30 May 2011, Monday, Overcast

Another storm went through about 4.00 am.  The day mostly overcast with drizzle.
Bought some capsicum plants to put in the AP but too wet today.  Hope it is better tomorrow.
Che had accident at school and hit his new front teeth on a wall  :(  They took him to the dental clinic and did xrays for the dentist to check on Wednesday.
Cold.  Brrr.  Loving the new heater.
Got home to find two emails from Coastal Patios requesting permission to enter the property to fix the category 1 faults on both Thursday and Friday this week.

29 May 2011, Sunday, Sunshine

The storm passed over last night and sunny all day today.
Hugh cleared up around the big camphor laurel and i scooped out a lot of leaf litter from around the front garden.  Need to get in some decent mulch and the leaves seem to create an impervious air pocket and take ages to break down.
AP auto syphon has started to play up.  Cleared out any roots etc and moved the containers of coir in case they were causing it.
Noticed the fish in the sump tank have almost doubled in size???  Must be the lower number of fish and larger tank????
Planted a lot of sweet potato slips for Hugh to plant on the front bank as ground cover.
The beans I had planted have disappeared, along with the 2nd lot of peanuts.  Possums probably.
Re-re-planted them and covered til the shoot this time.  Need to get the vermin proof shade house.

28 May 2011, Saturday, Overcast

Big lot of work today in the front garden.
Hugh has put the boards in under where CHe's cubby will go and we started filling with all the rocks from around the yard.
I did a bit more of the wall.  Can see an end in sight now.  Finally...  It started to rain as we finished upm, but not enough to test the drainage channels..

27 May 2011, Friday, Sunshine

Another day of gloreous sunshine.
General work in garden trying to get ready to lay the turf before it gets to dry.
Bit more on my wall as well, and pruned a few of the little cottage garden plants.
Added weekly iron chelates to the AP bed.
Looks like the salt may have worked as did not see the fish flashing at all.
Email from Peter Arthur about the court case with Coastal Patios about the add-ons.
We need to send him any info from BSA and QCAT as received. 

26 May 2011, Thursday, Sunshine

Hugh to dr in am.  Now on tablets for his blood pressure  :(
Bought some hot food from our favourite bakery and ate it near the canals behind Mooloolaba.  Very relaxing,  Good for a chance to wind down.
Checked the AP garden when we got home.  I don't think I will get anything from the last seeds I planted.  They have all disappeared!!!   A rat or mouse??  Or maybe a pidgeon??  I feed the birds in the trees nearby so something has found an extra snack.
  I planted a few butter beans but covered these up a bit better.
Picked a lovely fresh mixed salad from the AP and a few mini capsicums from the Dirt Garden.

25 May 2011, Wednesday, Sunshine

Busy day in the garden.
Did some more of the stone wall to separate the front garden from the front woodland area.
Planted about 15 new plants in the extended area.  Mainly little perennials and another brugmansia.
Loving the new heater.  Need to get out this weekend and get some decent wood for it.

24 May 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

More pruning.

23 May 2011, Monday, Sunshine

Shopping day.  Did a quick run and back by 2.00pm.  Wow.
Added 1 kg of salt to the system.  Will have to wait to see if it helps.
Lit the heater agin.  It is sooo nice.  Looks great too.

22 May 2011, Sunday, Sunshine

Another nice day.  Sunny and warmish.
Planted Lima Beans, Turtle Beans and Peanuts.
Hugh spent the day between the house, ceiling and roof installing the heater.  It looks and works fabulous.  Couldn't wait 'til the plumber signs off on it, and figured we should check there are no leaks etc.  The dogs have allready given it the thumbs up.

21 May 2011, Saturday, Overcast

Dull and drizzly.  Great day to be inside.
Hugh up and about and getting on with installing the heater.  The hearth is in place with the heater on it and hole in the ceiling for the flue. 
Hope the plumber can come Monday to sign the paperwork and we are up and running.
Noticed the fish are "flashing" a bit.  Must get some salt and add to see if that helps.

