Done!

A tribute to Toscana. Pines and lavender. First things first. The terrace was turfed and the garden planted. The Posi machine was amazing. Its engine snapped into action and in no time at all the terrace was top dressed with deep brown, organic, soil. Stephen looked the professional with the levelling frame. The sleek metal struts slid across the soil's surface. The last black grains of gave way to reveal an immaculate level terrace. No time to dally. Posi had already left and had rolled back up the road to collect pallet loads of Kikuyu. Quick check of the burn pile at the bottom of the slope (that's multi-tasking for you.) Posi's tracks were heard rumbling back along the drive. Ten minutes tops! Fascinating view. Cling wrapped sods of turf stacked onto the pallet before us. Muscle strength now. No machine; heft, carry, drop and unfurl. Repeat. Heft, carry, drop .... all sixty metres. Puzzle-like grass strips in varying shades brightened our day. Transformation complete. The brown was gone and the green was good. Several trips to the nursery. Twenty lavender pots, several ferns, lots of potted colour and six large feature plants lined up with the pencil thin pines. The goal- to have all bedded and watered before the sun set. Success. Twa's done. A little taste of Toscana in our backyard.

Jobs To Do List!

I try to avoid lists but sometimes it just happens and a long list somehow begins to form on my page. It's Saturday morning am I am making a list. The list reminds me of things to do this weekend. The list tells me what I need to buy, jobs to do in the garden, housework jobs and it sits on the desk waiting to be extended. Hopefully this is one list where I can check things now completed. The 'machine' will be back after lunch. Its bucket will place the soil on the new terrace. The 'machine' will come with turf to cover that soil. Instant lawn! As I have a list I will have remembered to buy the pots and the many plants to turn the edges into gardens. Instant gardens! As I have a list I will be reminded of all the inside jobs that I have not done today. Perhaps I shouldn't have added them to my list. I have noticed that lists serve a purpose but unfortunately my list is the only thing that I'll serve today. When I check my list tonight I hope to be looking at newly laid turf with garden beds along its borders.

Happy Birthday

Sunday was Jeni's birthday; such a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. There is something about balloons, candles and cake that enlivens the mood. Grey clouds and puddles not enough to dampen the day. Alain had spared no effort. Marinated chicken wings and drumsticks to excite the appetite. Barbecued mussels and prawns for starters. This was followed by a mountain of steak, sausages and salads. Convivial company; what more could we want? Birthday cake. Never to old for candles and cake, Jeni blew out her candles with unsurpassed grace whilst the onlookers sang the traditional chorus of Happy Birthday. Was that Anne's pavlova that I had seen arrive earlier? What should I choose? Sometimes one tires of making choices so the only option was, of course, to sample both. Hmmm, they were both delicious. The fireside's warmth enticing. How difficult it was to bid farewell! Time to go; the reluctance obvious. I do like parties and Sunday was no exception.

It is definitely not a triffid!

A few years ago we replanted the garden beside the pergola and slowly and surely it took shape and recently one of the plants began to flower. What a flower! Its huge. Does anyone know its name?

Italia!

Gingham cloths, candles, geraniums and thirty people. All these things, were the essential ingredients for the neighbourhood Italian night. Menu listed and log fires lit. 6:15 and it was time to party. Ten courses, not sure if I could go the distance but I gave it my best shot. Plates and cups piled and stacked ready for each course. John's shed more than capable of hosting all thirty of us. Despite the persistent showers of heavy rain everything went to plan. Each couple was responsible for an aspect of the menu. Stephen and I spaghetti and meatballs but I rush past all the other courses prior to ours. Chris and Helen served the soup. Reg partakes of his beer. Trevor and Pete smiled for the camera while Anne and Gary awaited the next course. Later, much later. In fact ten courses later Helen and Pete took to the microphones. Chimea fire warmed the air as did the fine company and good food. Loved the way our community gathered. Good neighbours and good fun.

Fudge and Friends

So many weeks we had toiled in the garden so it was time to take a break and to refresh the spirit. Dolmades, cheese and pate to tempt the palate. A quiet, leisurely dinner, for six, allowed us to catch up, chat, laugh and to break bread. Bread with watercress soup that was followed by jacket potatoes and tender lamb cutlets on a bed of greens. Dessert was a simple fair that lead us to Jeni's fudge and Anne's cheese. Real treats! Bubbles, wine and coffee shared. Thank you for coming. It was time for me to do some much neglected housework and the expectations of visitors just the impetus to drive that duster, push that mop and hoover the carpet. Flowers too! We solved the world's problems in a few hours. I look forward to our next meal.

Stand Up and Be Counted!

Census night. Stand up and be counted. Technology certainly is wonderful. Gone is the perplexing old fashioned, paper, Census, booklet. Wonder how Joseph and Mary would have appreciated the technological era? No donkey, no inn, no star, no camels or Wise Men. Error 900 and then error 550. First error code was explained and simple to resolve. However, the second, code, 550, did not appear in any of the lists of errors. A rapid response email message to Census, online help. No yet answered but as that issue has now too been solved, no problem. Questions, check boxes. Who needs to know all this? Beware, if you insist that your family develop some sense of understanding of the system then I suggest, with the benefit of hindsight, that children should log on only after parents have completed their personal details. Why? Good question. Daughter was most eager to enter and upload her details after me and she now has made it almost impossible for other members of the family to show their familial relationship. Simply stated, husband is now trying to respond and upload his personal details to discover that 'it', being the computer, wanted him to explain his relationship to Person 1 and Person 2; his own daughter and wife. Check boxes had not considered that people may log on outside of family age order. Were there pop ups that should have been read? Were there embedded links that were missed? Look forward to the next Census and of course I don't mind if my information is archived for 99 years. Hyperlinks here I come!

Spots and Stripes

How exciting to see the cushions on the now capped, retaining wall. How far should one go when it comes to cushions for outside use? I'd like to think that any cushions would do but those who know me well would suggest that coordination factor is critical. Essential! With all the cushions that we own I wanted to see the visual appeal, once arranged. What combinations have the greatest impact? I have cushions with stripes and some with spots while others were purchased for inside? Dilemma; I have 10 that work well together but I need another 10. So much time has past since initial purchase matching is probably not going to happen when I shop for more. Don't even want to consider the word eclectic as far as fabric choices and design are concerned. I want this to look just right. I have Stephen sitting on the bench as I seek his input. I realise that he possibly is more rational and believes that it is 'just a cushion.' However, his patience is noted and appreciated as he sits resting after another really arduous day in the garden for both of us. From the cushioned seating and for my feet to touch the ground I have to sit on the lowest point in the whole wall. Go figure. Today I rediscovered how short I am. You think that I would remember that sort of thing. Perhaps I should only invite really tall people to come to visit and sit and enjoy the view with me; otherwise, as host, I may have to give them my preferred seat. My estimate is that at the tallest end of the wall that only people over 6 feet will be able to sit with their feet on the ground. Next, I'll probably need to consider the offer of additional little steps for those like myself, to reach the dizzying heights. When does it stop or is it all about the view?