Watcha' Doing - 2021 Showing 1,201-1,250 of 1,871

[Saar The Book owl]

Ah, okay :) I don't have a good balance, so it would take me seconds to fall into the water, but it looks like fun.

[Sarah]

As Peggy said, same as SUP. I'm desperate for it to arrive now. Today was horrendously hot. We're due big storms at the weekend so should cool down a little

[Peggy]

We're having a week of ideal summer weather. It's about 25C so nice and warm to walk around in a dress and flip flops, but not too hot to do anything. And during the night temps drop to around 10C, so it's not too hot to sleep either.

[Sarah]

It has been 32C here for the past 5 days, I'm hoping after our storms will be down to the temperatures you are having Peggy! I might get some sleep lol

[Saar The Book owl]

It's been hot here also, around 26°C. but after tomorrow there's rain expected and thunderstorms and cooler temperatures.

[Sandra, Moderator]

We are finally seeing some sun now, and there are little rain expected for the next couple of weeks. It is a relief. My vegetable garden didn't survive the rainy month. The plants are recovering now, and starting to grow, but it is too late to get a good harvest before the cold weather comes. The period good for growing veggies here is short.

[Saar The Book owl]

The vegetable garden is doing okay, but all my tomatoe plants died: too cold and wet for them. What are you growing, Sandra?

[Sandra, Moderator]

I have tomatoes, garlic, peppers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, and radishes. I think the peppers are hopeless, and I will know about the garlic soon, but it was in its last stage, when you are actually supposed to stop watering it, so who knows if it is not rotten already. I'm giving it a few days to dry a little and then I will harvest them. I'm sure radishes will do ok, because they are very resistant. Everything else is alive but way to small. Even if they start growing now we will not get too much, if anything, before it gets cold.

[Margo]

Sarah wrote: "It has been 32C here for the past 5 days, I'm hoping after our storms will be down to the temperatures you are having Peggy! I might get some sleep lol"

I was so happy that the heatwave ended yesterday afternoon. I could cope with the days at 32C and low humidity, but some of the nights were 25C which was horrible. Plus I'm on a strong steroid dose for past week so I wasn't sleeping well anyway.

[Esther]

Sandra wrote: "We are finally seeing some sun now, and there are little rain expected for the next couple of weeks. It is a relief. My vegetable garden didn't survive the rainy month. The plants are recovering no..."

Same here. I think I watered my garden twice this year. I never needed to with all this rain. We had night of 10C. that did not help. This will not my best garden year,

[Sarah]

My boat is out of the water in dry dock this week getting some much love and attention. I hqve lots off painting to so i'm pleased the weather is a bit cooler.

[Cherie]

Can you still live on your boat while it is in dry dock, Sarah, or do you have to find temporary lodging?

[Sarah]

Yes i was able to stay om it thankfully but it was very noisy and had people around me all the time, so got little sleep and not much privacy. I left yesterday with all the planned work done. Having some electrical work done on monday and then that's it done for a while. Well, i'll be doing wome decorating still inside.

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm so happy for you and your new home, Sarah.

[Travis]

hello all. still alive over here. lol i'm not sure if i have nothing to report about or too much that im too lazy to type. I could complain avout the weather but i'm avout worn out with that. first half of summer we couldn't buy a drop of rain. then it started raining and now it wont stop. Itls all ridiculous

[Janice, Moderator]

We're back to a heat wave for the August long weekend. Looks like I'll be hiding in the basement again.

[Esther]

Janice wrote: "We're back to a heat wave for the August long weekend. Looks like I'll be hiding in the basement again."

I am wearing a cardigan. 14C here. It really does not feel like July.

[Janice, Moderator]

Esther wrote: "Janice wrote: "We're back to a heat wave for the August long weekend. Looks like I'll be hiding in the basement again."

I am wearing a cardigan. 14C here. It really does not feel like July."

Currently, it's 17C outside and I have the window open with the fan going to get rid of the heat in the house. It was 25C in the house when I woke up. In an hour or so, I'll close the window. I doubt that I'll be able to keep the heat out once it reaches 31C outside.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

It was 16C today. We turned off the fire, opened the doors, and I was out gardening in a tshirt. After 2 months of under 10C and rain, today was glorious for a winters day!!

