Author Archives: Riverside Peace

Boxing Day Pizza Party

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Dylan, the youngest of the now teenage grandchildren, has often been found in our kitchen with either Norm or myself at our house. This year he was eager to help his Pa cook the Boxing Day pizzas. Never to old to help out.

2014
2018
Boxing Day 2021

The secret to overcome the problem of leftovers from Christmas day is to make pizzas for three teenagers. Below include three of our grandchildren who are aged 14, 15 & 16. {We had an early Christmas last weekend with the younger two grandchildren)

More photos to add to our photo album from Christmas 2021. Crazy but lovable teenagers.

Archived in: 🦋 Retirement

There’s Shed Projects & There’s Shed Projects

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We started the project a month ago with the watering cans. I need more watering cans but today we decided it was time to do more work on our shed project.
I’m not sure about the door. Something will inspire me and Norm will be back to do another shed project. I’ll update once we have decided. It’s sounds like a good January shed project. 🙂
Yes, it needs something on the door. Any suggestions appreciated.

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Misty, hazy days

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Too much rain lately but the heat is still causing growth in all areas of the garden. Pumpkin vines are weaving their long arms around and between the vegetable plots. Yesterday afternoon the air was steamy creating a haze throughout the garden. The new arch is beginning to blend into the back and foregrounds of a lot of the photos.

The Poinciana has finally come out of it’s winter’s rest. It’s branches are thickening up after it’s 2nd year in our garden pots. We won’t be re-potting again. I think this one will be big enough. 🙂

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Finally found…

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After two years of creating our garden, we finally found the perfect arch.

It came in 2 pieces and easy to put together.
We moved the climbing white rose back into position and loosely tied the lengthy stems to the arch.
Looking good even standing alone.
A little bare but that will change.

While taking a photos of the arch something caught my attention.

It was just after I hung the bird on the ring and there, just to the right…
there was a real Rosella. 🙂

I have been waiting for a year and a half for birds to come in to the garden. We sometimes had minor birds that we would shoo away but at long last the bird feeder is finally being visited. 🙂 I’m so happy.

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Not all work…

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After spending a few days delivering Dad’s estate items to family members and visiting some of our adorable grandchildren, we decided to stay overnight at one of our favourite destinations before returning home with an empty trailer.

GF & Citrus free Confit Duck
Locally sourced Gelato – all GF
Norm had Chicken Schnitzel…. but a more interesting dessert. Photos by Chrissy.

After checking in at the resort in the Hunter Valley, we headed to Harrigan’s Irish Pub where the food is delicious and the chef is willing to adjust a recipe for my allergies.

On our return to the resort, we changed our footwear and went for a walk to burn off some of the calories. Photos- a joint effort by Norm & Chrissy

Photos- a joint effort by Norm & Chrissy

We came across a park bench seat where we enjoyed the same view as a pair of ducks who hardly moved the whole time we sat.

After a comfortable night and a light breakfast we drove the remaining 3 hours home.

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Don’t worry, beach happy.

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  • balancing act
  • ship ahoy
  • beachcombing
  • yes, I do take selfies…sort of.
  • surf life savers hard at work
  • a few surf swimmers about
  • smooth wet sand
  • a collection on pebbles and shells
  • sorted and saved a few beauties

This is Rainbow Beach. A beach teeming with shells and pebbles of different colours – probably how it got it’s name. It’s a beautiful day to be able to roam in spring. We love beachcombing. While re-hydrating with a cool bottle of water and nibbled on a finger-food lunch we sorted through our finds tossing many back into the surf or onto the sand. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, we didn’t do any stone stacking.

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Down on the Farm

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This week we harvested snap peas, broad beans, spinach, spring onions and 4 types of lettuce: Butter-Head, Red-Leaf, Loose-Leaf and Little Gem.

Yesterday Norm experimented with pizzas on his new outdoor cooker/BBQ. However, our new friends and alfresco dinner guests were totally surprised by the taste. Norm has always been often called “Normando” the pizza man. I was able to make up a beautiful green salad with item mostly from the garden.

