Author Topic: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in  (Read 147203 times)

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Offline longedge

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #420 on: December 23, 2017, 08:05:51 PM »
Emz - what you said about people 'waiting' is just what my Mum did. She was comatose and receiving no liquid for days. We kept being told that there were only hours left and there was someone with her all the time. Finally after nearly a week, I was the one staying with her and I went out of the room to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. When I got back, she had gone and I new absolutely that she had waited to be on her own before 'letting go'.

Had to smile about a lot of birds being classified as Sparrows. I get a lot of Dunnocks and several different types of tit. There's plenty of useful info online to help distinguishing between them if you're interested. I didn't used to be allowed to have feeders near the house "because of the mess" but that's one of the things that I now get away with :smiley:. The family of Starlings that have been coming since they fledged earlier in the year are still the local bully boys and when they descend en masse the feed gets scattered all over the place.
I'll never get over losing her and I used to think that eventually
I would learn to live with it - that's not happened yet.

        ~ I'm George by the way ~

Offline Emz2014

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #421 on: December 23, 2017, 10:07:26 PM »
Seems to be better now Karena, hasn't happened since, which is a relief. I have very little planned now, having a quiet Christmas so am looking forward to the rest. Have my partners friend staying over this eve then no further plans

Sorry to hear you've been ill, hope you feel fighting fit again soon.  :hearts: Ive taken to taking Sambucol every day - its based on elderberries. After being really ill with a cold last Christmas I was determined to stay healthy this year and so far it's working. I've even managed to avoid colds caught by people around me and young nephew + niece

That is so sad about the plastic - I know the Blue Planet highlighted it recently, but i couldn't watch that part as it was too distressing. Its so sad what humanity is doing to the planet  :cry:

I have a little book which has different birds in it, I've never been very good at matching the birds to the book but I guess it takes practice.  Will have to try and watch them a bit more. (One excuse to 'stretch' your eyes/have a break from a computer screen!) xx
« Last Edit: December 23, 2017, 10:10:06 PM by Emz2014 »
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. 
Hold on in there xx

Offline Scout72

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #422 on: December 24, 2017, 01:15:58 AM »
Hi, I’m scott

Offline Emz2014

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #423 on: December 24, 2017, 09:22:58 AM »
Hi Scott. How are you? xx
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. 
Hold on in there xx

Offline Karena

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #424 on: December 24, 2017, 04:52:44 PM »
Hi Scott welcome.

Emz I might give that stuff a go,In this case though I think unwashed salad is to blame and even then not necessarily the restaurant as they have a serious water shortage with rationing so potentially went able to use running water.Luckily the family only had it for a couple of days,its just me that is prolonged.
I was aware of the plastic issues from the dolphin watching but because of the global flow of water there are concentrated areas.The one nearest the UK is quite far offshore so we see less of it,although we do contribute too it. Of course but what we see is often on its way out to sea rather than washed in.There is one closer to shore there.Its not all from land.Cargo falls off ships at quite a surprising rate.But a great deal of it is down too individual carelessness there too.
Long edge I often see Dunocks alongside the sparrows so it makes them easier to identify.I have noticed starlings hanging round this year more than ever before too.
My campervan is packed ready to leave in the morning for my daughters house and rather than the sofa or a bleak drive back again  tomorrow night I have been invited to stay on a friends barge which will be a novelty.I will be home boxing day though fully intending too rest.

Offline Emz2014

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #425 on: February 11, 2018, 02:58:38 PM »
How is everyone doing today?  Have blue skies and sun here, although it is also really cold does feel a bit more promising that spring is finally on its way
Just got back from taking my dog for a walk and have possibly done a good deed. As walking back found a huge bumblebee on the path,  unable to fly and looking distressed.  So put the bag of dog treats in my pocket and used the empty fabric bag to gently pop the bumblebee in. Carried her home and made a makeshift home from an egg carton, weighed down in a sheltered part of the garden. Did some honey mix as recommended by a bumblebee website re grounded bees. Could be Queen who has come out too early and now too cold to fly.  I put some scrunched up kitchen roll in the carton and it did seem she was seeking warmth as she crawled into it straight away.
No idea how to check how long shes there for now though!! If I move the tissue in a day or so will disturb her or may be tending an empty egg carton lol! Xx
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. 
Hold on in there xx

