BHG Live - Somewhat of a non-event

Yesterday afternoon we went to the Better Homes and Gardens Live event at Sydney Showground yesterday. Really; it was a glorified Home and Food Expo with occasional appearances from the tv presenters ('though not the host of the tv show!) Think Sydney RAS Easter Show dome exhibits without the arts and craft sections, far less fresh produce and a "steam mop", "magic sweeper" (according to the kids this is very much different to a "swivel sweeper" but I couldn't see it,) and "sham wow" or similar on every corner and my goodness, way less seating in the eating area than anyone could've imagined possible. We ate our lunch (bought from the cafe there) sitting on the floor near the cafe; along with several (maybe 40-50) other people in what seemed to be a kind of systematic dance for available floor space.

D had agreed to come along with me and the children on the basis that the advertising had stated that "children's activities" would be available. There was, of course, no mention of their being an extra cost for the children's activities. I'm sorry, but to have exhibitors charging people for children's activities (once we saw that it cost $5 PER CHILD to enter the petting farm we didn't bother with the cost of the face painting) just doesn't wit right with me. Having children's activities available is surely a big draw card for the organisers or such an event? I wouldn't mind at all paying a small price per cup for food for the petting zoo or a small cost for the face painting (and I'm talking about $1-$2 each) to cover the coast of materials plus a tip for the facilitators but more than that and I think that someone's pulling my leg... off, literally!

There's good and bad in everything though; the outside area featuring horticultural exhibits was like having a nursery full of specialists rather than your usual suburban "garden centre" where the staff know a little (or very little) about some of their stock. I bought some Lilium bulbs (Oriental and Christmas/November Lilies) a blueberry (for Dawson he LOVES them and let's face it, who wants to pay full price for blueberries?!) and a couple of bromeliads. We were lucky enough to be around when the Debco people were pulling apart their display and were gifted some basil, chives and (I think) oregano (D actually got those and they're in a bag that I haven't opened yet!) Some lovely little bonuses for my Kitchen Garden.

Food doesn't count for BNNM; does that include food plants? Can I stretch it to include plants? THey're kind of an investment right? *blush*

This list was inspired by could've been better Better Homes and Gardens.

Kindest Wishes,
AJ

So much grass so little time...

Here's another small section of the back yard.

At the bottom of the first photo is actually an L-shaped section of path (yes, a path that leads to nowhere.)

At the front left of that photo you can see a small patch of dirt where I have started pulling the grass to try to create a garden space. There's a small part already done at the back of the compost bin too.

Speaking of the compost bin; it was one of my greatest finds to date, someone around the road from here had decided that they no loner had a need for it so I bought it home in pieces, rebuilt and for the grand total of $zero had a compost bin. I've wanted one for a long time but always thought the cost of buying one would be too high.

I've been thinking that I need to put plants around the bin to disguise it; both it's appearance and it's smell(which is actually not too bad.)

Looking at the front garden a couple of days ago I couldn't help but be disappointed at how quickly the chamomile I bought has grown. I know that seems like a strange thing for a gardener to say but it has grown from about 5cm tall to approximately 25cm (high and wide) in only a month so it's definitely outgrown it's place in that garden.

Looking at the chamomile made me think that I should put herbs around the compost bin; I have the chamomile, a feverfew, curly parsley, opal basil and can, of course get more. I also have two lavender plants which are waiting for removal to a garden with more space and some peppermint seeds.

The third photo shows more grass; what it doesn't show is the sandstone, that's why the grass is so high there, it's growing around a pile of sandstone so can't be mowed! You might just be able to see the sandstone in the fourth photo?

The sandstone was also a great find, via Freecycle, the amount that is there (enough to fill a 6x4 trailer) would've cost me a small fortune to buy and I'm very reluctant to invest any real money into a rented property. My initial intention was to build a pond with the sandstone as a border however I am now going to use it to create a border around the planned Kitchen Garden.

First things first; there's a lot of grass to be cleared (as you can see) it's been way too hot today but hopefully I can get some more cleared this evening. I love daylight savings! 

This list was inspired by the backyard jungle.

Kindest Wishes,AJ

A Day in the Sun...

We had a wonderful day out with friends today; some old, some new, all great.

