Blogger has just changed its format. its a bit boring now, more like Wordpress. The way the blog appears to readers is the same, but the internal workings for bloggers is different. Nothing is constant but change. For some odd reason I seem to have 17 new readers in the United States, why I don't know. I'm still aiming for world domination, to get one reader in every country in the world. This is probably a vain hope, since there are still many countries who don't have the Internet. They don't have clean water or enough food either, but I reckon they'll get the internet before they get the essentials of life.
Saw a woman on TV last night called "the human Barbie". She has spent eight hundred thousand pounds on cosmetic procedures on herself. if she had donated this money to medical research we would probably have a cure for cancer by now. But death will get her in the end, HaHa, no one escapes the Grim Reaper and all she'll be is a beautiful corpse. Ever wonder what happens to breast implants when a body is cremated? Are the ashes and smoke toxic?
Feck, this is grim stuff. Change the subject.
My winter sowings are starting to germinate. As expected, cavolo nero is off first. It germinates in 4 days in warm weather, I don't know anything that goes so fast. Some poppy seed that I gathered at Freeth House when walking the Cape Campbell track (lovely, try it) several years ago is also looking promising. I don't know what colour the flowers are as I only saw the seed heads so this will be something to look forward to. This is what I love about gardening: always looking to the future, always striving to make this year better than last.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Marino Marini's sculpture at the Guggenheim in Venice
Love the strength and energy of this re-working of the equestrian statue genre
Seeds, seeds
Planted some seeds out in trays as part of an experiment in winter sowing. There's a blogsite about winter sowing that's quite good (just Google winter sowing) that's inspired me to experiment.
When I was a child and a novice gardener, I noticed that seeds sown in autumn and established to the first two pairs of real leaves before the first frost made very strong plants that had a head start in the spring, but I've never tried sowing in winter. My other experiment overwintering peppers is going on OK, they are still alive anyway.
Also considering how to make a glasshouse or a cloche out of old window frames. My worry is that the old glass is a bit brittle and may be dangerous to cats and self.
Ordered some seed from Franchi Sementi,(www.italianseedspronto.co.nz) the Italian seed merchants, now available in New Zealand. Round zucchini ('Tondo di Piacenza')and a bush tomato ('Astro Ibrido').
I did buy these in Italy, but MAF confiscated some of them on my return. I bought six different kinds of seed - two cucurbits, two chicories and two other flowers. MAF confiscated one of the cucurbits, one of the chicories and one of the flowers, leaving me with the conclusion that 1) they don't really know what they're doing. (No doubt someone 'out the back' said "just take three off her") 2) next time I will not declare seeds, and 3) that round green zucchini and bright red chicory will start appearing at Auckland farmers markets next summer.
These were not wild gathered seed, but properly packaged and processed seed grown by, you guessed it, Franchi Sementi in Italy, and purchased at reliable retail shops (not under the counter, psst-wanna-buy-some-dodgy-seed type transactions). The only difference is that in Italy I paid the equivalent of $2.50 a packet and here they sell through the website at $7.50 plus GST and delivery! I was angry; "welcome back home, you scuzzball seed-smuggler you". Thanks very much, you really know how to make a Kiwi feel welcome in her own country.
When I was a child and a novice gardener, I noticed that seeds sown in autumn and established to the first two pairs of real leaves before the first frost made very strong plants that had a head start in the spring, but I've never tried sowing in winter. My other experiment overwintering peppers is going on OK, they are still alive anyway.
Also considering how to make a glasshouse or a cloche out of old window frames. My worry is that the old glass is a bit brittle and may be dangerous to cats and self.
Ordered some seed from Franchi Sementi,(www.italianseedspronto.co.nz) the Italian seed merchants, now available in New Zealand. Round zucchini ('Tondo di Piacenza')and a bush tomato ('Astro Ibrido').
I did buy these in Italy, but MAF confiscated some of them on my return. I bought six different kinds of seed - two cucurbits, two chicories and two other flowers. MAF confiscated one of the cucurbits, one of the chicories and one of the flowers, leaving me with the conclusion that 1) they don't really know what they're doing. (No doubt someone 'out the back' said "just take three off her") 2) next time I will not declare seeds, and 3) that round green zucchini and bright red chicory will start appearing at Auckland farmers markets next summer.
