Morning, just. It was 4C when I got up, brr.
Lovely and sunny now though. I have some running about to do with the trailer. A roll of new wool carpet is one item and it’s enough to cover my small sewing room. Now that kids have flown, mostly, it should stay clean.

Oops, I forgot to change months!

Happy Potter said:

Morning, just. It was 4C when I got up, brr.
Lovely and sunny now though. I have some running about to do with the trailer. A roll of new wool carpet is one item and it’s enough to cover my small sewing room. Now that kids have flown, mostly, it should stay clean.

I would not have a scrap of carpet in the house, honestly…just rugs and things…but if that’s what you want…yes without kidlets…but what about the animals (four legged)?

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

Morning, just. It was 4C when I got up, brr.
Lovely and sunny now though. I have some running about to do with the trailer. A roll of new wool carpet is one item and it’s enough to cover my small sewing room. Now that kids have flown, mostly, it should stay clean.

I would not have a scrap of carpet in the house, honestly…just rugs and things…but if that’s what you want…yes without kidlets…but what about the animals (four legged)?

I said the same. But the polished floor is cold and it’s only one room. The fluffy furkid is utterly terrified of the vacuum cleaner..whatever room it’s in, he will bypass, even if I’m in it. He will vacate the house when it’s in use.

Speaking of Max, his bad ear is looking a lot better and his head is almost straight again. Neither myself or the vet are game to stop his ear drops just yet, so we agreed to continue them for another 2 months. it’s been nearly one year of on/ off meds to eradicate this deep ear infection and everytime we stop them after 8 weeks it comes back, so this time we’re going much longer with the routine.

Happy Potter said:

I said the same. But the polished floor is cold and it’s only one room. The fluffy furkid is utterly terrified of the vacuum cleaner..whatever room it’s in, he will bypass, even if I’m in it. He will vacate the house when it’s in use.

LOL!! Sneaky “Momma” :)

Happy Potter said:

Speaking of Max, his bad ear is looking a lot better and his head is almost straight again. Neither myself or the vet are game to stop his ear drops just yet, so we agreed to continue them for another 2 months. it’s been nearly one year of on/ off meds to eradicate this deep ear infection and everytime we stop them after 8 weeks it comes back, so this time we’re going much longer with the routine.

That was a good read… does the vet think the “bug” is quite deep in the skin or something, for it to keep recurring?

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

I said the same. But the polished floor is cold and it’s only one room. The fluffy furkid is utterly terrified of the vacuum cleaner..whatever room it’s in, he will bypass, even if I’m in it. He will vacate the house when it’s in use.

LOL!! Sneaky “Momma” :)

Happy Potter said:

Speaking of Max, his bad ear is looking a lot better and his head is almost straight again. Neither myself or the vet are game to stop his ear drops just yet, so we agreed to continue them for another 2 months. it’s been nearly one year of on/ off meds to eradicate this deep ear infection and everytime we stop them after 8 weeks it comes back, so this time we’re going much longer with the routine.

That was a good read… does the vet think the “bug” is quite deep in the skin or something, for it to keep recurring?

The vet thinks scar tissue is ‘hiding’ the infection beyond his inner ear and extra time on the meds will help. His left ear cleared in the first instance, but his right ear is deeper. It’s longer on the meds at about $30 a fortnight or two grand to see a specialist plus several 100s extra for mri imaging, not to mention about 5 grand for surgery. And even then there’s no guarantees it would work. We just don’t have that sort of money, or I wouldn’t hesitate.

He’d hurt his back too the other day chasing a pigeon, but coming good now. No broken vertebra, which is what we thought. Just bruising. He leapt so high against a fence, tripped on a rock and came down with a thud on his back. The yelping hurt my ears. He couldn’t walk without his back legs wobbling and rear end falling to one side so we had to hold him upright, then gave him pain meds and that helped. Walking fine now. Phew.

Happy Potter said:

The vet thinks scar tissue is ‘hiding’ the infection beyond his inner ear and extra time on the meds will help. His left ear cleared in the first instance, but his right ear is deeper.

