Tom turns 18!!! Woo Hoo (Gulp!)

Happy Birthday to Tom, our only child.  Its been a very big week for Tom, finishing with his 18th birthday yesterday. We had a small gathering at his favourite restaurant (Golden Grill, Werribee) last night where he ordered the same wrap he has been having now for 3 years.  They jokingly said they would try to find some gold foil to wrap it in to make it special instead of the normal alum foil. He loves that they know him and talk to him like a friend. No surprises, no anxiety or expectations on him.  He can go in whatever he is wearing and doesn't have to dress up.  Which he didn't.  Not even a shave Tom?.  He has a "take me as i am" attitude which is both good and bad.   For my new readers, Tom has Aspergers.

Later we came all came home for his special birthday cake.

  
Gorgeous, isn't it.  Its cookies and cream with chocolate plates and Oreo.  Same as last year.  Tom is consistent in his choices.  None of us were complaining.

This is Tom with his two favourite girls.  Chelsea and Tilly.  He does look happy.

He received many text messages, calls and greeting cards which included gift cards so he could buy what he liked.  Thank you to all of you for making his day special.  Today we went shopping and he paid for games that have not yet been released. Until he gets a job, his birthday is really the last opportunity he has to buy his games and so he has now paid for several that will be released throughout the year - smart kid.

Last weekend he and i found his birthday gift from us, his parents.  Yet another unusual choice, a two seater lounge for his "living room".  This year we took down a wall between two bedrooms to give him additional space.  He loved the colour and since it was a discontinued line we got an $800 two seater for $450.  It comes with a five years structural warranty and given that he's a big boy, this was important.

I think it looks great in his room and it will spur us on to complete this area.  In the shop it had a beautiful red shaggy rug in front of it that was way overpriced and so we introduced the colour using two $5 Big W cushions and his chocolate faux fur throw.

So what does this mean for my Man child, turning 18?  Well, in Oz, it now means he is required to vote in elections. Tom has very strong political views.  So much so that he doesn't see either party as being a great choice and please don't get him started on Tony Abbott.  He can "soapbox" for hours (such an Aspie thing) on how this country is a "Nanny State" and how censorship of games and a ban on guns is against civil rights. He would say that, now wouldn't he?. His Aspie special interest is military and so he lives and breathes guns, tanks, aircraft, military history, doco's on real live conflicts and of course, gaming.  He is entitled to his views even though i don't agree with them.  His focus is solely on his own interests.  He's not really concerned with taxation, infrastructure, refugees, education, employment or health.  Though if you ask him he will give you a lecture on all of them.  What 18 year old cares or has a clue?  I didn't.  

It also means that legally he is now an adult.  He can enter into a contract and it will be binding (scary).  He can purchase shares and hold property in his own right.  Should he break the law he will be dealt with and sentenced as an adult (double scary).  Tom can also buy alcohol, cigarettes and do a whole myriad of  other "adult" things. I'm not concerned about alcohol or cigarettes.  Tom's not fussed on either.  He has had access to alcohol in our home for a few months and really cant be bothered.  The Christmas beer is still sitting there. Tom knows he gets asthma and he hates cigarettes (thank God). When he was a little boy he use to run up to people outside the supermarket and tell them they were bad for smoking. (Gulp) I guess as a Mum i'm concerned about him unknowingly putting himself in danger or being under the influence of others for their own amusement or personal gain.  As an Aspie he sees the world differently and in some respects he can be quite naive and trusting and yet in others he is more mature than others his age.  He's not interested in brand labelled clothing like his peers and though i'm sure he would like a girl friend i think he is more interested in just having "a friend".  I do worry that when he gets out on his own that he will be vulnerable but i think that's a Mum thing whether you have an autistic child or not.

I did say this was a big week didn't I?.  Tom has now completed a Certificate III in Warehouse Logistics.  It took him five weeks full time and for him this was enormous.  He rarely leaves the house.  We are all so proud of his achievement but best of all he is proud of himself.

Foresite training is a purpose built training centre in Laverton.  They specialise in civil construction, transport and warehouse training.  There are paddocks out the back for excavator training and a in-house warehouse setup for forklift and warehouse operations.  It is a pretty slick operation and fortunately on my way to work.  

