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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Oh, Barry

Nothing simple living about this post, just a bit of comic relief.

As a treat for my birthday Tony and I went along to the Powerhouse Museum last Sunday to catch Mr Barry Morgan from Barry Morgan's World of Organs in Adelaide. Regular viewers of the ABC's show Spicks and Specks will be familiar with Barry and his wonderful organ. I have to say the show was hilarious, almost like being in an infomercial. Heck there was even a set of steak knives throw in for the person lucky enough to purchase Barry's wonderful Hammond Aurora Classic.

Check out Barry on Spicks and Specks sharing the love.





To top off the night our car got locked into New Farm park, my fault for being in a rush and not reading the signs. We managed to get out, just had to drive along the walkway / bike path to the road. Beats paying the $40.00 council call out fee for opening up the gate. Shhh....don't tell anyone!

Have a great weekend
Cheers Lisa

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Under attack

Just when I thought all was going well in my tomato patch.


Yesterday I discovered that my Rouge De Marmande tomatoes are being devoured by some caterpillar beasties.....argh!! Initially I was a little worried about the plant as I think it has some type of disease (black spot, wilt?). We had a busy day on Sunday and I didn't get out to the vegetable patch for my usual daily check. Monday morning came around and I was out there watering and checking when I came across this.


Anyway after a bit of a chat with google, I sprayed all the tomato plants with garlic and chili spray and today I'll get some Dipel and try that.

This year I have eight tomato plants growing, two of which I purchased as seedlings. The Tommy Toe is at least 2.5m tall and still growing, fruiting like crazy. The second one purchased is a Pot Prize, such a sturdy little plant. The rest are all volunteer tomatoes, the Rouge De Marmande from last year. I wont be growing it again as I think it is best suited to cooler climates. A Roma tomato and two mini pear shaped tomatoes, I know they are from a Diggers plant from last year plus a mystery tomato.




Summer is really upon us now so I don't know how my tomatoes will fare with the heat. I'm thinking I might invest in some type of shade netting to put over the garden beds. It's so disheartening seeing all the plants wilting away from the heat.

On a positive note, check out my tropical apples, this year is it's first proper crop. On last count there are about thirty apples on the tree. Whilst they look lovely, taste wise they are a bit on the tart side and appear to have been stung by some type of insect. I'll have to look into a suitable type of organic spray, any suggestions?


How is your garden growing?

Cheers Lisa

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Buy Nothing New Month - final update

This is the first year I've participated, as I rarely buy new things that part was easy. The challenge I set for myself was to buy nothing unnecessary for the month, this is where I came a little unstuck. As I mentioned in my previous post I needed supplies for the garden, all for food production, so extra compost, potting mix and mulch was purchased. Oh and a few seedlings, all grown from saved seeds or cuttings. I felt justified that this was OK, I wasn't buying cheap imported unnecessary stuff, that would either fall apart after wearing a few times, be out of fashion next season or break. Did I bend the rules?

Buying nothing unnecessary was a little more difficult, I tried my best but fell down in the final weeks. Blame it on a funky looking garage sale on the way to the organic markets. Normally I don't bother with garage sales however this one had so much wonderful looking stuff we couldn't resist. Then there was the quick stop at the local Lifeline shop on the way home, again I couldn't help myself. Actually I did restrain myself, there were heaps of things that I liked but didn't purchase.

Anyway this is my little stash for the month, some unnecessary but all secondhand.




I can hear you already, not more sewing patterns and vintage sheets



Two genuine vintage shirts

I didn't take photos of the never used expanding bamboo trellis or the three brand new fowlers preserving jars.

Tony and I are on a savings mission at the moment, he's given up junk food for a month (I know, one of my pet hates) and I'm really trying to not spend at all. I'll definitely be joining in Buy Nothing New Month next year, actually I'll just keep going in the same vein till then.

Hope you have a great day

Cheers Lisa