Improvements This Winter...

We've been having cold nights lately but glorious sunny days, starting with thick fog which lifts up about 7.30.

We've been very busy this winter with yet more improvements to our place.

 We discussed  previously to have an awning over the lounge room window, as this is the side which is affected by the wind and the rain and constantly have to run in to close the window, whenever there is a drizzle…

Two weeks ago, we were enjoying a beer after a day's work and going around the garden, when we started talking how nice it would be to have a pergola on the side of the house and started  dreaming about sitting there summer time and looking at the open view of the lake, hills and meadows over the farmer's land and also  get advantage of the breeze.

Well, the next day Svenne started on it.

 Posts went up...

 Roof went up...

And we have now just finished pouring the slab. We had to do it in 3 goes and I have total respect for anybody who works with concrete.

 It's a hard job. But it is totally worth it.

We will soon be sitting there! As soon as the weather warms up and the wind slows down...

While we were busy with organizing the slab and not much time or attention given to Freja, we wondered what mischief she was up to. No need to worry: the car door was left open and she had a quick nana-nap out of the wind, after we went mad at her for stepping in the fresh concrete!

We will also put a door instead of the existing window, which will give us access from the lounge room to the verandah and open up the house . 

In between helping Svenne with the verandah, I've been working on my project at the front of the house and finally finished the steps...

 the driveway edges...

the path...

and the steps near the shed...

We now have comfortable access to the top of the property without having to scramble up and down.

The hardest thing was to dig plants in (and I still wonder if they'll ever grow), as the soil is like concrete and so full of tree roots! Every morning I inspect them, they are still alive, even though some have been uprooted by bandicoots during the night. I wish they would dig their holes where I want to put more plants, that would help... but the little mongrels are picking an easiest way to  get to their worms!

There's still more to be done, but I don't rush these things!

My most rewarding time is to sit on the verandah in the mornings with a cup of coffee and looking at the pelicans cruising on the lake. I enjoy every minute of it.

And Freja enjoys each night, when she cuddles up with Svenne (after a hard day job) watching TV, crawling up closer and closer! Should I be jealous?

As always we value your opinions, so please leave your comments. Thank you! 

Mid Winter garden update

As I said in an earlier post, winter is supposed to be our dry season… This year though our  winter started on a very wet note, probably making up for a considerably dryer summer than usual.

For three weeks we hardly saw the sun. Everything was damp and mould invaded the house. Especially the cupboards in the en-suite. I tried everything from bleach, to vinegar, to lemon juice. I was hoping for the later to work as we have an abundant supply of lemons in our garden and can't consume it all for fear of developing a stomach ulcer! Then I tried spraying the good old eucalyptus oil, as well as putting moisture traps everywhere.  Unfortunately, I've discovered that none of the above keeps the mould at bay. Every three weeks it starts to flourish again. So if anyone out there knows of an eco friendly remedy for mould, please let me know.

But the sun is here again, at last. That should keep the spores down for a while, hopefully!

We enjoy warming up on his comforting rays on a cold morning.

This winter hasn't been as cold as last year though, probably because of the cloudy and drizzling days.

The coldest night so far was 5 degrees and the coldest day was 15 degrees. Old Benny was on the whole day, keeping us comfortable.

Going in the garden  was impossible, as the constant drizzle was very annoying. But the veggie garden is doing very well I must say.

The cherry tomatoes have been growing up to 2 metres high and I have to stake them again and again because of the strong winds we've been having. It's a constant battle with the elements! The lettuces  have plumped up, pad choys, bok choys, sliverbeets have been on the table almost every night.

The broccoli  gave us some pretty healthy dinners, but has now gone into flowering, and I don't think it was worth it, as it takes too much space.

Radishes exploded… literally… And the carrots… I'm starting to pull out a few now, are so sweet and delicious.

The garlic seems to do well. Hard to know what's going on under that rich soil. I can't wait until November when it's supposed to be ready. That's an experience.

The eggplants also got a kick out this weather.

