Post 393

Title creativity has escaped me so "Post 393" it is today. That does mean 400 is close by and I will definitely be generous when I get to that milestone so stay tuned and I will think up a little something to giveaway to celebrate.

 

I have all of my swap ornaments hanging quite nicely on this years living Christmas tree. It is only a little tree but it is nice and full and once Christmas is over for this year, it will beplanted in the Christmas garden in the backyard. The Christmas garden is the place I have reserved for trees and plants that have served as our Christmas tree. It doesn't need to be a pine or traditional at all, just somewhere nice to hang a few special decorations.

Yesterday I posted my finishing post on the Yates site for their   yates Growing Challenge. It is supposed to be a picture of the garden ready. My garden is never ready or finished. It is always a work in progress. Sometimes with more work in progress than others. At the moment it is in a good growth phase. With not a lot of variety in the harvest department but a lot of promise for good things soon. The corn and tomatoes are growing really well and even though there looks like there are quite a few empty spots, that is good. It means that I have made enough room to plant some more beans, zucchini and corn.

I have been out and about the past two days with an appointment for Grace at the podiatrist and a presentation day for Tom for his work he did at school in 2011. But now it is home for a while with lots of good to be done. Though I may venture out to the local Christmas Carols on Sunday evening. I want to plant some more radish, carrots, silverbeet... the list is too long. That's my idea of fun times.

 

I really couldn't resist snapping this picture of the Borlotti beans. They are like a jewel and although I really would like to use them right now in  a salad, I am resisting (I'll admit I may snack on a few when I'm gardening) and letting them dry for use in soups and salads in the winter. Delayed gratification, it's a good thing.

 

 

Gadrening so far has been more of a struggle than ever before because of necessary water restrictions. After our tanks ran dry a while ago, I have been quite hesitant to use the wet stuff but I am. I need my garden for more than just sustinence.

 

Tracy

12/12/12

Where was I on 12/12/12? Well at about 12:12pm, I was in the garden. Mulching and watering and weeding too.

 

Grace took this rather disastrous picture of me amongst the asparagus fronds. It's all hat and asparagus.

Tracy

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Firsts

Wapsipinicon peach tomato

 The frist tomato of the season and it isn't even red. The climate here is a little tricky. In winter we have the cold temperatures of the mountains and in summer we have the dry heat (except when it's mixed up and we have humidity). It means that summer crops don't get going until later than the more temperate areas. This is my tomato growing on the verandah. The actual garden crops will still be a while before we have any fruits.
 First dahlia flower of this summer. It is from tubers I didn't lift from the ground over winter. I am quite the lazy gardener really and usually leave them in situ but this year I decided to move them about a bit. Of course being the lazy gardener I was tardy in replanting so the other plants are way behind.

First blueberries for the summer. I like them but they  aren't my favourite fruit. They do however make a delicious snack when you are out and about. Like all of the berries I grow, not many make it to the kitchen.

It is also the first week of the school vacation for the summer. Tom has finished his work placement and we have been enjoying days which are more carefree and not governed by clocks and calendars. 'Tis good. I'm enjoying those quiet times in the morning when it is just me awake and the world is mine for a little while.

Christmas plans are being made. There is to be a party for the special toys on the 21st, shopping tomorrow and only a couple of events away from home.
Tracy

Mail



 

I always like receiving mail (if anyone wants a penpal, I'm your girl) and yesterday the best kind arrived, a parcel just for me. I partcipated in Christina's ornament swap and my first ornament arrived from Jen. The package contained the cutest knitted mitten ornaments and some lovely vintage bits and bobs. Now I think that this is Jen's blog but I could be wrong but if I am, that's ok because I like this new to me blog just fine.

 

 

Knitted mitten ornament

 

 

My mailbox was busy again today, it is that time of year I guess. This year I took part in a Christmas card exchange and this was the first of my four cards to arrive. All the way from the UK.

 

 I was quite excited because although everyone else in the house has an advent calendar, I have never had one. The girls have three each, one homemade, one with the little chocolates in it and one cardboard sticker one. Tom has two (19 isn't too old apparently), a Star Wars LEGO one and a homemade chocolate one and Tim has one which I made with envelopes holding little chocolates and a note for an activity for each day. Tim's is the best, it has things like back massages, facials and other pampering goodness (no wonder he likes this time of year).  So now I have my very own advent card and I have opened up 5 windows on the most gorgeous houses, I just want to step right into the card. It really doesn't take much to make my heart sing.