Which would explain why it needs meds for longer…well he’ll be a sad, sore and sorry doggy for a few days now…

Been a bit active, enough to shock the system…

Commenced turning over the compost…about 0.5% was gluggy…however the cockroaches were maximum…one hen eventually came over and was doing just fine, the others were wary of me…then Lynda got stuck in and it became a free-for-all…Hat continues to monitor the situation, there must be stray cockroaches getting away…after pulling it all apart with my fingers, with lots of chooky feet help, I decided to put it back together again or I would not have a compost heap…the twigs and small branches that I added well before Christmas, have kept it aerated I think but they have nearly all broken down now…

Will collect a feed bag of grass clippings from across the road, and add them…I’m saving my own clippings as mulch…I must say that the shredded newspaper is amazing in that heap…seems to break down nicely after harbouring cockroaches and other composting insects…

Evening. I’ve been menu planning and cooking. It’s too blimmin cold to do much outside. Freezer packs for Giant son and for us. Bol sauce and some different curries, lasagna etc. and some puddings. Citrus pud, rice pud, cakes, and more to do.

And, cooking some freezer meals for a couple camping out on their block in a bluddy tent in this weather! They have a rocket stove and can boil water, can cook some basics, but have a small shipping container hooked up to solar panels and inverter for a fridge and couple freezers for their meat cattle that they slaughter. One such cow is going to be slaughtered in a month at the abattoir, dressed and vacc packed at a butchers, so they can sell it, stamped and all that.

The deal is I give them some heat and eat freezer meals and they will give me a quarter of the cow. Lots of mince and steaks, stewing steak and marrow bones. No roasts, we don’t really eat roast beef.
A fabulous deal I thought. I sent them a menu list of what I can give them and they loved it. Seasonal produce and making use of whatever I am growing at the moment. They said they are definitely getting the better deal. Esp after living on noodles and sandwiches.

So I’m gunna have a cow. LOL

Happy Potter said:

Evening. I’ve been menu planning and cooking. It’s too blimmin cold to do much outside. Freezer packs for Giant son and for us. Bol sauce and some different curries, lasagna etc. and some puddings. Citrus pud, rice pud, cakes, and more to do.

And, cooking some freezer meals for a couple camping out on their block in a bluddy tent in this weather! They have a rocket stove and can boil water, can cook some basics, but have a small shipping container hooked up to solar panels and inverter for a fridge and couple freezers for their meat cattle that they slaughter. One such cow is going to be slaughtered in a month at the abattoir, dressed and vacc packed at a butchers, so they can sell it, stamped and all that.

The deal is I give them some heat and eat freezer meals and they will give me a quarter of the cow. Lots of mince and steaks, stewing steak and marrow bones. No roasts, we don’t really eat roast beef.
A fabulous deal I thought. I sent them a menu list of what I can give them and they loved it. Seasonal produce and making use of whatever I am growing at the moment. They said they are definitely getting the better deal. Esp after living on noodles and sandwiches.

So I’m gunna have a cow. LOL

Sounds like a win/win arrangement :)

Happy Potter said:

Evening. I’ve been menu planning and cooking. It’s too blimmin cold to do much outside. Freezer packs for Giant son and for us. Bol sauce and some different curries, lasagna etc. and some puddings. Citrus pud, rice pud, cakes, and more to do.

And, cooking some freezer meals for a couple camping out on their block in a bluddy tent in this weather! They have a rocket stove and can boil water, can cook some basics, but have a small shipping container hooked up to solar panels and inverter for a fridge and couple freezers for their meat cattle that they slaughter. One such cow is going to be slaughtered in a month at the abattoir, dressed and vacc packed at a butchers, so they can sell it, stamped and all that.

The deal is I give them some heat and eat freezer meals and they will give me a quarter of the cow. Lots of mince and steaks, stewing steak and marrow bones. No roasts, we don’t really eat roast beef.
A fabulous deal I thought. I sent them a menu list of what I can give them and they loved it. Seasonal produce and making use of whatever I am growing at the moment. They said they are definitely getting the better deal. Esp after living on noodles and sandwiches.

So I’m gunna have a cow. LOL

Love the barter idea and you work it well. Great read.

Tomorrow we drive to Melbourne to see The Rocky Horror Show. It’s an overnight package at the RACV Club in Bourke Street. It’s so easy doing the packages. You drive in, they take your car, you book in, rest in your room, go to the dining room for dinner, get bussed to the theatre, watch the show, get bussed back again and go to bed. Then breakfast in the morning before heading home again. So civilized!