Archived in: 🦋 Down on the Farm

Alfresco Kitchen/Diner Completed.

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Work began
Day 1
Day 2…then a snap Covid lock-down
1 week later Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Tiler Tim was a perfectionist.
Then grouting began a few days ago.
Norm’s new BBQ/Pizza Oven/Cooker
First, check instructions.
View to back garden.
Decor creations.
Herb pots scattered around for handy use in cooking.
If you check the photo Norm is in, you will notice the new outdoor clock. The photo with the art work above was taken before we decided to put up the clock. The artwork won’t be down for long. We’ll find a new place in the garden for it. I’m pretty sure we aren’t finished yet with what goes where but I’m sure future photos will reveal changes here and there.

Archived in: I’m in the Garden & Retirement

More Alfresco Planning.

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To follow on from the post a few days ago, we spent this morning fertilizing the lawn and painting items for the garden and Alfresco area.

Fresh paint on an old pedestal
with a Japanese message
Does anyone read Japanese?
Everything is all ready for when lock-down is over and tiling can be completed.
Only the strawberry pot and the pedestal will remain where they are now. The 2 large white pots and the blue pots will be relocated to the tiled area.
Below is the link to previous post.
A Bargain and another Snap Lock-down.

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A Bargain and another Snap Lock-down.

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We found these 2 black concrete pots on Gumtree, a local online market place similar to eBay. They were just $10AUS each. While waiting for the tiling to be completed we spent our time stripping the layers of old paint, sealed and painted them white. When the alfresco kitchen/dining is completed I’ll post update photos. Update: We have gone back into a snap lock-down. Our tiler can only do emergencies. Again we wait.

Archived in: I’m in the Garden, Retirement

Norm’s got worms.

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Norm’s worm farm has produced enough fertilizer to keep the garden well fed since we first planted seeds and seedlings into polystyrene banana boxes early last year. Today, after a good flush out I was able to fertilize all the vegetables and herbs in the plots and pots. Norm’s worms are thriving and so is the garden.

I couldn’t take photos while our hands were covered in worm poop but here’s a pic of the worm farm – front left.
Everything looks healthy. This past week we have picked spinach, lettuce, broad beans and leeks.
Even the the strawberries are doing well.

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Another fine day in the garden.

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A few little changes and wishing well looks like it’s been there for some time.
We lopped off the broad beans that stood high above the fence and stripped the beans off. Once we cleared the higher stalks we discovered a couple of shooters mid-way up the fence and many more closer to the soil. I won’t have to wait too long before I’ll be harvesting even more. I get the lot because Norm doesn’t like broad beans.
Everything is looking healthy. It shouldn’t be long before we see the Poinciana and Frangipani beginning to bud.

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Facelift and Iris Bloom

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  • Garden Shed facelift
  • Just a little project
  • Standing very tall
  • First Iris for the season

I’m thinking of putting in a Wisteria vine on the right side of the shed too where the love seat is.

This isn’t the iris that bloomed last year so I’m hoping that at least two out of the three bulbs I planted will flower this year.

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Spring is Coming

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Lettuce, cherry tomatos, snow peas, corn, butternut pumpkin and spinach seedlings planted. Some of the mature lettuce and spinach are still growing happily with leeks, garlic, and yes, that tall plant is giving me a serving of broad beans at least twice a week.
The days are mostly sunny and warm. Our night’s are still a bit chilly but I took the chance to plant a lot of herbs here and there in pots. Marjoram, basil, sage, thyme, rosemary, chives and more. We use a lot of herbs. Norm, when he cooks in on the BBQ or in the pizza oven. I use them when I cook in the kitchen.
Norm helped re-pot the verandah hanging plants into new and more colourful pots.

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Back into Lock-down

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We have some very dear family and friends who live in Sydney and surrounding suburbs and we know there are thousands more residents who do the right thing. BUT, thanks to the inconsiderate Covid positive people in Sydney who defied N.S.W. Health orders they put their neighbours, nursing home residents and schools at risk.

