Category Archives: gardening

Skinflint Sunday: when your version of gourmet is really just leftovers.

Posted on February 17, 2019 by

I took the washing out to the line and on the way back in I noticed that a few things needed picking. I haven’t yet cut into this zucchini. It looks too fabulous! The Purple King beans are dried out, … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, Fruit trees, gardening, Skinflint, vegetables, wicking beds | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Skinflint Sunday: how the day slipped away.

Posted on February 10, 2019 by

I’m not sure if I’ve blogged here about the new chart I’m doing to try and instil some more productive habits, but a month-and-a-bit in, it’s working like a charm. I had the whole Sunday ahead of me, free of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children., family., gardening, pets, Quality of life, reading, Skinflint, vegetables, wicking beds | 3 Comments

Some links you may be interested in. (Or not – who am I to judge??)

Posted on February 3, 2019 by

This garden may be pretty awful, but at least we’re getting heaps of beans and zucchini. I have 35 bags of chopped zucchini in the freezer at last count, with 8 monster zuccs still on the vine. It makes me … Continue reading →

Posted in balance, Children., friends, gardening, memories, pets, Quality of life, vegetables, writing | 4 Comments

It’s blistering hot, but I’m thinking ahead.

Posted on January 25, 2019 by

Well, the soil in my garden might be awful, but the two things it’s producing lots of is zucchini and beans. I hate mucking around with blanching, so I’m going to freeze my beans using this woman’s technique. It’s low-tech … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, vegetables, wicking beds | 4 Comments

Skinflint Sunday: it’s the little things.

Posted on January 13, 2019 by

Fortunate Frogdancer strikes again! When we moved to The Best House in Melbourne, I brought a lime verbena plant with me that I’d owned for a couple of years. I have 3 lemon verbena plants, but the lime verbena was … Continue reading →

Posted in books, gardening, Skinflint, vegetables, wicking beds | 2 Comments

Water crisis!

Posted on December 13, 2018 by

When the landscaper attached the watering system to the tank at the side of the house, I was rapt. Until I turned the tap and no water came out. It’s been raining all through winter, so I knew the tank was full. … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening | 3 Comments

Boring comes before fun. Sad but true.

Posted on December 9, 2018 by

Proof that my son can use an Allen key! I asked him to send a photo when he put the bed together. 🙂 Work at The Best House in Melbourne has ramped up a notch. The wicking garden beds are … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, pets, Quality of life, renovating, vegetables, wicking beds | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Skinflint Sunday: Free compost materials!! Why wouldn’t you?

Posted on October 20, 2018 by

I’m pretty sure I showed you guys a picture of my sons assembling a tumbling compost bin a few weeks ago. I’ve never owned one of these before. In the old place, I just had a couple of those huge, … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, School, vegetables, wicking beds | 5 Comments

Skinflint Sunday: Buy yourself hundreds of new friends.

Posted on October 14, 2018 by

In my last gardening post I think I mentioned that I’m not overly impressed with the soil that the landscaper bought for the garden beds. My plants are yellowing and not growing well. I’m composting like a mad woman (more … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, Quality of life, Skinflint, vegetables, wicking beds | 4 Comments

What happened after the landscaper left?

Posted on October 6, 2018 by

Lots! I got Francis, my chippie brother-in-law, to continue the side deck around to the door that will one day be my study, but is now Ryan23’s room. I got him to put the step all the way around. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Fruit trees, gardening, Quality of life, vegetables, wicking beds | 7 Comments