Offline Karena

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #426 on: February 11, 2018, 05:42:48 PM »
Well done with the bee even if you do end up tending an empty carton.
I braved the cold and went out to put the temporary dog fence round the pond as I am playing dog sitter again next week.while I was there I decided it is a good opportunity to clear some weed and debris before the frogs get busy and then I can't do it again until the tadpoles leave in summer so while I was there I did some cutting back and then while I was there I cut up the straw like stuff and stuffed it in a box for bird nesting mateial.At some point I also took a cup of tea out not because I had an urge for tea but an excuse to use the mug as a hand warmer.Gardening in the snow is madness but its feels like a long  time since i got a good dose of fresh air  I think I may have spent  too long out there as one little job lead too another and I think I am going to regret that as the cold wind has given me earache.

Offline Gingey

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #427 on: February 11, 2018, 05:57:14 PM »
Hi
That was indeed a good thing Emz with the bee. My husband kept honeybees for a couple of years before he became ill ans was really keen to help save the dwindling honey bees in this country.
Karena you put me to shame, I should have done something too in garden but I have had a down day, cant seem to shake of the lonlieness...I tend to overthink my situation and future.
We have had numerous snow showers here today, west of scotland, and it is bitterly cold out with more snow forecast. I hope this isnt the case as I hate and panic driving in snow!
Hope others having a better day :hug:

Offline Emz2014

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #428 on: February 11, 2018, 06:47:35 PM »
I do hope the bee is ok, I do love to see the bees around. I planted various wildflowers in the summer, along with cornflowers and was lovely to see them flying around, i purposefully leave the clover for them too.  I guess I'd rather tend an empty egg carton than find that she's perished in there. So fingers crossed! (Although now I'm pondering how should I maintain/service the egg carton?!?) 
I have been thinking for a while about getting or making one of those bee 'hotels' you can put in the garden. Not sure where to start though.   I did consider a hedgehog home too, but think you need to clean those at intervals and not sure I want to extend my housework to the garden!  I know hedgehogs have visited my garden before but dont know if I have any now. I leave a big patch at the end overgrown/natural for wildlife - I know I have slowworms :-)

Well done on the garden work karena! I played chase with Raz in the garden but then have hidden indoors again for the rest of the day, I cannot wait for the warmer weather!

Sending a hug Gingey  :hug: our minds are fantastic things but they do like to try and predict the future and make us worry, often about things that never actually happen in the end.  Do your best to try and bring your mind back to the present moment when its beginning to fret about the future.  :hearts:  Are there any changes you can make to help with the loneliness? Perhaps if you have a particular hobby you like find out if there's a group you could join? Many have online groups who also meet up locally too  xx
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. 
Hold on in there xx

Offline Emz2014

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #429 on: February 12, 2018, 01:44:46 PM »
Home from work earlier than usual, and as it seems warmer decided to check on my bee, and can report that the bee is not there so I'm hoping that means good news, that she recovered ok and was able to set off on her way again.  That cheered up my day :-) xx
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. 
Hold on in there xx

Offline Karena

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #430 on: February 12, 2018, 02:56:16 PM »
Gingey i spent saturday indoors being completely energyless -and i think the weather does play a part too though as saturday was grey dark and miserable where as sunday was cold but bright.

Emz  i dont see how your bee can have disapered unless it was feeling better.
There are problems with bee hotels
Many of the commercial bee hotels have fixed tubes which means they cant be taken out to clean -which can be more harmful than good for the bees
Open tubes act as wind tunnels so unless they are against a wall the bees wont like it.
Bee hotels are not always deep enough and they become bird feeding stations but at the same time they are more difficult to clean if deep.
They also attract parasitic wasps and only takes a couple of bees with mites to create a nest of mites so increasing the danger not only too those bees in the hotel but too other bees as well as they spread.
Plastic or glass tubed ones allow you to see if there are mites or wasps in there but also create condensation -also not good for bees.
Different species like different hotels -solitary.leafcutter.bumble.Red mason.-so you would need different hotels of to know which are most dominant.

