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Meet my cleanup crew

They they go through a lot for this for this. The chicken run is clear around the other side of the house and they have to go through a fence (specifically set up to keep them out) along the way. Anything for those sweet, sweet Friskies.

You will never forget the unmistakable sound of three beaks bouncing off a cat’s bowl. Who needs a Roomba?

p.s. actually, I do. I hate Hoovering. Have any of you got one? Does it work?

June 16, 2022 — 6:51 pm
Comments: 6

Wait, I haven’t posted yet?

I didn’t go in to work today. It was absolutely glorious and I sat in the garden and drank herbal tea and shitposted on Twitter allll day long on me phone.

This is the front garden, where the chickens live. It’s where our garden chairs are and we look out over the sheep field. But the real miracle is the back garden this year, out the kitchen door.

Uncle B has been working on it for years, and it’s really coming into its own. Last year was good, this year is spectacular. Everything is a harmonious height and color.

I’m trying to work out how to walk down it with a video camera to give you an idea.

June 15, 2022 — 8:19 pm
Comments: 5

It started out so well…

THERE IS AN ELEGANT STYLE AS WELL AS HIGH-GRADE QUALITY IN THE CLOTHES WHAT HAVE ADOPTED THE REFINED MATERIALS. WE DESIGNED CLOTHING TO BE COMFORTABLE AND DURABLE WITH NATURAL FABRICS AND CARED EVERY DETAIL. THERE IS A COMFORT TO YOU FROM THE CLOTHES, AND MAKE THE BETTER FEELING AND ENJOYING OF THE LIFE INTEREST FOR YOU. THE ORIGINAL FASHION BASED ON FUNCTIONAL NEEDS AND MODERN PATTERNS. WE NEEDING A KIND OF BUSINESS, A RED-POWDER BOSOM FRIEND, ALSO NEEDING A KINO OF STRONG BRAND CULTURE WHAT URGES THEIR LIVES TO GET MORE PERFECT AND EXPRESSES OUT THEIR EMOTION. OUR GARMENTS ARE CAREFULLY TESTED FOR BECOME LONGER LASTING WEAR.

Really, they needn’t have bothered with the Made in China tag.

June 14, 2022 — 6:36 pm
Comments: 9

Foot!

It’s Monday, so have an amputated gangrenous foot! mmMMMmmm! Hey, at least I didn’t give it to you in color. In color, it’s really choice.

We went to a military show this Saturday. The standouts were the The London Branch of American Civil War Veterans, which was really a thing (but these weren’t really them).

One exhibitor proudly told me 100,000 Brits fought in the American Civil War. He didn’t specify, so I assume both sides, which is kind of a messy thing to be proud of. Being from Tennessee, I had family on both sides, too, but not sure I’m proud of it. It was the ugliest of wars.

I reckon 80% of the people who dressed up at this thing were dressed as American soldiers of one kind or another. I wonder if that’s because there’s so much more US milsurp.

June 13, 2022 — 7:37 pm
Comments: 3

Start the weekend with a d’awwww

A couple of weeks ago, I watered the window boxes in the office, turned my back for a moment, and when I turned around again – an egg! Why this daft pigeon decided to lay an egg in wet earth, I don’t know, but it’s not quite as bad a spot as it sounds. There’s a roof overhang, so it stays dry when it rains and she’s relatively protected under all those geraniums.

She laid a second egg two days later. Eighteen days it takes to incubate a pigeon egg and I’ve been watching her cautiously. Sometimes, the male (I assume) comes and sits and gives her a chance to rest and feed. It’s easy to spot the difference: she’s got a dark gray head with white speckles and he’s pale gray.

I hardly ever see the nest without a bird on it, but yesterday she stood up and – behold, baby pigeon! (bottom right). It must have hatched moments before, because it’s still wet and the shell is still there.

Baby pigeons are ugly mutant looking creatures, so I won’t give you a closeup of the little bugger, but I love the look on her face. She’s probably just startled and I’m anthropomorphising, but she looks like a proud mama to me.

