Bab'sBlog

[Babs]

Yep it's called the East by West ferry and runs a commuter service daily.  It's very popular.  The wharf got damaged slightly in the big earthquake and they are looking at doing a lot of repairs.  Very popular in the summertime when tourists come over to Days Bay from the city on the ferry.  The only time it doesn't run is when we have one of Wellington's storms.  There are three cafes and a large restaurant within walking distance of the wharf plus a well patronised beach. The ferry even goes to Soames Island.

[ato2]

That's the one we must have gone on, as it went by Soames Island. A good trip.

[Babs]

Talking about bugs and other critters here's one that known to drag unwary visitors off to its lair.  I found it snoozing on top of the couch this morning I think it's called Araneae Babalis

[Babs]

Update on the potted garden,  planted a big trough full of lettuce seedlings plus two large pots full of the same and four medium pots of Mesculum seeds this morning .  The Rocket had lived up to its name and rocketed to seed and got turfed out to become compost.  So the deck is getting very full of pots of vegetables.  The dwarf beans are covered in baby beans won't be long before we will be eating them. We had so many salads using the rocket and different lettuces that it was a relief to eat something different in the way of green stuff the other night.

Something peculiar has happened to the courgettes I grew from seeds in big pots the leaves are turning yellow so either they don't like growing in pots or the growing medium is lacking in something even though we have added a special form of fertilizers for pot grown vegetables.

Will add photos when my sore back allows me to stand upright. Really sux at times not being able to do all the gardening and lawn mowing I used to but thems the break I guess,  I just have to compensate in other ways.

[Babs]

Straw flowers,  marigolds and courgettes

[Babs]

We also have a Monarch visiting our lone Swan plant you  can sit quite close to the butterfly

[Babs]

The deck is filling up much more and we won't be able to get out the back door

[ato2]

It is looking great- all those plants.

[Babs]

Thanks Tom.  Here's a photo of the new lettuce seedlings and the pots with seeds in them

[Babs]

Seems a shame to cut the lawns when they are covered in yellow dandelions but they will get mowed hopefully next week

[JennyLeez]

I cant believe how green everything looks. Ours is dead and brown after 2 and a half months of precious little rain. I am hosing everything daily at present. Thankfully we have heaps of water unlike Gisborne who always ends up with water restrictions in the Summer months.

Your garden is lovely Babs

[ato2]

Yes it is looking good.
 

[Babs]

I was flicking through an old garden magazine when I came across an article about growing your own kumara and thought I can do that.  I am always after something new to grow so I thought I'll give kumara a go.

Firstly you need a kumara so I choose one of the big orange ones and found a nice looking jar,  filled it with water and stuck the kumara end first in it and put it on the kitchen window sill. The second kumara I put in an empty ice cream container full of river sand,  dampened it and put that one in the hot water  cupboard

I remembered my mother doing the same thing when we lived in Auckland,  she had them growing in the kitchen on  the window sill and the plant was like a triffid as it took off and she had to attach it to the window surrounds with tacks.

So I waited and waited for sprouts to appear and finally a tiny green leaf  appeared upon the window sill  one after that more and more appeared,  meantime the one in the hotwater cupboard just sulked and did nothing so I though right you are going outside into the big world of plants where it got rained on half drowned and froze and much to my surprise has finally thrown up some leaves.

I know it's far to cold here on our hilltop to grow kumara as they need a warm growing area but it has been fun trying.

[ato2]

Hey, that's cool, Babs.
Might be worthwhile trying an experiment and seeing if you can great one to produce, if you have a very sunny aspect.

[Babs]

Would be worth a try Tom but it would be weather dependent as I think they like very warm summers but I could give it a try.... Will have to do some more reading up on how to grow them from the sprouting bits..

[Babs]

Random Acts of Kindness,  Paying it Forward or just being thoughtful but last September I started up something for Ross's workmates.

I thought  Monday's are generally not a good day back at work especially if you have had a good weekend so we found a recipe for buttermilk scones and I made a big batch of them on Sunday afternoon ,  found a suitable container and Ross took them to work for morning tea. 

I also had the thought that happy workers are productive workers just look at the bees. The scones have been a resounding success with Olivani spread and plum jam supplied.  As I only bake about 20 of them there is a frantic rush when the In-house email goes out that the scones are available. 

I have had some nice feedback from Ross's workmates with most of them saying that it gives them something to look forward to on Monday mornings.

The only time I was unable to supply the scones was during the 7.8 earthquake  and another time I was laid low with a cold bug thing. So Sunday afternoons you will find me in the kitchen up to my elbows in scone dough with my faithful scone taster waiting for the first batch to come out of the oven.

The attached photo was taken of the first batch of buttermilk scones.

[TokWW]

Thanks for the lovely story Babs! Heart warming indeed!  And yummy, hmmm haha! Well done!

Graeme

[ato2]

Hey, that was a great story to read about! And the photo says, "very yummy!"

[Babs]

Thanks guys it's nice to do kind things for people and make their working week a bit happier and brighter

[Babs]

The blogging part of my brain has been having a rest but will be back with you soon. Anyone mind if I put one or two of my blogs from 2009 or there abouts up on here,  some of you will remember them from a previous forum some of you will have never read them before. I would just use them as a fill in till my brain wakes up..