A Happy 2015 everyone.

May the year bring you all you want, and more.

AussieDJ said:

A Happy 2015 everyone.

May the year bring you all you want, and more.

and for you.

Thanks roughbarked.

A friend posted this on another forum a short while ago. I can’t think of anything better than to repeat it here:

I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year – one filled with more than simply happiness and good health and success: a year that’s filled with contentment as well, and laughter and love, more smiles than 2014; and more chances to stop for 5 minutes so you can breathe and look around. A year to hug each other and help celebrate the little triumphs each day. A year to help restore community wellbeing, and community safety.

May your 2015 ease it’s way gently into life, and hold only pleasant surprises. Happy New Year.

my feelings as well. As it was, Huey washed 2014 away and then stopped for the fireworks.

Happy 2015 to all.

:)

Great quote on fb:

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one. 2015”

It came with a photo but the quote is what got me…very egg-sited to be commencing my 2015 Diary…I have two diaries this year, one for the hand bag, one for the desk, and a notebook (not diary) for my back pocket…

…and a Happy New Year to youse all…filled with successful: chicken hatching, fruit tree bearing, vegetable garden production,…what have I missed?

mouseover.

The mouseover didn’t work for me, but the photo is marvellous, just marvellous..those ripples in the water are almost 3-D…

Dinetta said:

The mouseover didn’t work for me, but the photo is marvellous, just marvellous..those ripples in the water are almost 3-D…

mouseover says; new year washed clean of the past.

Yup, thanks RoughBarked, I counted to 3 and there is was…

:)

The new year started with a splash of colour.

Sure did, well done!

Not sure what the “go” is, but I have a rose bush that tends to blossom from the main cane and not from shoots of the main canes…like usually rose blossoms go: main cane, shoot, blossom on it’s own stalk…not just main cane, blossom … howsoever I shall allow it to persevere…

Dinetta said:

Not sure what the “go” is, but I have a rose bush that tends to blossom from the main cane and not from shoots of the main canes…like usually rose blossoms go: main cane, shoot, blossom on it’s own stalk…not just main cane, blossom … howsoever I shall allow it to persevere…

Dead head it at when you can see the whites of it’s eyes.

Four brand spanking shiny black new tyres. Budget blown before the first week of the year has ended.

Good morning. Warming up here now. I got up stupidly early while predawn and took the dogs for a walk in the misty fog. Then I made yo-yo biscuits for a friend. And I’ve retied the tomatoes – again. The long row of tomatoes thing seems to be working quite well:

Although next time I think I’ll cross the stakes lower down so they diverge again at the top where the plants will be bushiest. Over in another part of the garden I have a couple of Tigerella fruit coming on very well. Maybe 2 weeks.

:)

I picked the first climbing bean (Rattlesnake) from my rustic teepee this morning too. Those beans are looking very happy now:

But the scarlet runners (Painted Lady) are flowering well but not setting beans. Maybe too hot for them. Or something.

buffy said:

But the scarlet runners (Painted Lady) are flowering well but not setting beans. Maybe too hot for them. Or something.

I kinda remember something about that. An evening shower with the hose can help cool them down, I think that is what was recommended.

Oh….they’ve been getting that since they went in. Due to our lack of rain. I water in the evening to give the plants time to absorb overnight.

buffy said:

Oh….they’ve been getting that since they went in. Due to our lack of rain. I water in the evening to give the plants time to absorb overnight.

on the plants themselves?

bluegreen said:

buffy said:

Oh….they’ve been getting that since they went in. Due to our lack of rain. I water in the evening to give the plants time to absorb overnight.

on the plants themselves?

Yes it was about cooling off the plants themselves but if the weather is hot this also creates a higher risk of fungal problems. It may work in some parts better than other parts of Southern Australia. I never had any success with them.

roughbarked said:

Yes it was about cooling off the plants themselves but if the weather is hot this also creates a higher risk of fungal problems. It may work in some parts better than other parts of Southern Australia. I never had any success with them.

When I’ve got a garden, i avoid foliage watering unless there has been a hot dry stiff breeze and it’s still blowing…to avoid fungal problems…

the trick is to mulch well-soaked ground very heavily, then leave a dripper on all day under the mulch….this is for the 32C and over temps…

bluegreen said:

buffy said:

Oh….they’ve been getting that since they went in. Due to our lack of rain. I water in the evening to give the plants time to absorb overnight.

on the plants themselves?