I had a great afternoon playing with my new (second hand) Canon 450D; the first time I've taken fully manual photos since high school (which doesn't count since it was so long ago!) I took a lot of pretty bad photos, some okay photos and a few great photos. I have room for improvement.

The best things about a picnic are...

Kicking your shoes off...

hitching a ride...

trying new things...

the food...

the friends...

flying...

and the kids being exhausted at the end of the day!

This list was inspired by time spent in good company.

Kindest Wishes,
AJ

Under the Pines

Some plants I'm looking into growing under the pine trees...

Hydrangea: I actually have three hydrangeas in the front yard,
along the side fence, two are pink the other I've not seen in flower.
In any case they have not grown well where they are (probably
too much sun in the hottest part of the day) so I should move
them. A move to under the pine trees would mean blue flowers
(acidic soil) which would be nice but perhaps means I would
only move the one which I don't know the colour of the flowers
and move the other two further down the fence into a not so
sunny position.

Cliveas: I have three or four (possibly slightly more now)
Cliveas in my front garden which I could easily move.
Looking at these photos the colours of the cliveas and
hydrangeas together look great, I could be on to
something here!

Hibiscus also like acidic soil and there are a lot of them growing
locally so I'm sure I could grow some with no initial cash outlay,
great for BNNM. There are also a great range of colours to choose
from; pinks, reds, oranges and yellows that I recall from last
summer. Now is the time to take cuttings from them, before they
start to flower again. Once they are stabilised they will grow like
crazy, we had some at a previous home and I used to cut them
back to about 45-50cm high every autumn and they would be
as high as the 2m fence (and often taller) every summer.

This list was inspired by my cats, using the "dust bowl" as a toilet, definitely NOT a great look for the border of a front yard! :o

Furby, Juno and Freya (approx. March 2010)

Kindest Wishes, AJ

Silverbells and Cockle Shells...

Today I have spent most of my day in the garden; the poor green family members have been quite neglected of late, with me having been injured for some time and then looking at what needed to be done imagining that it was just too much. This morning I went out to pull a few weeds and instead spent hours weeding, separating, moving, re-potting and replanting in the gardens.

I currently have three gardens; one contains succulents and a cactus (yes, just one cactus) another contains a hodge podge of pretty little things and a planned fernery and the third was my vegetable garden however it failed dismally over winter due to being too shaded for anything to grow successfully. Over the last month or so the vegetables have started growing again but I've moved them to the back yard where they will get more sun year round.

Today's gardening achievements...

1: Cleared out and levelled the fernery.

2: Planted Bromeliad (left and below Monstera.)
(This view from above the fernery on our little balcony/patio.)

3: Placed Buddha Statue, Agapanthus and mini Agapanthus.

4: Cleared out ex-Vegie Garden, showing the poor winter-dead Purple Capsicum
(and equally winter-dead pennywort and basil!)

5: Dramatically trimmed back Birdseye Chilli bush.
It has many new shoots so I have a lot of hope for it.

6: Spinach and Silverbeet moved into box with Tomato.

7: Silverbeet and Butter crunch Lettuce moved into box
with Sweet Grape Tomato.

8: Silverbeet moved into box with Honey Snap Peas.

Green Beans (planted previously.)

The Buddha statue which is creating a border between the front garden and the fernery is actually a lit fountain that D and the kids bought me as a gift about 5 years ago. It's shoulder was lightly damaged in our interstate move about 3 years ago and since then subsequent moves have seen it damaged further. I have ambitions towards converting it to solar power so I can run it in the garden, it would also require a leaf guard of some kind where the water runs through it. Right now, that's not in the budget (especially since it's BNNM) however I have seen some small solar powered fountain pumps on Ebay for around $25.00 so the idea definitely has potential.



This list was inspired by Katie.
Kindest Wishes, AJ

Halloween Decorating... #1

So, in keeping with the spirit of Halloween; how could I decorate for a Halloween Party on a very limited budget? Here are some ideas I've found...

Balloon Ghosts
Inflate white or clear balloons and cover with a square cut from white sheeting. Draw eyes and mouth on each "ghost" before hanging around the party area.

