A sunny day, finally

​I had been waiting on a day that wasn’t raining to go out and continue in the garden 

Monday, of last week, I had purchased my seed potatoes. And they were still in the box waiting. 

Today was the day 

I headed outside and started with the last large wicking bed 

This was what it looked like. 

Yup very neglected, just like the rest of the back yard. 

I weeded and used a pitchfork to break up the soil. 

I then added one packet of seed potatoes. 

This one is called Nicola 

Once I had placed the potatoes on top I then cover it all with compost mixed soil 

Now it looks like this. 

I sent hubby to start on the second raised garden bed 

It looked like this. By the time he had got through half I had finished and came over to help 

Once again we weeded and used the pitchforks to break the soil up. It have become compacted 

The two remaining packets of potatoes were planted. 

Red lady and Dutch cream

We covered them all with the same compost mix and mulched 

After watering the mulch, it’s so dry a small puff of wind blew it off.  

I then turned to the second raised bed 

I had purchased these on Monday’s fill in shop. They’re small with short handles, perfect for me. 

I was able to carefully get under the netting to hoe all the weeds that had started to sprout 

And in the area in back that has still to be planted out. 

I then just wandered around seeing all the growth. 

We even have a few asparagus spears coming up. In mid winter. This is how mild our winter has been 

Some of my Christmas cactus, happily flowering away 

We still have lots to do. Hunny will use one of his “toys” to lift the blue barrel wicking pots and will take the round poles out, replacing them with square timber. They will be easier to whipper snip around. 

I’ve been saving all cardboard boxes and we will lay them all around and then heavily mulch. 

This part of the project will take a few weeks to finish. 

Once that’s done, I’ll turn my attention to the rose garden 

Hopefully by spring we will have it all back to looking like a garden. Instead of an overgrown jungle. 

Light bulb moment

​yesterday as I was heading to the checkout I walked past a table that had lap top tables. The ones you use when you’re in bed. I’m assuming. 

I’ve been having issues with loosing all my bits and pieces when working on either the sewing or knitting. 

Clips, pen, notebook and even my sewing needle a couple of times 

And as always once I finally get comfortable and everything is organised around me, that’s when something happens and Ive got to get up 

So instantly the light bulb went off in my head. 

I grabbed one totally on impulse. 

Well let’s just say I’m extremely happy I did 

Sewing, my basket of hexies right at my fingertips and the empty basket that the paper hexies go into once I’ve sewn it on. 

The little pink container is for my waste threads. Scissors and thread are in the basket as well. 

Knitting, everything I need is right there. The pen even stays in the black strip at the top. 

So far, I’ve not lost the pen and I’m not twisting and turning trying to get what I need. It’s all in front of me 

I have to say I’m so glad I didn’t talk myself out of it, like I usually do. 

Day out

​this morning I left home around nine and headed into Cranbourne. I desperately needed a hair cut. You know when you comb your hair and it does that sudden stop an inch or so from the end. Yeah mine was doing that. And more than an inch. 

After that, I headed off to the nail salon. My thumb had lost its pretty top. 

The lovely lady who always does my nails was happy to repair it. 

No charge. Which was nice. 

All this had taken way less time than I had anticipated. I had a lunch date with some friends at 12.00. It was only 10.30. 

I didn’t want to go home only to come back.  I thought “ where can I fill an hour” 

Easy. Panda mart. I saw the other day that they had melamine plates for very cheap prices. I need to stock the kitchen down on the farm. I also bought cutlery 

And some glasses. 

The glasses are going to stay here and all the odd bod glasses from here will go down there. 

Bunnings is next door, so I popped in and bought some seed potatoes 

I’ll get them into the ground this week 

The off to lunch with two lovely ladies, who I haven’t caught up with in literally years 

We bump into each other every now and again but have not sat down, had a meal and a good chat in forever. 

I enjoyed some non alcoholic beer 

It tastes exactly the same, but without the alcohol so it’s safe for you to drive. 

The pub is right next to Aldi so a quick stop to get some pasta

When your granddaughter says she likes the bow tie pasta, that’s what you buy for her. 

I finally arrived home and have spent time sorting and putting away everything I got. 

Plates, and cutlery are in bags ready to take down.  The new glasses are in the kitchen ready to unbox and placed in the cupboards. After being washed 

I’ll get the current glasses out and pack them safely for the trip down

I’m now resting.  Hubby has sorted the firewood so I’ll clean and get the fireplace all ready to light  it’s suddenly got dark outside,  looks like more rain on its way 

All happening

​today the stars aligned but not in an ideal way 

Wonderson dropped the girls off this morning. He did a few hours of work and left for a golfing weekend away. 

Meanwhile beautiful DIL worked from home as Ana had a second day at the primary school up the  road 

So she had to break her work day to come and pick her up for that 

Meanwhile our friends had finally found a house to rent and today was moving day.  Hubby spent most of the day driving the small truck and helping with moving everything in. Our other close friends also helped. 

Let me just say I’m the youngest at 59. The five moving into the house start at 63 and go into the mid 70’s 

Obviously I was unable to help as I had the girls. Since I had that huge cook up yesterday I suggested they all come here for dinner. 

Claire and her hubby thanked me but their granddaughter was waiting for them to come home as she had cooed for them. 

Lovely girl that she is. 

