craftygardennz

Hello there, my name is Julie-Ann, and I'm a 40 something Gen X small business owner and lifestyle blogger. I'm also a wife, writer, crafter, gardener, and crazy cat lady living in Dunedin, New Zealand. I love reading, and learning to play the harp.


Am in the middle of printing off a big harp workbook for me to work on over the summer break. This one's called "Music Theory and Arranging Techniques for the Folk Harp".

At this stage of my harp journey my teacher believes in getting her students to start learning how to compose music. It reinforces music theory, teaches how to arrange harp music based on other sheet music (like piano), and it encourages her students to start writing their own music. #harp #musicpractice


The wind has dropped, it’s clear and cold. Hubby and I have just finished frost clothing everything 😬


Stupid fireworks upsetting my kitties 😩


Everyone kept asking if I had covid 👀


Hubby and I are back to work today after 5 days off.

Our laundry has nearly been dragged out of the 1980s, I just have a couple of small painting jobs to get finished.

After hubby finished painting most of the laundry doors yesterday, he grimaced, now realising how 1980s decor our house really is 🤣


Saturday night is movie night. We’re watching Return of the Jedi.


I should be painting the last coat on our new planter box today, but it's cold outside, and I just don't want to spend an hour outside getting cold 😬


nostr:npub1pu5j6hplxd7q389w0phrr8ngyz5wyyugj9fay3vhfafdx5fsu53q02nue8 I will 🤩


nostr:npub1pu5j6hplxd7q389w0phrr8ngyz5wyyugj9fay3vhfafdx5fsu53q02nue8 I should’ve said something once I realized but I’m too shy 🤣


nostr:npub1pu5j6hplxd7q389w0phrr8ngyz5wyyugj9fay3vhfafdx5fsu53q02nue8 it was me 😇  no we didn’t, they’d gone deeper into hiding by the time we got there.


nostr:npub1pu5j6hplxd7q389w0phrr8ngyz5wyyugj9fay3vhfafdx5fsu53q02nue8 OMG we met at Orokonui yesterday! You told me and hubby and our niece and nephew about the takahe sighting! When we walked away I thought is that Gruff???


My new second hand $50 French country soup bowl and tureen set :birdheart:

https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/111/186/140/244/423/980/original/80eedb82e8d71be9.jpeg

https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/111/186/140/330/880/253/original/a55340a19923b10f.jpeg


nostr:npub1ewyl0w48x88z42a3azr6aftetdlp3vkhqjhwymxcz4s0tutrf9lqms77q9 I'm so happy, I can't wait to make some soup to put in it.


nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j I'm so happy! I'll take a photo once they're dry. I gave them all a good wash.


Yeah, so the 8 piece soup and tureen set I got from the second hand store is actually a white lions head French style soup and tureen set, which is worth at least NZ$300 and I only paid $50 for it!!!

It's in absolutely pristine condition :birdheart:


Hubby and I had another day off today, so we did stuff:

We voted!

Hubby got his drivers license renewed.

I picked up an 8 piece soup and toureen set from the second hand shop super cheap.

Also I took the winter sheets off the bed today, so expect a cold snap soon 🤣


nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j Gonna go vote tomorrow :birdheart:


This week's blog post is all about my first successful serrano chilli growing season, and how I processed them.

https://www.craftygardener.co.nz/?post_id=39&title=drying-and-grinding-our-homegrown-serrano-chillies


nostr:npub17hun2qvhm8d85asyf9fe9et4zsemgfd2nzztpsjfu0yteh4cl6xsxye838 They look great.


The funniest thing was the highlight of the sanctuary for the kids was a great plate of hot chips from the cafe, and the pair of mallard ducks and their 12 ducklings in a pond 🤣


Our Easy Vote packs have arrived :partyparrot:


Well there’s my answer.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300982845/electoral-commissions-one-job-14-million-still-waiting-for-easy-vote-cards


nostr:npub10nt64w95836w0vzxc7pjmphcptzwtckdlzrs3hcw4j75jews69zqm2m0vu I had to go look up what dropwort is.

Stupid plant sperm getting up our noses 😬


The season finale of Ahsoka was just everything :birdheart: 😭  #ahsoka


nostr:npub1uhpdq940eqwr77hn7u98pvatferfpm2gvy5ld288waplx84lptvq6x368e they’re currently on the pollen list according to MetService.


nostr:npub1uhpdq940eqwr77hn7u98pvatferfpm2gvy5ld288waplx84lptvq6x368e yep teeny tiny flowers that bees love


I'm now about to go into the garden wearing a N95 mask  to get stuff done 😷


nostr:npub1x4m33ymnf3lq2jkcx2ucv4pyyudc67em8ytas6awz36ruatm6kuq6vhvkj I just want to go in, hand over my easy vote card, vote, and get out, all within under two minutes, and with no talking to people 🤣


nostr:npub1x4m33ymnf3lq2jkcx2ucv4pyyudc67em8ytas6awz36ruatm6kuq6vhvkj Our next mail day is tomorrow...if it doesn't come tomorrow I'll have to go without one and have to talk to people 😬


nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j I'm so jealous right now 🤣


nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j I hope you feel better soon :birdheart:


Hubby and I have agreed to just stick our heads in the sand until all this blows over 😆


On hubby's side of the family his brother announced that him and his wife, will be moving back to Christchurch next year...