Once he completes the two practical days on the forklift and order picker scheduled for later in the month, Tom will have:

• Nationally accredited Certificate III in Warehousing Operations (TLI31610)
• A Forklift Licence
• A Order Picker Licence (Melbourne Metropolitan Areas Only)

He will be certified as having the following skills and knowledge:

• Communication techniques
• Customer Service skills
• Teamwork
• Receival and Storage
• Occupational Health and Safety  (Oh boy, employers had better follow the rules on this one)
• Inventory Management
• Dispatch
• Quality Control
• Forklift Operation
• Order Picker Operation (Melbourne Metropolitan Areas Only)
• Industry Knowledge
• Legislation  

We used the course notes for his tutoring lessons for the last six months and so he breezed through the theory. Thank you Lynette.  The trainer even asked me to talk to him about answering all the questions and to give someone else a go.  Tom said he was helping them.  It was truly an experience for him.  He was mixing with lots of people from different races and backgrounds.  I can honestly say he was the only privately schooled Anglo in the course.  Do you know what i am getting at?  Definitely a culture shock and learning experience. Goodness, listening to some of their conversations on pick up was quite blue, including the women. I had to laugh as they stood under a large sign that said No Smoking chuffing away.  Tom didn't seem upset or phased by it and was friendly with everyone.  Many people that are on welfare are forced into training and pick warehousing as being "easy".  Its not and the drop out rate saw Tom being only one of 10 that finished.  They started near 30.  Tom was irritated by those that were not serious about the training and he was quite angry when i picked him up several times for their "time wasting".  It took some talking to keep him going.  He kept telling me "its just common sense, Mum".  He thought they asked stupid questions and mucked around. His main complaint was the inconsistency in the course material.  He thought it was written or prepared by someone who just downloaded information from Wikipedia and not someone from the industry.  The trainer agreed with him. This adherence to "his" perception of how things should be is what causes many people to walk/run away.   He's not interested in anyone else's point of view. Its an Aspie thing. On the last day, after Tom shared the break-up cake he took in, he was allowed to leave early. He had completed all the written requirements ahead of the others.

Tom has a dream.   He wants to live in America and drive forklifts.  Yes, i know there are a few inconsistencies in this dream, like not being independent and not leaving the house!  He has smaller goals of first working as a forklift driver in a local distribution centre.  We are surrounded by them.  He then wants to work on the docks.  They earn big bucks and so he thinks that since he lives at home he will be able to save enough to go to America (the land of opportunity and freedom) in just a few years.  I know.  You don't have to tell me. He has an unreal view of reality and doesn't understand that the problems we have here in Oz are only magnified in the US given the much larger population. If he thinks our government is bad... whoa! I don't think ill be able to dissuade him and so its just a matter of dealing with the next step, getting through that and then waiting for maturity and life experience to kick in.

His first priority is to complete his licenses, and to get some practical experience. Anyone out there willing to give him some. All jobs for forklift drivers want 3-5 years experience and yet how do you get that experience.  Tom really believes that somehow, magically, that he will get a job just driving forklifts.  He doesn't want to work as a general hand or a pick packer.  Our Prod Manager at my work is willing to set up some practise on weekends in the hard stand area out the back.   His next major task is to improve his health and to get his drivers license.  He is quite motivated so I think i'm up for a bit of extra driving in the next month.

We are also booked in to do a two day First Aid Course this month, together.  I don't think he would do it on his own and so i'm doing it with him. Not because he doesn't want to but because it would be another new place, new people, new anxiety etc.  Turns out my work needed someone to be newly trained and so it worked out win win.  I believe that having additional qualifications will only benefit Tom in applying for work. He has a few negatives to overcome and so he needs to present as being a great choice.  If he already has OH&S knowledge, licenses and First Aid then i think that makes him a better choice than a school leaver or someone who has just done the course because they had to.

So, a big week for all of us.   I have been driving him to the course, going to work, leaving at 3 to pick him up and take him home, going back to work and then working extra hours to make up my time away for five whole weeks.  I'm exhausted but Tom couldn't deal with going on the bus or train with strangers.  I know, i know, i know.  My main focus was helping him through the course and so he has.  Well done Tom.

