Free

It’s been a restful weekend… BBQ with friends, time with hubby (child free!) and the knowledge that I’ve finished exams, and just need to wait on results to finish up…
The back garden’s populated, although I still need to put a few more things in…

back garden

Different varieties of tomato, with herbs and strawberries at the back..

back garden too

More marigolds..

The rain we had recently has been good for the garden..

I’ve not been particularly well for a while lately, but I feel like I’ve turned a corner.. had a lovely sleep this afternoon – no aches/pains or nausea.. beautiful!

It’s a good start to the week 😀

Published in: on October 20, 2013 at 9:30 pm  Comments (1)  

Halfway Down The Century

It was Hubby’s birthday today – fifty years down (fifty more to go!)
There was a joint party/BBQ last night with another friend turning fifty, and time spent with other lovely friends, with the kids running round the playground after dark… a good way to celebrate. 😀

Today was the actual birthday… Hubby splurged on a new guitar and case (because he’s worth it 😉 )

guitar man

guitar man 2

guitar case

I foresee an increase in music sessions in our near future…

In other news, he also dug and planted our front herb garden..

front herb garden

The basil in the back has been there a while… the rest is a little wilt-y, but water and a good settling in should fix that.

lavender, rosemary, marigold

The edge of the garden is a line of lavender and rosemary, and you can see one of the marigolds (for pest control – we have about six in the front) I think that’s one of the thymes at the back. There’s also sage, parsley and chives (also good pest control)

The planter out the back is still in need of plants, but that’ll be done this week – tomatoes of differing varieties, and some of the same herbs as the front..

Wonder what excitements the next fifty years will bring?

Published in: on October 14, 2013 at 8:14 pm  Leave a Comment  

What’s Growing?

Still haven’t put anything into the planting box yet… we’ll pick up some seedlings at the markets on Saturday.
I did (finally) clear up all the old pots with dead sticks and dry dirt..

plants - pots

Ready and wating for new inhabitants!

It was a bit hot today, wasn’t it? My little pot plant garden seems to be doing well, though..

plants - strawberries

The strawberries have picked up..

plants - hyssop and succulents

My fresh, new hyssop plant 🙂

plants - aloe vera

The aloe vera is a bit sad… it needs watering a bit more regularly, and to be thinned out. The neighbour will be getting the biggest one, so that should help.

plants - mugwort etc

Citronella in the corner, mugwort on the end, and a tiny tree we transplanted from the last house – it grows beautiful scented white flowers. Needs a new pot, though.

plants - southernwood and chocolate mint

Southernwood and chocolate mint.

plants - corner

Here’s the corner garden!

plants - seeds

Seeds ready for when we get potting mix on the weekend..

plants - citronella cuttings

My citronella was growing straight up, no branching out.. I’ve chopped it off, and put these cuttings in water to see if they grow roots… should be useful for summer..

Looking forward to a greener view from the patio!

… and how does your garden grow? 🙂

Published in: on October 7, 2013 at 7:46 pm  Comments (2)  
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Planting Time!

We now have a raised planting box in the back garden…

planting bed

So far, we haven’t decided exactly what’s going in there, but it’ll be of the edible variety 😀

In other news – Spring has sprung!
I’ve had a dead looking hyssop plant in a pot for ages… I was just about to throw it out, when I realised there were new green bits growing..

hyssop

(That would be the green blob in the centre of the photo..)

My chocolate mint has been a bit straggly over the winter, but that’s coming back now..

chocolate mint
(Yes, it really does taste like chocolate and mint!)

I’m looking forward to planning a food garden…
Here’s to growth and abundance! 😀

Published in: on October 3, 2013 at 11:32 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Science Fiction Future And The Sweet Birthday Boy

Yesterday we went to South Bank for littlest bean’s birthday day out. We spent the morning at the Sciencentre, where they had a special exhibition on Science Fiction, Science Future. We all had an “augmented reality wristband”, which we used for “medical”, “career advice” or “DNA” scans (I was missing a brain in the medical scan, but could upgrade my memory chip… I’m apparently suited to a career in teleport engineering, though.) There were various interactive exhibits, promising that we could “move objects with your mind, turn invisible right before your eyes, be mimicked by a life-like robot and see augmented reality in action.”

This was the centrepiece at the entry..

Here’s littlest bean on the teleport pad..

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.. and here’s what happened after..

There’s a look at a holographic future..

… and the chance to be invisible..(something to do with light refraction)

After a picnic lunch, we went to South Bank, where the boys swam, and I lay down on a bench, out of the sun, and had a snooze…
Here’s my view of the afternoon 😀

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A good day was had by all!

Here’s littlest bean, signing off, and showing everybody that he’s “10” years old.. 😀

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Published in: on September 12, 2013 at 5:57 pm  Leave a Comment  

Bouquet For Today..

flower

flower 3

flower 2

Published in: on August 27, 2013 at 8:59 pm  Leave a Comment  

At The Markets..

Went to the markets at Springfield today… will probably write more tomorrow – a good book is calling me 😀
The boys played, or browsed the stalls, hubby helped out with the busking for a bit, I sat with my hibiscus iced tea and listened…

Springfield markets

A good time was had by all! 😀

Published in: on August 24, 2013 at 9:51 pm  Comments (1)  

Coffee And Instagram

Went out for a little- bean-free date today – had a lovely time!
Also, I have Instagram!
I don’t really know how to use it – it’s just a jumble of “let’s try this!” 😉

Here’s the jumble! 😀

U P shelf 2

A random shelf – full of yummy things!

U P door

The backdrop to our table.

U P food

Food! We had a gluten free coconut/caramel cake.

U P lanterns

Large ironwork lanterns..

U P drum

A mini tableau.

U P door and drum

What you see as you come in the door 😀

We went to Urban Pantry, which I have been reliably informed has the best coffee in the city.. Check it out next time you’re in town!

Published in: on August 23, 2013 at 10:40 pm  Comments (2)  
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Books..

You can never have too many 😀

books

A while back, Hubby was speaking to a friend with a son who is a reluctant reader. He suggested a parent reading out loud before bedtime as a way of fostering interest in books… seems son now can’t wait for the latest chapter, and is on the edge of his seat waiting to see what comes next – even if he’s seen the movie based from that book 😀

I don’t think books will ever go out of fashion…

Published in: on August 19, 2013 at 11:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Coffee Night

Out for a coffee tonight (or rather – hot chocolate and chai tea..) We haven’t been able to go for a while…tried last week, but everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Tonight we had a bit more time to play with, so we enjoyed it 😀

hot choc
My gorgeous hot chocolate, with gooey, melty marshmallows included..

hot choc scene
The scenery.
It was quiet tonight – not too good for the vendors at the street markets, but nice for us. 😀

Published in: on August 16, 2013 at 8:15 pm  Leave a Comment  
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