Glad you checked in Travis!! Glad to hear you're well. Weather, hey? It really is the universal language lol

[Saar The Book owl]

Sandra wrote: "I have tomatoes, garlic, peppers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, and radishes. I think the peppers are hopeless, and I will know about the garlic soon, but it was in its last stage, when you are actua..."

Well, the radishes were a succes, also lettuce and 2 sorts of cucumbers. But all the rest, I don't know. I'm going to look tomorrow and see what's still growing, but the weather was really negative for the vegetable garden. Do you grow vegetables for the winter? Like things you can plant now?

[Saar The Book owl]

My first week off is nearing it's end and I've got 2 left now. So, I hope the weather gets better. It doesn't have to be a heathwave, not at all, but a bit above 20°C would be nice. The whole week we've got rain and yesterday a storm. But, hey, I'm trying not to complain as there is so much to do at home. Strange, even my reading is slacking. I'm hoping to read more the 2 coming weeks.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I have tomatoes, garlic, peppers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, and radishes. I think the peppers are hopeless, and I will know about the garlic soon, but it was in its last stage, whe..."

Cauliflower, broccoli, brussell sprouts, kale, cabbage, some peas, some beans, garlic. onions. They are my winter veg, but I think you will prob need a few weeks before you plant these.

For example, we usually plant garlic here at Easter and harvest at Christmas. So.... March/April is.... Sept/Oct I think? First months of Autumn, so that sounds right.

Beginning/end of summer - see what toms you can get going. Pumpkins!!! Go for pumpkins. Leafey greens, give a go if you can water.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "Cauliflower, broccoli, brussell sprouts, kale, cabbage, some peas, some beans, garlic. onions. They are my winter veg, but I think you will prob need a few weeks before you plant these. "

Wait... you plant these in your outdoor garden the beginning of autumn? As seeds?? When do they sprout? I feel like winter would kill any plants. Of course, this is coming from someone who struggles with summer gardening... But, I'd love to try brussell sprouts and pumpkins. I'd also love to try snap peas or green beans or garlic, but I'm not sure if those are the peas/beans you were referring to.

Also, I am a potted garden person because the deer eat anything I grow in the yard and I haven't bothered to create a decent enclosed space, so I have a bunch of huge pots and a raised bed taking over my porch.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Garlic is the only thing I have planted in fall to harvest in summer so far. I should try something else.

Kristie, garlic grows well in pots. No worries.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Oh, and yes. You plant them outdoors and forget about them. They actually need the cold to grow.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sandra wrote: "Oh, and yes. You plant them outdoors and forget about them. They actually need the cold to grow."

That is my type of gardening! lol

[Travis]

I saw Stephen king tweet that he had a new book coming Tues. Now he is big on political tweeting so for some reason whenninsaw the title I thought it was some political joke. Turns out it was actually just the title. He has a book coming out Tuesday 😂

[Katrisa]

Kristie wrote: "Wait... you plant these in your outdoor garden the beginning of autumn?..."

Yes totally! My farmer hubby makes a big chunk of his income on garlic. Rus is right in her hemisphere calculus and we plant garlic in late Sept/ early Oct. (or basically just before the ground freezes) and then you leave it until spring/early summer. Garlic comes from Russia/China so it needs cold. Also, fun fact to know and tell - garlic doesn't produce true seeds any more (without some MAJOR work from humans). It was once a seed making plant but not anymore. Some hardneck varieties make a seed-ish thing but mostly garlic is just reproduced by replanting cloves :)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks, Katrisa! :)

[Janice, Moderator]

That's interesting about garlic, Katrisa! The things we learn in this group. :)

Billy Summers is on my wishlist. I saw King's post as well and immediately put it on.

[Travis]

I actually went and pre-ordered from audible Janice after seeing the post. And finding it's a real book

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "That's interesting about garlic, Katrisa! The things we learn in this group. :)

Billy Summers is on my wishlist. I saw King's post as well and immediately put it on."

My library is getting it and I put a hold on it a while ago, so I should get it right away. Now to squash it in with all my other planned reading. :)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Cauliflower, broccoli, brussell sprouts, kale, cabbage, some peas, some beans, garlic. onions. They are my winter veg, but I think you will prob need a few weeks before you plant th..."

Depends where you are. I'd sow the seeds in our March onwards for most of these. I planted a broccoli and cauliflower seedlings a couple of weeks ago but that was a bit late. I'd plant broad beans a while a go, but not runner beans and snap peas now - those would be in spring.

