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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 18 2025, 4:17pm
Post #1 of 42
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Come right in! It's Fiesta Friday!
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Welcome to Fiesta Friday, everyone!
Goodness, Friday came quickly this week. Some errands, some shopping, some bush and tree trimming, and bang! It's Friday. There was a light dusting of snow on the lawn this morning too. Just enough to remind us not to get too comfortable with the idea of Spring just yet, and to keep the turtlenecks out for a few more weeks, at least.
How about you? Did you have a good week? Is the Easter Bunny coming to your house this weekend? The buffet is full of honey-glazed ham, salads, hard-boiled eggs, and one whole end of a table full of chocolate bunnies, cream-filled eggs, and ice cream! So, dig in, order up your favorite drink, and tell us how you're doing!
*puts quarters on juke box* a tune, a tune!!
Happy weekend, everyone!!
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Annael
Elvenhome
Apr 18 2025, 4:29pm
Post #2 of 42
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We've gotten close to freezing the last two nights (right after I planted seedlings, but they survived), but we are going to get up into the 60s next week yay! Spring at last! Everything is in bloom now, rhododendrons, tulips, daffs, cherry trees--it's a real pleasure to walk about the 'hood.
Busy times for me, juggling three projects over the next three weeks before I go on vacation. I'll take a latte and a scone to go, thanks!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
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NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 18 2025, 5:19pm
Post #3 of 42
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Nice that Spring has gotten to your hood. I bet it's very pretty there, and glad your seedlings survived. What did you plant?
Nothing like deadlines prior to vacations to motivate you. Good luck, and have a fabulous weekend! 
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Meneldor
Doriath
Apr 18 2025, 5:50pm
Post #4 of 42
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one of y'all took this selfie?
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107
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cats16
Gondolin
Apr 18 2025, 6:34pm
Post #5 of 42
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One last hot chocolate, please!
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We also had a bit of a cooldown the past couple of days, though thankfully no snow.
We leave on a trip next week, so this weekend will involve some errands. And I'm expecting a long bingo session with my girlfriend's family on Sunday.
Wishing everyone a happy visit from the Easter Bunny and a pleasant weekend!
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Annael
Elvenhome
Apr 18 2025, 6:38pm
Post #7 of 42
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Hollyhocks, dahlias, snapdragons, and phlox
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a bit early for the dahlias, so glad it didn't freeze!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 18 2025, 6:39pm
Post #8 of 42
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Where are you two off to this time?
Good luck with the bingo, and happy Easter!!
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 18 2025, 7:36pm
Post #9 of 42
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Mostly because they were my mom's favorites. You're going to have a beautiful garden.
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Apr 18 2025, 7:43pm
Post #10 of 42
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*turns off oven, takes a cookie from the rack*
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Is it Friday already? Great elephants! Could I have an iced mocha, please, Altaira, and I'll nab a bit of that ham, and a dark chocolate bunny, thank you. Here's a tray of fresh-baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to add to the goodies. I finally finished painting the last room (bedroom) this afternoon, including painting the heating ducts, cleaning all furniture and curtains and books in the bookcase, installing new cellular shades, hanging my Daniel Reeve Map of TORn...and I celebrated by making cookies! 
Not that we won't have any treats to celebrate Easter, one must always have jellybeans and chocolate bunnies, and Peeps, of course.
You had snow? We had a frost warning last night - Spring keeps springing surprises on us!
And instead of a tune, how about this golden oldie: Lord of the Peeps! http://www.lordofthepeeps.com/...ologue/prologue.html
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 18 2025, 7:47pm
Post #11 of 42
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Mine kept flowering well into Fall, and they're popping right up again now.
What kind of phlox did you plant? I planted some a couple of years ago, and I can't recall what kind they were, but they've hardly spread, and some didn't make it through the winters.
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 18 2025, 7:48pm
Post #12 of 42
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She even got the background perfect!
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 !
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 18 2025, 7:49pm
Post #13 of 42
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Do tell where you folks will be headed off to!
Good luck with the Bingo. What do they use for prizes?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 18 2025, 8:15pm
Post #14 of 42
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The only thing better than an oatmeal cookie is one with chocolate chips in it. yum!
Good grief! You're like the energizer Easter Bunny. It must be very satisfying to walk through a newly-painted and cleaned house. Which reminds me, my invitation still stands. 
Enjoy the satisfaction of jobs well-done, the Easter candy, and the weekend!
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Annael
Elvenhome
Apr 18 2025, 9:19pm
Post #15 of 42
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I already have sweet peas, gentians, columbine, lavender, catmint, bluebells, lobelia, and salvia . . .
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and for foilage, several types of hebes and calluna, a variety of heather that goes bright orange in late summer. I've always loved an English garden that's just a mass of different flowers.
Almost forgot my Sherwood daphne which is in full and very sweet-scented bloom! And zinnias are coming up!
it's an addiction.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Annael
Elvenhome
Apr 18 2025, 9:23pm
Post #16 of 42
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yes, I have a couple snapdragons that made it over the winter!
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they bloomed and bloomed and bloomed - of course, I kept cutting them back as you should.
