Tomato Casual

Hello fellow tomato lovers.

I just wanted to share with you a site I've been enjoying for the last few weeks and thought you might find it enjoyable also.

I'm lovin' these guys at the moment (Tomato Casual).

A collaborative effort between fellow Tomato lovers who come up with all sorts of interesting stuff about tomatoes.

If you like your tomatoes as much as I do then I suggest you shuffle on over and check out their site.

Their current post is about growing tomatoes in space (Space Tomato More Drought Tolerant).

Below is a description about Tomato Casual I lifted from theri site.

About Tomato Casual

Are you passionate about tomatoes?

We are too! In fact, it’s why we created this community dedicated to “Everything Tomato for People Who Love Tomatoes.”

At Tomato Casual we are not only obsessed with growing, eating, cooking with tomatoes, we’re also obsessed with all things tomato whether it be art, music, wallpaper, recipes or movies.

Our expert Tomato Casual team will help you grow a better tomato, discover new ways to cook and enjoy tomatoes, and will keep you in the know about all things tomato.

We invite you to be a part our community and share your tips, stories, photos and passion with those of us also enjoy this most perfect fruit.

Cheers and happy tomato growing,
Stewart

Happy as a chook with lips, aka. Seven from Eight

Sorry in advance, but round these parts there is only one kind of footy and that's Rugby League.

Just for the fun of it I thought I'd post my ABC Grandstand NRL Footy Tipping picks for the week and see how I go.

Your welcome to join in through comments or bag the crap out of me for supporting NRL, as long as it's all in good fun.







Guest picker for the week is Sentimental Sister from Wild Honey Photography.

ROUND 12

May 29-June 1 ......... Me ......... Sentimental
Dragons vs. Panthers ...... Dragons ...... Panthers
Eels vs. Sharks ........... Eels ......... Eels
Warriors vs. Wests Tigers . Tigers ....... Tigers
Knights vs. Bulldogs ...... Bulldogs ..... Bulldogs
Rabbitohs vs. Raiders ..... Rabbits ...... Rabbits


Seven from eight has lifted me up the ladder again and I'm now 1024 from 3293 tippers.

That's a whole 210 places so I'm guessing a lot of other people had a good week too.






Oh, I've also heard of a game they call the State of Oranges on Wednesday night.

Does anyone know anything about this game? (:

I don't know what it's got to do with Oranges when it's all about Blues and Maroons.

Personally I like Yellows.

Go the mighty Maroons!!!!!!!!!


I'm currently ranked 1234 out of 3275 tippers on the ABC Grandstand AFL & NRL Footy Tipping http://tipping.abc.net.au

Wk. one. 135 out of 2211
Wk. two. 220 out of 2531
Wk. three. 893 out of 2945
Wk. four. 1970 out of 3113
Wk. five. 2016 out of 3179
Wk. six. 1594 out of 3216
Wk. seven. 1550 out of 3232
Wk. eight. 1635 out of 3252
Wk. nine. 1391 out of 3266
Wk. ten. 1234 out of 3275
Wk. eleven. 1024 out of 3293

A man drowned in a bowl of muesli the other day. It was said a strong currant pulled him in.

Cheers and happy tipping
Stewart.

The Chook Report

Remember these guys?
I got them back in Feb 24 2009.

It seems like I've had them forever.

Anyhow this is basically a photo report on their progress.




The next three photos are of the two new chooks my wife purchased the other day.




























These two photos are of my favorite chook/bantam, she is at the bottom of the pecking order but it only means she has to wait before the others will let her eat.

I like her poise and colouring. I think she is a proud chook.















The rest are the Light Sussex hens. I lost the rooster a while ago but the hens are fat as fools and I'm still waiting on the eggs to arrive.







The cost so far is $50.00 for the chooks and 4 bags of feed @ $18.00 which = $112.00. And if you divide that by $4.00 for a doz of eggs then these guys owe me 28 doz eggs.

I wonder if I lent an axe outside the gate to their pen if they would get the message or should I be a little more patient?





Click on the photos and you'll get a bigger picture.












Cheers for now and happy chickening
Stewart

I Love Living Life. I Am Happy.