Of course, this is Canberra winter. Which is frosty and under zero nights, but between 10-15C in the day with very sunny days. And that's cold for Australia. I have no idea what to do in a Northern Hemisphere winter, particularly snow. No idea what snow does.

That said, pumpkins. I would plant now if I was you. We plant Nov/Dec, so seedlings now would work so you can harvest in autumn. Maybe?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Katrisa wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Wait... you plant these in your outdoor garden the beginning of autumn?..."

Yes totally! My farmer hubby makes a big chunk of his income on garlic. Rus is right in her hemisphere c..."

Oh there you go! I had no idea that was one of his crops, hats off to him.

Also if you plant cloves from bulbs you get from supermarkets they won't always work. They are usually irradiated and/or bleached to make them white. I tend to plant ones I get from markets, or you can buy planting garlic, but must say when I get supermarket garlic that sprouts I do give it a go with very limited success.

[Sarah]

Thanks for the heads up on the stephen king book!

My cousin came to visit yesterday and we went for tapas, it was soooo good. Today I went paddleboarding, ny first solo trip. I had the river to myself, it was wonderful.

I start back at work in Bristol this week. So looking forward to it. It will be very strange though. It has been 17 months now since I was there!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks formal the gardening tips. It does get colder here and we have occasional snow. I will probably stick to my spring/summer gardening except maybe the garlic. I've had some store garlic sprout and considered planting it before, but it was white, so likely bleached. (I find it so strange that they do that to various things. Who decided white is somehow better than yellow or brown?) I'll keep an eye out for fresh from the farmers market. Actually... I think I have a friend that grows it, so I'll ask her for some fresh.

I have cucumbers, tomatoes (more than I will know what to do with), and peppers about ready to harvest. My eggplant started to grow, but then it got some tiny bugs (I think aphids). I used a soap treatment to get rid of them, but they did some damage to the plant and the eggplants never got big enough to pick. I also have a really decent herb garden going.

[Travis]

Every so often my mom gets in these moods where she just decides to clean my house. I often don't even know she's here and I actually don't like it. I keep up with the housework ok. Sometimes I get busy and get behind but eventually I get caught up again.

Today her and my sister both were in there and I found 3 cupboards rearranged. I took every thing out and put it the way I had it. Idk about anyone else but I don't like to have to search. I know which cupboards hold what and that's the way they are.

Several months ago another group of cupboards were rearranged which I complained to my father about and was basically told to leave things the way my mom put them since she worked so hard.

It's like stop working so hard at violating my space that's what's being worked at


I'm completely lost how to handle this situation because no matter how you try to explain it they're just gonna get butt hurt and find you unappreciative and this that and the other

Actually I am unappreciative. I don't appreciate people rearranging my living quarters without consulting me.

I just don't know how one finds a peaceful resolution to this. I'll probably just find them in my house one day and flip out

[Sarah]

I would find that very annoying too. When my mum visits, she often washes up after we've eaten and it can takes days for me to find things as she doesn't put stuff back where they belong. It is a difficult situation. Whilst they might think you unappreciative, they are being disrespectful of your boundaries and wishes. You need to say something and there needs to be consequences if they don't honour your boundaries, otherwise they'll just keep doing it. Says the person who is crap at asserting themselves lol

[Travis]

My sister is a therapist. So I sent her a message using "I" language. Which is something I'm supposed to be working on from my marriage counceling sessions and it seemed my sister would be able to understand the best.
I'm not sure how it was received. I thought it would generate some form of conversation. Perhaps a question or perhaps a oh I'm sorry we should really ask you before we do things
Or whatever I can't control the response but all I received was an "ok. Noted"
So I left it at that at least I nlet my feelings be known. now see what happens going forward.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Travis, have you spoken to your mom about it since she seems to be the one that has the need to clean your home? Your dad or sister might not want to be the ones to have to confront her about it. You may want to speak to her directly if it happens again. Something along the lines of - Mom, I really appreciate that you want to help, but I actually prefer to do it myself. - Maybe add that it gives you a sense of accomplishment or makes you feel good in some way to do it yourself. She is less likely to want to do something for you if doing it yourself gives you some pleasure.

[Travis]

Yesterday it was my mom and my sister that's why I messaged my sister.


My parents are complicated cases. I imagine everyone thinks that.

My thought is my sister was probably upset by my message. When she is upset she talks to my mom about it.