Dianne and Paul gratefully accepted 

By the end of dinner we were all moving slowly and getting up provided a chorus of moans and groans. 

I was the better of the quartet. 

The girls today were a joy

Georgia was looking much better and was back to her happy self 

Playing with a paper bag while waiting for her bottle 

Having deep conversations with trixie 

And having cuddles with her sister 

While I was feeding and getting Georgia 

Ana stays quiet watching the television  

Both she and Trixie decided it was time for a lay down and rest 

Once Ana and mummy arrived back form her couple of hours at the primary school, DIL opened her laptop and finished working from home here  

They no sooner left to go home, I put the pan of pasta bake into the oven to heat up. 

By the time I set the table, made a simple salad and placed the defrosted garlic bread into the oven, Paul and Dianne arrived  

It was not a late night  

It was an eat and go home  which we all agreed was the best decision. 

Once they are settled in, and we all recover we will have a long lingering meal  

Hubby is now in bed fast asleep and I’d bet good money that the other four are also fast asleep 

I’m the only duffer that’s still up.  All going well I’ll soon be in bed off to sleepy land 

Cooking afternoon

​today I’ve been cooking all afternoon.  Lately on a Friday we have ordered takeaway.

Which isn’t a bad thing, but that kind of food can actually trigger a fibro crash. 

Too much fat, salt and unknowns 

So I’ve organised it all that I can have leftovers, which will feed us all weekend 

Mostly all home grown. Definitely all preserved by me. 

Doing the work in the preserving stage saves you work later. 

I’ve made a pasta bake and in the red casserole I’ve got creamy

Mushroom chicken. I’ve just added the rice.  It comes out like risotto 

Only with much less work 

I’ve got dessert all ready to put into the oven  

The easy dump cake, mixed berries with home grown plums 

White cake mix sprinkled on top and some butter 

Which will melt and make it nice and brown on top  

I made the bow pasta for Ana’s lunch tomorrow 

I’ve put extra veggies into the meat sauce so very healthy 

And finally 

Little cupcakes.  They’re made from an instant pancake mix  

These have chocolate chips in them. Because they’re a breakfast and not a desert mix 

It’s not over sweet  and a healthier option.  Well that’s what I tell myself anyway 

So now I’m good all weekend. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough for us to get some work 

done outside.  I’ve got pots that need  refreshing with an organic compost mix  

This is an easier job than removing a garden plot, and hopefully hubby will be able to give me a hand  

Now all I need is a good nights sleep.

Wish me luck 

Wordless Wednesday

​

One of those days

​you know the day. You start to do one thing, then on your way to get something 

Or the washing machine calls. You get side tracked and start another thing 

Then you go back to the first, detour and do a third thing and by the time you finish 

You haven’t actually finished any one of them. 

Like this

let me tell you all about this 

I got the gold thingy months ago. 

Then I ordered the beads. Two tiny packets with teeny tiny beads

Today I got the vase. So I put the gold thingy in keeping some out so it’s not all at the bottom 

Added one packet of beads and water.  I came back about ten minutes later and the beads had somewhat got bigger. So I thought ya know. It’s a big vase. I’ll add the second packet. 

Mistake.  Big mistake 

It stared to overflow, and those little suckers bounce. High and everywhere 

So I carefully took some out. 

Then more out 

And more out 

Finally I filled a two litre empty ice cream container.

To the top. I’m hoping it’s fine now. 

I might put a bowl under it. Just in case

In between doing all this. I also was putting stuff away and hanging 

Washing.

I had gone to the panda mart again to get some  sofa covers 

Let me tell you about this job 

The first cover was turned  round and round until I figured out how it went 

Then it’s pulling and tucking and trying to keep it even, so that the arm bits actually end up on the sofa’s armrests 

The second one was a little easier, but even so, it was a very hard workout 

I decided to stop at this point thinking I’ll go back and sort it later 

 Once I had rested and cooled down I ran into trouble 

I was on the floor fixing the square piece of fabric under the dining room chairs,

It had come down and was annoying me  

So I got down put it back up and pressed it back onto the Velcro.

Then I tried to get up. Oh my the pain. It made me cry out loud 

I sat back down and tried again a few minutes later  

Nope, wasn’t going to happen 

I needed help, but my phone was where I normally sit 

Way across the room. 

I slowly and carefully crawled all the way back to the chair dialled 

Hubby's number.  

It went to voice mail  he obviously was talking to someone on his phone  

So then I tried to ring wonder son.

He too was on the phone, like father like son!

So I texted them together saying whoever gets this first please come over

I’m stuck on the floor.

Meanwhile I tried again. Once again my body said, no

A few seconds after sending the text wonderson sent one back saying he was on his way.

Once he came in, we had a discussion on how best to tackle the problem 

He said just try to get up and I’ll put my arms around you from the back and pull you up. 

I had misgivings, but no choice, so I agreed

Well  let me tell you, I yelled out. Loudly 

He then got me some strong painkillers and I got them down  

I got a wheat bag  zapped it in the microwave and gingerly sat down  

Eventually the pain started to settle down. I decided to have a long soak in the bath.

I’m now sitting, again with the wheat bag and I’m feeling much better.

The moral of the story is, stick to one job at a time, so you don’t get 

All flustered and rush.  It really does end with someone getting hurt and crying 

And usually is me