It Makes me Smile

It really doesn't take much to make me happy. (Really..... it doesn't!)

Give me my old paints and brushes, a blank canvas, an  easel on the verandah overlooking the garden...

and I'm as happy as a pig in mud!

Inspiration Photo

Painting is a bit like my other passion - gardening!

I can literally spend hours pottering around in the garden - trimming, planting, clipping, pruning.  The time  just seems to disappear.   Before I know it an hour has turned into 4.  I become so transfixed in what I am doing.  It is the best way I know to lose a whole day in the blink of an eye.

And the same can be said for painting.

Ah bliss........

With the luxury of school holiday time on my hands and an inspiration photo planted firmly in my brain,  I set about creating a little field of sunflowers right here in Far North Queensland.

Sunflowers would have to be one of the happiest flowers in the plant kingdom.  They always look like they are smiling!

I was in heaven.

With every stroke I could feel my spirit lifting and the joy in my heart  being transferred to the canvas in front of me. 

Before I knew it..... 

and hour had turned into 6! 

But finally (at last) my little painting was finished 

It makes me Smile!

(I hope it does the same for you.....)

My Transportable Herb Garden

Just had to share this nifty little idea for a transportable herb garden - Job #4 in my recent  "7 Tasks in 7 Days Challenge".

Now as I mentioned,  here in the Valley we are blessed with lovely warm, sunny days - just perfect for growing all sorts of things.   Only problem is that much of my garden is shaded by a canopy of palms and rainforest trees/shrubs which makes the growing of herbs and vegetables a little bit tricky.  

You see, herbs and vegetables need (at least) 5 hours of sunlight a day so I needed to devise a plan whereby I could position my herbs to take full advantage of all that beautiful sunshine.  So for me, the obvious choice was container planting.

Step 1 :  Selecting the Container.

Now I really dislike plastic pots but I needed a container that was lightweight enough for me to be able to move around.   I toyed with the idea of a wooden barrel or a large terracotta planter but I figured that once the soil was added they would just become too heavy to move.  

However whilst wandering through Bunnings I caught sight of this galvanised Drinks Cooler and immediately saw its potential.   Not only is it lightweight and deep but it also has handles - great for being able to grab onto.    

Better still, it only cost $14!

 

Step 2 :  Good Drainage

With my trusty drill in hand (how I love power using power tools!) I quickly set about drilling some draining holes in the base of the container.   (Unfortunately the battery pack on the power drill decided to "die" at about this stage so I had to end up using a good ol' hammer and nail to finish the job).

Step 3 :  Soil Mix

Previous experience has taught me not to skimp on potting mix.  ALWAYS use the best potting mix you can afford  - preferably something with water crystals and a complete plant food.   The cheaper potting mix just doesn't seem to have all the nutrients the better quality mix has.

Fill the container right up to the top and pack the mix down well.   You don't want the mix to be loose otherwise it will drop down too far after a couple of weeks.

Step 4 : The Plants

Decide what herbs you want to plant.  I guess it really depends on what herbs you use regularly in your cooking.   I can't ever remember using Tarragon - so therefore can't see the point of growing it.  However I do use a large amount of Basil and Parsley - so they were obvious choices for me.

I decided to go for Coriander;  Dill;  Basil;  Parsley;  and Thyme.   I bought the smaller size pots - (around $3 per pot). 

Step 5 : The Planting

Space the plants out evening around the perimeter of the container and then put one of the larger growing plants in the middle.   Plant them to the same depth in the container that they were in their little pots.  

I ended up putting Coriander in the middle of the container because it likes to spread out a bit.

Step 6 :  Fertilizer Even though my potting mix had a complete plant food in it - I also added a couple of handfuls of a Starter Fertilizer just to help it along a bit.  

And I also gave it a drink to Seafood solution just to lesson the shock of transplanting the seedlings. 

"Miracle-Gro" is my all time favourite Seafood solution.  It just gives everything such a boost and comes in a concentrate so it is not expensive to use.   I usually give my plants a seaweed drink every 3-4 weeks.   It smells a bit like fish actually.  Dixie Chick and Dolly P get quite excited when I start spraying the seaweed around!

Step 7 : Mulching

Final step is to give the plants a good layer of mulch.  I use sugar cane mulch which comes in a bale.  I put a good thick layer around the seedlings.  It really is fantastic in retaining moisture in the soil and keeping the roots cool.   It also reduces the soil splatter effect when watering!

So there you have it - my Transportable Herb Garden.  

I've popped it on a little table on my side verandah where it catches all the early morning sunshine.  It looks so fresh and lovely and glistening.    Fragrant, delicious little green jewels basking in the sunlight.

Perfect!