Oh, and we will visit Mr buffy’s brother either at Knox Private or at his house….he may have been discharged by then.

one of the benefits of processing your own chickens – the freshest of livers lightly cooked in butter, add a dash of home infused orange brandy, whiz up in the blender and spread straight on sour dough bread or crackers. MMMMmmmmmmm…. None left!

bluegreen said:

one of the benefits of processing your own chickens – the freshest of livers lightly cooked in butter, add a dash of home infused orange brandy, whiz up in the blender and spread straight on sour dough bread or crackers. MMMMmmmmmmm…. None left!

You tease, BlueGreen!

I am waiting for the grandies to arrive. Finished Alex’s jumper but still working on Zoë’s. Will be finished before they go home again though.

bluegreen said:

I am waiting for the grandies to arrive. Finished Alex’s jumper but still working on Zoë’s. Will be finished before they go home again though.

Is this wool, wool blend or synthetic? Or were you able to obtain some from work?

Dinetta said:

bluegreen said:

I am waiting for the grandies to arrive. Finished Alex’s jumper but still working on Zoë’s. Will be finished before they go home again though.

Is this wool, wool blend or synthetic? Or were you able to obtain some from work?

Wool. I bought it. They don’t do knitting yarn at work and even it they did it would be horrendously expensive.

bluegreen said:

Wool. I bought it. They don’t do knitting yarn at work and even it they did it would be horrendously expensive.

I did wonder that if they had lengths left over, a perk of the job would be you could be offered them at reduced cost…

Must get back to the sock I started last year, while MrsB is still next door…

On a gardening note, I’ve raked up the frangipanni leaves and dumped under the tree. The leaves I rake up are on the foot path and I notice the postman has taken to going on the road instead of motorbiking along my foot path…Also cleaned up the back deck fence where Tink has won her roosting battle with me.

Am ripping up the artificial grass from there (back deck), some of the wood has dry rot because the artificial grass holds on to the rain water (where the rain comes in). I will have to $replace$ those boards but they’re not in traffic areas so no rush… just $$$ … have managed to sand most of the window frame on the kitchen wall behind where the slow combustion used to be…might need to trade something with J1 so I can borrow her very long ladder for a day or two, as another window frame needs attention = paint and the two casement windows have broken panes (from hail storm about 10 years ago) that need to be replaced.

I have borrowed a couple of books from the library, for carpentry do it yourself and they’ve been a very interesting read, all about woods for jobs, etc.

Doing well out of Mother’s Day here…3/5 kidlets have rung me already…

Hello Gardeners. We had to make the final decision for Digby late last week. He had his green dream on Friday morning. He did very well for a Boxer, getting to over 13 years. I took a couple of photos before he left. Mr buffy had to take him as I had patients booked in to see me.

buffy said:

Hello Gardeners. We had to make the final decision for Digby late last week. He had his green dream on Friday morning. He did very well for a Boxer, getting to over 13 years. I took a couple of photos before he left. Mr buffy had to take him as I had patients booked in to see me.

(((HUGS)))

buffy said:

Hello Gardeners. We had to make the final decision for Digby late last week. He had his green dream on Friday morning. He did very well for a Boxer, getting to over 13 years. I took a couple of photos before he left.

(HUG) from me, too…

sniff

Thank you.

He was one of the best. But so are they all.

:)

I have decided that even though I had to wait until now for fruit, I am definitely going to grow the groovy Ananas Noir tomato again. It’s gorgeous!

Is that what it’s meant to look like? Gorgeous to look at or gorgeous to eat? (Never heard of it)

Dinetta said:

Is that what it’s meant to look like? Gorgeous to look at or gorgeous to eat? (Never heard of it)

Both. As far as I know yes, that is what it’s supposed to look like. Sort of harlequin. That’s why I bought the seed. I wanted to try something unusual. I think I got that!

I got the seed from Diggers. Although I can’t claim it as being early this season not much has happened for any tomatoes really, so this one stands out as actually doing something!

http://www.diggers.com.au/shop/product/S2211/TOMATO%20ANANAS%20NOIR.aspx

Looks interesting…is it determinate or indeterminate (upright or needs staking)? The fruit sounds like an art gallery / theatre in the garden…

I stake all my tomatoes to stop them laying on the ground and getting slugged. But that one is a tall staking variety in my soil.

