Thursday, November 12, 2015

FAVOURITE GARDEN FLOWERS

I know lantana is considered a noxious weed in many parts of Australia (including Western Australia) but there are some that are still favoured as they don't appear to take over from other plants.  One I particularly like is the yellow lantana and we have one growing in our back garden and doing very well (even competing with the weeds).


They are a very hardy plant.  There are several planted near our small local shopping centre and I imagine they do get watered occasionally although I have never seen this happen.  No matter they continue to thrive but do not grow very large.  This makes this so suitable for small borders.

Another "L" plant I have always loved is the larkspur although I think most people usually call it a delphinium.  I've never attempted to grow them but I do so love the blue ones.


Now to search for some pretty flowers beginning with "M".

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

WEDNESDAY WISDOM No 22

I hope that through my life I have endeavoured to keep my words as gentle as possible, even in very trying circumstances:


Tuesday, November 10, 2015

TUESDAY CHAT

I've not been doing a lot of chatting on Tuesdays as it is so difficult to find something to chat about that would be of interest to anyone other than myself.  We do so little these days.  I even began to keep a diary to see if I could come up with some ideas but it became monotonous as every day seemed so like the previous one, so that idea was ditched.  We did however have one outing:

We met our #2 granddaughter and her daughter (our 19 y.o. great-granddaughter) for lunch at Sizzler a week or so back.  I had a delicious meal of chicken and salad followed by desserts.  Yay, they had jelly which I have always loved so had to have some of that. We all enjoyed our meals and decided to 'do it again' before too long.  Note to self:  put jelly on shopping list.




Must be time for another trip to Rockingham but I'd best ring beforehand to make sure the old Rocky Pub is still there.  It commands a wonderful view of the ocean and Garden Island.  Large apartment buildings have been built nearby and I am sure some developer would give his eye teeth to get his hands on the hotel and the large parking area in front of it.  People have been trying to protect the hotel and have tried to get it heritage listed and even our Leader of the Opposition in our State Government has put his support behind the cause.

I actually got out into the back garden for a while on Sunday.  I do feel unsteady on my feet these days but managed to do some tidying up without using a stick which gave me more confidence.  also using a broom makes me a tad more stable.  Why do spiders have to make such an awful mess everywhere?  I must say it does look a lot tidier under the patio so feel quite proud of myself although still much to do.

I saw a largish insect creature trying to get back on its feet and Candy looked interested so I asked Phil to stomp on it.  I had an idea it could be a European wasp and Phil thought it could be a queen (although possibly a queen paper wasp).   There are some European wasps in Western Australia now and the Ag Department are doing their best to eradicate them but I fear they will eventually become a big nuisance here.  With our weather being so warm in W.A. they can remain active 12 months of the year.  I also saw a poor little bee struggling to walk so had Phil dispose of that as well.  I am always fearful that Candy will try to play with an injured insect and get strung or bitten.

My frangipani are beginning to show new leaves and some have inflos (the beginning of flower clusters).  Phil moved the pots so they get more sun so hopefully it won't be long before I have some blooms.

Candy was quite excited with both of us being out in the garden and did a few 'maddies' running around and really enjoying herself.  When Phil and I rested she would run between the two of us just so glad we were both out there together.  She is never very far away and when we are inside she will come in every little while just to check we are still there.  She has now taken to sitting on my lap most evenings and then sleeps on Phil's bed all night.

We have some very hot weather forecast for Perth and suburbs for the coming week with 37C  (98.6F) on Saturday.  We could be about to set another new record for hot days in spring in Perth.  I don't mind new records for colder days or even more rain in winter but can do without new records for heat!!

*Did you know that Bert Appleroth, a tram conductor, created jelly crystals using gelatine and sugar in his bathtub?  He sold these jelly crystals door to door, using his tram route to transport him around Sydney.  He rented premises to manufacture his jelly and then formed a company with Albert Lenertz (named Traders Pty Ltd) in 1926.  Planes were considered new and exciting at the time so aviation fan Appleroth named the brand "Aeroplane" Jelly.  Appleroth used a Tiger Moth plane to make deliveries to rural areas in 1934 and his publicity stunts and Aeroplane Jelly's advertising campaigns made the jelly a national icon like Vegemite and Holden.  I remember the Aeroplane Jelly song so well.


Monday, November 9, 2015

MONDAY MIRTH No 22

No comment from me really necessary here:


Well I don't really remember 'thin' but I do remember 'slim'.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

WEDNESDAY WISDOM No 21

After battling to understand so much of modern technology this rather applies to me very well.   I use a computer reasonably well, we use a mobile (cell) phone if we need to call for assistance of any kind.  We do of course have TV and a DVD player but nothing to record with (for some reason we can no longer use the VCR part of the machine).  I see so many 'things' advertised in brochures these days and have no idea what they are.   There are little squares with what appear to be black and white dots which apparently will give you all the information you want but how do you access it?   I give up and realise I have gone as far as I can with modern technology.  I saw the other day where they now have an intelligent computer that can win quizzes against humans.   Wow! What next?



Monday, November 2, 2015

MONDAY MIRTH No 21

Once again I hope this will bring a smile to your face and begin the week well for you.


With a hot summer threatening us in Perth maybe we should also have this type of sign prominently displayed around the town.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

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.