What a Busy Week!

What a busy week I have had Embroidery class Monday, quilting Tuesday, Card Making teaching Wednesday, and a Christmas Party Thursday. I am not used to going out everyday.

 Another funny week of weather hot one minute and raining the next. Have weeded several beds, and need to pull up a heap of beetroot, which will have to be bottled as well, as too much there, in 3 beds.

This bed I managed to clean up had  the sweet peas and garlic

One of the Beetroot beds

 The garden is getting over run with weeds, with all this rain and again, as I write this, it has been pouring rain all morning, and last night a severe storm which thank goodness had no hail. I was going to take more photos today, but just too wet. Luckily I though about it Friday.

The front Jungle

The back jungle

The beans are growing well and just starting to be pickable.

No 2. Dried bean bed, wired against the bush turkeys.

Climbing beans North Easter, new carrots behind

 Yesterday Miss P came over for her usual 3 hrs and in the last hour after we weeded some of the garden, and in the middle of teaching her to make a cheesecake, suddenly fainted on me. Luckily I was standing next to her because she said " my head feels fuzzy", one look and I made her sit on the floor which ended up being a sudden plop then I held her and laid her down. Talk about having my own attack, and she doesn't remember any of it. When I took her home, dad took her to emergency to make sure, and after lots of tests was fine, but still an MRI to go.

The mix was finished just had to add it to the crumbs. Will freeze for Christmas.

It was so similar when Miss C did the same thing while minding her after school and the day before her 9th birthday, which ended up being a nasty brain bleed and being sent to Sydney via Westpac Helicopter, and 2 years of recovery, not a good time for any of us. Hence Miss P's MRI just to make sure.

 I am pleased to report though, Miss C now 18, graduated year 12 last week, with 3rd in English, a Merit award for Maths, 3rd in Art. So proud of her, and she is now looking at a degree in Teaching.

My choice of flowers I picked this week. Time to wrap Christmas presents.

Till Next Time.

 

Repotting Succulents, and EkoDeck Samples

 My grandaughter came over yesterday so I decided it was time to fix up the pot plants on the fence. They have been growing well and I think it has been two years, so looking a bit tired, overgrown and the soil was in  need of replacing. 

So we tipped all the pots out and replaced with new soil and smaller version of the different succulents. Plus I had some kalanchoe flowering from cuttings so planted them as well. They are very pretty for a succulent.

The pots look much neater and well watered as we soaked them. Amazing how dry the soil was, despite watering regularly, as so pot bound it was just dripping through without soaking.

  It is a nice view outside my kitchen window. 

 The samples for the new replacement of the floorboards for the verandah arrived. Not a lot of choice Brown, Terracotta, of Dark Grey. There were two types but John has heard that the thin layer on the more expensive one can scratch right through to the base so we are going with the one that is all one layer. Neither are cheap unfortunately but will stop having to replace the boards regularly due to the weather, this area gets.

The one on the left is the solid floorboard and slightly cheaper.

In comparison it is two boards wide approx. 137mm and 5400 mm long and we need about 75 of them, just for the back alone, which is why we are only doing that. The boards are approx. $80 each.

Now we know the colour, the sample is in the sun, as it is likely to fade, so once the caravan is here, and paid for  I will get some paint to match and paint the floorboards in the front and down the side verandah. 

This week was the anniversary of my mother passing, and a yellow rose bloomed for the first time this winter, as well. Such a nice way to remember her. 

It looks like we won't be going to Brisbane for our Specialist appointments.  The only exception is to fly in, be accounted for and sent to our specified place. We would have to fly from Sydney as only available flights and expensive. Doesn't make any sense to go to a Super Hot Spot to fly out, Qld has now locked it's borders as Covid is escaping for them as well. John is disappointed as this was his first appointment to see if he had RA, his Dr. wasn't sure. This is where hands on is better for feeling joints etc. back to Telehealth again, this will be my 3rd. this month.

Take Care,

Till Next Time.

Painting the Laundry/Office, Blog Anniversary

 Once upon a time the room I painted this week was supposed  to be my Laundry/ Sewing room but it became the office. A wall was moved and tiny laundry of washing machine and sink, pushed back when the new kitchen went in, but the pine wood was only half painted so I finally got to it  this week. It wasn't easy either, climbing up and down an 8 foot ladder as it was not good for my knees, that at some time need replacing.

 The whole house is pine lined, or brick walls, very 80's and now very dark.

This wall was the hardest being so high.

The gaps between boards now have to have a piece of flat wood to cover, John's job.