Except hubby's mum especially moved up to be close hubby's brothers family, and away from Christchurch after the earthquakes. She recently paid to get into a retirement village with great services as she gets even older...
Hubby's mother is going to probably have a meltdown when she finds out 😬


If she is that bad I think it's cruel to do this to her if it may distress her to be out of her home and family that she lives with.


It's apparently so bad that she needs to have someone travel with her on the plane. According to my other cousin her short term memory is completely toast, which could be disastrous if she can't remember why she isn't at home in Auckland.


On my side of the family my cousin seems to think it would be a good idea to bring my elderly aunt with dementia down to Dunedin for two weeks over Christmas and expects all of us down here to take turns hosting her at our houses...

He doesn't live in Dunedin, he lives in Central Otago.


We've had two family dramas in the last 12 hours. One on each sides of our family 😬


Good morning, I'd very much like to go back to bed now.


nostr:npub1v9kflcnjhjevjh2qhryuf34nj99npgd960va63qvl87hxt73zawstfprpm Thanks, I'm pretty sure it's something flowering at the moment which triggered this, it only started two weeks ago 😬


nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 The side effects of the meds are nearly as bad as the symptoms 😩


Right now my allergy treament consist of:
Double dose of ceterizine
Double dose of flixonase
Prednisone
Doxycycline
Salbutamol (for when my respiratory symptoms get too bad)
A permanent air filter running in the room I'm in.
Wearing a face mask as much as possible.

And I'm still having symptoms😭


Just took a covid test because I'm feeling terrible, but it's not positive. It's just because my allergies are just so bad right now.

I got a phone call from the allergists office yesterday, and they've bumped me up to the first person on the waiting list for a cancelled appt, because the GP I saw on Friday thought my symptoms were bad enough to get seen ASAP. 😬


nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 Hubby was involved in the IT side, and reckons they're running at least a week late...


nostr:npub1whdz2x0rpkrdfae2durc9znczxm6paa9ggcmvv993w4mvzk0pz3q6qxhyu I went into our local pharmacy on Friday and all of the staff were wearing masks again.

They stopped masking back in January, but have started doing it again now, after "staff shortages due to sickness" 🤔


nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 Mail day was today, and still no easy vote card.


nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 we haven’t gotten our easy vote pack yet either.


I just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. The first time finally reading one of his works, I really enjoyed it, and will be searching out his other titles. #bookstodon #reading


nostr:npub1nhn6ze55h6utaek2y0cl6f7h6mme34hfq75es83m9sj32gh0zkesnewgwl I haven't gone out yet, hubby said maybe wait one more day and see if they easy vote package comes tomorrow. Otherwise I'll have to talk to people, rather than just handover the card 😆


nostr:npub17tvl4ud8rh4twtyuwafnner27pe2wnm7snherys3qaczsay25ftsqsawt9 We haven't gotten ours yet in Dunedin.


Our easy vote cards still haven't arrived, but I want to vote today.

I think I'll go and do it after lunch once the southerly has come through, and it's rainy and cold. I'm hoping that our local polling booth will have less people then.


A very blowy north westerly today. It's stirred up a lot of dust, and I've been sneezy and with itchy eyes all morning.

I'm now wearing a N95 mask, and I feel much better. I think I'll just wear it continuously until my allergist appointment in 3 weeks.


nostr:npub1v9kflcnjhjevjh2qhryuf34nj99npgd960va63qvl87hxt73zawstfprpm I did threaten him with this 😇


In case you're interested in going to the Fibrecraft Retreat.

http://www.unwindretreat.co.nz/


I was just checking out the traders for Unwind 2024, and I'm glad to see that a certain NI business won't be there.

It's the weekend that hubby leaves for the USA for his work conference, so I can't go the full weekend, but I do want to visit the traders.


Yep, he has completely forgot that I needed to pick something up today. I'm not surprised, really. Once he gets together with his family, basically he tunes me out. It happens every time they get together, usually I just go find a quiet bedroom and read a book for a couple of hours. Eventually he comes and finds me once he realises I'm not around anymore.


So apparently hubby had a great time at the birthday party last night, and there were way more than 40 people there.

I'm resigned to the fact he will probably be bringing home covid...

And he changed his plans coming home, and now he's spending at least 3 hours having breakfast with family this morning before making the trip home. Which means that by the time he shows up, I won't be able to go out into town to get something I need for work tomorrow...


nostr:npub1uhpdq940eqwr77hn7u98pvatferfpm2gvy5ld288waplx84lptvq6x368e squishing them is the best thing, it makes the aphids run away and it attracts predators 😄


Just had to use the ventolin inhaler again. I think cleaning the  whole house stirred up a lot of dust, and I'm paying for it now.


It was so pricey, that I just spent all my pocket money for the next month 😬


Hubby was a total sweetie, and stopped in at Ashfords in Ashburton for me and picked up the 16 DPI stainless steel reed I wanted for my floor loom :birdheart:

#weaving


Hubby’s on his way to Christchurch. Contacted me to say it was snowing on the northern motorway.

I’ve had my first prednisone dose and am waiting for it to help me start cleaning the house 🤣


nostr:npub1nhn6ze55h6utaek2y0cl6f7h6mme34hfq75es83m9sj32gh0zkesnewgwl oh my that sounds bad. This is all new for me and I don’t know what to expect. Doctor doesn’t know if this is a permanent allergy symptom or just something that is in the air right now. 😬

He’s just trying to get me through until my allergist appointment in two weeks when she can make some short and long term decisions about what to do with me.


nostr:npub1uhpdq940eqwr77hn7u98pvatferfpm2gvy5ld288waplx84lptvq6x368e I’ve just been feeling so coughy and a little breathless at times over the last couple of weeks, to feel normal is so good. My doctor said this is a new allergy symptom, he’s not sure if it’s permanent or that I’m really allergic to something right now.


nostr:npub1gj5w9md9xdzsz52dtfeescn5a8rqqv8cuenhfadn8ayd7fl265dsup7kjc I love that song.


Oh I feel so much better. No more coughing and breathlessness.


nostr:npub156gafcfad5sxclxqxtzn7kg86mfcvjpcxc4c96za5a46sr6j9pcq5j6067 nostr:npub1x4m33ymnf3lq2jkcx2ucv4pyyudc67em8ytas6awz36ruatm6kuq6vhvkj The doctor gave me a spacer at the appointment.

I'm feeling better already 🤔


nostr:npub1x4m33ymnf3lq2jkcx2ucv4pyyudc67em8ytas6awz36ruatm6kuq6vhvkj I just did that, I followed the instructions 😇


First ventolin dose taken, let's see what happens...


nostr:npub14hr0p43e89pfvdgand9cmzrze39j2dy6m8ncpjpv08ulrfq82ldqqscr0g Ooh I'll go listen to the podcast this weekend.


Car update, a cell in the car's 12V battery was dead, so they've replaced the battery. Hubby on his way to pick up the car now.


Guess who just got her first ventolin inhaler 😬

And more prednisone too. Apparently my allergies are quite bad.


Gah 😬

When he comes home I'll just isolate him in the garage 🤣


Well he isn't driving up tonight. He's on call until 8 pm, and our car is currently at the car service place getting checked out after the 12V battery died at 10 am today.

His family are disappointed that he can't make it today...


They apparently forgot to tell him about all these extra family events on this weekend, apart from the party he was invited too.


Oh hubby is in a grumpy mood now.

He especially swapped around his on call weekends, so he could attend his sister's 40th birthday party tomorrow in Christchurch, and will be driving up first thing tomorrow, and driving home on Sunday.

He's on call today. Just got a text from his family wanting to know when he arrives in town to attend the family dinner tonight, and the family morning tea tomorrow.

He wasn't told about any of this, and they wanted to know if he could drive up this afternoon.


nostr:npub1kmckzd9w94ta6w6a9dlfj52tsvw7hcjj08nykglzqsuaee86xygsgazwp6 nostr:npub1xypttr7d59w5jjwux83fwnsrlq3dmjxxwelrufdrlyff8sfvu0tqszmpat 😇 🤣


We should just not give it back when it's time to send it back to the British Museum.

I'm happy to donate money for any court case that eventuates.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/499010/a-timeless-taonga-only-known-customary-maori-sail-te-ra-returns-to-aotearoa


nostr:npub1xypttr7d59w5jjwux83fwnsrlq3dmjxxwelrufdrlyff8sfvu0tqszmpat We should just not give it back.


nostr:npub17mw7ejdqn6xet2afjky0gl3y8rn7373athrqhx5d2vl8jr8sl9qsf3xy9f Thank you.


Service center took the car in straight away. Told hubby that they wanted to keep it for the day so they can check the 12v battery, and replace if necessary. Have been given hire car until we pick the car up at 4 pm.


nostr:npub17mw7ejdqn6xet2afjky0gl3y8rn7373athrqhx5d2vl8jr8sl9qsf3xy9f Ooh I need to know the model number for us.