Thanks for Visiting Living In The Land of Oz

New Stove - No More Leaking Gas

Do you remember my excitement when i fixed the stove by myself here.  Well, turns out no amount of my "fixin" was going to save the old Westinghouse that has served us well for 20 years.  Whenever i opened the cupboard underneath i got a nose full of gas.  I will admit that i did have something connected backwards at one point and when i was cooking one day there was a big "Whoop" and the stove literally lifted off the bench.  It happened so fast i wasn't sure what happened but had the sense to tell hubby.  No biggie, he showed me what i had done wrong, it was fixed and we went on.  But the gas leak continued and the ancient ignition wiring meant that more often than not i had to use a lighter to get it started. Not a good combination so me thinks its time for a new stove top.

I ummed and arghed about this metal finish.  Seems to me its a lot harder to keep clean but i am mindful that we do need to keep our appliances up to date and that our kitchen is looking decidedly out dated. After seeing Emma's kitchen in my last post (here) i have kitchen envy.  Rob loves the metal finish and so that is why the new fridge is also the same.  It really just takes a wipe with a clean microcloth and water.   It does look shiny, doesn't it, and the new hobs come with a wok holder which I've never had before.  Rob was telling me how quick it is to cook in a wok and i told him he should feel free to use it any time he wants.  I opted for one the same size so it was an easy fit.  I never use all 4 hobs at once so why opt for a massive 6 hob or more? Trouble is that when you put in new and shiny appliances you have visions of it staying that way.  These are working machines.  Scratches happen.  I'm going to try hard to keep it clean but i don't believe it will look like this in 20 years.  I do love how i can now simmer without it blowing out.

Rob praying to the God of Gas that its all going to work.  As an electrician, he knows a fair bit about most trades but did his due amount of research before starting.   See the old oven/grill? Its next.   The new one is about 3m behind Rob in the living room.  Its part white and part metal as a compromise.  Since its finished, he's walked into the kitchen about 10 times and turned it on.  Do all men do this?  I get it, it works. 

As i told you in my solar post, we are replacing all the ancient appliances in one swoop on one interest free loan.  Everything is the highest energy efficiency i can afford.  On my dream list is replacing the front of all my cupboards and benchtop.  I can wait.  I'm patient.  Our house was definitely a budget fitout 20 years ago.

Since i can't stretch a whole post on installing a stove, here is a garden update (cause you know that's really exciting).  Like everyone else we are having a glut of most things at the moment.  We cannot eat enough tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce. The neighbours and friends are doing well.  Rob has this glazed look when i present him with yet another side salad.

Pickings this morning.

It was at this point that Rob told me he doesn't like those squash things.  Doh!  Since he reads this blog I wont tell him what they are going to go in.  He will never know! He's been glowing this week about a pickle i made last year made of   "Zucchini"! Ha Ha

Tromboncino - they are escaping out of the beds and making their way up and down the paths.  Its become an obstacle course avoiding these and the pumpkin vines.  

Huge leaves sheltering the fruit from the sun.

I love these little toms.  They are so sweet.  

This week i made some pickled cucumbers and Spanish onion.  I cant wait for them to mature so that i can marry them with a crumbly vintage cheese.  

Mother nature knows best!   Doesn't she just!  When I'm pruning my tomatoes of excess leaves to allow air and sunlight to penetrate, I'm often undecided about which ones to take off.  Just wait for a really hot day and Mother Nature will kill of everything not needed and protect the vine and fruit.

This is what i was faced with after a hot day of high 30's.

Clean up all the dead leaves and all that is left is strong vines and healthy fruit.  

I want to pick this beauty but Jess tells me i must wait till the vine whithers.  

The sweetest crunchiest baby cos lettuce.

Here is someone you haven't seen for a while.  She really is beautiful.

 

Thanks for Visiting Living In The Land Of Oz

Off Grid House - Open Day in Little River

                                                                   
At last, something for me to write about.  Last weekend Rob and I went to visit the home of Emma & Mark Sutcliffe and their two teenage children, in Little River.  This small settlement between Melbourne & Geelong includes many small acreage holdings.  The Sutcliffe's  inspired choice of  finding an alternative for bringing power to their 17 acre property has resulted in the creation of their very own personal power station.  I'm not suggesting they are unique but it is a great example of how with good design and planning, it is possible to live off grid.  Imagine never having a power bill and being self reliant.

During the day they use the free power generated by 30 panels on their garage roof and in the evenings they rely on the stored power contained in their bank of single cell batteries.   These batteries are stored in a purpose built ventilated box in the garage.

