Planting and Growing, Mending and Fast Dinner

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PLANTING and GROWING

Planted some Heirloom Tomato Seeds, but will only know which ones I’ve put in when they start producing tomatoes.Some went into a pot where they will grow and some went into faux mini greenhouses, actually lidded strawberry punnets. Now I wait! Also monitoring tomatoes on a self seeded tomato bush, hoping they will go red.

REPAIRING

For years I have kept embroidery hoops and floss, darning mushrooms, cottons and threads, bobbins, lace and other sewing notions in this picnic basket. I pulled it out of the cupboard looking for some tape I needed to mend something and noticed the wicker was damaged. I like to repair things, if possible, as soon as I notice they are broken.

There were two areas requiring attention; the handle and a loop on the lid. I used contact cement to glue the pieces, some masking tape to keep the mended loop secure and my very favourite tool for so many jobs, pegs, on the handle. Pegs are so useful for holding things in place while the glue dries!

So I mended the broken pieces and left them to set while I foraged through the contents of the basket. Now all the spare buttons are in colour coded jars, the sewing threads are upstairs with the machine, and the embroidery threads are all together in a ziplock bag.

I gently wound the wicker back around the rest of the loop, glued it with contact cement and taped it with masking tape until it was dry. Job done!

Mending the handle was more difficult as some of the wicker wound around the frame was missing. I have secured both loose ends and will look for a small piece to glue into the gap.

Also mended the turned edge of this sheet. These sheets are quite old and regularly used and I have repaired the edges often. This time the cotton has just worn through, so I decided to sew cotton tape over the worn out strip. Sometimes I have to hand stitch the lace, sometimes cover a worn piece with tape and sometimes I do a little bit of both. I’ll keep mending this sheet until I can’t fix it anymore and I suppose then I’ll use it for something else!

PRETTY LAVENDER ENVELOPES

These adorable paper envelopes are based on a design from Diana’s dreamfactory (here) . Diana’s envelopes are more ornately aged and coloured. I made the mid-sized envelopes from her download . When they were finished I filled them with dried lavender and gave them to friends. I thought they could be placed under pillows and the scent of lavender might encourage sleep. So many of my friends struggle to get to sleep and stay asleep. ( More about the naturally dyed, lavender filled hearts here https://www.makecookgrow.com/2019/08/making-natural-dyes-and-lavender-hearts/)

Printed the template, speckled them with strong coffee, left them to dry. I used an old toothbrush and very strong instant coffee to “splatter” the paper. I diluted the coffee when the first lots had dried on the paper and added lighted spots.

Using just my finger I smudged some of the bigger blobs of coffee.

I “aged” half of the envelopes and left the others plain as I wanted to use them to line the envelopes. Glued an aged envelope and a plain envelope together when I had cut them all out. Trimmed any pieces which didn’t match exactly. Put them carefully under a heavy book until they dried. This resulted in flat, smooth envelopes

Glued each envelope and left them to dry. Gently shook some dried lavender into each envelope, sealed them, gave them to friends. They smell very pretty and were fun to make. I really enjoy Diana’s blog and her craft activities.

FAST DINNER

Quick Vegetable Stir-Fry ( to use up all the vegies before I go shopping.) The bok choy is going to seed, and I had plenty of celery ready to pick. I was making dinner for two people but could easily add more vegetables for more people.

I picked, washed and cut up the celery and bok choy. Sliced an onion and 3 cloves of garlic and browned them slightly in 1 tbspn olive oil. Added the Dutch carrots, some bits of broccoli, cauliflower and a few green beans which were in the fridge. While they cooked I whisked 3 tbspn brown sugar, ¼ cp chicken stock, ¼ cp soy sauce (low salt) and 1 tbspn cornstarch. ( I didn’t add the thickening this time, but usually do.) Move the cooking vegetables frequently so they cook but not burn. Add the mixed sugar, stock, soy sauce and cornflour then pour over the now cooked vegetables. Give it a minute to thicken, then serve. This also works with baby corn, mushrooms and snow peas. This time I added slithers of steak but chicken goes well, too.

Wednesday 8th of September was TEDDY BEAR DAY. A favourite toy for many children and adults, too, teddy bears evolved about 118 years ago. Apparently, Theodore Roosevelt, the then president of the United States, refused to shoot a bear cub when he was out hunting.

A store owner in New York, inspired by a popular cartoon published after the event, created a bear and wrote to Roosevelt asking if he could name the toy after him. Teddy bears were born! Their popularity continues today.

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What’s in the Box, The Winter Garden, Mussels and a Book Review

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MATTRESS IN A BOX

We needed a new mattress and went to the bed shop to start looking at what was available. We’d done some online research and knew the level of support we’d prefer. The sales lady was lovely and showed us two suitable mattresses and we lay on both. They were very comfortable.

We went away to consider our options. Both mattresses recommended were expensive, but really about the price we’d expected from our research. Later that evening my husband was looking at information about the two recommended brands and came across a Choice ( consumer testing and recommendation publication) site which had assessed a range of Mattress in a Box products.

They rated very well. He looked at user reviews, most of which were very good, too. We started looking at what was available and decided we would try one! The obvious advantage was the price difference for a mattress with similar springs, latex, memory foam and other features. We’d been looking at the mattresses with bases costing $1800 and $2500. The boxed mattress delivered was a fifth of the cost of most expensive mattress.

The box finally arrived. We expected it to come within five days. We ordered 3rd of July, it arrived 24th of July after many, many texts and phone calls.

The compressed mattress is well protected and was clean and fresh. We rolled it out on the floor and left it to settle.

Wheezing and sighing, the mattress quickly decompressed and puffed up into a proper shape.

The literature which came with the mattress recommended leaving it 24 hours to fully expand. We have been unable to register the mattress to activate the warranty as the site doesn’t work. I’ll try scanning the Q code and see what happens.

After 24 hours it looked like a regular mattress. We re-used our previous base. The mattresses we looked at in the bed shop were pairs, that is a base and mattress.

The first tester is still assessing the comfort and suitability of the mattress. We will sleep on it tonight.

General Comments.

This is a very economical mattress by comparison but we could find no reviews from people who had slept on them for more than four years. We are happy to wait and see.

We ordered online and could only text the company representative. This became very frustrating as delivery was such a problem. Expected within days it actually took 21 days and that eventually involved daily texts and promises about delivery on Monday 13th, then Tuesday 14th, then “later in the week” so stayed at home Thursday and Friday. No mattress. Started texting again on Monday, then Tuesday 21st at which point we were sent a tracking number. The freight company didn’t recognise the number and it took A LOT of time and effort for them to find the box. It sat at their depot until Friday 24th July when it was delivered mid-morning. We were enormously inconvenienced by staying home waiting for delivery which failed to eventuate, day after day.

