tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37344093182100173002024-03-05T21:34:14.741+11:00Missus MoonshineAliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.comBlogger528125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-59843836714748369662016-10-10T12:42:00.001+11:002016-10-10T12:45:38.310+11:00You don’t use antibacterial wipes do you. Tell me you don’t.
http://witcheskitchen.com.au/you-dont-use-antibacterial-wipes-do-you-tell-me-you-dont/
Great post from the Witches Kitchen, scary stuff indeed.
Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-54589826810162122152016-05-13T11:18:00.001+10:002016-05-13T11:18:32.797+10:00Closing sale at Evie & LivI've decided to close my Etsy shop Evie & Liv after about 8 years of sewing fun, so I'm offering readers a discount of 25% off already reduced prices with no minimum spend, until the end of June. Great time to stock up on gear for your little ones, or gifts for others. Thank-you for supporting local and handmade!
Coupon code for checkout: CLOSING25Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-16743135484473636412016-04-01T16:53:00.000+11:002016-04-01T16:53:11.284+11:00Thoughts on reducing packaging waste
Since the end of last year, I've been feeling the need to reduce the amount of throwaway packaging that comes into (and out of) our home. I've revisited buying at bulk shops where you take your own containers to refill, but there's not a lot of that around here, so I do what I can. I'm hoping The Source Bulk Foods opens in Geelong soon, I've been to one of their Melbourne Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-52502350745585175102016-03-09T17:41:00.000+11:002016-03-09T17:41:59.479+11:00Endless Summer
Livinia picking apricots in the new year
Seems I lost my blogging mojo over summer, but here are some productive garden snapshots from the last 3 months. We had a bounty of apricots and nectarines, the trees were well pollinated by the bees in spring.
A little bit of soap making, lavender and peppermint
And beeswax candlemaking from our beeswax and our Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-68308151438491773512015-11-01T10:17:00.001+11:002015-11-01T10:18:21.075+11:00November garden in the morning
After an unusually hot and dry October, yesterday we woke to thunder and lightning and lots of rain, such a relief. There was 17mm in the rain gauge by the end of the day, and the garden is much happier for it.
My experiment for the summer- growing in straw bales. The idea is that the straw insulates against extreme heat and retains water, it breaks down over summerAliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-61095147501469616222015-10-15T10:03:00.000+11:002015-10-15T10:03:11.486+11:00Swarming part 2
This is the final cluster before Andrew was able to come home and catch it before they took off.
Capturing the swarm
These were rehomed to a lady who lives around the corner, and are doing well so far. We had another swarm yesterday, so we had to borrow an empty hive, but this lot don't seem too happy right now. Fingers crossed they settle down.
Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-37201981466029487562015-10-13T10:31:00.002+11:002015-10-13T10:31:18.544+11:00Swarming
I could hear a lot of bee activity a little while ago, and I have watched as the bees have become thick over the backyard.
I hope they stay on our block!
Andrew installed a new (empty) hive last weekend, so a swarm would hopefully find it. Fingers crossed!
Olive trees dripping with bees
Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-2631902806569697402015-07-22T12:16:00.000+10:002015-07-22T12:16:52.741+10:00School Holidays
The kids have been back at school for a week and a half, and I haven't blogged for months, but anyway, here's some highlights from the holidays! The order of my photos has been jumbled, but here's Liv, who got to fulfill her wish of a horse ride (pony), at Koombahla park in Wallington.
And Evie with her new bike that she got for her 9th birthday.
The Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-79094359204691435512015-03-16T19:32:00.000+11:002015-03-16T19:32:05.707+11:00Double glazing
We had our back windows and door replaced today, with timber framed double glazing. Our old sliding door had become quite difficult to open and close, and last year I discovered a one inch by about 1cm gap in the top of one of the frames, which would let in hot or cold air depending on the season, and spiders I'm sure. I plugged it up with cotton wool then, but things should be far Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-24117768773232264082015-03-11T19:11:00.003+11:002015-03-11T19:11:46.209+11:00Broody chickens
I really thought I'd notice if this was going on. I was a bit shocked to find this chicken sitting on 15 eggs, hidden under the pumpkin vines. She's been escaping every day, which was annoying, I just thought she'd figured out how to get out, and so she kept repeating it because it was fun. We've attempted to block the gap in the fencing, but she was determined. Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-77865819372620522842015-02-22T19:53:00.001+11:002015-02-22T19:54:15.578+11:00February garden
It is getting closer to the end of summer, and we're getting some good harvests, and starting the autumn clean up. We're enjoying our first blooms from this dwarf flowering gum, after planting it nearly a year ago, I'm looking forward to it growing to it's full height, and being covered in blossom every summer.
The pumpkins are taking over, though not sure if we'll get a lotAliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-71882106888160210882015-01-21T10:17:00.001+11:002015-01-21T10:17:59.002+11:00Mid January garden
Artichokes flowering- the bees love these
A new garden bed- I've been layering up used chicken house straw, with rabbit poo, chopped up comfrey, banana skins, rock dust. I've put in a border of comfrey (there are some comfrey roots buried in there that are yet to come up. My salvia "bee's bliss" is in there, and in a few months, I'll plant an almond tree. You Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-45749065752454948022015-01-12T15:43:00.000+11:002015-01-12T15:43:34.778+11:00David Holmgren's Permaculture garden tour
Yesterday, Andrew and I attended a permaculture garden tour at Melliodora, David Holmgren and Su Dennet's property in Hepburn.
