Hello Gardeners. I see we need to change the calendar.

I have just put in some various onion seeds. And I need to remember to use “clean” dirt/soil/potting mix when I want to grow seeds. Because you get all sorts of things coming up. And as it was native grass seeds, I’m having some trouble working out which grass plants are the ones I actually wanted…..I’ve not actually made that mistake before, I must have been in a state of vagueary that day.

buffy said:

Hello Gardeners. I see we need to change the calendar.

I have just put in some various onion seeds. And I need to remember to use “clean” dirt/soil/potting mix when I want to grow seeds. Because you get all sorts of things coming up. And as it was native grass seeds, I’m having some trouble working out which grass plants are the ones I actually wanted…..I’ve not actually made that mistake before, I must have been in a state of vagueary that day.

If you are anything like me, you’ll need magnification to spot the difference between onions and grasses.

Sorry, that must have been confusing. The onion seed has just gone into seed raising mix. I scattered the native grass seed into a couple of pots of soil a month or so back. I’m trying to find the native grass germinators in amongst the weed germinators. I don’t have much trouble with onions and grasses, the onions have round profiles. Leeks, on the other hand, need to get a bit bigger before you can be sure.

buffy said:

Sorry, that must have been confusing. The onion seed has just gone into seed raising mix. I scattered the native grass seed into a couple of pots of soil a month or so back. I’m trying to find the native grass germinators in amongst the weed germinators. I don’t have much trouble with onions and grasses, the onions have round profiles. Leeks, on the other hand, need to get a bit bigger before you can be sure.

Yes. Onions also come up bent over.
I was also confusing the issue as well because I tend to transplant or weed at the earliest stages possible. Earlier than most people would attempt.

Morning green ones!
It’s sunny at least, for gardening. My garden has changed again, this tree out, another tree in, or plant, or seedlings. I love how it changes, something different to look at each season.

The resident kiddlywinks and her bf are a week away from moving into their new first home. They are looking forward to it so much. So are we! We get our shed back and our car spaces back. No more car shuffles, according to who was to leave first or go out that day. Over the 12 months they’ve been here I was secretly putting together a glory box, which has grown so much it fills the storeroom (ex bedroom). They knew about the large lidded pine box with a crockery set and boxes of glasses, but that’s all. They have no idea of the rest I’ve picked up, mostly 2nd hand but new in box and never used. They bought themselves a cheap knife block set. I snuck in and replaced the cheap bendy knives with an uber exxy german set I swapped for with a few days of gardening. That was, taking chook yard compost from my place in bags in the trailer, filled their open raised beds with it, and planted it up for them with heritage brassica seedlings. It looks good!
Kids also have heaps of new queen bed linen, towels and a stack of linen tea towels. I took tuppaware back out though after they ruined a couple lids of my t’ware by putting it through the dishwasher. The buckled lids were replaced. They both work and will have little time, so they can get dishwasher proof storage. I also amassed a heap of maccona jars and filled them with my home grown dried herbs.

Their eyes are going to pop :)

Happy Potter said:

Morning green ones!
It’s sunny at least, for gardening. My garden has changed again, this tree out, another tree in, or plant, or seedlings. I love how it changes, something different to look at each season.

The resident kiddlywinks and her bf are a week away from moving into their new first home. They are looking forward to it so much. So are we! We get our shed back and our car spaces back. No more car shuffles, according to who was to leave first or go out that day. Over the 12 months they’ve been here I was secretly putting together a glory box, which has grown so much it fills the storeroom (ex bedroom). They knew about the large lidded pine box with a crockery set and boxes of glasses, but that’s all. They have no idea of the rest I’ve picked up, mostly 2nd hand but new in box and never used. They bought themselves a cheap knife block set. I snuck in and replaced the cheap bendy knives with an uber exxy german set I swapped for with a few days of gardening. That was, taking chook yard compost from my place in bags in the trailer, filled their open raised beds with it, and planted it up for them with heritage brassica seedlings. It looks good!
Kids also have heaps of new queen bed linen, towels and a stack of linen tea towels. I took tuppaware back out though after they ruined a couple lids of my t’ware by putting it through the dishwasher. The buckled lids were replaced. They both work and will have little time, so they can get dishwasher proof storage. I also amassed a heap of maccona jars and filled them with my home grown dried herbs.