The mattresses we looked at in the bed shop were made in Australia. The mattress we bought gave no country of origin information online but is made in China.

CV-19 is very well controlled in Western Australia but we didn’t want to go into the bed shop and lie on mattresses. The pillows supplied were covered in protective sheets for our use but we’d rather avoid doing this again at this time.

THE WINTER GARDEN

The self seeded tomato was covered in flowers and I was very pleased to see some grow into fruit. I don’t know if they will mature into red tomatoes, but I have my fingers crossed.

The arum lily has begun to bloom, too. These are considered a weed in Western Australia but I really like the large, lush green leaves and the beautiful white bloom. I grow them in a garden bed where they can’t escape! I really like to cut them and bring them indoors, too, but also enjoy looking at them out of the window.

WINTER EATING: MUSSELS

Fresh and available here in winter, these are local Leeuwin Coast mussels. I prefer to eat them at home because I always make such a mess prising those tiny delicious morsels of meat from the shell. The little bowls of lemon scented water accompanying mussels in restaurants can’t compete with the mess I make enjoying my seasonal feast, so I eat them in the privacy of my own home!

I make simple sauces to enjoy with the mussels. This year I made a cooking broth from onion, garlic, tomato, white wine, parsley and tinned tomatoes.

Cook the mussels until the bivalve pops open. That means they are cooked. Discard any shells that don’t open, ladle some into a bowl, add a few slices of toasted sourdough ( or any other bread) and another sprinkle of parsley and enjoy.

The recipe is available here. https://www.google.co/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=delish+recipe+mussels+in+tomato+and+garlic

READING

I know botanical art is not of interest to everyone and hesitated to review this book which I enjoyed so much. Ellis Rowan was a successful, fearless and very talented artist who thrived during a period when most respected artist were male. She lived her life on her own terms and created accurate paintings of botanical subjects from many countries but particularly Australia. Her works are still recognised as accurate representations of Australia’s flora in the 1800s. Strong and determined, she succeeded against the odds.

Christine Norton-Evans book about the Australian botanical painter, Ellis Rowan called ELLIS ROWAN: A LIFE IN PICTURES is an amazing account of a remarkable botanical artist and her astounding 50 years of adventure and achievement. This resulted in more than 3 000 works now in private collections and the National Library.

Rowan traveled the world, painting and exploring, often alone, and becoming engaged in 1873 didn’t slow her down. She was known for her glamorous and immaculate grooming but mostly for her botanically accurate representations. Her works depict accurate plants and colours. She generally painted water colours but in later years also used oils.

Cluster fig (Ficus racemosa )

This is the story of an energetic, gifted and determined artist who thrived in a time when males dominated the artistic world. I bought it after reading a review and began flicking through, really enjoying the paintings but then went back and read it properly. It is a great read!

Plastic Free July RECYCLE/REDUCE/REUSE

The old mattress was picked up by a company who recycle all the components. It cost $50 and all work is done in a sheltered workshop. Check options online.

Coffee pods can be recycled by the company who manufactures them. Nespresso have their own collection points and other brands have similar arrangements. Look online for options near you. Percolators, plungers and cafeteria coffee makers (pots used on a hotplate) result in grounds which can be disposed of in the garden or bin.

Please let me know if you have any clever tips.

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Making, Cooking, Growing and Reading

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MAKING

SUPER EASY, SUPER FAST BOOKMARKS. I read a lot and I’m often searching for a bookmark. I have so many but I still misplace them. I read mostly books from the library and the one I’m reading at the moment suggests bookmarks were few and few between in the previous readers life, too, as annoyingly, every 40 or so pages, the edge of the page has been folded over!

So I was thinking about bookmarks. I wanted something bright so it’s easily found, cheap so it’s not too sad if it goes missing, quick to make and clearly visible in the book. These book marks also have the advantage of being stored on the book, for instance slipped over the back cover, while you’re reading, so less chance of it being lost.

I save the coloured envelopes birthday cards come in as they’re such pretty colours. Of course, I don’t really have a use for them, so I had lots to choose from when I decided to make these bookmarks.

You need

coloured envelopes or paper to fold and glue like the corner of envelope
glue
pencil and eraser
scissors
feltpen, Sharpie or similar if you’re making the slice of watermelon

For sheer simplicity I chose to make hearts and slices of watermelon. I’m planning to make these as little treats for the members of my bookclub and will use similar designs.

I drew half a heart shape on a folded piece of scrap paper and cut it out. Flattened it and traced it onto the corner of an envelope. Make sure it’s on the glued up corner, not the flap for sealing!

Cut on your pencil line, slip over the page of your book, close the book. Page saved by a secure and attractive bookmark.

To make the slice of watermelon, cut a curved piece the size of your completed bookmark from scrap paper. Trace the curve onto the envelope and cut. Use the same scrap piece to cut a white piece and glue it onto the green base. Use the curved scrap again to cut a red piece and glue it on. I used a Sharpie to draw seeds randomly on the red part. Done!

COOKING

After a brief but happy dalliance with bought rye bread, I “woke” up my starter/mother and made my own loaf. Not rye this time, apart from the starter. I used Premium White Bread Making flour simply because it was easier to get out of the cupboard where the bulk flours are stored!

It was so cold the morning I began this process I knew the starter wouldn’t get bubbly and look puffy without artificial warmth. Usually I put it on the table and the sun coming through the French doors is enough to get it started. Not this morning! It was cold and bleak and there was no warmth in the sun. This is the first time I have used the PROVING setting on the oven. I was really pleased with how well the starter and then later the dough reacted to this setting.

This is the white sourdough loaf I made and we enjoyed.

Also made an Egg and Bacon Pie. So easy and delicious. Brown 250gm of bacon in a pan with a splash of oil. Remove to a plate then brown a finely chopped leek. I had to add some extra oil to cook the leek. Spread this in a glass dish lined with baking paper. (So much easier to clean up!) Then whisk six large eggs until frothy, add 1/4 cup of water, or milk, whisk again. Pour over the bacon and leek. Grind some pepper over it. Put in 165° fan forced oven for 35 minutes, or until the middle is set. Serves 4-6. We like to eat it cold.

I have made this with bacon and mushroom and it is lovely, too. If I’m cutting it up for a picnic or sharing as part of a spread, I bake it in a square or rectangular dish.