Hi Dinetta,I wasn’t able to go to Tocal this year, sadly —

How are you ?

Grasshopper said:

Hi Dinetta,I wasn’t able to go to Tocal this year, sadly —

How are you ?

I’m very well, thanks GrassHopper…there’s still too much of me to “love” but I’m working on that….how’s your garden?

Garden is a bit neglected too as I have been unable to do what I would like to, which is a darn pest

That’s a shame, you used to keep it in tiptop order…did you manage to rid yourself of the ?date palms? that were dropping gunk all over your path and road ways?

Yes always had it well kept. Yes I bit the bullet and got professionals to cut down the rest of the palms as they were fruiting again and a real pest —the ones I cut down 18 years ago —the seeds from them are STILL spouting : 0 so I had the last 8 removed and it was well worth it.

Yes, it seemed to be an ongoing situation, besides I believe one can slip and do damage to oneself with the stuff that falls on the ground.

Lovely weather down your way?

Morning Dinetta, It was just mainly the seeds coming up all over the place I would have had a jungle;e of the Cocas Palms.

Weather was hot dry summer but since Autumn it has been rather cold —- for this time of year —- with some good rains.

Grasshopper said:

Morning Dinetta, It was just mainly the seeds coming up all over the place I would have had a jungle;e of the Cocas Palms.

Weather was hot dry summer but since Autumn it has been rather cold —- for this time of year —- with some good rains.

Good morning GrassHopper…always pleased to see somebody is getting rains…the kookaburras have been hanging around here lately, a sign that rain is on the way, could rain for our Show, later this month…crosses fingers

I have the sprinkler going for about an hour just now, on the front yard, to dampen the grass before I mow it this afternoon…too dusty otherwise…

I have just noticed the Koala is back in the yard again —way up the very tall Gum tree is was here at Xmas for many months but left after we had a mini cyclone —great to see it back

Grasshopper said:

I have just noticed the Koala is back in the yard again —way up the very tall Gum tree is was here at Xmas for many months but left after we had a mini cyclone —great to see it back

I reckon it would be awesome to have a koala live at your place. No suitable trees at my place so I have to do with random spotting, which means not may sightings at all.

Hi Blue, yes I was pleased to see it back — I worry that they might get hit by cars if they get down where the traffic is

Grasshopper said:

I have just noticed the Koala is back in the yard again —way up the very tall Gum tree is was here at Xmas for many months but left after we had a mini cyclone —great to see it back

Awesome! Did it bring a friend?

No I think it might be a female —because it doesn’t have a wet patch—dark patch on it’s chest and they don’t mate till about August —-

Lovely to think (s)he feels safe at your place, Grasshopper.

On another note, two of the kidlets came to dinner last night. Shades of Happy Potter, my oven was switched on at 14:00 and finally OFF at 19:30. Baked a pumpkin soup, a chocolate pudding (eggless, the one where the cake mix rises to the top and the sauce sinks to underneath it), then a Greek-style casserole. Stove top was a golden syrup pudding, reheat the pumpkin soup (loaded with spitting gremlins, even on Lo), and then the vegetables. The puddings have been transported to the kidlets’ residence (100 km away): they are all together at the moment because Ragamuffin and BF are going to Chile in a few days, and have moved in with Sonny Jim for accommodation as they have moved out of their rented house.

Soooo… it was a pleasant occasion but I am glad I made them wait for dessert because altho’ we shared only one bottle of whine, I wanted the effect to be almost completely evaporated by the time they hit the road again.

Chile! of all places! They are looking forward to snow boarding. I offered to send over biscuits and was told the postal workers over there would surely appreciate them. So it looks like tins of Milo and bottles of Vegemite might be the go. Overseas care packs and all that. Have been “restored” to Ragamuffin’s facebook, she must have changed a setting and suddenly I wasn’t able to check her status…so that’s nice…I will limit myself to Like-ing and any comments will be kept to the Inbox or whatever the messaging system is…should stay out of “trouble” that way…

Can’t see the Koala today maybe hidden in another big tree —they seem to move around of a night

Dinnetta your meal sounds wonderful. Love the Golden Syrup puddings —haven’t made one for decades —-
I am not up on all your news re “Ragamuffin” etc but sounds like they are of on an adventure.

