Enough Said

Enough said is a lovely film which Rick and I went to see in a dear little traditional cinema just 10 minutes up the road from where we live.  The seats are comfy, no smell of popcorn just the occasional rustle of someone trying to get into their Choctop.  Choctops are chocolate topped ice-creams and a great favourite here.  The cinema is a twenties style building, it has grace and charm in abundance, an old world feel and a great atmosphere.

As the weather is warming up so is the mad hurtle towards Christmas.  There have been a couple of Christmas Pageants, which sadly I've managed to miss, a great shame because I have never seen one before.  I can not imagine how uncomfortable it must be for Santa Claus all togged up in his traditional Northern Hemisphere outfit and big white beard parading around the streets in temperatures over 20!  The shops are a little more crowded than normal, all the decorations are very tasteful.  But still not all the shops are playing Xmas tunes there are only a couple of adverts on the TV which refer to Christmas.  It is so nice to be almost at the end of November and not be fed up with the Christmas hype yet.

Pomegranates are now in the shops alongside delicious juicy mangoes, strawberries, blueberries and the stone fruits, nectarines, peaches, all of which are grown here.  Deep joy....

Poinsettias and Amaryllis are in flower, traditional Xmas flowers but the difference is here they are in garden borders. I have never before seen Amaryllis growing outside and they are magnificent planted in groups in a border.

One of the more senior  ladies from Tai Chi came dashing into class the other day announcing she had spent the day getting ready for Christmas and hunting out the durex!!  I was amazed and for a few minutes admired her stamina and joie de vivre until I realised that durex is sellotape here... thank goodness I didn't laugh out loud and then have to explain myself.

The Jacaranda trees are now in full flower lining the roads they look incredible and create a fragrant and stunning cloud of purple to walk under.

And last but not least when I walked to the shops the other day I noticed a 'Scout Recycling' bin in a carpark, aside from being cruel to Scouts I do think that is taking recycling to extremes!

Nurseries, lizards and a new toy for the block...

It's been a really busy week down in Naracoorte, which started with the very long journey through the Riverlands from Renmark.  It was a fascinating drive with the landscape varying tremendously.  Going from huge fields either side of us thorough neat little towns with beautiful federation homes contrasting greatly with tiny little stone cottages. Mallee shrub land, back to gum trees and eventually as we were nearing home, lots of vineyards and avenues of very tall very old gum trees.

During the week we visited some very interesting nurseries, one of which is only 50 km from Naracoorte, there is a lovely straight road to it.  I was sorely tempted with a couple of the trees there, a saville orange (think yummy marmalade) and a native finger lime.  The branches on the later tree  are covered in inch long thorns, picking the fruit would not be for the feint hearted but they look so interesting I think it would be worth it.  Anyway these will be trees for the future once we've got the watering system on the block sorted out.

We wandered into the shop empty handed and were greeted with the smell of freshly cooked gluten AND dairy free mango and coconut cupcakes coming out of the oven!!  They looked far to good to avoid so a couple were ordered.  The treat arrived a few minutes later, the cupcake had been garnished with lime and mango syrup, a generous drizzle of caramel and a delicious slice of mango..... oh my goodness... it was delish and the coffee was delightful too. Thank goodness it is not in walking distance of where we will be living!!

In between seeing friends and visiting nurseries and op shops we've shifting soil from Deb and Robert's garden, making it ready for a fire pit.  Chasing the chooks around the garden in a feeble attempt to get them in for the night.  My attempt was not helped by Fred grabbing the stick I was trying to use to herd them.  He thought it was a great game and with one woof had the chooks going all directions.

We also visited the block to check on the trees, all plants are doing very well now.  We dug moats around the fruit trees and gave them a very generous watering, of course the next day it rained.

And while we were there we spotted this beautiful dragon lizard sunning himself on the fence.

When we were a safe distance away he raised his nose to the sun, a true sun worshiper.  When we were closer he stayed very still, not even blinking.

Luckily Fred didn't spot this one.

We have a new toy for the block.  It is a very pretty shiny new heavy duty mower, a Deustcher to be exact with a fairly powerful Briggs and Stratton engine and set of two cutting blades.  With two blades it made light work of the foot high bracken and was easy to use.  Poor Rick though determined to finish once he'd started might not totally agree with that statement having spent almost 5 hours mowing!  It looks fantastic now though, well worth all his efforts.





In the process we found we had a new addition to the flock, three lambs now and the sheep look amazing having filled out on the grass.  They are apparently almost fluffy enough to shear.

And we also discovered more lizards, another smaller dragon lizard and this dear little blue tongue.
Both were moved to our piles of logs, which are designated lizard and other fauna hotels.

It is a sobering reminder that now the warmer weather is here other equally fascinating but not so harmless cold blooded creatures are also about now.


The week passed in a flash and soon we were Adelaide bound again.  The skies were full of rain heavy clouds and it was no surprise we got caught in a few down pours.

