Weekend Activity, April 1-3, 2022
ConversazioniThe Green Dragon
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1jillmwo
Prior to the pandemic, we would have these regular threads where everyone chatted about what they were doing with their weekends. I haven't seen one of those recently and I miss hearing how the rest of you are handling real life. (Hopefully, I'm not overlooking some group consensus that it was a boring topic thread and ought to be stopped.)
My husband is doing his final run of a community theater production of a play called Sylvia. He was out last night, will be out tonight and will spend all of Sunday busy with the show closing. It's possible he and I will run out for a lunch today.
In the meantime, I am sorting books into boxes for shipping off to the local Friends of the Library book sale. I have a brand-new biography of Mrs. Frank Leslie (newspaper tycoon) but I may be tempted to finish off a shipboard murder mystery. I watched the movie version of Death on the Nile this past week -- much better than I'd thought it would be -- so now I may watch Bridgerton Season 2 since the spouse will be off doing his thing.
What are the rest of you doing? Planting? Baking? Cooking? Giving Up? Giving Away?
My husband is doing his final run of a community theater production of a play called Sylvia. He was out last night, will be out tonight and will spend all of Sunday busy with the show closing. It's possible he and I will run out for a lunch today.
In the meantime, I am sorting books into boxes for shipping off to the local Friends of the Library book sale. I have a brand-new biography of Mrs. Frank Leslie (newspaper tycoon) but I may be tempted to finish off a shipboard murder mystery. I watched the movie version of Death on the Nile this past week -- much better than I'd thought it would be -- so now I may watch Bridgerton Season 2 since the spouse will be off doing his thing.
What are the rest of you doing? Planting? Baking? Cooking? Giving Up? Giving Away?
3Maddz
Just got back from the weekly shop, bi-monthly farmers market, monthly repeat prescription. Also nipped up to the local garden centre to look at chippings for the new raised beds. Tomorrow I should have an online FATE game in the morning, after lunch we'll head out to Huntingdon to do the other garden centres (Dobbies & Frosts), and the DIY stores (Homebase & B&Q).
This assumes I don't have to drive Paul over to Corby - his mother has tested positive for COVID. His brother is over there now - he may stay for a few days.
Apart from that, nothing much. I'm finally catching up on my ER backlog - I've had something of a reading slump for the past couple of years.
This assumes I don't have to drive Paul over to Corby - his mother has tested positive for COVID. His brother is over there now - he may stay for a few days.
Apart from that, nothing much. I'm finally catching up on my ER backlog - I've had something of a reading slump for the past couple of years.
4pgmcc
>1 jillmwo:
You are not missing any such message. I too have missed the weekend threads.
My wife and I planned to go to the Ideal Home Exhibition today, and we were then going to visit booshops. However she is not feeling the best so that plan changed. She told me to go on to the bookshops, but I said I would not go and leave her feeling miserable at home. She said, well, if I had some toast and marmalade, a cup of tea and my book I would not be miserable.
Long story short; I have been in town for the past three hours, have visited three bookshops, had a lamb doner-kebab for lunch, and am now sitting in a bookshop coffee bar with a large latté, a blueberry muffin, and my book. So far the weekend is going well.
You are not missing any such message. I too have missed the weekend threads.
My wife and I planned to go to the Ideal Home Exhibition today, and we were then going to visit booshops. However she is not feeling the best so that plan changed. She told me to go on to the bookshops, but I said I would not go and leave her feeling miserable at home. She said, well, if I had some toast and marmalade, a cup of tea and my book I would not be miserable.
Long story short; I have been in town for the past three hours, have visited three bookshops, had a lamb doner-kebab for lunch, and am now sitting in a bookshop coffee bar with a large latté, a blueberry muffin, and my book. So far the weekend is going well.
5catzteach
>1 jillmwo: thanks for starting this thread. I have missed these.
I am doing errands a bit today, then just taking it easy. I’m training for a marathon (almost there) and Saturdays are my rest day. Sundays are my long run days. We are tapering right now so we’re only running 12 miles tomorrow.
I am doing errands a bit today, then just taking it easy. I’m training for a marathon (almost there) and Saturdays are my rest day. Sundays are my long run days. We are tapering right now so we’re only running 12 miles tomorrow.
