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SEPTEMBER 2014  This thread currently has 10,513 views. Print
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gottaknit
September 22, 2014, 6:00pm Report to Moderator
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Yes I do love Zinnias! And where you say "Gladioli  family" - yes - we have some of those and himself is pretty sure it said Afghan Gladioli on the packet,
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gottaknit
September 23, 2014, 9:14am Report to Moderator
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On further research, he is a bit east of the truth - Abyssinian Gladis - ah well - begins with 'A' ! Close cousins.
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Elsa Peters
September 23, 2014, 3:22pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 23rd September

Thank you Jean and Seth for your input....I'll check it out on my gardening encyclopaedia and get back to you...eventually...

Six start and again it had rained over night but there had been thunder in them there hills and I'd had this dream about my tree coming down but looked out and everything was as it should have been.  Down for coffee and back to bed.  There was no need for any activity until about seven thirty so I settled into my book and then with verve and panache got myself ready and into the car for eightish and over to the Schoolmasters to pick up Ms S.  She was ready so off we set and into the curtain shop by just after nine and my little lady was so surprised to see me so early.

Found the one that we wanted from the huge selection on offer. we worked out what we needed and at thirteen leva per meter at three meters wide it was good value.  Got the curtain header tape from her and she even managed to find me some cotton to match the material from her supplies in the back room.  Over to the leva shop for some extension leads and I bought some picture frames and then back to the school with my sewing machine in hand.  I set up my workshop in the hall and within a couple of hours they were done and ready to hang.  The material was great to work with since there was a woven horizontal design and it made working out the straight lines much easier.  

Back to mine after calling in the garage to ask when it was time for the winter tyres to go on.  We checked out mine from last year and they are still OK so will be fitted by October.  He did offer to fit them today but I was eager to get home.  Weather wise a day of variances.  It's almost like a mad April day with rain one minute and sun the next but the winds are howling and it looks fine but pretty rough out there.

I found a pork tenderloin in the freezer and into the oven with it and made a sweet and sour chilli sauce that was lashed over it towards the end of it's cooking time.  Potato rosti were put into the oven but had to finish them off in the frying pan to get the right crispness.  Out with the pork and in with a portion of apple strudel and tonight I was really going for it.  Unfortunately...and it's a big unfortunately it felt like there was a piece of bone lodged between the gum and my tooth.  Had a problem with this since it was a tenderloin of pork so no bones and realised that I'd shattered a crown and despite pulling it and resorting at one point to tweezers it wouldn't come out so off I go in the morning to see my trusty dentist if only to get it removed and work out a solution.

Six fifteen my time and I'm early tonight.  I've had quite a successful day despite the tooth...the curtains worked and they were easy to do and you get days like that.....LN.....I think the embroidery might come out tonight...LN  



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Elsa Peters
September 24, 2014, 7:27pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 24th September

I decided that last night I would take a bath and have the hot water sufficiently cranked up so that I could lie the for as long as I wanted.  I was there for two hours with a glass of mastica for company and my Kindle...bliss.  As I took to my pit I reckoned that I needed to close the curtains and the windows and chill out completely and it was eleven before I shut off the bedside light and got my head down.  It was six this morning when I woke up, opened the curtains and felt the cold from the windows...there had been a frost and there was a slight covering of the white stuff...it's September for goodness sake.

First job was to remove the tooth and after much pulling and pushing with the tongue...well you know what it's like...I resorted to toilet paper for a firm grip and tugged at it ....and it came out.  As for the dentist...tomorrow is another day.

Stripped the bed and got the winter quilt out...it was time to move seasons.  Sorted out my wardrobe and t-shirts are abandoned for long sleeve things and sweaters and the cotton trousers have gone to their winter resting ground and will be trotted out next year.    Lunch was fish fingers and chippies on white bread with tomato ketchup and a whole jar of peaches in syrup to follow but there has been nothing since and won't be.  I went up to lie on the bed after lunch and realised that my six start was beginning to tell on me and woke up at five thirty...went out to the garden and dug up loads of dandelions and thistles and eventually came in at seven fifteen.  Poured a drink well who wouldn't at that time and started to do my emails and stuff and Gouldjan appeared clutching eggs and yoghurt and obviously in need of a chat.