What did surprise me though was the way the roads steamed afterwards.... it looked very magical.

And life goes on....

After the wedding which was such a joyful event came a week of preparation for the celebration of Hazels life.

It was my first Aussie funeral, which in the end turned out to be very like a UK one but the organisation was very different.  The Funeral Directors are based more on USA traditions, for instance an open casket is not unusual.  Although in true Aussie style all was very laid back, we met the chap conducting the service just an hour before the funeral.  Greg (No 2 son) wrote and delivered a wonderful eulogy which had us alternating between laughter and tears.  The service flowed from start to finish and was very lovely, a celebration as Hazel would have wanted.  We had collected rose petals from our gardens to scatter and these combined with the beautiful roses on her coffin created an amazing scent.

And so life goes on......

Temperatures have been alternating between 13c and 30c, which I'm told is a little unusual.  All the creeks are full and there are water birds a plenty.  I've spotted three different types of Ibis, lots of baby ducks, goslings and cygnets.

Some of the gum trees have just come into flower and in the early mornings joyful, colourful and noisy Lorikeets happily feast on the nectar at their very own Gum Tree Cafe.

The potatoes have grown faster than I have ever known them grow before and I've not used any particular rocket fuel on them.  We should be eating them by Christmas.  The herbs are doing very well as is the lettuce crop.  The lettuces are all native varieties but for now I can't remember their names.  We are looking forward to trying them which should be soon.  Weeds are still trying their hardest and as the ground hardens off it gets more difficult to dig them out.

Life.......

I am sorry to start this blog with some sad news, which is also the reason why there was no blog last week. Ricks Mum, Hazel, was taken poorly and into Naracoorte hospital Sunday morning. We took some time out to be with her, which was a very special time, she sadly but peacefully passed away on the Wednesday evening.  The care she received from her Doctor and the amazing nurses at the cottage hospital was fantastic, they could not have been kinder to her or the family.

Her funeral is due to take place this weekend but it feels she is already resting in peace.

Then a couple of days later and in total emotional contrast, Kane (Ricks sisters son) got married.  After a quick turn around and repack of the bags, glad rags in hand we were off to Walker Flats for the weekend.

We stayed in a shack beside the beautiful River Murray it is a very peaceful healing place with so much wildlife to watch and listen to. It was very easy to sit and just be.  First thing in the morning this beautiful river looked quite magical with a gentle mist just resting on the surface.

The weather was cold and wet for a couple of days before but thankfully we woke to glorious sunshine on the Saturday.  The wedding (my first Aussie wedding) took place beside the river. Nobody could define for me what an  typical Aussie wedding is but by the end of the day it was decided the one defining element was 'laidbackness'.  It was very relaxed and very lovely.

The tiny bridesmaids, or flower girls, of course stole the show.

The bride was glowingly beautiful and the new Mr & Mrs W looked very happy.






Everything flowed quite effortlessly it seemed. Food was delicious and very plentiful.  The speeches just seemed to happen and for the most part were funny. The band were brilliant and looked like they were having as much fun as the guests.

It was certainly great first Aussie wedding for me.

My week away......

I took the bus from Adelaide down to Naracoorte last Monday for a weeks break with Deb and family.  The journey was long (4 1/2 hours) but a good one, I had plenty of reading material and as ever knitting to do.  The passing scenery was beautiful and we were treated to a fantastic sunset.

Up early every morning to walk Fred at the Nature Park, it was just me, him and the slowly waking up wild life.  Very magical.  The walk was accompanied by Kookaburra's singing out, lorikeets, the Australian Bitterns haunting boom, a couple of bullfrogs (which to me sound like they are playing glockenspiels).  One morning along a barbwire fence a family of tiny Superb Blue Fairy Wrens lined up, 5 babies and Mum.  They looked for all the word like they were being checked over before going to school.

The delightful Fred, mud around nose having helped with the serious job of digging up the garden!

The chooks (now very grown up) have been laying every day.  Not full size eggs yet but quite often they manage a double yolker!  This is Wing Commander Gertie, flanked by the fluffy end of Flight Lieutenant Freckles on her left and a very fast moving Wilma just in the picture on the right.  They look stunning when the sunlight catches their feathers.  They also have very distinctive personalities, Gertie is the leader and the most bossy. She likes to be in on everything.... closely followed most of the time by Freckles.  Wilma and Izzy stick together and are normally quieter.  All of them now squat down in front of you so you can either tickle them or pick them up.  They are lots of fun to watch.  I've now taught them the delights of snail eating, woe betide any pest which ventures into their enclosure now.  They even peck at unsuspecting toes... which makes you jump!

It was a busy and creative week... lots of fun.  Deb and I made fire lighter roses out of old egg boxes, having

made the 'rose' we dipped them in melted soy-wax, which we had coloured with a wax crayon and scented with patchouli.  I think they look quite good, they smell lovely (if you like patchouli) and more importantly are very effective when you light a fire.  No other paper is needed, just normal kindling.