6Bookmarque
Oh I forgot about these, too.
Husband and I took the recycling to the drop off and came up to town. Got some vermouth, vodka & some bourbon. Nothing special, just the usual. Now I'm in the library updating software and downloading audiobooks. With such limited internet bandwidth, this is necessary these days.
Tonight will be our usual Saturday night meal - PDD martinis and then grilled ribeyes with baked potatoes and sauteed spinach. I'll cut up some small tomatoes for a side. We'll find a syrah or cab to have with then head to watch a movie downstairs. The usual.
Tomorrow I'll go across the street to my friends house to continue to watch Damages. We're on season two and if we can keep our mouths shut, we might get through an episode or two. LOL.
Husband and I took the recycling to the drop off and came up to town. Got some vermouth, vodka & some bourbon. Nothing special, just the usual. Now I'm in the library updating software and downloading audiobooks. With such limited internet bandwidth, this is necessary these days.
Tonight will be our usual Saturday night meal - PDD martinis and then grilled ribeyes with baked potatoes and sauteed spinach. I'll cut up some small tomatoes for a side. We'll find a syrah or cab to have with then head to watch a movie downstairs. The usual.
Tomorrow I'll go across the street to my friends house to continue to watch Damages. We're on season two and if we can keep our mouths shut, we might get through an episode or two. LOL.
7tardis
I love the weekend threads. Although all my days are weekends :)
>1 jillmwo: Is Sylvia the play about the dog? If so, we saw it a few years ago. It was fun.
I went out with an informal walking group this morning. The organizer picks a different route each Saturday morning. They almost always have a café somewhere along the route so we can get a beverage and/or snack. Several Good Dogs join us.
After that, I made a snack, and sat out in the sun on the front step with it and a book. The cats got some outdoor time with me and we met a doberman puppy, Juniper. Amy stayed on the porch, Newt came forward to meet her but swatted her and hissed when she tried to sniff him. I thought she was adorable. Other people's dogs are my favourite kind :)
As for the rest of the weekend, I need to check my seed packets to see what else needs to be started. I've already done all the peppers, tomatoes, leeks, tomatillos, ground cherries, and eggplant. Also probably go for a walk on Sunday, too. Or maybe get back to pruning the pear tree, which is about half done.
>1 jillmwo: Is Sylvia the play about the dog? If so, we saw it a few years ago. It was fun.
I went out with an informal walking group this morning. The organizer picks a different route each Saturday morning. They almost always have a café somewhere along the route so we can get a beverage and/or snack. Several Good Dogs join us.
After that, I made a snack, and sat out in the sun on the front step with it and a book. The cats got some outdoor time with me and we met a doberman puppy, Juniper. Amy stayed on the porch, Newt came forward to meet her but swatted her and hissed when she tried to sniff him. I thought she was adorable. Other people's dogs are my favourite kind :)
As for the rest of the weekend, I need to check my seed packets to see what else needs to be started. I've already done all the peppers, tomatoes, leeks, tomatillos, ground cherries, and eggplant. Also probably go for a walk on Sunday, too. Or maybe get back to pruning the pear tree, which is about half done.
8clamairy
I'm still in recovery mode from that headcold and five days of whooping it up. I did manage two miles on the beach with the pup, but I've been mostly reading or doing laundry. I can't wait to get my mojo back.
Thanks for starting this, Jill. We stopped because everyone was staying home. Let's hope we don't have to do that again.
Thanks for starting this, Jill. We stopped because everyone was staying home. Let's hope we don't have to do that again.
9MrAndrew
>1 jillmwo: (Hopefully, I'm not overlooking some group consensus that it was a boring topic thread and ought to be stopped.)
Read the memos, dammit.
Just kidding. Worked all weekend as usual. Even longer days than usual. Work has steadily increased since the pandemic. After typing that sentence, i've realised i should stop and re-evaluate my life.
>7 tardis: surely Sylvia is about the author.
>4 pgmcc: I must admire a post with 4 different alcoholic beverages mentioned. Does anyone remember the signature drink of the Green Dragon?
>2 hfglen: Everything ok Hugh? Don't feel the need to answer that if you'd prefer not to. Just know that folks here care for you. Unless total inactivity is a good thing, in which case I'm jealous.
