Blankets, seeds and all the usual stuff...

Hey there!

I always seem to have more plans then I can keep up with. I started knitting a cardigan for Raoul, but then the Doctor and I went to the Harry Potter exhibition and they had Harry and Ron's beds...this blanket on Ron's bed, knitted by Mrs Weasley, inspired me...

...to knit one for the Doctor. So I'm trying to knit both. The blanket squares are so much easier as they are smaller, one stitch and I don't have to concentrate so much. They also aren't as heavy. The cardi is weighing my bamboo needles down so much, I'm worried they might break. These are the squares already completed...

I probably only need a gazillion more.

The seeds I planted a couple of weeks ago are doing well. The lavender have their second leaves and the parsley is growing like there is no tomorrow...

I saw some metal buckets at the hardware store today, very cheap, and wanted to buy them, but had no reason to, so didn't. Then an hour or so later, I discovered some Flander's poppy seeds at home and thought they may look brilliant in metal buckets. So, I went back and bought three (I tend to buy in threes, I'm not sure why).

Raoul punched holes in the bottom and filled them with compost and soil (I'd usually do all this on my own, but I've done something to my back so I can't bend or lift much...that said, Raoul fell down the back stairs the other day and twisted his ankle and knocked himself out, so it was good of him to help). I topped that up with seed raising mix and tossed in a bunch of the poppy seeds, so hopefully, at some point, they will look really amazing.

I've also decided to try to grow some Rosemary from seed. I may end up with none or 30. I'm hoping for 30...but half that would be brilliant. I also filled a tray with Tuscan Black Kale seeds. Which may be too much, but I can give away healthy plants.

And to finish off...my dream potting shed...

Ciao for now,

Ms. Whatsit.

Umbrella Days...

Hello There,

It has been raining for what seems like forever and it turns out that the wellies I bought online are the most comfortable (and practical) shoes that I own at the moment. The track that runs along the Nepean River where I sometimes like to walk has disappeared under the water that has overflowed from Warragamba Dam...

My mother, in her ebay craziness, bought me an umbrella which arrived today, and, I must admit, it is one of the best things she has ever bought me. Not because I need an umbrella, but because it is black on the outside.

Boring right? No way! Inside it is a rainbow!

I love it. I want it to rain tomorrow so I can use it. I can jump in puddles, really deep ones, in my wellies and keep my head dry with my own private rainbow (and yes, apparently I am four years old).

The constant rain is causing strange things to happen. Flooding, yes, that goes without saying. But I didn't expect the pumpkin vine to try and escape the ground...

I really hope a pumpkin doesn't decide to grow up there...aside from the risk of getting hit on the head, how on earth will I get at it to make soup? 

And the bean tepee actually has some beans on it! I really didn't expect it to. But it has, so hopefully we will get to eat them before something else does. Unlike the chillies. I have no idea what has gotten to them, but I kind of hope it suffers from the heat just a little bit (only a little bit though).

Ciao for now,

Ms. Whatsit.

Finished!

Hello!

It's finished! The ugly outdoor setting is now covered in plastic wrap until it can be placed in our very own garden. But before getting all wrapped up, it posed for a photo. Ta da...

I'm actually quite happy with how bright it is. After renting in bland beige houses for too many years to mention, I want everything bright and individual when we finally have our own shack to decorate.

Other projects for the house I have on the go at the moment, are 6 rosemary plants that I propagated from cuttings from my cousin's rosemary plant. I dipped them in honey and placed them in a fairly loose potting mix (of my own creation)...Here they are originally...

And, I am pleased to announce, that after six months, they all grew roots and have been planted in slightly bigger pots, and they have all added a couple of inches worth of growth.

{they are the little ones}

With the herb garden in mind, I am trying to grow at least 6 English Lavender from seed. I have lots of little sprouts in each pot, so this may have worked (crossing all fingers and toes that are not broken). And 12 pots of parsley. And some more thyme and sage. I may also try and propagate some sage from my existing plants when the weather is better due to the success with the rosemary and it's just, if not more, exciting than growing from seed.

That was my weekend.

Ciao,

Ms. Whatsit.