These were not wild gathered seed, but properly packaged and processed seed grown by, you guessed it, Franchi Sementi in Italy, and purchased at reliable retail shops (not under the counter, psst-wanna-buy-some-dodgy-seed type transactions). The only difference is that in Italy I paid the equivalent of $2.50 a packet and here they sell through the website at $7.50 plus GST and delivery! I was angry; "welcome back home, you scuzzball seed-smuggler you". Thanks very much, you really know how to make a Kiwi feel welcome in her own country.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Has-beens
Thinking about those film stars who were gorgeous and now going to seed. I've had a long love affair with Johnny Depp, but that's over now - his current "look", scraggy goatee, glasses and lank greasy hair does nothing for him. And doesn't Brad Pitt look like a potato that's been too long in the dark?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Aftersocks
No not a spelling mistake, but a great idea from Rural Women and the New Zealand Sock Co. Go to www.aftersocks.co.nz to see the latest fashion statement. Crafted from a merino wool blend, these cosy socks come in Canterbury colours (red and black stripes) with a seismic-reading quake graphic. Proceeds go to the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund. So if you are reading this overseas, get a little keepsake from Canterbury and help support us.
Clever name, eh?
Clever name, eh?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
What the ????
More quakes last night, so everyone in Christchurch is bleary-eyed this morning. started with a five point five at 10.30, just as people were going to bed or were already asleep, then another 10 aftershocks during the night. Slept with my clothes on again, in case I have to make a quick exit. At least if I die I'll be decent when the rescuers come to get me.
We're all waiting for the Government to come to its decision as to what's to be done. Since its now 9 months since the first quake, you can say that They are not rushing to come to a decision; apparently this is to find "the best solution for the people of Christchurch". Could it be that They don't know what the ???? to do? They are compounding the natural disaster with a man-made bureaucratic one. We have four "leaders" who are being paid big money to say nothing. The situation is becoming more worrying by the day. Should we stay or go? Is this a Pompeii-type situation? Is there more going on seismologically than we are being told. Is our "extinct" volcano waking up? No one will say.
I've started looking at jobs in Australia, and will pressure my mother to get a current passport, in case we have to refugee to Australia. At the moment we can't leave the country because the ash-cloud from the volcano in Chile has grounded most aircraft. Its very cold here and we are all fed up. Those who aren't on the way to becoming alcoholics are having nervous breakdowns instead. We'll have to build a lovely new earthquake-proof insane asylum to house all of us driven witless by the current situation. I'm sure Christchurch prescription rates for anti-depressants are well up. Rescue Remedy is being imbibed like water; perhaps we should offer some to the Earthquake God to calm him down. Or perhaps we need a human sacrifice; finding a virgin in New Zealand could be tricky, though.
We're all waiting for the Government to come to its decision as to what's to be done. Since its now 9 months since the first quake, you can say that They are not rushing to come to a decision; apparently this is to find "the best solution for the people of Christchurch". Could it be that They don't know what the ???? to do? They are compounding the natural disaster with a man-made bureaucratic one. We have four "leaders" who are being paid big money to say nothing. The situation is becoming more worrying by the day. Should we stay or go? Is this a Pompeii-type situation? Is there more going on seismologically than we are being told. Is our "extinct" volcano waking up? No one will say.
I've started looking at jobs in Australia, and will pressure my mother to get a current passport, in case we have to refugee to Australia. At the moment we can't leave the country because the ash-cloud from the volcano in Chile has grounded most aircraft. Its very cold here and we are all fed up. Those who aren't on the way to becoming alcoholics are having nervous breakdowns instead. We'll have to build a lovely new earthquake-proof insane asylum to house all of us driven witless by the current situation. I'm sure Christchurch prescription rates for anti-depressants are well up. Rescue Remedy is being imbibed like water; perhaps we should offer some to the Earthquake God to calm him down. Or perhaps we need a human sacrifice; finding a virgin in New Zealand could be tricky, though.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Again again already
Once more, or rather twice more, we have "aftershocks". Monday afternoon one 5.something and then a whopping big 6.3. Apparently this last shock now comes from another fault line previously unknown. I was out in the garden, the best place to be, and the during the second shock had to hang on to my recycling bin to stand up. It felt just as bad as our September earthquake. The trees really rocked too, God knows what its doing to them.
But I just kept on gardening. Next summer I'm going to have a really great vegetable garden. I've got some seeds from Italy (striped red and white chicory, and a lumpy pumpkin called Marina di Chioggia, which I'm told is lovely and sweet for roasting) also scaloppini and a red and white stripy carnation. And Borlotti beans. (I like red and white stripes). The earth takes, and the earth gives.
But I just kept on gardening. Next summer I'm going to have a really great vegetable garden. I've got some seeds from Italy (striped red and white chicory, and a lumpy pumpkin called Marina di Chioggia, which I'm told is lovely and sweet for roasting) also scaloppini and a red and white stripy carnation. And Borlotti beans. (I like red and white stripes). The earth takes, and the earth gives.
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