The French beans and the peas I planted didn't do so well unfortunately, but the snow peas are now starting to climb vigorously. So are the snake beans that sprouted from last year's.

And the broad beans are now flowering. But again the wind is  pushing them down, and I have to fix their support every few days. I've never seen broad beans growing and I wonder how tall they will end up to be…

We're getting a few flowers on our avocado tree and macadamia nut tree. The peach tree is also covered with blossoms but no leaves… I will have to remember to install fruit flies traps if we want to enjoy our peaches this year.

The strawberries are also doing well but we only managed to eat one so far, as Freja has developed a liking to them and gobbles them up even before they've ripen. I'm thinking about making sign that says "Freja's Strawberry Patch".

The banana trees are getting higher and we now have 5 suckers growing . Hopefully we will get fruits (one day!)

As well as pawpaws, which have finally started growing and have 4 flowers on one of them. I am doubtful as to their well doing however, because of…. You guessed it, very windy...

 And the bees are back into the Brazilian cherries tiny white flowers and entertain us with their constant buzzing.

I will have to make cumquat marmalade soon, as Svenne is very fond of it now and our tree is covered with fruits all year around but specially at this time of the year.

The calliandra,  gazenias, marigolds and gerberas add a splash of colour in our green environment.

 The grass is still growing and will need mowing this weekend.

I almost forgot to mention the weeds.  Ah! the weeds! Especially the clover is invading everywhere I haven't mulched. We will go and buy a hay bale soon, if we manage to fit it in Svenne's van, as the trailer is still full of sand and gravel for the next concreting job.

But some of the weeds are very pretty and it seems like a shame to pull them out, don't you think?

As always we value your opinions, so please leave your comments. Thank you! 

Winter on the way

Temperatures at night have gone down to 5/9 degrees and during the day go up to 19/22. But thanks to "Old Benny" we  are still comfortable inside at night sitting on 22 degrees.

The sun-rises though, look totally different ... from foggy…

To steamy...

We all look for the sun in the mornings including Freja.

Always looking for the most comfortable spot. She probably doesn't understand I put her bed in the sun to air it…

The ducks are still in the water. Looks cold though!

Last Sunday we could hear the crackling sound of fire coming from across the lake.They were burning the scrubs. I could only snap the smoke but we could see the flames from out vantage point on the roof.

The next morning a blanket of smoke was hanging over the land.

We dug out some of the cassavas planted in July last year. But its not on the high list of food for Svenne, he likes his potatoes better. Typical Swede... Oh well, all the more for me!

First harvest

Second harvest

We took a drive to our old camping ground "Kauri Creek" on the other side of the lake. Our aim was to look for fire wood... Only found one log! But we saw that Tinaroo dam is still over spilling .

Driving back through a back road we thought that it could be a short-cut… Unfortunately it brought us back to exactly the same spot where we started. But the scenery was worth it.

Marika came to visit  a couple of weeks ago. Her little tummy is growing! It was very nice to catch up with her. Pregnancy suits her and she looks fabulous.

I handed her the blanket I finished.

On with the next crafty project… A blanket for us and I'm pleased to say that I'm already half way through!

So many projects... So little time!

Beginning of Winter

June is our first month of winter in our part of the world.  It is usually the dry season but things still grow.

Flowers…

Lichen…

This curious "thing" growing on the macadamia nut tree, we think is a bird's nest, but haven't seen any birds around it.

And of course the veggie garden…

Svenne dug out all the way to the caravan for the sewer (28 metres trench). Need I say it again? Our soil is rock hard!

I completed the second stage of my project and planted bushes and ground covers. Hopefully it will grow as well as the weeds!!!

The next stage will be the steps. How any more stages to go? Well 6 in total… I plan to be finished by the end of winter. You can't rush these things.

And at the end of an arduous day? We enjoy a well deserved rest in our garden...

We also take the time to enjoy the view of the lush pastures next door.

And I usually take a stroll around every morning to capture these striking jewels that adorn our garden.

Of course our roof dog is still up there…

Guarding the place and looking ferociously at people who turn in our driveway!