Inside their beautiful home is a small panel on the wall which indicates the capacity of stored power.
At 2pm on a sunny summer afternoon, it showed 100% which i guess is what you would expect.  Emma explained that the previous evening after a regular night of usage (with two teenagers at home) it dropped to 97%.  In two years they have not used their generator once.  It seems to me that the size of their system can more than meet their power requirements.

This kind of fully off grid system is not economically viable for those that live in suburbia where there is a power pole/pit outside the house.  Emma and Mark had a choice of spending $35,000+  on bringing grid power to the house or spending more and never having a power bill again.  The batteries are by far the greatest single expense at this time.  As we were recently told, great advances in this field are under way and we are all hoping that in the next 5-10 years they become more affordable for domestic users.

OK, at this time, i should point you in the direction of the TOGSH blog and Facebook page.  In there you will find tabs for costs, specifications and frequently asked questions.  Emma would be most helpful if this was something you were looking at so pop onto the Contact tab.   Though Emma is a "Climate Reality Leader" she is careful to distinguish between off grid living and climate action. Of course these go hand in hand but she is focused on this being a economic and lifestyle choice rather than environmental.

Emma asked me if i knew Gavin Webber from Melton and i had to laugh, I'm practically his disciple.  She also knew my good friends Jessie from rabidlittlehippy and Bronwyn from Shoestring.  Funny how its such a small world.  

I did have some indication of what the house looked like on the outside.  There was a photo on the invitation i received from our Wyndham City's Department of Environment and Sustainability.  The open day was part of their Green Living Series.    You can sign on to receive the Experience Wyndham's monthly enewsletter here.

I noted from the photo the very traditional homestead architecture with wide verandas that provide shade and living space. What wasn't obvious was the number of environmental design features that were included internally and externally.  All the windows are double glazed.  This might be quite common in the Northern Hemisphere but for some crazy reason it is not that common down South.  Why?  I guess cost but you would have thought that this very effective method of insulating from the cold used by our European fore-bearers would have also been used here to keep out the heat and the cold.  I would suggest that 99% of all windows in Oz are not double glazed.   Gavin from Greening of Gavin has recently installed them and you can read about it here.

Click here to enlarge

Other features included breeze-ways, overhead ceiling fans (no air conditioning needed), polished concrete floors (so cool on a hot day),  two wood fireplaces.  One fireplace is in the open kitchen, dining and living area at the rear of the house and the other is central.  The warm air flows throughout the house.

Though Emma kindly gave me permission, it seemed invasive to take photos inside someones house.  So this is it.  

Isn't this kitchen beautiful.  I love how the gas hob stove is mounted into a fireplace with mantle and the range hood is (i think) up the chimney.  This is a two and half year old house so you know this was designed. It all looks like a remodelled old homestead.  Well done guy's.   You cant see it but there is a massive walk in pantry behind those two sliding doors on right.  It all looks like it came out of a "Country Living" magazine.

OK, so we are all goggle eyed at the solar system but i bet i can do (or perhaps they can) one better. They have a gravity fed worm septic system.

This is so cool.  I don't know the actually distances but it looked like the pit with the wormies was about 50m from the house.  It did not smell at all and i had my head over the top of it looking inside.  It just looked like a small chimney with a little whirly gig  on top sticking up out of the ground and on inspection of what looked like a domestic compost bin a large pit with some sort of tank inside.  A a gravity fed pipe entered on one side from the house.  Down in the bottom were lots of wormy (Emma told me she just started with a box of 2000 from Bunnings) which number roughly around 20,000 (no one is going down to count them).  On the other side there is another pipe that runs out about another 80m via a filtered agi pipe and into long pit full of gravel for further filtration. The fertilising was evidenced by the lush patch of canola growing above the pit. I'm sorry Emma, if my measurements are all out.  Feel free to jump in on the comments and correct my mistakes and I'll edit.  