Read the memos, dammit.
Just kidding. Worked all weekend as usual. Even longer days than usual. Work has steadily increased since the pandemic. After typing that sentence, i've realised i should stop and re-evaluate my life.
>7 tardis: surely Sylvia is about the author.
>4 pgmcc: I must admire a post with 4 different alcoholic beverages mentioned. Does anyone remember the signature drink of the Green Dragon?
>2 hfglen: Everything ok Hugh? Don't feel the need to answer that if you'd prefer not to. Just know that folks here care for you. Unless total inactivity is a good thing, in which case I'm jealous.
10gilroy
Oh, weekend update (I feel like I should attach a picture of Chevy Chase or Dennis Miller here...)
Friday marked the return of the Friends of the Library in person book sale! Woot! New house, more shelves, meant dangerous times for me and wife. Between the two of us we spent almost $100 on a lot of books. (I'm debating going there for their end of weekend half off sale, just to see what's left.)
Yesterday was wife had to work and I ran a few errands. Also we mowed new house lawn for the first time. It hadn't been on the plan, but it is what happened. I was getting petaled as I mowed as the front yard has this gorgeous cherry tree that's been in full bloom for the last week.
Today is going to be more around the house cleaning, straightening, and reading. I want to pull both cars from the garage and organize more but that might be a two person job and I know wife has work week food prep planned.
Friday marked the return of the Friends of the Library in person book sale! Woot! New house, more shelves, meant dangerous times for me and wife. Between the two of us we spent almost $100 on a lot of books. (I'm debating going there for their end of weekend half off sale, just to see what's left.)
Yesterday was wife had to work and I ran a few errands. Also we mowed new house lawn for the first time. It hadn't been on the plan, but it is what happened. I was getting petaled as I mowed as the front yard has this gorgeous cherry tree that's been in full bloom for the last week.
Today is going to be more around the house cleaning, straightening, and reading. I want to pull both cars from the garage and organize more but that might be a two person job and I know wife has work week food prep planned.
11Maddz
Just discovered our local Household Waste Recycling Centres no longer need booking to visit. Annoyingly we passed it yesterday when we went to the Parkhall Garden Centre. We'll have to wait until my Easter break to take the old wheel barrow up now (the pan has a chunk missing). Once the handyman has set up the beds next month, I'll also need to organise some soil 'conditioner' although picking out shreds of bin bags is a nuisance. Still, it'll go on top of the hardcore and under the topsoil.
12theretiredlibrarian
Saturday I traveled 1 1/2 hours to attend my aunt's funeral. She was 90, and leaves my mom as the last surviving sibling. My sisters and I took her to the funeral, then we all had lunch. At home, I weeded one of my flower beds. Today, we'll go to church, and then if it's not raining I will weed another flower bed.
13jillmwo
>9 MrAndrew: It's the problem with Western civilization as we know it today, isn't it? The tension between those who shrug and and mutter TL;DR and those of us who are yelling Read ALL the words!!. *snort*
14pgmcc
>9 MrAndrew: PGGB
15hfglen
>9 MrAndrew: Groo used to make them to perfection.
16nrmay
Saturday highlight was the ribbon-cutting and celebration of my Little Free Library, newly installed near our neighborhood clubhouse.
And of course watching the NCAA Final Four basketball games. Go Tarheels!
today I'm catching up on reading and postcrossing.com
Husband making bean soup with a big ham bone.
I intend to take a long walk and listen to my current audio book, A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas - one in an amusing series about Charlotte Holmes, presumed to be the sister of Sherlock.
Sunny, 65 F. (18 C.) in Charlotte, North Carolina just after noon.
And of course watching the NCAA Final Four basketball games. Go Tarheels!
today I'm catching up on reading and postcrossing.com
Husband making bean soup with a big ham bone.
I intend to take a long walk and listen to my current audio book, A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas - one in an amusing series about Charlotte Holmes, presumed to be the sister of Sherlock.
Sunny, 65 F. (18 C.) in Charlotte, North Carolina just after noon.
17clamairy
>16 nrmay: Are you going to watch the women tonight? Go Huskies! Enjoy that soup.
