THINKING ALLOWED

Oh yes, I am still doing lots of sitting and with it comes lots of thinking.

The other day I was thinking about something I had read about sitting for long spells.  It was suggested if you are using a computer, watching a batch of DVDs or similar, you should get up every 30 minutes and go for a little wander.  Apparently it is very good for your heart to do that.   I do tend to spend a couple of hours at a time on the computer on Facebook, looking after my farms in Farm Town, playing Scrabble or just researching one thing or another, and then of course there is blogging.

 I decided I would set my little kettle timer to 30 minutes and make sure I got up and wandered around for a few minutes when the little bell rang.  I have been doing that for several days now and, who knows, I may even lose a little weight through the increased activity.

I may have told you that Candy likes hunting lizards and geckos and often brings them in to show us.  Phil then hurriedly grabs the dustpan and brush and pops the poor little critter back in the garden.  Well, the other day Phil got in the car and there on the dashboard was what I call a fence lizard:

He tried to shoo it out through the door but it wasn't having any and disappeared somewhere under the dash.   Yesterday we visited our podiatrist and as I got back into the car I noticed something in the little hollow on my door (near the arm rest).  Yes, you've guessed it.....the poor little lizard.  We weren't sure if it had survived several days in the car but sure enough it was very lively and Phil was able to gently lift it out using his handkerchief and then pop it on the ground.  From there he guided it across to a patch of greenery and it ran up the kerbing and hid itself in there.  We think perhaps Candy had been chasing it in our driveway one day and to get out of her way it may have run up one of the tyres and then into the interior of the car.  It may be only a tiny creature but it felt so good to know we had saved its life and we wish it well.

It rained in Perth last night.....not a lot but at least it saved us having to water the garden (our set night) but I think the sprinklers will be out again on Tuesday night (our other set night).  We have had a real taste of summer during September and October and have virtually had no real spring weather with those usual delightful balmy days with spring showers.  Our dams and reservoirs are at their lowest level for many years.  By the time our summer ends in about March or April I think we will be well and truly ready and waiting for winter to begin in June.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 21

I have long been a fan of piano music, especially the classics.  I loved playing the piano and only wish my poor old hands were nimble enough to do so still.  Instead I enjoy listening to many artists doing so and one of my favourite composers is Frederic Chopin (born in Poland on 1 March, 1810; died Paris, France on 17 October, 1849).

Here one of Phil's favourite artists, Daniel Barenboim, plays Chopin's Waltz Op 64 Minute Waltz in D Flat Major.  (It is always called The Minute Waltz but actually takes about 1 minute 45 seconds to complete).

Thanks once again to YouTube without which I would be lost.  I often just sit hear and listen to all sorts of wonderful music while I am doing something or other on another browser.  I do hope you will enjoy this.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM 20

In other words, remember to stop and smell the roses occasionally.  There's a lot of beauty around us that we often miss.

MONDAY MIRTH 20

Once again an attempt to bring a smile to your face and begin the week well for you.

Trouble is I can still read the figures on mine but then ours is electronic and the figures are quite large!!!

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 20

I am running a tad late this week so had to quickly think up one of my favourites from the dim, distant past.

This is a song that was very popular for a long while.  Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary found on YouTube.  Hope you too will enjoy it as much as I did, hearing it for the first time in many years.

I rather liked the pictures that go with this version rather than just watching three people singing.  This is actually the very first time I had listened carefully to the words and I was saddened when I realised that Puff had lost his little friend and had withdrawn into his cave.  Just shows it does pay to listen to the words.

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

Although I have only ever grown them in pots or hanging baskets I am sure you could plant KALANCHOE as as border plant as well (see below).

My first kalanchoe was given me by my next door neighbour and it survives still.  I have bought several over the years and love the beautiful flowers of so many different hues.

Kalanchoe is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, mainly native to the Old World.  Only one species of this genus originates from the Americas. 56 from southern and eastern Asia and 60 species in Madagascar. 

Most are shrubs or perennial herbacious plants, but a few are annual or biennial.  The largest Kalanchoe beharensis from Madasgascar, can reach 6 metres (20ft) tall, but most species are leas than 1 metre (3ft) tall.

These plants are cultivated as ornamental houseplants and rock or succulent garden plants.  They are popular because of their ease of propagation, low water requirements. and the wide variety of flower colours typically borne in clusters well above the foliage.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

For some reason today's wisdom appeared on Monday last so my job for this week is done.

I have no idea why that happens as I do try to be careful to set the time and dates correctly but this corroborates this weeks wisdom.....my imperfections do make me perfect.

Have a great day everyone.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM 19

Few words are needed to be added to this one.

If my imperfections make me perfect then perfect I am.

MONDAY MIRTH 19

This one brought a smile to my face and I hope it does the same for you and begins the week well for you.

Makes me feel quite old as I remember when phones often used to be on the wall and the others were all plain black, and not fancy colours.

THINKING ALLOWED

Sometimes when I sits I thinks.  Forced to sit more than I want to these days there are more thoughts whirling around in my silly head.  (I am usually indoors fully dressed!)