So that's it.  A great few hours with hubby giving him inspiration and motivation to build his own off grid system for use in the garage.  It would certainly be handy to have an alternative when there is a blackout.  I am certainly looking forward to watching the Sutcliffe's develop their veggie garden, water tanks (i think one will come before the other).  If you look at the soil in the above photos you will see it is very rocky.  There are piles of massive rocks left over from building the house. Emma is interested in aquaculture so keeping it local I'm sending her across to Western Aquaponics in Melton.   I've seen a presentation and experienced their system for domestic use at Shoestring Gardening.  See Gav's post here, we both went.  They have now eaten their first batch of trout and the second lot are growing, and pooping and doing their bit for the Shoestring veggie garden.

Don't forget to click on links and go say Hi to Emma.  I am but a conduit.  LOL.

Thanks for visiting Living In The Land of Oz

Solar Panels Have Arrived

Yep, there they are.  Aren't they beautiful. All twenty of them.  Our roof is ideally place as the the length of it (or at least half) is North facing.  Can't do much better than that.  This has been a very long process and there arrival has been much anticipated for over 5 months.  That's 5 months of keeping a secret and not blurting it out to all of you that they were coming. OK, so i told a few of you.  Well, maybe just a few more than just a few.

I paid my deposit in September and have been waiting for first one installation contractor and then another. Good thing is that these installers were contractors for Simply Energy.  I didn't have to deal with them directly. I had a SE Solar team i could harass, loudly and often. Read "very often".

The first contractor took his sweet time and then had no panels, made appointments for installation and didn't show up (even when i had taken a day off work) and then they lost their very large contract with one of Australia's largest energy retailers. So sad, Not.  I wasn't the only unhappy customer it appears.  I waged my phone war and just before Christmas i received a $500 credit on my energy bill for my inconvenience.  They offered me the chance to pull out of the contract but i really wanted the deal they offered me.  The new installer took only a few extra weeks as i was assured i was "on top of the list"  and that new plans had to be lodged and approved by the energy provider as well. So i cant complain, again, can I?

You bet i can.  Since i am known for having more front than Myers I'm going to push for every cent of compensation I can.  For almost all of spring and summer i could have been earning free energy up there. Tom was home all day running air cons, TVs, gaming consoles, projectors and burning every light in the house (during the day).  Yes, i know what you are thinking but you don't live here, with them.  Aspie's are very "Switched On" and apparently blind to black balloons.   I've negotiated with SE that when the energy provider finally switches over the metering to solar, my last two quarters will be reviewed and another credit WILL arrive.  If not, i think they had better get a large supply of oil. I feel more squeaking coming on.

I'm not very environmentally conscious, am I?  I could be personally responsible for the energy and oil crisis, all on my own!  (Kick me, this is no laughing matter)

So why did i choose Simply Energy (SE).  Well apart from them being my current energy retailer that gives me a very nice 30% discount off standard rates (if there was a better deal elsewhere, id be with them) they made one very important sales point that made a lot of sense to me. There are many many solar companies in Oz.  Each one trying to out do the other with gimmicks, cheaper panels etc and annoying us all with those cold calls right on dinner time most nights.  The truth is that many of these companies come and go in the blink of an eye.  So how good is your warranty going to be when they are out of business. Good luck getting service or replacements in a hurry.  Choosing a large retailer gives you peace of mind that they will actually be in business to honour their warranties.

My SE system warranty is:

Panels (Power Output Warranty) 25 years 

Inverter 10 years

Racking 10 years

Workmanship 10 years 

I have it in writing that if anything goes wrong it will be replaced there and then.  No sending off to China for parts with my system down for a month.  You know that i made them spell out these warranties in writing, in a personal email to me, so that i can flash it their face when and if i ever need to, now didn't you?.   Did you know i was like this?  Is this a personality flaw?  I could be very annoying but I'm also a handy person to know. I get things done.

For all the tech heads out there this is what i had installed.  I have PDF's full of serious writing, scribbly graphs and circuit diagrams but i haven't done Gavin's Blogging Course and i don't know how to import them into a post. I've left all this technical stuff to Rob, he's the electrician.

CNVP High Performance 60 cell Optimal Premium Poly Crystalline 156×156mm Solar Photovoltaic Module
Model Number	:	CNPV-245P
Power Range Quantity	:	245Wp 20

These are Tier 1 solar panels which represents only the top 2% of manufactured panels.  Tier 1 panels are fully manufactured using robotics (precision and quality control) by a company that has over 5 years experience in the industry (read, not a fly by night operation hoping to make a quick buck).  The silicon used by a Tier 1 manufacturer is of a higher grade and will out perform and outlast the majority of cheaper panels on the market which are rated as either 2 or in some cases 3.

