So Much To Do, it should have already been done..

Over the next month or so I am going to be busy.  I will not know from one week to the next what days I will be here.  Husband will be coming and going I know not when.

And tonight the son was out here and says he heard a fox.  He reckons it was just out the front of the yard.  I do not want a fox here if I am not going to be here.  Well, I don't want them here even if I am here but you all know what I mean.  I can't do much about it though as the main pen has too many chooks to be locked up overnight and though I am going to separate some of them into other smaller pens...I hope that the foxes don't come.

Because I don't know when I will or wont be here I have been trying to get the yard cleared up.  It's an ongoing process made harder because I do not put away after myself.   I have been spending the last couple of days mowing out the front, cleaning out chook sheds, mowing the front yard.  I have planted out dozens of onion seedlings given to me by a daughter.  Thanks L, they are in.  I have weeded and mulched, cut back and mulched, pulled out and will mulch that area today sometime.  I have more mowing to do.  Lots more but it wont all get done today.   My house needs some looking after and that is on todays list as well.  I need to cook up a big pot of soup, some to take some to freeze.  And I really want to get a bikeride in...I need to pack some warm clothes and some food that doesn't need refrigeration.  And a pile of books because where I am going doesn't have TV or computer.  How will I cope without my internet!  If I can see to read at night, there will be light!, I will read otherwise I'll be in bed early.  But so much to do before I go...

Best get out there and make a start though it is too wet to mow yet and too cold to garden...Might get that ride in then start.

Capsicum Jam.

We have heaps of Capsicums at the moment and I happened to see a few different recipes for Capsicum Jam so thought that I'd have a go at making some too.

The recipes that I had seen though had ingredients that I didn't have here or that I don't eat so I had to do what I always do and change them to use what I had.

I had capsicums. I had the vinegar and sugar.  I also had chokos and even though none of the recipes included those I figured they wouldn't hurt.

I chopped up the capsicums, maybe half a dozen red and a couple of green.  Most of the seeds were removed but not all.   I chopped up 2 peeled chokos.  If I was using small chokos I wouldn't worry about peeling them but these were quite big.  That was all put in a pot with a cup of vinegar and a cup of sugar and boiled until it thickened.  I didn't take notice of how long it took as it was on the wood stove and I just kept coming back to give it a stir now and then.

When I thought it was reduced enough I put it into sterilised jars and put the lids on. 
OK, something didn't work here, usually the lids pop down and they are good to store but this time no popping down.  Seeing as I only had 3 smallish jars though I am keeping it in the fridge and they will be gone within a few weeks.

I think it would make a nice dip if added to yoghurt.  It is nice on crackers, it's nice with cheese, it's nice stirred through soup, it's nice on meat...I like it.

I intend making some more but next time I will add onions and some chillies as well.  Because I have them here.  And that's what I do.

Pleased with life...

It's been raining here so everything I've planted so far is growing really well.  Coupled with some sunny days and we have even had a couple of feeds of fresh mushrooms from out in the cow paddock.

I have a few peas that haven't come up so will stick some more in sometime over the next few days.  I pulled some caterpillars off a couple of the broccoli seedlings.  I was a bit disappointed with that as I thought the netting I have over the garden would protect the plants.  Apparently not so I may have to get out the old net curtains that I sometimes use.  *Millions* of lettuce have come up so I will need to shift heaps of those.

Slaters have built up again so I plan on taking the camp stove out there and boiling water to pour over them.  I have set up food stations for them with choko leaves and they are gathering under those and munching on them so if I keep the leaves up in that place I will then be able to pour the boiling water on them.  Quick, easy and saves on having to use poisons.

The wet weather is bringing snails and slugs out so I am patrolling for those most mornings. When I think about it.   There aren't too many so they should be easy to get rid of.  I have a rat living somewhere among he choko vine.  I have seen it and am finding gnawed on chokos on the ground.  I have traps set but haven't caught anything yet.

Chokos are in full production so I will make some bread and butter pickles using those instead of cucumber.  Capsicums and chillies are the same.  I made some Capsicum jam last week, just a small amount to test and taste.  It turned out OK so will make some more but add *something* else to give it a tad more flavour.   I have run out of Sweet Chilli Sauce too so will try my hand at that.  Next time the fire is going which will probably be next week sometime. 

Not much else is happening.  The chooks aren't laying much, maybe it's the cold, maybe there are too many of them, maybe they are laying but in a secret nest...Hubby did find one of those in the Isa pen.  Oops! 
We have too many roosters again so a job for the husband over the next couple of weeks.  I really think I should be able to do this but I know I couldn't chop the head off of a live chook.  If I could use the gun better that might be a way but really, if he didn't do it I wouldn't be eating chook.

I have started, again, at trying to get fitter by moving more often.  Going OK with that so far but am a long way from where I want to be.  Closer than a few weeks ago but not as close as I will be next week!

And I have a few *adventures* in mind so they will have to be fit in somewhere...I might have to spend less time on this thing!