GROWING

The white camellia suffered enormous damage three weeks ago when we had storms and heavy rain. The white flowers had brown marks around the edges of the petals and didn’t really open properly. Luckily, it’s blooming happily again. As a little boost I had watered a tray of ash in around the roots.

Each year my mother and I order tulips from the same grower. These are the last of my crop.

My Mother lives further south than us and her tulips are only just beginning to bloom.

READING

A Theatre for Dreamers

A THEATRE FOR DREAMERS by Polly Samson

This is the imagined life of Australian author and columnist Charmain Clift and her husband, George Johnston during the time they spent living on Hydra during 1955-1964. They settled in cheap and sunny Hydra with their three children, where Clift scandalised the locals by wearing trousers and drinking in bars.

On the surface, they live an idyllic life. They attract other creative types, such as Canadian Leonard Cohen, who soon partners with the abandoned Norwegian, Marianne Ihlen. Racked with artistic doubts, rejections or requests for editing from publishers and criticism from other authors, this is a tense society.

Clift is the centre of the cosmopolitan society of international bohemians in Hydra, helping and compassionate and always resentful of time stolen from her own writing career, especially by her ill, heavy drinking husband, a once famous war correspondent. He later was best known for his book, My Brother Jack.

Focusing on the days before serious drug use was the norm in Hydra, this small community buzzed with sexual jealousies, alcohol and creative souls who often didn’t meet their own expectations. We learn a little about the extremely tolerant Greek population around them, but mostly, this story is told by a minor player, Erica, the daughter of Clift’s neighbour when she lived in London. She sets off for Hydra with her brother and her boyfriend when her mother dies and she receives a copy of Clift’s book, The Lotus Eaters.

This well researched book is an imagined account of the halcyon days in Hydra and I found it fascinating. It was from a time I didn’t really know, but about characters I did know of, and the descriptions of Hydra were enticing. I thought this was a great read and would recommend it.

The other book I have been reading is THE GIRL WHO READS ON THE METRO by Christine Foret-Fleury.

Reviews describe this book as a “gem”, a “joy” and a “delight”. Juliette, our main protagonist, leaves her dull job in a real estate agency and takes over the book business of a mysterious character. Her job is to follow strangers and observe their behaviour to decide the perfect book for them. Juliette believes in the power of books to change peoples’ live.

This whimsical book, part literary reference and part fairy tale was a quick and easy read and really didn’t have much of a story! I think the whole point was showing the power of the written word to change how people feel. The online reviews are mixed, but the book has been translated into English due to its popularity in France. You decide! I’ve gone back to reading an Australian murder series.

We’re still in PLASTIC FREE JULY so please consider ways you can reduce your use of plastics. Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder of Plastic Free July reminds us that only 9% of all plastics are recycled and only 0.9% are recycled more than once. Plastics don’t actually break down completely, they simply become smaller and smaller, but never disappear.

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Easy Changes For Plastic Free July

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CHOOSE TO REFUSE SINGLE USE PLASTIC

clear plastic water bottles

We all need to work towards eliminating single use plastics. Plastic itself is a great and useful product but should be made from recyclable materials and used over and over. Single use plastics are releasing toxins from landfill and choking our waterways and oceans.

Plastic has been found in almost every food we eat. Recent Italian research, reported in Environmental Research claims microplastics are being absorbed into fruit and vegetables. Fruit typically has older root systems than vegetables and are seen to absorb more plastic particles.

We need to adopt alternatives to plastic. I have listed a few beginner swaps to reduce the plastic in your life.

EASY STEPS TO USE LESS PLASTIC

Here are some easy ideas to replace your single use plastics.

1. Find replacements for cling wrap. Use glass jars or glass containers with lids that are strong and suitable for frequent use. Silicone, stretchy covers seal dishes well. I bought some expensive silicone covers which were stiff and a bit of a struggle to stretch over bowls but have lasted a long time. I also bought some cheaper ones which were softer and easier to use but have stretched out of shape. Lesson learnt.

Waxed fabric wraps are also popular and can go in the compost when they wear out. I could never get them to stay securely on things in the fridge. They never sealed well. I also use clear shower caps on large bowls I use for bread making. My mother uses saucers to cover bowls in the fridge.

2. Buy a “keep” cup, a reusable covered cup you can get filled at your coffee shop, but this might not work during the CV-19 pandemic. You’ll probably have to ask when you order. A set of reusable cutlery is handy, too. Ours is in a fabric roll I made. It is light and compact.

3. Try buying everyday staples from bulk supply shops. You can fill your own glass jars with flour, sugar, oatmeal pulses and many other products. I can buy flour in bulk from a bread making supply shop.

4. Is your soap wrapped in plastic? There’s so many paper wrapped or not wrapped at all bars of soap available. Unfortunately, I prefer liquid soap at the basin, so buy it in bulk in recyclable bottles which I decant into old pump bottles. I’ve tried making my own which was not a success and have found a bulk supplier nearby so will go there when I’ve used up my supply.

5. Apart from taking your own bag shopping, take small, light (netting) bags for buying loose fruit and vegetables. We can buy F&V in little, reusable thick paper bags but if I suddenly see something I need and don’t have a bag I get one from the mushroom area where they always offer paper bags.

6. Shopping online was great during isolation but a real problem when things arrived in layers and layers of plastic. I ordered three clothing items from the same company and they arrived in three individual bags in two very big, thick plastic bags. I have commented in the customer satisfaction email they later sent, but no response, yet.

7. If you subscribe to magazines which arrive in the post, ask when you order if they are posted in paper or compostable, eco- friendly wrappers. Two of my subscription magazines from overseas are posted in big paper envelopes and they arrive safely every month. Another comes in an eco- friendly, 100% compostable wrapper with the message “Please dispose of it in your home compost bin, food waste caddy or green bin.” My Australian magazines come in plastic, but I’m hopeful this will change.

8. Check if online to see if your tea bags are plastic free. Many brands still seal the bag with a plastic product. Apart from the problem with the plastic entering the environment, some chemicals can leach into liquids at high temperatures.

After being introduced to a lovely fruit infusion at my local cafe ( I’d already had two double espressos) I’m ordering it as loose leaves and will make it in a teapot, just like they do!

7. Reduce the number of cleaning products bought in plastic bottles. Some time ago I started making and using MIRACLE SPRAY ( formula freely available online) I have decided it works better than the range of products I used to buy and use. I make several litres at a time and decant it into old spray bottles which I will replace with glass when they become brittle. It smells fresh, costs very little and does a good job. It is not recommended for use on granite and marble so I use detergent and hot water to wipe down those areas. I also use old clothes as cleaning cloths which I wash and reuse. Mine are old sheets and clothes but I’ve seen really fancy ones on blogs where the clothes are cut into perfect squares, hemmed and folded neatly into pretty piles.