Just found this on twitter and thought I'd share it.

Caution: Have tissues ready, but see it through.

Magic Monday

Hi all, well after two weeks of sinus problems and 97mls of rain I made it down to the Toowoomba community organic gardens today.

The main job I wanted to complete was to plant the broad bean seeds that I collected from last years crop to use for a green manure crop.

Job done.

The peas I planted a few weeks ago have come up and are well on their way so the next job will be to provide them some support.

Even though they are a bush pea they still grow up to one meter high and will need supporting.

Next when I got home was some new laying boxes for the chook a books.

They are about 6/7 months old so they should start laying soon, but I'm guessing they might not start until the day length starts to get longer.




The Rolls Royce of laying boxes or am I just kidding myself.














My dear wife has been getting frustrated waiting for my chooks to start laying eggs and went out to the local produce store and got herself two point of lay chooks.

So now it's a race to see who lays eggs first.

That's it for Monday,
Cheers and happy gardening,
Stewart

Tomorrow is Towel Day!

Tomorrow is Towel Day!

Towel Day is an annual celebration on the 25t h of May, as a tribute to the late author Douglas Adams (1952-2001). On that day, fans around the universe proudly carry a towel in his honour.

Please join us in this very worthwhile celebration

• Tell the world about Towel Day! Blog about it, vote on Reddit, post in forums, share it in Facebook, arrange to celebrate with friends, stumble this site, tweet, buzz it up, RSVP, vote up on Plime, etc.

• On Towel Day, carry a towel! Where? Everywhere!

• Proudly show the world you've observed Towel Day by uploading a picture or video to Flickr (most popular - latest) or YouTube (most relevant - latest). Tag your picture with "towelday" and add it to the Towel Day group. And remember: this year you can win prizes if you enter your picture in Pan Macmillan's Towel Day competition.
• Read more
  

Six from Eight

Sorry in advance, but round these parts there is only one kind of footy and that's Rugby League.
Just for the fun of t I thought I'd post my picks for the week and see how I go.
Your welcome to join in through comments or bag the crap out of me for supporting NRL, as long as it's all in good fun.







So close to eight from eight.

Who'd thought the cowboys would win against the Warriors in NZ and one point in the Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs game when the Tigers were winning close to the end.

Anyhow six from eight has lifted me up to 1234 out of 3275



Guest picker for the week is Sentimental Sister from Wild Honey Photography.

ROUND 11

May 22-25 ................ Me ......... Sentimental
Bulldogs v Storm ......... Storm ...... Bulldogs
Cowboys v Knights ........ Cowboys .... Cowboys
Eels v Rabbitohs ......... Rabbits .... Eels
Panthers v Roosters....... Panthers ... Panthers
Raiders v Warriors ....... Raiders .....Raiders
Sharks v Dragons ......... Dragons .... Sharks
Titans v Sea Eagles ...... Titans ..... Titans
Wests Tigers v Broncos ... Broncos .... Broncos


I'm currently ranked 1234 out of 3275 tippers on the ABC Grandstand AFL & NRL Footy Tipping http://tipping.abc.net.au

Wk. one. 135 out of 2211
Wk. two. 220 out of 2531
Wk. three. 893 out of 2945
Wk. four. 1970 out of 3113
Wk. five. 2016 out of 3179
Wk. six. 1594 out of 3216
Wk. seven. 1550 out of 3232
Wk. eight. 1635 out of 3252
Wk. nine. 1391 out of 3266
Wk, ten. 1234 out of 3275

National Tree Day

*

National Tree Day (Website)

National Tree Day, proudly sponsored by Toyota, is Australia's largest community tree-planting event. In it’s 14-year history more than 2 million volunteers have planted over 13 million native trees and shrubs!

This year’s National Tree Day is on Sunday 2 August with Schools Tree Day to be held on Friday 31 July (there are also additional insured dates for 2009). Planet Ark is currently seeking individuals to register and run local tree planting and bush regeneration sites.

Australian film and television actor and National Tree Day Ambassador, Jack Thompson, is urging all Australians to join Planet Ark’s tree-planting revolution and register as Site Coordinators.

