Sprouting!

Just after I wrote my last post my seeds arrived in the mail!

So I planted:

Eggplant
Wong Bok
Pak Choi
Zucchini
Parsley - curled
Thyme
Oregano
Lemon Basil

and more:
Sweet Corn
Purple Beans
Squash

because I decided I needed more.



I was so surprised that the marigold sprung up only days after planting, and the squash is going great:



The thyme is popping up, the wong bok and pak choi is up, the rocket is up and one lone cucumber is trying it's best to push through the soil.


Every morning I can't wait to go out and check the seedlings to see what has popped through!

Happy New Year!

It has been a while since I blogged! I took on three units for the second semester of uni and combined with my 'mum duties' I didn't have time to do anything else! I didn't think I would make it through, but passed all the units with good marks. Over summer I have been doing a unit called Learning Technologies, which has been challenging but interesting.

And so, 2010 is upon us already!

We didn't have a great Christmas, as we all were very sick - what a way to end the year! But 2010 has started well.

I bought six chicks to give to my broody hen who managed to hatch 0 out of 18 eggs!! However, she didn't want the chicks so I put her in a pen by herself for almost a week, to de-brood her and that has worked. I had the chicks under a heat lamp at nights for the first two weeks but now they don't need it on. In the days I have been putting the chicks down in their own pen. Next week they should be right to stay down there full time.



I ordered some seeds in December, but they still haven't arrived. So I dug out our old seeds, saved from past crops, and some we had bought before, and have been busy planting them in egg cartons. We have dug up the old veggie garden and have prepared it for a new season.

So far I have planted (in the egg cartons):

Marigold
Italian Parsley
Coriander
Squash
Nasturtium
Rocket
Mixed Lettuce
Purple Beans
Tomatoes
Chives
Watermelon
Cucumber
Corn

And in a large 30 x 70cm clay pot I have planted some potato, and in the other some beetroot and sage.

I hope my seeds come soon though, as I would like to get the other stuff planted!

I was going to plant corn and beans together, and then heard about a 'three sisters garden' which includes squash also, so have decided to add squash to the combination.

Back To School...

In February I enrolled in the late round, for Bachelor of Education, Primary - and four days later I received this reply:



I had not expected to get in and the course started in 10 days time so I was a bit shocked and flustered, but very happy (if not a little scared!).

Luckily, organising care for the three boys fell into place easier than I had imagined it would, and before I knew it I was a Uni Student!!


Semester 1 has flown by and I have really enjoyed uni so far, learnt a lot and met a lot of great people. I completed two units (part time) comfortably and have chosen to study three units in semester 2.

Here are my results from semester one, which I'm extremely happy about!



In Semester 2, which begins in one week, I am studying Maths, PDHPE and Human Society & Its Environment.

Sportacus Costume

I didn't think I'd finish in time but here is the Sportacus costume for my 3 year old nephew, as modelled by my (slightly bigger) 3 year old.



A little different to the original Sportacus, but with my limited sewing ability, this was the best I could manage.

Now I just have to make one for my own 3 and 5 year olds... they might end up being 'New Years' presents at this rate though...

Sewing Xmas Gifts

Well I've just realised there's only a week until Christmas so I better get a move on with making the Christmas Gifts. Not an easy task with three boys, one of them a clingy 6mth old bub!

Anyway, here is one of the Apron & Oven Mit sets - this one is on it's way to my Grandma, in Adelaide.


I still have two more oven mitts to make at this stage!



And three Sportacus outfits - here are the first finished pants. These ones are for my 3yr old nephew. Slightly different from the original Sportacus costume, but my own 3 & 5yr olds knew instantly what they were meant to be, so that's a win in my books. I am yet to get onto making their costumes!

So, it seems I will be busy with sewing over this weekend!

Meanwhile, in chicken land, I have had 5 more lovely chickies come to live with me. They are all Australorp x New Hampshire and I'm thoroughly impressed with them and their lovely nature!

The Chickens Have Arrived!

I've been wanting to get chickens for quite a while now.

Over the weekend my brother-in-law and hubby generously built me (and my family!) a gorgeous big chicken house!

Here is a photo of them finishing up:

and inside:

So yesterday we went into town and got these four chickens. I'm pretty sure the two brown are Isa Brown's and the two black are the Australorp Hybrid x's.



My 5 yr old son owns the two brown and my 3yr old son owns the two black. The brown ones have been named 'Crusty' and 'Chocolate' (!?!) and Master 5 swears he can tell them apart...

The black one's have not any names just yet. Who know's what they will end up being called!

All going well I will pick up two black frizzle bantam pullets on Thursday which will be my little chickens. They are not great layers like the other four (which are bred for laying!) but they are quite motherly I have read. So when I would like to increase the gang a little and they are broody, I can slip some fertilised eggs under one or both of them and they will take care of them. Well, that's the idea. We'll see how it all goes!

Movember

Well, the month of 'Movember' is nearing an end!

Four weeks ago, when my husband came to me and told me he was taking part, I was filled with dread. Tim... with a Mo!? Oh dear.

However, maybe because it grows so slowly, or maybe because he decided to grow a mean bikie looking mo (as opposed to a french waiter style mo!?!), it wasn't so bad.

The scary thing now is, he is starting to look very comfortable in his mo, don't you think: