Tag Archives: garden

Garden Games

23 Aug

We’ve been finding new things to do to keep busy at home. There has been a change in government in the country over the weekend when the prime minister resigned on 16 August. But there is no change to our status of staying at home. So, we have to have new activities to vary our daily routine.

Online shopping has played a big part in our lives with all sorts of purchases to keep us busy. I even bought golf training balls from my favorite online shopping site, of course, for us to practice. So hubby and I have been creating all sorts of challenges with the new balls and our old chipping net. The perfect setup for this is in the garden.

It can be pretty fun having the challenge with each other. And if the weather is good, it makes the activity even more enjoyable. We need to be fully vaccinated before we can go back to playing golf with our friends. Until then, we have this to keep us still sharp with our chipping and pitching skills. So let the garden games begin!

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A New Gardening Project, Part 2

17 Aug

The latest gardening project is coming along slowly. The okra plants have settled well in the planter’s box. Out of the nine seeds, one didn’t make it at the start, and one didn’t survive after the transfer.

Growing well these babies!

And the mini brinjals in the little nursery have started to show some progress as well. Nine out of nine seeds survived! When they are more stable, we will transfer them into the other planter’s box.

Coming along albeit slowly

However, the remaining herbs and plants in the nursery have not shown any progress. These are the long okra, blue pea shoots, thyme, and bitter gourd. Oh well. Two out of six species made it, so I cannot complain.

Separately, the chilis are thriving in abundance. We have been giving them to our neighbors because it’s too much for us to eat. And finally, the second papaya tree has some fruits to show; we harvested several fruits last week. The first papaya tree is still settling down after being cut down in size.

Now, if only we have some chickens to have fresh eggs to complete our little farm! Hahaha.

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Alternating Between Projects, Part 2

16 Aug

I seem to be fickle-minded. At one point, I concluded that it was not good to alternate between carving and building miniatures, and the next thing I know, I was doing it. Now, I find myself at this juncture again.

Working on two projects at the same time

DIY project number 17 has started in tandem with carving another Gnome Trio. What am I thinking? As if managing the vegetable patch is not enough, alternating on two projects again? I must be very restless.

DIY project number 17

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A New Gardening Project

13 Aug

The lockdown this time is endless! So much so, we have decided to do sustainable things, like recycling used items and growing our food. Besides having hobbies to keep busy, we have embarked on a new gardening project to complement our baking and cooking endeavors.

The pandan leaves, chili, and curry leaves are not sufficient to make a meal, for they only complement the flavors. Only the bean sprouts can make a meal or two. The new papaya tree has just started fruiting, while the pineapple patch still has a long way to go. So we decided to grow some vegetables that can make a meal.

Recent harvest of chili and papaya

The planter boxes, seeds, and garden soil were purchased, and we started a mini nursery to get started. A few days later, the okra sprouted. How exciting! Eight out of the nine seeds made it. The next thing we have to do is ensure enough nutrients and sunlight, and proper care to deter the snails from coming at them. So far, it is rather rewarding to see some results.

The latest gardening project

The other seedlings are taking slower to sprout. We will have to monitor to ensure success with them. And when that happens, the sense of reward will be even greater. I can’t wait!

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No Difference

10 Aug

Today is a public holiday, and it makes no difference. Frankly, I don’t remember when was the last time we looked forward to having a break with a public holiday.

This lockdown since May has been one long extended public holiday for us. The only difference being, we cannot go anywhere, unlike all previous public holidays. The furthest I have ventured out is the front lawn to sweep the leaves. Sigh.

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Feeding the Garden Friends

9 Aug

It has come to a point whereby the daily garden visitors expect food laid out for them. The doves, sparrows, squirrels, or rather, tree shrews wait on us to provide for them. So hubby bought birdseed from the online shopping site since we try not to go out so often. The birds love it.

Sometimes when we are slow to have the seeds out on time, we find the two regular doves wandering into the garden porch to remind us. There have been occasions when they would even saunter cooly into the house!

