Hope Chest is full of hope...

The Hope Chest has taken a bit of a battering, first lot of seeds were knocked over by my DH accidentally...

Second lot well a kind neighbour was looking after them for me whilst we went away on our holiday....

Something ate them all when they forgot to bring them inside at dusk.....

My third and final lot are showing promise.

Basil seeds sprouting..if anyone can tell me how to get them up in the garden by direct sowing I would love to know.

Dwarf Capsicum with a little capsicum on it already and more flowers developing.

 Bean, tomatoes, melon, seedlings

Nasturtiums,  zuchhinis, pumpkins, honey dew melon,

Eggplant (Aubergine), Chilis, tomatoes,

Choko(green wrinkled thing), Avacado seed, and Rockmelon

 

Fig and one of my grapes,

I have been picking Broad Beans, and still my silver beet is going well.  Some is begining to go to seed.  I have purple podded peas, and snow peas.  g

The warmer weather has seen the garden just go crazy.  Everything is growing at such a rate, I will have to do a lot of pruning when the flowers have ceased on many of my shrubs, as they are almost making the pathways impenetrable. The scent from the Jasmine flowers is rather heady on the warmer evenings, and the curry plant in the foreground is just budding up for flowers.

Between the Diosma (small flower shrub behind the foxgloves) and the white daisies is one of our paths, (which I had almost cleared and begun to regravel, in early winter) The rains put an end to that and now the pathway is overgrown, pretty but ...

It is an amazing year for the foxgloves, and in the background some of the broad beans I plantedin the flower beds are almost ready to pick the pods from.

The irises are still coming up, a lovely white on on the right of the picture, (my photos are not quite as good as a friend kindly lent me her camera and I have not any idea how to use it..lol)

 

New Leaves on my Kafir lime,

Look carefully you can see a flower bud or two on my Tahitian lime fingers crossed..









So all in all things are happening in my Spring Garden, and my hope chest is full of positive hope! 

 

Taj mahal is now occupied..YIPEE!

Please note Chook means Hen in Australian..lol
Four lovely Barnevelder chickens have made the Chooky Taj Mahal their home for two weeks now and how welcome they are. 

They are 9-11 weeks old nowand are settling in well, I believe
It will be a few more months before we will get eggs.  My idea is that they get used to being handled and Toby as he is a part of life at our place.

They are delightful and many hours have been lost by both Toby and I watching their antics.   
They are a Dutch breed who are a quiet and delightful temperment.  They are not mean to be as flighty as some breeds.  I have been getting them used to Toby and attempting to get him used to them.  He has helped us gather one escapee up, (the fencing was not quite finished) and this chook had jumped out of the Taj whilst I was sorting out water and food.  Off chook and dog, me and DH went.  Toby found her and indicated by standing at one side of a large tussock of grass on the dam wall where she was.  She was well hidden..he remained on his side enabling me to get her and settle her.  On return to the Taj and her sisters she ran to them clucking and sharing her great escape. (attempt anyway)LOL Fences are all up now thanks to my DH hard work. They are lovely girls, and I have built a small safe out door run for them and how they love to be out scratching and eating the grass.

I have a worm farm so they have had a meal or two of worms and other insects I have gathered from the garden.  I love it when one finds a worm and have a real chuckle as I watch their antics, as they chase and try to steal from the one with the worm.  Little do they seem to realise that I have actually put quite a few worms in their.  lol.
Those of you who have chooks I would love to know what you feed them if you do not use a store bought product.

Get them wagons rollin...

We have been away for just over a week.  It was meant to be a very relaxing holiday, which it was in many ways.  We went on a horse drawn colonial wagon holiday.  We being Dh and I and Toby.  We had to cross the 200+miles across Bass Strait first.  So a night trip on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry. I booked a cabin as I could not imagine sitting/sleeping in recliner chairs with 100+ others all snoring and what ever else and feel rested at 5:40am when we have to get up and get organised to move down to the car, and continue our journey.   So a7 plus hour drive (including dog stops and walks, lovely walk with Toby around Deloraine along the river.

) to Devonport to catch the boat, the overnight trip, all was wonderful.  Off the boat and through Melbourne, out and on the way to a very tiny place called Rehola (about 50km from Bendigo) where we were to commence the caravan holiday.  Only problem is I was in such a mood and had a shocker of an argument with my DH..which made the journey so horrendous for the last 1+hours.    I don't understand it and these moods swings of mine fluctuate so widely and come on so quickly.  I guess the tired factor and stress of getting on the way did not help.