 I could have done the ceiling,  as I could reach it, and would have been far easier than having to cut in to it, though I was a bit nervous hanging in the middle section without the comfort of the cupboards and walls. So decided my knees weren't going to take it again at this time anyway. It requires 3 coats of paint plus filling holes,  and  throbbing  knees at night a big clue. If you are wondering why we don't get in a painter, next door had her kitchen roof done twice the size of this laundry/office and probably 10 years ago now, cost $5000.00. So I plod along as best I can. 

My side of the room. The gap between cupboards and ceiling, had all empty boxes, in case we sold something on ebay, so I got rid of them all. Been there for years. 

Piece of wood for this wall painted and ready.

The room is much lighter and when we have paid for the caravan, will pick out some white blinds to finish everything off. It would be a nice room if Johns's clutter wasn't everywhere, but such as it has always been. At least while everything is off the floor for the moment I was able to wash it thoroughly. 

Johns side of the room, pretty typical. 

 Miss P came over yesterday and we emptied out some of the top cupboards and sorted it all out. Nice to have a young one climb the ladder. Master J helped Grandpa move the cut up fence palings, while John was cutting it up for the fire. As his twin Miss V came last time it was his turn, they both love their bribes, wages for working. Someone had pulled an old fence down as John was driving past so he went back with the trailer and filled it up.  

Very impressive wood stack I must say, thanks to John.

  I took the time to teach Miss P how to steam a pudding  in a cloth. One of those skills not taught anymore I would imagine. I chose my favorite recipe mum gave me called American Plum Pudding. Strange name as there is no plums but a couple of cups of dried fruit and so, so easy to make. Every Christmas I made it and filled it with money that I boiled and wrapped in alfoil then put in the cake. Surprising how a few children can still have pudding after a big Xmas lunch. Last year was the first time in 48 years that I didn't make it.

 Sent half home to mum for afternoon tea. Very delicious with a bit of cream. No eggs, so good for Miss G who is home from University, and sleeping off the tiredness from very late nights, on end of term projects, poor thing. I know how she feels been an exhausting week for me also, and in bed very early.

Very proud of my little apprentice, she is coming along well in her skills in cooking and gardening.

It has been a wet overcast week, but today the sun is out and the garden is very green and bountiful. I put some seeds to grow in the glass house, as it is time to start thinking what I will replace the broccoli and cabbages with, which are doing really well and pickable, but more about that next week. 

Wednesday 7th. is my birthday and this means the anniversary of this blog. 6 years have gone by, hard to believe I have kept it up so long. Not terribly popular, but it is great to look back on for me of all that I have accomplished over the years, and a reminder of planting times in the garden.

 A BIG, BIG thank you to those who do read it, it is basically why I keep going.

 It also usually means that our eldest daughter arrives for her annual holiday at a local resort, but she had to cancel as had a nasty cold and also Greater Sydney was in lockdown. Usually we celebrate together on the day, so I am disappointed at not seeing her again.

7th. year of blogging here we go.

Till Next Time.

Happy Helpers Moving Things Along.

We have been busy this week, John finished the side garden and then went and got a trailer load of cow manure and mushroom compost mix to fill in the spaces. This side soil is clay, and various mulches we have done over the years but still not a great soil. Now with the empty spaces though, I transferred 3 roses that were in pots, and the soil in them I tip out, as no nutrients left at all.

 

  That is my aim at the moment is to get rid of the pots, that are everywhere and transplanting what ever is in them. Or transferring something from a plastic pot to the very big terracotta pots I have, to give something more room like the yellow Frangipani my niece gave me, or at least make a plant look more like a feature. Not easy as these giant pots are really heavy.

3 Roses in front.

I am thinking of planting some Babys Breath here as well plus maybe some Marigolds along the edge.

The two girls also came over to help me on Saturday. Miss P and I painted the floor boards of the Gazebo and Miss V bless her heart carted soil from the driveway trailer to the bottom of the garden I had cleaned up on Friday. Moved a white Hydrangea from the front side garden and pruned back the blue one already there. John filled the rest of it in after they left.

One last wall to pressure clean.

Only one coat of the paint in the Gazebo. It didn't go far, with the boards absorbing it after they had been pressure cleaned. Still a big difference though, and I will do another one. I also finished off painting the top boards and the posts with their 2nd. coat.

Finally we got out the false grass pieces left from the front, to experiment whether it is worth doing to stop weeds growing. John pressure cleaned the rose garden path, which does a fantastic job of weeding as well as cleaning and we put it down as best we could with the pieces. 

It looks so shiny new, where as the front has faded and blended in a bit better, nevertheless IF it works and I don't have to constantly weed the path or spray, and then if all is good, I might look at getting it done professionally. 

There was a cheap piece we found also, like chalk and cheese but I put that down as well. 

Just an experiment.

Basically it looks awful, but it is only a test on the weeds. The rubber backing is not as good either. The only other solution is to have it concreted, or getting it all dug and broken up and replacing with proper grass then getting someone in to mow it etc. One of the problems of getting old and living on a steep block. 

