A is for Asparagus

My first edible asparagus spear.

Well my second actually, you see the two Isa Brown chooks have taken to flying out of their provided accommodation and destroying the garden (I'm sure these girls don't understand the meaning of a shortened life span) along with the very first edible asparagus spear.

Not much you can do with one asparagus spear so I just chopped it up and added it to my scrambled eggs.

Very yummy too thank-you very much.


In the meantime the purple asparagus I ordered from Diggers club arrived.
I'm up to my eyeballs in assignments and study atm but I hope to sneak out a bit later this arvo and plant them out.

Maggie Beer from Gardening Australia magazine claims the purple asparagus sends out less spears but they are fatter.

I guess I'll have to wait 12 months and let you know.

FWIW, I wrote this with one hand while waiting on the phone to the Australian Tax Office.
And I'm still waiting.

Ouch!!!!

That's a normal egg on the left and the one on the right comes in at 100g. Ouch!!!

Getting better all the time

Hi all,

I'm in between Math assignment at the moment so thought I'd do a quick blog.

I'm slowly getting more mobile day by day though having a good sneeze is still out of the question.

I had mums hubby come down to the Toowoomba organic community gardens yesterday to help me get the potato patch ready.

He must have been impressed with the show because he signed up for membership on the day.

I couldn't do much myself but I managed to separate the Leeks and replant them for further growing on.

The weather here has been unseasonal warm to hot so I've been getting optimistic and have started some of my spring seed plantings including the free Tomato seeds that come with September's Burke's Backyard magazine. I've also sown a full range of lettuce including Drunken Woman, Red Leprechaun, Red Cos and Red Iceberg. I've also sown some Florence Fennel, Celery, and some seeds I saved from a shop brought tomato.

I'd better get back to math and finish my assignment and I'll see if I can update some more early next week. They (weather forecasters)are predicting some rain early neat week also so fingers crossed here. It's been 8/9 weeks without rain now so it will be good to get some as it is all getting a bit on the dry side of things.

Bfn

Stewart

"ouga chaka ouga"

Here a song I was just put onto from twitter.

I found it very uplifting. He has an infectious smile and she's hot as.

Have fun! Yes, I'll get back to my assignment now.


But wait, there's more!!

TOMORROW

No where was I, oh yeah, assignment 1 part b task 3. Tasks 1 and 2 having been completed yesterday but need reviewing.

Now when is this due, tomorrow.

Tomorrow, TOMORROW, what the hell am I doing here then.

Bye got to go!!!

Chanticleer

I've just become intrigued by this character from a story in the AUG/SEPT Australian POULTRY Magazine.

Can anyone help with my education about him?

Chanticleer comes from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. More specifically, he comes from the Nun's Priest Tale, a story within Canterbury Tales. The Chanticleer is a proud and fierce rooster who dominates the barnyard.

For the best description of Chanticleer, we turn to Chaucer's words. "For crowing there was not his equal in all the land. His voice was merrier than the merry organ that plays in church, and his crowing from his resting place was more trustworthy than a clock. His comb was redder than fine coral and turreted like a castle wall, his bill was black and shone like a jet, and his legs and toes were like azure. His nails were whiter than the lily and his feathers were like burnished gold." With all of his splendor and great looks, Chanticleer is also greatly feared and mightily respected by all.

Task 3

Assignment 2 Part A Task 2 now complete.

Now for Assignment 2 Part A Task 3

12 inches or 30 cm's

One of my 'Violet Sicilian', Cauliflowers I picked very slowly (cause that's how I do things atm).

It's probably a good 11 inches across at least and yummy as.

I also saw a recipe on the Better Homes and Gardens TV show on Friday night for Mustard pickles so I'll probably use one of these guys in that too.

It uses 1/4 cup of dark rum in the ingredients which has me eager to try it (the recipe that is, oh ok and the rum), because there just might be some left over for which I'll have to find a use for, hic!

Anyhow enough distraction, Assignment 2 Part A Task 2 is still waiting.

Task 2

Assignment 2 Part A Task 1 complete!

Now for Assignment 2 Part A Task 2

ache in my back

I was hoping for a better day today but have woken up with more of a ache in my back rather than pain. Still better than I was 10 days ago.

I'm hoping to start work again on Wed nite, I'll see how I go anyhow.

I have 2 assignments due this week for my TPP course at uni so I'd better get cracking on that. Sitting and typing isn't the easiest thing for me atm.

Like a fish outta water.

Thank-you all very much for all your well wishes.

I will probably out of action for another week yet and what ever you don't try to make me laugh or cough, seriously it hurts like buggery.

I also can't work which means as a cabbie no work no pay and that is becoming just as painful.

Like a fish outta water.

It wasn't funny at the time but now thinking back it's good for a giggle.

I can remember lying on the ground in the middle of the busiest road in Toowoomba. Coming to after being knocked unconcious with every ounce of air pushed out of my lungs (am I painting a good mental picture here?) and trying to breath again, I'm sure at this moment I looked like a fish out of water very much trying to breath. Now no disrespect to the people around me but what the hell were they hoping to get out by asking me "are you alright"?

Cheers for now,

Stewart

Some personal advise.

Through my own personal experience, here is some advise. "Always stick a helmet on your head when you are riding your bicycle", cos you never know when some DH f#$kwit is going to pull out in front of you and leave you flat and busted on the road. If it weren't for my stack hat I wouldn't be writing this right now, if at all or ever.

Hi folks, today is the first day since Friday last that I've felt like dragging myself out of bed to actually write something.

And yes some DH did not see me and I ended up with an overnight stay in Hospital with some very sore ribs, left elbow and left wrist but nothing broken except my pride a little. I usually spot DH's a mile away but I missed seeing this one but they didn't miss me.

At this stage the veggie garden is in transition from Autum/Winter to Spring /Summer pl

antings so 3/4/wks off shouldn't matter too much. Getting the potato bed ready is my main concern atm and I'm sure I'll come up with something.

If by chance anyone reading this works for or at the Toowoomba Base Hospitial then I'd like to say that I have never experienced a better work place anywhere ever in my life. You are the true heroes of this world. This goes for the Ambos' who attened my accident scene as well.

Just a quickie!

Uni's hell folks. Just a quick update in point form

• Started preparing shaded veggie beds for spring plantings
• The strawberries are starting to move - cleaned up any dead or dying leaves - gave them a feed - re potted one in to a larger pot.
• Fertilized, watered and mulched the blueberry.
• No rain here for nearly 8 weeks so there has been plenty of watering going on
• Purple podded peas are doing very nicely, heaps of flowers and setting plenty of purple pods.
• Transplanted red iceberg seedlings into the garden
• Picked a mini cauliflower as well as a violet Sicilian
• 7 eggs from the girls, happy about that. Let the bartering begin.
• Gained extra ground at the community gardens but am struggling to find time to get down there and do what is needed.

OK. Back to the books

Bye for now

Stewart