Yes. Our town water is bore, but it’s fine on the foliage of beans and tomatoes. Not much chance of a fungal problem around here…..humidities lately have been under 10%

And good morning Gardeners. Fifteen was a wonderful temp when I got up almost 3 hours ago. I went around with the hose again this morning. They don’t usually get that much pandering. But it’s already into the high twenties, so I guess the forecast 38 is likely.

I never had that much success with scarlet runner beans either. They come up readily and get so bushy but few pods. Lots of water, or no water same result. I have other beans in now and picking a heap daily. I keep pulling the sr out.

Sweltering here but I’ve been out in it running the hose from tree to tree. Empty pondy tub now ready to be refilled.

Happy Potter said:

I never had that much success with scarlet runner beans either. They come up readily and get so bushy but few pods. Lots of water, or no water same result. I have other beans in now and picking a heap daily. I keep pulling the sr out.

Experimenting now with a Chinese or at least i believe it comes from China, long lived type.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

I never had that much success with scarlet runner beans either. They come up readily and get so bushy but few pods. Lots of water, or no water same result. I have other beans in now and picking a heap daily. I keep pulling the sr out.

Experimenting now with a Chinese or at least i believe it comes from China, long lived type.

See what happens when one does a few seconds research. https://www.greenharvest.com.au/SeedOrganic/VegetableGrowingInformation/MadagascarBeanGrowingInformation.html
not Chinese at all. It was only because a Chinese person swore by them.

Good morning Gardeners. We have around 20 degrees and we’ve had a lovely 5mm rain. So I don’t need to water the veggies tonight. Actually I was out watering in the rain (if you could call it that) last evening when the Golden Girl did her “there’s something scarey in the yard” chook noises. I couldn’t see anything – I was looking at the ground for one of the resident blue tongue lizzards, hoping not to see a snake. Then I looked up, thinking, hawk, eagle etc. Found a koala in the tree above the chook tractor! It was very alert. I have no idea how it got into the yard nor why the dogs hadn’t noticed it. So the dogs were not allowed in the backyard in the dark overnight in case it went on the walk. This morning it is still in the tree (it’s a huge old bluegum, probably 80 or 90 years old) but a bit higher up and sitting on a branch that looks ridiculously small for the size of the koala’s bottom. Here are some photos from last night:

buffy said:

Good morning Gardeners. We have around 20 degrees and we’ve had a lovely 5mm rain. So I don’t need to water the veggies tonight. Actually I was out watering in the rain (if you could call it that) last evening when the Golden Girl did her “there’s something scarey in the yard” chook noises. I couldn’t see anything – I was looking at the ground for one of the resident blue tongue lizzards, hoping not to see a snake. Then I looked up, thinking, hawk, eagle etc. Found a koala in the tree above the chook tractor! It was very alert. I have no idea how it got into the yard nor why the dogs hadn’t noticed it. So the dogs were not allowed in the backyard in the dark overnight in case it went on the walk. This morning it is still in the tree (it’s a huge old bluegum, probably 80 or 90 years old) but a bit higher up and sitting on a branch that looks ridiculously small for the size of the koala’s bottom. Here are some photos from last night:

Wow!

Dinetta said:

buffy said:

Good morning Gardeners. We have around 20 degrees and we’ve had a lovely 5mm rain. So I don’t need to water the veggies tonight. Actually I was out watering in the rain (if you could call it that) last evening when the Golden Girl did her “there’s something scarey in the yard” chook noises. I couldn’t see anything – I was looking at the ground for one of the resident blue tongue lizzards, hoping not to see a snake. Then I looked up, thinking, hawk, eagle etc. Found a koala in the tree above the chook tractor! It was very alert. I have no idea how it got into the yard nor why the dogs hadn’t noticed it. So the dogs were not allowed in the backyard in the dark overnight in case it went on the walk. This morning it is still in the tree (it’s a huge old bluegum, probably 80 or 90 years old) but a bit higher up and sitting on a branch that looks ridiculously small for the size of the koala’s bottom. Here are some photos from last night:

Wow!

Yes it is a great sight.

roughbarked said:

Awww, beauty nap…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

!https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15605992673_50665ff9f7_c.jpg

Awww, beauty nap…

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

!https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15605992673_50665ff9f7_c.jpg

Awww, beauty nap…

oops clicked on the button when meaning to click elsewhere. Yes. they tuck up nicely don’t they.