Ragamuffin is my second daughter. She used to be known as Little Miss Naughty but now she’s almost 6’ that doesn’t suit somehow…with her corkscrew curls she looks like a (very tall) Ragamuffin doll…Those kinds of opportunities weren’t available when we were youngsters, more’s the pity…she and BF have Australian Certificates in Teaching English as a Second Language…

My son is off to the US next month. He is going via Melbourne so we can catch up before he goes.

So you’re going down to Melbourne to see him before he goes? Hope he has a nice time. I’d love to see Jellystone one day…and the Blue Canadian Rockies (just for the cold)…

Cleaning out my chest freezer…some wonderful finds there…

Dinetta said:

So you’re going down to Melbourne to see him before he goes? Hope he has a nice time. I’d love to see Jellystone one day…and the Blue Canadian Rockies (just for the cold)…

Yes. Don’t know when I’ll see him next as he has gotten himself a job over there.

was just talking this topic to Mrs B next door, and we agreed that “kids” these days go overseas more easily than we used to go to Brisbane in the old days…50 years ago or more…

Yes Kids seem to want to go O/S these days—

Good that your Son is seeing you b4 hand Blue, must be hard when they go so far away for so long.

Dinnetta, there are many surprises when you clean out a chest freezer, I got rid of mine many years ago as I could never reach the bottom any way —bought a small one with draws.

Dinetta said:

was just talking this topic to Mrs B next door, and we agreed that “kids” these days go overseas more easily than we used to go to Brisbane in the old days…50 years ago or more…

Yes indeed. I’ve thought about this too recently, but if we go back just a little further, overseas travel was completely out of the question even for those who were most privileged in society. The marvels of modern-day transport! Hopefully they can use these new experiences to broaden their understanding of the world as a whole, rather than simply “ticking off” destinations for bragging rights. It’s a good thing :)

I am glad I saw Aussie b4 it was wrecked and when it was pretty pristine, have seen it again since and no comparison

Grasshopper said:

I am glad I saw Aussie b4 it was wrecked and when it was pretty pristine, have seen it again since and no comparison

My father who travelled around many times was always disappointed with what he saw. I travelled all the way around when quite young (1978-9) and (thankfully) remember very little. In the years since, I have done many big trips to some of the same areas, with little overlap, and have always been impressed. Expectation is an unfortunate thing, so next time I visit these places I am sure to be disappointed too.

Still, I will never forget on my return from a trip to China, how suburban Sydney seemed pristine. It is a beautiful country.

Yes Magnificent country and you are right we here are so —undeveloped—in comparison—Thank goodness

Good morning Holidayers. We have a tropical 14 degrees this morning. I’m waiting for the light to be sufficient to go for a bike ride. I suppose I could get lights for my bike, but I’d still feel too vulnerable.

I intend to be in the garden today, it’s been forecast to be a nice day. I will get on with the rose pruning.

Good morning Buffy

Morning. Forever running. Who said you slow down when you get older? Pfft.
I’ve been hanging with some greens. The people sort, not the vege sort. Well the vege sort too, picking arm loads for the swap this morn, but yest’ had photos of my solar installation taken for the friends of the earth ‘yes 2 renewables’ campaign.

Other than that, seeing to chooks and chicks, vege beds and fruit picking, lemons galore, cooking and freezing packs for the beef quarter barter, and running between sick grandies. The little girl has a virus, poor baby, but coming good. Older grandson Bo Bo has been quite crook with a chest infection. The teen can’t eat much. Except he seems ok with chocolate cake.

Grasshopper said:

Dinnetta, there are many surprises when you clean out a chest freezer, I got rid of mine many years ago as I could never reach the bottom any way —bought a small one with draws.

Mine is so organised now GrassHopper…. Last night I opened the lid just to admire the innards…

I’m getting that way with my chest freezer…feel like I’m cutting myself in half, balancing on the edge on my tummy to reach the bottom…

Speedy said:

Grasshopper said:

I am glad I saw Aussie b4 it was wrecked and when it was pretty pristine, have seen it again since and no comparison

My father who travelled around many times was always disappointed with what he saw. I travelled all the way around when quite young (1978-9) and (thankfully) remember very little. In the years since, I have done many big trips to some of the same areas, with little overlap, and have always been impressed. Expectation is an unfortunate thing, so next time I visit these places I am sure to be disappointed too.

