SIX WORD SATURDAY

Joining in with Cate

OUR INTERESTING DAY AT COMMUNITY GARDEN.

We knew that our town has a community garden and had walked by now and again to see how it was going. Then we saw in the paper there was to be an open day today, so decided to attend.

As you know we have our own vege garden, but I thought we might get some tips, and the local Garden Guru, Phil Dudman, who broadcasts nationally on ABC Radio was to be in attendance.

  

I can report it was a very interesting day, with guest speakers, and demonstrations of making a compost heap, and Phil's idea for an experimental garden plot.  Lunch was provided and I was particularly interested in the lightly steamed sweet potato stems and leaves in one of the salads.

The final session was on biodynamics and planting by the moon, illustrated with charts.

They were asking people to join, and we did, though we are not interested in having a plot. They would like members to help on Tuesdays, but that is not a good day for us. 

The next open day they will be making a cob pizza oven. I am looking forward to seeing that.

Love and Blessings

FRIDAY NEWS

Joining in at Mrs4444 Friday Fragments

Much needed heavy rain at the moment, without the forecast storm.

Had some exciting news last night, my daughter let me know she had puchased tickets to take me to see Andre Rieu in Sydney next year. 

I collected the book by Billy Graham, Nearing Home, yesterday.  I am reading straight through it first, and will go back and study it later.  It is a brilliant book for people of all ages, for compassionate family members who wish to understand the feelings of older people, a reminder for those nearing retirement to prepare for it, and consolation for the aged who are losing their strength.

Concerts yesterday and today.  Barry was very touched by one gentleman that we have known for a while who is now bedridden.  He clasped Barry's  hands and cried when Barry was saying hello.   I think Barry is questioning if he can carry on, seeing people growing weaker and passing on.  We have commitments until the end of the year  (and already some bookings for 2013), but Barry has asked me to turn down any new requests that might come in for this year.

 For new readers we entertain at nursing homes and for seniors groups averaging about six times a month, under the banner Crumbs of Comfort.  Here is link to our Facebook page.  (I don't know if it works if you don't have FB).  Basically Crumbs of Comfort  means passing on some of the Comfort that we receive from Him, though one Activities Officer challenged me saying we pass on a lot more than 'Crumbs'.

Still raining...... many months since such good heavy rain..  Grateful that there is no wind, or storm.

Hugs and Blessings,
Jan

Pondering on Thursday

The topic for Pondering with a Purpose this week at Brenda's Hop is Independent

 

My first thought is of the Independents in our federal government who have a lot of power as neither  of the main parties obtained the numbers to form government and secret deals were done by the Labour party to secure the votes of the Independents and thus govenment.

 

And do I think of myself as an independent person? Yes, but I am wise enough to know when to draw on my husband for assistance, a good example today.  I collected my bicycle wheel from the repair shop, and when I returned to the car, Barry noticed immediately that the quick release lever was missing.  As I don't know much about it, I took him along when I went back to the shop. First of all they said it wasn't on the wheel when we took it in, and I would not have known, but Barry was able to convince them it was, and we left with one, even though it may not have been our original.

 

Looking back over the years, I am happy with my level of independence, travelling to UK and Europe on my own, working in the city, even doing long boat deliveries, the most memorable from Yeppoon QLD down coast of NSW, across Bass  Strait to St Helens in Tasmania, in a 10 meter crab boat, that one just with the master mariner.

 

Another source of independence is of course money, and in early years decisions were made for me, but since about 1980 anyway I have not had to ask for money and whilst we share the bills and large items are discussed, we have always kept our money separate, and each make up our own minds on our expenditure.

 

Love and Blessings.

Garden Update

Yes I have a vege garden!

I often say how I love hearing the birds we have in our small yard.

Yesterday I was quite taken aback to find that all my new lettuce seedlings had been stripped, just the  ribs left.  They had been struggling in the heat and I had completely lost three or four of them already so they are a sad sight.  I knew it was the sparrows as the plant nurseries have a problem keeping them at bay.    Then as I looked out the kitchen window this morning, a sparrow helped itself to a strawberry.

Barry is building arches covered with a very low % shade cloth over some of the beds to keep the white moths off and help against the heat, but he hadn't put the ends on.  They will be mainly on the leaf plants that need shade and not bees. He is also getting together a timed irrigation system which will gently water the vege garden.

It is a compromise as we love the trees, the birds, and we have plenty of bees, and we have to work something out to keep the birds as well as the white moths and the heat off the vegetables.

The veges that have germinated this week are sweetcorn, lebanese cucumber, radish,and  kohl rabi. I thought I would take a shortcut with the lettuce, as my previous crop did not survive a few recent hot days.  I also have 8 corn plants with immature cobs on them, and I am getting  one or two each of apple cucumbers,  yellow squashes, and zucchini each day. We also have limited rhubarb, beetroot, silver beet, kale, spinach, rocket,  several herbs and the last of the tomato crop.

No pics yet....

 

Now joining in with Cate at Six Word Saturday with Yes  I have a vege garden.

 

 

Hugs and Blessings, Jan

 

Four Fill-In

Joining in with Hilary for the Four Fill-in Fun Blog Hop!

   

This week’s statements:

1. Growing up, I was the oldest of five children.
2. Wouldn’t peace on earth be wonderful?
3. If I hadn’t gone sailing that time, then I never would have met my hubby.
4. When I go out locally, I like to walk as often as possible.

 Hugs and Blessings,
Jan