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Awww, beauty nap…

oops clicked on the button when meaning to click elsewhere. Yes. they tuck up nicely don’t they.

Looks like those spiral fossil shells that they find from millions of years ago…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

oops clicked on the button when meaning to click elsewhere. Yes. they tuck up nicely don’t they.

Looks like those spiral fossil shells that they find from millions of years ago…

Nautilus.

roughbarked said:

Nautilus.

Yep

G’day PM. Long time no see.

Been busy of late and probably spent too much of my internet time over on the facebooks…

painmaster said:

Been busy of late and probably spent too much of my internet time over on the facebooks…

Yes most people seem to be facebooking. Maybe I’m missing out, maybe not. good to see you here anyway.

painmaster said:

Been busy of late and probably spent too much of my internet time over on the facebooks…

Hiya PM! Yeah same here, facebooking can suck your time dry. Use only for good not evil, then turn off the pc/phone/ipad. Heh

I mowed the lawn! Little ozito electric mower, light as a feather. I got it for near zilch because they said the height can’t be adjusted. Yes it can! I even showed them how, but nah, they didn’t want it.
Well it zoomed through my very thick wet buffalo grass, easy peasy. So quiet too I can mow the lawn while the mans asleep on nightshift. I got their matching electric whipper snipper for an extra fiver too. Bargain.

Happy Potter said:

I mowed the lawn! Little ozito electric mower, light as a feather. I got it for near zilch because they said the height can’t be adjusted. Yes it can! I even showed them how, but nah, they didn’t want it.
Well it zoomed through my very thick wet buffalo grass, easy peasy. So quiet too I can mow the lawn while the mans asleep on nightshift. I got their matching electric whipper snipper for an extra fiver too. Bargain.

Don’t run over the cord, please.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

I mowed the lawn! Little ozito electric mower, light as a feather. I got it for near zilch because they said the height can’t be adjusted. Yes it can! I even showed them how, but nah, they didn’t want it.
Well it zoomed through my very thick wet buffalo grass, easy peasy. So quiet too I can mow the lawn while the mans asleep on nightshift. I got their matching electric whipper snipper for an extra fiver too. Bargain.

Don’t run over the cord, please.

Wasn’t sure if Happy Potter meant electric as in batteries or electric as in mains connection…sounds ideal for your location Happy Potter and wonderful for your shoulder that it mows thick grass so easily…

Yes watch out for the power cord, I will miss the stories about LinLin otherwise… ;P

Happy Potter said:

I mowed the lawn! Little ozito electric mower, light as a feather. I got it for near zilch because they said the height can’t be adjusted. Yes it can! I even showed them how, but nah, they didn’t want it.
Well it zoomed through my very thick wet buffalo grass, easy peasy. So quiet too I can mow the lawn while the mans asleep on nightshift. I got their matching electric whipper snipper for an extra fiver too. Bargain.

bargain indeed. Well done.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

I mowed the lawn! Little ozito electric mower, light as a feather. I got it for near zilch because they said the height can’t be adjusted. Yes it can! I even showed them how, but nah, they didn’t want it.
Well it zoomed through my very thick wet buffalo grass, easy peasy. So quiet too I can mow the lawn while the mans asleep on nightshift. I got their matching electric whipper snipper for an extra fiver too. Bargain.

Don’t run over the cord, please.

No, that will never happen, the cord was plugged into the shed power supply under the house eve and went up and over the little clothesline, then over my shoulders, so it was pretty much overhead all the way. The lawn area is small, 2 mt x 5 mt.

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

I mowed the lawn! Little ozito electric mower, light as a feather. I got it for near zilch because they said the height can’t be adjusted. Yes it can! I even showed them how, but nah, they didn’t want it.
Well it zoomed through my very thick wet buffalo grass, easy peasy. So quiet too I can mow the lawn while the mans asleep on nightshift. I got their matching electric whipper snipper for an extra fiver too. Bargain.

Don’t run over the cord, please.

Wasn’t sure if Happy Potter meant electric as in batteries or electric as in mains connection…sounds ideal for your location Happy Potter and wonderful for your shoulder that it mows thick grass so easily…

Yes watch out for the power cord, I will miss the stories about LinLin otherwise… ;P

That’s the thing, chooks came in for a share of the grass clippings because the mower is whisper quiet so I had to shoo them to their yard and shut them in.

Happy Potter said:

That’s the thing, chooks came in for a share of the grass clippings because the mower is whisper quiet so I had to shoo them to their yard and shut them in.

