good grief it's been a while since I wrote anything here.
so quick update
- mouse problem resolved. finally. the cat re caught it.....
- slugs - so far my yeast/sugar traps, and all the other protections seem to be just about working.
- now I need to stop the pigeons eating all the spinach.
- I sang in a choir concert at the Sage, Gateshead - amazing place. Wonderful acoustics.
- It's allium flowering time. Oh how I love them.
- And cow parsley. love that too. although the pollen gets everywhere. even the cats have runny eyes.....
- yesterday was hubby's birthday. We carried a birthday picnic all the way to the top of this hill, which has amazing views over the Cheviots, and the Northumberland coastline. Also huge thunderstorms We got very rained on, and carried the picnic back to the car and ate in the car park listening to the rain hammering down on the roof.... although I was less worried about wet and more worried about the lightning...... I had to make an extra large cake when we got home to recover!
When you find a way of stopping the pigeons eating the spinach do let me know. Every year I plant lettuce and cabbage... A case of hope over experience. Because every year the pigeons eat the lot. The one year I netted the whole lot it was decimated overnight by caterpillars.
ReplyDeleteAwww, sorry about the picnic rainstorm. It's probably an adventure that you'll always remember though LOL. I planted my first ever alliums this year and they were beautiful. For a brief time. Why, oh why, can't they last longer? Oh well, I'm a fan now and will be waiting for them next spring! Your photos are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHow fabulous to sing in a big load of people in a wonderful venue. Glad to hear your slug defences are working; good luck with the pigeons. What an amazing view from your picnic place (but I'm glad you avoided the lightening!), and it's always, always worth making an extra-large cake. Sam x (PS Hope all exams going ok so far.)
ReplyDeleteit is a great venue, wonderous acoustics!
Deleteexams are going, that's all I can say..........
and yes. cake . lots of cake is the best x
Outstanding photo of the storm and lightning. Please send some this way, it's not rained here for nearly five weeks and the garden Is.Not.Happy.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to protect against pigeons is to have netted cages. If you just drape it over the plants the pigeons will sit on the net and still get the plants.
Or a gun. And a lot of time to sit patiently.
My grandfather always said that feeding pigeons bread soaked in alcohol would make them easier to catch.... not sure how acceptable this practice is nowadays. x
ReplyDeleteNo anti-pigeon suggestions, I'm afraid - they eat mine too! Great spot for a picnic and I'm sure it was lovely and cosy in the car! I have my fingers crossed for a thunderstorm here today - it's very muggy and, if my eyes are anything to go by, the pollen count is through the roof. Hope the cake was good! xx
ReplyDeleteit was lemon drizzle cake and it was very tasty xxx
DeleteWhat a wonderful place to go for a birthday picnic. A few memories made I think! I'm battling slugs and snails here as well, with limited success. My carrot seedlings have completely vanished. Must re-sow. Singing at the Sage must have been wonderful, glad you enjoyed it. I struggle with pigeons down at the allotment. I've netted the sprouts, otherwise they eat the lot. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteLovely to catch up with you! Happy Birthday to your husband, a great place to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteI'd make an extra large cake to recover as well. The pigeons seem a little more well behaved here - for now x
ReplyDeleteAmazing lightening shot! However, did the cake make the necessary recovery action required?
ReplyDeletecake makes everything better x
DeleteA lovely catch up...Happy Birthday to your husband! Your picnic in such a beautiful place was a lovely idea......even though it ended up raining. (I quite enjoy 'car picnics' we have had so many over the years.) Happy weekend Tess.
ReplyDeleteHelen xox
Eek, lightning and picnics don't go well together! Perhaps I could come and sing to your pigeons, that would frighten them off! J x
ReplyDeleteExcellent picnic photo. very dramatic.
ReplyDeleteWe were in Gateshead recently and visited the Baltic. I didn't get on with the exhibitions but the kittiwakes on the fourth floor were fantastic. You could get so close and their little heads were like velvet. It was a highlight of our weekend there.
The animals are conspiring against you! At least the mouse is gone :-)
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I think the extra large birthday cake could almost make the storm worth it! hope you are well xx
ReplyDeleteGlad the mouse is gone (ugh - hate them being around but not knowing exactly where!). The singing sounds like a great experience - I am due to join a choir in September, and really looking forward to it! take care xCathy
ReplyDeleteThe picnic in the car seems like such a British thing, but I wonder if it actually happens worldwide? Glad your mouse/slug problems are under control (still OK on the slug front after all the rain we've had?) and good luck with the pigeons, I do like the idea of trying to get them drunk - then you could send your teenager out to catch them, mine would love that!
ReplyDeleteA lovely catchup. I bet singing in the Sage was amazing. I love that building. Belated happy birthday to your husband it sounds like it was a memorable picnic!
ReplyDelete