The Retirement Thread

[Mo1959]

We were suppose to have rain today and for that reason I didn't go for a ride

It’s just started here and to be wet all day tomorrow.

 

[welsh dragon]

It's going a bit dark here now. I suspect it will start raining quite soon.

 

[Dirk]

It's going a bit dark here now. I suspect it will start raining quite soon.

It's gone dark here as well. Think I'll go to bed.
Night Billy Ray.

 

[classic33]

It's gone dark here as well. Think I'll go to bed.
Night Billy Ray.

Night Noah

 

[12boy]

Made a New Mexican speciality today...Chuletas Espanolas.( Espanola pork chops). These are boneless centercut chops browned with a bunch of chopped garlic and onion. Then a Roux is made with bacon drippings, dried red Chile powder and a little flour, then liquefied with a little water. The Roux and chops are stuck in a crockpot to simmer until falling apart. This dietary delight is then served with crispy hash browns and pinto beans, and smothered in grated cheddar, chopped lettuce and tomato. That groaning noise after dining is the cholesterol gumming the arteries closed.

 

[classic33]

Made a New Mexican speciality today...Chuletas Espanolas.( Espanola pork chops). These are boneless centercut chops browned with a bunch of chopped garlic and onion. Then a Roux is made with bacon drippings, dried red Chile powder and a little flour, then liquefied with a little water. The Roux and chops are stuck in a crockpot to simmer until falling apart. This dietary delight is then served with crispy hash browns and pinto beans, and smothered in grated cheddar, chopped lettuce and tomato. That groaning noise after dining is the cholesterol gumming the arteries closed.

Any left, if so how long will it take to get them here. Essential medical supplies you understand.

 

[FrankCrank]

8am here, 2 cuppas and some muesli consumed. MiL is out there doing the garden, making me feel guilty, so it's off for my morning ride.

 

[classic33]

8am here, 2 cuppas and some muesli consumed. MiL is out there doing the garden, making me feel guilty, so it's off for my morning ride.

Not feeling too guilty then.

 

[numbnuts]

 

[FrankCrank]

Not feeling too guilty then.

A little, but I'm not the green fingered one, MiL luckily takes care of all that stuff. After the morning ride, I usually have a proper breakfast/brunch. In the kitchen, MiL was waving the kettle at me, and my clever interpretation skills soon fathomed she was indicating we had run out of gas. So, off to the LPG place for a refill, and back to the kitchen again to resume where we'd left off. You see, we all have our part to play at Crank Towers

 

[PaulSB]

 

[PaulSB]

Bumble Bees. I like bees, always had an affinity with them. I love having them in the garden.

We have large numbers of bumble bees in our garden at this time of year, +/- 100 spread over the two beds where all the food plants grow. Along our row the neighbours get virtually none. The reason is most of the flowering plants we grow are quite old fashioned varieties. Modern varieties are often sterile hybrids which don't provide bees with food.

Here is today's interesting observation. Sunday evening I noticed a dozen or so bees apparently asleep inside/on top of flowers. I went back to look about 10.00pm and they were still there. On Monday about 6.00am the bees were still there. Same thing last night and now this morning. So some of these bees are feeding all day and then camping out overnight!!

I've also learnt how to gauge the intelligence of individual bees. It rained last night, still is. The stupid ones are sitting on top of a small flower and are soaked, the intelligent ones are sitting inside large flowers, they're much drier. 🤔

There now you feel educated and informed............well what else can I do at 5.30am on a wet Wednesday lockdown day???

 

[Mo1959]

Bumble Bees. I like bees, always had an affinity with them. I love having them in the garden.

We have large numbers of bumble bees in our garden at this time of year, +/- 100 spread over the two beds where all the food plants grow. Along our row the neighbours get virtually none. The reason is most of the flowering plants we grow are quite old fashioned varieties. Modern varieties are often sterile hybrids which don't provide bees with food.

Here is today's interesting observation. Sunday evening I noticed a dozen or so bees apparently asleep inside/on top of flowers. I went back to look about 10.00pm and they were still there. On Monday about 6.00am the bees were still there. Same thing last night and now this morning. So some of these bees are feeding all day and then camping out overnight!!

I've also learnt how to gauge the intelligence of individual bees. It rained last night, still is. The stupid ones are sitting on top of a small flower and are soaked, the intelligent ones are sitting inside large flowers, they're much drier. 🤔

There now you feel educated and informed............well what else can I do at 5.30am on a wet Wednesday lockdown day???

I love the bees too. It's amazing how many different types there are. One of my early morning cycles last week on a country road I noticed a man with his phone taking a photo of something in the verge, so nosy me stops to chat and ask him what he's seen. It was a large and very orange coloured bumble bee.

It's raining here and to stay on all day. I suppose I could force myself out on the old hybrid with it's full mudguards, but not sure there would be that much pleasure getting soaked.

 

[PaulSB]

I love the bees too. It's amazing how many different types there are. One of my early morning cycles last week on a country road I noticed a man with his phone taking a photo of something in the verge, so nosy me stops to chat and ask him what he's seen. It was a large and very orange coloured bumble bee.

It's raining here and to stay on all day. I suppose I could force myself out on the old hybrid with it's full mudguards, but not sure there would be that much pleasure getting soaked.

I took part in a national bee survey for FoE in 2018. It was fascinating. There was an app which I used to report bee sightings. I had great fun.

That year I had tree bees on the allotment. The queen had nested in an old bird box - apparently this is quite common. These little bumblebees are great guys, they were everywhere. I remember one day they all just upped sticks and left - I was quite upset when MY bees left.

Most of the bumblebees currently in our garden are tree bees but I've yet to find the nest.

Here is one:

 

[Mo1959]

I took part in a national bee survey for FoE in 2018. It was fascinating. There was an app which I used to report bee sightings. I had great fun.

That year I had tree bees on the allotment. The queen had nested in an old bird box - apparently this is quite common. These little bumblebees are great guys, they were everywhere. I remember one day they all just upped sticks and left - I was quite upset when MY bees left.

Most of the bumblebees currently in our garden are tree bees but I've yet to find the nest.

Here is one:

View attachment 528822

Strange how most of us dislike wasps so much, but these fluffy bumble bees just seem so loveable.

I can hear the rain getting heavier