Profile avatar
sostevieb.bsky.social
Just a gardener in South Oxfordshire, UK, Earth, passing through this crazy world. Oh and anyone who uses the word “Pesky” in a post will ALWAYS get a like/follow.
687 posts 250 followers 580 following
Prolific Poster
Conversation Starter

The hotdesk for the afternoon and here is my favourite Hydrangea which is "belting it out" good and proper. Probably the last time I will see it like this as the client passed away a while ago now and the house I expect will be sold before it flowers again. Thank you for the music.

It’s “International Toad in the Hole” day here and we are all in. It comes around so fast. Fortunately the Balsamic, Apple & Onion Gravy along with greens help get over this terrible burden.

Wordle 1,450 2/6 🟨🟨🟩⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A good day starts with… in 2!

Uh oh! Might have bitten off more than I can chew. Seed packet arrived (the online description noted these are REALLY HARD to do). How hard can it be? Note the instructions on the reverse require a pressure cooker! Serious stuff and am stuffed. Fortunately there is the sow and pray option. My way!

Smoosh - I love smooshing!

This afternoon's "hot desking" involves a regular - a Mutablis Rose. These transition (in this case) from intense red/orange to orange/yellow and then fade to pinks. It is smothered in roses at various stages for many months so just the best. A favourite - just need to track it down for our garden.

Today's office... "dates from 1286 and is believed to be one of the oldest examples of a continuously inhabited house in Europe." Just to be clear... I am not 739 years old or at least I don't think I am.

It has been a tough day at the office. I am powering down now.

It's International Zingy Chicken & Avocado buns and we are all in here (for our tea)! Super easy and super tasty. It recommends tortilla chips as an accompaniment which we did have and agreed but perhaps also needs a crustier bread as well. www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/...

The Salad Bar is looking good! Might have overdone it with the Radishes - yey ho. I feel a roasted radish related dish is calling.

I am not feeling any Wheelbarrow rage at all. None whatsover... How to they do this!!!

It was repotting day in the office. More professional gardeners than me would have gently teased the plant out before ever so gently settling it in to its new home. Me... The pot is gone (a shame a good pot) but I can use the broken bits in the new pots and those roots ready for their new home.

The allotment provides many delights and today it was this rabble of Nigella damascena (aka Love-in-a-mist). To be honest not the biggest of fans - it seeds so much but now and again you have to accept, does look good.

Did you know it's International Salad Nicoise day and we are all in! Leftovers... I suspect not.

This morning's walk took us past the Lock Keepers "office" at Clifton Lock - the best office EVER!

Wordle 1,443 3/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨🟨🟨🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A good day starts with play.

It's International Tabbouleh day here and we are all in (and then... out again). Looks lovely and tastes good but this is a recipe needs a lot of work... to make it work. Oh and the Jamie Oliver method for getting Pomegranate seeds out should never ever be followed without a Hazmat suit.

MrsB has been harvesting flowers (aka mooching around seeing what looks good) from the garden and magically conjured up these wonderful Peonies. All is bright in the house again.

Spotted Orchid and now a double yolk egg... quick buy a lottery ticket!

“In nearly every industry, the United States’ most transformative innovations over the last eight decades depended on government funding, because the government was the most patient and reliable actor willing to take on risks for the public benefit.” And China will reap the benefits.

Yes... finally, when out for our morning walk we found a Common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) amongst the riff-raff of pink & purple clovers, tall daisies and nodding buttercups. It is such a lovely little thing with a flowerhead about the size of your thumb. Early summer has arrived!

"over-egg the pudding"... to make something seem larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is. Hmmm... Me thinks a particular person is always doing this - again.

On the hot desk next to me in the office this afternoon was this co-worker busily going about their work. Had to seriously up my game to keep pace. So a hat tip to this Five-spot Burnet (and the Salvia sylvestris 'Rose Marvel' which I was able to plant once my co-worker had moved on).

Today's office was decorated with white, yellow and green.

This is the kid's "Can we go play?" pose. Whenever I see this I am always reminded of a note made by Bill Bryson when his youngest did pretty much the same thing and when a very important publishing deadline was looming. His view... this moment won't happen again. Wise words. Let's go kid.

Anyone know how to spell quafurred properly?

Reminder popped up to give the kid (aka the dog) a bath. Closed the appointment note with... "The kid smells doggie so she gets a pass. If the smelt cowie then that would be different."

Three sounds you never want to hear when taking apart any appliance to resolve a problem reported by your beloved: Snap - essential bit of plastic has broken. Ping - essential tiny spring flung miles away. Tinkle - essential tiny screw dropping into a completely impossible place. Silence...

Feeling very pleased with myself. I have applied some newly acquired weaving skills to repair the 30 year old washing basket! Result!

‘The modern proclamation calls on Americans "to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace.”’ www.cem.va.gov/history/Memo... There are some folk that need to not only seriously reflect on but to actually act on that.

Kindness is always amongst us www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...