Sometimes they sunbathe and of course, eat.

The shrews are more fortunate as they have more choices. With the various fruits that we eat, they get to eat them too. We set the tray in one spot, and every morning I can see one or two bouncing over to check the offering.

Enjoying a sweet offering

We do not mind the animal demands as they have to eat as well. And when we keep them satisfied outside, they won’t venture inside to create problems for us.

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Practical Recycling

26 Jul

During the various lockdowns since the pandemic started, we discovered daily to-be-discarded things that we can recycle. It is good to give the unwanted one last purposeful usage before throwing them away in the trash.

Last year, we started recycling eggshells from baking endeavors for the garden as a deterrent for snails. They double up as a calcium nutrient for the plants as well. We have continued this practice until today.

This year, I found that the garden squirrels don’t mind rancid walnuts and apple cores. Something better than nothing to feed the hungry. I remove the apple seeds, of course. The recycling list can go on.

Recently hubby discovered (from YouTube, of course) that milk cartons make a great container to grow bean sprouts. All you need is some mung beans and an empty milk carton. A one-third cup of beans to the size of the carton is enough to yield a carton bursting with crunchy bean sprouts after five days!

He has been timing the bean sprouts growing process. So whenever he bakes and finishes the milk, the cartons are saved for future use. And when we want to have bean sprouts on the menu, a five-day notice is given.

One should consider doing this because it’s pesticide-free food and practical recycling!

A basket of homegrown bean sprouts!

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Battle of the Weeds, Part 2

13 Jul

There’s one section of the garden grass that does not grow well. We think it’s because there isn’t enough sunlight for the grass to thrive. The Creeping Charlie, however, seems to thrive well in this section. We debated whether to remove or let them continue growing in that section.

Being in a shaded spot and without grass, the section looks bald, unkept, and unsightly. Although we prefer to remove weed throughout the garden, we have decided to allow the Creeping Charlie to grow in this particular section to camouflage the unsightly bald patches. As a result, the area now looks green and pretty from a distance.

I guess, for once, the weeds have won this round of the battle with our compromise on this.

Patchy without grass but green with the Creeping Charlie!

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DIY Project #15

6 Jul

Soon after completing the Gnome Trio, I started on the next miniature, DIY project number 15. Initially, it started at a good pace, but I got distracted again. I was having fun with the Gnome Trio, placing them at all possible sites in the house. I wanted to have their visual presence felt.

DIY project #15

But they dwarfed in comparison to the walls of the house. What I thought was big of the carved piece turned out minuscule! So I was determined to ensure the gnomes are more visual. Hence, I deviated from DIY #15 and started on a new set of gnome carvings that are double the original in size.

New gnomes are 8” tall, twice the height of the Trio

Three separate pieces this time, I have been working on them simultaneously. During the day, I would be at the garden terrace carving, hammering, and shaping the gnomes. And during the evenings, I am inside the house working, albeit slowly, on DIY project number 15.

And with the EMCO still ongoing, I think this routine is good to keep busy. And yes, I do cook to feed the family too.

The Gnome Trio has overshadowed DIY project #15

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Double Celebration, Part 2

2 Jul

Mother Nature was good to us, for it didn’t rain on the big double celebration day. It was cloudy and did threaten to rain a little, but the hot weather held for us to have the outdoor barbecue as planned.

There was a constant stream of deliveries that morning. From my usual online shopping items to dessert cakes, more cakes and pastries, and the ultimate cake towards the evening, we were busy receiving all the deliveries. The fridge was almost bursting with all the delectable goodies, on top of all the barbecue food.

All sorts of mouth-watering yummies!
The funniest 4-inch tall birthday cake!
Our private garden birthday party
A colorful spread

It was a lovely garden dinner affair for the three of us. The birds left us alone, unlike our last barbecue for our Reunion Dinner. Even the mosquitoes did not disturb us. As our little one turned 20 that day, I guess we have to face the fact she is not so little anymore. Happy birthday M2, and many happy returns! Love you to the moon and back.

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