Lest we Forget

Thinking of you today Dad.

I wish you could have got to know your Grandchildren. 

I think you would have really liked them.

The Sweet, Sweet Smell of Herbs

Day 4 of my "7 Tasks in 7 Days" Challenge  - over half way!

So far...so good.....  

Had a very productive day yesterday.  Not only was I able to get a good start on my little Sunflower painting but I also managed to dust and clean some blinds and wash some curtains!   How's that for multi tasking?

Although I would love nothing better than to spend the rest of the day painting - my list of  "To Jobs" is beckoning.    So onwards (ever onwards!)........

DAY 4 - PLANT  A HERB GARDEN 

Given my love of all things gardening - this is another one of the jobs that I have been looking forward to tackling these holidays.   (In fact I feel a little bit guilty including it on my "Jobs to Do" list.)

Fresh herbs - absolutely fantastic in cooking but equally as stunning to look at.   The beautiful shape and glossy colour of Basil;   the delicate frilliness of Parsley;   the randomness of oregano;  the rigidness of chives.....  And the glorious smells - Pineapple sage;  curry leaf;  mint;  lemon grass; lavender........ 

There is no better feeling than being able to pop out into the garden and pick a handful of fresh herbs.    They even look fabulous in an old teapot sitting on the kitchen window ledge!

So today I am off to the nursery to pick up my herb garden supplies.

I have decided to plant my herbs in a large tub rather than directly into the ground.   Herbs (like vegetables) need quite a bit of sunlight throughout the day and although we live in one of the "sunniest" places on the planet most of my garden is covered in a dense canopy of palms and rainforest trees/shrubs.   So, the idea of having a "movable" container of herbs - seems to make a lot of sense to me.

Hopefully I will be able to find a large wooden cask (of some type).  (I do have a bit of an aversion to plastic pots!)    Even terracotta would be nice - although they do tend to dry out a bit here in the Tropics.

As for what to plant?  

Well, I'm thinking - Basil, Parsley, Chives, Chilli, Thyme and Curry leaf.   Yes, I think that will do me just fine.


Oh - by the way.  I am ALWAYS misplacing my gardening gloves!   Doesn't matter how careful I am about putting them somewhere "safe"  or tucking them into the waist band of my shorts - they just seem to vanish.  I can't begin to tell you how many pairs of gardening gloves I have lost over the years only to come across them months/years later rotting away under some bush in the garden!  (Oh - so that's where you got to!!)

Anyway, I just happened to see this fantastic idea to keep my gardening gloves safe and sound.

This is such an ingenious idea (Martha's of course!) although I could never imagine my gloves looking like this pair of gorgeousness.  Seriously, what self respecting gardener would have a pair of gardening gloves that looked like these!

So - that's something else to add to my shopping list today.    New gloves, magnets and ........

this beautiful little blue enamel bucket........Sigh!

A Sunflower Study

Day 3 of my "7 Tasks in 7 Days Challenge" and I've decided to slow down the pace a bit and tackle something a little less labour intensive today.  All that trimming, chopping and pruning of the invading jungle has left me well and truly battle scared.  My arms and legs are (literally) covered in scratches from those lethal bougainvillea thorns and  my back is a little worse for wear from all that window cleaning yesterday!   My windows however are sparkling.   Love the look of sparkling windows - makes my heart sing!  

So, with a liberal smothering of Paw Paw ointment on my battered, scratched and bruised arms I (optimistically) embark upon my next task.

DAY 3 -  PAINTING SOME SUNFLOWERS

Now it is of no surprise to learn that one of my absolute passions in life is gardening.   I would happily spend every waking moment pottering around in my garden.  In fact, I very often do! 

However here in the Tropics,  when the days are just too hot and humid to garden - I love nothing better than to set up my easel  on the wide verandah overlooking the Valley ............

and paint.   

Now, I'm not talking walls and ceilings (although they are very often on my list of "to do " jobs).   I  am talking acrylics and canvas.  Still life......whimsy.....abstract.........whatever inspires me.

With everything else going on in my life these days, the opportunity to spend my days leisurely painting away on the verandah are few and far between.    It is a real luxury.   However, whenever I can find a spare couple of hours (and I have a blank wall to fill!) this is where you will find me.

So my task for today (and probably the next couple of days!) is to paint a little picture I have had in my head for a while now. 

Bright, yellow, happy sunflowers on a cobalt blue background!

Hopefully by the end of the 7 Day Challenge I will be able to reveal my beautiful sunflowers. 

The sketching is done - now comes the fun bit!

I can't wait.

Crystal Clear

DAY 2 - WINDOW CLEANING

So here we are - Day 2 of my 7 Tasks in 7 Days Challenge!