All in all though, life is pretty good and the things that aren't are my own fault and totally fixable by me.  Who needs more than that.

April Veg.

Another month has passed and I'm pleased to say that we didn't buy many fruit or vegetables.  We are eating  carrots, onion and potato that I bought ages ago so I do need to get better at growing those things but really I'm not too fussed if I need to buy them again.

We're adding chokos and eggplant to last months list of potato, capsicum, onion, chilli, sweet potato, silverbeet, lettuce, butternut pumpkin.    I have had my first taste of Jerusalem artichokes.  Not bad.  Very knobbly so not sure how you're suposed to peel them so I just washed them and threw them in with all the other veg.  They are something I will need to try different ways to see what we like.

Fruit we ate this month was mainly apples.  We did get a couple of watermelon, not the best but OK.  Too late in the year though, they took forever to grow and get ripe so not sure what we did wrong with them.  We have had 1 bunch of bananas.  They broke off the *tree* so we ripened them in the shed.  They were small but nice.  There are still another half dozen or so out there but not ready to pick yet.  I've had a few Indian guavas, they are OK.  Not something I would ever buy but OK if I am out there and there is one handy.  Strawberries are still growing but not many, maybe a couple of handfuls each week.  A few passionfruit.

Still getting eggs though the chooks aren't laying much.  There are way too many out there and some need to go as they are costing more than they are giving.

I have finally got some new plants and seeds in but we will be eating the same things during May as we ate diring April.  That's Ok, we haven't gone hungry yet and I grow what we like so there shouldn't be too many complaints.

Seeds Are In.

I have some seeds and plants in the ground.  How good am I!!  OK, I know I haven't done anything more than I should be doing every week anyway but I like to make a big deal of the little things I do.

Daughter bought some Broccoli and Cauliflower seedlings for me and some Spinach seeds.  They are all in.  I had seeds for carrots, lettuce, beetroot, snowpeas, celery, so they are in.   I transplanted a pot of Sweet Potato that wasn't doing anything into a big tank, transplanted some Strawberries that were getting too clumpy...what else...Put some Garlic in.  And some, I think garlic chives but am not sure.  I found them in a cup on the table after a daughter left so am thinking she gave them to me but forgot to say.  They are in a pot so I can keep an eye on them and they don't get lost as there is only a few of them.

I didn't put the potatoes in soon enough so half got eaten by the bandicoot.  The rest is now in, some in a fridge garden and some in the ground.

That's about it but at least it is done.  It's not a big job, it's not hard, it's not rocket science so I have no idea why I don't just get out and do more more often. 

I have all the seeds still inside where they don't go so need to put them away.  That will take, oh, 2minutes, maybe.  It should have been done 5 days ago!  Might go do it now 'cause I know I'll swear a bit if the mouses get them.

Good to see others are planting things too.  I've never grown parsnips or swedes or radish...lots of things really, because we don't eat them but I sometimes think I should try different stuff now and then.  I did put in some Jerusalem Artichokes last year, they are a new thing for us.  I'm pretty happy with how they are so should try other stuff as well.  Should probably get everything that we do eat in first, that would be a great start.  Onions come to mind.  Will do those this weekend sometime.  And I have Kale seeds, I might get some of them in too.

Off to do those seeds

I Didn't Get Eaten.

I know you'll all be pleased to hear that the wall chewing rat didn't get me.  I didn't hear it last night either so I'm thinking it found another way out.  That wouldn't be hard, once daylight hit the house little rattie would have seen lots of ways out. 

I was laying in bed last night though and heard the cat munching on his bickies.  Listened a bit more because it seemed louder that usual...His bowl was being moved across the floor and I could hear the bucket where we keep his biscuits being knocked.  OK, not Rufas.  We have had a stray hanging around so I turned a torch on and heard the catflap flap.  Heard it flap again not long after then heard the bowl move.  Then the bucket...I quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed out into the living area.  Turned the torch on, ready to yell at the stray cat but it wasn't that.  There was a bandicoot sitting there looking at me.  So cute.  It must have come around to the back of the house and through the doggie door to get to the biscuits.  I asked him what he thought he was doing but he didn't answer, he just turned around and went out the flap into the dark night.

I went back to bed only to wake up to more noises, this time out on the front verandah.  *Something* was on the table out there.  This morning a kids chair was turned over and stuff I had on the table was moved and the potatoes and peelings that I had out there waiting to be planted had been eaten.  Not all of them but at least half of what I had there.  So either this bandicoot can jump onto a small chair then a bin then the table or the stray cat eats potatoes and knocks chairs over for no reason.  Either way I need to start making sure that everything that I want to be safe is put into containers with lids or planted when it should be.  I know the bandicoot eats the chookfood from the bucket if I leave it out in the open so I really need to do better with this.

I will have to start putting the cats food away at night as well.  I'm sure he can wait until breakfast for a meal and it might stop a few mice as well.  It might actually get him to chase down some of the mice that are still here so that will kill 2 birds with 1 stone.  Or 2 mice with 1 cat.  haha, I am so funny!

