Gardening Bliss!

It would appear, that my winter work of feeding and tending to the weeds, is beginning to pay off... Do you agree?

Front Rose

Front Rose Garden

I am now about to start tending to the vege garden, and after topping it up with some soil from the path installation and with some well rotted manure, I am expecting some hopefully good return on my tomatoes, corns, lettuce and so on... Time will tell!

Hoo roo for now...

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The PATH is finished!

Well, after the interruption thanks to the feral tom cat, here is an update on the pathway to the spa... As you can see, it is now a matter of brushing in the sand to fill the little cracks in between the pavers to lock it all together. Thankfully, the rain we have been having is washing it in for me, all I have to do is keep bringing a shovel load of sand up and spread it out and then with my broom, sweep sweep sweep!

Completed Pathway Brushing Sand

After a couple of times of doing this, I swept it all clear and got this shot, just to show you how it looks. YES, there are a couple of little lumps 'n' bumps, but these are really minor and looks good against the rustic nature of the heritage house! Also, it what you can do with secondhand paving bricks!

Completed Pathway

So now, all that's left is to keep on levelling the sides, letting the grass fill into these areas and start mowing the lawn. Not to mention, feeding it up nicely so as it is green and lush, nothing better than a nice green lawn!

Hoo roo for now...

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I've WON (finally)!!!!!!!

Here is a couple of the pics I managed to get before I took the White and Ginger Tom to the RSPCA. Here is a summary of how it all came down for him...

• I was late in feeding Jasmine, as I had an afternoon ‘nap’ after doing the pathway to the spa. So I fed her and went back to bed to watch some TV.
• I was no sooner in bed when I hear the ‘thump thump’ in the upstairs study. This is normal when Jasmine comes in, but as I just fed her, I knew this was not the case...
• I waited more than a couple of minutes before going upstairs and CLOSING the window as a preemptive strike to capture him.
• I then, walking through to the lounge/kitchen closed every other door I could.
• He was being somewhat cornered by Jasmine over by the kitchen dresser in-between the two doors to the veranda.
• They quickly had a hiss-off, and he took off back upstairs.
• I quickly followed, but stopped to put on some track pants and a jumper, JUST in case!
• Coerced him back downstairs, but now cornered into the hall, he saw the wooden door opened (screen door closed) and headed there... Oh thank you!!!!!
• I then closed the wooden door and he was now in ‘custody’!

Now overnight, he had a couple of ‘how can I get out’ moments, but he eventually quietened down. In the morning, I called Council, who directed me to the Cat Protection Society and some others, but all being closed for the PH, I called the RSPCA. I was told that I could surrender it if it was a Feral; which I believe is the case. So I went for a bit of a door knock just to be sure! Nothing availed, so it was now a matter of HOW do I get it into something to take it to the RSPCA!?!? I thought of a box, and found one after taking out some of Louise’s old clothes I had packed. But, just HOW do I get it into it, ask it nicely and an offer of some food perhaps?? NOT likely!

• I opened the wooden door and put the box in, I also had some of Jasmines dry food in there as I am now of the belief HE has been eating it!
• He jumped up to the VERY top of the screen door.
• I grabbed a broom I had and he attacked it like it was like nothing else!
• He eventually tired, as did I, and with him sitting on the floor, in-between the box and the door, so it was a matter of NOW or NEVER!
• I got the broom at the ready, and with the speed of, well, an anxious 40 something bloke wanting to secure the capture of a feral cat in his house and PUSHED the box cornering it inside... YEE HAA!!! I had won!
• Now it was a matter of how do I close the box... I looked, and thought and looked some more. I eventually found two plant trays, one for the top and one for the bottom. I took them, and grabbed my rope to tie it all together...
• BINGO, cat inside, all tied up and I was on my way...

When I got to the RSPCA, I had to sign some forms, and they took him away, but I had to wait. 30 minutes later, she came out and explained that after a long battle to get him out quietly, they had to put him to sleep (not the ‘Green Dream’) to get him out. They bought back my rope and trays, and I was off...

