My Creative Garden Space...

There is not alot on the crafting front here. Well there is but it is rather slow going. The change in the weather is playing havoc on my hands and they are not liking the purling of this knit. 

I have been in the garden.  Trying to turn a pile of  bricks into a herb spiral.  I am getting there.  So far this project has only cost me the soil, straw and the herbs.

Looking forward to getting it finished so I can get the herbs in.

The inspiration for the spiral garden comes from The Nature Learning Centre Blog

Thinking that I might have to cast on something in the round just so I have something to knit when the hands won't let me purl.  For more creativity of the yarn, thread and material kind, pop over here

November...

Where on earth has the year gone???
We are now 5 weeks from moving.  Have I started any Christmas preparations??? NO
Have I started packing??? NO
I have alot to do in the next few weeks.

I am hoping that this Christmas Planner will help me out.

I purchased the PDF file from The Organised Housewife and hoping that with her help I might be organised (we can always dream)

I have also made a section for the move.  So everything can be together and get lost together.

Did you follow along with any of the Buy Nothing New Month in blogland.  I am thinking of joining the BNNM a month late, better late then never.  My aim for the month is not to buy anything new when it comes to Christmas presents, there are some things that I will have to buy for the men in my life (that is a whole other story that I may share one day)  But I know that I have enough fabric in my stash to make all of the girls in the family a little dress and thinking pj's for the boys.  I am also going to go through and use up pantry and freezer and fridge items, that includes all or most of the condiments.  It all helps in the packing and unpacking that will occur here in 5 weeks (eeekkkkk!)

If you would like your own little Christmas Elf to help you along the way - they are $14.95 and I think that it is the best money I have spent in a long time - I have done nothing - but feel so organised. Organised Housewife: Christmas Planner

I am also going to join in with The Christmas Challenge.

Organise Me in 2011!

Well I can dream.  Every year I have huge plans and they last about a month.

Next year however, with my eldest heading off to Prep I feel that I need a little help.

I have a pile of things ready to help me - fingers crossed.

A wall calander that is split into 6 people (enough for must families - or so it states)  It also allows me to have a row for visitors and family things that I need to remember.

A Diary, Planner, Journal that I picked up the other week from Office Works for $20.  It is divided into days and there is even a few rows that read unexpected tasks completed  Any list loving person would have to love that.

And a finally a little diary that I picked up from KMart for $2.  I thought that it was the right size to pop in my handbag if someone told me something while out and about.  The plan is that it would be transfered to the wall calander on returning home.

Now to hang the Calander (it is a 15 month one and started in October)  and clean the desk so I can lay out the organiser and keep it open on the current day.

Earth Hour

At 8.30pm tonight hundreds of millions of people from more than 120 countries and regions across every continent will come together for Earth Hour in a moment of unprecedented global unity to show the way forward on climate change.

As are many bloggers all over the world.  One, EcoMILF is turning off her appliances for a 24 hour period.  I had though of doing it - but being home alone with two tweenies this morning I have already turned on the TV for the morning cartoons and pushed the button on the kettle to enjoy a hot coffee.

The list continues, the toaster has been on.  I have put a load of washing in the machine, need to iron something to wear today and well the hair on my head needs help.

Add to that the phone that needs charging, the home phone that is always plugged in and the computer that I am sitting on.

When you make a list of it, it looks huge doesn' it- I could continue.

So today I am going to turn the computer off. We are heading out to the park and to a fete at a local school so we will walk.  I would like to go into the city and if we do that we will catch the train.

The dishwasher can be left off today as will the dryer and the floors can go dirty as the vacum and steam mop use that wonderful power source as well.

We are having a BBQ for dinner so using the nations natural gas source and the lights and appliances will be turned off for at least the hour between 8.30 and 9.30pm.

What have you got planned for Earth Hour.  If you would like to join and sign up for your chance to win a solar panel set up for your home, make sure you go here.

Getting Back to the Basics

You may remember me starting this callenge last year.  With the move (that happened in November) and then the horrid neighbours that we have here I have not been really into the garden (and the depressing fact that our yard is so small here) But enough is enough.  I need to snap out of it and my DH and I have been chatting over the past few days about what made us happy with our last home and the garden came up a few times.  There are others out there that garden in small areas and so I just need to put my thinking cap on and get a little creative with the area that I have at my disposal.

So it is going to be a busy week.  I will work out what seeds we have and am about to make a trip to the nursery to get the soil and maybe even a few seedlings to give us a head start.

•Sowing seed or Planting 
Observing - Neighbours have a passionfruit vine that has grown over to our side of the fence.  I have been fertilizing the flowers and have been told that what grows on our side are ours (how nice of them!) 

I planted basil, parsley, oregano, mint, corriander and rosemary (also planted Thyme - but I lost it) -  it has been lovely walking out to the front garden and snipping these to add to our meals.

•Planning for The Future - Planning meals around what is in season and on special at the Markets

•Working for the Future - DH made a batch of Tomato Sause with 9kg of tomatoes that I got nn special - yummo.

