Despite all of my good intentions life totally got away from me again. Simon attended a conference in Taiwan to present his PhD thesis and as he was so close he popped over to Shanghai to see his Mother for a couple of weeks. Of course the Chirpies co-ordinated life perfectly for me by sequentially coming down with raging colds.
It was three weeks of hell especially when I caught their cold (and we all know what coughing and sneezing does to my bladder!)
The house is wrecked, I'm exhausted and I'm stuck in that cycle of 'just can't face anything let's play bejewelled blitz'.
One thing I did achieve while Simon was away and that was reconnecting with some lovely friends by having Pot Luck dinners. To me there is nothing nicer than chosing a theme and then everyone bringing a dish to share; it far surpasses all the fancy dinners in overpriced restaurants for me! Did I ever tell you that I used to work in hospitality? Hahahaha, you'd never eat out again if I shared some of my stories!
So have I actually achieved anything in the last three weeks? I suppose I have.
Juiced 10kg's of lemons for freezing
making lemon cordial
Planted my raspberries, more broad beans, chickweed, 2 more lemon trees, fenugreek, red and white currents, cherry tomato seeds, a heap of alpine strawberries, three punnets of regular strawberries, harvesting more lettuce, kale and snowpeas than you can imagine. Mentally placing new beds in the garden for the asparagus (Still not arrived!!!!) and tomatoes.
Organised a new side gate to be built for the house
Ohhhh and I've read 'Radical Homemakers' after hearing about it on the DTE forum.
So, all in all I've actually been keeping up with Belinda's challenge, just haven't blogged about it.
Showing posts with label belinda's challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label belinda's challenge. Show all posts
Monday, 16 August 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Belinda's Challenge week 31 year 2
Yep, don't faint; I'm updating :)
Sowing seed or Planting: I've signed up for Cammo's Big Grow and was super excited on Thursday when a huge envelope arrived with my free seeds, a copy of the ABC's Organic Gardener and some handy information from the Organic association of Western Australia.
Sowing Direct Decided that I need far more broad beans than I currently have so I will be running down to the shop this morning to see if there's any seed left. Broad beans are like Kale for me; I can never have enough.
Harvest: Kale, kale kale kale. Snowpeas? Well someone's (or lots of little someone's) harvesting the snowpeas. I hear the giggles, squeals and see huge grins on little faces from my kitchen window. For me, this is what it's all about; instilling the love of gardening and the knowledge of how and where food grows, in my children. Other than trying to constantly improve my little patch of Earth what's the most important gift I can give and share for the future? Yes, knowledge of how to grow, an awareness of the seasons and a deep love for Mother Nature.
Working for the future: I've bartared my old fridge for the removal of three palm trees which were growing behind the house/in front of the pool. They were in such a position that when they reached their full potential they would have completely shaded out my solar panels. This bed is now being weeded and prepped for me to plant up several citrus trees. They will shade the pergola from the Westerly sun but never get high enough to shade the PvPs. Manure has been ordered and will be delivered on Monday.
Building Community: Wow, have I been doing that this week! I've had two Pot luck dinners with some wonderful people this week. Tuesday was Curry Night and Thursday was Thai. Being able to sit back, relax and just chill chatting with friends has done me the world of good. I love Pot Luck dinners :) This was also part of my frugal budgetting. Not going out to eat but entertaining at home.
Learn a new skill: On the list are Felting and Drumming. Not quite sure when I will get a chance to do either but they are on the list.
I have truly had an awesome week and although very tired I feel recharged and not so fragile.
Edited to add that it is one of the Chirpies birthdays this week and I am being really strict about the budget. We are keeping to my 'homemade or handmade' rule and so she will be getting a mermaid like this as her gift from The Husband and myself http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=95957 Isn't she just gorgeous!
Sowing seed or Planting: I've signed up for Cammo's Big Grow and was super excited on Thursday when a huge envelope arrived with my free seeds, a copy of the ABC's Organic Gardener and some handy information from the Organic association of Western Australia.
Sowing Direct Decided that I need far more broad beans than I currently have so I will be running down to the shop this morning to see if there's any seed left. Broad beans are like Kale for me; I can never have enough.
Harvest: Kale, kale kale kale. Snowpeas? Well someone's (or lots of little someone's) harvesting the snowpeas. I hear the giggles, squeals and see huge grins on little faces from my kitchen window. For me, this is what it's all about; instilling the love of gardening and the knowledge of how and where food grows, in my children. Other than trying to constantly improve my little patch of Earth what's the most important gift I can give and share for the future? Yes, knowledge of how to grow, an awareness of the seasons and a deep love for Mother Nature.