8. Some butchers will pack your meat into your own containers. Just ask. Nearly all bakeries will wrap your bread in tissues and put your pastries in cardboard boxes or trays. Ask if you can buy milk in glass bottles.

9. Takeaway food is a dilemma. So much of it comes in polystyrene or plastic boxes with plastic cutlery. Pizza comes in a recyclable box which goes in your compost or recycling bin . Pizza can be eaten with your fingers. Just saying!

Pizza in cardboard good, plastic drink bottle not so good.

10. I’ve reused some old plastic containers many times. For example, the plastic punnet some avocados came in is regularly used as a seedling box. I stand used toilet rolls in it, use a funnel ( made from rolled up scrap paper) to pour in seedling mix, pressed down to compact the soil, then poke the seeds into it. I spray the seed tubes and move them around indoors or in a sheltered area so they get good winter sun exposure. This means they’re ready to go at the end of winter.

I use a dibbler to make a hole where I am going to plant the seedling, put the roll in and water as usual. By the time the seeds are ready to be planted out the cardboard is quite mushy and already disintegrating.

Planted tomato seeds and some sage seeds. I really like sage with chicken but my bush became woody and died, so I am replacing it.

Another way to get lots of “no plastic” hints is to ask your grandparents or elderly friends or neighbours for hints! Eco warriors before the concept existed, older people managed without home delivered takeaway, plastic packaging and huge super markets.

Please share your hints for minimizing the single use plastic in your life!

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How to Keep White Bed Linen White, Cooking, Growing and a Book Review

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I really like white bed linen. It always feels fresh and clean, both cool in summer and cocooning in winter. I buy white, cotton, good quality sheet sets. So far both sets we use have lasted over 12 years, although I have had to mend the lace edging on one set.

Love the embroidered bees on these white sheets.

This beautiful set of sheets needs occasional mending to maintain the lace edging. As a new puppy, Louis somehow got onto the bed and chewed about 30cm of the lace edging. He found it very satisfying, I didn’t find mending it very satisfying at all.

We also have a white quilt cover. I throw a cream wool blanket over the quilt cover during the day. The sunlight and the dog have slowly caused the cover to become more cream than white, despite the protective cover.

Time for a whitening treatment. I didn’t want to use bleach because the chlorine component in bleach reacts with protein stains and causes discolouring. Protein stains are typically sweat, blood, vomit, egg and other foods. The chlorine causes these stains to yellow. After lots of research I settled on using Borax. I bought some at the supermarket.

HOW TO WHITEN BED LINEN

I wiped the laundry trough to ensure it was clean. Then I dissolved ½ a cup of Borax in very hot water before adding the quilt cover. I used a copper stick to agitate the cover and returned to do this every now and then. After four hours I put the wrung out cover in the washing machine with a scoop of my usual washing machine powder and put it on a long, hot wash.

This is the copper stick or washing dolly. It was originally used to agitate washing in the copper, a big copper tub over a fire. Then the stick would be used to “hook” the washing out to put through the wringer/mangle to remove as much water as possible, before rinsing or hanging to dry. We didn’t have electricity until I was 12 and my mother relied on the copper to do the laundry. My copper stick is actually a cut down broom handle with the ends slightly rounded. I am surprised how often I use it to stir things soaking in the trough.

Borax from Woolworths 500gm $4.10. The tub has a list of instructions and cautions to follow when using this product.

When the cycle finished I hung the cover on the line. Line drying, if the weather permits, always smells fresher. I like ironed pillow cases and the decorative edges on the top sheet but didn’t bother ironing the cover. Back on the bed. White, fresh and crisp. Covered with a wool blanket to protect the cover from the wet weather dog. A good result.

This treatment would work equally well on stained white shirts, sporting uniforms, other bed linen, tea towels and bath towels. I wish I’d known how easy it is to restore stained white fabrics when I was washing and ironing so many business shirts and school shirts every week. I think almost anything white would respond well.

cooking

Last week I made slow cooker beef bourguignon as a way of using some tough pieces of steak. This week I found we still had three pieces of that tough steak which was not quite enough for two meals, so when I made it I added a tin of cannellini beans. They bulked up the stew and tasted very good. Perfect dinner for wet and windy nights.

growing

These are vegetables grown from scraps. When I cut off the end of the celery and bok choy to use them I put the bases in water until they developed roots and then planted them. They are growing well. Something else likes them, too, and has nibbled at the leaves of the bok choy. A neighbour simply puts the ends in soil and her celery plants are impressive. I’ll try this next time.

At least 13 years ago I planted the ends of spring onions in a pot and they have thrived ever since. I have a year round supply of spring onions just outside the laundry door. Spring onions are used frequently in Asian cooking, but I add then to so many things. A quick favourite is an omelette with eggs, spring onions and a grating of strong cheese. Add a chopped tomato if I’ve got one. Almost instant food.

Versatile spring onions.

And the first of the tulips.

reading

This is another library book I reserved during isolation and now it has arrived. It is wonderful to have access to the library again.

Anne Tyler writes about the ordinary, the everyday. She manages to portray those same characters with depth and compassion.

Micah never really understands or connects with any of his girlfriends, although at 44 he feels too old to call them girlfriends. He works, he occasionally visits his large, chaotic family but mostly he lives a simple life, following his own strict schedule. He’s puzzled by how things have turned out, but an encounter with an old girlfriend makes him think, then act. Love a happy ending!

A beautifully told story from this brilliant story teller. Really enjoyed it.

The title refers to Micah refusing to wear his glasses on his morning runs and mistaking an advertising sign on the footpath for a redhead at the side of the road. This hints at how he often sees things a bit differently.

The beginning of July marks PLASTIC FREE JULY. The tagline this year is CHOOSE TO REFUSE SINGLE USE PLASTIC. Lots more information at PLASTICFREEJULY.ORG. You are encouraged to avoid waste, protect the ocean and sign up to be part of the solution.

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Making, Cooking and Growing in Changing Times

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MAKING

Have you been busy crafting? There’s an amazing range of craft tutorials online and you can master so many useful and entertaining skills. I’ve been watching painting tutorials which have been very interesting but a bit intimidating, too. My favourite painting tutorials are from The Rijksmuseum. Search Youtube for a range of demonstrations. I was really inspired by the Botanical Painting demonstration, having just done a series of Asiatic Lily painings myself, nowhere near as detailed as those done on the Rijksmuseum video.

