Two of our parlour palms brought with us on our move in December 2019 and at less than two foot high, have grown ridiculously on our back verandah where I had created a little tropical atmosphere of sorts. Here’s the photo of one. Both are about same size.
The branches seemed to want to push the roof off.
If you have been following my I’m in the Garden category on Riverside Peace you will know that the garden space is minimal. But we did it. Or, at least I pointed and directed and Norm did it. 🙂
Norm created a new, smaller pebbled areaat the other end of the grass area in front of the verandah.
With the two big potted palms relocated we then reorganised the verandah plants before enjoying a bottle of 2017 Sangiovese. Two neighbours also joined us with their wine glasses filled with their favourite whites.
With the outdoor gas heater on before the chill entered the verandah we enjoyed a well earn drink and pre-dinner nibbles.
Forever and Always. I’m so blessed to have you as my wonderful husband. You’re my best friend, my partner in life, my husband, my hero, my love…my everything. You make me so happy just by being the man and the husband you are. Even after all this time, you never stop amazing me. – Happy Birthday!
The platypus needs more space.I think I’ll relocate the pelican.
My dear neighbour and friend across the road kindly let me have her fairies, toadstools and gnomes that have been out grown by the grandchildren. “The Pond” has been overwhelmed by more fairies, little gnomes and fairy houses. One fairy has now become the centre piece of the birdbath which has inspired me to set aside a quiet day to sit and imagine before placing everything in different places. We have a young blue tongue lizard that roams my garden, and the neighbours, that bumps the poor little fairies into the pond. Some might say I’m a little crazy with my gnomes garden out the front, and now The Fairy Pond, but no one has yet disliked it. I think if I ever do get dementia, I’ll be happy in my garden. 🙂
There’s been no shortage of birds in the garden these past few months. Spotting the rosellas are fairly easy but when grey crested pigeons arrive they often blend into the background.
It’s been two days since we returned from a two day break in beautiful Port Stephens. The weather was nice with just a few showers over night. This is where we stayed. This photo is a photo of an advertising photo taken from the other side of the golf course. The apartment we stayed in was on the first floor facing the golf course in the building centre right of the photo – one of the taller buildings with the triangle frame at the top.
Neither of us play golf. It’s the tranquility of the place that lures us there.
On the first morning we took a ten minute drive to Nelson Bay where we enjoyed a quiet coffee while we waited for the ferry to take us to a little riverside town named Tea Gardens.
It’s near quietness was due to it being a day before Easter and the school holidays had not yet begun.
The ferry was pretty old but it added to the glamour of the trip. There was only half the passenger capacity so social distancing wasn’t a problem and the captain, and one crew man, were very informative.
Photo by Norm
With the swells being quite high through the heads, it was not easy trying to stand let alone holding a camera and taking photographs. These are just a few photos taken on the way to Tea Gardens.
Leaving the harbour T
After some window shopping, we wandered around to read the lunch menus on various cafe and restaurant windows. We settled on the Seagrass Cafe with gluten free options. I ate just over half of my meal. Norm ate all of his and almost the rest of mine.
Norm’s chicken schnitzel, curly fried chips and a side saladI had pulled pork nachos with sliced avocado and sour creamWe had to walk lunch off before we boarded the ferry for the return trip.
The Singing Bridge was named after the hand-railed pedestrian fence that had been installed. Apparently when the wind blows, from a certain direction at around 80 kilometres an hour, a very loud whining can be heard up and down the river until the wind lessens and changes direction. On the first occurrence, those who heard it were quite frightened by it. We didn’t get to hear it though.
The Singing BridgeSand from dredging piled up for recycling
The outing took just over three and a half hours with our return ferry ride being escorted at one time by a lone dolphin. We did see a few dolphins leaping out of the water some distance away on the trip out too.
Photo by Chrissy
Most of the time away was just to relax and watch the day go by. Returning home on Good Friday would have been OK except for road works that backed up traffic. We discovered just over this hill, two lanes suddenly became one. This photo was taken when the traffic came to a dead stop. We then proceeded at a speed of 2-4 km an hour for the next 5kms. As soon as we passed the roadworks, the traffic disappeared.