Working for the future: I've bartared my old fridge for the removal of three palm trees which were growing behind the house/in front of the pool. They were in such a position that when they reached their full potential they would have completely shaded out my solar panels. This bed is now being weeded and prepped for me to plant up several citrus trees. They will shade the pergola from the Westerly sun but never get high enough to shade the PvPs. Manure has been ordered and will be delivered on Monday.
Building Community: Wow, have I been doing that this week! I've had two Pot luck dinners with some wonderful people this week. Tuesday was Curry Night and Thursday was Thai. Being able to sit back, relax and just chill chatting with friends has done me the world of good. I love Pot Luck dinners :) This was also part of my frugal budgetting. Not going out to eat but entertaining at home.
Learn a new skill: On the list are Felting and Drumming. Not quite sure when I will get a chance to do either but they are on the list.
I have truly had an awesome week and although very tired I feel recharged and not so fragile.
Edited to add that it is one of the Chirpies birthdays this week and I am being really strict about the budget. We are keeping to my 'homemade or handmade' rule and so she will be getting a mermaid like this as her gift from The Husband and myself http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=95957 Isn't she just gorgeous!
Friday, 16 July 2010
Belinda's challenge July 2010
Well 'tis Friday and I'm ready to update after my long absence.
Sowing seed or Planting - More kale seed. I'm a firm believer that your family will never starve if you grow plenty of kale.
Sowing (direct) - bulbs 350 jonquils, hyacyths, gladies, anaemones around the herb spiral
Harvest- Kale. Picking enough for at least three meals a week for a family of six. Snowpeas are also coming in now, I have three lots of snow peas and two lots of peas so hopefully 'twill be a good supply. Parsley coming out of my ears, which is funny as we really don't eat parsley. Should start back on green smoothies again to use it up. Lots of lettuces and mustard greens as well.
Planning for The Future - Asparagus. I have the site almost prepared and am ordering 20 plants. Should be enough for us. The big thing which the Teen and myself decided last night was that all gifts for the next 12 months will be handmade. Some can be bought from LOCAL artisans/friends provided they are handmade. The majority will be made by our own little paws.
Working for the Future - Need to crank up my bottling. Overhaul the laundry in the next few months and sort out more storage.
Building Community - I'm friends with a group of women now who have a huge range of skills. Keeping it local is still the main focus of my life (The Husband still struggles with this one, in fact we just this minute had a 'discussion' about Big Corporations v's Hippies. Sigh.....
Learn a new Skill: Suggest one to me. I can knit, sew, cook from scratch, crochet, bottle, fillet a fish brilliantly and on occasion have even been known to dust. What do you think I should learn next?
Ok, am going to hit 'post' now, but as soon as The Teen wakes up I will add pics of the things I have made recently; gauntlets, a Granddad vest (was for the Husband but I forgot to use smaller needles with a thicker ply wool so it's mine now), and curtains for the alcove window.
Sowing seed or Planting - More kale seed. I'm a firm believer that your family will never starve if you grow plenty of kale.
Sowing (direct) - bulbs 350 jonquils, hyacyths, gladies, anaemones around the herb spiral
Harvest- Kale. Picking enough for at least three meals a week for a family of six. Snowpeas are also coming in now, I have three lots of snow peas and two lots of peas so hopefully 'twill be a good supply. Parsley coming out of my ears, which is funny as we really don't eat parsley. Should start back on green smoothies again to use it up. Lots of lettuces and mustard greens as well.
Planning for The Future - Asparagus. I have the site almost prepared and am ordering 20 plants. Should be enough for us. The big thing which the Teen and myself decided last night was that all gifts for the next 12 months will be handmade. Some can be bought from LOCAL artisans/friends provided they are handmade. The majority will be made by our own little paws.
Working for the Future - Need to crank up my bottling. Overhaul the laundry in the next few months and sort out more storage.
Building Community - I'm friends with a group of women now who have a huge range of skills. Keeping it local is still the main focus of my life (The Husband still struggles with this one, in fact we just this minute had a 'discussion' about Big Corporations v's Hippies. Sigh.....
Learn a new Skill: Suggest one to me. I can knit, sew, cook from scratch, crochet, bottle, fillet a fish brilliantly and on occasion have even been known to dust. What do you think I should learn next?
Ok, am going to hit 'post' now, but as soon as The Teen wakes up I will add pics of the things I have made recently; gauntlets, a Granddad vest (was for the Husband but I forgot to use smaller needles with a thicker ply wool so it's mine now), and curtains for the alcove window.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)