Sydney has had council areas under lock-down that came into force while I was at my dad’s bedside vigil which extended into other council areas and suburbs. (see Covid Lock-downs Because of these inconsiderate people leaving their restricted zones, taking their positive test results and selfish attitudes to regional and outback N.S.W., just to avoid their “stay at home” orders, has left residents in vulnerable places with the Covid-19 and the Covid-Delta strains.

I honestly believe that anyone, of any age, should not only be fined but arrested for man-slaughter for all those they infected and subsequently died of the virus; just like arsonists who consequently kill someone. It breaks my heart to think of those close to us, and of those we have never met, will be affected by these senseless acts.

My love and prayers go out to those innocent residents of N.S.W. and the whole of Australia, that they will be kept under the shadow of the Almighty.

To my followers and friends all round the world, you are not forgotten in these prayers.

Let me finish with the words of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Be safe everyone and don’t give up. God bless you all.

Love, Chrissy.

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A Visit to the Plantation.

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Waiting for the ferry
Down the track
heading home
to the plantation

Yesterday, I went with Norm to the Koala Hospital tree plantation where we grown, not only local food trees but trees for koalas who come in to the hospital some distance away in other home ranges. Norm usually does one day a week at the plantation under the guidence of the manager. The plantation not only has acres of very old trees but also rows and rows of trees from seedlings, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 year old. There we pruned dead wood and new shoots that will choked healthier limbs to encourage growth at the lower part of the tree so leaf collectors can’t climb. The plantation is where most of the source of fresh leaf is collected every morning of the year for the ICU, rehabilitating and the permanant koalas that cannot be released into the wild because of blindness, severe injuries and organ damaged caused by diseases among other health issues. It was a beautiful sunny morning without being to hot. I hope to learn more from the manager, and Norm, about the different species of gum trees so I can recognise which leaf is which when I feed the koalas. We try and give the koalas 3 varieties every day but those special change slightly each day. The trip over to the north shore of the river is quite a pleasant drive. I hope to take more photos of the fauna and flora in the area next time.

Archived in: Retirement

Out of Lockdown but I’m still in the Garden.

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Most things are back to fairly normal. Regional N.S.W. residents are still on alert and wearing masks away from home. I have returned to the Koala Hospital which makes a big difference to my routine again.

I haven’t been in the front garden for almost 3 months. The Christmas Bushes are now re-potted.
Some trimming and deadheading has been done.
I re-arranged the gnomes and added a few small shrubs.
New solar lighting.
When I returned to the back garden, I discovered we had a visitor. As we near Spring, we’ll probably see more of these neighbours.

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First day in Lock-down at Home.

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We are finally home. Over the next two weeks of lock-down and at least 2 more negative Covid tests we’ll have plenty to keep us busy in the back garden and indoors. The fish pond was my first project.

Before: Where’s Nemo?
After: and Nemo is still alive. Thanks to my neighbour who fed him while we were in lock-down in Sydney.

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The Smell of Death Lingers

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The Smell of Death Lingers

The smell of death lingers –
It lingers in the bedroom
and in the dining room.
But, in the garden 
it grasps the essence of life—
Even the weeds share their aroma.

The smell of death lingers—
Odours cannot be shaken
it's everywhere I go.
But, in the garden 
it grasps the essence of life—
Even the weeds share their aroma.

The smell of death lingers—
It lingers on my clothing
every breath smothers me.
But, in the garden 
it grasps the essence of life—
Even the weeds share their aroma.

The smell of death lingers—
Until life yields into death
to finds its final path.
And, in the garden 
it grasps the essence of life—
Even the weeds share their aroma.

Chrissy Siggee July 2021

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Lockdown Update

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My dad passed away just after 2am yesterday, Saturday July 10th. The on duty RN was able to alert me in time for me to sit with him until he was gone. I didn’t have any sleep before or after, so I was exhausted by the time the undertakers left a 9.30am. With this horrid lockdown there will be just three plus the celebrant at the graveside funeral. Norm, myself and our son Ken, who lives within the lockdown boundaries, and where we’ll stay until we head home – outside the lockdown area. If the lockdown is just for another two weeks we’ll remain in the Sydney lockdown. If it’s for a longer period as they have predicted we’ll head home under the Covid rules at that time, including a self isolation in our own home and Covid tests. It’s difficult to plan anything beyond a day or two at a time with restrictions changing at short notice.