Not much to look at here but I am committing to making presents for my nearest and dearest family members. They do read this blog from time to time so I can't give too much away or the all important surprise when they unwrap will be missing. But with a bit of stitching, painting and even some drill wielding, they should look like gifts in next to no time. Fiona is talking about handmade Christmas gifts every Wednesday so I am linking up there today. I have much to do for my handmade gifts so I best get cracking before school finishes up for the year.

I hope your letter box is filled with good things today too.
Tracy

A storm swept through town yesterday. There was a quite a bit of damaged caused and I was stuck in the car while it was buffeted by wind and the odd piece of hail. I'm not scared of much but the feeling that the car might just take off is a little disconcerting to say the least.

 

 

 Due to low visibility things were at a stand still for about half an hour and then it left as quickly as it came.

 Today is a completely different picture. The storm blew the extreme heat away and left behind a glorious sunny day with just a hint of a breeze.

 The plants always perk up after rain and things are green on our farm although many other farms close by have very little feed and the pastures have browned off. That could possibly be because of our position or just because of different practices.

 The ducklings which hatched a couple of weeks ago are growing very quickly which is what ducklings do. Try as i might, I can not get them to look at the camera. They will soon lose their cuteness so I really want a nice picture of them. So listen up ducks.

 Now I have my big eater home and the weather is cooperating, there has been action on the baking front. Chocolate freckle biscuits,

 date and maple loaf,

apple custard tea cakes and not pictured, chocolate mint slice and meringues too. Consumed in moderation and with a lot of activity, they don't do too much damage to the waistline. I also don't have a sweet tooth so I'm safe.
Tracy

Keeping Cool

Thanks for all the warm wishes to keep cool (?). As we are low on water, we haven't been able to have our evaporative cooler on so the only chance today was a trip to the swimming pool. I did a little grocery shopping in air conditioned comfort while Tim and the girls had a swim. Tom stayed at home and sweltered but that was his choice. It has cooled down a little now that the sun is behind the hills to our west so I have squeezed in a trip to the vegetable garden before a later than usual dinner.

 

 I was given some old plastic Christmas bells which had seen better days but they are good on the garden gate. Well I like them anyway.

 The zucchini Ronde de nice are coming along nicely. The other zucchini plants I have in are just starting to produce properly so these little ones will be in full swing when the older ones are waning.

 The hot weather has been good for the pumpkins. They are putting on a lot of growth just as long as I keep the water up to them.

 I checked back and I hadn't posted any pictures of our newest babies. The chickens hatched by mother turkey (the ones the snake tried to make a meal of). They aren't turkeys. They are in fact bantam chickens but she doesn't know and doesn't care for that matter.

And just because I loaded this picture on the computer today (I'm posting Christmas pictures on my Facebook page) I thought I would share it here too. It is from Christmas 1997 when Grace was just 2 months old . Time surely does fly by.
Tracy

Home again... and it is HOT.

I really am the worst traveller. I like the idea of going away and seeing other places but then when I'm away, I long to be home. Fickle through and through. Anyway, I am home again. We travelled back on Friday in the 40 plus degreeC heat and thought it was very hot but today was hotter. The indoor animals (humans included) spent the hot part of today doing very little which is probably the wisest choice. It is the livestock which can suffer the most in extreme weather. I have heard of animals perishing in very hot weather and poultry can be quite susceptible but ours seem to be ok. They are housed  in  a shady are with plenty of ventilation and are quite free to roam during the day to find their own ideal spot to cool down.

 

 While we were away, we celebrated Tom's birthday. We had dinner out at an Indian restaurant with a few of his friends from university. I didn't travel down on the train with a birthday cake but Tom's friend Karmen made him these super cute cupcakes. Very wise of him to have a friend who like to bake I think.

 I had a day in between arriving and driving home so another trip to the city and the Botanic Gardens was on the to-do list. I took Tim with me this time and we enjoyed pancakes for breakfast and strolling without the pressures of a to-do list.

 Other gardens off so much inspiration on a small and large scale. I like to get ideas for individual plants I would like to grow and sometimes even ideas for major proects which would suit our garden.
A water feature is a tempting idea right now but that could just be because of the heat.

 

I did a little birthday shopping in Sydney too. I have two Christmas day birthdays to shop for and in my quest for gifts that are supportive of smaller businesses, I didn't have to look very far. My lovely friend, Melissa, who I went to school with right from kindergarten to Year 12 has a small business selling handmade skirts and other goodies. Not only did I get to support an ethical business but I got to catch up with a friend who I haven't seen in too long a time.

 

I should also mention that Tom has drawn the winner of the giveaway and the lucky recipient is....

Trishie.

 

 

Tracy