Miss V desperately wanted to help with the painting so I let the girls finish off a table that is in the Gazebo.

They do love getting their "wages", and I love having them around. The twins turned 8 this week, and our youngest grandchildren, growing up fast. Grandma though is exhausted today.

Till Next Time. 

Finishing Embroidery UFO's

 It has been a strange week for me, as I have been experiencing anxiety attacks which upset my heart rhythms that aren't the best at normal times. Quite scary when they happen but have booked the Dr. but now have to wait 10 more days to get in.

 So not a lot has been done and yesterday Miss P came over and we spent a rainy day sorting some more of my downstairs craft area. So much has been thrown out, but we are getting there. She even painted the toilet wall as John has to replace the top tank part, not bad for a 12 year old. DIY of course is in the family for generations. 

This year I have been finishing off some Embroidery, quite a different collection to my normal hardanger pieces.

Shadow Work

This little bag has some shadow work on it, a kit from our group leader, who taught me Brazilian embroidery years ago. We are a small group of 4, but get a lot done each week. 

The above piece I started early 2000's, I made one for a girlfriend I worked with, then started the 2nd. just had to put it together. 

I like making these books, they look much better in real life, photo does not do them justice. Style known as crazy patchwork, and I used lined books this time, instead of blank pages. 

Wool Embroidery

Finished this lap blanket that I once taught as a class but only had the corner done. Yesterday bought some lemon fabric to line the back and bind off the front. 

Final piece is a another hardanger. A long cloth for my sideboard.

I have a quilting retreat coming up in May and trying to make a needle case  at the moment for it, as we all take one for a swap. Started a new embroidery as well for our group meetings, which is slowly coming along.  Hope everyone had a good week. 

Happy Birthday Kirsty for the 15th. 

Till next Time.

Verandah Posts are Gone & Replaced with Wire.

 John has been working hard on getting rid of all the posts on the verandah and changing over to wire. The painting done by me was getting to much to do every few years, plus some of the posts were rotting and they are hard to get as well.The choice therefore was either glass...too expensive ... or wire. Miss P and I did some rail and post painting, last week refreshing everything, with John doing one  tall pole and a bit of finishing off.

Front are with the wood uprights, which I would still like to keep if possible.

The back corner of the verandah would be about 2.4m or 8 feet  off the ground, which is quite scary without any railing at all, which is was for a few weeks. Now with the wire, still scary as you can see right through, so will be a case of getting used to it. I know some mothers with young children don't like it at all due to the fact that some kids could put there head between, even though this is done to the standard measurements recommended by law. As all our little ones are now grown up not a problem for us.

Holes ready for wire after painting. Tall Posts to be painted white.

John adding the clips, that hold the wires.

So with all the painting of the rails finished, this week was stringing it all together. Underneath the hand rails is also some square metal in the space there, to support all the tension required so they don't go flying off with the  pressure. 

The last of the clips being fitted yesterday, wires joining the pole.

The next step now is to replace the floorboards. Once the caravan is sorted out and we still are waiting  on the insurance, I think this is now week 6, we shall get the plastic floorboards, a section at a time.

Wires are in, floorboards next step

I was video chatting to our youngest daughter in California yesterday as it was her birthday, and was showing her the new railing, but she  was looking through the wire, trying to find it, which is why it is also hard to photograph.

I took the above photo to show you the wire and it's openness but also that Miss P and I started the back yesterday. Two gardens weeded and covered in black builders plastic. I hope it kills everything and does the trick, so I can ignore it for as long as I want. 

In the front garden the snow peas, and carrots planted with other veg. two weeks ago, have just started to come through. John went to Bunnings also so I got him to get some brocolli and cabbage. Pretty disgusted with the seedlings though very leggy and the cabbage must have at least 20 in the punnet which is such a waste. I wouldn't have purchased them but will plant them in deeper and hope they don't rot. Apparently a long line of cars waiting to get in due to the Easter weekend.

The wheely bin is full again, so many weeds as usual, and the Japanese windflowers are all out, looking pretty. 

If Miss P hadn't come yesterday, I wouldn't have bothered doing any of it, the morning was cold and I am always feeling tired, so it is just as well. After morning tea we also did my linen press again and picked up where we left off weeks and weeks ago. Looking so much more organized as well with the labels she did. The black cloth boxes are from Kmart two for $5, and hold a lot. Slowly getting it all done.

Today I am finishing off the last of the linen press that was loaded up in the hall way, and have planted the broccoli and cabbage x 8 each and sent the rest off with John to the Community Garden this morning so they can plant them. 

Daylight hours were finished last night and now we are keeping time with Queensland and the rest of the world. 

Happy Easter 2021 everyone.

Till Next Time.