•Building Community - Have found a local playgroup that is attatched to the Kindy that Amelia is attending.

We have found a local church and feel at home there.

Sent an email to a friend that I have not spoken to in a while - will call her next week.

Went to the local Farmers Market down the street yesterday.

•Learn a new Skill - Trying to work out what to plant in Sub-tropical Qld.

Hoping that these things will help us make this house our home.

Back to Basics - Week Two

So it looks like I will get around to this post every two weeks. Will see you I go, but that is a good as start as any.

If you would like to see more of these challenge posts then please pop over to Belinda at Getting Back to Basics.

IN THE GARDEN

Sowing Seeds
Onions
Shallots
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage (Sugar Loaf)

Harvest
Thyme
1 Mini Watermelon

Maintenance
Watering of garden beds and herb garden
Relocating the herbs
Observing herbs for any return of cabbage moth
Dealt with Mice - bought these little plastic things that you shove int he brick spacing to keep them OUT - yay - got to be happy with that.

Observing
Pumpkin vine
Tomatoes -Dont seem to be ripening - there are plenty on them - will look into what I can make with them (ideas welcome)

PLANNING/ WORKING FOR THE FUTURE
Dried Thyme to add to dishes at a later date

BUILDING COMMUNITY
Made a double batch of spaghetti Bolognase mince, Biscuits and Cake for a friend who recently lost her husband. (even if they sit in the freezer for a while - they will be there when she has a bad day)
Made lunch and went for a drive out into the sticks to enjoy there company.

LEARN A NEW SKILL
Learnt how to format the blog so I have a header that can be linked to - thanks for letting me know that this could not be done Belinda. And many thanks to all those that helped. Becca - it was your suggestion that worked.
Double knitting - I had no idea.

Back to Basics Challenge - Week One

Well after the start to the year that I have had I am ever so pleased to say that I have started to do a few things around MY house. The garden was VERY neglected over the past 3 or so months and I am surprised at just how well it has stood up to the heat and lack of water that it has received. But, It is full steam ahead at the moment. Tim is away for the week and when he gets back we will re fertilize and mulch the garden in preparation for the winter vegetables. I want to have alot in there and be eating alot of our own vegetables over winter as this will possibly be our last winter harvest for a few years with the next posting most possibly having us head NORTH!

As I mentioned a few weeks back - I am going to join in with Belinda's Challenge of Getting Back to Basics. So here is my very first post and update for myself of the garden really. If you would like to join in the fun and to see more of Belinda's posts go here! (She also has the participants down the side of her blog)

IN THE GARDEN

Sowing Seeds
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Leeks
Lettuce
Shallots

Harvest - Not much, but happy all the same
10 cherry tomatoes
1 Mini Watermelon - not as sweet as I was hoping - probably has alot to do with the lack of water that it received whilst we were away.

Maintenance
Watering of garden beds and herb garden
Cutting back and dealing with cabbage moth on the Mint
Dealing with plague of MICE

Observing
Pumpkin vine - looking very much like a butternut - lets hope that it is a nice one as it has
grown from the compost heap
Tomatoes -are having another flowering season after the recent hot weather.

PLANNING/ WORKING FOR THE FUTURE
Reviewing budget and seeing where else I can save a $

Purchased $20 voucher from Woolworths at the end of the grocery order. As we are moving at the end of the year and alot of the stuff we can not take with us (ie: fridge and freezer will have to be eaten down and fully restocked at the other end) I thought that by purchasing a voucher with the grocery order would help at the other end.

Tim is collecting resources and supplies to build us a camper trailer.

BUILDING COMMUNITY
Attended family day for defense families.
Attended our church's new playgroup - hopefully there will be more children next week. Will
look at attending every second week.

LEARN A NEW SKILL
How to be brave in front of Amelia and Baden in the dealing with mice - these creatures are not my furry friends!

MY EFFORTS TO BE FUGAL
Made name tags out of a plastic milk container.
Made a batch of Citrus Vinegar Cleaner. Recipe from here. Lets hope that it was worth the wait.

Getting Organised!



This year I am going to attempt to get myself organised. I know it is already the middle of Feb - but I have only just got home - and know that I will be heading off again soon.


The other thing that is prompting me to get organised is I know that we are being posted out of here at the end of the year. Yes another move. Yes, house number 7 in 7 years! Mad really isn't it.


For the last few months of last year I worked on the house with the help of Domestic Guru. THis women is my godsend. I am not a good house wife and would rather be sitting sewing, knitting or something else crafty instead of having a clean and shinny house. Let just say that I am getting there - the 50 item pick up days are amazing.

I am also going to join Belinda in her quest for a simple life and getting back to the basics.

I will attempt to post weekly - but maybe fortnightly is a more managable goal.

This is what you have to do: report weekly or fortnightly on the topics of
*Sowing seed or Planting
*Planning for The Future
*Working for the Future
*Building Community
*Learn a new Skill

If you would like to join in on the fun - head over to Belinda's Place and let her know. She would love to hear from you.

I will begin with my first post on Monday - this gives me a few days to get organised and work out what I need to do.