Summer

Summer is certainly here! We have had some really hot days here, well at least for us! Inverell usually has much milder weather and I am hoping that there is only another couple of weeks of the stifling heat and humidity to go..... really hoping. Got into the car at Tamworth yesterday and it said it was 36 degrees celcius. That's hot.

But it also got me thinking about what reminds me of Summer. For me it is watermelon, sprinklers, cricket and tennis on the telly, tomatoes, zooper doopers, sound of cicadas and the smell of bbq's.



Yesterday's cherry tomatoes from the garden.

Hard to believe in less than 8 weeks, we will be looking Autumn in the face. Still we have a lot more Summer to enjoy. I need to build another vege garden and it will be in a spot that gets nearly all day sun, work out how to make a compost pile, which seems very technical, and get my worms back up to maximum eating. I am counting on lovely weather on my week off to make these things happen, I think Dave has a list of his own too like fixing the leak in the shed and digging out the fairy garden. Only one more week till our week off work!!! Can't wait!

Wet and Lazy Sunday

I wish I could say I have got a heap of stuff done...but I can't. I did go to the markets this morning, but there weren't many stallholders today and who can blame them with the drizzling raing of this morning? I did go to the tourist info and get some brochures on some possible holiday destinations and I did go and price the collar we need for Mum and Dad's fire. So I guess I did something.....

But it has been reading weather. And I do love to read, so I did do that! I read the first two books in the Dexter series, I have never seen the show but both were there at the library so I nabbed them. I also have a sewing book to look at and a cooking on the cheap book. Guess what I am going to do tonight???

How did you spend your (rainy) weekend?

Hello Winter!

Wow, the second day into winter and it is certainly letting it be known it is well and truely here...Brrrrrr!

I can tell it is winter because......

 The cherry trees leaves are all gone - but do make a colourful spot in the the yard!

 Asparagus is dying off, as is the basil living near it.

 The garlic is already up and about! My little green soldiers.

 Broccoli is getting hammered by caterpillers. But I am now winning since I am doing a pick and squash daily.

 Our house painting still hasn't been finished. I am sure it will be done in another month.....or so!
 

 Now this has nothing to do with winter but I scabbed this from Mum and Dad when they were going to throw it out. I am going to fix the broken bit, paint it and hang it on my fence. I really love it!

How can you tell it is winter/summer at your place??

Around the Garden

Beware that some of these photos might be a bit off centre, my camera has decided to take pics but not show anything on the display screen so you dont know whether you have actually got the photo you wanted to take. Noice.These gardenia's smell absolutely lovely every time you step outside.

This is a dwarf pumpkin, it is more of a bushy type. It will be interesting to see how they go.

Cucumber growing. A few things such as this and the zucchini seem to have not grown as much as last year. I think it is to do with the huge amount of rain we have had. Hoping that now the weather is looking to get back to normal we might have a bit more oomph.

Beetroot. I always seem to have some.

Capsicums - both normal and purple varieties

Turning purple.

Beans have too been slow growers. They did get a lot of rain not long after planting which I know is not a great thing.

Cherry tomatoes - you can see out homemade fly traps.

Zucchini - I have for but not one zuc yet.

Lots of squash though.

The garden is looking good and with a bit more sun will be a lot better. Cross Fingers!

The Rain

Over the past days we have had a LOT of rain. A real lot.
McIntyre River - it had broken it's banks

Trying to get a pic without getting drenched!

Drowned backyard.

Happily today is about 29 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Cracked

I have been participating in Gavin's Great Kilowatt Challenge and we have been doing pretty well. On average we have been using 8 kw per day, i know this because even when it is pouring rain I have been standing out in it to get my daily readings. Such dedication!

Yesterday we even managed a day with only 7 kw usage, which was great. However, after five days of unrelenting rain last night I cracked and used the dryer. Yes I am ashamed. I havent used it for at least three weeks (maybe even four?) but last night I couldn't walk pass the mountain of washing without doing something. Dave reckons we minimised the usage by only putting it on late at night.

So it was on for two hours and I will just have to suck it up and deal with it. It will be interesting to see how much the usage will go up and whether it uses the phase three bit.

Yes I am doing more washing as I type but I am going to get Dave to string up a line in the garage. Which I am aware I should have done yesterday but I am telling you its a MOUNTAIN of washing!!!! LOL.

December

Today is the first day where I have actually felt hot. Its not that dry baking heat that usually comes with the summer here but a sticky humid heat that has probably come from all the rain that has been about. Ick!

On a happier note I did some power shopping after work today and have all done my christmas shopping except for going into one shop. I feel much better now and only have 3 things left to make and they are easy peasy so I am good.

Below you can see I finished all the girls' bags. What do you call a group of bags? A stand of bags? A baggle of bags? Anyhoo this is them. The Barbie one on the left is Ellie's .... shh don't tell!

Here is our tree in front of the double glass doors so you can see the lights from outside at night.

Wes made me 6 of these place mats in art class. They are done with lino. I think they look very good and usable! Wes didn't want to pose with them - again!

Amelia ready for her Christmas presentation day. Do you like the skirt? I made it!

Eye spy with my little eye something beginning with Z.

Dave with his Sensei. See his black belt?

Rain Again

I am getting tired of the rain. I know its a good thing but it would be just lovely if we could have a week or two of nice weather before the next lot of rain. Water is just sitting on my lawn.

This is a pic of the carrots and silverbeet. The silverbeet have been giving and giving, they were the first thing planted and are still going. Amelia's flowers brighten the back corner of the yard.

This is where the brussell sprouts grow. Those little round things are brussell sprouts.

I finally found two cauliflowers in the garden, at first I thought they were cabbages that hadn't hearted!

This is the plot for my cucumbers.

My tomatoes that Mum bought me.

Hilled potatoes that after this rain will need to be done again.

My potted herb garden, well the start of it with mint, basil and chives.

Raining Again

It raining here again. I just braved the downpour to read the rain guage and we have had about 24 mm overnight. The water is just laying on the ground as we have had so much that it just doesnt have anywhere else to go. I see the river has started creeping up again, I use this to see the river level.

I have to work all day today, so I am hoping that it rains all day and then we have a lovely sunny and warm weekend.