I have to ask myself why does going away cause such a great deal of stress? 
Are holidays stressful for others out there?
Okay the holiday was very different, think camping trip, with more comfortable beds, and living setup, hard roof, and the fact you could pack up and move each day (if desired to a new location).  No power, hot water unless you boiled it up, not flush toilet, no TV, computer , telephone,  shops, or mobile phone (only because my battery ran out and I could not be bothered to ask Patrick the owner of the set up to charge it, he would have very happily).
We had a basic fibreglass wooden caravan, in a bit of a gypsy style.
With a gas grill and hot plate, gas light, double bed and two single beds.  Plenty of storage, a grill for bbqs, a dutch oven for cooking over the fire, and a bush toilet, consisting of a shovel, bucket and toilet seat construction you could use.  For us it was just easier to dig a hole and be very basic.

Our lovely Clydesdale horse Penny, a fiesty 14year old, with a similar dispostion to mine at times.  Wanting to be in control most of the time and requiring some real relaxing to let others take over.  (something this holiday kind of assisted me to grasp a bit more, thanks to my DH and Penny).

Patrick or his daughter Amanda came out every day we were moving, and harnessed up the horse, and ensured that we were comfortable managing the horse and caravan.  They would show you were you were going and assist if needed at steeper parts fo the road, and if they were going a different way to normal for the  Penny.  I loved the slowness (7-8km an hour) of the journey, and the smell of the horse and her distinct personality.  Both of us humans had visions that we would walk along beside her for an hour or so, needless to say our fitness level would not allow it.  Toby loved it once he got into the swing of being a real working dog (as Patrick described him he was a bit of a woose..lol well he is a pet).  Toby's first experience was to sit on the wagon at my feet and just watch, but oh no he wanted more, so he managed to jump off (out of my grasp) and almost get killed as he went forward infront of the wheels next to Penny, and not being aware of the speed we were travelling tumbled in a distinct sommersault.  Almost getting run over..thankfully he was not hurt just a bit bruised and shaken.  After this he settled down (particularly if we ignored him) to running alongside Penny. He loved it.   He was foot sore, and I would assume muscle sore, but did he want to stay on the wagon, NO WAY, he had to be running along side.

We had two days where we moved campsites, and then wanted to stay put for two nights, which was brilliant.  Sulpher crested cockatoos, and galahs abounded in this area, as to grey kangaroos, which we only saw a couple. The area had, quite a bit of rainfall very recently and was lush and green having been in drought for a few years.  It is a gold mining/fossicking historical area.   We had two periods where we had a full day without moving so two nights in one spot, for us this was the best in that we sat around relaxing, reading, drawing playing cards, or just watching the birds, nesting.  The song of the magpies was wonderful and the dawn chorus spectacular.  Sunsets serene and bliss in so many ways.  Peace and not another person around.  Sheep in the paddocks at times, but just us and Penny.

I would not enjoy it in much warmer temperatures as the flies and heat for me would be too much.
Strangely we had much colder nights there than at home, our first two days were windy and cool, with a shower.  However the rest of the trip was sunshine, warm days and blue skies. So nice to have had this as on arrival home it was still wet and cool.

 

I would like to have included more photos however sadly on our second day,  somehow I dropped my camera (not realising it) and Penny accidently trod on it, and or the caravan rolled over it.  Digital cameras do not survive this treatment very well.  We had no showers for a week(well I did have the opportunity at one point two nights before we left, but soap would not lather, it was nice to have running hot water.   We only changed our outer clothes once in the week as it got hotter.  We had a great time, an interesting time, and for a family holiday it would be something really special if you like camping.  I am glad I did but my days of camping are a thing of the past.  I like a few comforts and these are simple really, flushing loo and hot water on tap. 

Early mornings

I was awake at 4:30 this morning, and being wide awake and unable to get back to sleep I rose and dressed in the dark, came down stairs to a chilly room, lit the fire, and watched the dawn breaking.  The dawn chorus was incredible, well worth being up to hear the celebration of the birds that another new day has dawned.  The Kookaburras laughed, 3 Swans flew overhead, one of the Sea Eagles was soaring about on the warming air across the river. I stood in the garden listening and observing all that we have around our home, with the scent of the smoke from the fire and a glimmer of snow on the Hartz Mountains in the distance.    I was unable to take photos of any of the birds light was not suitable but the garden and morning light on the water well these I can share with you!