Still, I will never forget on my return from a trip to China, how suburban Sydney seemed pristine. It is a beautiful country.

Some of the most beautiful Australian landscapes are not on the tourist maps…

Happy Potter said:

… Except he seems ok with chocolate cake.

Comfort food :)

you could always add some beetroot or zucchini for added goodness ;)

Some of the most beautiful Australian landscapes are not on the tourist maps…

————————————
How very true Dinnetta

In the middle of making a small shade structure for a transplanted bush – some type of sage* thing. Found 4 posts and now trying to figure out what type of material to use. I don’t want to head off to the hardware store (I know I’ll come back with a heap of other stuff :P) so I have the following:

• old cotton sheet
• old synthetic blend sheet
• a bit of sacking (not enough to do the whole thing)
• an old fabric blind with some type of synthetic backing.

What would work best? Am I over-thinking this? I’m thinking not only shade but ventilation and moisture control. Oh, and there’s a cement block wall behind it that gets a lot of the sun :/ and the area around it is landscaped with gravel and rocks (with pretty dendrites – thanks to geoff d for IDing those :D)

It’s called Texas sage – remember I am in the USA :P

Actually it might be Mexican or Chaparral sage. Either way it’s a local plant and suited to this area. I moved it from a spot that was sorted of shaded by a tree and a flimsy fence, so it’s a bit more exposed right now :/

Hello kii. Missed you again. But you will post at 4 in the morning!

I’m not much help on your project, I tend to just expect plants to survive or not. But I suggest the cotton for preference and I wouldn’t completely box the plant in. Wall behind, you say. Depending on where the hottest sun comes from, just shade from that side. Or have a look at how the shade was configured from the tree you moved it away from.

I’ll be off on a bike ride shortly. It’s another warm morning. Fourteen degrees. It will probably be a nice day peaking around 20 degrees. Today I have the citrus area of the garden in my sights. I need to weed, clear out the feverfew plants from underneath, chop them up onto the ground for mulch and prune the rose at the front of the area. Now I have 5 chooks I have plenty of chook poo, so some of the shredded paper and chook poo will go in under there too.

But first a bike ride and breakfast at the local cafe.

Hi buffy :)

It’s not 4am now :P

kii said:

Hi buffy :)

It’s not 4am now :P

And you are still awake, and I’ve been for my bike ride. About to go to the cafe for a salami Turkish roll and a coffee. Then into the garden.

:)

I can’t recall when you stopped frequenting the Holidayers’ Asylum. Have you seen my Pug?

And thanks for your thoughts last week about Digby. We are adapting to being a two dog household again.

Oh, yes….I know about the pug :/ my friend here has a tan/black one. I have not met him yet. Just photos on fb.
We’re sitting at around 4:15pm and off to the stupidmarket and maybe the hardware store. Catch ya later :)

Buffy I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved Digby ? I know how devastating that can be —been there

buffy said:

But I suggest the cotton for preference and I wouldn’t completely box the plant in. Wall behind, you say. Depending on where the hottest sun comes from, just shade from that side. Or have a look at how the shade was configured from the tree you moved it away from.

What she said :)

bluegreen said:

buffy said:

But I suggest the cotton for preference and I wouldn’t completely box the plant in. Wall behind, you say. Depending on where the hottest sun comes from, just shade from that side. Or have a look at how the shade was configured from the tree you moved it away from.

What she said :)

Cool :P I put the blind around it for the hottest part of today – and I will construct something from the cotton sheet tomorrow. The afternoon sun misses it. So I am thinking the morning sun (up to noon) and the overhead sun at noon
, are the main problems. Thanks :D

Thanks Grassy. It was his time. A Boxer at thirteen and a half has numbered days.

