Spring on my windowsill

Like my fellow garden lovers in Australia, I'm delighted that there is a definite Spring feel in the air  :)

Seeds are sprouting on my windowsills and in the garden, it's a magic time of year and I am more than ready to shake off winter!  I've bravely put seedlings of tomato carefully nurtured on the window still from seed out in the apple crates, knowing jack frost is still visiting through the week.  Silly aren't I...ever the optimist!

The potatoes in the empty chook feed bags are doing well I think...

And I've been enjoying the sunshine spilling through the window onto my little rocking chair under my fan palm, Professor Lewis Carroll.

Hypatia our mumma hen has even laid an egg for us and I'm very pleased is teaching the other young ones how to eat - that is, they watch her and copy her.  Her egg contributed to some baked goodies...

  

I'll leave you with a cartoon I giggled at whilst flicking through The Big Issue the other day...

Autumn failings in the garden

Whilst inside I'm loving the warmth that a fire brings...

Outside...well it's all very depressing really - out there in the garden that is.  I'm 'in-between' seasons and all my newbies are getting eaten by...bugs!  Possums!  Naughty big knickered fluffy bottomed hens!

Caught in the very act!!

 

Hoicking her bloomers up... 

And legging it!!

Poor old brassica

Worm farm is sprouting...something!

Had to shear the old chard cos of too much naughty nibbling by cheeky fluffy ladies

Poor old peas planted too early on the right wilted in the late sunshine we had in March, the guys on the left are doing ok though 

Only these silverbeet are doing ok due to the resident preying mantis and its special powers of chook invisibility.  How sad that the other 12 plants have been eaten to stalks!!

For a wonder the coriander (cilantro) is actually thriving despite frequent haircuts

Something...or someones!... is eating all of my pea shoots in the long planter!!

I've made a very half hearted attempt to protect some of my brassica sprouting

Hanging out innocently at the bottom of the garden after I've chased them away from my vegie garden

Except Cloud Zen the poor darling who can't fly and can never join the others up there on the wine barrels.

Hoping these sweetpea up here will survive being so high above the bugs and chooks

Even inside the plants are being ravaged by a certain Master Bok and his 2 yr old mischieviousness!!

But onto the good.

These guys at least won't be eaten but may succumb to Mrs Bok Forgetting To Water

The broccoli really are taking ages!  Or they seem to be!  They are doing better than the ones I sowed outside directly into the vegie beds though which are getting eaten by everything!!!!

We've been getting lovely fresh eggs - even if they are tiny! - every day

Love how eggwhites of a fresh egg really hug the yolk!

It's cosy inside

New Autumn apples are lovely aren't they?  So crisp and sweet...

Perfect Autumn weather - weddings, birthdays and home made sculptures

We had a beautiful Autumn weekend in Melbourne.  It was fine, warm and sunny and even the moon shone the brightest it has in 18 years....

Mr Bok made me promise to stay away from the the news this weekend or at least not discuss it.  I'm doing my best but there is so much going on in the world at the moment.  I think about Japan, Libya, Bahrain...it's neverending and I admit to feeling guilty at enjoying a fine day when so many are suffering. So this is a post about the Autumn weekend and a reminder that joy and sunshine exists and you've got to be present - in the moment - to fully appreciate it.  It helps that I'm only croaking at the moment having lost my voice somewhat and it's amazing how much peace such silence can bring, although of course it's frustrating to try to tell off your naughty children only to have them dance around you giggling  :)

On Saturday we attended a lovely wedding at a winery in country Victoria.

 Even the vines were draped in bridal finery, veiled in bird netting!

The lily pond in the background of the ceremony (beside the vines) has me wondering once again how we can incorporate a pond into our backyard without a curious 2 year old falling into it!  :)

Mr Bok stayed far above the ceremony with Master Bok overlooking the proceedings that were happening below in the grape vines. This distance was primarily because Master Bok was likely to race through the ceremony troubling everyone...as it was, as the celebrant was talking about the hope that the peace and serenity of the location would follow the new couple in life, Master Bok was screeching out excitedly about seeing birds and a dragonfly.  Well I do wish the new couple peace, serenity and happiness...but also the joyful interruptions that children bring.

 On our way home, we came across these...what do you think they are...?

They look like more grape vines, but they aren't!

Ta dah!  Hydroponically grown strawberries - but from a distance they blend right into the rolling vineyards surrounding them. 

On Sunday we were lucky enough to attend the 50th birthday of a dear friend of mine.  He has the most gorgeous property...his garden is amazing full of interesting nooks and plenty of places to steal away for a nap!  The only thing he's missing are chooks - of course!  I hope to convince him of the benefits of a flock of his own!  As I wandered through the sprawling garden, I kept thinking about how my flock would love it here. 

His garden is so very lovely. Mr Bok 'hrmmmmed' at me warily as I swooned about the place croaking 'you can do this can't you!' and 'you can build that when we move out to a big block!'  Dreams eh!

In one of his many ponds, there are several varieties of tadpole! How cute are they! Another reason to get a pond methinks!

His vegies are as ornamental and ordered as the rest of his garden

Love stumbling across 'sculptures' everywhere - they are bits and pieces taken from the farm he used to have

Old electric fencing turned into an interesting feature in the garden

Citrus trees hang heavy with fruit

I spot carrots and cucumbers just dying back now

Hidden paths

Wide open spaces

When we renovate, I'd love a decking area like this, all hung over with wisteria, so pretty *sigh*

Another sculpture lovingly made - I love what they've done with their grandparent's old pots and pans.

A sunny spot for the trampoline (in-ground!  I wish!)

Ball of barbed wire from their old farm

The herb garden is decorated with bits and pieces from their old farm

I've got to get a new composter and I'm thinking something like this (they have loads of them dotted about everywhere) as it has a tray you can pull out to easily deposit the new compost.  I've got a tumbler but it's too hard to use and I don't think my worms like being tumbled about in there...my worm farm is great but I'd like to do more composting.  Only thing is, I don't want vermin!  which is why I went for a tumbler in the first place.  What do you all use and how do you keep out mice?

It was a lovely 50th and a lovely day for it.

I've got lots to share with you about my chooks but this post is long enough as it is so I'll save it for another post.  I hope you've had a good weekend too!