TV ads:  As I normally crochet when watching TV I don't watch the ads all that closely but some catch my eye; some are quite funny but others annoy me no end.

There are several ads (I think they are for different types of cars) and you see these women driving  singing along to music and virtually in one case, dancing too, hands on and off the steering wheel.   We hear of so many accidents these days with drivers being asked to take care on the road.   Talk about accidents waiting to happen.  I hope it doesn't catch on.

Another time I saw an ad where a small child threw her apple on the floor and mummy dear gave her one of those so called health bars in its place.  I actually emailed the standards people saying it was such a waste of good food and couldn't see that a manufactured product was healthier than an apple.  The reply was that they could see nothing wrong with the ad.  I gave up after that.

Rugby Union:  The rugby world cup is currently being played and apparently Australia is doing quite well.   Last night I decided to watch the game between South Africa and Wales.  I managed to watch till half time but that was enough for me.  I've watched bits of rugby games before and to my mind it is nothing but organised chaos, or even disorganised chaos.  I apologise to those who love the game.  I can follow soccer (football) OK although I still have problems understanding the offside rule (Phil said most people do) and Aussie Rules is pretty straightforward (in this game it is the umpires that seem to have trouble with the rules) but rugby union and rugby league?  No, sorry but those games are just not for me.  I must admit thought that one of the SA players could certainly kick straight when shooting a very long penalty kick. 

Then of course there is American rugby where they wear padding nearly everywhere it is possible to wear padding.   After watching that game of rugby union last night I am wondering why they too don't pad up.  I wonder how the American rugby players would get on without all that padding if they played our guys.  Food for thought there.

From time to time when I am sitting and having these weird type thoughts I will share them with you for what they are worth or maybe they are worth nothing at all.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 19

I always enjoyed Burl Ives' acting and also many of his songs.  While strolling through YouTube I found this one which always was one of my favourites.  Hope you too will enjoy it and perhaps it will bring back happy memories as it does for me.

I look at that picture and it looks so peaceful.  A delightful place for a relaxed holiday.

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

When I came to "J" I really had to scratch my head (no I didn't get splinters) and after much thought I came up with JASMINE and perhaps JONQUILS, although the latter are not one of my favourites, much preferring the larger daffodil.

I do have jasmine growing but it is not the scented type which is fortunate as I believe it can cause symptoms of hay fever and we have enough of that already (particularly this spring in W.A.).

Jasmine is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family.  It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Australasia and Oceania.  Jasmines are widely cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers.  (our jasmine has no scent).  A number of unrelated plants contain the word "jasmine' in their common names.

Unfortunately the jasmine vines we grow are annually attacked by some creature that almost completely shreds the leaves.  We have never discovered what does it but I am sure there is one particular grub that prefers jasmine to other plants.  We are currently gradually removing the vine that is growing on the pergola in our back garden much preferring the snake vine which is gradually taking over.

Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring perennial plants. Various common names including daffodil, daffadowndilly, narcissus and JONQUIL are used to describe all or some members of the genus.  The flowers are usually white or yellow with either uniform or contrasting coloured tepals and corona.

As said above, I much prefer the larger daffodil as I find the jonquil has an unpleasant perfume.  Others may disagree with me on that point but I do find them rather overpowering although have to admit they are very beautiful.

There may be another reason I have a dislike of jonquils.   Back in about 1969 we as a family were all set to attend some function or other at daughter's school.   There was some type of celebration being held in Phil's office (perhaps pre-Christmas but I forget its purpose) after work that day.  Now Phil is not and never has been a heavy drinker but that evening he was apparently enjoying himself and had a few too many beers.   Realising he was running very late (we lived next door to the business where he was employed) he said "I must be off.  I am running late."  One of his co-workers grabbed a bunch of jonquils from a vase and said "Here, take these and apologise for being late.".    Phil arrived in a hurry clutching the bunch of jonquils and as you can imagine I was not amused.  It was far too late to to go the school and fortunately it was an event daughter didn't really want to attend so no harm done.  I must admit it was rather chilly in the house for several hours but we often talk about it now and have a good laugh about it.  It was the first and only time I had seen Phil truly inebriated.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM 18

Unfortunately of late I am more apt to prefer to do the first in preference to the second.  Age does that to you.

I hope you are still able to wake up and chase your dreams.

MONDAY MIRTH No 18

Once again I hope this brings a smile to your face and begins the new week well for you:

I wonder how it is that cats keep popping up on here?

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 19

Today my dad is very much in my thoughts as it is 130 years since he was born in London in the UK.  I think of him often but on special days he is very much in my thoughts.  He was born 8th October, 1885 in the reign of Queen Victoria.

My musical favourite for tomorrow is a song that Gordon McRae sang in the musical Oklahoma .. "Oh what a beautiful morning".  I remember enjoying that film in my youth and was so glad when I found this rendition on YouTube.  I am sure all young men sing when riding their horse and don't you just love dapple grey horses?  Hope you will enjoy this song and isn't it amazing how you can hear the words so clearly too.

