Carport Capers

Those of you who have not visited for a while will remember the chaotic carports that have been rubbish sorting places for many years. Even before Surrey died, the second carport was full of crap. Above is a more recent photo of the second carport and the water gardens just beside it.

These are more photos of the messy carports.

 

The mess is no more in two of my three carports. Kim and I finished the carport capers at midday today. Here she is enjoying a sit down after a very humid morning getting my next area tidied.

This carport is now my potting shed. I have a few more cupboards from Geoff's old kitchen still to come yet and need a bit more carpet for the front section. I also need to work out a way to store my garden tools so they are out of the weather and easy to access. Suggestions welcome. I will also be constructing a woven bamboo wall on the side behind me and will grow some climbers up it.

The first carport has been functioning well as a clothes drying area now for some time but I have now been able to tidy out the last of the rubbish. The clothes line has been put under here and I can hang out washing even when it is raining. All that is left now is my firewood at the back in various buckets and containers. It is all nice and dry for winter.

Progress is slow as always but eventually Kim and I have a day together and finish a section. It is most rewarding. 

Thank you Kim.

Alex is now a Joey!

 

A Coat Workshop

Lyn Hewitt ran a Bog Coat Workshop last weekend. It was fascinating making a reversible coat from two rectangles of fabric sewn together.

The best bit was that instead of using two bought fabrics we could create our own fabric from bits we had. I used a panel that Geoff and Jen bought me in Japan, some grey fabric I bought at a quilt shop in Vermont (flood affected and very cheap) and a length of navy blue that Surrey and I bought in Hong Kong for some long pants for him (I only ever made the brown ones we also bought).

Here is the reverse side of the coat. I think next time I will make a shorter one because it looks and feels a little long on me. I might also make a longer one as a dressing gown. I am still using the one I bought in Marks and Spencers when we lived in London in 1983! That says something about quality!

I stayed the night with friend Lynne and we had a long, relaxed catch-up. Thanks Lynne and Lyn.

Fun in the pool at Janice J's

Last weekend the whole family enjoyed a gathering at Janice's. We started the day with the kids in the pool, Geoff acting as life saver.

Rod was life guard and entertained the boys by throwing them in.

The boring adults just stood around watching (including me) but it was great entertainment.

Underhill Harvest in February

Early in February Elaine, Geoff and I went down to Underhill to harvest the rest of the fruit. The damsons were so prolific that I am still cutting them up and making jam. Five trays at least two or three damsons deep makes for a lot of cutting up.

I've now got it down to a fine art. Card table in front of TV as Surrey used to do but I don't watch the cricket. I watch one of the many DVDs I have and have never had time to sit for so long. Currently I am watching two series of The House of Elliot. Cut off one cheek each side for jam and use the remainder for jelly to add to the jam when I cook it. That means less cuts on my thumb and a quicker job in the long run.

We also picked plenty of apples from one of the trees (Five Crown I think) and a few from one or two of the other trees. I'll chop these for jam. I've already added some to my first batch of Damson and Apple Jam.

Then there are quinces and peaches (probably for jam) and quite a few pears for eating when they eventually ripen. They ripened well at home last year so I'm hoping they do so this year as well.

Holiday Entertainment

Well the school holidays are now over but oh what a time Alex, Luke and I have had, sometimes with Mum or Dad, sometimes at their place and sometimes at my place.

There were four on the lounge and the little one said ....

Alex and I went to the Australian Museum to the Dinosaur show where we met a Muttaburrasaurus from Queensland.

He coloured in a dinosaur and dug for bones.

He tried to catch the huge virtual crocodile as it swam along the table.

Another day I went with Ellen, Alex and Luke to see the Hairy Maclary Show at the Opera House. We all enjoyed it imensely. We followed this with a ferry ride to Cockatoo Island where we had a quick lunch and a little walk around before catching the ferry back again. We had a great day.

At Ma's house the boys stayed over and we made houses for their favorite toys.

Watching the boys front step foundations being dug and the footings poured was a whole day's entertainment.

The really fun part at the end was trying to fill the purge pipe with water by filling the downpipe. Long hose extensions, lots of water, getting wet was all part of the fun.

Underhill in January

I went down to Underhill for a quick trip in January to pick fruit and check things out. There were peaches, plums, apples and damsons all nearly ripe but I left most until my February visit.

These are D'Argen prune plums. I picked a few to take home and they ripened beautifully. Perhaps I should have picked them all.

Pears were not ready.

Damsons are usually picked in February.

I had picked most of these plums in December when they were still yellow but I left these to see what would happen. They are not fabulous but OK for stewing up. I could leave them all till January next year.

Apples were not ready. I'll pick them in February.

This is what I did pick (the quince had fallen).

With all the rain I have quite a bit of grass and the dams are comfortable though not full.

After I had finished my chores I dropped into visit Cal and had a chat about communication options. It was nice to chat and catch up again.

Gerroa Beach Holiday

Beach holidays with friends and family are great! 

We had a great time last week just having fun and relaxing at Gerroa.

There are lots more pics at my Picasa web album.