18nrmay
>17 clamairy:
Yes, I want to watch that one too, but I'm afraid I'm for the SC Gamecocks!
CT has won so many times; I like the underdog. Should be a great matchup.
Soup was terrific!
Yes, I want to watch that one too, but I'm afraid I'm for the SC Gamecocks!
CT has won so many times; I like the underdog. Should be a great matchup.
Soup was terrific!
19clamairy
>18 nrmay: My son graduated from UCONN, and is going to grad school there now, so it's mandatory that I root for them. I'm afraid I will jinx it all if I try to watch, though!
20WholeHouseLibrary
I am ~mostly~ through a pile of paperwork that's been in various stages of piling up over a two-year period. Nothing to do with the pandemic; just a coincidental shutdown of accountability on my part. Of what's left, it could take a good three days to get it all processed and files away. But with other things already interrupting that time, it'll likely be Friday before I can say it's actually all done. Then, there's this other pile of even older stuff, and I suspect the vast majority of it will end up in the recycling bin.
And here's a first for me! I had to do the grocery shopping on Friday. (That's not the first I'm referring to, though; I always do my own grocery shopping. All the "first" stuff begins beyond this close parentheses.) On a whim, I bought a half pound of pre-peeled and deveined shrimp. Never bothered with seafood much; I usually let the restaurant deal with preparing it. But, I watched a 5-minute how-to on it, and decided to give it a go. I was under the mistaken impression that there were already skewers somewhere in the kitchen. Ended up cutting a 3/16" dowel into 8" lengths, poked one end into a pencil sharpener, and let them soak for a good half hour before retrieving the package of shrimp from the freezer (had only been in there an hour.)
Heated up the grill, skewered the shrimp, a small amount of olive oil, and five minutes later, I was wolfing them down. I guess I did it right, because there's been no adverse reaction.
And here's a first for me! I had to do the grocery shopping on Friday. (That's not the first I'm referring to, though; I always do my own grocery shopping. All the "first" stuff begins beyond this close parentheses.) On a whim, I bought a half pound of pre-peeled and deveined shrimp. Never bothered with seafood much; I usually let the restaurant deal with preparing it. But, I watched a 5-minute how-to on it, and decided to give it a go. I was under the mistaken impression that there were already skewers somewhere in the kitchen. Ended up cutting a 3/16" dowel into 8" lengths, poked one end into a pencil sharpener, and let them soak for a good half hour before retrieving the package of shrimp from the freezer (had only been in there an hour.)
Heated up the grill, skewered the shrimp, a small amount of olive oil, and five minutes later, I was wolfing them down. I guess I did it right, because there's been no adverse reaction.
21NorthernStar
Well, it snowed again this weekend. We still have about 3 feet on the ground, and much as I love snow, I'm getting tired of it! It is actually starting to melt, though, in between new snowfalls. With all the snow we have, I cross-country skied yesterday and today. I'm also getting ready for a trip south to see Mom, who I haven't seen in 2 years. I'm driving, and going to stop to see a few friends along the way. I should be able to get there in 2 days, spend a night or two with a friend in Victoria, then head over to Saltspring Island. I hear there are cherry blossoms and spring flowers, and am really looking forward to those! I've also been doing some paperwork for our museum, some laundry for me, and a bit of tidying, including taking in a whole lot of recycling.
22pgmcc
>21 NorthernStar:
Our weather has been up and down, temperature-wise. A week ago we were basking in high teen/low twenties C and this past few days we have been starting with minus figures and climbing to seven or eight degrees. We had snow one night, but it was gone in the morning with only a few hail showers to remind us it was cold. The weekend was very sunny with a cold breeze. Stand in a wind sheltered spot and you felt warm; stray from your shelter and you feel the chill. This morning in dull, grey, and nine degrees. Rain is threatening to fall.
Our weather has been up and down, temperature-wise. A week ago we were basking in high teen/low twenties C and this past few days we have been starting with minus figures and climbing to seven or eight degrees. We had snow one night, but it was gone in the morning with only a few hail showers to remind us it was cold. The weekend was very sunny with a cold breeze. Stand in a wind sheltered spot and you felt warm; stray from your shelter and you feel the chill. This morning in dull, grey, and nine degrees. Rain is threatening to fall.