I've just taken her home now and realised that by driving Beauty in forward it's easy to get her into a decent spot in the yard.  Up to my desk with a pack of rice cakes and the damage has been done.  I bit into one and the remaining part of the tooth has been removed, is sitting on my desk and a trip to the dentist is now very necessary.  I have a gap where there should be a pearly white.

So tomorrow heading into Kardjali with Gouldjan at the allotted time of nine thirty at the bus-stop.  I'll stop off and make an appointment with my dentist on the way in and see what's available.  LN...rice cakes for me...they've done their damage but they're filling a gap...LN



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Elsa Peters
September 25, 2014, 5:19pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 25th September

Woke at five which was the result of having a two hour eyelids facing South yesterday afternoon but read until it was time to wake up and welcomed the dawn.  I beat the man at the mosque this morning and I really must learn what he's talking about so I can sing along with full knowledge not just do it for the sake of.

Showered, shampooed and out today with Gouldjan in Kardjali.  I stopped off at my dentist on the way in and he explained the procedure with pictures...it was easier to explain it where words fail.  There is already a post in place but this needs to be renewed and then a crown fixed to the new post after it had been filled...three visits agreed and the first one is next Thursday.  He did ask if I was suffering and I'm not...I just don't smile as much but I think he might have fitted me in sooner if it wasn't for his 'piece de resistance' who is very sweet but very protective.

So back to pick up Gouldjan who had gone on walkabouts in Djebel and into Kardjali.  First Mania...I bought a brown cotton polo neck and a navy sweatshirt and Gouldjan found a tartan blouse and for the lot I paid under three leva and she was amazed.  We stopped off at the lottery shop...I chose my six numbers and if it wins she get's ten percent and if it's a really good win she get's fifteen and the draw is tonight....I told her that if she give up her job and I see a shiny new car outside her house then I think she is keeping something from me....

Over to the next Mania and I picked up some pillow cases and a continental quilt cover and at the third I go a giant feather pillow and the pillow cases from the other shop will fit it....it's like a jigsaw.  We had lunch in the soup kitchen and Gouldjan said she'd not been to it before and I like it when I beat her too it.  

Back home for five more or less..dropped her off and carried most of her goodies to her doorstop, car back into the drive and unpacked me,,,things that needed washing from the charity shops out on the line in quick sticks, out on to the line with them and fire lit to make sure that they have a chance of drying inside....

Supper finished...I scattered a tin of baked beans over the residue of the port tenderloin and it is delicious.  I've also pan fried a couple of roisti potatoes to go with it...that's what a girl does.

So writing this and putting it to bed...eight fifteen my time and I might be having a friend of my children's over for a visit who is the daughter of a very dear friend of mine...we'll wait and see but at least she speaks Russian which is close to Bulgarian...LN...I'm in to a little red with my supper tonight...well it was on offer at the local supermarket that I couldn't refuse...LN



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Elsa Peters
September 26, 2014, 4:01pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 26th September

Six start and my glass of red was still sitting in front of the computer and untouched...well that glass was.  Down for a coffee, read for a while and jumped to clearing the summer clothes out and the winter clothes in.  It started to rain about eight thirty and hasn't stopped since...so much for a balmy September.

Breakfast was two rostie potatoes left over from last night with a fried egg and it was delicious.  I sat at the table and did it properly...on to the computer and after a few messages, I was expecting guests at two this afternoon so I sought to tidy up a little and flicked the brush over the rugs, lit the fire, got some more wood in and I was ready.

They arrived just after two.  The schoolmaster and ms. and his guest from England.  Coffee and tea was served and we sat down to have conversations on books, social services, England and some of it got a little heated.  Not from my quarter....I live and let so to speak.  Gosti's girlie managed to get her head down despite the noise and apologised profusely when we woke her to go back to the school...I felt comfortable in that she felt comfortable to do it.

Continued the conducted tour of the estate and off they set at just after five thirty to get a chicken in Djebel for supper....I'm about to think about mine and that's probably all I'll do tonight...think about it.  I've been picking readily at a bun loaf in the kitchen most of the afternoon and there's no real need to stuff any more in....that glass of red wine lurking in the kitchen can come out now that the time is right and it might have a companion.  Fire going strongly...the house is beautifully warm and I think it might have stopped raining.  The problem is that everything grows at an alarming rate and the lawn looks as if it needs a trim but I want a few dry days for the mower to be effective.