My panels are actually much smaller than the ones that were first quoted way back in September.  Even in that short time (though it felt like 100 years) there were technological advances that reduced the size of the panels.  Smaller size = less materials which is better for the environment.

ABB String Inverter PowerOne PVI-5000 - TL OUTD 5KW

Both Rob and I are pleased that the inverter is an ABB product.  We both work in the electrical industry and ABB products (including the switchboards that we build for them) are good quality.  Best of all it comes with an RS485 Communications Interface allowing it to be connected to smart phones, laptops or PC's.  Rob was especially pleased about this one.  The more techy i can make this the more interested he will be in reducing our power usage.

OK, so what's my feed in tariff??  It was a very lowly 8 cent/kW but from 1st Jan 2015 it dropped to 6.2 cents/kW.  No one is going to get rich with this kind of rate but what it will do is cover the cost of my system so that in five years, i will own it outright.  My calculations are based on an average of 3.7 hours of sunlight per day.  We all know that throughout spring, summer and autumn we get more than that in Melbourne so these calculations are quite conservative. The trick is to understand your system and how and when it generates power (solar hours.)  The less power you use during these solar hours the more power is returned to the grid.  This returned power can be maximised by having the largest system you can afford.  As we both work and hopefully (fingers crossed) Tom will soon have at least a part time job, there will be less usage during the day and we will have our only little power station up there on the roof.  It was only on for a moment during testing and it generated 3.6kW.  Until the inspector passes the installation it cannot be switched on.  I think im still looking at mid March before its up and running.

Did i tell you that my "Deal" with Simply Energy includes an INTEREST FREE loan for five years.  I've checked the pricing, quality and warranty of my system against other suppliers and it was comparable after the Govt Rebate (SRES) of around $3500 on a 5kW system.  Given the success of the rebate scheme it has been recommended that these government incentives be phased out and so it was a good time us to purchase and take advantage of the interest free loan.  The reduction in my energy bill will more than offset the monthly payments.

If you are considering getting solar panels, i highly recommend this government site 

Installing your Solar Panels

This is all part of my master plan to be prepared for retirement when we will have a lower earning capacity. The government might want me to work till 70, but really, I'm tired already.  Part of making our home more affordable, productive and efficient is not only paying off the mortgage (about 8 years) but also retiring some of our very old appliances.  My fridge for example was still working.  It worked ALL day and ALL night. That compressor never stopped and it was so loud.   So, as i have furnished every other item in this house over the last 20 years, the lovely people at GE have once again offered me a 5 year interest free loan.   If you couldn't have guessed, I HAVE NEVER PAID A CENT INTEREST IN 20 YEARS.   They must hate me.  I really don't know why it is so hard for people.  Total bill divided by number of payments, set up a direct payment online weekly (or whatever you pay period is) and then let it roll. The weekly amounts are so small i hardly miss them.  I usually take off 12 months and pay a little extra than calculated so it is paid well in advance.  Emergencies happen in life and you need to be way ahead at all times.

 
Rob insisted on buying a fridge with an inverter for efficiency and quietness.  I was focused on those stars and the Energy Consumption.   There were many fridges to choose from that were larger and cheaper but this one was the only one in this class of energy efficiency.  You should see how power hungry those ones are that have an ice maker in the door.  Rob's eyes were going Ga Ga but i said NO!  This one has the fridge up top and the freezer down below.  I like the working height of the fridge as i use it more often. Im going to get old, remember!  We also updated our oven to one that was more efficient.  The old one was leaking heat and took almost 15 min to pre-heat to 200.  20 years was a good innings.  My thinking is that while we are both working we should update these items rather than leave it for an emergency purchase. Rob has fixed this fridge several times already.

The next step is to make our house more efficient so it uses less electricity.  I know what you are thinking. "Turn a few things off" i hear you shout.  Well i'm working on it, OK!  The lights are all LED and im planning a few whirly gig thingys on the roof to moderate the roof cavity temperature and also looking at insulation. We purchase some individual room coolers instead of trying to make the big split system cool the whole house.  If you want to know anything at all about this topic, then go to the guru Gavin from The Greening of Gavin and check out his ebook on the subject of saving power.  I could not possibly compete.  All his advice is for normal suburbanites who just want to save money, if not the world.