A friend said at Christmas time she and her group only exchange handmade gifts. I thought this sounded very smart until I realised my repertoire would only cover cooking and growing. Although I enjoying making biscuits (cookies) and presenting them in pretty boxes and growing plants for friends, I knew it was time to get some new ideas.

SEED PACKETS

My first effort is this set of seed packets. I printed the template from the Country Living site, then painted the pot and plant image using water colours. When the paint was dry I cut, folded and glued the packets. I’ll make sets of five or ten, I’m not sure, yet.

For templates and ideas for seed packets, try Pinterest or search online. Once you select a template is it easy to personalise the front with your own illustration and wording if this is what you’d like to do. Then print, cut and glue. Package with string or ribbon. Pretty and easy.

CANE CHAIR REPAIR and a NEW CUSHION COVER

My next project this week was not making gifts but re-covering a cushion on a cane chair in the family room. This is a very old but comfortable chair. My mother likes to sit on it with her coffee next to her on the sofa table. When I upended the chair to dust it I found pieces of cane unraveling and some nails sticking our. I also realised that when our dog was a puppy, not only did he like to lie under the chair and watch the world, he also teethed on one of the struts between the legs. Tiny little puppy teeth chewing was very evident. Luckily it has not effected the integrity of the chair.

The glued down cane needed masking tape to hold it in place while it dried. Usually I use clothes pegs to hold things in place until set, but the cane was too thick. It has stuck well. I also hammered in all the nails. Next I measured and cut a new cover for the cushion and two ties to attach it to the chair at the back.

The existing cushion cover had a coffee stain. I tried washing it but there was still a shadow of the stain. New cover required. To make the cushion cover I just cut a rectangle from white cotton fabric twice the size of the cushion and added seam allowances, then stitched up both long edges on the wrong side, trimmed and turned it the right way out. I made two ties from folded thin strips and turned them the right way out, which was a bit of a fiddle, then trimmed and ironed all the pieces. I was going to hand stitch across the top, then machine stitch where the ties were attached to make the join strong but ended up machine stitching across the top. I used a long stitch so I can easily unpick it to wash when necessary.

This chair gets a lots of use! It now looks fresh and plump and is very comfortable.

COOKING

I’ve been disappointed with the harvest from mushroom farms or blocks in the past. I bought a sample pack of mushrooms at a market before WA closed down and really liked the King Oyster Mushrooms. I began looking for a supplier of the grow blocks and found a commercial grower selling fresh mushrooms and grow blocks from a nearby suburb. Perfect!

Ordered a King Oyster Mushroom block and it was delivered that afternoon. It was a square plastic pack containing hardwood sawdust, wheat bran and soy bean husks inoculated with the spores. I put it in the fridge overnight to “cold shock” it to begin fruiting. I had already prepared a faux greenhouse by drilling many holes in a plastic storage box. I put the opened block slightly elevated on blocks in the greenhouse and misted it regularly using a water spray.

About seventeen days later I began harvesting really big, great tasting King Oyster Mushrooms. I cut the thick, firm, tasty stems to scallop sized pieces and chopped the tops into four. Then I simply cooked them in frothy butter until they are slightly coloured. I served them on just out of the oven buttered rye sourdough with Himalayan salt sprinkled on top and chopped parsley, too. Very, very good.

This mushroom kit has been a great success. I have harvested around 750gm of King Oyster Mushrooms and there’s probably about the same amount developing in the block for future picking….and eating.

Fresh citrus everywhere, so made little shortbread biscuits flavoured with lemon zest.

And made some jars of grapefruit, lemon and kumquat marmalade in the microwave. The shortbread biscuits are shared with the lady who gave me lemons and there’s a jar of marmalade for the lady who gave me the grapefruit. The neighbour who lets me pick her kumquats doesn’t eat then at all! We live in an old suburb with well established citrus trees. We have a lime tree and luckily, the neighbours share their bounty of lemons, kumquats and grapefruit.

For some years now I have been making our sourdough loaf in a Pyrex rectangular baking dish as it results in predictable sized slices, but made yesterday’s loaf in a dutch oven. Love the rustic, irregular loaf, ate some with the mushrooms.

GROWING

Have you joined the kitchen scrap growing movement? A few weeks ago I planted a celery end which is growing well, and then I planted five bok choy ends, too, and they are growing impressively. Have five more bok choy ends in a bowl of water waiting for roots to appear to ensure fresh veg over a few weeks. Very exciting.

This healthy tomato plant self seeded and I am hoping it will grow tomatoes but it may be too cold now. Love a self seeding edible plant as opposed to the many, many self seeding weeds I have to deal with all the time.

Also planted more silverbeet, more lavender and a yellow nasturtium. The yellow is my husband’s favourite but seem to have stopped self seeding, as did the red one, my favourite. We’ll have masses of orange ones, though. My mother grew the yellow one for us. Also planted hollyhock seeds collected by her and a canna tuber, too.

The bromeliad is blooming. The pink, mauve and purple colours really pop against the mostly green winter garden.

and LOOKING

Monet’s garden in Giverny opens soon but we wont be there! The spring garden is gorgeous. If you’d like information and a virtual tour, copy and paste http://www.fondation-monet.com

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5th JUNE

“The food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature.” This is the opening statement defining World Environment Day.

Biodiversity is the theme for 2020. This involves 8 million plants and animal species, their ecosystems and the genetic diversity within them.

As always, the aim is to highlight how we are damaging the environment and to celebrate the achievements each year. For more information, inspiring stories and plans for action visit https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1035/easy-paper-craft-projects/?slide=5

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Do You Have An Iso Job List?

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Reading some blogs I am impressed by the long list of TO DO jobs people are planning from re-arranging all the cupboards to washing the windows to mini-renovations. Yesterday I read a blog listing 64 jobs the blogger was working through. I wish all list makers well and admire their ambitions. My own list is far more modest, leaving plenty of time for reading, walking, painting and pottering.

My Iso Jobs this week were mostly outdoors. After a few days of storms last week, this week we have beautiful crisp mornings and warm, blue sky days. Really chilly by 5pm!

Displaying Model Chairs

The design of chairs has always interested me. In my early 20’s I made a set of four chairs and became really interested in the construction and decisions involved in designing, manufacturing and using chairs. It is rare to find a home without some chairs.

Chairs can be made from wood, steel, iron, plastic, even glass and ceramics or a combination of these materials plus fabrics.

I am intrigued by the artisan who designed and carefully made this little wire chair. So much careful planning and work. I love it!

I am particularly intrigued by model chairs. You can download models, you can get your own designs made and you can mix and match materials and styles.