If you're interested a dozen egg box makes 6 fire lighters.

I've finally had a go at spinning to.  My goodness, it's a little like trying to drive a car whilst patting your head and rubbing your tummy!  All the You tube clips kept saying how much like meditation it was.....hmmmmm!

Practice, practice, practice and a think a whole heap of lessons will probably help.  And there is a whole new language to learn to.  There is a little more equipment to purchase, I've learnt the spinning wheel has lost a brake spring, which could possibly make all the difference.  With Deb's and You Tubes help I actually managed to get some Alpaca wool onto the spool.  You couldn't call what I'd produced yarn, infact it looked a lot like dread locks. I'm not giving up, and will practice when ever I get the opportunity.  With tons of patience and practice one day I will spin something which can be recognised as yarn!

I saw my first Wide-mouth Owl sitting on the shed in the backyard and being buzzed by an angry Maggie. Sadly I couldn't get a good photo of this amazing bird of prey.

We visited the block and checked on the trees, they're all doing really well, lots of new growth on everything. The Lemon tree is covered with flowers.  Everything was fed, weeded, watered and mulched and the next time we see it all it should (fingers crossed) look even happier.

And I got the bore water tested (this is a free service offered by SA Water).  It turns out our water is very saline and no good for plants or poultry.  My next project is to investigate the best method of small scale desalination.

Till next time.... have fun!

A little late......

I was supposed post this blog last week..... it is a little late.... so sorry.  Not much happened so I'll keep this brief.

I got very confused when the clocks changed.... where ever you are in the world in spring the clocks spring forward an hour.  Expect, it seems, when you still have Northern Hemisphere thinking about October really being Autumn!  Hmmmm....

Luckily my clever phone and laptop knew which way to go without any directions from me.  Then I confused myself trying to work out the time difference with the UK, as the UK clocks don't change till the end of the month and then they 'fall back'.  Through all this it seems the two places remain 9.30 hours different.  I discovered that it really doesn't help to try and work it through logically.

Its fledgling and learner bird season.  The honey eater family have kept me very amused with their noisy feeding sessions.  It seems who ever shouts the loudest gets fed first.  There was a report on the radio about Laughing Magpies being very protective with their young.  This is the time of year you have to prepare for perhaps being buzzed by these rather large birds.  Some people wear extraordinary headgear (and I just thought people were being eccentric).  Occasionally there have been very serious attacks and injuries caused, so if you're ever visiting at this time of year and a Maggie faces up to you it's always best to give it a very wide birth.

Ooroo!

A wee bit of a quiet week

It has been a little bit of a quiet week here with Rick away, a perfect time I thought to really tackle the garden.  The ground is still soft from the recent down pours and with the temperatures in the gentle teens, very dooable if you were rugged up and out of the chilly southerly Antarctic winds.

The garden is flourishing and everything has benefited from the rain, TLC and general feeding it's been given over the last few months. The lemon tree is covered in its star like white flowers, we'll have an abundance of lemons if they are all still attached after the threatened storms.  I think I may well have waxed lyrical already about the roses before...  but they are beautiful and just starting to bloom.  Their leaves are glossy there is no sign of blackspot or mildew and hardly any aphids.  All helped it turns out by the banana skins we've been putting around them.  As the skins break down they add Potassium to the soil this chemical is essential for plant health and is a great nitrogen fixer.  Very good for crops too.

The few native plants we've got in are mainly doing very well and the weeds are doing best of all, they are enormous and all spare space is covered. How we ended up with such a huge crop is beyond me.  No matter, I convinced myself that if I made a start and managed not to get distracted I could, very quickly make a difference.

Is it me or do other people have similar problems with weeds?  Why is it that they pop up the moment you think you have cleared an area.... do garden gremlins follow us around and planting them when we're not looking?  Well it turned out the difference wasn't very quick in the making, infact four dustbin loads later it still didn't look much different.

Slightly disheartened I thought perhaps a trip to the local nursery to select another herb for our collection would lift my spirits.  Four plants (3 natives) and a couple of packets of seeds later, job done, I returned home spirits lifted.

I sat in the back garden having a well deserved cuppa and listened to the various bird calls.  There were the beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets crying out as the chased each other in a spectacular multi coloured fly past. Peewees singing out with their haunting call and then the familiar sound of a blackbird in full song.  It was beautiful and reminded me so much of the UK.  When I finally found him he was sitting on a forlorn almost dead tree in our neighbours garden by this time he looked like he was sporting a very wild and bushy mustache.  Not realising I was watching he disappeared into the neighbours laurel and I spotted him on a nest feeding his very silent young.

A couple of days later and the youngsters had fledged the nest and the blackbirds have done what they always do and parked the 'learners' in various gardens.  Giving them more chance of survival, they are so quiet and patient waiting in the under growth for the parents to arrive and feed them they are very hard to detect.