20 May 2011, Friday, Sunshine

Earthquake in Mooloolaba today, and a water-spout just off the coast.  Weird day....
Hugh and Che both sick. :( 
Plus the dogs off colour after being dosed yesterday.  :(   :(
Nice day and the AP looks great in the sunshine. 
First real leaves coming on the Carrots and Radishes.
Rainbow Chard seedlings coming up and the Peas are climbing the trellis.
Added Iron Chelates
Lots of Rosella Parrots coming in to be fed.  The trees must be flowering less.

19 May 2011, Thursday, Overcast

Brr..  Chilly day.  Still waiting for the plumber to return our call about installing the heater.
Dosed the dogs for fleas and ticks again.
May get our first feed of beans today.  Will have to go out and get them and another pumpkin.
Peas just starting to climb the wires.  Need more sunshine to keep them growing.
Snake beans and rainbow chard seedlings are looking good.

Mmmm.  Fresh beans were YUMMY.. Plus HG Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Capsicum and Salad

18 May 2011, Wednesday, Overcast

Generally cold and grey.  Appt with Che's teacher.  Went well, no biggies.
Nothing really happening in the garden.  The fish all seem to be hibernating and not a lot of growth in the beds

17 May 2011, Tuesday, Sunshine

Another day at home. 
Received the response from BSA inspection.  Coastal Patios have been given 28 days to rectify the 11 category 1 faults in the building.  Hmm.  I'm not comfortable about this.  At least it helps with the court case at QCAT.

16 May 2011, Monday, Raining

Started out nice but deteriorated to rain by lunch time.
Usual trip to town to drop Che at school and do basic grocery shopping.
Also bought the cement sheet to go under the new heater and tiles to go on top of the cement sheet.  Nice shiny cream ones that should match the ones in the hallway to main bedroom.
Got some more coffee mugs for the fish as well.  I put them into the tanks and they were checking them out straight away.

15 May 2011, Sunday, Sunshine

Nice day.  Hugh has finished with the grass (I think).
My plants all look good, but the burgundy grass looks a bit sad.  Maybe I shoule cut the top off and hope it sends up new shoots
The snake beans are shooting but no leaves yet.
Hope to pick beans from the borlotti beans soon.  The have set a lot of pods and I don't want them to think they have done for the year.
Rainbow fish still hiding.

12 May 2011, Thursday, Sunshine

Another beautiful day at home.
Hugh moving more grass to the back.
It is looking much neater and less likely to get washed away now.

11 May 2011, Wednesday, Sunshine

Quiet day at home.  Lots of pruning done around the yard.
Hugh started to move some of the grass from the front lawn we are going to mulch to the back ramp down to the paddocks.
Sump tank fish have accepted their new pagoda home and seem to like it.
Pulled out the trellis that the tomatoes had been on but became over-run by sweet potato vines.
Found two lovely little pumpkins under all of the growth.  More pumpkin soup I think.

14 May 2011, Saturday, Sunshine

Freezing night last night but nice day today.  Clear sky so will freeze again tonight.  Brrrrrr..  Can't wait to get the heater in so it is easier to get out of bed in the mornings.
Potted up 25 little Spider Plants that had been broken off the mother plant.  And an assortment of other cuttings to see how they go in the AP bed.
Rainbow fish must be hibernating.  Have only seen one in past 3 days and it was in one of the hidey hole pots.
Lots of leaves broken off the water lily.  Willl have to watch in case another bird has discovered the fish.
Hugh planting more grass and extending the drain to take the water away from the centre paddock.  Still too boggy to mow it.

13 May 2011, Friday, Sunshine

Mum's birthday..
Did a quick trip to Bunnings to buy a little wood heater we had been checking out.  Combined with the flue kit, just over $1,000. but should warm the whole house.  Can't wait to get it installed and running before winter is over.  :)
Hugh busy again planting more grass.  Looking really nice and neat.

Bought some more seedlings.  Spinach, Chinese Veg Mix, and Mixed lettuce.  All happily planted into the AP Bed and looking good.

Added Iron Chelates to the AP System.