"Planting and growing native trees and shrubs on Planet Ark’s National Tree Day is rewarding in so many ways," says Thompson. Read more

* EUCALYPTUS:(From Greek, eu + καλύπτω = "True Cap") is a diverse genus of trees (and a few shrubs), the members of which dominate the tree flora of Australia. There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus, mostly native to Australia, with a very small number found in adjacent parts of New Guinea and Indonesia and one as far north as the Philippines.

Honda Hydrogen

For anyone interested in the future and likes riding bikes, you might find this interesting.

Honda Hydrogen CB750 Motorbike Concept

Jazz in the Vineyard 2009

Preston Peak Wines is excited to announce

Jazz in the Vineyard 2009

Sunday 24th May
Gates open 10.00 am

Continuous live music from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm

Local jazz group 'The Art of Tea'

Come along for a fantastic day of great music, excellent wines and delicious food in a superb setting

Entry only $10.00 per adult includes free tasting glass

Wine Society Member receives one free entry ticket

Prebooked sit-down lunch available - $62.00 per head for non-members

$52.00 per head for members including entry

Picnic baskets available - $65.00 per couple for members,

$75.00 per couple for non-members

Gourmet platters and pizzas available to purchase,

BBQ and full bar outside

Preston Peak Wines
31 Preston Peak Lane
Preston QLD 4352

07 4630 9499

www.prestonpeak.com

Toowoomba's Own Winery

50mm to 9am

Hi all,
Well I'm impressed, the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Queensland finally got something right.

We've had buckets of rain here the likes of which I haven't seen for years.

32mm up to 9am on Tuesday morning and another 50mm to 9am this morning (Wed) and it's still raining heavily.

Now if it can only keep raining as forecast and we get as much rain again then we just might end up with some much need inflows to our local storage dams.

Tropical Cyclone Hamish. This post here has some information on the dire straights of our local dams.

Cheers and happy veggie gardening,
Stewart

16

My most prized, precious, adorable, lovable, smart, clever, popular, funny, (I could go on forever, you better stop me now) daughter turned 16 today.

I think it's more special for me than it is for her.




























I can't listen to this without tearing up and the film clip is a bit ordinary, but the song is the one I think of when I think of my daughter.

Two and a bit weeks later.

Drunken Women post, 1st may 2009

Hi all, remember these guys.

The experiment using potting mix and different organic soil enrichment substances (fertiliser) I have around the place.







Well this is two and a bit weeks later.
(you really need to click on the photo to get a better idea of their growth)

From left to right is (as stated on the drunken woman post)
1. A mix of all
2. Half compost and potting mix.
3. Potting mix with two hand fulls of cow manure
4. Potting mix with a half a hand full of rooster booster fertiliser
5. Straight potting mix.


So far it's an even race between #1 and #4 and if you have ever wondered why your plants don't perform when planted into potting mix then just have a look at the lettuce in pots #5 to see why.

From what I can gather they are pretty gutless.
Only the potting mixes with some extras added perform.

I have to say I'm surprised with the growth rate from the pots with Rooster Booster in and had assumed the ones with compost would have done the best.
I also expected more from the cow manure pots, but I know that when I use it in the general garden areas it is a terrific soil conditioner, feeding the worms and helping to retain moisture in the soil.

From here it will be a test to see which one can or does maintain their fertility and growth.

Cheers and happy veggie gardening,
Stewart.

May it rain. Get it 'May'. 'May', it rain

Our last rain was on
15/04/09 so things
are getting a bit
dry again.

There for this looks
interesting, especially
the last paragraph.

I will have to keep an eye on the forecast and see
how they go.
Sadly it has been my experience to end up feeling
disappointed by the time the forecast day arrives.
Time will tell.


QUEENSLAND WEATHER FORECAST
Issued at 4:10pm EST on Saturday the 16th of May 2009

IDQ1070002
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
A high pressure system centred over Victoria will
maintain dry conditions over much of the state
during the rest of the weekend, with only isolated
showers about the far northern tropics.

High cloud will develop from the west during Sunday
ahead of an upper level trough, with areas of patchy
light rain developing over most central and southern
districts on Monday.
An increasing onshore flow will result in isolated
showers over the east coast, extending further
inland in southern districts.