This collection of model chairs is on a shelf in the kitchen. Some are from China and some from Singapore. I have some other model chairs on display or stored for now.

I have five metal chairs displayed outdoors. They were just sitting on a ledge and not really visible. They were rusted on the joins so I bought a combined rust treating and rust retarding spray paint and painted them.

I decided where to hung these little chairs and set to work. To display the re-painted chairs I hammered rawl plugs into holes drilled in the wall then screws after I’d painted the visible end to blend with the chair frames. Then I hung the chairs on the wall.

HINT Using spray paint still means you can get some paint on your fingers. This will wipe off easily with a high alcohol hand gel. Rub it on, leave it a minute, wipe off with a tissue. Paint all gone!

Washing Cashmere

This cashmere single bed sized rug has been in constant use for over 20 years. I bought it in Hong Kong when we were living in China. We’d take the fast ferry from Panyu Lianhuashan to HK and the air conditioning was always freezing. I bought this cashmere rug to spread across the three of us. Then I discovered it was perfect for long flights, cold nights and as a shawl to read in bed. Now I throw it over our bed every night. Cashmere is extremely comfortable.

It is always in use. In the past I have had it dry cleaned regularly. That is not possible now, so I decided to washed it myself. Read some online hints and then washed and dried it. This is what I did:

Placed the rug in a clean bucket in the trough and soaked it in tepid water.
When it was totally wet I dissolved some mild soap flakes (Lux) into the water and swished it around.
Left it to soak for 20 minutes. then squeezed out as much water as I could without being too aggressive.
Rinsed it in the bucket with clean tepid water, gently agitating. (a bit like kneading bread) Repeated four times until the water was quite clear.
Put it into the washing machine on a slow, gentle spin, then draped it across a drying frame outside in the sunlight There was a light breeze and it dried in two hours. Now fresh and clean.

Some sites recommend using your washing machine but I preferred hand washing.

Gardening

A few weeks ago I planted date expired coriander seeds in little pots. If they germinated I planned to use them as micro greens, little power houses of nutrients and flavour. They did germinate and we have eaten them and they were delicious.

If you want to use leftover seeds, have limited space or just want great flavour sprinkled on your food, try micro greens.

Why: super boost of flavour and nutrition.

How: use little pots or recycled plastic punnets with lids from the supermarket. Keep the planted seeds really moist by shutting the lid until your plants touch it then open the lid and begin harvesting, using scissors. Sprinkle on everything or mix into salads. Enjoy!

Sadly huge grey and brown grasshoppers have attacked the camellia leaves. The bush looks very tatty but is still blooming.

Following the success planting the cut-off end of celery and a little plant with tiny celery stalks growing, I decided to plant the ends I saved off the bok choy when I cooked it. Two days later, little leaves are growing.

Other Things

The regional borders in Western Australia have changed from seven to four. Excitingly this means we can visit my mother next week. She’s in her late 80s and fit and well but I decided to have the CV-19 test before visiting her. All clear! Just as exciting, our son who lives within another region was able to come down for a few days for work purposes and we had a lovely weekend.

Although things are relaxing here, we are still being very careful. I think Australians will live differently even when a vaccine is available. Crowded office spaces, bars, beaches, public transport, gyms and restaurants might be less attractive. Being better prepared in our homes might be more important. Preparing your own food regularly and even growing some of it might become more common. I think lots of us will still be watching Netflix but that might be because so much of our free-to-air TV is dire.

Photo WA State Museum

Did you know May 18th was INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS DAY?

A museum, according to ICOM ( International Council of Museums) is a permanent, not-for-profit institution which is open to the public. Museums acquire, research, communicate and exhibit the tangible and intangible heritage of its environment.

Museums are fascinating resources. Unfortunately, in Australia we can’t access them currently due to CV-19 restrictions. Western Australia’s new State Museum will open in November 2020. It is three times the size of the previous building. The unique collection will be displayed across eight galleries, showcasing our plants, animals, people and places.

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How Are You Keeping Busy?

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I know so many of you are juggling working from home, supervising homeschooling, trying to share technology and keeping fit and well and the house reasonably neat and organized. It is hard.

Keeping fit is probably difficult for so many of us as access to our usual routines or classes has been cancelled. Thank goodness for YouTube! I regularly do a yoga class online and have begun some resistance training, too, adding to some exercises I do at home anyway. And I walk a lot everyday. I hope you are finding some ways to remain fit and strong during this difficult period.

The Dog Park

Luckily we have been able continue going to the dog park. Not only does Louis get a good run but the park is large and we can all spread out. It is right next to the river and it’s restful and lovely just being there. We see people we know and can have conversations maintaining social distancing. But most of all, Louis gets to really run. He also needs to monitor all the trees around the perimeter of the park. He checks all the peemails and sends immediate replies!

Louis has had his end of summer grooming session and is ready for winter.

Sometimes it is just good to run and run.

This old peppermint tree has a Moreton Bay fig growing from one of it’s hollows.

Taking Louis to the dog park is a great opportunity for us to walk, too.

Growing Celery From Kitchen Scraps

I’ve seen instructions for growing vegetables from kitchen scraps in childrens’ gardening books and online, but only thought to try it recently. We actually find it hard to use a whole bunch of celery before I think it is too old. When I was washing and trimming the celery last week I kept the base, thinking I’d try it. It would be quite handy to have a crisp stalk or two regularly.

Put the cut off base in water and place it somewhere sunny outside. I put fresh water every second day. Day 5 and there appears to be some growth in the centre. When some roots appear I will plant it in a pot.

By day 8 it’s growing well. Time will tell.

If you are interested in knowing more about growing vegetables from scraps, you might like to watch this brief video on YouTube “Growing Vegetables From Kitchen Scraps” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uROpaU5mknw There are many informative videos on this topic so scroll through until you find one that suits you.

Garden News

The chilies are going wild so I think I’ll make some chili jam.

Our neighbour has had her magnolia and pomegranate trees heavily pruned. Our courtyard is awash with sunlight again in the afternoon. The roses and lime tree are particularly thriving. The light comes into our sitting room too which will be lovely during winter. I suspect some of the foliage will grow back before the piercing summer light returns.

Also re-potted a lucky bamboo which was not thriving. It used to be in my classroom and obviously missed the constant attention of little hands and enthusiastic over watering. It is no longer healthy. At the same time I added some fertiliser and fresh potting mix to this bonsai. It has thrived on our dining room table for about seven years with little attention, so today it got the works!

The bamboo is sending out a new leaf,so that’s promising!