By Monday, we’ll see if the other one hatches or is a dud. Good weekend, all!

June 10, 2022 — 6:16 pm
Comments: 3

Shiny

It’s a Stanley Steamer! Spotted at one of the country shows. Classic cars and steam engines are a big feature of the shows, and this is both.

I’ve got to go to a lecture tonight. It’s being given by my boss, so I really do have to go. On – what else? – local history.

I will leave you to contemplate the color version, which is big, red and shiny. I strongly suspect Stanley came out of that trailer behind him and not under his own, erm, steam.

June 9, 2022 — 3:59 pm
Comments: 3

Elderflowers am in bloom

The drive is white with elderflower. I considered making elderflower gin, but then I thought it made more sense to make an elderflower cordial that I could add to gin (or anything else I fancied).

I like elderflower. I don’t remember anything flavored with it in the States, though. Do we even grow elder?

Anyway, it’s 20 elderflower heads and the zest of a lemon in a 1-liter jar, fill to the absolute top with vodka to exclude air. A good deal of smooshing is required.

Two to four weeks in a cool, dark place and then strain through muslin into a bowl. Take 100ml of boiling water and use it to dissolve 100gm of sugar. Add it to the mix bit by bit to taste. You can use it right away, but it’s better for aging a few months.

That jar is a wonderful 1-liter pickling jar Uncle B gave me that I am forbidden to use for its intended purpose after that time I pickled brussel sprouts and everything in the fridge tasted of fart for a week.

June 8, 2022 — 3:19 pm
Comments: 11

Adventure!

We went to MacDonald’s! I know that doesn’t sound much, but I haven’t had a Big Mac in, like, four years. There isn’t any fast food at all except in some of the bigger towns, and we’re not near a bigger town.

I had to have my eyes checked (they’re fine – my right eye has gotten better!) near to Mickey D’s, so I axed if we could go.

Gosh, it’s changed. It was all touch screens. I tried to order at the desk because Uncle B wants his Quarter Pounder just so, but the girl said the touch screens allowed all kinds of customization.

They did!

There seemed to be as many employees as ever, though. Maybe they were turning over a whole lot more food. While we were there, at least four men came in from food delivery outfits and picked up orders.

They all knew each other and they all were speaking Polish or Russian or some other gargly language (not a linguist, me). I reckon there’s some kind of Big Mac mafia.

One guy came in, ordered a Coke and drank it before leaving with his order. I reckon that was one frosty cold burger when it got where it was going.

June 7, 2022 — 5:26 pm
Comments: 8

I promised you livestock

Look at this bad boy! His belt says “Sussex Champion” in gold on blue and he has two little gold tassels hanging down off the bottom. He won best in show and then was auctioned off on the spot. Very exciting.

It’s a variety known as Sussex or Sussex Reds and they are, in fact, a deep red color. I’m told their flesh is delicious, but seemingly rare to find. I’ve never tasted it. We have a neighbor with a herd, but he only sells, like, half a cow at a time and our freezers won’t take it.

We offered to split a half cow with another neighbor, but apparently the cuts you get don’t lend themselves to quartering. No, I don’t really understand, either.

Anyway – lookit the pretty coo!

June 6, 2022 — 7:07 pm
Comments: 4

I don’t believe this…!


Remember that baby badger I posted about earlier this week? The one that ended up in the wildlife rescue?

Durnedyankee posted a link to this Daily Mail article and asked if that was our badger being molestered by Johnny Depp? And I said no, that badger is named Freddie and they named ours Bertie, but that is the same wildlife rescue outfit.

Turns out, that is the same badger. The rescue phoned our neighbor today and asked if it was okay to rename it, as Depp wanted to call it Freddie Mercury.

The picture has now made all the papers. I find that unutterably bizarre.

I’m disappointed we didn’t go see the beacons lit last night. I thought we’d watch it on TV. The BBC showed one (1) beacon being lit, after which they walked around and asked people about their feelings.

The absolute state of journalism today.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

June 3, 2022 — 4:49 pm
Comments: 9