I was unable to take photos of any of the birds light was not suitable but the garden and morning light on the water well these I can share with you!

I came inside to a warmer house (marginally) and decided to catch up with my reading of my blogs, and down load some photos onto the computer.  As I began Murph our cat wanted a cuddle and jumped up onto the computer desk, well onto the key board. Not happy with this he climbed onto my right arm and sat, not easy to touch type with a cat who weighs in at 5kg on your arm. He eventually decided to climb up and sit over my shoulder, purring and dribbling than slumbering after all it is only 5am and he needs all the cuddles and catnaps he can get.

  (one dribble happy, 2 dribbles unbelivably happy, three dribbles estatic and I need to shower and he goes on the floor..lol).  So I spent a happy hour or so reading blogs with my espresso coffee, toast with homemade seville orange marmalade watching the sun rise and the sun's heat begin to warm the room.

A day in our life with mother nature

The photos on this page are a trip Toby and I made recently, Saturday 27th September, little did I know the tragedy that was happening in the Philippines, and Vietnam this same weekend. 

For me it was a regular day out experiencing the wonders of nature!

The photo below is on the way into town, thankfully someone had been through before us. 

This photo is just as we near the larger of the towns near us.  The police told us it was now only four wheel drive vehicle access.  Our little car had to make a detour! 

The river has never risen to cover the main road bridge

even though this shows the river at low tide.

It was quite amazing to see the blossoms still intact on this

tree in town, after all the wind and rain.

This is across the river heading to a friends place to check they were okay.

The rain continued for the next 24hours. We were lucky we only had a blackout for 14hours.  Some areas of Tasmania were without power for 5days.  The storm was across most of the state.

Toby is keeping his eyes on the road..

you can see why..

This was on the way home, I thought we might be able to go under the branches, but then I noticed that there were power lines tangled in the tree branches, (PHEW!) so we had to take a detour around the coast road and saw the beauty of gum trees (eucalyptus) growing on the foreshore, sea gulls on a flooded jetty,  an amazing arbour of flowers and donkeys on a rescue farm looking pretty in pink!

Ou

Our neighbours had a large branch down, but it missed their home we had many smaller branches about the place.  Lots of kindling for next winter!  :)

Fortunately no one was killed and we are all safe and dry. My heart goes out to those people and families in Indonesia, vietnam and the Island areas of Samoa and Tonga.  Who were not so fortunate.

Lost one brain!

It has been  a bit of a hectic week.  My brain has gone AWOL at times.  I drove up to work on Thursday only to find I was not actually booked for that day,but for Friday and Saturday?   I had booked my accommodation and at such short notice would have been billed, I ended up staying for the day browsing about the shops for an hour or so.  I am not a woman who enjoys wondering about the shops, unless they are garden centres or hardware shops.I ended up going for a drive. 
Quite a lovely day and I was really thrilled to see a mother swan and her 3 cygnets feeding on the side of a busy road.  Many vehicles flying bye not noticing.  Me I turned around but as I pulled up closer to the little family mum shepherded her babies into the water to hide behind some reeds. . 
Simple pleasures and delights

I watched them for a brief while but mum was quite disturbed so I left.  I worked Friday and had to cancel Saturday as I had made arrangements to meet friends at Salamanca Markets.  So another day wondering about looking at many things, and buying little.  Enjoying friends company and meeting some new people. 

Today was our little community village market day which I am one of the organisers of.  We began life as a local produce market, but are now encompassing local craft and artisians. Today we had lots of lovely plants, and some vegies, fresh free range eggs, home made cards, cakes, biscuits, homemade bread, goats cheese, pork pies, ginger bread, preserves of all kinds, jams, vinegerettes, flowers, knitted beanies.  I love my four hours a fortnight there meeting lots of people both locals and tourists.  I also love having choice of so many yummy things.  Tonights meal is a ploughmand, a bit of this and that.  Pork pie, pickels , I made, and relish I made, goats cheese, some of my quince jelly, olives, more cheeses, delicous.