The thing I most took from the tour was about improving soil. We've been attempting to do this for a number of years, but really stepping it up this year. 2015 is the International year of soils, very appropriate. We have quite sandy soilAliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-21805442931176170202015-01-06T14:56:00.001+11:002015-01-06T14:56:08.358+11:00A day at Heronswood
A week ago we went to Heronswood gardens at Dromana, on the other side of the bay, Heronswood is a Diggers garden.
You can see how close it is to the ocean here, but it's quite elevated.
Heronswood House
Baby chickens
The herb garden
Echinops- I hope mine flowers this year!
Allium Drumsticks
The remains of Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-36247631920924813852014-12-29T07:37:00.000+11:002014-12-29T07:37:19.615+11:00Inside the hive
Andrew checked on his bes on the weekend to see how things were progressing, all looks good, and some honey is being made as well as lots of baby bees. Our sunflowers have started to open over the last few days, it's great to see bees on them.Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-58140331712715355802014-12-17T19:45:00.001+11:002014-12-17T19:55:46.783+11:00Livinia is 6
Liv turned 6 yesterday, and we forgot to take some birthday photos. To our defence, she was at school, then had a couple of friends over for a "party", then we went out for dinner, then it was bed time. And it started raining pretty much as soon as we walked home from school. Today was a much quieter day with lovely weather.
Poor kid, who'd have a birthday in Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-44020278955578334302014-12-15T11:15:00.000+11:002014-12-15T11:15:18.722+11:00We have bees
Andrew has been doing a beekeeping course over the last couple of months, and yesterday some bees came to live on our roof.
Andrew in his beesuit.
This is a nucleus hive. They will stay in that box for about a week, then will be moved into a proper hive. They can get in and out of the box, they just need some time to orientate themselves before Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-41468354714845557882014-12-07T11:39:00.001+11:002014-12-07T11:39:53.182+11:00Into summer
We are now harvesting yellow cherry tomatoes. This photo was taken a week ago, and that is why the sun is shining, unlike today which is very soggy. We've had over 25mm of rain since early yesterday morning, which is great to soak the garden and keep our tanks full in the lead up to a hot summer.
Grapes developing nicely
Our new beds filling up- we constructedAliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-52106616187301315352014-11-23T15:01:00.001+11:002014-11-23T15:01:13.393+11:00And we have raspberries
We picked our first raspberries yesterday, it would have been earlier if those pesky birds hadn't gotten them first. Liv and I had one each yesterday, then I netted the row. Today, a small handful were ready. I think most were from the Willamette variety, and one or two from the Sandford variety. The Diggers Gold will fruit a bit later. I'm liking the Willamette's,Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-51906035756730175632014-11-19T19:57:00.000+11:002014-11-19T19:57:04.743+11:00Myer Christmas windows Melbourne 2014
Today we made our annual pilgrimage to the Myer Christmas windows. This year, the theme was Santa Claus and the three bears, a mish mash of Santa and Goldilocks. It was report writing day at school for the girls, so a day off.
The crowds weren't too thick yet, but the windows are difficult to photograph because of the reflection of the windows.
Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-39108450823391266682014-10-26T19:42:00.000+11:002014-10-26T19:42:13.348+11:00Rocketing along
The garden has that spring explosion going on at the moment, some warm days, mixed with a bit of rain here and there makes it all lush and green, with some bright flowers thrown in to make it look cheery. My first tomatoes of the season don't look too far away, little yellow cherry tomatoes when they are ripe.
The first of the raspberries will certainly be ready before Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-25820652629590336102014-10-02T08:56:00.002+10:002014-10-02T08:56:47.114+10:00Spring garden
The garden is coming to life at this time of year, some plants have already blossomed, some are yet to. The poppies have started to pop, and the never fail bright orange calendula are making a pretty show.
My chioggia beetroots are ready for picking, we've been enjoying them roasted. Much nicer than pickled in vinegar beetroots!
Garlic is looking good
&Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-69457609020828959802014-09-28T16:30:00.000+10:002014-09-28T16:30:04.516+10:00A trip to Lambley gardens
Yesterday, with the kids having a sleep over at my parent's house, we decided to hit the road, and visit Lambley gardens and nursery, in Ascot, near Clunes in central Victoria. It was a beautiful day, and the bees were buzzing in the avenue of flowering cherries.
There is a mix of edibles and ornamentals, with an emphasis on dry tolerant plants.
The homestead
Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-52517694168859947102014-09-21T13:40:00.001+10:002014-09-21T13:40:56.570+10:00Climate Action rally
Here we are, yet again having a rally for action on climate change. Today, in Geelong, we were part of a worldwide event to call on our leaders to act now on climate change. Our prime minister decided not to attend the UN's emergency Climate Change Summit in New York.
The girls and I walked/rode bikes down to the rally at Geelong's waterfront. There was a good Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734409318210017300.post-34683695284420602802014-09-02T10:27:00.002+10:002014-09-02T10:27:57.945+10:00Cat thyme
I've never seen a cat go crazy for cat mint, but 2 little pots of cat thyme from Diggers arrived this morning, and I just noticed that Jonty has discovered them. One has been knocked off the back porch, the other is being, hmm, enjoyed by her. Better get out and plant them before they are destroyed.Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09184380133870047046noreply@blogger.com1