If you're not on such a limited budget...
Alternative #1: For extra effect insert a glow stick in each balloon before inflating. (Glow Sticks are usually readily available from dollar shops so this shouldn't even add a lot to the cost.)
Alternative #2: Fill balloons with helium for more variety in placement or use as table centrepieces.


Silhouettes
Cut Halloween shapes (jack o' lanterns, cats, spiders, witches, etc) from black paper or cardboard and tape them inside your front window. Tape red and orange cellophane behind the silhouettes before covering the window completely with a white (or pale coloured) sheet. Place a light behind the window for added effect.


Lawn Graves
Using cardboard from old appliance boxes (or styro-foam from vegetable boxes) cut out a tombstone shape and paint grey or black. Use a marker or paint to write comical epitaphs on the tombstones before taping them to a brick and placing them on your lawn (or around your party area.)


Potion Bottles
Fill glass bottles or jars with water and use food colouring to tint the water to a suitably eerie shade. Fill the bottles with potion ingredients such as spiders, snakes, eyes, bones, strangely shaped seed pods, etc.

If you're not on such a limited budget...

Alternative #1: For extra effect place an LED light base under each potion bottle.


Halloween Tree
Everyone decorates a tree for Christmas why not decorate a tree for Halloween too? Use your Christmas Tree if you wish or use some sticks and twigs from your yard (or some you might find around your neighbourhood) planted in a plant pot, bucket of other container. A couple of years ago I made a twig Christmas tree with my children however, since we spray painted the branches a glittery gold it probably won't serve Halloween as it is. That glitter paint was expensive so I've definitely not going to go straight over the top of it. I might wrap some crepe paper around the branches or just find some new branches to use.
Decorate your Halloween tree with fake spider webs (again, from a dollar store), plastic spiders, paper cut out ravens and ghosts (make ghosts similarly to the balloon ghosts above using cotton balls or ping pong balls covered with tissue or sheeting if you have some available.) The base of your tree can be decorated with a gravestone, jack o' lanterns, black cats and other creepy crawlies.
Some dry ice and water in a shallow container would make a very effective base for your Halloween Tree and if you have a cauldron all the better!




This list was inspired by  H  A  L  L  O  W  E  E  N  ! 

Kindest Wishes,
AJ

Halloween Games... #1

I love Halloween; every year I think "We should have a big Halloween Party" sadly it never seems to happen. I don't know if it will happen this year but I've been thinking about it a lot already and most recently have been looking for some Halloween Games that we could play at our party. As we would be entertaining guests ranging from Djr's 18months old through to adults extremely organised games requiring teams and the like would be all together too hard for me to control. So, I'm looking for games (well, activities rather) which can be set up and people can do them as they wish.

Here's what I've found so far:

Pumpkin Bowling

Preparation:

• Gather 3 small pumpkins, 10 clear soft drink bottles, white paint, permanent marker, gravel/sand/water, heavy cardboard.
• Paint the bottles white and when dry draw ghost faces on them.
• Add gravel/sand/water in the bottom of the bottles so they don't fall earlier than hit.
• Mark pin positions on cardboard by tracing pins.

Play:

• Set up the ghost pins (soft drink bottle) as for 10 pin bowling.
• Use small pumpkins as bowling balls.
• Play for fun only, score or set a goal to win a prize (for example, two strikes wins.)

Trick or Treat

Preparation: 

• Gather orange paper or card, Jack O'Lantern cut outs or templates, scissors, marker, bag or container to hold cards.
• Cut out Jack O'Lantern shapes and write on the backs of them "Trick" or "Treat", make only a quarter of the cards "Treat" cards.
• Make a list of "challenges" such as cackle like a witch, flap your wings like a bat, walk like Frankenstein, etc and write one challenge on the back of each "Trick" card.

Play:

• Put all the cards in the bag or container.
• Players take turns to draw a card, if they draw a "Trick" card they must complete the "challenge", if they complete the challenge they keep the card.
• Players who draw a "Treat" card have a "free pass" towards getting a prize.
• Players collect a set number of cards (3-5 depending on numbers) to claim a prize.
• Alternative #1: (for 3-8 year old children) players receive a small prize for each challenge completed or "Treat" card drawn.
• Alternative #2: (for 8-10 year old children) players receive a prize for each "Treat" card drawn. If a players draws a "Trick" card they must complete the challenge and draw again, continuing (in turn) to complete challenges until they draw a "Treat" card.