Rats!

There is one in my wall and it is trying to chew through so it can eat  me. 

Well, there is what we are pretty sure is a rat and we can hear it munching on the wall.  Our internal walls are thin panneling so it wont take long if it keeps going the way it is and then it will be able to get on the bench and from there it is a short jump to the other bench then a shorter one to me.  

Husband has gone to bed and left me to be attacked by the rat.  I'm sure that is what he has done.  He is there in bed and I am here and the rat gnawing is getting louder and more frantic sounding.  I want to go to bed but am worried that if I am not here to keep banging on the wall to stop him for a bit that he will get me too soon.

If it does get through the cat might get it but the cats mouse catching record isn't all that great so I might wake up in the middle of the night with a rat munching on me toes.and seeing as me toe bone is connected to me leg bone and me leg bone is connected...If I'm not here over in the next couple of days then you'll know it got me.

Saturday Morning Musings.

OK, my post page has changed without me wanting it to...I hate that!

Just popping in to report what some will have guessed, my Friday planting plan didn't happen.
Apparently I had arranged to go over to the zoo with daughter and grandaughter...I admit I did arrange this but forgot until she rang to ask about which car we'd take.  Thank goodness she did otherwise I wouldn't have been anywhere near ready to go when she got here.  As it was she was late and I was still putting things in the car.  We had a lovely day out though and will do it again.  I think it will end up being a regular school holiday outing.  The bleedin' penquins were not on display again though, this was the third time that I have been there and not been able to see them and they are one of my favorites.  Maybe next time...

 Another daughter rang this morning saying she was going to be buying seedlings and did I want some so I have asked her to buy me any seedlings she thinks I should plant.  It will be a surprise and will give me good reason to get out and plant something.  As  it was I had forgotten to call in get the Spinache seedlings on Thursday.  So tomorrow will be a planting day.

I have the Really Really Free Markets on this afternoon and have been clearing out some cupboards so have a few bags to take in to them. 

I fixed the fence this morning so the young chooks can no longer get out and go awandering.  I wired some chicken wire to the bottom of the ringlot wire fence so that should keep them in.  It better because if it doesn't I wont be able to let them out in the paddock and they will be cooped up in a small pen.

Best be off, I have to pick some chokos to take to the markets this afternoon.  I have heaps if anyone wants any.

Planting Plans.

I've not done anything that I planned to, not sure why.  I hurt but I always hurt so shouldn't be using that as an excuse and it's really not a good reason.  Afterall, it's not hard to stick a seed into the ground.

I have cleaned up an area where I can put some seedtrays and the chooks can't get to it as long as I keep their gate shut properly.  It's a good area as it is walked through every day.  It has water, shade during summer, a high area for putting the trays on up out of the way of anything.  I used to use it for growing seedlings but stopped as I was letting the chickens into this area but I've decided not to do that again so it will be just right. 

I have more than enough seeds to plant but will call into Mitre 10 tomorrow and see if they have any Spinach seedlings.  That's about all I will need to buy. 

I'm not home tomorrow but Friday will be a nice day to get some things in.  I'm busy with the Really Really Free Markets on Saturday but Sunday might get some more done.

Off to sort some more seeds.

Get Some Seeds In...

We are nearly halfway through April and I have not put anything new in the ground for weeks, probably closer to months...This will change as from this weekend.  I know, it should be from today but today I have other stuff to do.  Yep that's right, I can't even manage 10minutes to bung in a few seeds...
What a load of ****   Of course I have 10 spare minutes.  I've been on this thing for nearly an hour already, that would have seen a lot of seeds planted...if it wasn't too dark outside to see...

Today I plan on getting a seed planting area sorted.  Somewhere that the chooks and chickens can't get to that is close to where I am passing so it doesn't get forgotton as has happened too often up to now.   I will get the seeds sorted and work out what I need...I know I have another heap of seeds somewhere but cannot find them so will have a proper look for them.   I'm not sure if I have any seedraising mix left so might have to put something together as I am too tight to go and buy anything.   Hmmm  Tight is such a negative word and as I want to be sustainable in how I plant and grow things buying stuff in is not in my plans.  It's not that I am *tight* as such, it's that I want to be self sufficient with the gardens.   I want everything to stay here and come from here, I don't want to buy fertilizers or soil or compost etc.  It all has to come from this place not some place miles and miles away.

Ten things planted by the end of the month sounds good but I can't think of 10 things that I have or want...so I'll say 6.  I will get at least 6 different things in the ground or in seedtrays by the end of the month.  That sounds more doable for me.  I hope I can find 6 things that we like to eat...

I will buy in seedlings if I have to ...I'm thinking I don't have any Spinach seeds left so I won't feel too bad about buying seedlings if I need to but don't know where from as I have no plans on going to any shops.  Might have to call in somewhere next Thursday.

So there's the plan.  What have you, or will you, plant this month?