My chookens follow the mower if they know what’s good for them and feast on macerated bugs (grasshoppers etc)…

Have started slicing and dicing the mangoes ready for freezing…

That “freezer paper” that’s supposed to be ironable for crafts such as patchwork, is that the same as our baking paper?

Dinetta said:

That “freezer paper” that’s supposed to be ironable for crafts such as patchwork, is that the same as our baking paper?

I’ve got no idea!

I’ve had a bit of a look and it seems I am stuck with the freezer go-between plastic. I think I’m better to freeze in containers: the mangoes would get knocked around otherwise. After eating all last year’s mangoes that I had frozen, this is a method worth the time and trouble…

Off to have some dinner and then do some more …

Wow, I’m thinking ‘boat’ :D

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.shtml

I dropped the man off at the endoscopy centre for his lobotomy. No hang on, it’s the other end they’re jabbing. 3 hours of peace until I pick him up, lol.

Happy Potter said:

Wow, I’m thinking ‘boat’ :D

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.shtml

I dropped the man off at the endoscopy centre for his lobotomy. No hang on, it’s the other end they’re jabbing. 3 hours of peace until I pick him up, lol.

Good to get some rain than none at all…hoping all the burnt areas get drenched…

I did wonder when I saw “lobotomy”….haha…thought “must look it up, I thought it meant something else”…then you finished your sentence…

Hope The Man got a good report?

Just about reached the tail end of the mango slice ‘n’ dice for January 2015…er-meh-gerd … I now have 4 gallons of mango waste to compost…my compost bin is empty so I have to build a new heap…

Started on the kitchen walls as well, I don’t think they’ve been washed since 2005…soot from the slow combustion being the main grime on these walls…and they go to 11’…the refrigerator is almost in the centre of the kitchen, as I am tackling the walls behind and above it first…it could have a happy little refresher break in the new position for the next couple of days until the walls are cleaned back to paint…

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

Wow, I’m thinking ‘boat’ :D

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR023.shtml

I dropped the man off at the endoscopy centre for his lobotomy. No hang on, it’s the other end they’re jabbing. 3 hours of peace until I pick him up, lol.

Good to get some rain than none at all…hoping all the burnt areas get drenched…

I did wonder when I saw “lobotomy”….haha…thought “must look it up, I thought it meant something else”…then you finished your sentence…

Hope The Man got a good report?

Haha.

Yes he’s good for another three years :)

Dinetta said:

Started on the kitchen walls as well, I don’t think they’ve been washed since 2005…soot from the slow combustion being the main grime on these walls…and they go to 11’…the refrigerator is almost in the centre of the kitchen, as I am tackling the walls behind and above it first…it could have a happy little refresher break in the new position for the next couple of days until the walls are cleaned back to paint…

I’m not washing walls but I am trying to do some tidying, sorting and organising, which means I have piles of stuff in the middle of the floor! Filing bits of paper that have been waiting for years for me to get around to doing it, and throwing out ones that have expired in the meanwhile, at the moment.

bluegreen said:

I’m not washing walls but I am trying to do some tidying, sorting and organising, which means I have piles of stuff in the middle of the floor! Filing bits of paper that have been waiting for years for me to get around to doing it, and throwing out ones that have expired in the meanwhile, at the moment.

I’m with you on the paperwork, and can only marvel at myself when I come across some neat filing I did yonks ago…am waiting on my specs to come back, apparently the optometrist was able to cannabilise the wing off another pair (I guess the client didn’t want them after buying a new pair? ) and whilst they are not perfect they will balance on my ears…but the thrust of the story is, I can’t do paperwork until the specs come back…

Gardening question that I was asked by another lady in my area but I don’t really know the answer. Tiny pumpkins turning yellow and dropping off before the flower opens ?
She’s watering it well, seasol once a week (I don’t do that, I only use seasol for seedlings and at planting, maybe another one dose)

I have to assume it’s a bit like a fruit tree that drops immature fruit as the tree will cast off what it cannot sustain. Right? Like if there’s too many fruit or the conditions aren’t right. Or high nutrient level and the plant isn’t in danger of dying so doesn’t bother setting much fruit.

But what would that be for a pumpkin vine?