Solitary bees in the natural world will find a space but that isnt usually next too more bees.
I think the habitat problem for bees comes with tidy immaculate gardens, increased hard surface covering for patios car parkin etc and solid chemical soaked fencing with no cracks  -but bee hotels are not turning out to be the solution so far. Many solitary bees will happilly burrow into loose ground and you could for example build a mini dry stone wall they may crawl into the gaps which is where mine seem to go. Also any hollow stemmed plants you have, leave the upright stems over winter rather than cutting it all down in Autumn.

Hedgehog houses that are well made are fine but again some have created problems -by not having any venting -and being very difficult to clean -again a log pile or compost heap and plenty of leaves left in an undistrubed part of the garden is probably the best option for now Countryfile are currently doing a survey of hedgehog houses to try and determine which ones if any work best. Hedgehogs have been known to eat slowworms though so you might want to facilitate their passing through for an easier meal and drink- rather than actively encouraging them to move in.
feeding (never give them milk -they cant digest it ) You can get specialised food for them -or you can give them dog/cat food (non fish flavours) both moist and a few dry biscuits they also love mealworms  The dogs will also be attracted straight too dog food so maybe you could fence a corner off to keep them out. I used to dig a burrow with a tunnel from ground level so the hedgehog could go down but not a cat (or dog) -then a lid  Piece of flat heavy wood across the top that i could just lift  off to add a plate of food. Later  i used the wire top of a bird groundfeeder instead of the wood-again with the tunnel down and the feeder pegged down, but so i could see it was mrs tiggywinkle and not mr ratty that was eating the food.
They also need water so a dish of water is a help.
I am putting together a hedgehog emergency pack -heat pad carrier rehydration fluid so i,m not running round the next time some-one finds one and thinks i know what to do. :rofl:

The other thing i have found quite good habitat for all sorts of wildlife is a pallett stuffed with leaves,straw,etc with a piece of pond liner over the top -i have one near the pond with one end open too the shallow end which frogs  in particular like to sit in , It doubles as a person feet dabbling platform in summer too -or you can stand plants on them or even use the same methods as roof gardens to make them look more attractive.Just try and go for non creosoted or painted ones.

I has been snowing again on and off all morning but the last lot was very wet and it all seems to be thawing now.

Offline Emz2014

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #431 on: February 12, 2018, 04:21:08 PM »
I did wonder on the tubes and the types of bees - and whether other insects would move in. Think I will stick to sharing my garden with nature, rather than planning specialist builds :-)   I have a corner at the end of the garden which is kind of overgrown/a mix of nettles and brambles, with some twigs/cuttings in there too - I leave that for nature and it attracts a lot of butterflies.  I know foxes have lived in it before, so perhaps there may be space for a hedgehog - I shall just let them have the option. 
I also leave my hedges really wide so the garden isnt mown to within an inch of its life :-)  xx
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. 
Hold on in there xx

Offline longedge

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #432 on: February 12, 2018, 06:35:39 PM »
I went out this morning and gave the birds a good talking to -  I told them that they're having no more mealworms until they eat everything else up !! :grin:
I'll never get over losing her and I used to think that eventually
I would learn to live with it - that's not happened yet.

        ~ I'm George by the way ~

Offline GHOST

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #433 on: February 12, 2018, 09:16:28 PM »
G
« Last Edit: November 15, 2022, 05:19:11 PM by GHOST »

Offline longedge

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Re: Everyday general chat, everyone welcome, just join in
« Reply #434 on: February 12, 2018, 10:08:23 PM »
 :smiley: I'm a soft touch really Brian, I'll be out there again in the morning with the mealworms  :smiley:. I only wish that I had the range of wildlife here that you are privileged with! When I get down to the last half kilo I order again.
I'll never get over losing her and I used to think that eventually
I would learn to live with it - that's not happened yet.

        ~ I'm George by the way ~