The upper trough is likely to intensify on Tuesday
as it moves across southern Queensland, extending
rain areas and isolated thunderstorms across the
southern parts of the sate.
Isolated showers and patchy rain areas in the north,
with possible isolated thunderstorms in the far
northern tropics.

The upper trough could produce significant rain areas
over southeastern parts of
Queensland in the middle of the week. (That's me/us)

Warm fuzzies

Click on the photo for the big picture.

I just love it when newly planted seeds poke their seed leaves up into their new world.

It's the circle of life starting all over again. Warm fuzzies for me.

Purple Podded Pea Eater

Purple podded peas, trellised, composted, mulched and rearing to go.

You can also see a one row of the six rows of white Italian garlic I have planted and needs mulching as soon as I get well enough.





I'll probably get shot for this, but every time I say purple podded peas to myself I keep thinking of the Purple People Eater, but in my head I sing Purple pea eater.

Go figure, have I got to much time on my hands or an empty head with lots of free space for strange thinking?

Three from Four

Sorry in advance, but round these parts there is only one kind of footy and that's Rugby League.
Just for the fun of t I thought I'd post my picks for the week and see how I go.
Your welcome to join in through comments or bag the crap out of me for supporting NRL, as long as it's all in good fun.

ROUND 10
May 15-18
Broncos v Titans .............. Broncos
Dragons v Bulldogs ............ Dragons
Panthers v Sharks ............. Panthers
Roosters v Knights ............ Knights
Sea Eagles v Eels ............. Sea Eagles
Storm v Raiders ............... Storm
Warriors v Cowboys ............ Warriors
Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs ...... West Tigers

Most of these games can still go either way just with the bounce of the ball so here's hoping it bounces my way.


I'm currently ranked 1391 out of 3266 tippers on the ABC Grandstand AFL & NRL Footy Tipping http://tipping.abc.net.au

Wk. one. 135 out of 2211
Wk. two. 220 out of 2531
Wk. three. 893 out of 2945
Wk. four. 1970 out of 3113
Wk. five. 2016 out of 3179
Wk. six. 1594 out of 3216
Wk. seven. 1550 out of 3232
Wk. eight. 1635 out of 3252
Wk. nine. 1391 out of 3266

FWIW, I think Mathew Johns is being nailed to the cross for everyone else's sins and should not be sacked or stood down.

If a police officer gets caught for drink driving I don't see them losing their job over it.

Amanita Muscaria

I have always loved time lapse film. Here is a few just for fun.

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week 12ish.

The story so far.

14 Feb 2009 seed planted. Click here for full story












Nicely tucked away.












19 Feb 2009, up and running.
















26 Feb 2009, A bit slow to get going due to my poor choice of seed raising mix.
























18 Mar 2009, well this is where I left you, at the soil preparation stage. Click here for more on soil preparation stage.










The story continues.
22 Mar 2009. After the soil preparation it was time to plant Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. It was now or never because as you can see in the photos they were going nowhere in the potting mix I had them in.









Dig a little hole












and pop them in. Can you see that poor pathetic little Broccoli in the middle of the photo?













Well this is him/her now.

They have had plenty of help along the way with regular applications of fish emulsion, rooster booster, watering and mulching.

Ooh I just remembered I have to put on some Sulphate of potash. Looks like this afternoons job :0





















This poor little guy had all his/her leaves eaten off about four weeks ago and I kept hoping he/she would sprout again and it has so hopefully it can go on to fulfill it rightful potential on my dinner plate :)







I make that three months since I planted the seed so these guys should be about 2/3 of the way there.

I'll keep an eye on them and when something more interesting happens I'll get it up here lickety split.

Cheers for now and happy veggie gardening,
Stewart

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week One

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week Two

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week Three

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Week Four

The life and times of Cauliflower, 'Violet Sicilian' and Broccoli, 'Romanesco'. Last Friday

I'm feeling sorry for myself.

Why is it that you always get sick when the weather is absolutely perfect outside, or is it that you just notice it more?

And yes I'm feeling sorry for myself.