wish we can all go to the ocean soon!

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    1. Those slabs are actually a low retaining wall and I have created a garden behind the wall. I was able to plant "in" the blocks themselves after convincing son he didn't need to put a cap on them!
      Oh, wouldn't it be nice to visit the ocean again - it is only an hour's drive away, but not allowed for a while yet. Good luck with your own little garden :)

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  3. I'm not a strong swimmer so I stay out of the sea, but I do love to watch the waves in a storm, but always from a safe distance, for years we could park in a car park and sit in the car as the waves crashed, but these days they close the car par in a storm. I love your last photo, it reminds me of summer holidays. Lovely of your son to weed the garden, that's my role, hubby is never sure what is a weed or small plants, safer for me to do it.

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    1. Over the years I would have spent literally hours sitting in a car watching waves!
      My hubby was like yours - never could tell a plant from a weed :)

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  4. Ohhh, what a beauty you have there!!!! Those hairs at the top of the ears.... Cute!

    HA! Thank you! I always feel bad we have a little TV in the kitchen. You make me feel less bad :-)

    Yes, I had that swimming experience in Spain, too, scary.
    Yep, all pics to see, Ixx

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    1. I'm glad the pictures are showing up. I kept getting circles with a bar across it, most annoying.
      Millie is very cute. She is a quiet cat but very loving.
      Being at the mercy of the sea is very scary - glad you survived! :) xx

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  5. Now I know why I stay out if the water!

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    1. It was a really frightening experience, not something one wants to repeat!

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  6. Hello, What a sweet kitty photo. I would be thrilled if someone came and did our weeding. I am not a swimmer, maybe in a pool but not in the ocean. I prefer walking on the beach. The last view is just gorgeous. Take care, enjoy your day!

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    1. I was quite happy he had done the weeding - I can get down to do it, but it is getting so hard now to get back up again!

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  7. That sounds scary Margaret. I started to take in water one time saving a friend who was drowning. It was a time of panic for sure. I cannot imagine how you felt that time.

    Rip currents here take lives too. A tourist a few years ago was the latest victim.

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    1. That would have been frightening for you. Mine happened so fast, I was fortunate to not take in water. I have a lot of respect for the ocean now and seldom venture out very far, on the rare occasions I even go swimming.

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  8. That sounds like a horrible experience with the wave. I am sort of scared of the ocean anyway. I cannot stand to see my granddaughter in it...so it is good that we don't go with them to the beach.

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    1. We grew up with frequent visits to the beach and I love being beside the ocean, so I am sorry to hear that it scares you. I would be terrified of being alone in the wilderness, so perhaps it is what we grow up with.

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  9. Meant to say, that getting a flower bed cleans feels so good!

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  10. Rain!! Your garden must have loved it.
    We used to get Piha Rescue on greek TV. One of my favourite programmes. Wonderful kiwi accents

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    1. Wow, I didn't know Piha Rescue had gone international. I guess it is a great way of letting tourists know how dangerous the water can be. You know, it is a funny thing but I never hear kiwi accents - only everyone else who sounds different!

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  11. Millie looks a lot like my former Stick-Tail. He had a close encounter with a coyote just before he came in our kitty door and adopted us. He lived for 23 wonderful years. - Margy

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    1. Your Stick-Tail must have had a very happy (and charmed) life to have lived that long. Great memories :)

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  12. The little garden looks sweet and the Thyme ( I assume it is thyme) in that first cement block is thriving! Do you use it much in cooking? I have 3 different kinds growing and I love to pick some just to enjoy the smell but don't use it for any cooking.

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    1. Yes, that is ordinary garden thyme. I also grow lemon thyme, and used to have a silver thyme but seem to have lost that. I like to use thyme instead of bay leaf in a recipe, and sometimes add a few leaves to a casserole or poultry stuffing. I often pick it just to crush and sniff the heavenly smell :)

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  13. Your small garden looks so pretty! The veggie planters look great too!

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    1. Everything has been growing so well - it is starting to look a bit like a jungle!

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Thank-you for visiting my blog. I love it when you leave a comment so please feel free to have your say. Have a great day! Margaret xx