Treasure Bottles

Preparation:

• Gather: clear bottle/jar with lid, approximately 20-30 small trinkets, fine bird seed or other "filler", funnel, scoop, craft glue, ribbon/cord, pens/pencils, paper.
• Clean bottle/jar and ensure they are completely dry inside.
• Write a list of all the trinkets you are inserting in the bottle (you can use Halloween toys, buttons, beads, charms, etc) so you can create a check list.
• Using the funnel (if required) scoop some seed/filler into the bottle, add about five items then more seed continuing until all trinkets are added and the bottle is filled, leaving a space of about 5cm at the top. (You need to leave space to be able to shake and roll the contents of the bottle so you the trinkets can move to the top of the seed/filler.)
• Use a small amount of glue around the thread of the bottle and cap the bottle. Take care not to shake the bottle until the glue has dried or the seeds/filler will get stuck inside the lid.
• Print a list of all items in the bottle for checking. You can keep the check list separate to the bottle and have players write a list of every item they find or make player check lists where they can tick each item as they find it.
• Tie check lists (or list paper) to the neck of the bottle, include a Halloween themed pen/pencil if you like.

Play:

• Each Player takes turns searching the Treasure Bottle and marking/writing a list of all the items they find.
• Each Player who finds all the trinkets in the bottle gets a prize OR the player/s who find/s the most trinkets wins a prize.
• Alternative: Make smaller Treasure Bottles to give to each guest as party favours or make several numbered bottles for a larger party.

Apple Bobbing

How can you pass up the most traditional of all Halloween games?

Preparation:

• Gather: enough apples for (at least) one for each player, a large, wide container to hold the apples, water.
• Fill the container to about three quarters full with water and add apples.

Play:

• Players take turns at kneeling by the container and "bobbing" to collect apples using their mouth/head only.
• Alternative #1: Make Apple Bobbing more challenging by tying players hands behind their backs.
• Alternative #2: For a further challenge blindfold players.

Skeleton Scavenger Hunt

Preparation:

• Gather: skeleton parts template, card, scissors, marker pen.
• Colour or mark skeleton parts in sets.
• Cut skeleton parts into pieces for hiding.
• Make guide boards (printed skeletons) for players to recreate completed skeletons as they find enough pieces.

Play:

• Hide skeleton parts around the party area.
• Players collect the pieces in their allocated set and race to rebuild their skeleton.

This list was inspired by
 H  A  L  L  O  W  E  E  N  ! 

Kindest Wishes,
AJ

Buy Nothing New Month

Inspired by a friend committing to this challenge I have decided that I shall participate in it also. I have realised I have a couple of new items to pay for on Ebay (silly little fad things that R simply must have) but after those are paid for there will be nothing new this month.

Buying nothing new doesn’t mean going without. Make a Buy Nothing New Month pledge and you can beg, buy, barter and swap for whatever you need, as long as it is pre-loved, but with the exceptions of necessities (including food, drink, medications and hygiene products) you can’t buy anything new.

Further to this I have also decided that I am going to try harder than ever this year to take the commercialism out of our Christmas. Every year I say I'm not doing that again, not spending money in the toy sales, then a month before Christmas and then a week before Christmas, it's quite absurd really! Our children end up with more toys (or "things" as they get older) than they even look at generally and there always seems to be more packaging than gifts at the end of the day. The waste is hideous; not just financially but environmentally, so much unnecessary plastic, paper and cardboard, not to mention the wire and tape and the like.

Prior to the month starting (and totally unplanned) I purchased a large amount of vegetable seeds, unusual varieties and colours of vegetables (and fruits technically.) I'm proud to say they were all from home producers rather than commercial producers and will arrive with hand made labels and packages so I feel less like I've cheated the challenge by buying them just prior to it. Honestly, I didn't plan it that way in any case! Maybe they can be counted as food and none of that matters anyway?

More about Buy Nothing New Month (BNNM) here.

Kindest Wishes,
AJ