WEEKLY CHAT (non-osprey) SUNDAY AUGUST 19,2017

Last night in Arizona; heading home tomorrow with stopover in Palm Desert. Will catch  up then!

  • Heather you will know in your heart when the time is right to do some changes or move on.

    I think we were both widowed young with children who in those days were the driving force for us to get out of bed and to continue.

    The old saying " life goes on" and it has to.

    So just assess and go forward when your heart tells you to.

    Hugs:-) xx

  • WENDY- how right you are about the children and the need to work and pay the bills. That is indeed what made me put my legs out of the bed in those days and keep going. Now, I'm wallowing in sentiment, if I'm brutally honest and my goodness, it is hard to fight it, sometimes. I'm sure that you are right and I will 'know' when and what to do with the garden, etc. xxx

  • Heather it's not wallowing it's grieving ...

    All will be well as you have so much support ...

  • Heather B said:
    I know that I shouldn't make big decisions just yet, while I am still coming to terms with my huge loss. Perhaps wait until next year.

    Totally and utterly agree with this.  You shouldn't do anything now you might regret later.

    Heather B said:
    I just thought that I would not post this, but I know all of you have been supportive to each other, probably because we are not emotionally involved. So here it is - and my apologies xx

    No apologies needed.  It's good to talk.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • Heather: I'm going to reply to your recent post, but may I ask a couple of practical questions before I do?

    (1) How much land do you own? That is, how big is the garden that you must maintain?

    (2) Do you have neighbors who live close to you? That is, are you answerable to anyone else for the decisions you make about this parcel of land? Do you live in a suburban area where there's a certain "standard" or expectation that you must meet? Or are you far enough from others that your decisions shouldn't matter to anyone but yourself?

  • Evening all:

    OG: Had to Google Homity Pie and have no idea what a muckle waffle is!  As for Mouswald Topping, it sounds like something you might put on a muckle waffle!    :-))  It really has been busy - a lot of organizational-type things coming together re granddaughter's house (daughter's bathroom needs to be more accessible), grandson's UK trip, my own UK trip,  freelance work due and legal stuff to be brought up to date before then. Eeeek.  One step at a time though and all will be well.

    AQ: Sounds like a typical day at a grade school event.  My nephew's  son is learning the trumpet and his fellow trumpet students held a concert for family and friends the other week. My Sister and BiL didn't attend (it was a long drive), but we all got a video of the event, which prompted my BiL to say,  Thank God we don't live any closer!!   Apparently the violin class concert was even more painful.  :-)   Ms. D is back at school and granddaughter is hoping all the start-of-term germs won't come home with her.  You've probably gone off on your trip already!  Hope it's fun.

    Heather:   I gave up roses, much as I love them, because they really do take a lot of care and fussing. I had about 35 and now have 10, 6 of which are "bullet proof" Icebergs.  It sounds like you might want - and  need - to make some changes. Maybe you could start by removing some of the smaller, high-maintenance and messy plants and shrubs and then see how things go?   What about replacing some of the planted area with a deck or brick patio. decomposed granite or gravel?  Of course, all that costs $$$. The other option is to not worry about all those leaves, especially from the trees. Won't they all mush into the ground eventually and add nutrients to the soil?  :-)   At this point, I'd wait until you feel more like yourself before selling the house, although that might be the best solution further down the road. Whatever you do, don't feel guilty!!  I'm sure Bill wouldn't want you to wear yourself out raking and sweeping for his sake   As Lindybird says, we're all here to lend our collective shoulders, so whatever you decide, we're with you!

    Lindybird: Hope you have good weather for your trip to Wales.  I adore those horses - they're so big but yet so graceful, like dancers, especially with those lovely floaty socks (fetlocks?)   Our Cooper's Hawk likes to sit at the top of the Chinese Elm; you can always tell when it's there because there's another bird (I think a mockingbird) that goes ballistic, screeching and dive-bombing it in an attempt to drive it away.

    Lynette: Congrats on the 49th Wedding Anniversary. Time to start planning the 50th!

    Watching Diabolique - I forgot how good it is!

    Have a good Saturday all....

  • Good Morning, All. Sunny through my window, and a nice dry weekend forecast for the Bank Holiday Monday event. Horrific storms predicted for Texas, though, so I do hope the damage will not be too dreadful.

    Annette -  Yes, I think those shire horses look as if they're dancing when they move so gracefully for such a large animal. Beautiful. You really do sound busy!

    I Googled homity pie, too --  it sounds so good that I had a mouth watering reaction, although I was on a Diet Day at the time, and had only had an apple for lunch!

    Thinking of Heather today, as I'm sure a lot of us are:  last night I had a phone call from our dear Brenda's husband, who is concerned about her plight. He thinks that no sudden decisions should be made at this point. 

  • Here's today's pic:

    "This way......no, this way"

  • LINDY   lucky you, with us it is rain,rain and more rain.

  • Good morning and thank you one and all for your helpful posts. They are much appreciated.

    LINDY- please thank BRENDA'S husband for his kind interest and sensible advice. I will definitely not make major decisions until my mind is more settled.

    I'll come back later with more replies.