Weekend Away...

But we endevoured to go anyway!.. with much convincing (NOT! He he))

Ok so it started on a sad note.......poor Lin couldn't join us!

Still, with a hiss and a roar we headed to Ruakaka - to my fathers place, enough beds, meal planning done, now to 'garden planning'!
or so we told ourselves anyway!

Saturday........sleep......sleep.....sleep! (Any parent of littlies will understand!) and EARLY WAKE UP!
YES our body clocks just wouldn't allow us to sleep in!
Except V who apparently has no prob sleeping......(cow, sheep, pig and any other semi offensive word we thought to call her)


Poor Liz though, was awake didn't want to wake anyone else so stayed in her room while Tania and myself had a Spa!
A nice rest in the spa and we were in a much better mood and readily accepting to V obvious selfishness! (how dare she sleep when we can't!) (am I a bit focused do you think?!)

And let the garden planning begin..........or maybe after a movie? Ok so a Movie won that vote......then another, and
another! Yay 'CHICK FLICKS!' which our hubbies have a distinct lack of like for! Then dinner break and a discussion on how we all could hate a movie so much, but let it run cause we didn't want to upset someone, if anyone else was enjoying it. After that discussion Tania felt no NEED to pull punches, and after a couple of readily voiced objections
we found yet another movie to watch!

And a late night spa looking at the stars, me and Tania......."is that the milky way?"......"no!"....."yes!".....
and other such riviting discussions and we were ready for another....you guessed it......MOVIE!

Now I'd hate to rivit you all with our fascinating weekend if it wasn't for the fact that this was a 'garden planning' weekend! Or so our husbands thought anyway!

Without boring you all with how our Sunday went (much of the same really, then heading home again) I would like to note that because of the lack of planning that actually took place, another weekend is definitely in the planning stages!

OK so more planning on the planning weekends than the actual garden but hey, who are we to complain right? (Thats the hubbies job who all got left with the kids! he he!)

 

Time to get busy

Well, after all that effort getting ready, we of course had no seedlings to plant. As a result, we have had a couple of weeks off. Now of course there is plenty to get back into. Mind you, if you'll check out Mummies in Pinnies, you'll see we did get up to some other types of mischief.

We had made rows and put beetroot, carrot and radish in. So far the radish is doing well - even some rogue ones that have popped up from last years patch. The interesting thing is that the beetroot seeds on the right hand side are doing well whereas the beetroot on the left side is not as advanced.

Now, right at the beginning, we decided to spray glysophate on some kikuyu grass that was coming in through the side of the greenhouse. It is supposed to be rendered useless upon contact with dirt, BUT, given the problem with the beetroot and no apparent issues with the water supply, we wonder if this is really true.

At first I thought the carrots had done nothing, but now I can see that the seeds have washed off the tops of the mounds and are growing up in the middles. V suggested teatowels on top to keep them moist, and our friend Sarah the Gardener has suggested making a type of seed tape using toilet paper.

The same day as planting beetroot seeds, we also threw in a pile of potatoes and a few yams. So far 13 potato seeds have done their job. Yams will take their time.

As for the seedlings, we had some trouble with the first batch we had sown. Perhaps we should not have used the seeds we had stashed away at the back of the laundry cupboards - well past their used by date. Having said that the silverbeet seeds that frankly looked sick and were well past their use by date worked perfectly well... so you never know.

Anyway, we replanted beans, more peas, onions and pak choi. After only 10 days ago and they are poking their heads out nicely, so at least we don't have to go out and buy 60 bean seedlings etc to cover our five families. Imagine the expense...

Photos to come - once Tania gets here :)

Composting

So we've been trying to get ourselves co-ordinated to pick up about 50 tyres to make a compost bin... we all gathered, and then the very nice gentleman at Murray Kemp Auto offered to drop them off here.

Kumara Dance

After unsuccessfully growing kumara two seasons in a row... we finally had success...

First signs of growth

Woohoo... we have signs of growth... not bad for old seeds.

First time together as a group!

And what a hoot!
Officially we only got together for a group photo but the fun to be had!
New gummies for the townies, (Big surprise I actually owned some already and I don't even garden!) and of course we had to make fun of the 'brand new' RED ones! (You'll have to see the photo to work out whom!) And well needless to say no-one was prepared to carry the hoe! Then Liz leapt forth to the challenge to 'surprisingly enough' get out voted to ME!
(General consensus was no-one wanted what my charming humour can write when adding a hoe!)
Needless to say since it was me, this doesn't amuse me quite as much as trying to talk Tania into it!

Putting it into perspective!

A few of us having yet another social evening/get together! Where general consensus was that we needed (ok maybe we just wanted?) to add another into the mix......
Mind you if you look at the photo below, you will get a concept of how huge this venture is and maybe another mug......ops I mean wonderful friend may be needed to help!
Her name is “V” also known as Veronique: currently she is an ‘unknown entity’ but seems to have an opinion anyway if let loose!
Also we are planning a weekend away and V will definitely be a fun addition!
Also our name was born, mind you there were a few suggestions that should never have been considered but overall we are all happy and hope you all like!


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