Well just have to see what the future brings
My previous experience is when you specifically ask for things to not be done it's like a guarantee that they will be done to even a more extreme measure

Then you get the "I know you asked me not to but I just thought..."

You just thought you don't respect me that's what you thought

[Kristie, Moderator]

Travis wrote: "Then you get the "I know you asked me not to but I just thought..."

Oh, I can understand that. We get this in our family too.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh man, Travis. That would drive me absolutely bonkers.

Maybe give them something they *can* do as an alternative? I know my Mum hates sitting idly by when she sees something needs to be done. So we know now (and she knows we do this) we manage her by giving her a task she can do. Mum's pretty good most of the time, but large events or crises is when this is really important to do for her.

This is next level of that behaviour, but maybe saying you really don't like them coming into your place and "tidying/cleaning" but you really appreciate them helping you. And what would really help though, would be if they would mind awfully picking up your order from the greengrocers each week, or mending some of your jeans, or something that they *can* do.

And it is really not you at all. Our friends who we stayed with in Adelaide are moving back to Canberra. His family all have keys to each other's houses and move freely "helping" between them. Our friends have categorically said if this happens in their house and they find his mum hanging out their washing or something, they are packing their bags and the kids and moving back to the other side of the country. I think we may end up being the keepers of the spare keys to their place, not the family, for this reason.

However, they have also said it would be great if they can work out something where the sisters and mum could maybe ferry the four kids around to after school activities during the week, as there is two hours between school and work finishing times here.

Sorry you're dealing with this though. These kind of convos suck.

[Travis]

Yeah. I think it's quite common issue.

I remember when I set up my bank account my dad said who's you add on the account, your mother

No one

Well you should add someone in case something happens


Yeah. I have a will. I have a medical proxy. Should something happen there's instructions but no you guys aren't babysitting my bank account. Sorry but no

[Esther]

Travis, that would drive me insane.

I had a similar discussion with my moher years ago as she decided she wanted to help me and said: " we should do.... blabla bla," And I said no, I told her that when you really want to help, you should ask what would help, not decide what you should do without asking. It did work for a while...

[Peggy]

Ugh, so annoying!! My mom isn't like that at all, thankfully. If I ask her to help me with something she'll happily do it, but she would never do anything in our house without asking me first. Lol, I think she wouldn't even open a cupboard to get the coffee cups before asking if it's okay. My dad does it a little, but mostly because he likes to keep busy and it's stuff I don't know how to do (or hate doing). I can take a lot from him, so for some reason I don't mind. And he does ask first.

My mother in law on the other hand.. whenever she visits she starts folding laundry if she sees the basket somewhere (I now tell her NO), and when we go on holiday and ask them to water our plants, she cleans the whole house, unasked. On one hand it's nice because I don't like cleaning and we come back in a spotless house, on the other hand it's my house and I've got things covered. She doesn't do this as much anymore either. Worst was when she rearranged things because 'she liked it better'. It's not your house!!!

[Saar The Book owl]

Rusalka wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "Sandra wrote: "I have tomatoes, garlic, peppers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, and radishes. I think the peppers are hopeless, and I will know about the garlic soon, but it ..."

Well, I think I'm late for most of the veggies to plant now. I'm harvesting what has grown really good, but looking to plant some winter veggies. I have really huge cucumbers, both snack versions and the normal versions. Last year my biggest courget was 55 cm :D

[Saar The Book owl]

Sandra wrote: "Oh, and yes. You plant them outdoors and forget about them. They actually need the cold to grow."
I've read that strawberries need to be planted now, the latest until September, as they need the cold to grow. I didn't knew that!

Kristie wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Cauliflower, broccoli, brussell sprouts, kale, cabbage, some peas, some beans, garlic. onions. They are my winter veg, but I think you will prob need a few weeks before you plant th..."

You can pre-plant in your green house. The seeds have time to grow then and are allready little plants in the spring. The other persons who have a veggie garden here, do that in there garden house.

[Saar The Book owl]

Travis wrote: "I saw Stephen king tweet that he had a new book coming Tues. Now he is big on political tweeting so for some reason whenninsaw the title I thought it was some political joke. Turns out it was actua..."

Thanks, Travis, I'm going to look for it. There was just another book who got released a while ago. He's writing fast.

[Saar The Book owl]

That would drive me insane, Travis, I would say 'no' also and it's really annoying that they keep doing this without asking if it's okay.