So, the citrus are pruned, weeded, fed and mulched. I got three buckets of lemons off the branches I cut off. There are actually two or three more branches that need to be pruned to finish ‘lifting her skirts’, but I don’t want to do them all at once. Then I put the prunings through the chipper, along with the feverfew plants I pulled out from underneath. We have a path out the front now that smells magnificent as we use the shreddings for pathways.

kii said:

In the middle of making a small shade structure for a transplanted bush – some type of sage* thing. Found 4 posts and now trying to figure out what type of material to use. I don’t want to head off to the hardware store (I know I’ll come back with a heap of other stuff :P) so I have the following:

• old cotton sheet
• old synthetic blend sheet
• a bit of sacking (not enough to do the whole thing)
• an old fabric blind with some type of synthetic backing.

What would work best? Am I over-thinking this? I’m thinking not only shade but ventilation and moisture control. Oh, and there’s a cement block wall behind it that gets a lot of the sun :/ and the area around it is landscaped with gravel and rocks (with pretty dendrites – thanks to geoff d for IDing those :D)

It’s called Texas sage – remember I am in the USA :P

We have something called “shade cloth” over here…it’s not cloth, it’s synthetic, and is woven…there’s degrees of sun protection, the least available being about 25% sun protection and the best (I think) is about 80%?

You would need to keep the sun off the rocks and the wall (reflected heat): mulching would help keep the roots cool…don’t completely enclose the plant, leave some room at top or bottom for humidity and temp to regulate themselves…

kii said:

Cool :P I put the blind around it for the hottest part of today – and I will construct something from the cotton sheet tomorrow. The afternoon sun misses it. So I am thinking the morning sun (up to noon) and the overhead sun at noon, are the main problems. Thanks :D

Getting on for summer over there isn’t it? If you can avoid afternoon sun then you are ahead.

Dinetta said:

We have something called “shade cloth” over here…it’s not cloth, it’s synthetic, and is woven…there’s degrees of sun protection, the least available being about 25% sun protection and the best (I think) is about 80%?

You would need to keep the sun off the rocks and the wall (reflected heat): mulching would help keep the roots cool…don’t completely enclose the plant, leave some room at top or bottom for humidity and temp to regulate themselves…

Yes, I am fully aware of this thing called “shade cloth”. Amazing how advanced the USA in these things :P

What I am trying to do is not buy anything and make do with what materials I have. The old blind helped yesterday and later on I will try the sheet as I feel the blind might be too much. Also gave the poor thing a deep watering and it got a feed of fish emulsion this morning.

Unfortunately it seems that the ground around this house might have some problems due to a former owner having many old cars on the property – people have said that we might have dead spots from engine leakage contamination. Luckily there’s heaps of pale coloured gravel to “sweeten” the look – it just looks better when there are a few plants to soften the landscape.

kii said:

What I am trying to do is not buy anything and make do with what materials I have.

Fairy nuff…

Can you put up a good link about your sage plant, informative for someone with the attention span of a guppy (which is more than a gnat)? This isn’t the “white sage”, is it…

Apparently Texas Sage is not even a sage, really….

http://plant-shed.com/beat-the-heat-with-texas-sage/

It also appears to be extremely hardy. I doubt you really need to put too much worry into it at all kii.

:)

And somewhere else that basically says you can’t kill it – except by over watering:

http://www.floridata.com/ref/l/leuc_fru.cfm

But just in case, apparently it grows from cuttings, so you take them after a flowering flush, stuff them into cutting mix and see what happens. And if it is used in municipal plantings, it shouldn’t be an expensive plant to replace if it didn’t like moving its feet.

$200 for carby + repairs to chainsaw…which just about jerks my arm out of the shoulder socket to start now…filing chain teeth = free by yours truly and now I can chop down the unwanted shrubs down the back without being embarrassed about how long and little 5cm thick green sapling is taking.

Actually now that it has recovered from the heat of last week, I realise that it is not the sage at all :/ it’s known as Hummingbird Bush aka Flame Acanthus. Poor thing was pretty sick and I had forgotten what I’d transplanted there. These plants have to get a grip – survive you mongrels!!!!

But that should still be OK. Another tough one, apparently:

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/anisacanthusquadrifid.htm

Anyway, look at it the way I do. If they die, they were meant to die and it’s an excuse to try something else. It’s called garden renewal by stealth.

:)

buffy said:

But that should still be OK. Another tough one, apparently:

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/anisacanthusquadrifid.htm

Anyway, look at it the way I do. If they die, they were meant to die and it’s an excuse to try something else. It’s called garden renewal by stealth.