Happy Potter said:

Gardening question that I was asked by another lady in my area but I don’t really know the answer. Tiny pumpkins turning yellow and dropping off before the flower opens ?
She’s watering it well, seasol once a week (I don’t do that, I only use seasol for seedlings and at planting, maybe another one dose)

I have to assume it’s a bit like a fruit tree that drops immature fruit as the tree will cast off what it cannot sustain. Right? Like if there’s too many fruit or the conditions aren’t right. Or high nutrient level and the plant isn’t in danger of dying so doesn’t bother setting much fruit.

But what would that be for a pumpkin vine?

Cucurbits almost all flower male/female flowers differently in that there may be no male flowers when the females form and vice versa. This is often why the females don’t produce but also it is a lot about the temperatures at flowering.
I’ve often deliberately broken the females open early to pollinate them with mixed success. If the plant is dropping the females before they open is likely more wrong temperature or lack of ventilation or the plants are too young and small to sustain fruits.

It is unlikely that cucurbits can be too well fed. Perhaps more to much or too little water will be more likely to be a problem.

I’ve got to stop getting too close to various stink beetles. It is lucky I wear glasses.

roughbarked said:

I’ve got to stop getting too close to various stink beetles. It is lucky I wear glasses.

They’re good looking tho’…

Happy Potter said:

Gardening question that I was asked by another lady in my area but I don’t really know the answer. Tiny pumpkins turning yellow and dropping off before the flower opens ?

Would it matter if she’s planted a seed from a greengrocer’s pumpkin? As in, “oh this is a lovely pumpkin, I“ll save a seed and grow it for myself”…I’ve have some interesting pumpkins from these seeds, would the hybridism affect the fruit’s development…?

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

Gardening question that I was asked by another lady in my area but I don’t really know the answer. Tiny pumpkins turning yellow and dropping off before the flower opens ?

Would it matter if she’s planted a seed from a greengrocer’s pumpkin? As in, “oh this is a lovely pumpkin, I“ll save a seed and grow it for myself”…I’ve have some interesting pumpkins from these seeds, would the hybridism affect the fruit’s development…?

yes but usually it is to create bitterness in courgettes or hard spots in watermelons and etc.

roughbarked said:

Look at those “nasty” horns on it!

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Look at those “nasty” horns on it!

It is a horny beast.

roughbarked said:

yes but usually it is to create bitterness in courgettes or hard spots in watermelons and etc.

I recall I had this problem once, the little fruits were forming and then dropping off…pretty sure the consensus was lack of fertilisation…

Actually speaking I don’t think that vine did very well…and it was a hybrid…not arguing, just trying to remember…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

yes but usually it is to create bitterness in courgettes or hard spots in watermelons and etc.

I recall I had this problem once, the little fruits were forming and then dropping off…pretty sure the consensus was lack of fertilisation…

Yes but pollination cannot occur before the stigma is developed.

Dinetta said:

Actually speaking I don’t think that vine did very well…and it was a hybrid…not arguing, just trying to remember…

Sometimes hybrids don’t develop flowers correctly it is at least possible in glasshouse type courgettes:

Fruit set and development problems
Cucurbits, with the exception of glasshouse ‘all female’ cucumber cultivars, produce separate male and female flowers that require pollination to set fruit (note: older glasshouse cucumber cultivars produce male and female flowers but if pollination occurs the resulting fruits are bitter so this must be prevented by removing the male flowers). Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male flower to the female flower and is usually carried out by insect.

Environmental factors and unsuitable growing conditions can be the reason why plants fail to set despite the plant producing both male and female flowers. The young fruitlets are aborted and will drop off. Sometimes, the fruit will begin to develop, swelling mostly at the stalk end. The flower end of the fruit will often shrivel up and start rotting. The reason may be:

The plants may be to young and small to sustain fruits. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=676

Two more panels to go and I have the pink bedroom walls all washed!

I think that the very top corner of the kitchen is stained from wood smoke, not much chance of getting rid of that and I am not going to try…just get the sooty grime off…

P is gracing my domicile with his presence tonight, bringing my whipper snipper line guide (I hope) plus the bar fridge from the other house (for the mangoes)…also my specs with the surgically attached wing…I’ll tell him there’s a cold t-bone in the fridge and he will go into his usual spiel about how the chookens, with their hot mash, eat better than he does…

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

Gardening question that I was asked by another lady in my area but I don’t really know the answer. Tiny pumpkins turning yellow and dropping off before the flower opens ?
She’s watering it well, seasol once a week (I don’t do that, I only use seasol for seedlings and at planting, maybe another one dose)

I have to assume it’s a bit like a fruit tree that drops immature fruit as the tree will cast off what it cannot sustain. Right? Like if there’s too many fruit or the conditions aren’t right. Or high nutrient level and the plant isn’t in danger of dying so doesn’t bother setting much fruit.

