green love.

oops, seems as though i missed my weekly posting last week... trying to post on a tuesday isn't working sooooo well for me at the moment, we seem to be getting up later and later in the mornings, and tuesday is now mother's group meet up day.
so important for the sanity to be able to chat out baby issues with fellow mummas whose babes are around the same age and stage as ag.
anywho, i'll give mondays a bit of a go for the next little while he he.

today i thought i'd give you a little update on what's growing in the garden... with VERY little input from myself to be honest. i sprinkle a bit of water around every now and again (as does mum thankfully, otherwise i'm sure everything would've perished by now!) but i haven't really planted anything new for a VERY long time... everything seems to be thriving though and we're getting little bit and pieces of food here and there which is ace!

bb and i picked up this finger lime tree in the months before ag came along (feels like a life time ago he he) and i didn't have high hopes for it to be honest...



it's thwarted all my expectations though, with a beautiful show of flowers, and a few little weeny fruits too! we'll see if they actually grow into anything edible he he.

the corner where the finger lime is growing, with all my other pots, is looking pretty happy too...



what a collection!
the fig is growing great guns and will need re-potting in no time. and the raspberries? well! i've had a few little nibbles from it. delicious!
there are a few roses amongst the edibles too, and they're occasionally putting on a beautiful show which is always a delight!
and the two avocados i recently moved from the windowsill to out here seem to be enjoying the outside life, phew! must remember to keep an eye on them when it gets a bit cooler though... i've heard they're not fond of frosty times.

just next door to the pot collection above, is this little pocket of greens...



a rainbow spinach plant, a couple of holey kale plants (thanks for that caterpillars) and a rocket plant. here's hoping the caterpillars leave them well enough alone to let us get a few feeds off it ourselves!

we've popped some nets on a couple of the strawberry plants in the hope of getting to eat a few... but for the most part the birds are too clever...

they get a pretty good feed from them too, as the strawberry plants are EVERYWHERE he he. here are a couple more on the herb garden near the cockatoo aviary...



i've got a plan to paint up some little rocks as strawberries to try and dissuade the birds... will let you know how that goes he he.
in the mean time, we have PLENTY of herbs to munch on! check out the sage and basil. both are SO much happier since moving into this planter box when we moved out here, they were originally in little pots when we lived in melbourne. happy herbs!

and to pair with that gorgeous fresh basil, tomatoes!



like last season, we missed the boat on planting tomatoes, but not to worry as they came on all by themselves once again he he.
i'm particularly proud of this one, not only did it self seed, but it's sprouted itself right under the mandarin tree, and is using it as a trellis.
the mandarin tree is by far our tallest citrus tree, topping about 3 metres or so i think... and you'd better believe that tomato plant is growing right up and out the top!

there are a couple of other that have popped up in and around the veggie garden too, so here's hoping we get a good little supply from them all.

now i'd best drag myself home, i popped out to a cafe to write this up, but i'd best be off and get to dealing with the mammoth supply of zucchini that we've been collecting from the single plant we're growing. what would we do if there were multiple?!

zucchini slice and brownie and fritters coming up!

what's growing in your patch at the moment? any suggestions for zucchini gluts?

progress report.

seeing as how we are EXACTLY halfway through the month, i thought i'd best write up a little update on how my february plans were coming along...



the socks for my brother are done!
i was tossing up whether to put them aside for the month of february to focus on my knit-a-long projects, but they were SO close to being done it didn't feel right to leave them... so i powered through them instead!
i got to give them to him over the weekend and naturally couldn't wait to snap a picture of them on. they even fit quite well thankfully!
the fit calculation on the pattern is second to none, both pairs have yielded supremely well-fitted socks.

might have to knit myself up a pair sooner rather than later...

but before i do, there are a couple of other projects i need to be working on...



including this pair of socks!
they're knitting up quite a bit slower than i'd anticipated, particularly after zooming through the aforementioned pair for my bro... 2 and a half weeks thank you very much!
the twisted rib is definitely a bit time consuming, but i am LOVING the way the yarn is knitting up, it is gorgeous and just. so. lush!
plus, the finished product will be really well fitted on the leg with all that ribbing too!

project number two is coming along a wee bit quicker though...



and it's almost a complete opposite of the socks. where the socks are tight and firm, this shawl is open and drapey. it's lovely to have two contrasting projects on the go simultaneously to be honest.