99% of the time, if something is wrong with a Nissan Leaf, it's the 12V battery dying.


nostr:npub1l4nymyp39yhxcpps9kfnrut9mz2hkg545f3c636swp02jdav99mq688ues I hope yours arrives soon! They usually send them in the order the orders arrive in.

I can't wait to see how your garden turns out as well, I love seeing peoples ideas come to life.


nostr:npub1qrv4d4hzxtkerr4tu8ghetaa0krd7p0whrvhfdq726tzvtnuzdjqd03m30 yeah you need the big screen.


I just did the super matcher test for the study, and I got 15 out of 16 right. I signed up to potentially do the study.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018908619/are-you-a-secret-super-matcher


Has anyone else not got their voting packs yet?

I was hoping it would arrive today, but no luck.


In this week's blog post, I plant my new GardenPost dahlias. #blog #blogging #gardenblog #garden #gardeningnz #dahlia

https://www.craftygardener.co.nz/?post_id=35&title=planting-my-new-gardenpost-dahlias


nostr:npub1rfrpvdqszff6teemt25fpe330nqn50srven8jgcnael5zr6w74lshm6lgs I just scrolled by laughing. It was actually how I found out the update happened today.


nostr:npub1rfrpvdqszff6teemt25fpe330nqn50srven8jgcnael5zr6w74lshm6lgs Some interesting changes there. I saw on the Ancestry DNA reddit, that lots of other people got their French ancestry put into Europe and Scotland, so it seems to be a widespread change.


Anyway, if anyone is wondering, the reason why I did the DNA test, is that I know nothing about my biological father (my mum doesn't talk about him). I knew he had Lebanese ancestry, but didn't know much more than that.

After many years I talked with hubby and decided to get the test done so I had some knowledge about that side of the family.


And the last thing to note is that in the previous update they lumped my Irish ancestry in with my Scottish ancestry, but it has been separated back again in this update.

This is good because I know I have Irish Ancestry, and have the family tree to prove it 🤣


I have no Scandinavian ancestors in my family tree, but I have a total of 11% from Norway, Sweden and Denmark which always stays the same.

And from looking at thru-lines in ancestry this DNA comes from my Caithness ancestors, who lived in the top of Scotland, who were under Viking control for many centuries.


Here's where it gets interesting, with the Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish ancestry...

It's well known that Ancestry over calculates Scottish ancestry. But I do know that most of my maternal side of the family are Scottish. Particularly from Caithness, Inverness, and Glasgow.


My 2% Welsh ancestry is more of an unknown. I don't have any ancestors from our family tree who are Welsh.

But there is overlap between Cornish and Welsh genetics according to Ancestry.


England and NE Europe remains unchanged at 23%.

A significant proportion of that is my Cornish ancestry which is listed as a ethnic community.


My Levant ancestry from Lebanon remained stable from last update, it never changes.


Ooh the 2023 Ancestry DNA update is out!

My updated ancestry is:
Scotland 32%
Levant 26%
England and NE Europe 23%
Norway 10%
Ireland 6%
Wales 2%
Sweden and Denmark 1%


nostr:npub12vcr7z537fh9d0hchcruwn3ju4s4486k33xpuw5vxux0t9fsfx4sqd7u8a OMG Zoe could be our Rosie cat's twin. They look exactly the same.


nostr:npub12vcr7z537fh9d0hchcruwn3ju4s4486k33xpuw5vxux0t9fsfx4sqd7u8a Thank you, I'll look forward to it.


nostr:npub12vcr7z537fh9d0hchcruwn3ju4s4486k33xpuw5vxux0t9fsfx4sqd7u8a I want to get it for our Rosie cat, she's very vocal and loves pushing buttons, but hubby isn't convinced it'll work...


nostr:npub12vcr7z537fh9d0hchcruwn3ju4s4486k33xpuw5vxux0t9fsfx4sqd7u8a ooh I’m so excited for you.


Honestly I'm running out of places to put stickers 😆


nostr:npub1j8f7m9353n7z028a2xdds0vycpcwf4psuesjw6qjtnddfg5fqerqr5kpuz Ooh go book now before it sells out.


nostr:npub1j8f7m9353n7z028a2xdds0vycpcwf4psuesjw6qjtnddfg5fqerqr5kpuz Bleheim events cinema is showing it.


nostr:npub1j8f7m9353n7z028a2xdds0vycpcwf4psuesjw6qjtnddfg5fqerqr5kpuz Maybe there might be a showing in Blenheim?


I must admit that I have an addiction to buying sticker sets on Temu.  As soon as they show me sticker sets of cute cats, or books, or flowers, tea, or cute things in tiny bottles, it's like take my money.

