Chat Space

[Daisy]

Oma, our kitchen gets sun late afternoon and early evening and is quite cool during the day, even when the weather's very hot. But today it's been cool - I even put a cardigan on at one point. But the chutney is made. It was one of those vague recipes that didn't spell out quantities for seasoning and spices, just "add to taste", and OH finds that annoying. I hope you don't get more cramps tonight. How frustrating that even drinking a lot of water doesn't always stop them.

Gem, it must be a relief that the smokey smell has gone, and both cats are happy again. You must have done all the right things for the cats to allow you to give them treatments so calmly. It must be much harder if they are adult rescues. Eva's not easy to treat and she's too big and strong to hold still.

Nanto, I always seem to be changing my grocery order at the last minute. But sometimes you just do't know what you're going to need, or not need. You have had a lot of rain in the last couple of days.

Plant, I sympathise with not understanding the ins and outs of finances these days. My OH was also a financial advisor but he's been retired many years and things change so frequently. Could you make jam with your plums? I think plum jam is delicious and so easy to make. I'm sure the family will help you to eat it if there's too much.

[Nanto2girls]

Good morning. Sun is shining.

Daisy, I'm sure the chutney will be fine.

I'm going into town with hubby. He'll meet up with his pal.
I want a few bits in Iceland, some bacon from the butchers.
Oh and I need a birthday card for one of the nephews.

Salad with scampi for dinner.

[Gemini]

Good morning ladies.

We have the sun too Nan2

Daisy, yes we are lucky (as are the cats) that they were born in the Rescue. They have known nothing but care and love.

Library morning, for me golf for OH.
I will do some local shopping on the way back. I need a birthday card, and despite having a grocery delivery on Sunday there are a few things we need! One was an unsuitable substitute and then a couple of things I left off. I went in at 11 the night before to add them but it was too late. We usually order from Tesco to get the points, and their cut off time is 11.46pm. I didn't realise Sainsbury's was earlier!

[Oma]

Morning ladies
It's not sunny but bright and warm,

Gem
Yes some cats become tigers when trying to treat them ,
DD has the same fight with Buzz when doing his nails,
Takes two and tightly wrapped in a towel, lots of hissing and snarling and biting if he can get to her,
Tallulah is completely different she will sit with her paw up quite calmly.

Annoying about the cut off time. To be honest I never look when we occasionally order online
I will in future, not that we do it very often .

Nanto
Enjoy your trip into town.

Daisy
I bet the chutney tastes lovely , did it make much?

Bs German aunt made all her own preserves and kept them in the cellar,
I always loved going down and looking , her strawberry jam and peaches in syrup were my favourites.
Sadly she has dementia now so can't do stuff like that.

We were woken at 3.30 by the house alarm going off , we had the bedroom windows wide open and the alarm box is just above,
Frightened the life out of us,
By the time we turned it off and checked everything was ok and our hearts had stopped racing we were wide awake.
So we had a cupper and chatted for a while , I went back to bed at 5 and managed a hour.
B just dozed on the chair.

We going out to find a new shrub this morning and I will pop into Morrisons for sauerkraut we fancy that today.

[Daisy]

Good Tuesday morning, everyone.

Nanto, enjoy the sunshine. I'm sure the bacon you get from the butchers is much better than the bacon in the supermarkets. I love scampi, and often have it when we're out but never think of doing it at home. I hope you find a suitable birthday card for your nephew. Young men are hard to choose cards for.

Gem, your cats are very lucky indeed. The dogs we've had from puppies have been calmer and easier to handle than our rescues. I find you can get some incredibly inappropriate substitutes from Sainsburys (other supermarkets may be the same, of course). I suppose I'm used to the 11 pm cut off, which always seems quite late to me as Milk & More's cut off is 9 pm.

Oma, no wonder you ended up wide awake with the alarm going off like that. I wonder what caused it. I didn't count the jars of chutney - about 8 or 9, I think. I'm not so sure it's "lovely" though. I think we may have needed to cook it for longer as it smells a bit vinegary. I can't taste anything much at the moment, and OH couldn't tell. I've tried several different makes of sauerkraut, but still find it hard to like. Is the shrub to replace the one that got waterlogged? My oldest sister-in-law used to make loads of preserves, bottled fruit and all sorts of jams, chutneys etc from their vegetable and fruit garden. Her bottled pears were just amazing. It's a lot of work doing all the bottling etc but she had always got something to hand for unexpected guests.

No particular plans for us today except to pick the plums from the tree that didn't break. They look ripe but it's a tall tree and we'll need a ladder to reach them.

[Oma]

Daisy
Yes I need to replace the waterlogged one, we looked at it last night I think it's past it's best and doesn't look healthy at all.
I never liked Sauerkraut at first but over the years I've become to love it , the sourer the better for me ,
I can eat if from the Jar.
I'm not keen on the Polish one with carrots to me it has no taste,
Sauerkraut with pastrami in rye bread is lovely .

When your taste buds are weak you need something strong so maybe the chutney being a bit vinegary will be just right .

I wish I had a plum tree, if I lived near you I would be stealing yours😁

[Plantaholic]

Daisy, after you said about your plums, I went to look at ours and found the blue plums are definitely ripe and the Vicks are just turning, must find a home for them.

