Day 28 V.R.E + Blackbirds

 Yesterday we had the best sunniest day there's been for weeks. It was due to be followed by a frost, so when I look out this morning I'm hoping to see the fig tree is still OK and the early flowers on one of the young pear trees and on the magnolia haven't turned brown overnight. Fingers crossed.

Thanks to Jan who was able to tell me what odd conspiracy theory I'd heard on the radio in the middle of the night - no wonder I'd not remembered it as it sounds like some sort of nightmare! Apparently in  towns and cities all facilities like shops, schools, doctors etc will be within 15 minutes of peoples homes - not for convenience but to keep people within their own area. They will not be allowed outside of their area! This is believed to be true in many places............ Have to say I'm a tad doubtful.

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Another garden visitor who also makes an appearance in the book "A Sparrow's Life's as Sweet as Ours"

Photos from a few weeks ago while the flowering cherry was still in bud.

And the illustration from the book

From the information page I read

The ousel-cock, so black of hue

With orange-tawny beak

which was sung by Bottom in A Midsummer-Nights Dream. Lots of birds were named Ousel until the C17 when they got separate names. 

Blackbirds declined during the late C20 but have increased in the 21st century and were the 4th most common in the 2018 R.S.P.B. Great Garden Birdwatch. Blackbirds are native to Europe, Asia and North Africa and have been introduced to many other parts of the world. Many of the Blackbirds we see here in winter have arrived from further north to spend their time in a slightly milder climate.

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The meal for Day 28 was the 3rd Tuna, Pasta and Broccoli Bake from the freezer. I didn't take a photo as it was just the same as the other two days I'd eaten it.

Total spend so far is £72.03 + £2.20 for the 4th box of decaf frothy coffees = £74.23. 

Back Tomorrow

Sue

The 27th Meal of the Value Range Experiment

Thanks to everyone for baked potato comments yesterday. I'm never going to enjoy potatoes except in a potato salad or roast and thank goodness it's easy to avoid them nowadays.

 I needed more fruit to last the rest of the month. From Aldi................

6  Apples      99p

Small Pears  99p

£70.05 + £1.98 = £72.03

 

The Day 27 meal was leek fritters served up with the one remaining slice of bacon and tomatoes from the 4th tin.

Leek fritters use 1 leek, washed and sliced  and softened in the microwave then mixed with an egg and enough flour to make a batter and fried.

I don't often read this blog nowadays but looked at it yesterday and  came across something that puzzled me...........

 If people have a different opinion to me, they are not welcome here.

Oh dear!..............I'm pleased to say everyone is welcome here!

Back Tomorrow

Sue

April Days and Country Ways + My Least Favourite Choice

 

From 'An Illustrated Country Year' by Celia Lewis

Oh, to be in England

Now that April's there

And whoever wakes in England

Sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England  - now!

                                      Home-Thoughts from Abroad by Robert Browning 1845

April was associated by the Romans with the goddess Venus, and the word April may be related to her Greek name Aphrodite or from the Latin aperire, to open - referring  to the opening of buds.

The Anglo-Saxons called it Ostermonath or Eosturmonarth connected with Easter  or the East or from Eostre, thought to be the name of a pagan goddess of the spring.

There are many weather sayings for April probably because it was peak time for farming and gardening but can have such varied weather, so country people would be looking for any clues as to what sort of weather was likely.

April weather, rain and sunshine both together

April wet, good wheat

April has 30 days, and if it rained on 31 no harm would be done

A dry April is not the farmer's will

April wet is what we should get

Till April's dead

Change not a thread.

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Day 26 and my meal was the least favourite (apart from that horrible pork) .....Baked potato with some butter, some more of the grated cheese and the rest of the tub of coleslaw. I put the potato back in the microwave to melt the cheap grated cheese and it all got a bit messy! 

I wished I thought of some other meal!

`

I managed to eat it but won't be making a baked spud again - however much butter, cheese and salt it has on it!

Always seems odd to me that people go out for a meal and choose a boring baked potato! 

Back Tomorrow

Sue