Even worse when they combine books and cats and tea and flowers and tiny bottles 😬


nostr:npub1j8f7m9353n7z028a2xdds0vycpcwf4psuesjw6qjtnddfg5fqerqr5kpuz Oh no!

I say you buy tickets to the closest place you can get to, and go anyway. It's only available one weekend.

I have no doubt when you go you'll soon make many new Swifty BFFs there at the cinema :birdheart:


Ooh I just saw that our solar installer has expanded into the Nelson region. What started out as just Dunedin Solar has now expanded to Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, and now Nelson.

I really recommend them, they did a great job at our house.


nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 We wear N95s when out and about, and we have air filters going at home when people visit.


nostr:npub1j8f7m9353n7z028a2xdds0vycpcwf4psuesjw6qjtnddfg5fqerqr5kpuz Hey, are you excited about this?

https://www.rialto.co.nz/Movie/Taylor-Swift-The-Eras-Tour#cinemas=750,751&date=2023-10-13


I wish there was a search for when you can't remember someone's user name, but you can remember lots of things about them 😆


A polar blast coming for the lower South Island this weekend.

And hubby has to drive up to Christchurch on Saturday for his sister's 40th birthday party. I'm not going up for two reasons, I don't want to get covid from her birthday party, and we weren't given enough warning, and couldn't get the cats into our cattery over the school holidays.

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/another-polar-blast-south-wild-weather-bears-down


nostr:npub1gawqd4ck52nx37sjd6deyp0fv2l9dmumz92lf6ncxsu8j0qdagysvgmg7y By the looks of the bad weather coming later this week, we'll be doing this for some time to come 😬


Another frost this morning, down to -2˚C. Good thing I went out and covered my tea plant, dahlias, and potatoes with frost cloth last night.


Still haven't found any info online...


I haven't found info yet online.


Today is definitely an ice block sort of day 🥵


#eqnz felt in Dunedin.


I can’t do anything for an hour. I just took my doxycycline with dinner and can’t bend over for an hour, otherwise I’ll be throwing up the yellow pill and my dinner 😬


Luna cat's home has been sold, which means we soon won't get to see her fluffy ginger face every day, anymore 😭

She usually comes to visit us multiple times a day, for pats and cuddles, so we will miss her 😩


nostr:npub1zwuhvttadklujhh3cj0q0jl8a8r6yt2z3mtzhhmc25j5juja5jgqgtzx3w nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy the neighbour’s kowhai tree started flowering two weeks ago, we’ve had a warm winter in Dunedin.


nostr:npub1uhpdq940eqwr77hn7u98pvatferfpm2gvy5ld288waplx84lptvq6x368e Another great thing to do would be to cycle the new harbour loop. Great views while biking, and a ferry ride across between Port Chalmers and Portobello with the bikes. And also lots of wildlife while biking including sea lions and lots of birds.


nostr:npub1uhpdq940eqwr77hn7u98pvatferfpm2gvy5ld288waplx84lptvq6x368e If you're coming to Dunedin you have to visit Orokonui Ecosanctuary, it's like Zealandia, but I've found the birds are actually easier to take photos of. 🤣

The Takahe pair at Orokonui are very friendly, and if you go there at the right time of day, sometimes they walk right up to you. One time hubby and I stood very still while the pair and their young chicks surrounded us.

The hill is steep getting there, but I've seen cyclists make the trip.


If you're ever visiting Dunedin, it is absolutely worth it to drive out to Taiaroa Head to see the albatross colony. Not only will you be able to see giant sea birds but you can also see seals, and sea lions, and penguins, and shags, and a giant sea gull colony.

One time when we were out there we saw a pod of dolphins.


Manaaki, this year's 2023 Royal Cam chick, has fledged from Taiaroa Head. It's sad to see him go, but in about a month the next Royal Albatross mating season will begin all over again.


nostr:npub12l2npqkmv2u20qzcw2mmhexnf9uq5s6dp46e2uzlnhr2t7a7y4tsp8t87k Thank you :birdheart:


nostr:npub16c9dm6he9pe8tlq7hjcgj4rdh9qfg03lh8uswcpey949tpezxmqs4vpwz3 I used Schwarzkopf Brilliance Dark Amethyst. It mostly looks like dark brown, but under sunlight it's bright purple 🤩


I've just redyed my hair dark amethyst to get rid of all the grays. One of my younger sister's will probably roll her eyes at me having very dark purple hair again, she thinks I should act my age, but I don't care care what people think about me.

