About Me

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Life on two acres of arid dirt, on the edge of the Australian outback.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Testing photos

I have adjusted the size of my photos and I am just testing to see if they are okay...so far so good :)

Millie, 
is getting older by the day, 
she is now fourteen, and slowing right down.  Her sight is failing, hearing is gone, she can still smell as good as ever. There are no teeth to speak of, and her back gives her trouble with arthritis but...if she can convince someone to throw a ball for her, she can still chase that no problems! 


 Talking with dad...
wonder what she is saying?
I bet it has something to do with a ball lol!


Sunset...


The full moon 


 Today's pickings...


We have had another hot, humid day with 40C (104F).  A storm is brewing outside, with thunder and lightening.  Fingers crossed we get some decent rain this time.

Have a lovely weekend, 

xTania



Thursday, November 29, 2012

Just a quick hello


Following on from my last post...
I have thought it over and will probably buy the extra photo space for my blog.  I haven't had a chance to look at flickr etc as I have had too much on this week...

Today is a scorcher with a hot 43C (109.4F) so I wont be doing too much at all.  Need to keep an eye on the veggies and chickens to make sure they have plenty of water through out the day. A cool change is expected later on, although it is still meant to be very humid tomorrow with 36C (96.8F).

It's my 50th Birthday this Saturday 1st December (cant believe that I am announcing that!). I will be celebrating with a get together and meal at our favourite venue with family and friends.  I am looking forward to catching up with everybody, and...
  Here's to the next 50! 


Be back real soon...

Wishing you all well,

xTania

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Where have I been?

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  Blogger isn't playing nice and is not loading photos for me.  I get a message that I have used my quota of photo storage and I have the option to buy more space if I want.  I am weighing up my options at the moment, and hopefully I will be back here very soon...

xTania

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Today in the Veggie Patch

This weeks pickings included
zucchini's and burpless cucumber...


~Out in the garden~

 The morning sunshine...


Looks like a nice day ahead...


the
 sweet potato vine is escaping...



Queensland Blue...
I planted seeds from last years pumpkins and they have germinated successfully.


Watermelon...


Rock melon, 
or as we call it "sweet melon"


 Eggplant is getting bigger...


so are the capsicum...
I have planted a rock melon seedling in the middle :)


Onions and leeks almost ready to harvest...


 Sweet corn and apple cucumber...


Kale...


 Amish Ox heart tomatoes...


Potatoes...


From this plot, I have pulled out the Brussels Sprouts as the aphids were getting out of control.  
No sprouts = no aphids!
There are a couple of poor broccoli plants left behind that were buried among the sprouts.  Hopefully they can grow properly now.  I have also planted some watermelon seedlings in there too.



I dont think the soil is quite right in this plot. The plants tend to go yellow, but the cucumber is still growing and producing.  The plant in the middle is a self sown Nectarine tree.  Will need to dig it out soon and put in a pot for relocation...


Baby burpless...


 Last seasons carrots, with the new seedlings sown for the next crop...
A bit later I will be putting more seeds in the  spaces...


Mixed variety plot of
spring onions (that need removing), broccoli, cucumbers, a watermelon seedling 
and one lonely beetroot...


Another mixed plot with more potatoes, spring onions, apple cucumber, last years capsicum, a tomato plant and two sad strawberry plants...


 Self sown tomato plant...


 Dwarf beans...


The little beans are just starting to show...


 The zucchini's are growing and producing really well.  I would say I have picked twenty of these already... I go out first thing each morning and pollinate the flowers...




This plot has celery, silver beet, rhubarb and a cucumber plant in there somewhere...


 Broccoli and silver beet...


Have picked most of the lettuces...
and planted a couple of rock melons seedlings in here...


 Yippee,
 I have managed to get a couple of ox heart tomatoes seeds to sprout! 
My mum gave me some seeds as she had great success in growing them.
Hope I dont kill them now...


We have had some very interesting weather with very hot days that were followed by a fantastic storm that passed through the other night.  Lightening, thunder and a bit of rain.  The rain gave the garden a much needed boost.  Thankfully we managed not to lose any plants in the hot weather or the storms.

What are you growing in your garden? Do you grow your own veggies, or do you prefer flowers?

xTania

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The week in progress...

Today the heat has up it's intensity, 
with our temperature due to be 41C  (105.9F)
It has been very warm to hot this past week and will continue for a few days yet...

I can feel the swimming pool calling...Hubby has cleaned it so it is all ready to go :)

We are having some beautiful sunsets!


 I have put the shade over the veggies...


 Picking lettuces and zucchini...


Making stir-fry's from the garden...



Yum!


 The Hippy's are out...


Beetroot and carrots...



 And the biggest job of all...






 Pickling the beetroot...

Five hours and twenty two jars later...

The light coloured ones are beets too!


What about you, what have you all been up to?

xTania