But what would that be for a pumpkin vine?

Cucurbits almost all flower male/female flowers differently in that there may be no male flowers when the females form and vice versa. This is often why the females don’t produce but also it is a lot about the temperatures at flowering.
I’ve often deliberately broken the females open early to pollinate them with mixed success. If the plant is dropping the females before they open is likely more wrong temperature or lack of ventilation or the plants are too young and small to sustain fruits.

Thanks RB. Makes sense.

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

Gardening question that I was asked by another lady in my area but I don’t really know the answer. Tiny pumpkins turning yellow and dropping off before the flower opens ?

Would it matter if she’s planted a seed from a greengrocer’s pumpkin? As in, “oh this is a lovely pumpkin, I“ll save a seed and grow it for myself”…I’ve have some interesting pumpkins from these seeds, would the hybridism affect the fruit’s development…?

Possible too. I don’t know the gardener, was just a question asked online.

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Actually speaking I don’t think that vine did very well…and it was a hybrid…not arguing, just trying to remember…

Sometimes hybrids don’t develop flowers correctly it is at least possible in glasshouse type courgettes:

Fruit set and development problems
Cucurbits, with the exception of glasshouse ‘all female’ cucumber cultivars, produce separate male and female flowers that require pollination to set fruit (note: older glasshouse cucumber cultivars produce male and female flowers but if pollination occurs the resulting fruits are bitter so this must be prevented by removing the male flowers). Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male flower to the female flower and is usually carried out by insect.

Environmental factors and unsuitable growing conditions can be the reason why plants fail to set despite the plant producing both male and female flowers. The young fruitlets are aborted and will drop off. Sometimes, the fruit will begin to develop, swelling mostly at the stalk end. The flower end of the fruit will often shrivel up and start rotting. The reason may be:

The plants may be to young and small to sustain fruits. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=676

Good reading. Bookmarked. Ta

Well, that took care of a dozen eggs….icecream and a ginger fluff sponge. Only three dozen left in the fridge now.

:)

I think this might be the same koala that visited us a couple of weeks ago.

Appeared again this afternoon. Appreciated the fresh water I’d just put out too.

:)

buffy said:

I think this might be the same koala that visited us a couple of weeks ago.

Appeared again this afternoon. Appreciated the fresh water I’d just put out too.

:)

Cute too. :)

buffy said:

I think this might be the same koala that visited us a couple of weeks ago.

Appeared again this afternoon. Appreciated the fresh water I’d just put out too.

:)

lovely :)

They’re showing the television show “Silk” again…up there with Death in Paradise series 1 and 2…

It’s pouring rain, you know, and there’s a pee wee out there debugging the bitumen…

Dinetta said:

They’re showing the television show “Silk” again…up there with Death in Paradise series 1 and 2…

with the cuts to the ABC it is likely we will see lots of repeats from now on. I’ll probably watch it again though :)

Silk that is.

trichome said:

Silk that is.

Oh. I thought you meant the abc. ;)

Didn’t really get into Silk. I’m waiting for Dr Blake.

buffy said:

Didn’t really get into Silk. I’m waiting for Dr Blake.

Me too.

I don’t know, the Australian productions seem to zoom along or something…bit gung ho…I liked Jack Irish tho’…

Tell you what, I do like Upper MIddle Bogan…

roughbarked said:

trichome said:

Silk that is.

Oh. I thought you meant the abc. ;)

yeah, that too :)

Dr. Blake is good too, there might be some new shows that where coming in now that were finished filming before the cuts, not sure if there will be much after. There should be more of the arts i reckon.

trichome said:

roughbarked said:

trichome said:

Silk that is.

Oh. I thought you meant the abc. ;)

yeah, that too :)

Dr. Blake is good too, there might be some new shows that where coming in now that were finished filming before the cuts, not sure if there will be much after. There should be more of the arts i reckon.