Schoolmasters tomorrow afternoon if it dries out for a bonfire, jackets and fireworks....well maybe....or Sunday if it stays like it is.  Now for the Kindle and an evening of gentle music and relaxation...LN...and it's now started raining again with scudding clouds...LN



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Elsa Peters
September 28, 2014, 3:25pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 27th September

So the rain kept me awake most of the night and there was a 'bleep, bleep' that I thought was the rain bouncing off the balustrades on the bedroom terrace....wrong...went to the loo and realised that I'd left the film drive in last night and it was that that I was hearing....Unplugged and back to bed.  I tried going to sleep but not a chance....so read for a while....put the Kindle down...picked the Kindle up and into the world by about seven.

It was cold this morning...last night's fire was out and the bathroom was warm because of the radiators but I suppose walking around in summer PJ's wasn't conducive to the drop in temperature.  First job...light the fire, get coffee established and breakfast of poached egg on toast and ease myself gently into the day.  There was an offer of a bonfire at the schoolmasters but no chance of lighting it with the rain still pouring down.

Lay on the sofa in front of the fire and read until I decided that sleep was the better option and it was just after two when I came to.  I had the most vivid dreams about my son and grand-daughter and was quite disturbed when I woke up.  Played on the PC for a while until I realised that I'd used up the last of the logs so out to the little house for a refill and used the stuff from two years ago which burns so well.  I do have about three square meters of wood left from the previous years but I'm aware that as yet I've not had my wood supply.  I've mentioned it to Bekir and it's ordered but as of yet, no delivery date and they had there special celebrations at the beginning of October so need to work round that.

So wood in, supper was Weiner Schnitzel that I found in the freezer cut into fingers and served with tomato sauce....and a little of the red stuff.  Back to my book and onto the final chapter and another one bites the dust.

Quick run-down on the weather for the day...rain, rain, a hint of sun and more rain.....don't you love September.... Eight my time....time for chilling except that I haven't really burst into action today at all.  The bonfire is on for tomorrow should the weather pick up...I might be avoiding it and cancelling my student...the brain is on a close down mode...preparing for winter...LN



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Elsa Peters
September 28, 2014, 3:54pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 28th September

The bonfire didn't happen.  The cats, dogs and everything else in the village had taken it apart so one of my first jobs was to tidy it up for the torching ceremony but the wind got up again and despite all of my efforts it's now scattered far and wide again.  Pretty good though....I got some super strength pegs and the washing was dry in quicksticks...back in, hung up and finished.

Breakfast this morning was a bacon and egg sandwich and I listened out for the bread wagon and was out there at eight fifteen.  I asked for unsliced, he said that it had all gone so sliced it was.  Thirty five pence for a load of good bread...are you listening UK.  I went out and dug over part of my vegetable garden but the wind was so strong and my heart wasn't really in it.  I did cut my pumpkin though and it is destined to spend the drying off period in the hallway to see if it will ripen in time for Halloween.  I shall carve my own specimen since I have an aversion to eating the damn stuff...I hate the smell, I hate the taste and despite all efforts of my neighbours to bring it to my table...they've failed miserably.

So back into the warmth of the house and into the hallway sitting in the sun reading until the eyes headed southwards and I nodded for a short time.  I didn't want to take too long about it...it means that my night-time sleep seems to be cut short by the amount of time I take up in the day.  The wind has at last calmed down...various things in the garden have found new homes so tomorrow I shall be returning them to their designated places but for tonight...it's supposed to pick up again so I'm leaving them where they are.  

I didn't go to my students, nor to the schoolmaster's bonfire...there were no jacket potatoes or fireworks...not worth venturing out for.  I was invited to the fish restaurant on Kardjali lake but again, I thought it would be too windy.  Trouble is...my house is so lovely sometimes it's hard to break away.

