Friday, March 13, 2009

Around the house ...growing, nurturing and warming.......

This spring we decided that we might get back in to a bit of gardening after hearing of Carly's success with her garden in Auckland. We are not going crazy but thought we might do a few tomatoes to supplement the rhubarb and herbs that we regularly grow. So planted a few wee 100's and 100's and a few Cherry toms out side Livvie Lou's bedroom......
A bit of rain and a few hours of sunlight later and it's a bit difficult to find the bedroom!
It certainly seems like the day of the triphids has arrived in Johnsonville. But as well as many many leaves etc we have certainly begun the harvest. Every day we pick between 10 and 20 tomatoes and even that looks like increasing in the next few days! What to do with all these tomatoes?
I found a really easy oven dried tomato recipe - you just wash and dry them, cut them in half and bake at 50 degrees for 6 to 12 hours (sprinkled with a little salt).
They are about 1 1/2 hours into the process at the moment - talk about technology, take a photo, download it and then immediately upload it and hey presto a morning in the life of Lesley and Brent! Thought I better give a shot of the front "garden" as well, tho the herbs are a bit over shadowed by the rhubarb!
Once again we planted a few Swan plants to encourage the Monarchs into the garden. I think Nan enjoys them as much as Ethan. One crysalis came adrift and so we rescued it and had it inside. Much to our delight it survived and when we arrived home from work on Tuesday it was sitting on the kitchen bench. A quick walk outside to transfer it to the garden followed and here it is!
Not the best photo but you get the idea.
A few flexes of its wings and the next day it had flown the garden - hopefully to surviving to produce a few more beauties!
A couple of months ago we decided that with power increases forecast, power outages becoming a bit more regular around the country and the opportunity of free (if somewhat energy sapping!) firewood available from Dee and Duds it would make good sense to get a free standing fireplace. This one has the added bonus of being able to cook on it ... so bring on the blackouts, we'll be warm and fed. If we can get past the puppies that is! When we had it installed and certified we had to have a trial run even though it was the middle of summer and the girls decided they were very happy!

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