23Sakerfalcon
Thank you Jill for starting these threads again! I so enjoy these peeps into people's lives and the chance to live vicariously!
I went on a bell-ringing outing on Saturday which my boyfriend organised. We rang the bells at 5 churches in Essex and enjoyed a pub lunch. My little goddaughter came too with her parents, she is too small to ring yet but give it another couple of years and she can start learning. It was a bright sunny day, but just as we got home it started to snow!
I went on a bell-ringing outing on Saturday which my boyfriend organised. We rang the bells at 5 churches in Essex and enjoyed a pub lunch. My little goddaughter came too with her parents, she is too small to ring yet but give it another couple of years and she can start learning. It was a bright sunny day, but just as we got home it started to snow!
24clamairy
>20 WholeHouseLibrary: Sounds wonderful. I'm glad you had no reaction.
>21 NorthernStar: Ugh. We have no snow on the ground, but when I got off the plane from New Orleans where it was 84°F (29°C) it was hovering around the freezing mark and snowing in New York. It hasn't been very warm since I returned.
>22 pgmcc: I know Spring is usually a bit crazy, but this one seems extra wild. So much wind here.
>23 Sakerfalcon: Ohh, bell ringing! Did you feel like Sabriel? Seriously, though... I don't know much about hand bells. Can you play a recognizable song with them? I've only heard them accompanying other instruments.
>21 NorthernStar: Ugh. We have no snow on the ground, but when I got off the plane from New Orleans where it was 84°F (29°C) it was hovering around the freezing mark and snowing in New York. It hasn't been very warm since I returned.
>22 pgmcc: I know Spring is usually a bit crazy, but this one seems extra wild. So much wind here.
>23 Sakerfalcon: Ohh, bell ringing! Did you feel like Sabriel? Seriously, though... I don't know much about hand bells. Can you play a recognizable song with them? I've only heard them accompanying other instruments.
25Maddz
>24 clamairy: Sounds more like church bells not hand bells. See The Nine Tailors for a bookish reference!
26clamairy
>25 Maddz: Oops. Yes that makes more sense. Sadly, many of the churches here have replaced their bells with audio systems. :( Much cheaper to maintain, apparently. They just don't sound as rich.
27pgmcc
>24 clamairy: Ohh, bell ringing!...Can you play a recognizable song with them? I've only heard them accompanying other instruments.
I believe Sakerfalcon is talking about the type of bells you find in The Nine Tailors.
I see Maddz beat me to it.
I believe Sakerfalcon is talking about the type of bells you find in The Nine Tailors.
I see Maddz beat me to it.
28clamairy
>27 pgmcc: Yes, I misunderstood...
29pgmcc
>28 clamairy:
My son-in-law's family play the hand bells in their church in Wisconsin. An easy misunderstanding to make given the different nature of the churches in the US.
My son-in-law's family play the hand bells in their church in Wisconsin. An easy misunderstanding to make given the different nature of the churches in the US.
30clamairy
>29 pgmcc: Not to mention that the wild weather swings here plays havoc with traditional bells over time.
31Sakerfalcon
>24 clamairy:, >25 Maddz:, >27 pgmcc: Yes, the Nine Tailors type of bells!* I have tried handbell ringing but didn't get on well. You have a bell in each hand and my brain can't keep track of what both are supposed to be doing!
*No murders were committed. Honest.
IIRC there are about 50 churches in the US with bells hung for English-style change ringing of the sort Sayers writes about. I've rung at the two towers in Philadelphia.
*No murders were committed. Honest.
IIRC there are about 50 churches in the US with bells hung for English-style change ringing of the sort Sayers writes about. I've rung at the two towers in Philadelphia.
32nrmay
>21 NorthernStar:
OMGosh! Your mom lives on Saltspring Island?!
I was there only once and I will never forget how still, silent and beautiful it was. I remember bald eagles soaring in the bright blue sky. I miss the Pacific Northwest . . I lived in Seattle for a long time.
OMGosh! Your mom lives on Saltspring Island?!
I was there only once and I will never forget how still, silent and beautiful it was. I remember bald eagles soaring in the bright blue sky. I miss the Pacific Northwest . . I lived in Seattle for a long time.
