Friday and Fiesta are here. Come join us!

[Altaira]

Greetings and welcome, everyone. Another Friday is upon us!

We had our first day over 90 f (32 c) this past week. Luckily, it cools off nicely at night, but our new red maple trees go lots of watering. I have a moisture measurer for indoor plant soil which works just as well for outdoor plants, so they're spoiled trees.

We're finally getting our lawn sprinkler system turned on this Monday, which is about 4-5 weeks later than usual - partially due to me thinking the lawn businesses would be past their Spring rush - and me being wrong. [crazy] I've been watering the grass by hand when I water the trees and bushes, but the lawn will appreciate a nice, good soak a few times a week from now on.

B.G. and I will be watching cricket and soccer this weekend. How about you? The buffet looks especially enticing today, and the bar is well-stocked, as usual. So, grab a plate and a pint (or whatever libation you prefer), and let us know!

*puts quarters on juke box* a song, a song!

Have a wonderful weekend! [heart][laugh][][heart]
p.s. the board migration tests are lookiing pretty good, so this week will be a learning curve for me as I figure out how to wrangle the new software, write FAQs, etc.. Wish me luck!

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[dernwyn]

Bearable, as long as the humidity stays low! Ours didn't get that high this past week, barely touching 80F/26C. We do need more rain, though.

May I have an iced mocha, please, Altaira? And I'll grab a slice of "loaded" pizza. Hard to find beer in Boston and Providence, RI, as the visiting Scots team and fans drank the bars dry each day! [laugh] No worries, the happy owners claim they've got plenty more being delivered each night. There were bagpipe parades in both cities, great way to celebrate!

And what a game yesterday, Canada vs Qatar...sending lots of well-wishes to Ismael Kone, the reports I've been reading indicate a possible bone break. [:/]

We have a memorial service this afternoon for an elderly friend who passed a couple of weeks ago. I've been making broccoli tea sandwiches for it: finely shredded broccoli mixed with mayo and spices, spread on very thin crustless buttered bread. Elegant and tasty (if you like broccoli, that is!).

Here's what the Scotland crowd led the Bostonians in singing at Fenway Park during the Red Sox game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggu0ZqqBq4k [laugh]

 

[Altaira]

Oooh, perfect temps there. Ours will decrease and settle in that same range, even down to the mid-70s, by the beginning of next week.

It's fun to read all the stories about how World Cup visitors are enjoying themselves, and loving the U.S. of A. Large serving-sizes, endless drink refills, free condiments, great food, great drink, and great music (as in BBQ, long-neck beers, and country).

Sorry to hear about your friend. It will be nice to celebrate their life with their friends and family.

Have a fantastic weekend! []

 

[Annael]

I've been loving all the happy videos of the men in kilts taking over Boston. My Scottish/Bostonian father would have been over the moon - I hope he's watching from on high! And really hoping Scotland ends up playing in Seattle so I can participate in the joy.

 

[Annael]

Started today with a hike around a neaby lake - one none of us had done before, even my friends who've lived here 40-odd years, so that was fun for all of us. Although there was a steep hill and my knee complained more loudly than it ever has, which worries me because I really want to delay replacing it as long as possible. But as soon as we got on the flat again it shut up and was fine. Gorgeous hike, saw a deer who was not very afraid of us and a banana slug as long as my boot. Had to have a milkshake after even it was only 10 am.

I too shall be watching the footy and enjoy the summer weather. We're forecast to be in the high 70s/low 80s, tolerable! My garden is just about in full bloom - the dahlias and echinacea are starting to unfurl, everything else is is blooming! Butterflies and hummingbirds very happy as am I.

I'll have a shot of what my friends call Lap frog - Laphroaig. Alba gu bràth!

 

[Kimi]

Which means birthday time for me! Tomorrow, in fact, but Mr Kimi is insisting it's a birthday weekend (starting on Friday night), which means extra treats. I'm currently doing my slow-cooked spiced lamb, so the kitchen smells delicious. To follow, we'll have Nigella's breakfast trifle. And tomorrow, my favourite meal: leftovers!

One of our farming neighbours is having a burn-off - nothing nasty, just waste wood, but it's coincided with no wind and an inversion layer, so this morning was Not Nice. The good thing is that it's nudged us to do something we've talked of for a while, and get an air purifier - this will also help with pollen season, and our own indoor fire, which never smells smoky but almost certainly does deliver us unwanted particulates. I ordered the chosen one this morning, and fingers crossed it will arrive this week.