Their eyes are going to pop :)

how exciting! That you will get your space back, and the anticipation of seeing their faces when they get their box.

I’ve signed up for an online recovery program for people with CFS. It was developed and is run by a recovered CFS sufferer in Melbourne. He was recommended by my chiropractor who went to school with him (their sisters were best friends.) It is up to me to put in the “work” so to speak and is not a quick cure but will take time but seems to be a well considered approach that has proven itself so here’s to getting back to having energy and health! I have been like this for so long I have forgotten what that is!!!!!

It’s raining.

A lot.

Last night the Midland Hwy was closed into Benalla. This morning I found out that one of the Benalla ladies in the Christian Motorcycle Association died in a car accident yesterday. I’m thinking there may be a link.

bluegreen said:

Last night the Midland Hwy was closed into Benalla. This morning I found out that one of the Benalla ladies in the Christian Motorcycle Association died in a car accident yesterday. I’m thinking there may be a link.

It seems that was a separate incident.

HP…you are the big cook here, I think. I made yo-yos yesterday (I’ve made a lot of yo-yos over the years) and the texture was different from usual. As far as I can remember, the only thing different was that I bought Bundaberg caster sugar instead of CSR last time I filled the caster sugar bin. I suspect it is not as finely ground. Have you noticed anything like this? I’ll just have to remember to leave the mix mixing for longer in the Kenwood, I guess.

buffy said:

HP…you are the big cook here, I think. I made yo-yos yesterday (I’ve made a lot of yo-yos over the years) and the texture was different from usual. As far as I can remember, the only thing different was that I bought Bundaberg caster sugar instead of CSR last time I filled the caster sugar bin. I suspect it is not as finely ground. Have you noticed anything like this? I’ll just have to remember to leave the mix mixing for longer in the Kenwood, I guess.

Yes that would do it. Bikkies are harder and don’t melt in the mouth if the sugar isn’t dissolved thoroughly. You could put the b’burg caster sugar into a processor or even a blender and whizz it for 10 secs or so. I often overblend it and end up with powdered sugar just before icing sugar texture and it’s fine. Can use icing sugar too. You can also warm the sugar slightly first, a degree or two helps.
If you have an aldi handy, their caster sugar is perfect.

Happy Potter said:

buffy said:

HP…you are the big cook here, I think. I made yo-yos yesterday (I’ve made a lot of yo-yos over the years) and the texture was different from usual. As far as I can remember, the only thing different was that I bought Bundaberg caster sugar instead of CSR last time I filled the caster sugar bin. I suspect it is not as finely ground. Have you noticed anything like this? I’ll just have to remember to leave the mix mixing for longer in the Kenwood, I guess.

Yes that would do it. Bikkies are harder and don’t melt in the mouth if the sugar isn’t dissolved thoroughly. You could put the b’burg caster sugar into a processor or even a blender and whizz it for 10 secs or so. I often overblend it and end up with powdered sugar just before icing sugar texture and it’s fine. Can use icing sugar too. You can also warm the sugar slightly first, a degree or two helps.
If you have an aldi handy, their caster sugar is perfect.

Thanks. It must be the first time since I refilled the bin that I’ve made yo-yos. The choc chip biscuits were OK. Perhaps I mixed them longer because I was busy rolling and squashing yo-yos while they were mixing. I love my Kenwood Major.

:)

Cold and windy and rain teeming down. Definitely a baking sort of day! Oat bikkies and muffins, blueberry and apple and as my oranges are ripening, possibly orange poppy seed muffins.

Eldest girl down from Darwin and having a family catch up :) Fancy stepping put of the NT straight into Melb cold. We had to leave the heating on low o’night for her. She brought 27 kgs of winter clothing with her that’s not going back, so I have a few extra wintery tops and things.

Hello Gardeners. Just cut back the asparagus, piled on the chook, sheep and horse poo (all chopped up) and put a blanket of old straw over the top. This is a bit earlier than I usually do that, but the ferns were going yellow already.

buffy said:

Hello Gardeners. Just cut back the asparagus, piled on the chook, sheep and horse poo (all chopped up) and put a blanket of old straw over the top. This is a bit earlier than I usually do that, but the ferns were going yellow already.

Yes mine are yellowing and I was thinking the same but you have beaten me to it.