Left and top right: Crested pigeons A very noisy lot.Scaly-breasted lorikeet in flight.Left: Rainbow lorikeet Far left: Scaly-breasted lorikeetWaiting their turnPeace at last
We have been in this beautiful town of Coffs Harbour since Sunday March 13th. We have so far visited the dolphin and marine research centre, a pebble beach, walking trails, spa, swimming pool and restaurants.
Cycle paths and walking trails are a plentyWe’re having a very relaxing time.Tomorrow I hope to have a shopping day. 😉Here’s just one photo I took at the Butterfly House.
We also visited the Honey Place today but no photos. The information on beehives and whole honey process was very interesting. We’ll be here in Coffs Harbour for another three days. When we return home, there will many, many photos to sort through.
What did I do on my 65th Birthday? Swim with a dolphin, of course.
Her father was injured and could not be return to the ocean.Her mother had been rescued for a 2nd timeand almost lost her tail from abandoned fishing wire . Even though Bella’s mother healed she could not be released.However, the two rescued dolphins became parents.made it unwise to send Bella to sea.So, here she is.
She’s teaching the dedicated team of vets and researchers more than they can teach her.
Seriously though, we have not witnessed so many birds in our garden since we began creating it in January 2020. We were so engrossed in the birds flocking to the top of the water tank that we didn’t notice the usual three or four on and in the blue bird feeder on the back fence until they flew off leaving the the bird feeder bouncing and shaking. There is one photo that was way to blurred for here that showed at least six birds in on and around the owl bird feeder. Like it was stacks on.
Click on each photo to view entire photo.
These photos were just the ones Norm manage to take on my mobile phone. I’ll check the photos on the Canon EOS 650D while we are on a week’s holiday, starting tomorrow, up the coast. I was busy trying to keep the tablet focused, and without falling off the back steps, so our 9 year-old granddaughter could see them via messenger video call we had been on for ten minutes when the birds came down. She was calling from a very wet and soggy Sydney where her family, like thousands of other families, are still cut off by flooding rivers. Bridges have been under water now for ten days. She’ll be back at school on Monday. Not sure about anyone getting to work on the other side of the river though.
I have always wanted a white picket fence. Because we live in an over 50’s lifestyle village, there are rules for height and colour etc. The local Bunnings store had these garden surrounds made from treated pine.
Brackets secured the joins.Just in time for a clean up before lunch on day 3.
A job well done, Norm. Your handyman skills are improving.
Spinach seedlings replanted to replace the spinach I planted 2 years ago – originally in polystyrene banana boxes. It’s seems a life time ago now. I’m hoping these will also yield multiple times throughout the next year or two. The seedlings I grew from seed. You may be able to see more seedlings sprouting in the 3rd photo below in a 2nd grey rectangular pot.
Thinning out the leeks and spring onions can wait another day or two.I love the constant supply of various types of lettuce leaves. I thinned some of these out too and gave the soil a good dose of worm wee.While sitting back to take a short rest, I spied yet another creature taking up residence in our garden. Two noisy minor birds perched in the Poinciana to watch me for awhile. Fortunately, the minors move on by 4pm before the Rosella and Crested Pigeons come for their tea. With the grey clouds rolling in, it was time to call it a day. I don’t think there’s anything better than having a garden to get your hands dirty in then sitting back and enjoying it.
Kangaroo Lane has made progress. Plants are thriving and the grass is green.
Yes, this was this the northern side of the shed looking down the side gravel path.View from the shed doorIt even holds a temporary Kangaroo Lane sign. Looking down the gravel path to the shed.I thought I would add the flowering kangaroo paw photo to finish off this post. 🙂
A few spits of rainmade the air humid.The vegetables barely survived.We had to rely on tap waterfrom hoses and watering cans.At least the grass stayed green.Our resident blue tongue lizard.Strawberries, blueberries and herbs struggled.A cool breeze is just what we need.