A breeze has since got up, which means we'll have lunch on the terrace in the winter sunshine (and I can hang the washing out to dry).

Time to move those sheep! We have the electric fence up to keep them from the daffodil shoots currently making an appearance, and Mr Kimi's put protectors around our newest fruit trees, so their wickedness should be thwarted.

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.

 

[Annael]

 

[dernwyn]

to find a local hike none of you had ever done before! And it must not be a well-travelled path, if a deer was merely curious about the two-legged passers-by. Banana slugs astound me, as one does not cross paths with them in this area.

Still waiting for my coneflowers/echinacea to blossom. What colors are your dahlias?

I felt so badly for Alba after that game yesterday!

 

[dernwyn]

I'm surprised that trifle is for "breakfast", I was checking out the recipe and it's definitely more like a decadent berry dessert! [laugh]

Hopefully the breeze has been whisking away some of the smoke particles.

The moving of the sheep! How many do you have, nowadays?

 

[Ataahua]

And it sounds like you're 'birthdaying' right. [] I like that you're getting an air purifier - for my 30th I bought myself a hedge-trimmer, just because I opened the bedroom curtains and saw how overgrown the hedge was. [laugh]

 

[Altaira]

Sounds like a lovely birthday weekend!

B.G.'s family used to have birthday weeks, which has evolved with us into the week before *and* the week after. I didn't protest. [angelic]

Heeee. Wicked sheep. I'm picturing that Far Side cartoon - the real reason dinosaurs went extinct:

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I now have a mental image of your sheep hiding behind a shed secretly plotting ways to get to the daffodils. [laugh]

Enjoy the rest of your birthday weekend! [heart]

 

[grammaboodawg]

It sounds like a wonderful day together I hope the weather has cooperated and that the neighbour's smokies has dissipated. Nasty fersher! An air purifier is absolutely a necessity now. *sigh*

Have a wonderful weekend... and I love leftovers, too *high five*

 

[grammaboodawg]

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Happy Father's day to all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Stepfathers and every variation of those who are Dad in your loved-ones lives.


I can't believe we're already at the Summer Solstice! Good day for a cookout Enjoy the weekend & week everyone! And thanks for taking such great care of us, Altaira! Especially for throwing yourself on that Migration Monster! *geeky hand clapping* []

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[grammaboodawg]

That epic excitement along with the sound of bagpipes has GOT to be such a rush! LOVE IT! I'm afraid I haven't been able to keep up with all of the special sporting going on, although I did tape the NY Knicks so I could watch the last few minutes. My heart couldn't take the anxiety of those last quarters; but what great heart that team has! 53 years to bring that trophy and win home LOVE the joyful excitement!
Those crustless broccoli tea sandwiches sound great. Please share the recipe It sounds like a lovely offering for a friend's memorial. I hope it went well and the weather cooperated

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and Father's Day *hugs*

 

[grammaboodawg]

That sounds wonderful to me! Visiting the WHOLE lake with friends, good weather, and an ICE CREAM shake!!! But the knee giving you pause/distraction wasn't very nice, precious. So glad it settled down


Enjoy your garden and Solstice!!

 

[Annael]

I got the tubers from a friend. They're all pompoms as well, I like that style best. There's a nursery near here that has a lot and I love going there because often you can find a little peeper frog tucked up for a nap in the furled petals! And first thing in the morning, maybe a bumblebee. My echinacea are red and yellow, how about yours?

 

[Greenwood Hobbit]

I went through a Lap Frog phase, but now prefer something smoother and slightly less peated like Jura or Lagavulin when I can get it.

 

[Greenwood Hobbit]

even these balmy latitudes are being threatened with the mid 30s C next week. Not looking forward to that! It won't do my garden any good, I'll be out with the hosepipe in the evenings. Our houses aren't built for such heat. The curtains on the sunny side will be staying closed. Good luck with the board migration training!

 

[Greenwood Hobbit]

 

[Kimi]

It's lighter and less sweet than traditional trifles, but still quite rich - and delicious.

We only have three sheep currently. It works quite well with that number: back when we had more, we had to get supplementary feed in winter, but with only three there's ample feed all year round, and once a year when it all gets too much for them to keep up we have the paddocks mown.