Monday, 18 May 2015

A little bit of this and a little bit of that!

I have been home a week and feel like I have accomplished zilch in that time. There are so many weeds in the garden from the rain that fell during the rain event on May 1st which have needed  attending to as well as spending too much time trying to find those pesky creepy crawlies hiding in my cabbages and having a great time there.

 

Unfortunately the Landcress seeds I planted to deter the cabbage butterfly didn't amount to anything so obviously they were planted at the wrong time so I will try again in spring and hopefully will have a few mature plants by this time next year. There isn't a lot of colour in the garden at this time of the year when the dahlias have finished flowering but there are a few flashes of colour here and there. 

 We have a lot of bromeliads which seem to flower at different times of the year and this particular one is quite stunning and fortunately we have quite a few of them.


I spied a little feverfew plant which was planted ages ago and seems to love being neglected.



There are a few jonquils scattered here and there...


 ...and the old faithful lavender.

If you were reading my blog this time last year you would have read this post about the bizarre jaboticaba tree. This is what it looked like last year...


...and this is what it looks like this year. There is hardly any fruit growing along the branches for some reason. Unbelievable!


I didn't take my sock experiment with me to Mt.Isa as I really need to concentrate on each stitch I knit so that I don't make a mistake. Before I left I had just finished the cuff and a couple of days ago I thought I would start the next section and got out my Silver's Sock Class notes which I mentioned in the post The Sock Saga and set to trying to work out how to knit the heel.

 
Well, seeing as I had never knitted anything more difficult than The Almost Lost Washcloth pattern, I was a bit unsure how to slip a stitch but the instructions said to slip it off the needle as if I was going to do purl so I did that. After a few rows I second guessed myself and thought that perhaps I should be wrapping the yarn around the needle first so started doing that. I know all you expert sock knitters are picking yourselves off the floor now and saying 'What'? I know I know. :-)

However, it didn't take too long before I realised that didn't look right so I asked Mr.Google about whether I was doing it right and he said I wasn't so I will know for next time. I am a bit dubious about pulling out those rows so will just continue on as this sock is just an experiment anyhow. We learn from our mistakes don't we? Say yes! I am determined to persevere though and hope to have at least one sock finished by the end of winter. LOL!

I hope all is going well in your little corner of the world. 





12 comments:

  1. I am still convinced that your concept of doing zilch amounts to the equivalent of a weeks work for me!

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    1. Phil, I think I get less done now that I have retired than I did when working.

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  2. Weeds! I have so much siratro growing through my ornamental gardens, it is going to take many hours work to pull it all out. I too have had problems with seeds not germinating. I am wondering if I should try planting by the moon.

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    1. I will have to Google Siratro. Sherri. Whatever it is it is probably growing here too :-)So many jolly weeds. I think it was probably too chilly for the Landcress seeds. Will try again in spring.

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  3. Which reminds me to plant the bulbs...... Im not laughing at your knitting attempt, at least you try.
    Your black ball tree surely is the weirdest plant ive seen.

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    Replies
    1. 'Black ball tree'....well I have never heard the Jaboticaba called that before, Lynda. LOL!

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  4. My jaboticaba tree has been in a few years now but fruit?....absolutely zilch. Any idea how long it took yours to fruit? If it doesn't do something soon it might be more useful as compost!

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  5. Ours was planted in 1978, Hutchy. I just asked the CEO when it started fruiting but he can't remember...perhaps seven or eight years he said. I didn't even know it had fruit growing on the branches until last year as it is right down the back and you can't see the fruit until you get under the tree. He has all kind of exotic plants growing around here and I never used to take much notice of them when I was working :-)

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  6. Always love your nature pics. Good luck with the socks. :)

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    1. Thanks Krystal. I try to include a few as I know you girls in the Northern Hemisphere like them.

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  7. Weeds, when do they ever stop, I give up, we have a very lovely front garden, green as..... pity the ornamental plants cannot be seen. I have made a few circular cloths but have not tried the mentioned pattern as yet. The heel is usually the easiest part, two needles.

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    1. Ha ha Deb. I just discovered that what I thought was a weed is the Landcress I planted. Duh! I have just turned the heel on the sock and feel very proud of myself but also very daunted by doing the gusset. I do hope I recover from the experience. :-)

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