I’d not have thought it but apparently, only fools reckon. ;)

People still watch TV? I’ve been cooking and gardening and everything chicken keeping. My lone chick Cindy goes everywhere with me on my shoulder. She hangs on! I’m trying to get her an age related companion but no luck so far. Dog by my side, chicken on my shoulder…

Tomorrow morning I’m off, read ‘escaping’ for the weekend to a permaculture meet up near mernda vic, lovely people, food, cooking, jam making, fermenting workshop, lots of eating, petting baby animals and big ones..all overlooking gorgeous gardens and orchards. Heritage seed swapping. I can’t wait. Most folk are camping on the property. The main house’ owner is a good friend and has reserved their only little BB cabin for me. She said I look frazzled. I wonder why, lol. The cabins gorgeous! My kids will look after my dog and chickens.
I’m taking a big cake and seeds and assorted veges from my garden :)

Happy Potter said:

People still watch TV?

Nah

Happy Potter said:

I’ve been cooking and gardening and everything chicken keeping. My lone chick Cindy goes everywhere with me on my shoulder. She hangs on! I’m trying to get her an age related companion but no luck so far. Dog by my side, chicken on my shoulder…

The Chook Whisperer excelleth…

Happy Potter said:

Tomorrow morning I’m off, read ‘escaping’ for the weekend to a permaculture meet up near mernda vic, lovely people, food, cooking, jam making, fermenting workshop, lots of eating, petting baby animals and big ones..all overlooking gorgeous gardens and orchards. Heritage seed swapping. I can’t wait. Most folk are camping on the property. The main house’ owner is a good friend and has reserved their only little BB cabin for me. She said I look frazzled. I wonder why, lol. The cabins gorgeous! My kids will look after my dog and chickens.
I’m taking a big cake and seeds and assorted veges from my garden :)

Wow so much to do, you couldn’t possibly get into trouble, could you???

Happy Potter said:

Tomorrow morning I’m off, read ‘escaping’ for the weekend to a permaculture meet up near mernda vic, lovely people, food, cooking, jam making, fermenting workshop, lots of eating, petting baby animals and big ones..all overlooking gorgeous gardens and orchards. Heritage seed swapping. I can’t wait. Most folk are camping on the property. The main house’ owner is a good friend and has reserved their only little BB cabin for me. She said I look frazzled. I wonder why, lol. The cabins gorgeous! My kids will look after my dog and chickens.
I’m taking a big cake and seeds and assorted veges from my garden :)

Sounds heavenly. Relax and enjoy :)

In this trailer in the first section on Byron Bay, doing an interview with Neil Oliver is my friend W. Shame he doesn’t have foxtel here but they’ll give him a copy after it has been aired. Part of the footage (underwater) was taken while he was on the dive boat filming the rest of the action. http://h100.tv/show/coast-australia

My day was turned upside down by a call from a lady wanting to trade some of her plums for a dozen of my hens eggs. Deal! The tree was lade with fruit and the birds were having a feast and needed saving. So we picked off all the good ones.
Seven kilos of plums. I washed halved and piped the lot, then into baking trays in a warm oven to soften, then tipped into a bowl, little sugar added, then blitzed, skin and all.

Now I’m just waiting for the grown kiddlywinks to finish with the oven and I will pour it into the baking trays lined with baking paper and leave on the lowest temp for 8 hours for plum leather. Then I think I’ll have a Nanna nap. I’m buggered.

Special Nanna lolly straps for grandkids :)

Happy Potter said:

Special Nanna lolly straps for grandkids :)

and for nanna. ;)

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

Special Nanna lolly straps for grandkids :)

and for nanna. ;)

Definitely :)

But I just had a horrid thought. Dried plums = prunes. Oh dear. I have visions of mrs daughter chasing me with a poopy nappy! LOL

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

Special Nanna lolly straps for grandkids :)

and for nanna. ;)

Definitely :)

But I just had a horrid thought. Dried plums = prunes. Oh dear. I have visions of mrs daughter chasing me with a poopy nappy! LOL

can’t be helped. What goes in has to come out. It is usually better if it comes out more freely than not.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

and for nanna. ;)

Definitely :)

But I just had a horrid thought. Dried plums = prunes. Oh dear. I have visions of mrs daughter chasing me with a poopy nappy! LOL

can’t be helped. What goes in has to come out. It is usually better if it comes out more freely than not.

True. And it runs rings around manufactured sweets. I’m going to end up with a few kilos of it!

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

Definitely :)

But I just had a horrid thought. Dried plums = prunes. Oh dear. I have visions of mrs daughter chasing me with a poopy nappy! LOL

can’t be helped. What goes in has to come out. It is usually better if it comes out more freely than not.

