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Post by shades on Aug 1, 2016 0:13:35 GMT
No slacking this month, August is well and truly open for business This month's highlights: Qingdao Beer Festival 13-28th
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Post by Bean on Aug 1, 2016 7:22:53 GMT
Oooh well done - I can retire now!
Are you going for the full 2 weeks or beer supping?! Gin festivals seem to be all the range over here at the moment, but I can't stand the stuff (or any spirits for that matter).
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Post by shades on Aug 1, 2016 7:37:45 GMT
I don't think they offer residential passes
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 1, 2016 15:27:08 GMT
Oh, well done, Shades! I just remembered it was August, so would have totally fallen down on the job. The festival sounds great, though I don't drink. I imagine there is a lot more on offer than booze Our town has Old Home Day this month. I don't know if it's only a New England tradition, or if it's done across the US. It's basically a weekend celebration of how the town got to where it is, from where it started. There are band concerts, local cottage industries have booths, lots of different foods, and games for the kids. Sometimes there are tractor pulls, and there are always fireworks. We should be able to see the fireworks, and they are far enough away that the noise doesn't scare the animals. It's also my hubby's birthday today Anything happening anywhere else?
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Post by Bean on Aug 2, 2016 8:52:01 GMT
Well, apparently it was Yorkshire Day yesterday but I'm not sure anything happened because of it anywhere near me?! I might have looked it up but our day was hectic enough anyway!
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Post by shades on Aug 2, 2016 11:13:54 GMT
Oooh well done - I can retire now! Are you going for the full 2 weeks or beer supping?! Gin festivals seem to be all the range over here at the moment, but I can't stand the stuff (or any spirits for that matter). you usually just buy a day ticket; it's cheaper before 3pm. In previous years there has been beer tents from the big brewers, mainly German, but also Heineken, Bud, Tiger and also Qingdao beer, of course. Each tent has a stage and an assortment of shows to entertain the customers. As well as the tents, there's also an amusement park with the usual things. Surprisingly, I haven't been able to find an official website. That's strange.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 2, 2016 19:36:05 GMT
It sounds like a fun, family way to sample a lot of beers and go on some rides I am surprised you haven't been able to find an official website. That's how people know where to buy tickets, how much they are, what's available that should make them want to buy tickets, etc. Hmmm? What does Yorkshire Day entail, Bean? You said nothing was happening near you. Is it county-wide?
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Post by Bean on Aug 3, 2016 8:46:07 GMT
Apparently the mayors from all the cities and towns go on a parade together every year, to celebrate Yorkshire. It's in a different town every year, and was in Halifax this year. So that explains why it's not really on my radar as it's only been in our city centre once in the last 20 years. There are also associated activities like pudding throwing (Yorkshire puddings) - last year the record was 34m?! There seems to be a bit of disagreement about it as some of the activities perpetuate Yorkshire stereotypes (flat caps and whippets) and some people don't feel we should be encouraging it! Others think it's just a bit of fun and about taking pride in your roots or just celebrating the individuality of where you are. I don't think it's a big enough thing to cause any damage - not many people in Yorkshire even know it exists! Surprisingly, I haven't been able to find an official website. That's strange. Are you sure you didn't dream it?!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 3, 2016 15:44:11 GMT
I had to google flat caps and whippets to understand the significance of the comment. I didn't find the significance of whippets, but figure they must be the Yorkshire choice of racing dog. The flat caps hit home, though en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppola_(cap) I feel a married kinship to the Yorkshiremen, lol After several days of rain and cool temps, the heat is slowly returning. Temps should be in the 80s today, but only got into the high 60s for the last couple of days. 80s and 90s for the next 10 days. It was nice to have a couple of days of no a/c
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 4, 2016 2:34:50 GMT
Temps here are still too hot for grazing, even in the evening.
Also, the countdown for rescuing another piggie is down to about 17 more days! I can't wait!
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Post by Bean on Aug 4, 2016 9:51:45 GMT
Exciting! We've had a bit of grazing action here, but not as much as hoped. It's been the rain and wind getting in our way - good old Blighty!
Ah I didn't know flat caps went by that name too, 3piggles. Hope you and hub have some?! I think whippets were just the pet of choice for Yorkshiremen living in rural areas - I don't think the association relates to racing, but could be wrong. The stereotype I hear most to do with Yorkshire people is that we're very friendly but also quite stubborn and plain-speaking. I'm sure it relates to many people in the county, and also plenty of other counties too! Mind you, other counties have reputations for being not very bright or even inbred, so it could be worse!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 4, 2016 16:19:18 GMT
The New England region of the US, where I live, is known for being unfriendly, closed to outsiders, and cheap. We are not unfriendly, but we don't hang about wagging our jaws. We are reserved, not unfriendly. We are honest and ethical almost to a fault, which can be really off putting. We're not closed to outsiders, but again, we don't wag our jaws, so it may seem as if we ignore other people. We are not cheap. We are frugal. There's a really big difference. Yes, we drive the same car for 10 years, or as long as it runs and will still pass the safety inspection. We don't hire done what we can do ourselves. We're not interested in bragging rights for material things. Oh, and for some reason, people think having a Boston accent means we're well educated. This just proves that how outsiders interpret others is often totally wrong. I'm sure Yorkshire people have their idiosyncrasies, just as we do, but that's not who they are. Looking at some websites, there's some beautiful country in Yorkshire :)I wouldn't blame them for being proud of their county Heat is returning, with temps close to or over 90F. We're officially in an extended drought. Not more than a little rain for the next 10 days, so nothing changing any time soon. Hopefully, we'll get some rain this Fall, and a lot of snow this winter. Hubby found a tick in his lunch box, yesterday, so we're a bit concerned about letting the pigs out to graze. We also have mostly weeds, so not much decent grazing. By mid to late morning, it's too hot to have them outside, too. Not been the best summer for grazing, but a great summer for outdoor people activities. So many areas of the US are getting flooded. It's too bad we can't share the water.