Overdid it yesterday. Paying for it today and have work this afternoon.

sighs

bluegreen said:

Overdid it yesterday. Paying for it today and have work this afternoon.

sighs

BG, I’ll message you on FB. Please join turmeric users group, many people with fibromyalgia report excellent results using turmeric paste for pain relief and general well being. Turmeric paste is a natural anti-inflammatory. But you need to read up on how it works, is made and why. It’s a huge group but well run. I think about you there living alone and wonder how you do it.

I have not taken pain meds for nearly 3 months, a definite record for me, and I ditched my anti-inflammatory tabs as well now. With all my repaired body bits, script pills were a part of my daily life. My sister Donna and her hubby called in on us on their way back from hols in Tas and asked me what’s that, when I put my teaspoon of yellow paste into a shot glass, covered it with milk and stirred and downed it. I sent her home with all the printed info. She has has had a hip replacement.

For animals too, much relief from neuro and skin conditions, dogs that can’t take anti-inflammatory’s, horses with sarcomas and so on, report wonderful results. Max has his teaspoon of paste in milk twice daily too and has not had a seizure in months and his ears remain infection free.

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

Overdid it yesterday. Paying for it today and have work this afternoon.

sighs

BG, I’ll message you on FB. Please join turmeric users group, many people with fibromyalgia report excellent results using turmeric paste for pain relief and general well being. Turmeric paste is a natural anti-inflammatory. But you need to read up on how it works, is made and why. It’s a huge group but well run. I think about you there living alone and wonder how you do it.

I have not taken pain meds for nearly 3 months, a definite record for me, and I ditched my anti-inflammatory tabs as well now. With all my repaired body bits, script pills were a part of my daily life. My sister Donna and her hubby called in on us on their way back from hols in Tas and asked me what’s that, when I put my teaspoon of yellow paste into a shot glass, covered it with milk and stirred and downed it. I sent her home with all the printed info. She has has had a hip replacement.

For animals too, much relief from neuro and skin conditions, dogs that can’t take anti-inflammatory’s, horses with sarcomas and so on, report wonderful results. Max has his teaspoon of paste in milk twice daily too and has not had a seizure in months and his ears remain infection free.

When I was recently on the north coast, the bloke I was staying with was intending to get into tumeric production. I introduced several varieties to his property.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

Overdid it yesterday. Paying for it today and have work this afternoon.

sighs

BG, I’ll message you on FB. Please join turmeric users group, many people with fibromyalgia report excellent results using turmeric paste for pain relief and general well being. Turmeric paste is a natural anti-inflammatory. But you need to read up on how it works, is made and why. It’s a huge group but well run. I think about you there living alone and wonder how you do it.

I have not taken pain meds for nearly 3 months, a definite record for me, and I ditched my anti-inflammatory tabs as well now. With all my repaired body bits, script pills were a part of my daily life. My sister Donna and her hubby called in on us on their way back from hols in Tas and asked me what’s that, when I put my teaspoon of yellow paste into a shot glass, covered it with milk and stirred and downed it. I sent her home with all the printed info. She has has had a hip replacement.

For animals too, much relief from neuro and skin conditions, dogs that can’t take anti-inflammatory’s, horses with sarcomas and so on, report wonderful results. Max has his teaspoon of paste in milk twice daily too and has not had a seizure in months and his ears remain infection free.

When I was recently on the north coast, the bloke I was staying with was intending to get into tumeric production. I introduced several varieties to his property.

Cool :)
I haven’t the space or the right climate to grow it, but my local spice shop imports a good brand. It works great so I will continue with that. I’ve a single turmeric plant that never gets high enough to harvest, just not hot enough for it here.

Happy Potter said:

bluegreen said:

Overdid it yesterday. Paying for it today and have work this afternoon.

sighs

BG, I’ll message you on FB. Please join turmeric users group, many people with fibromyalgia report excellent results using turmeric paste for pain relief and general well being. Turmeric paste is a natural anti-inflammatory. But you need to read up on how it works, is made and why. It’s a huge group but well run. I think about you there living alone and wonder how you do it.

I have not taken pain meds for nearly 3 months, a definite record for me, and I ditched my anti-inflammatory tabs as well now. With all my repaired body bits, script pills were a part of my daily life. My sister Donna and her hubby called in on us on their way back from hols in Tas and asked me what’s that, when I put my teaspoon of yellow paste into a shot glass, covered it with milk and stirred and downed it. I sent her home with all the printed info. She has has had a hip replacement.

