Winter Solstice and shortest day today.....thank goodness for that, now it will start getting brighter, albeit only a couple of minutes or so a week.
Well, I finally threw out the poinsettia yesterday - as a final insult, as I carried it through the house to the back door, it shed a trail of leaves over the floor. Think it's safe to say I'm the kiss of death to house plants, well, flowering ones anyway. I love orchids - many years ago, husband used to buy me orchids for birthdays/anniversary.....well, none of them survived under my 'care' for more than a month. He gave up in the end 😂. I'm the same with miniature roses, they just don't survive very long at all here. To be fair, I don't think roses are meant to be house plants, they're supposed to be outside - well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Oddly, though, I have 2 foliage house plants (no idea what they are) in the bathroom....one's a sort of fern type, the other kind of like a spider plant, but with thicker, wider leaves that are green on top and burgundy underneath, it produces lots of babies/side shoots. Both of them seem to thrive in there (in fact I took one of the baby side shoots off months ago and stuck it in another pot, it's now as big as the parent) - I guess it must be the humidity. Certainly can't be down to anything I do, I forget to water them until they're limp and clearly gasping for a drink.
Going to do a bit of baking today, more cheese biscuits, some as gifts and a few for us. I also need to make dog food. I'm still not getting excited about Christmas day - the planned day may happen, it may not. Will just have to wait and see. I've got plenty of Christmas food (meat, already prepped veggies, and treats) in the freezer, I've asked our friends to just give us enough notice so I can get the food out of the freezer if they decide the risk is too great (or Boris says it is) for us to go to them. Two of them have compromised immune systems, so they have to be extra careful. We are going to do another lateral flow test tomorrow, then again on Christmas morning - the one we did on Sunday was negative so obviously I'm hoping the next ones will be too.
On the subject of lateral flow tests.....the papers keep saying there's a shortage of them and people can't get hold of them. Well, I've ordered them online twice recently and had no problem whatsoever.
The chocolate Sainsburys 'Baileys' - last night I had it in a cup of Horlicks......oh wow, even more delicious. In fact, it was so absolutely yummy that I drank it all a bit too quickly and had a woozy head afterwards 😂 Or maybe I just put too much in 😁
My Aldi poinsettia is really healthy and going great guns but the lovely one that I was given last week is looking pretty sick. That 'Bailey's sounds like it would be lovely in hot chocolate.... topped with cream. mmmmm.
ReplyDeleteHello I love reading your blog .. I’m no good with Poinsettia either .. could you enlighten how you make your dog food really interested .. keep safe xx
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have had to ditch one of mine. The last one I bought too. I think I actually overwatered it - they are fussy little things.
ReplyDeleteNow I am umming and ahing about a replacement when I go shopping tomorrow. I think I might splash out on a flower arrangement instead. That might be nicer.
Hope your head has recovered. xx
The only plants I can keep going are succulents as they are very forgiving.
ReplyDeleteNo sympathy re the Baileys and woozy head!!
Ditto, here on the houseplant front. I gave up years ago! I've tried to get some lateral flow tests here - no joy. The 2 chemists in the village haven't got any, Tesco pharmacy - none, and when I tried to get some on-line - they're not sending any out at the moment! I'll just have to trust that we're Covid-free when our daughter, SIL and grandson come. They'll do a test before they come, so as long as we're all careful... xx
ReplyDeleteI'll be happy to send you a couple of our tests, if you want - sent 1st class they might hopefully reach you by Christmas Eve. If you want me to, send me an email with your address and I'll get them posted today xx
DeleteThanks for the offer, Sooze. I've replied to your email. xx
DeleteI have never been able to keep poinsettia either but this year a friend gave me one which he bought at a garden centre and it is still looking lovely many weeks later. I am now convinced the key is garden centre not supermarket!
ReplyDeleteI think I might pick up a test or two when I am out and about today.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.