i'm up to the slow growing part of shawl knitting though... where you have so many stitches it takes QUITE a while to get a row done, but i'm trying to get a good few rows done every day to keep it ticking over. and it's certainly coming along nicely!

i'm not sure how i feel about the colour however, not sure i'm really a cream girl... it might just end up in the dye pot. we'll see!

are you knitting-a-long in the kanga kiwi kal too?

taking stock.

taking a minute or two to take stock with pip to fill you in on what's been going on around here.

making - a shawl, and socks, and too many plans.
cooking - quite a bit actually... after a quick stocktake of our freezer, we realised we had a fortnight's wort of food in there. lots of home cooked meals for us!
drinking - way too much soft drink. must cut back really... it's just so delicious and is also a nice caffeine hit (i'm not a coffee drinker...)
reading - too few books. need to put the barefoot investor on hold at the library after a recommendation from some friends yesterday, and to work my way through the pile on my bedside table too!
trawling - gumtree. always. currently looking for a wardrobe for ag. we're moving him into our bedroom in the next few weeks and need somewhere to keep all his duds. which reminds me, i had plans for a house tour, perhaps that can be next weeks post!
wanting - to spend a little bit less time reading rubbish on my phone. might be time for a little social media detox again perhaps...
looking - into a few different ways to bring in some cash... and stay home with the baby. bb is too! so nice all being home together and hopefully we can keep making it work.
deciding - on what to do for the weekend. a few family members are coming down this way so should be nice to catch up!
wishing - teleporters existed already. or self driving cars were mainstream... i like to visit friends in town, but it is a BIG drive!
enjoying - ag being almost 5 months. he's so delightful and for the moment, almost exactly where i left him.
waiting - on the washing machine to finish. washing is pretty neverending hey?
liking - that even though the summer veggie patch is pretty pathetic, we're still getting a few bits and pieces on the daily.
wondering - what the future holds... not sure why though, things will happen the way they will happen.
loving - having so much freedom. my days are pretty much whatever i'd like them to be... with a cute tag-a-long to boot.
pondering - which cast on to use for the socks i'm intending to cast on tonight, i want them to be nice and stretchy to fit over my heel and ankle nicely... these ones fit me really well, and are easy to get on and off, but do you think i noted down what cast on i used? nope! fool!
listening - to ag chat while he plays with his toys next to me. delightful!
considering - making some baby clothes... have you ever? any recommendations?
buying - way too much food while i'm out and about. need to be more prepared to save our dollars for more important things!
watching - call the midwife. feeling recovered enough from birth to be able to watch it now he he.
hoping - the dishes get done while i'm out later this afternoon... one must always have hope.
marvelling - at how much has changed in our lives in the past year. this time last year, we were 9-10 weeks pregnant, and only vaguely contemplating
cringing - at what's going on in the states at the moment. and feeling grateful we're so very far away!
needing - to streeeetch. our dining chairs are not the most comfortable to sit and type on he he.
questioning - our needs, constantly. particularly when the wanties hit.
smelling - veggie curry. or what's left of it after i finished eating my lunch. delicious!
wearing - jeans and a jumper. in february. go figure.
noticing - how much dirt is on the floor. i think i could happily vacuum everyday, except that i hate vacuuming.
knowing - ag won't be almost exactly where i leave him for much longer. in the time it's taken me to write this much, he's done a 180 on his play mat...
thinking - about dinner. the thoughts of food are constant. i've only just finished lunch!
admiring - zero wasters... slow steps nicole, slow steps.
getting - a bit annoyed at myself for continually forgetting to drink water. it's really important.
bookmarking - yoga videos, chocolate pudding recipes, baby onesie patterns. all of the things really.
disliking - poosplosions. just when you think you're safe, bam!
opening - and shutting the pantry door. nope, still no chocolate in there.
closing - the lid on the washing basket. if i can't see you, you're not there dirty washing.
feeling - a bit itchy about all of the things that are lying around here in the kitchen... 10 minute tidy up is imminent!
hearing - the wind picking up. this weather man...
celebrating - a birthday on the weekend hopefully, with the family that are coming to visit, looking forward to it!
pretending - the baby isn't still in his pyjamas at almost 2 in the afternoon... he is. no shame.
embracing - slooooooow tuesdays after big mondays he he. pyjamas and all.

what have you been up to recently? care to take stock too? there's a blank list over on pip's post!