Finally the high temperatures of the past two weeks of 35 plus (Celcius) have dropped to a much more pleasant mid 20s. This evening, a gentle rain cools hot surfaces.
Bird Bath with fishpond in the backgroundBlue berry trees and StrawberriesEntrance to Vegetable plotsPotted HerbsAlfresco DiningGarden work space. Work bench hidden in upright storage trunkApproaching our last month of Summer.
Greenery in Alfresco areaKangaroo Lane – New project. More photos to come.Another view of the back gardenFairy IslandIt’s hot work some days but very rewarding.
Friendly old-fellow returns.A second smaller work corner for the dirty work. Trolley bin hides the bags of soil.A new owl adds even more colour.Missy the new plastic molded possum just hanging around.Butternut pumpkin, 3 variety of lettuce and cucumbers we are enjoying these past weeks. A 2nd crop of tomatos, spring onions and leeks are thriving too.And… the latest corner I’ve been working in. The grass path leads to another path that leads to the front of the house. It all gives us plenty to do.
We bought him when he wasn’t much more than a stick. After his growth in Spring and Summer 2020 he grew to big for his pot. We had to re-pot him to his forever home during last winter. We have read on various websites that poincianas flower some time between 5 and 10 years after it’s first Spring.
If you regularly follow my “I’m in the Garden” posts you would have seen that whatever we put in our front garden it’s usually unsuccessful which is why we resorted to growing gnomes. Since Nemo graduated to the Hilton, Nemo Moves into the Hilton we decided not to waste the pot in which he’s been thriving in for over 12 months.
Partly true, partly fictional. 8 very short stories about Ken and his dog faith. Suitable for all ages. Please note: story “Faith Loses a Friend” may need parental guidance for younger children.
First we placed, reshuffled and put mulch around the perimeterbefore the pebbles arrived.This is how we left it late on Dec 29th.The fairies moved to a pond side location on Dec 30thand Nemo moved into his new home.We brought home 3 new friends for Nemo who are yet to be named.Today is New Years Eve and we’re still not quite completed but the new plants will help fill the gaps fairly quickly I think.
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.
20142018Boxing 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.
Squadron Leader Norm Siggee – 50 years of serviceAwarded by Deputy Chief of Air Force – S L Meredith Presented by Principal Air Chaplain Australian Air Force – Mark WillisProud of my man.
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.
These two Rosellas have visited the past four evenings. I think they just might be regulars now. I’ve been so looking forward to photographing birds in the garden.
I got here first.OK. Just hurry upand leave some for me.PatienceTo full.I’ll be back.
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. 🙂
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.
We returned after almost a week of traveling and catching up with family after the long Covid-19 lock-downs to find the rain, sunshine and the heat had created giant blooms in the back garden. The vegetables, well I forgot to photograph those beauties. We had enough greens for us and most of the neighbours.
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 DuckLocally sourced Gelato – all GFNorm 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.
Photo taken by Chrissy. Photo by NormPhoto by NormPhoto by NormPhoto by NormPhotos 1 and 7 taken by Chrissy looking between the verandah palms and just clicking without looking into viewer.
balancing actbeachcombinga few surf swimmers aboutsmooth wet sanda collection on pebbles and shellssorted 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.
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.
First Bloom – I almost missed it.These bloomers are last years potted plants I transferred to bare patches.Just one full bloom Fire Fighter Red Rose escaped the battering rain. In the front garden there’s another first bloomer.
Work beganDay 2…then a snap Covid lock-down1 week later Day 1Day 2Day 3 Tiler Tim was a perfectionist.Then grouting began a few days ago.Norm’s new BBQ/Pizza Oven/CookerFirst, 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.
With the Alfresco going in I won’t be able to make muddy messes under the awning. I needed a workable area that didn’t leave so much mess after re-potting and a place closer to the garden too.
We decided to store the messier items at the end of the path.
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.
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.
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.
Lots of new pots with Spring flowers and plants ready for planting.I point, Norm digs.New stepping pavers haphazardly laidtwisting and turningthrough the gardenall ready for mulching.
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.
Short Fiction