Lovely evening...calm as you like...I've got nothing to do.  I've brought the 'chair' in now that it's dried out and I'm trying it out at the desk.  It looks 'big' but I shall see....I've got new cushions on it and testing out how comfortable it will be.  Now down to the kitchen....I suppose I should find something for supper but after a breakfast and 'picking' or rather 'grazing' this afternoon...I think I should call it a day.  LN....I think some music is called for...LN



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Elsa Peters
September 29, 2014, 5:42pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 29th September

Six thirty start this morning and beat the mosque and the sun and was waiting for it to pop its little head over the mountain.  There was lots of mist hanging in the valleys and the wind had dropped from yesterday but it still had a nip in it.  Up it came and there wasn't a lot of red in it this morning....I seem to remember it's something to do with the amount of pollution in the air and I really must look it up.  So any way....just after seven and it was there and I suppose the next thing will be for the clock to 'fall back' so to speak and then we're definitely on the way to the end of the year and it really doesn't care thinking about.  I'd like to ask where this year has gone but some bright spark will tell me that it's gone the way of all the others....it must be because I'm getting older that it appears to go so quickly.

Breakfast at just after seven thirty....two bacon sandwiches.  I read for a while but it was too good to be inside so out I went to try to get the bonfire going and I appear to have been trying all day but didn't resort to anything more than paper and the odd plastic bottle.  It really wasn't a determined attempt.  Dug up the rest of the beetroot and cleared the bed but noticed that there were a lot of small ones that really hadn't come to much being in the shade of the plum tree and the rhubarb so I'm giving them another chance to make a name for themselves in the bed where the tomatoes were planted and as I usually say they have two choices....either they'll come to something or they won't.

So having made a start on the vegetable garden I carried on and most of it is now clear.  The cucumbers have gone and the ones that were trying desperately to come to something are in the field for the wildlife and the mini-cucumber have gone the same way.  I think because we had so much rain that my little cucumbers were little for one day and after that they just rocketed and weren't much use for pickling.  Had another attempt at the fire which failed miserably but tomorrow is another day.  Put a tenderloin of pork in the oven at six and added sweet and sour chilli sauce to it at about half past and a pan with some potato wedges.  Lit the fire but only used a couple of logs and the pump has kicked it and sent it round the radiators.  Supper was served at eight and demolished by eight twenty and the washing up can stay until tomorrow.....I'm going to see what films are on the Schoolmaster'd drive and settle in for the night.  

I've had a lovely day.....I wished it didn't take so long to clear the weeds though....bindweed is prevalent and the more you pull, the more appears even though some of the roots are massive.  Had my headscarf on to protect the ears from the cold wind but at one point I could have almost taken my light sweatshirt off.....LN....I'm off hunting for a film...I'm off to the cinema....LN



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Elsa Peters
September 30, 2014, 4:51pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 30th September

Last night was weird.  On FB last night there was a posting about a black eyed girl that was apparently haunting the local woods and this young girl sort of lodged in my brain.  It disturbed me and having lived in the area for a good few years of my life had never heard of it before and neither had any of my remaining relatives still living there.  So I watch a film from the Schoolmaster's drive, not as in car' before someone tells me that my eyesight is good and it was the The Pianist.  At first I thought it was 'The Piano' but no, it was the player and it was really good.  All about the survival of a Jewish concert pianist during the German occupation of Poland and if you get the chance, watch it.  So when I was shutting down the PC, I checked out FB and there she was again and I went to bed last night thinking about her.

Anyway...I didn't have peculiar dreams, woke up at seven and watched the sun and listened to the my man at the mosque and was up and at it with poached eggs on toast and the energy of ten which sadly dissipated as the day wore on.  The wildlife in the garden was worth capturing, the bonfire was lit and roared for a while, dug over a couple of beds getting rid of the weeds before they take purchase in the winter and started to plant bulbs which still are not planted.  I was butterflying round the garden...bit of this and then a bit of that and I've probably achieved a lot but not all in one spot and need to get out there again and orchestrate it all.  I put some beans into the slow cooker and will do something with them later.

Bed called at about three and I was out for an hour or so.  The windows and doors were open and maybe it was the fresh air that knocked me out.  Spotted the jay and there were about three woodpeckers knocking seven bells out of various trees around my garden and managed to catch a couple on camera....the rest of last night's pork is in the chili bean mixture and in the oven and it smells good.  The rest of the bean mixture will get frozen and probably thrown out next June...or maybe I'll use it...who can say.

Supper is ready so I'm winding down.  I have a little glass of muscatel on the go...I felt like something with a little body tonight and it's the best I can do.  Photos are mainly of the wildlife today...enjoy...LN



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