If you enjoy looking at gardens the National Garden Scheme (UK) has gorgeous virtual garden visits. https://ngs.org.uk/virtual-garden-visits/

Ratatouille

Yesterday was so hot and sunny the back of my neck got burnt while I was gardening, despite a big hat. Today it is raining and cold. So suddenly the salad vegetables didn’t look so attractive. Time to turn them into a pot of hot, delicious, filling ratatouille. The weather really dictates what we eat and I find myself watching the citrus ripen or the melons appearing at the grocer and I start looking forward to changing what we eat.

This recipe could accompany any protein for four people. I served it with some flash fried prawns. We have well priced prawns (what you call shrimps in the USA) as export markets for local seafood have shrunk enormously. We have also eaten it as a light lunch with a thick piece of toasted bread.

RATATOUIILE

INGREDIENTS

1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 large zucchini/courgettes, sliced
6 tomatoes sliced ( I used Roma, any sort will do
1 x 400gm tin of tomatoes. I used diced because that’s what I had, but if you use tinned whole tomatoes, mashed them up with the back of a spoon while they’re cooking
1 tbspn Balsamic vinegar plus salt and pepper

METHOD

Peel and chop the onions and slice the zucchinis Heat 2 tbspns olive oil or butter is a heavy based pan and gently fry the zucchini. After about 5 minutes remove the zucchini and transfer to a bowl.

Add the onion and garlic to the pan. Cook about 10 minutes until the onion is looking clear and slightly browned.

Put everything back in the pan, plus the tomatoes and the tin of tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with torn basil leaves and enjoy!

It is autumn (fall) in the Southern Hemisphere so this will be the last of the rockmelons (cantaloupe). The bananas and tomatoes are grown in our tropical north and are available all year round. The other things are all winter fruit and veggies.

This weekend many countries will celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday. Usually this is an opportunity to spend time with your mother and acknowledge the warmth and gratitude you feel. This year will be very different for me. Internal border restrictions mean I can’t visit my Mother and our son can’t visit us, either. We will Skype and have exchanged cards and gifts via mail, but it is very different this year. I hope you are able to celebrate this very special day in a safe way.

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5 Covid-19 Occupations and Interests

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1. Slow Cooker Bread

Are you baking bread? There was such a shortage of flour and yeast until recently I wondered if everyone was making their own bread.

When I saw this Slow Cooker Bread recipe from Jack Monroe I knew I’d be trying it! Pragmatic and practical, Jack’s recipes are always good. The ultimate frugal cook, Jack utilises every day, affordable pantry staples to create tasty, nutritious and interesting food. Great recipes and some droll comments at http://www.cookingonabootstrap.com

Using only 260gm of flour ( I used strong bread making flour, but Jack makes it clear any flour or combination of flours would do), yeast, water, salt and a little oil on your hands to knead the dough, this is a simple and great tasting bread.

Delicious!

2. Autumn in the Garden

Big Red geranium and red violas. Still some colour in the garden.

Brushing against this spearmint scented lavender releases the loveliest smell.

The umbrella stand petunias continue to thrive.

Arum lilies under planted with violets. The lilies are lush, green and they bloom for months. We can see them from our bedroom window. These lilies are considered a weed in Western Australia but I really like the elegant, white bloom with its egg yolk yellow stamen and the large, green leaves. They are planted in a separate bed and cannot escape. Originally found in marshy areas of South Africa, these plants have adapted too well to Australian conditions.

3. Walking

Out walking before Easter and saw this bird’s nest on the ground. No sign of birds. Used it in an Easter decoration now just enjoying it for the clever construction. Can you see the layers of soft leaves lining the bottom of the nest?

I walk alone, then with a neighbour and later, with my husband and the dog. One of the many pleasure of walking is looking into the neighbourhood gardens, watching the birds in all the trees and watching the sky change. These days there are so many people in isolation at home and I often chat to them in their gardens or when they are also walking. Our other walk is taking the dog to the dog park where he has a wonderful time and we walk too with views of trees, the river and boats. It’s lovely.

4. Reading and Watching

More sitting time than usual in this household! I’ve read my haul of magazines including Country Style, UK Country Living and Australian Country, so a bit of a theme there, all topped off by The English Home. And some essential nutrition.

Also read Caroline Baum’s ” Only, A Singular Memoir”, an Australian journalist’s account of a rather unusual childhood in London. Her adult relationship with her parents reflects her need for independence and her need for approval. Hard path to follow! Interesting book.

<i>Only: A Singular Memoir</i> by Caroline Baum.

Currently reading Ian McEwan’s “Amsterdam” and enjoying it. Other books of his I’ve read are “Atonement” made into a film with Keira Knightley,”On Chisel Beach” and “The Children Act” also turned into a film with Emma Thompson. Great book, great film. Also reading favourite gardening books, gathering ideas and shortcuts.

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan (9780099272779) - PaperBack - Crime Mystery & Thriller

Watching “Escape To The Country” on YouTube. These are more recent episodes rather than the older ones on free to air TV. Part tourism, part real estate curiosity, always interesting and in my case, part envy, this program is “before going to bed” relaxation after the murder, trial and retribution series we have been watching.

Decided not to watch every news program or online account of the spread and destruction of C-V 19 as it is exhausting and we are doing everything possible to stay well and safe. Initially grateful when the country closed down, I now think we need to be more moderate and build up some immunity as a vaccine is a long way off being available. Should the vulnerable be careful and the rest get on with it? Seems to have worked well in Sweden. I wonder if more people die of the flu each year in Australia than will die of C-V 19? Should we all be tested to determine asymptomatic carriers and existing immunity then make a decision? This is a rapidly evolving situation, requiring some long term strategies.

5. ANZAC DAY

On April 25th Australians and New Zealanders commemorate ANZAC Day. We remember those who have participated in all armed conflicts and peace keeping missions since WW1.

Traditionally, there were dawn services and later in the morning, parades, often followed by community breakfasts. This year everything will be different. We are being encouraged to stand at the top of our driveways at 6AM with a candle, a torch or a phone light and with our neighbours, observe one minute of silence, broken by random buglers playing the Last Post.

Snipped long but not too stiff rosemary pieces from the bush. Bent and tied the base circle with green gardening wire, then wove extra pieces in the make a stronger wreath.

I have made a rosemary wreath to hang on the fence. Rosemary is the plant of remembrance. If I make this again I will make a smaller wreath based on a deformed wire clothes hanger. I cannot go to the floral supplier for a round base for the wreath but it still looks fine. I cut pieces of rosemary which are still whippy, not too long and hard and using green garden wire, joined them at regular intervals to make a circle. Added two poppies, symbols of the red poppies growing on Flanders Field and a red bow.