True. And it runs rings around manufactured sweets. I’m going to end up with a few kilos of it!

runs rings :) you’re good. :)

Yes any fruit is better than lollies.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

can’t be helped. What goes in has to come out. It is usually better if it comes out more freely than not.

True. And it runs rings around manufactured sweets. I’m going to end up with a few kilos of it!

runs rings :) you’re good. :)

Yes any fruit is better than lollies.

Hahaha.
I was tired last night and distracted by the ara chick and her new marans boy friend. The oven wasn’t on high enough and the fruit is still gloopy. Lowest temp my oven will stay at is 40C. Upped it to 70C. I might have to think about a solar food drier. The ‘bowl lickers’ said it tasted amazing.

Happy Potter said:

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

True. And it runs rings around manufactured sweets. I’m going to end up with a few kilos of it!

runs rings :) you’re good. :)

Yes any fruit is better than lollies.

Hahaha.
I was tired last night and distracted by the ara chick and her new marans boy friend. The oven wasn’t on high enough and the fruit is still gloopy. Lowest temp my oven will stay at is 40C. Upped it to 70C. I might have to think about a solar food drier. The ‘bowl lickers’ said it tasted amazing.

Yes, it will tate good however gloopy it is. However it won’t make good leather unless you can dry it properly. I did all my leather on an old trampoline with muslin held down over it to keep the flies off. Solar is best, yes.

That’s about the end of the Gravensteins. The birds got a lot of them. But they left me quite a few on the lower branches. The Granny Smith trees are looking well loaded here (Casterton) and at home (Penshurst) this year. And apparently not to much coddling moth. Might be the early hot weather keeping them down I guess.

buffy said:

The Granny Smith trees are looking well loaded here (Casterton) and at home (Penshurst) this year. And apparently not to much coddling moth. Might be the early hot weather keeping them down I guess.

Great! I have a soft spot for Grannies…

Plum leather almost ready :)

Problems encountered, it needs a higher temp than recipes for fruit leathers generally suggest, also baking paper might be non stick but it impedes drying. Silicone sheets are better, but best of all is BBQ non stick sheets. I borrowed some from a friend to try and after washing and a light spray of sunflower oil then wiped off, I inverted the trays onto the bbq sheets and peeled off the baking paper. I put the three sheets back in the oven directly onto the oven racks, with no solid tray underneath. Perfect.
The 2nd lot of 3 kg will go in later. At a slightly higher temp it should dry in half the time than this first lot.

Boys are here and so far they have had a big banana smoothy (made by me) and I have just made my first cuppa and toast for breakfast.

My passionfruit has been slowly looking sicker and sicker, losing leaves in bulk. It’s got heaps of fruit starting to ripen.
I’ve treated it with applications of seasol but to little affect. Then I found the problem. Collar rot :(

We’d (orchard fellow) had placed a pot around the base to keep the mulch away from the trunk. That pot had filled with leaf matter that wasn’t visible to me until I pulled the pot off to check. I’ve left it off to let the trunk get sun and air.

I’m guessing that the green bit is healthy and the brown bit is dead?

Close up. There’s a bigger hole at the back that goes further up the trunk but I can’t get a decent photo, too dark. I can only feel it.

Savable, or not?

Happy Potter said:

My passionfruit has been slowly looking sicker and sicker, losing leaves in bulk. It’s got heaps of fruit starting to ripen.
I’ve treated it with applications of seasol but to little affect. Then I found the problem. Collar rot :(

We’d (orchard fellow) had placed a pot around the base to keep the mulch away from the trunk. That pot had filled with leaf matter that wasn’t visible to me until I pulled the pot off to check. I’ve left it off to let the trunk get sun and air.

I’m guessing that the green bit is healthy and the brown bit is dead?

Close up. There’s a bigger hole at the back that goes further up the trunk but I can’t get a decent photo, too dark. I can only feel it.

Savable, or not?

Save it yes it is possible but it will take time and care.

hope you can save your passionfruit HP. Bit of a trap, that plastic pot idea.

bluegreen said:

hope you can save your passionfruit HP. Bit of a trap, that plastic pot idea.

It is and I’ve removed others around tree trunks. One, a lemon, had sprouted from the rootstock and it’d grown in and around the pot. Removed rootstock and turfed the pot.

Thanks RB, I’ve looked up how to treat collar rot, but I dare say it’s a futile exercise because I can’t see what I’m trimming off at the back, I can only get my hand in there. I’ll do my best but.