Purple is my fav colour 💜


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy I hope this helps.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy Oh at some point, you don't have to earth them up any longer, and just let them grow. you need enough soil on either side of the plants for the potato tubers to grow into. Also you don't want to unearth the potatoes and make them turn green.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy But potatoes are nearly full proof to grow, and once you have potatoes in your garden, you'll never get rid of them. You always miss some when harvesting them, and they'll grow up the next year. All my vege garden beds have surprise potato plants that grow up each years, they're a bonus meal in my opinion.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy There are other ways to determine if the potato plants are ready to harvest, some potato plants start to die back, others start flowering. Don't eat the potato berries after flowering, they are poisonous, as well as any potatoes that are green in colour.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy You don't need to dig them up straight away, we usually just leave them in the ground until we want to eat them, and just dig a little to get access to some.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy You'll need to look at each potato variety you plant, they each have a time where they reach maturity. I make a note in my diary of when I planted them and then work out when they'll reach maturity. On that day I'll do a little digging around in the soil gently to see how big they are.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy When there's about 20–30cm of growth above the soil after the last frost, you will need to ‘earth them up’. This is when the soil is drawn up around the potato stems. This stops potato tubers from being pushed to the surface and turning green in the light, making them poisonous. The soil should be drawn up to leave 10cm of leaves exposed to the light and this should be done on a regular basis.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy Check daily to see if they've come up, and if they do you want to cover them back over. Once frosts are over you can let them grow up, but you'll need to earth them up periodically.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy I usually plant the potatoes about 30 cm apart.

The next part is waiting for them to come up through the soil. At this time of the year there can still be late frosts which will kill them.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy Next you have to plant them in the ground. Potatoes like full sun.

Dig a trench 7–15 cm deep,  and plant the potatoes with the sprouts pointing upwards and cover with at least 2.5cm of soil.


nostr:npub1sg87ny6jfx2ynn725ltts26s3rk4pt9sz4lmzd2uk7w56cdg3nzslp9xmy Hi there, the first thing you want to do is chit the potatoes, which means starting the eyes growing.

Chit the seed potatoes by arranging them with ‘eyes’ up, in egg boxes or seed trays in light in a cool but frost-free room.

They are ready for planting when the sprouts have reached 2cm in length, which will take 4–6 weeks.


nostr:npub10k7s4g9u4wha63ksexny56uqsm2tj0fs5vg4hfcc20d4924z3uhqe6ygm7 I'm sorry it hasn't worked out for you in Chch.

Hope you're okay :birdheart:


He states: “My politics is that of a disappointed ex-Labour voter.”

"O’Malley said he was aiming to start a new left-leaning political party within the next 10 years, but that would be focused on long-term policy rather than “cult of personality” leadership."

NZPol DCC councillor standing as independent in election.


Dunedin city councillor Jim O'Malley is running as an independent in the Dunedin electorate in the up coming election. He hopes to take votes from both the right and the left to win his seat in parliament. #nzpol

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/132944800/councillors-shock-announcement-hes-standing-as-an-mp


My Camellia sinensis Tea plant is here! It was well packaged by the company and it had some light and air flow on its journey.

I've now planted it into the ground, and as a bonus it had ripe seed heads on the plant, and also some growing flower buds.


My nephew is about to perform onstage now.


And am now watching my other niece performing.


Just making my way back through the morning's lifestream  and saw my cousin who is a kindergarten teacher.


My niece is currently performing on the Otago Polyfest stage 🤩

https://livestream.com/accounts/15197514/otagopolyfest2023?fbclid=IwAR2AIbX5m9WhPTtSZSYlCqeeBc2o91MH9KL6ELxUxojBSbR2QMv1OdVMA_g


It's weaving study day, and it's at the point in my class where I have to start sketching designs. And do you think I can find my huge box of coloured pencils? Nope...


nostr:npub13ly0452cj8llmk2vpug3spxfh6kdsr6wrxzk72fvedaz59yvlk5qpx35jm I'm very excited to get started 🤩


I also got the Autumn Cloche Pattern from Hello from Liz Mathews.

https://www.123stitch.com/en-nz/item/Hello-From-Liz-Mathews-Autumn-Cloche-Cross-Stitch-Pattern/22-2756


Ooh my 123 Stitch order just arrived. I made the order last month, and the pumpkin orange aida fabric from Fiber on a Whim is just beautiful.

https://www.123stitch.com/en-nz/item/Fiber-on-a-Whim-16-Count-Pumpkin-Aida-18x27/FOAW-16-014


Good morning, friends.

My tea plant is on the courier, and as soon as it arrives I need to open up the box and give it a big drink.

It's been without light and water since Monday when it was shipped. After that it's going straight into the ground, the hole is already predug waiting for it.


nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 With chamomile at least, I let the plants go to seed in the herb garden, and heaps usually pop up in spring.


nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 I have sown seed for a number of the plants you have highlighted, and I didn't stratify them specifically. I just sowed them and left them in the glasshouse to germinate. Our night time temperatures are still down around 2 - 3 if we don't have a frost, and most have germinated. But it's not a big thing just to throw them in the fridge for a week or two. If I don't stratify, I just sow extra seed to make up for it.


nostr:npub13ly0452cj8llmk2vpug3spxfh6kdsr6wrxzk72fvedaz59yvlk5qpx35jm This is Rosie trying to steal my toast.

https://mastodon.nz/system/media_attachments/files/111/060/422/148/869/831/original/f0a490e8af3fddb0.jpeg


This week's blog post is all about growing potatoes.