Oma, not sure about Sauerkraut, I don’t know if I have ever tasted it. I wonder what set your alarm off at the time, not nice in the night.

My Mil was a great jam and bottler so I followed suit for some years, not sure if her kilner jars are still in the loft. No quinces to bother about this year. Very dull today, looks like rain.

[Oma]

Plant
I think the old Kilner jars were so much better than today's, they were heavier and the seal I think was stronger.
Aunty Ingrid had lots of old ones in all sizes
She had huge tall round ones for the pickled gherkins, you could hardly lift them when full.
She would just take a bowl open the lid take what she wanted and seal it up again , so no lifting.

I'm sure everyone will love a share of your plums😁

[Nanto2girls]

Had a good morning in town. I forgot to get mushrooms.
I wouldn't mind,but they were on my list,and i checked the list a few times.

Daisy, you are right,the bacon from the butchers is so much better than the supermarket.
I got a suitable card for nephew.

Gem, the cut off time for Asda is 11pm,the night before.

I have never tasted Sauerkraut.

[Daisy]

Oma, perhaps that's where I've gone wrong with sauerkraut - the Polish ones with carrots in are what I've bought! It never occurred to me they might vary. Our plum trees are only about 3 years old. One is recommended for semi shade, and the Victoria one is in more sunlight. They've been very easy to grow, and are well worthwhile. I think you can get them on dwarfing rootstock to grow in pots. I'm sure you're right about old Kilner jars being better. I've only got a couple of new-ish ones and the replacement rubber seals I got for them are very thin and flimsy.

Plant, your plums are doing well. The jam was so easy to make - just plums, sugar and water. We used green Victoria plums (the unripe ones off the broken part of the tree) and it was very quick and easy. The longest job was skimming the stones off the surface.

Nanto, isn't it strange, you can have something clearly on your list and still forget it - I often seem to do that. Enjoy your bacon. I bet it smells delicious when it's cooking. At least. you found a suitable card for your nephew.

We've had showers on and off today, so we didn't pick the plums. I took Eva out just as it was going dark and it was spitting with rain then as well. I think there's more to come.

[Nanto2girls]

Good morning. It's looking bright this morning, but don't know what the weather forecast is.

No plans for today, will just go with the flow.

Jacket potatoes for dinner with cheese and beans. We have some coleslaw to use as well.

[Gemini]

Good morning everyone.

Its dull here Nan2 and I think some rain forecast later on.

I have never tried sauerkraut either. Nor have I preserved any plums!

Aqua for me this morning, coffee with friends after. Afterwards one of the aqua friends and I are going out for lunch. Her car is out of action at the moment so I am driving her to and from aqua. She and her OH are splitting up but still living under the same roof for now, I think she needs cheering up. Her OH is that friend in our group that I don't get on with.
OH is out for lunch too, with one of her oldest friends.

[Oma]

Morning ladies

Nanto
We have a dull start and a few drops of rain here,
A good Mooning to you too 😁

Gem
Maybe your friend got sick of her attitude, she sounds a very unpleasant individual,
Enjoy lunch out.

B off to discuss his bloods this morning then we will resume our hunt for a shrub,
Went to several places yesterday, there is a little independent place tucked out of the way in Sunderland we are going to try today,
A couple of years ago I got a bush there and my eucalyptus tree,
They thrived , my DD has the tree now as it grew too big for my little plot and it needed more space.
So I'm hopeful we will find one there.

Daisy there are several different Sauerkrauts it depends on your taste , I prefer the pure really sour one usually by Krakus.

[Daisy]

Good Wednesday morning, everyone.

Nanto, enjoy your "go with the flow" day. Dinner sounds easy but very tasty.

Gem, it must be hard for your aqua friend and her OH to still be living under the same roof, but from what you've said about her OH, it was only a matter of time before they parted. Are they selling the house? I wondered if your OH was playing golf, but hopefully she's enjoying a good lunch with a good friend.

Oma, I hope B's bloods are ok. You will find the right shrub sooner or later. I love eucalyptus and had one in our garden. Then a so-called tree surgeon hacked at it and it died. I can see I'll have to try different Sauerkrauts, but I'm not sure if I'd like the really sour ones you have.

It's dull but quite warm here. I've got bedding in the wash, so I hope it dries outside. OH has taken his car for a service this morning, and I've got an optician's appointment this afternoon. It's a bit overdue and I keep getting reminders.

[Oma]

It's horrible here that fine misty rain that soaks you without you realising and it's turned cold.

Daisy a full day for you both , rest tonight.

Bs bloods were the same as last time so fine, why they couldn't just phone him with the results I don't know , it would have saved a wasted appointment, and his time as well.

We have been to the garden centre and I'm afraid I got a bit carried away,

I bought another fuchsia bush, and small box hedge plant ,

Then I spied a lovely Pieris japonica sinfonia , such a beautiful well formed shrub ,
Then a Loropetalum Chinese fire dancer , all in such good condition ,

Some of the garden centres we have been too don't look after their plants very well I think,
This place is small but has such a lot in from small plants too huge trees and amazing Olive trees if you have the space and money not cheap some at £120 right up to £250 depending how old and big they are .

I only went for the one plant, didn't intend spending so much , my purse was much much lighter when we came out , but I thought why not, they are plants that don't need renewing every year .
B said if your happy with them that's all that matters 😁