So, you will be getting future posts on our journey with solar energy.  I can't tell you its going to be interesting to anyone but us but perhaps you'll enjoy the ride as Rob makes his way to "Off Grid Power Storage". More about this in next post.  See, he's getting interested already!

Thanks for Visiting Living In The Land Of Oz 

In Garden Therapy - Dont Disturb

So when someone asks "Where's Lynda" you can tell them she's having therapy. That would mean I'm out in my garden. Truly I'm feeling so good that i stopped taking anti-depressants before Christmas and managed to get through the crazy season.  Way to go for sharing Lynda.  Just tell the world you are a loony.  Well I'm not, I'm just extremely emotional and FEEL everything, even when its a fictional character or (hello!) a TV commercial. Some people have a little sniffle, I'm totally wrecked.  So, the news is that I'm doing more than OK and much of that has to do with my garden, my family, friends and the motley crew of  bloggers that i check in with each day.  Thank you to all!

The yellows of the sunflowers and zucchini blooms are waving their magic over me. The dark green knobbly cucumbers and the weird shaped Tromboncino are in-sighting me to laughter. Its all so beautiful and abundant. I cant see any major bad bugs anywhere.  I've not sprayed a thing.  Just companion planting, plenty of water, lots of poop when necessary and laying down the grass clippings when the soil is exposed. The soil has a soft moist doona on top of it.  The only fly in my ointment is the occasional half eaten cherry tomato or strawberry from visiting birds which is nothing when i read in other blogs of the vast array of creatures invading gardens elsewhere.

My wall of tomatoes are providing me with an abundance of produce and our meals are based around them.

Oh my goodness, lets just pause and take a moment shall we.  

When you look at this basket of today's morning pickings, then you know that lunch is going to look a lot like this.

It looks like its swimming cheese but it was just a sprinkle, honest.  So yum...  When i was making the tomato base i looked and found that i didn't have any Italian Herbs.  DOH!  Hello!  its growing outside duffa!

So when husband brings home even more tomatoes from work (I'm not the only one having a good crop) then i feel a pasta sauce coming on.  Six hours later, the smell is right through the house.

My latest thing is adding a few slices of salami to the sauce while its cooking.  It really enhances the flavour.  I dont remove skins, in they go chopped.  I was missing carrots but im sure it will taste as good as it smells.  

My tomato futures.  You didn't think I'd put all my eggs in one basket did you.  In fact there are tomatoes in every one of the eight beds because they are coming up all over the yard.  This crop is about a month behind the other one and has been protected from the heat.  They are mostly heritage varieties.   I've opened it up now to get some sun and i will have to trim back a few stems to open it up to air.  That's lovely job for cool evenings.

The lettuce bed is now providing me with a daily salad.  I need to stagger the crops better as I've had a month of no fresh lettuce.  Shopping in your back yard is real convenient when you are making lunches at 5.30am.  You can just see one of the poles that are painted and ready to go in for my espaliered fence garden.

Egg Shells - more therapy.  I save all the eggs shells for the week.  They are washed as used and then dried on the window sill in the kitchen.  (Great decor).  On a weekend morning, i take them out with a cup of coffee into the pergola and while enjoying the view i break them up by hand.  Its very therapeutic.  Try it. There is that initial ouch factor and then over time they break up until its quite grainy like sand.   This is about half way.  I add it to my soil, worm farm or on top of soil around the lettuce to stop slugs and snails.  

Tom's vertical pumpkin frame is working well.   I cant wait till its covered.  The cucumbers are in there as well.

Not everything is perfect.  I have leaf curl on my mandarin tree.  Dr Google tells me that since its also yellowing i might have a potassium deficiency and i also need to keep the water up.  I'm not seeing any little bugs but a dose of while oil wont hurt.  I had one mandarin last year and now i have about a dozen on my small potted tree. 

OK, i think I've bored you all with the garden overview but really, not much is happening at the moment, which i guess is a blessed relief.  While I've been playing here the sauce has finished and I've made tonight's dinner.

Creamy cauliflower, bacon & corn chowder - with the late addition of yellow zucchini.  It was yummy.

Today's menu was brought to you by the following inspiration.

Thanks for Visiting Living In The Land Of Oz