The last photo we took before Dad was bedridden a few weeks ago.

With most of my photos on my desktop at home, I won’t be able to add more until we return home..

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Lock down

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While visiting my dad yesterday, (a Saturday here) the Premier of NSW announced a total lockdown for two weeks beginning 6pm. I decided I wouldn’t risk leaving the nursing home to return to our son’s home for my clothes, medications and, of course, my laptop in case I was turned away after the 80 minute round trip. And, I was right. But, God was good and within half an hour, and before Norm arrived at our son’s home, the nursing home manager phoned me. With Dad the way he is, and us not at all local, I was allocated a room near Dad’s for the length of the lockdown if needed. Norm was not given the same but he’s been honoured the role of delivery boy so he can regularly drop off gluten free foods and necessities. I probably could get a few meals here but they don’t have anything for my allergy diet. With our second Covid vax due this coming week, we’ll have to have it locally. However, I need some approval from the NSW Health to allow me to return to the nursing home after the vaccination as no visitors are allowed in except for special cases approved in special circumstances.

Now, I guarantee that you will only hear the media report all the bad stuff about the Covid restrictions but I for one so much appreciated the management and staff of this nursing home.

Be safe everyone.

Heads Up

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Norm and I will be at my dad’s bedside for a few days by the time most of my loyal followers read this post. We came home late Sunday to prepare for our next trip down there but it’s been a much more hastier return than expected. It’s about a five hour road trip with a couple of comfort breaks. We’ll be staying somewhere within easy travel for long day visits and/or overnighters before the inevitable.

This photo was taken on the weekend. I’m not sure who was the happiest to see who. I know Dad was thrilled to see these two of his nine great grandchildren and almost cried.

I’ll have my laptop with me and I look forward to reading your new posts as time allows but I have just pre-schedule my posts until some normality returns.

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Sunshine in the Garden

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Finally the clouds have blown away and although still only 17C, the sun is a very welcome visitor to the garden at this time of the year.

  • First time in bloom
  • Frangipani
  • Bottle Brush early blooms
  • Love the purple
  • New vine is still alive
  • Purple Blooms
  • White Calystegia sepiumbell vine
  • Flowering succulent
  • Climbing white rose still blooming
  • Bulbs breaking through
  • Flowering succulent
  • Grevillea Front garden
  • Front garden dressed in purple and blues

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We’re at it again…

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There’s always something to do in the garden. Here Norm prepares the middle veggie plot for lettuce at the front and butternut pumpkin at the back.
The Poinciana tree gets it’s forever pot. Re-potting it once is enough. Were not getting any younger. Yeah, it’s on a lean but when it settles, it most likely lean the other way. There’s no way it can be moved now.
First time bloomers.
After a blowy wet few hours, the sky turned beautiful again and the sun shone.

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Autumn almost over…

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Here it is almost the end of Autumn and the garden is still flourishing. The Poinciana and Frangipani have only just begun to loose their leaves but with shadows creeping over the garden earlier every day, they’ll be bare soon enough.

We’re still harvesting the early 2020 spinach and cherry tomatos are having a final spurt of flowers. Cucumber, lettuce and small capsicums will probably die off once the winter claims all sun from the back yard. I’m looking forward to June to prepare the soil again for new seedlings.

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Cruise time

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With the floods receded and the weather beautiful, we decided to take a dolphin sighting cruise.
My dear friend, Lyn at The Call of the Pen is visiting for a few days.
To our surprise, we were the only ones on the dining room level of the boat until lunch. There were only a few small groups in other areas. At a quick count, there was probably only a dozen on board. No problem here with Social distancing.
Some of the debris from the floods are still coming down river.
Many of these prestige homes were under water to at least first floor just a few weeks ago.

Archived in: 🦋 Retirement