#blog #blogging #nzgarden #nzgardening #gardenblog #gardening #potatoes

https://www.craftygardener.co.nz/?post_id=36&title=planting-the-first-of-my-potatoes


She text me back and told me she panic buyed two blueberry plants. 🤣


I had to tell her about blueberry plant pollination, and how another plant would mean way more blueberries.


The first discussion was about acid plant fertiliser and not berry plant fertiliser for blueberries.

The second discussion was about the fact she only had one blueberry plant, and it didn't produce many blueberries. I sent her off to buy another.


I've just spent the past 15 minutes on the phone with my sister while she was in Bunnings looking for gardening things and needing my advice on blueberry plants.


nostr:npub17m5q47yl9vh2vjl5vjky3f4ekpg72q2a0w5t0npkklmuhdqjp7hsmm84f8 Eek.


nostr:npub13ly0452cj8llmk2vpug3spxfh6kdsr6wrxzk72fvedaz59yvlk5qpx35jm Eek! You wouldn't want to leave anything on the stove accidently.


nostr:npub17m5q47yl9vh2vjl5vjky3f4ekpg72q2a0w5t0npkklmuhdqjp7hsmm84f8 Yeah, that would suck. Has he ever locked you out of the car?

Unfortunately our air filter doesn't have a lock feature 😬


nostr:npub1r96rm4qytejngl83vpyjsjtez48nlap3gfrsrsfgtzad2k3yageq97wax3 Have a wonderful day :birdheart:


Rosie has a habit of doing stuff like this, she's very smart. She's always changing the settings on the air filter by pushing the touch pad with her paw because she likes the way the buttons beep when she does it 😆

She also sets our printer to print 99 copies all the time...

And people wonder why we have kiddy locks on various cupboards in the house.


Rosie cat thought that 4 am in the morning was a good time to change the settings on the air filter in the bedroom from sleep mode to full power 😬

It sounded like a tornado had entered the room, and scared the crap out of me and hubby 😩


I want to discuss this at length but no spoilers from me.


OMG that was the best Star Wars episode ever 😭 😭 😭 I have so many feelings over what happened this episode of Ahsoka #ahsoka #starwars


nostr:npub17mw7ejdqn6xet2afjky0gl3y8rn7373athrqhx5d2vl8jr8sl9qsf3xy9f you’re welcome. We got a letter from Nissan NZ telling us.


nostr:npub17mw7ejdqn6xet2afjky0gl3y8rn7373athrqhx5d2vl8jr8sl9qsf3xy9f The Nissan LEAF 2018 - 2023 (ZE1) have been recalled.

"In the rare case that certain operations are performed immediately after deactivating the cruise control function (Intelligent Cruise Control or ProPilot), there is a possibility of unintended acceleration of the Vehicle. "


nostr:npub1suez0yzhpvgkdx2lkun40xs4e4sp92nr865c8za0we73v3r6y6lqg3593m Yep, is all fixed now.


nostr:npub17m5q47yl9vh2vjl5vjky3f4ekpg72q2a0w5t0npkklmuhdqjp7hsmm84f8 I was considering it, but my desk is feeling very cluttered with a separate monitor and computer and speakers etc.

I was hoping an updated iMac would give me more space.


I'm home and very tired.

Went shopping while they fixed the firmware on the car. Drove out the lot and immediately the car felt weird, they'd changed all the driving settings on the car. I should've checked before I drove off, much anxiety until I could pull over and fix it. 😬


nostr:npub1x4m33ymnf3lq2jkcx2ucv4pyyudc67em8ytas6awz36ruatm6kuq6vhvkj 😭


nostr:npub1x4m33ymnf3lq2jkcx2ucv4pyyudc67em8ytas6awz36ruatm6kuq6vhvkj yep, but hubby did them 🤣


Good news on the harp string front, my teacher is putting in USA string order and is ordering a spare one for the one that broke yesterday.

So when my full set of strings arrives this week from the Rockshop I can use the string from that set, and when the spare arrives in a couple of weeks it can go back into the full set so it’s complete.

