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!