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

When considering flowers beginning with "i" IRIS immediately comes to mind although I have never grown them myself.  My first husband's mother always had irises in her garden each year and they remind me so much of her.  She was a lovely little lady and we got on well together for many years.

Iris is a genus of 260-300 species of flowering plant with showy flowers.  It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris.  Some authors state that the name refers to the variety of flower colours found among the species.

As well as being the scientific name, Iris if also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera.  A common name for some species is "flags", while the plants of subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as "junos", particularly in horticulture.  It is a very popular garden flower.

Nearly all species are found in temperate Northern hemisphere zones, from Eurasia to Asia and across North America.  Although diverse in ecology, Iris is predominantly found in dry, semi-desert, or colder rocky mountainous areas.  Other habitats include grassy slopes, meadowlands, bog and river banks.

Iris grow well in most garden soil types providing they are well-drained.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM 17

No more words needed here:

MONDAY MIRTH No 17

Once more I hope this brings a smile to your face and begins the new week well for you.

I am sure most would be happy to be born this way.

SUPER SATURDAY

Well, not for me exactly but for four football teams in Oz.  The AFL grand final will be played at the MCG today and our West Coast Eagles will do their very best to defeat Hawthorn and bring the Premiership cup back to W.A.  Meanwhile in Sydney two rugby teams from Queensland will fight it out in their grand final.  (I think they are both rugby league teams....shows how much I know about rugby in general).

Even though I am a supporter of our other W.A. club the Fremantle (Dockers) Football Club I wish the Eagles all the best.

You may notice there have been no Tuesday Chats for a few weeks.  Quite honestly there has been nothing of interest to chat about.  We are both slowly recovering from those rotten colds and find ourselves continually sleeping late which rather cuts into the day.  Not that we've a lot of energy to do much anyway but we do fee guilty not to be doing more.

We set a new weather record in September having 3 days above 30ºC (86ºF) which is not particularly pleasant in spring and a real taste of what we can expect this coming summer which doesn't begin till 1st December.  We also are told we had the warmest winter for many years so it's not looking too good for the future especially when it comes to water storage.  Our dams and reservoirs are at a very low level.  We all must do more to help save our planet.  I still favour planting more trees, of the right species, as we need to try and replace all the forests that have been cut down over past centuries.

Our #3 granddaughter in America has a birthday today (she is now living in New Jersey where they moved to from Sitka, Alaska several months ago).  We are so used to having family gatherings for our birthdays and we miss seeing Beth when her birthdays come round but she will know we are all thinking of her and sending her our love on her special day.

Tomorrow will be our grandson-in-law's birthday but their 7 year old is in lots of dancing competitions during the school holidays so we may not get to see him but we also send him our love for a happy birthday.  I am sure we will catch up with him before too long.  Their daughter has won 2 or 3 silver medals for her dancing along with her troupe and we feel very proud of her.  We don't unfortunately get to see her dance but we do get the results.  She loves her dancing as does her 3-year-old sister who seems to have lots of potential.

There's not much else happening in our dull uninteresting lives but I hope you are still enjoying Monday funnies, Wednesday wisdom, the garden flowers and my Friday favourites.  I intend to keep up with it all if I possibly can.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES No 18

Well, I did warn you about Roger Whittaker appearing here on several Fridays and I couldn't resist this one which I found last week.  Once again the person that put it on YouTube added pictures which he/she though appropriate to go with the lyrics.  What wonderful imaginations some folk do have.

I think we all enjoy "The Impossible Dream" which has been sung by many artists.  This is the first time I had heard Roger Whittaker sing it and I enjoyed his rendition so much I though I would share it with you.  Hope you too will enjoy it.

MY FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

We are now up to "H" and the flowers I prefer are hyacinth and hollyhock.  Hydrangea get a look in as well as honeysuckle.

HYACINTH are a small genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae.  The genus is native to the eastern Mediterraean (from south Turkey through Lenanon and Syra to northern Israel/Palestine), Iraq north-east Iran and Turkmenistan.

HOLLYHOCK:  Alcea, commonly known as hollyhocks, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae.  They are native to Asia and Europe.

HYDRANGEA is a genus of 70-75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas.  By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia. notably China, Japan and Korea.

HONEYSUCKLES are arching shrubs or twining bines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere.  Approximiately 180 species of honeysuckle have been identified in Europe 20 in India, and 20 in North America.  Honeysuckle gets its name because edible sweet nectar can be sucked.

I have never attempted to grow the first three although I always admire them in the gardens of others.  We have honeysuckle climbing over one of our side fences.  It is the white species (shown above).  Years ago I had a tiny piece and popped in the ground and before long it had covered several metres along a picket fence.  When we had that fence replaced with a modern metal one I then planted some on the picket fence on the other side of the house and it once again took off and grows with little assistance or water.  (Phil used to work with a chap that said he couldn't get honeysuckle to grow no matter how hard he tried.  I often wondered if he tried too hard.  I gave Phil several rooted pieces for his workmate but unfortunately I never got feedback to know if he managed to get it to grow or not).  I think it is one of those plants that thrives on neglect so it does well in our garden.