33nrmay
>19 clamairy:
Just found out the SC girls won the BB game last night. Didn't see it after all as my husband was watching the Grammies!
Just found out the SC girls won the BB game last night. Didn't see it after all as my husband was watching the Grammies!
34nrmay
>31 Sakerfalcon:
I have a set of hand bells I bought for my grandies but kept! I think I'll get them out and play with them. I can't resist music instruments and have all the ones I used in children's programs when I was at the public library. I keep thinking I should down-size and give some away, and yet - I just bought myself a tongue drum for my birthday! I wanted one for a long time . .
I have a set of hand bells I bought for my grandies but kept! I think I'll get them out and play with them. I can't resist music instruments and have all the ones I used in children's programs when I was at the public library. I keep thinking I should down-size and give some away, and yet - I just bought myself a tongue drum for my birthday! I wanted one for a long time . .
35nrmay
I spent much of Sunday catching up with postcards on postcrossing.com - my other hobby along with reading all the time. Free to join and fun! I heard about it from an LT member some years ago.
36clamairy
>33 nrmay: I watched part of it. Couldn't believe I was watching the same team that beat Stanford just two days before. They were missing free throws!
37Peace2
Nice to see what everyone's been up to.
I managed to get out for a bit of a walk in the sunshine on Saturday morning in company, stopped for a nice Apricot pastry and then walked home again. Bumped into an acquaintance on the way back and so had a catch up and a laugh while our paths were shared which was an extra bonus. Some shopping in the afternoon before heading to a Dance show in the evening that my niece's dance school was putting on - she does Street and AcroDance (although some classes do ballet and tap, the majority are more street/acro oriented)- surprise number was some of the mums (my sister included) who've been involved in the backstage support also doing a turn - I was very impressed!
Sunday I met my Dad at my nephew's football game, we watched a bit of the game, had a little bit of a walk, then watched more of the game before I headed home. I popped to see a friend in the afternoon to drop off her birthday book (why call it a present when it's almost always a book :) ) Fortunately it was just about warm enough to sit on her doorsteps (keeping our distance as she has a trip to the US planned for next week and doesn't want to catch anything between now and then). We've made plans to meet up again on one of the bank holiday weekends in May (we get an extra one for May 9th) which is something to look forward to.
I managed to get out for a bit of a walk in the sunshine on Saturday morning in company, stopped for a nice Apricot pastry and then walked home again. Bumped into an acquaintance on the way back and so had a catch up and a laugh while our paths were shared which was an extra bonus. Some shopping in the afternoon before heading to a Dance show in the evening that my niece's dance school was putting on - she does Street and AcroDance (although some classes do ballet and tap, the majority are more street/acro oriented)- surprise number was some of the mums (my sister included) who've been involved in the backstage support also doing a turn - I was very impressed!
Sunday I met my Dad at my nephew's football game, we watched a bit of the game, had a little bit of a walk, then watched more of the game before I headed home. I popped to see a friend in the afternoon to drop off her birthday book (why call it a present when it's almost always a book :) ) Fortunately it was just about warm enough to sit on her doorsteps (keeping our distance as she has a trip to the US planned for next week and doesn't want to catch anything between now and then). We've made plans to meet up again on one of the bank holiday weekends in May (we get an extra one for May 9th) which is something to look forward to.
38catzteach
How does one ring the bells at church? I have not read the books you all referenced that would tell me what this is. :)
>21 NorthernStar: no snow on the ground, but it did snow today. We got loads of snow in the mountains, which we need. Thursday it’s supposed to be in the 70s (20s in Celsius). Looking forward to that!
>21 NorthernStar: no snow on the ground, but it did snow today. We got loads of snow in the mountains, which we need. Thursday it’s supposed to be in the 70s (20s in Celsius). Looking forward to that!
39Maddz
>38 catzteach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_ringing
Effectively, each bell in the tower is attached to a rope and the ringers haul on the rope at ground level.
Effectively, each bell in the tower is attached to a rope and the ringers haul on the rope at ground level.
40pgmcc
>38 catzteach:
Skip the ad to get to a clip of some campanologists at work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Z1l0BABa8
Skip the ad to get to a clip of some campanologists at work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Z1l0BABa8