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Post by Bean on Aug 5, 2016 9:19:20 GMT
I haven't heard too much about your weather on our news - but having scanned a few headlines, I can see it's pretty bad. It does always seem frustrating when different areas are suffering contrasting problems.
That is a bit worrying about the tick. I know that people who walk dogs have to be on guard at certain times of year. But it's not something I hear people express much concern about on a routine basis, so I don't really know much about it all. Aside from that they can carry horrible diseases.
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 5, 2016 14:09:34 GMT
Here in New England, we get the end of everyone else's weather, so we never get it as badly as anyone else. Since our weather is so changeable, it can be hard to keep up with at times, especially going from beautiful, dry temps in the 70s, to soupy temps in the 90s. So we complain a lot Compared to most of the rest of the country, we don't have much to complain about I does seem, though, that with all of the technology we have, we could get the excesses from one area to the deficits in other areas. We can pipe natural gas all around the country, but not water? Not enough profit in it, I guess. I got out to walk at 7:30 a.m., and beat the heat. Tomorrow is supposed to be nasty, hot and humid with thunderstorms, so not sure if I'll get out to walk then. So I'm heading out shopping, and to get more steps on my ResQwalk app, for the rabbit rescue,just in case tomorrow is a wash out
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Post by Bean on Aug 8, 2016 17:48:39 GMT
Even though we've had some showers, it's not been enough to give everything a proper soaking for a while. My lawn is looking a bit parched.
Today the kids and I spent the afternoon moving a few tons of soil. I decided to break down my large veg bed, which my husband made 6 years ago from an old pallet. It's served us well but is rotting now and kept needing repairs. I thought about building something new but after an uninspiring year growing veg, I decided to incorporate the space with what's around it - grass with a border for shrubs and flowers. I'll grow veg again but will do it slightly differently next time.
I think it'll look good once everything's taken off and it's nice and low maintenance. I much prefer to have edges where the grass goes straight over to a flowerbed, as I can just run the mower over it and don't need to get the shears out as I did round the veg bed (assuming I was in a neat mood!) so it'll work well for me in that sense!
We're all feeling tired now and the kids are enjoying some of the computer time they earned for providing manual labour!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 8, 2016 23:48:54 GMT
Sounds like a really good days work, and the right ingredients for a great nights sleep. I'm sure the kids are really enjoying their extra, well-earned computer time. I know exactly what you mean about designing any future gardens to be easy care. As much as I'd love to have had a garden this year, waiting until next summer gives us time to plan and purchase what we need.
I really want to grow potatoes next summer. We tried once, years ago. The instructions said to hill the dirt up over the plants, and keep hilling it. We over-hilled it, and killed the plants. We've wanted to try again ever since.
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Post by Bean on Aug 9, 2016 6:11:22 GMT
I keep getting potato plants in my compost bin from the odd sprouty potato that gets thrown out in the compost - I do chop them up first but apparently that's not enough! We haven't gone so far as to allow them to grow and eat the potatoes - there's something about them growing in half rotted food that's slightly unappealing!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 9, 2016 12:04:32 GMT
Yes, there is! I don't think potatoes even need good soil. Here in the US, they grow where the soil isn't very good, and seem to love it. I think the bad parts about the soil are the number of rocks, and that fact that it's sandy or gravel, with little good top soil. That tells me potatoes like really good drainage, but I could be wrong. We had tomatoes growing all over the driveway one year, before we had the driveway paved. We tossed rotted ones into the compost we were using to built up the edges of the driveway, and they not only survived the winter, but grew the next year. Got out for my walk at 6:30 this morning, when it was only 62 degrees. Really nice not to be hurrying from shady spot to shady spot. I know we'll have more mornings like this as Fall approaches, but for now, it's a spot morning here and there. When we get our garden going next year, we want to grow sweet corn, which will need to be planted in the ground, not in a planter. I can't reach the ears, if the plant doesn't start at ground level. Corn has gotten so expensive, and not very good, so not at all worth the money. I'm hoping to get a good variety of really sweet corn, and amend the soil to help it stay that way. I'm also hoping we don't have a problem with raccoons, or no corn for the humans
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Post by Bean on Aug 9, 2016 21:22:28 GMT
Oh I'd love to grow sweetcorn but we don't really get the temperatures for it here.
I took my tomato plants out of the veg bed and transferred them to pots, so hopefully they'll cope okay with being moved and I'll get a few later this year. I could have left them but yesterday it felt like a 'now or never' situation - I'm too good with excuses to put stuff off when I have the time, opportunity and energy in place!
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 10, 2016 2:36:47 GMT
The countdown for a new piggy is 11 more days!
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