Now there is no way this task is a particularly enjoyable one.  In fact, of all the jobs that need to be done around the place these holidays - this is the LEAST enjoyable.

However the sad reality is - someone has to do it (and that someone is me!)

Given the large number of windows here in the Valley - it does end up being quite a task.

I absolutely LOVE louvre windows. 

Nothing says the Tropics and Coastal Living better than louvres.

When we first designed this house - top of list of "Must Haves" was louvre windows.

There is nothing better than throwing open all the louvres and letting those cool breezes waft through the house.  The cross ventilation and natural cooling (to my way of thinking)  is so much better than air conditioning.

BUT  they are a pain to clean!

Over the years I have read many tips and tricks on how to clean windows and how to make them

crystal clear.

I've tried newspaper, vinegar, bleach + all manner of commercial cleaning products.

However I always end up coming back to my good ol' tried and tested friend - WINDEX and a whole heap of elbow grease!

8:45 a.m. -  enough of these delay tactics......

C'mon Mr WINDEX  - we have a job to do!!

I'm a Woman on a Mission!

Day 1 of the school holidays and I am a woman on a mission!

There will be no rest for me these holidays - no Siree!   No long leisurely breakfasts.....no curling up on the couch with a novel......no catching up with friends for coffee and lunch......no retail therapy.........

I have set myself a task (well, a series of tasks actually) and I absolutely determined to complete each and every one of them.     So - here is my ingenious plan.

By committing my plan to paper (Blogland and the world!) - it will be virtually impossible for me to fail - right, eh?    Every day I will do a wrap up of what I achieved and then list what my task will be for the next day.  Brilliant (I know!)

So here I go........

7 TASKS in 7 DAYS!

DAY 1 - TAME THE JUNGLE!

You see that lilac creeper delicately sunning itself in the first rays of early morning sunlight.

Well, that is Bougainvillea and it is the scourge of my life!  
When I first came to live in the Valley just over 14 years ago - I made the mistake of planting a number of these beautiful tropical creepers.  Big Mistake!!

Bougainvillea (and some other tropical vine which I have yet to discover the name of?) has virtually taken over my garden and it just has to go! 

Just look at this horrible vine literally choking the life out of my glorious Crotons.  Begone with you!

So my task today (Day 1) is to Tame the Jungle!

My tools of trade are ready and waiting - gloves, secateurs, long handle loppers, brushcutter, chainsaw and long sleeved shirt!  (The thorns on the bougainvillea are seriously lethal!)

Time : 8.30 a.m. (I'm already 1 hour late!).  Off to do battle.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see how Day 1 went and to find out what my task for Day 2 is!

Wish me luck!

Have I Found my Niche?

Today I am linking up with the ever delightful Sarah at Modern Country Style for her "Define Your Blog" link party.

So sorry I'm late for your party Sarah!  Looks like I might be one of the last guests to arrive.

Let me make my Grand Entrance down the marble stairway - cue the violins!.

Define my blog eh?    Hmm.......well, to be honest I believe my blog defies definition!

Early in my blogging journey I remember reading in some "Guide to Good Blogging" that one of the key factors in establishing a successful blog was to "find your niche and stick to it."

Eeney....meeney......miney.....moe......

What sort of blog will I choose?.................

I know.  What about a TRAVEL Blog?  

Interesting photos and stories about far off lands like the trip my son Matthew and I made to
 New Zealand

No, on second thoughts I think a RENOVATION blog would be more my style.  Useful tips and amazing "Befores" and "Afters" like my little Bedroom Transformation

(See that cute little farmhouse bench at the foot of the bed - well.... I MADE that myself -

with my own 2 hands!.....)

No - too hard to keep up the pace (and in any case, I would fast run out of rooms!)

I know - A FOOD Blog.  Now that sounds more like me!  Delicious recipes and fabulous food styling like this luscious Orangey concoction :

Hmmm.....No - bad idea!   Just think of all those calories I would have to Taste Test......

I know........ a CRAFT blog!     People LOVE crafts - this was sure to be a winner!! 

I was excited.   I eagerly embarked on  crafts like :

Sarah's Cinnamon and Heart Garland

and

Sarah's Christmas Wreath

(That Sarah has a lot to answer for!!)

Decisions.....decisions.......

A GARDENING Blog :







A PET Blog!!....



A FAMILY Blog !!!.....

ARGH.........No wonder I'm confused!!

I have finally come to the conclusion that my blog is a bit like me really........

"A Jill of all trades and Master of none!"

My "niche" is the story of my life.
My blog is (and will always be) a living, breathing journal of the people and things that are important to me  and the special moments that give me joy and make me smile.

And that is just how I like it........