For animals too, much relief from neuro and skin conditions, dogs that can’t take anti-inflammatory’s, horses with sarcomas and so on, report wonderful results. Max has his teaspoon of paste in milk twice daily too and has not had a seizure in months and his ears remain infection free.

I have recently heard about “Golden Milk” which is what you are describing via the CFS forum and I have been aware of the benefits of tumeric. It certainly sounds good. The fibromyalgia is just one aspect of CFS but one of the major ones. I currently take a magnesium formula designed for sufferers of fibromyalgia and it seems to be helping. I am certainly not as bad as some but living on my own does create difficulties of keeping my activity to a manageable level when some things have to be done and there is no one else to do them.

I got a letter yesterday saying that my electricity provider is going to refund the money they charged me for installing a smart meter that can’t be read remotely.

for the life of me, i cannot remember what this plant is…

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s720×720/11011527_10205548256417391_1483719661654428970_n.jpg?oh=218b508dc0fc58dfaf8bf8acf7baa0fa&oe=560439AA&__gda__=1439460947_1a2f5f54469983d5c1c5dec308e1d30c

fresnel_chick said:

for the life of me, i cannot remember what this plant is…

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s720×720/11011527_10205548256417391_1483719661654428970_n.jpg?oh=218b508dc0fc58dfaf8bf8acf7baa0fa&oe=560439AA&__gda__=1439460947_1a2f5f54469983d5c1c5dec308e1d30c

An error occurred while processing your request.

Reference #50.dcc387d.1432378959.e7ee4e

try again… https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11011527_10205548256417391_1483719661654428970_n.jpg?oh=f1760dbf3a2aa53fe8d857b957da5697&oe=560AFB41&__gda__=1438686244_248214988b1e169187c0c705f849dce7

fresnel_chick said:

try again… https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11011527_10205548256417391_1483719661654428970_n.jpg?oh=f1760dbf3a2aa53fe8d857b957da5697&oe=560AFB41&__gda__=1438686244_248214988b1e169187c0c705f849dce7

don’t worry, it came to me…

it’s an arbutus. possibly a. unedo.

fresnel_chick said:

fresnel_chick said:

try again… https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11011527_10205548256417391_1483719661654428970_n.jpg?oh=f1760dbf3a2aa53fe8d857b957da5697&oe=560AFB41&__gda__=1438686244_248214988b1e169187c0c705f849dce7

don’t worry, it came to me…

it’s an arbutus. possibly a. unedo.

And the light dawned.

My youngest granddaughter.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5464/18049076862_3d2e1dbec5_c.jpg

roughbarked said:

My youngest granddaughter.

fixed.

Here’s daughter and her daughters.

If it isn’t snails or slugs, it is the crested pigeons. ‘Tis a battle I tell ye.

roughbarked said:

My youngest granddaughter.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5464/18049076862_3d2e1dbec5_c.jpg

precious :)

beautiful family you have there RB.

bluegreen said:

beautiful family you have there RB.

Thanks, I think so too. :)

roughbarked said:

If it isn’t snails or slugs, it is the crested pigeons. ‘Tis a battle I tell ye.

I’m going to have to start covering new sowings with bird wire and tossing handfuls of native grass seed about outside the yard where there is no extra water. Feed the birds eh. I love having them walking across my feet but it gets a bit expensive when every sowing either gets eaten or seedlings pulled out.

Then again I could start eating pigeon.

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

If it isn’t snails or slugs, it is the crested pigeons. ‘Tis a battle I tell ye.

I’m going to have to start covering new sowings with bird wire and tossing handfuls of native grass seed about outside the yard where there is no extra water. Feed the birds eh. I love having them walking across my feet but it gets a bit expensive when every sowing either gets eaten or seedlings pulled out.

Then again I could start eating pigeon.

Not much meat on them

roughbarked said:

I’m going to have to start covering new sowings with bird wire and tossing handfuls of native grass seed about outside the yard where there is no extra water. Feed the birds eh. I love having them walking across my feet but it gets a bit expensive when every sowing either gets eaten or seedlings pulled out.

Then again I could start eating pigeon.

Squab is considered a delicacy, isn’t it? Shame I can’t eat cockatoo, or that they don’t lay their eggs in the hen house. They eat enough of the chook food! Well, their leavings anyway.

Luckily, most of my garden self sows and a lot of the seed I hand sow is also hand collected from said garden.