But in the mean time I’m restricted in what I can play because of the missing string. Of course it’s the F blue string which I use all the time 😬


nostr:npub1nhn6ze55h6utaek2y0cl6f7h6mme34hfq75es83m9sj32gh0zkesnewgwl OMG 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣


nostr:npub1v9kflcnjhjevjh2qhryuf34nj99npgd960va63qvl87hxt73zawstfprpm yeah 😬  my teacher said to special order in the one I broke today so the set stays full. But the NZ supplier may not do that for months.


nostr:npub10nt64w95836w0vzxc7pjmphcptzwtckdlzrs3hcw4j75jews69zqm2m0vu don’t jinx it 😆


Is Star treks lower decks season 4 going to be on Amazon prime in New Zealand?


The NZ supplier didn't have the specialist wrapped monofilament string in stock, so I had to end up buying a full harp string set they did have in stock for $465 😭


Gah another string broke on my 34 string harp 😩


nostr:npub1ghg6vg383an4kjyhm70nvpu6asrhjann92wy6yvp30vpp25xalmqc4y74f nostr:npub1a0d9zantztgzurvs0w8mzw76zvuuanakh3crnuqyxwn5p2gdm5fs0q5n6h We visited Zealong, and I loved trying their tea 🤩


nostr:npub1a0d9zantztgzurvs0w8mzw76zvuuanakh3crnuqyxwn5p2gdm5fs0q5n6h They'll be fine to grow up north, if you can grow other camellias, you'll be able to grow it. I ordered from the Plant Company. Shipping is horrible, but you maybe able to find it locally.

https://www.theplantcompany.co.nz/shop/product/shrubs/camellia-sinensis


nostr:npub1k86m9dqvzqdqqghqa0etwvlxyt4v0p45qfwp70gu0qqt5np6dzgs8e6h68 Sure thing. Though most of the cuttings will be turned into tea 🤣


I did it, I ordered a camellia sinensis plant online. I didn't want to have to pay for shipping, but can't find it for sale anywhere in Dunedin.

At least now I'll be able to drink my own tea as the world burns to a crisp 😬


Am tired, the first of the new dahlias are in the ground, along with the first of the potatoes.


Right, I'm off outside to plant dahlias and potatoes. It's so warm and wonderful outside.


nostr:npub1elp9ucc3dhp3husgkxn96kdrrjsld4m262h49r4pt9mq604ukkzsngkr7z Cheeky little thing.


nostr:npub1275kh7gxx6rtavvk4u8k3uawu4ca3mcw80akjtg6mwxl9vujepvsh4dgaf Aaahhh exciting!


My first dahlia order has arrived, the package says plant immediately, so you know what I'll be doing today.


nostr:npub1275kh7gxx6rtavvk4u8k3uawu4ca3mcw80akjtg6mwxl9vujepvsh4dgaf So exciting!


nostr:npub1275kh7gxx6rtavvk4u8k3uawu4ca3mcw80akjtg6mwxl9vujepvsh4dgaf Ooh is today moving day???


nostr:npub16uk4yyw47haxwl0klhh7lcx3qatkyqmpc6gc4hwru3qedaeuueeqqkpv7k Maybe they're just lurking.


nostr:npub14kpsnzw7y589j3tux0npwz6fy0wy80psue3n0x5wnjt56y5ccz6s6nez4u I've found that dahlia set seed quite quickly, I've got a few self seeded dahlias which are quite pretty.


nostr:npub1gklfxdm28gc0ckyrgt4k7rt6zj0n32g988n0lnnpfnuf4d0sj22sy9cs7q I haven't found that problem with gold plated ones, but the only ones I've tried is John James, and they've been really good.


Courier charges for shipping orders are going up for my small business on October 1st 😬


In related news, did you know that dahlia tubers are edible? They're a good source of potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin B6.

So what I'm really saying is that my dahlias will count as a food source during a natural disaster and the zombie apocalypse... 🤣


Some days I just find it really sad that NZ doesn’t have any gardening TV shows. I usually just go on YouTube and watch Gardeners World in the UK. I haven’t found yet any good NZ gardening channels on YouTube. #gardeningNZ #gardening


nostr:npub109vfx73533tg5p24qpva9jf3rdydmhw9u7tulfu97445hv98czqqrtv0cw nostr:npub168gpka9c03c65x28vxl7a4xwz8j482wapac8h5f83dlz2mqfxcgquhm07j I feel like this will never be over.


nostr:npub1j8f7m9353n7z028a2xdds0vycpcwf4psuesjw6qjtnddfg5fqerqr5kpuz
I hope you’re okay.

Watching one of my favorite musicals while eating junk food and singing at the top of my lungs. Having a relaxing bath while listening to Taylor Swift. Hanging out with friends and going to the movies. A trip to a bookshop and buying lots of books. Cuddling my kitties.


We must've spent at least 6 hours digging into the ground to dig out all the roots, so that our lime bush can go into that space in October.

We still haven't gotten rid of all the roots, but 80% of it is now done. The patio is a mess, covered in mounds of dirt.