I have also made boxes of ANZAC biscuits to give to our close neighbours. The recipe is derived from the recipe used to make long lasting and nutritious biscuits to send to the troops in the Middle East and France, a months sea voyage from Australia, beginning during WW1. ( Lots of recipes online if you’d like to try these delicious biscuits )

Trays of cooked and waiting to be cooked ANZAC biscuits.

Printed labels, cut and glued to tags, punched holes, filled the boxes and added labels and rosemary. Off to distribute them soon.

ANZAC the acronym for AUSTRALIAN and NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS

Searching through the pantry for biscuit making ingredients I came across this forgotten Christmas Pudding. Only seemed right to heat it and eat it. Glad we did, it was very good.

EARTH DAY

Earth Day was first celebrated fifty years ago. The focus is on reducing your environmental impact. For me, this particularly means using less plastic!

The reduction in pollution since the onset of CV-19 is sobering. I think the message is use less, buy once and buy the best and always consider the place of origin of everything you buy.

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Here and Now

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Long time readers of the blog will remember I used to participate in a monthly link-up with the fabulous knitter and wool shop owner who writes ‘Say! Little Hen’ (https://www.saylittlehen.com/.) She’s no longer linking to other blogs but posted this week using the original headings and I’ve decided to use them for this blog, too.

Loving

Self imposed isolation has changed the busyness of our lives. I really enjoy so many things I do outside the house but now those activities are not possible, I am savouring the time I have to do other things. I have begun an online course on FutureLearn from the Institut Français de la Mode to learn about clothing sustainability. There are courses from many disciplines, this one covers aspects of fashion and history plus consumer behaviour.

Like many people in the neighbourhood we walk the dog at least twice a day. We read, especially online news, go on virtual tours of gardens, galleries and a zoo, I paint and cook and we were able to get a generous pile of books from the library before it closed. Looked at lots of online magazines. I love house and garden magazines but find the online format frustrating so I’ve given up on them!

Judging by the overflowing charity bins around here, everyone else has also taken the opportunity to sort their kitchen cupboards and their wardrobes, too. Very satisfying but now the bags are piling up in the garage.

This break from our usual routines gives us all time to appreciate our homes, to plan improvements in organisation, decoration, the very essence of homeliness that resonates with each of us can be refined at this time. Use all your precious things, sit out in the fresh air, sort and tidy, be surrounded by what is good for you and your family. Have time off social media and cook something special, ring someone you miss, dig in your garden or walk in a park or on the beach, if you can.

So, lots to enjoy about this unusual time. Hope it doesn’t last much longer, though!

Eating

As usual, I’ve made bread and immunity boosting soup. I usually make chicken stock soups whenever we have a chicken which seems to be once a week but now I add lots of turmeric, ginger and often garlic to the mix.

Today I made Shakshuka for lunch. This spicy, delicious dish is probably more commonly eaten at breakfast but we enjoyed it for lunch. There are many recipes online if you’d like to try it. Apparently Shakshuka means “all mixed up” in Hebrew. Interestingly, almost every European nationality claims this as a traditional food in their cuisine. Tastes good, anyway.

I cooked up onions and garlic then added fresh and tinned tomatoes and spinach from the garden and let it simmer. Added paprika and pinch of salt. When the spinach was wilted I made four holes in the sauce and broke an egg into each and left everything simmering until the yolks set. Grind of black pepper and it’s done. Serve with toast, pitta bread, Turkish bread, anything that comes to hand. Sprinkle parsley on top.

Drinking

I’d like to say I’m drinking some exotic flower based tea, but I’m not. I drink about 3lt of water everyday plus several double espressos. I make sure I stop drinking coffee way before bedtime after reading that it stays in your system for hours after you’ve drunk it!

clear glass of water selective focus photo

Feeling

Like everyone else, I feel worried about Covid-19, the economy and the long term impact of all of this on Australia and the rest of the world. I hope the longer term outcome for Australia is that we develop our own manufacturing base, so we aren’t so dependent on imports. I think we should have a trucking industry to service the farming, freight and resources sectors. Since Holden ceased manufacturing in Australia we have a ready made, skilled workforce available. We should manufacture our own medications, make all our own toilet paper. The list could go on and on. We should all look to see where things are made before we buy them and encourage a strong manufacturing base in Australia.

Making

I am renovating the back garden but the soil is still too hot to start planting. I’ve weeded, added Bentonite clay for water retention, then an organic fertilizer. Topped it all off with pea straw and watered it down making the area ready for planting. This bed is surrounded by a brick rendered fence and brick paving so it’s very hot for seven or eight months of the year.

We have had the hottest April day for years this Easter. I haven’t planted the tulips, yet, but hope it cools down soon. Then we can start re-planting areas cleared at the beginning of the garden renovation.

Thinking

black framed eyeglasses

Will schools re-open in Australia soon? Will some businesses be able to open? I’d like the regional border controls to relax soon as I haven’t been able to visit family. Also thinking of the friends and family members who have celebrated their birthdays in isolation .

Also thinking about obsolescence. We built this house 13 years ago. In recent years we’ve had to replace the oven and found the only model with the functions we wanted that fitted in the space was stainless steel. Looked funny in an all white kitchen. Now I’m used to it and don’t notice. Then the range hood stopped working. Almost impossible to replace it with the right size and we’d just renewed the cupboard doors so didn’t want a carpenter having to change things to fit. Getting the existing unit repaired cost more than a new one. Very annoying. Then last week the Bosch dishwasher, only eight years old, stopped working. The repairman arrived after the Easter break in his gloves and mask and quoted for the repair. It was almost the cost of a new dishwasher. So we decided to get a new one with an extended warranty. Delivered and installed the next day and the old one taken away. It is also stainless steel as that was all we could do without going into electrical shops. I suppose I’ll get used to it, too. I wonder about the lifespan of electrical goods. I also wonder about the cost to repair things. We are a small family with light usage of our white goods. Is having to replace things that are not very old common?

Dreaming

It is autumn and I am looking forward to planting the garden for next spring. Dreaming of fresh produce and glorious flowers.

Abraham Darby (pink) Pierre de Ronsard and Father’s Love Glamis Castle (white)

April 17th is National Haiku Poetry Day. This genre of poetry is usually three sentences long. The first and last sentences should have five syllables and the middle sentence should have seven syllables, if written in Japanese. Written English words are longer and can have 10 to 14 syllables. Haiku poems do not need to rhyme. So, if you’ve run out of things to do in isolation, try writing a Haiku poem!

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