So, there we have it, he’s gone and hopefully, no more Tom Cat Spray anywhere!

Makeshift Feral Cat Carry Cage SIDE

Makeshift Feral Cat Carry Cage FRONT

Feral Cat LOCKED away

Hoo roo for now...

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Flowers in the Garden...

Spring is just around the corner, like yesterday it was 22c here, and there are a few things flowering in the garden, and a few things getting ready to flower! First up, is an Abutalon Spp:

Abutalon spp

Next is a Daphne Spp that I was given just after L died last year:

Daphne spp

Here we have a Japonica which is basking out the front yard in the lovely winter sun:

Japonica

Now I really like this shot of some Snowbells against L's Mimpi:

Snowbells on Mimpi

And finally, some orchids, Cymbidiums that we have:

Cymbidium spp

Cymbidium (Dwarf) spp

Hoo roo for now...

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TREE update...

Overnight, we had a lot of rain and wind gust's up to 107klm/hr! This worried me a lot overnight, and so, I did not get a lot of sleep... I think I was checking it every hour or so!

Syd Radar 2082010

I was checking the Internet, and I have found a replacement for the OLD Hills Hoist. They are very close, they are even Galvanised Iron like the original ones!

So this morning, I was able to clear access through the garage and remove a small temporary fence I had installed to stop Macc and the neighbours dog going at each other under the MAIN fence. And sooner than I expected, I had a knock on the door from the tree loppers here to do the job; or at least, make it safe! They trimmed the fallen branch, and then proceeded to remove some of the other branches that were now in danger of falling down onto the neighbouring fence and garage.

Leaning Tree

Tree Workers

Pole trimming

Mulching1

So now I have it safe for now, and they will be back later in the week to complete the rest of its removal. I am now about to order my line and make some lunch!

Hoo roo for now...

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Crafty Tree!!

Well, it has been a tough couple of weeks lately, mainly as I have had a pinched nerve in my right arm, which has been extremely painful... But, after treatment late last week (x-ray, physio and acupuncture) and a nerve conduction study today, next week if symptoms persist. Physio will continue tomorrow, so we will see how it all goes!

Anyways, I wanted to post this last week, but was unable to type, so here it is now... Years ago, when L started to follow crafty blogs, she got to know and purchase some items. One of her first purchases was from Kristen. Well, recently she (Kristen) was featured in the Sydney Magazine. I found this out after tweeting about my passionfruit vine and I delivered some to her. Over coffee and a chat, she talked about the photo shoot. The article was great, and as it turned out, part of a feature showcasing three crafty bloggers... L was following ALL three of them (but I have only scanned Kristen's page)!!

Sydney Magazine 29072010

If you want to read the FULL sized scanned article, read here!

And so we get to this morning, after a WONDERFUL nights sleep, which was relatively pain free, I came out to get ready for breakfast, coffee blah blah blah, and when I looked out to see Macc, this is what I saw!

Golden Cypress

Now the old 'Hills Hoists' are just about indestructible... That is, until they meet a Golden Cypress that is!

Hills Hoist

So I am now calling tree loppers, Council for approval to remove the remaining tree (leaning at around 10-15 degrees)... Oh, I have also moved my NC Study, and physio so as i can be home to get these done!

Cypress Down to house

Hoo roo for now...

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A busy few days...

I know, I haven't posted for MORE than a few days, but in my defence, I have been busy! From general stuff back at work, to dinner with the girls who USED to work with me, delivering Passionfruits to blogging friends and visiting other friends and babies, then onto football (AFL) for my God-daughter and then getting my car cleaned and dropping off the SIL birthday present, and that was JUST the weekend!

Here are some photos from the dinner night out:

Mel & Clare

Stir Fried Prok Belly Geri choose

And from the AFL on Sunday morning:

AusKick 20 06 2010

Breanna Footy

Breanna Footy

AusKick 20 06 2010

When I got home yesterday, there was an Official Post Delivery Card in my door, saying that they had tried to deliver a parcel, but I was not at home... So, today after work, I went down to the local Post Office to collect my package:

My Parcel

My Parcel INNER

My Parcel in bedroom

Now, it's NOT where it was going to go (funny how when I was away, I had thought it was longer and was going to go somewhere else; but when it arrives, it just seems smaller...) so I decided to put it between the dressers and the bed. I think it looks fine here anyway!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, I have an appointment in the afternoon that should be 'interesting', so lets hope it goes well.

