Working in the garden

We had a wonderful weekend with little bits of work and a lot of relaxing thrown in for good measure. Much of our time was spent outside in the garden. Almost everything is planted now, we just have the peas, beans and cauliflowers to go. The kale has started to grow, tomatoes have been planted and staked and the potatoes are in. I'm on the lookout for some golden nugget seeds or seedlings now, when they're planted, I'll be happy.

So far the following has been planted: three types of tomatoes - amish paste, brandywines and moneymaker, capsicums (sweet peppers), chilli, kale, silverbeet (chard), wom bok (Chinese cabbage), bush cucumber and Lebanese cucumber, Darwin lettuce, French radishes, Dutch cream potatoes, Welsh onions, parsley, Tendercrisp celery, carrots and button squash. We might have some room left for a few other odds and ends, if so, I'll buy open pollinated seedlings and get them in next week.

The capsicums (peppers) have been growing since last year and are still going strong. I'll definitely be saving seeds from these plants to grow in the coming years. It's a robust and flavoursome capsicum and I doubt I could kill it with an axe.

At the moment there are about 20 capsicums growing or ripening on three bushes.

The largest of the new chickens are very happy here and cluck around exploring their new home. The small chicks are still in a fenced area but they're happy too as they can scratch the earth and eat bugs and grass. The photo below is of Anne Shirley, Lotte, Kylie and Margaret who wander around together most of the time.

Hanno hasn't done anymore work on the coop but will do that while I'm at work over the next three days. So far he's installed these nifty roosts that we can pin to the rafters when we're cleaning the place out. It's much easier than moving them and better than letting the footings sit in water.

This is one of them attached to the rafters. That wall between the roost will come out - that used to be the outside wall of the coop, and the new nesting boxes need to be made. You can see the one solitary nest box above and with only three hens laying that has been enough for the girls.

Work was also done inside. I tidied up the guest rooms, cleaned bathrooms and all the floors. But there was also time for morning tea on the front verandah and this citrus cake was made for the week's morning teas. I found that candied orange peel in the fridge when I cleaned it out last week so I used it up before it went off.

Hanno had a nap yesterday afternoon while I did some stitchery, and while I sat in the lounge room, puffs of cool air blew in to remind me that Autumn is here and Winter is approaching. I love this time of year. It makes me feel that anything and everything is possible.

Don't forget that Bel will do her guest post tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to reading it as I'm sure many other readers are. Take care everyone.