Love the birds but increasingly alarmed at the drop in numbers and species that visit the yard. Something is causing this and about all I can blame is the recent canal renovation that wiped out a lot of the existing corridoor plus the increased expansion of the population of new farmers in the area.

Looks like I’ll have to galvanize the locals to help me plant the canal banks with new trees. Regeneration of canal banks is difficult as the soil is all tipped upside down from quite a depth. I’ve got a few hundred Boobialla and Wattles ready to plant out and lots of seed to toss about.

roughbarked said:

Luckily, most of my garden self sows and a lot of the seed I hand sow is also hand collected from said garden.

Love the birds but increasingly alarmed at the drop in numbers and species that visit the yard. Something is causing this and about all I can blame is the recent canal renovation that wiped out a lot of the existing corridoor plus the increased expansion of the population of new farmers in the area.

Looks like I’ll have to galvanize the locals to help me plant the canal banks with new trees. Regeneration of canal banks is difficult as the soil is all tipped upside down from quite a depth. I’ve got a few hundred Boobialla and Wattles ready to plant out and lots of seed to toss about.

Sounds like a plan. Hope the locals get on board.

bluegreen said:

beautiful family you have there RB.

What BG said :) Gorgeous photos

Morning green ones. I’ve upgraded my PC with a few new parts, SS drive, tripled the ram speed, a new fan and power supply. It’s flash again. I’ve spent ages reloading it with all my stuff and a million updates. The NBN box on the front of the house awaits connecting.

I’ve not been doing a lot of running around, mainly been reading and cooking and preserving. I’ve a huge bunch, whole bed full, of spring onions sitting in bowls of water. Friends garden and she was going to throw them away. What to do with that many. I think I will chop and dry them, a la dried chives. I’ve been reading up on cooking with different fats and old fashioned cooking with lard and dripping. What an eye opener. Whomever started the ‘animal fats are bad for you’ thinking, would be turning in their grave at the thought of people going back to using it.

I picked up a freebie food dehydrator that’s motor doesn’t work, but it came with a dozen trays that also fit my dehydrator. Bonus, as those trays to order are twenty two smackaroos each!
I also picked up another sewing machine, this ones a 50s blue magic singer. The seller said it worked but didn’t sew well, the top thread kept getting tangled around the bobbin. Wrong bobbin that’s all. I ordered the right ones and it sews beautifully. Heavy as flamin lead though.

Here’s a pic of some beef fat I rendered for the dripping pot.

:)

Another great lot of bargains there HP :)

I am a fan of returning to natural, unprocessed, saturated fats. I currently use coconut oil and butter for cooking. Recent, extensive research has found that saturated fat is not linked to heart disease after all.

The Almost Last tomatoes are now on the woodheater for an overnight stew with onion/garlic/celery/carrot/basil. Tomato soup tomorrow. I have enough sauce in the fridge.

I still have the Tommy Toe to pull out, so I think there might be a few straggler tomatoes on there tomorrow when I do that. They can sit in the kitchen for a week to ripen, or not, and then that will really be the end for this season.

buffy said:

The Almost Last tomatoes are now on the woodheater for an overnight stew with onion/garlic/celery/carrot/basil. Tomato soup tomorrow. I have enough sauce in the fridge.

I still have the Tommy Toe to pull out, so I think there might be a few straggler tomatoes on there tomorrow when I do that. They can sit in the kitchen for a week to ripen, or not, and then that will really be the end for this season.

You can always make them into chutney?

Don’t really eat chutney. I might make just one jar of green tomato relish. We don’t use it up if I make a big batch. We don’t use a lot of condiments.

So…….the tomato soup is not just essence of tomato, it’s belt your tastebuds tomato. It’s good.

buffy said:

Don’t really eat chutney. I might make just one jar of green tomato relish. We don’t use it up if I make a big batch. We don’t use a lot of condiments.

I can’t stand the stuff but a lot of other people do.

buffy said:

So…….the tomato soup is not just essence of tomato, it’s belt your tastebuds tomato. It’s good.

Yum :)

bluegreen said:

buffy said:

So…….the tomato soup is not just essence of tomato, it’s belt your tastebuds tomato. It’s good.

Yum :)

Tomatoes are fickle things. They are affected by subtle things in a big way. These are one thing that may or may not have taste at the slightest nuance.