Poodle of the Serengeti

Doug's French beans, purple beans, purple carrots with a neon orange centre, are all on the menu at the moment. Doug & I are eating paw paws with ice cream. The orange trees have lots of small jade green fruit on the branches. Doug and I are wondering if there's anyone who can tell us why the purple beans go green when cooked? We have a crop of blue & white cornflowers, and if only I could crack the bridal market in this town I have lots of pink baby's breath just waiting for a great aunt's fascinator, or flower girls posies. Rupert and Jonathon have developed a deep bond. Jonathon loves rubbing noses with Rupert and they play Rupert's favourite game 'Poodle of the Serengeti', as Jonathon plays 'Guinea pig all alone in the bush gambolling whilst poodle of the Serengeti is on the loose'. I could watch them for hours until I'm shaken from my reverie by small children riding over my toes with surprisingly heavy plastic trikes.

Moratorium lifted on Doug's Market attendance

It was with nervous anticipation that Dougie & I set forth for the un-auspicious car-boot markets together. Kids, drink bottles and ice-packs intow, we bravely set forth, averting the first near catastrophe in the 'parking feng-shui' hurdle. You know what I mean. The sixth sense you need for finding the perfect carspot. I can usually summon this when required, but I find some people bravely look for parks without calling on chi. Doug was able to occupy his time with the nursery stalls and a 'carrot on a stick' of a promised Bunnings pit stop. A blue kangaroo (Grace) and an orange kangaroo (Sascha), 1 carton of chips (sorry), 1 nachos (me), a chicken burrito (Doug), a pkt white chocolate macadamias (Doug), and some salty bush nuts later (me), with 5 trees, 2 teacups & $10 worth of F & V in tow, we left.

King Parrots Return

At long last the King Parrots are back with an eye for Doug's corn. I have a real soft spot for these enormous birds of red & green. Photo to follow soon. I missed the October meeting of the Local Orchid Society and the delicious supper that accompanies such past times. I really have a nostalgic love of these old customs that are now starting to disappear. I can make caramel tarts like the good ol' girls, but will I? Doug made a sensational pasta out of fresh baby green beans, bacon, cream, semi-dried toms and avocado, I will ask him very nicely to post the recipe.

Tropical Storms & Lemongrass tea

At the moment I'm sitting in a downpour that has lasted 4 hours. It's really quite soothing and warm. It's like living in the tropics. There have been some major storms over the area of late. The thunder and lightning build up for most of the afternoon before putting the light show on at night. Almost all silk worms have hatched, and Doug carefully lifts them out to the Mulberry tree, however, sometimes he's not quick enough to catch them before Spring claims their attentions. I note with interest that Jamie Oliver has started his own back yard garden (okay a while ago) and he is providing inspiration. I have suggested a recipe section for Doug, but he regards me suspiciously. Any one for lemongrass tea? I can manage that.

Bats Return

The bats are back! Well of course all locals know they are flying foxes, as they can see at night instead of using radar, and they mostly eat gum blossoms and fruit. The numbers are down this year. Last year we played host to 3 different types. They swelled the banks of the river black and stinky as they weighed down the casuarina trees. But this year is different, I understand the numbers declined in the northern breeding roosts mysteriously, and this season begins with no actual local bats living across the road from us. Instead, on dusk they fly up the river using it for navigation before following one of the tendrils into the sky in search of food. There is a large moreton bay fig, across the road and it is supporting the bats who can fly the least distance. Now, all we need are the king parrots to return to eat Dougie's corn, and all will be as it should, eh Dougie? I feel a scarecrow coming on.

Tornado narrowly avoids Golden Bantam Corn

Yes, it's true, we have been living in paradise when a Tornado ripped through our quiet community demolishing houses, churches (one) and school buildings. Roofs were razed, and roads strewn with debris, small children we left stranded home alone, hiding under their beds, according to local reports. Here, we escaped with only strong winds, and unusual cloud formations. Hail fell in the wider community. The Bantam Corn was nearly phantom corn, but thanks to Dougie's swift action with knot-tying skills any scout would be proud of, the corn escaped to see another spring day.

furry green lawnmowers.

Now that we have two little furry lawnmowers, one corner of the garden looks very neat. I'm thinking of going for a checker board look by using carefull hutch placement. These guinea pigs can really eat. I've started an eco-friendly hutch litter program; they get newspaper and sugarcane mulch in their hutch to do their business on. When we clean it out the newspaper goes on the compost heap and the manure laden mulch goes around the nearest plant. So while they're eating a substantial amount of my vegies, they're putting something back, which makes them feel very smug and green. As for the rest of the garden, the lemon tree is looking pretty happy however it has become home to some strange looking insects that I think are sucking the life out of new shoots. they look like green and brown stealth bombers with a proboscus thingy that they stick into the shoot and all leaves above them on the shoot start to wilt. Sinister little beggars. a bit of white oil needed I think. The grevillias we planted with chocolate lady are going very well except for the one that Jackie thought was a chew-toy, it has never recovered from the experience. We bought a bargain tray of 20 Bangalow palms at a market last week, so the dodgy front garden bed is going to get a makeover soon. Aiming for a Las Vegas / tropical look for the front of the house. It seems that every palm tree in the district has been mortally wounded by the freaky frosts we got this winter, so fingers crossed they don't return next year. Grace has planted some Giant Russian Sunflowers near our back door which are going great guns. the seed packet said they will grow to three metres tall, which impressed Grace no end. The sun is shining, we've got visitors coming, and a five year old's birthday party to go to, so I must be off.