Hoo roo for now...

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New bed is now complete and a parcel...

Thursday afternoon, I got a phone call to say that my new mattress had arrived, but due to my illness, I was unable to collect on that afternoon, so Friday was collection day! I could not wait and thanks to a mate, it was collected on Friday morning!
It was no sooner home and on the bed, and I knew I had made a fantastic choice, or at least, the girl at the shop made a great choice for me!! Seriously, I was so looking forward to the evening to come just to try it out! When I got the new frame earlier in the week, I put a new quilt cover on but didn't change the sheets. Today though, it is all new bedding, sheets (not yet flannelet, but an in between as it isn't that cold yet), pillow covers and a blanket and quilt cover... Doesn't it look heavenly?

New Bed Mattress, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I also got a surprise parcel in the mail on Thursday... It was from my friend M in the USA, and it had me very perplexed as to what it was... It said on the cover, "Seasoning Mix" but I was reading it Seasonal ? and was wondering HOW it got through Quarantine, until I had a CLOSER look! So, as they do it in 'Border Security' I deconstructed the parcel ever so carefully so as not to do any damage, and what did I find? I packet of Cincinnati Chili mix! But I dare NOT try and cook it just now, not with my condition... I already have the runs!!!

Mystery Parcel Unraveled, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hoo roo for now...

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French Doudou...

Whilst we were away, we stumbled across a little market area on the way down to Notre Dame, Paris. It was quite a nice little market, and one that L would have been at for some time! Now it's no surprise at all to the regular readers (and to those of the old blog we shared), that she liked to collect handmade toys. See what I mean:

L's Crafty Toys, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Anyway, in keeping with this 'tradition' I thought it best that as we found these "Doudou's" from "Sweet Millie" that perhaps I will get a pair for the angle babies...

French Doudou (Crafty Toys), originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Also, after a few weeks prior to leaving for the trip, of technical difficulties with Skype and the modem (long story), my new modem arrived the other day, so now I am just waiting to make a call on Skype to test it out! But so far, it seems to be going OK (shhhh....)

New Modem, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

And whilst I have been laid up for a couple of days now, in the rain (boring), I have been trying to update a lot of stuff on the blog, files at home etc... I am hoping to hear of news any day now for another research trip, this time to Germany and Denmark. This trip should only be for a week to ten day total, famous last words, right!

Hoo roo for now...

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Whilst I was away... And now that I am back!

As was widely reported, there was a little volcano that was causing all sorts of grief around the world for travellers, and thankfully, that was NOT us.

However, the other day, I was emailed some amazing pictures from this event, and rather than email them around, I thought I would share them here. Now, I have absolutely NO IDEA who took these, but suffice to say, it was NOT me!

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV11, 2. IV10, 3. IV09, 4. IV08

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV19, 2. IV18, 3. IV17, 4. IV16

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV07, 2. IV06, 3. IV04, 4. IV03

Iceland Volcano, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

1. IV15, 2. IV14, 3. IV13, 4. IV12

Since coming back, I have been having a few little technical gremlins with my Internet, nothing serious, just really REALLY annoying! As a bit of a 'back story' I have Skype, on both my PC and my laptop. Now originally, this was great, but then I started to get a gremlin in the system. When EVER I used the laptop and Skype it would cause the modem to freeze. Freeze, is not really the right word here, as it becomes VERY hot to touch! And then on Friday night, it froze again, but this time, there was a slight smell of smoke coming from it... So it is now turned OFF (I only turn it on to use Internet for a VERY short period of time...). I am talking with my ISP today, and hopefully, I will be getting a new one as this one is barely 12 months old, under warranty!

Hoo roo for now...

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