As I was leaving to go to the markets I noticed the yachts were out. First race of the season a leisurely sail down from Hobart yesterday , and then they race back to Hobart today.

As you can see they were moving fast, lots of wind today. 

The weather has again deteriorated and the fire is lit as the wind blows, snug and warm glass of red wine at my side.  ahhh I have such a wonderful life, I am so content.

Dorothy is right, There is no place like home..

Unlike Dorothy after my days away from home, I do not have to find my way to the wizzard, (even if I do live in OZ..lol which is what many call Australia).  Nor do I need to go on a quest to  find Glenda the good witch and be given her red glittering shoes, as you can see my red shoes do not glitter.

and click my heals, and say the words, "There is no place like home and be magically returned, no hour long drive.

I am sure the feelings I experience as I turn into our driveway, see the house with its warm lights, smoke coming out the chimney, the door opening the rush of delight as the wonderdog, prances and wags his whole body in welcome. DH finally suceeds in  getting through the vibrating circling dog,  embracing me in his safe and loving arms, finally weaving his way between all our legs and paws meowing his welcome, or is that he has not been fed yet is chokie face the cat; is no less a welcome than Dorothy and Toto's on their return from Oz. Ohhh the welcome of Home!  Nothing compares.

It is amazing how much can happen in the course of two days in the garden, especially if it has been warm 20degrees C, and warmer nights.  When I took the wonder dog out this morning for his walk, after some heavy rain overnight, it was to a cooler gray clouded sky, so once again the fire is lit.  I have just put the left over bones from a roast lamb in a pot to simmer in water, from this I will make a curry.  Sigh  just the thing to warm on a cool spring evening.

Tulips in pots that have not flowered for two years have this year quite spectacularly

and whilst I am not a real lover of tulips; mainly for the shortness of their flowering and the difficulty I have found growing them. They are a intense flower and on mass look spectacular,.  When I lived in Canberra, the Floriade Exhibition every year was incredible using mass plantings of spring bulbs. It is usually held early in September.

 We had lots of rain overnight which is good as it has meant my new trees that I planted on Wednesday were watered well, (I was going to do this, this morning). One less job to attend to.  I am not a woman for jewelery at least not diamonds and pearl kind of things.  I mean who needs to have diamonds when you have this..

Strings of perfect droplets, on a thread so thin and so strong. 
Cob webs are such truly incredible achievements from spiders not only for their incredible beauty, but the design concept, the engineering of the attachments to hold them in place, also the strength of the silk threads that the spider makes.  When spiders make webs massive amounts of protein are required to manufacture the silk. So much energy is expended that spiders will often eat the webs to recoup the protein and restore energy for more spinning.  The other issue it that over time the cobweb begins to loose its stickiness which reduces the chance of food being caught.  So the eating of the web often on a daily basis; and I would imagine particularly if no food has been caught is a way of ensuring that their webs remain in good working order.

The tensile(how much pressure it can have exerted on it in a curve before damage occurs) strength of the spiders web is greater than the same weight of steel with much greater elasticity and according to Wikepedia

 "Its microstructure is under investigation for potential applications in industry, including bullet-proof vests and artificial tendons. Researchers have used genetically modified mammals to produce the proteins needed to make this material.^"[2][3][4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_web

Nature is incredible.  I love that through a man made creation The World Wide Web...(spider connection lol)
is connecting me to many people who have a love of nature.  Actually I love how the WWW is broadening my horizons and letting me travell the world meeting people generally.



My lemon tree has several flowers on it, that look like they may actually develop.  Now if only they will be pollinated and the fruit hang on.  One of my great desires this year is to be able to pick a lemon of my own tree.  What an achievement that would be.  lol  No wining world class medals for me, promotions in the work force.  My biggest achievement, the one that would make me very happy, and proud is to be able topick a lemon..lol.  Now is that the simple life? 

The daffodils are coming to their end, the iris's are still going well, and my jonquils are beautiful.  One thing is my fresias have not flowered as yet.  Where as normally they have flowered before my daffodils.  They do have flower heads on them. We are talking about springtime, and the pansies are delightful if a little nibbled,and weathered.

 There are also many native plants flowering now. Lovely bird and bee attracting Grevillia, 

The plant below I am unable to recall or find the label for it so it's name I do not know.
 

 

This is a native Salvia.  It is a small but spreading shrub.  It is truely beautiful in full flower.