A year without "Horrorscopes"

I'd bought my first astrology book book in the early 80's. A book, albeit a small one, dedicated to my star sign. It was full of useful information about gardening by the moon, and how to track your menstrual cycle using the stars.

But what I read, over and over again, was the chapters on compatibility.

The hours I'd spend reading, plotting and mostly day dreaming because of those predictions. Boys in my class suddenly became interesting, because I now new that we would be perfect together. We were destined to be a perfect match.

The hours I'd spend planning our lives together. Looking back they were such vague notions of what sharing your life with someone actually is, such pale, blurry outlines. Much like how playing with dolls in a dolls house compares to real life.

This harmless addiction continued throughout my 20's and 30's, although with less dedication. At one stage, newly single, I limited my matches on an online dating site to a single star sign, in the hope of finding a passionate and sexy match. I succeeded in finding one, and this worked sensationally until we actually had a conversation and I realised he was so dull and arrogant that I wanted to scratch my eyes out.

So my relentless pursuit of those all knowing, life affirming forecasts started to wane, along with my relentless pursuit of an all loving, single and available man.

I finally decided to go cold turkey at the beginning of 2011. It wasn't, at the time, a momentous decision or a light bulb moment. But I felt that I would focus more on the present if I wasn't reading and analysing any of this fortune telling.

No more daydreaming about my prospects of finding that special someone.*
No more reading the daily predictions in the newspapers.
No more assessing monthly forecasts in the womens' magazines.
No more watching just one more music video on pay TV, waiting for that one sentence that will sum up my day.
No more sifting through websites for advice on what career I should be moving into.

It wasn't hard to give all this up. I don't really have any withdrawal symptoms. Although when I come to that part of the newspaper each day I still have to turn the page very quickly and determinedly. That tiny kernel of temptation is still there, lying dormant.

It hasn't changed my life in any remarkable way, but I do feel less weighed down by the future. And if I do feel the need for that one single sentence that will sum up my day, then I make it up myself, and post it on Facebook.

*OK, OK, I admit to still daydreaming about blokes, but only a healthy few hours each day.

The Shade House

Well it was more like a bush house. Lot's of plants, most of them really pot bound, or growing into the soil and bark chips underneath. But there were some great survivors, just in need of a repotting and some regular watering.

Lots of these Billbergia Nutans, great flowers in September. I've divided them up and now have them in hanging baskets and other pots.

With lots of new growth. I'm hoping they flower just as well with all this extra attention.

One main reason for cleaning up the shade house is that I had run out of pots. But there were so many with dead plants or just dirt in them, so I put the gloves on and got amongst it. Only one red back was discovered, I'm sure there were heaps more that I didn't see.



So after a wash, then a soak in a very diluted bleach solution I had 18 new pots! I also threw out another 10 or so that were broken. And found a large polystyrene box, very handy for growing cherry tomatoes in.

It's still looking a little shabby, but I'm happy with my efforts, especially some cuttings that have taken nicely. When the weather cools down a bit I will put them in larger pots on there own, ready to go into the front or back garden.

I've also been able to pot a few Hoya cuttings. The climber is quite overgrown, and when it's been on the ground for ages new roots form along the runners. So I can just snip either side of them and pot them up. I love the flowers of Hoyas, very wax like, they don't look real at all. Must add a photo when they flower!



Some garden updates

I've been gradually doing things in the front and back gardens over the past 12 months.
There's a lot to do, and with time and health constraints, I'm pacing myself.

One of the most satisfying jobs has been cleaning up the outdoor area, which had been a bit of a junk area.

It's now a lot cleaner, and has an outdoor setting and a BBQ. We used it for my birthday this year, and for a family christmas lunch. 

This is the overgrown coastal rosemary.

It's still out of control!

This is what the planned vege patch looked like in June 2011.

Unfortunately this is what it looks like in Feb 2012. You can't rush these things.

 



Chery Tomato Passata in the Slow Cooker

2 friends had given my lots of beautiful ripe cherry tomatoes.

I searched a few recipe sites, but none were exactly right, so I blundered on accordingly.

There was no way I was skinning all these, but I did want to remove most of the seeds. This was surprisingly easy.

Firstly I washed them.

Then I cut the tops of each one and squeezed the seeds out.

I had enough to fill a large slow cooker.

I then set it on auto, added a few peeled garlic bulbs and left it for 4 1/2 hours, stirring a couple of times.









Then I used a stick blender to blend it into a smooth passata.

I did have plans to bottle it, but there wasn't really enough, so I added some mince and herbs and we had bolognese for dinner!

Baking time - Banana Cake

One thing I'd like to do more of this year is bake.

Cakes, biscuits, slices etc.

So am now sitting down to a cup of tea and a slice of banana cake, still warm from the oven. Is there anything more comforting?

This is my second attempt this week, the first was a little heavy, and I used a loaf tin when the recipe asked for a ring tin. I've also learnt that Mum always turned her cakes around half way through baking, because the oven seems to be hotter at the front than the back. And Dad has found the correct tin.

It's a lot lighter than the first one, and cooked much more evenly as I turned it after 15mins. I think the recipe is from an old CWA cookbook, the cover has gone, so it's hard to tell, but it's in metric, so not ancient :)

So that's 2 very old bananas put to a good use.
Yum!

Do cats like moving house?

Moving house is a pain. All those boxes in strange places.

Although the empty ones are quite interesting.

And empty cupboards are fascinating.

And it all goes much more smoothly with good supervision.

All settled in and ready to blog

Finally!
We have the internet organised and my wireless network up and running.
I'm loving my new Asus laptop so stay tuned for some blog updates over the next few days.