:)

Yep, tough and pretty AND good for hummingbirds! I hope to attract more hummingbirds to the front yard – the bush is planted near the mulberry tree that had two hummingbird nests in it. We have a very healthy one of these bushes in the backyard and it is adored by the little flying gems of beauty (aka hummingbirds).

I want to say, hi again, kii. :)

I am quite pleased with the garden in Casterton. Today I found a dozen leek seedlings or breakaparts, and there are lots of healthy little silver beet plants there too. And a couple of self seeded lettuce seedlings. I love it when it starts giving back.

Where PainMaster is, you can buy a single leek for AUD14

I might have my compost heap about right…the addition every couple of days of damp newspaper with chicken-sheet, courtesy of Tink’s refusal to roost with the big girls…compost that the worms can’t eat…chicken-sheet from under the roosts…thin branches with dead dried leaves….there’s still cockroaches and other bugs, slaters for example. but as I turn the heap over once a week this is you-beaut protein, just ask my hens…anyway there’s very little sludge, a faint whiff of ammonia, and lots of crumbly stuff happening…

Have just been watching the last GA show on iView, and call me fussy but I did cringe when Josh spread the fertiliser and stuff so close to the trunk, I was wanting to yell “at least put a toilet roll around it for the time being”…he did say to scrape it back but still…wasn’t his neighbour marvellous with all those succulents, the water she prepares for them, and those MIRRORS!!! Love her term “Street collection”… as one tends to do…

I’ve just had a lovely weekend with a motorcycling friend. Will post some pictures up of Historic Winton later when I have pruned down the hundreds of photos I took yesterday.

bluegreen said:

I’ve just had a lovely weekend with a motorcycling friend. Will post some pictures up of Historic Winton later when I have pruned down the hundreds of photos I took yesterday.

:D
Loved the grandies pics too. Gorgeous babes :)

Oh and juust when I get settled down at the computer in my pj’s with a cuppa ready to do some emailing/fb/ forum catch ups, I get a visitor. An ex of a brother of mine, whom I haven’t seen in many years, looking for his kids. Had a great chat, but I didn’t have the info she was seeking.

And I have a squillion pumpkin seeds all washed and drying spread out on paper ready to be seasoned and roasted. I can’t eat nuts, so I will eat seeds instead. I’ll roast them tomorrow. I have loads of beetroot to preserve too, bottled pickled and others to be cut into halves for roasting. Yum.

In my baking class I am having a blast learning all those tips and tricks I knew I was missing. I’m finding out the reasons I had failures in the past and it’s quite an eye opener!

Happy Potter said:

In my baking class I am having a blast learning all those tips and tricks I knew I was missing. I’m finding out the reasons I had failures in the past and it’s quite an eye opener!

Wonderful!

Re the pumpkin seeds: is this any pumpkin or a particular type?

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

In my baking class I am having a blast learning all those tips and tricks I knew I was missing. I’m finding out the reasons I had failures in the past and it’s quite an eye opener!

Wonderful!

Re the pumpkin seeds: is this any pumpkin or a particular type?

One was a flatish large grey skinned pumpkin with dark yellow flesh and grey seeds that KK (youngest daughter) brought home, grown by one of her co workers dads. I made a risotto with some and think it’s really more a soup type. The flesh disintegrated, but it was still nice. I will keep a few seeds for giving. I have a freezer full of soups, so the rest of this pumpkin will go to the chooks.
The others were my butternuts with paler seeds. I will brush them with olive oil and lightly salt them, with a dash of turmeric. Or I might make up a spice mix.

Happy Potter said:

the rest of this pumpkin will go to the chooks.

Will your chooks eat pumpkin? Mine won’t but they will eat the seeds…

Hello Gardeners.

Don’t mind me, I’m just checking the clock here.

Seems to be a tad fast, according to my computer clock.

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

the rest of this pumpkin will go to the chooks.

Will your chooks eat pumpkin? Mine won’t but they will eat the seeds…

I cut it into wedges and they’ve completely skinned them.

Nup, won’t even eat them if they’re cooked…but the worms are happy to oblige so that’s good then…speaking of which, I had to feed them (the worms) that Golden Yolk ® layer mash pellets the other day as the vegetable scraps are light on…these latter are being incorporated into the chookens’ porridge…