I believe they are woodland phlox. Definitely not the ground-cover kind. They are in pots and about a foot tall; one is pink, one is blue.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Apr 18 2025, 11:35pm
Post #17 of 42
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Emerging from a three-day storm here.
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The tail-end of Tropical Cyclone Tam has been lashing the upper part of the country. It's moved on from our area now, but certainly outstayed its welcome! Constant high winds with powerful gusts, and a fair dump of rain. Last night brought thunderstorms. I'm very glad not to be among the many, many people who go away (often camping) for the Easter four-day weekend.
We've come through just fine, though, with only a single one-hour power cut, which is better than we usually have during storms. The roof got ripped off one of the shelters Mr Kimi built for our spoiled sheep, but fortunately they were in another paddock at the time. The roof took some finding, too, as it had blown some distance - and when he found it and put bricks on top, the wind snatched it up again and moved it to another hiding spot.
It's still windy (though much less so), and very humid, but that won't keep us out of the garden for long. The tomato season has been deemed over, and this weekend we'll get the last few plants out, compost spread and broad beans planted for winter. I should pick and freeze the remaining aubergines, too. We're still getting a few strawberries, the persimmons have begun, and so have the little non-tropical guavas that make a lovely, tart jelly. Our tamarillo tree is fruiting like never before, and we're eating those every day.
Easter goodies: I made Hot Cross Buns, and they turned out beautifully. And are now just a memory :) I'll make Easter eggs later today, when I can summon up the energy (bad night thanks to the thunderstorms).
Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 19 2025, 12:58am
Post #18 of 42
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Good heavens, how large is that roof that's being blown all over? SO glad the sheep were not beneath it!
Mm, Hot Cross Buns! What kinds of fruits do you put in yours? Around here, they tend to have either just raisins, or a mixture of dried fruits.
And have you made chocolates yet this year?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 19 2025, 1:15am
Post #19 of 42
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Wow! A fantastic Holiday Spread of Foods! :D
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THANK YOU, Altaira! ;D
It will be a quiet weekend around here... which is JUST FINE WITH ME! My Balti g'son has had a rough week looking after one of his 2 kitties. So we've been on the phone quite a bit all week. Koala is petite and about 3yo with neurological challenges that make her a bit wobbly and rolls her head in the cutest way when she's walking around. She's also deaf and has the loveliest little soul. She had her little girl surgery (I call it tuning the piano) to try and help her gain weight and prevent inner complications... and she had to have some teeth pulled (another result of her health). So g'son has been intently watching her every move and making sure kitty #2 (another sweetheart) doesn't create any problems. So he's pretty stressed. It's Spring break and he's realizing it hasn't been one of the best. But kitty is doing better every day :D
I've been busy with the chainsaw cutting up the 7 large trees downed by storms over the past 5 years. Got quite a pile going on of various twigs, branches, and trunks. I'm hoping to make some chairs and tables with the larger pieces, so I'm keeping as much of it intact and as long as possible.
Just missed a bad storm south of me today. Damaging hail with 65mps winds. We had the rain, but not the hail or wind, thank Goodness!
Have a GREAT weekend everyone! And thanks for taking such great care of us, Altaira! :D
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Apr 19 2025, 1:15am)
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 19 2025, 10:08am
Post #20 of 42
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It's pretty bad when an entire roof disappears - twice! I'm glad Mr. Kimi didn't get blown away too.
Wow, you still have strawberries this late in the season. Gotta love that NZ climate. More yummy things to eat!
Stay dry and safe in the garden, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
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Altaira
Superuser
Apr 19 2025, 10:17am
Post #21 of 42
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Such a pretty, cream color. I'm sure she'll bounce back to 'normal' sooner than later. Even with a few challenges, pets (especially very loved and spoiled ones) usually recover quickly.
I can just picture you out wrangling a chainsaw like a pro. If you weren't a pro when you started (and my guess is you were), you would be after that many trees!
I hope you get some r&r in this weekend too! Happy Easter!
p.s. the ice cream at the buffet was especially for you. 
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 19 2025, 1:22pm
Post #23 of 42
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I mean... you're juggling three projects at the same time! *bows deeply* So it's wonderful that you literally can stop and enjoy your flowers, plants, garden, countryside waking up and blasting forth their colours to give you this lovely boost of *heavy sigh* Ahhhhhhhh..... :)
Enjoy! And wishing you good luck, fast editing, and productive word flows on your projects!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
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Apr 19 2025, 4:11pm
Post #24 of 42
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She's so fortunate to have such a caring human looking after her! 
What a relief to not get the hail and gusts! It looks like that storm is breaking up and heading north of us...but I would have liked some rain, though.
Careful with that chainsaw, gramma! Is some of that useable for firewood or kindling? Wasn't one of those a big tree that came down by your driveway a year or two ago?
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"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Kimi
Forum Admin
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Apr 19 2025, 9:18pm
Post #25 of 42
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It's a cozy shelter that four sheep (though we currently only have three) can snuggle up in. Still a bit startling that the roof was pulled off and travelled some distance, though! Even moreso when it escaped from under bricks. I think it's perhaps because the storm lasted so long, so it had time to tug and tug at the bolts until it got them out.
The buns had currants and candied peel, and generous amounts of spices. Using pastry cream for the crosses makes a surprising amount of difference to the overall tastiness, too.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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