Black genoa fig - Week 3

So I am away for ten days. Hope these little blighters are still on the twig when I return!

Swamp cooler

I called this a humidifier because that is what it is called on the inventory. However, it is also known as an evaporative cooler, which I think in the USA is known as a "swamp cooler".

There is hole through which you pour water. There is a tray in which you put ice. You connect it to electricity and blow air over the ice and water and the place cools down and the air becomes more moist.

More pleasant all round. I might also get a pedestal fan just in case.

How ingenious is that!

You have to agree that this fits with my blog persona!

There simply is not enough room for a wardrobe upstairs and I am loathe to set something up downstairs even though that is where the bathroom is. So I bought two lengths of 22mm dowel from Bunnings: one was 1.8m and the other 2.4m. Then wedged them into the V of the window.

The one that rests on the brick of the shoe rack is the most "fragile": but I am training myself not to be too bull-at-gate on that side. It is a challenge to change the bedding, but I am up for that! Kirsten reckons the clothes should not get too dusty if I cycle through them on a regular basis.

When you get your breath back, let me have your thoughts ... gently, of course!

What a difference a week makes!

This small image shows my Black Genoa fig tree on Saturday 12th September. I am astounded at the rate of growth in such a very short time. I will try to post a cumulative image each weekend to monitor growth.

Blighters!

That cat has a need to know everything that I do! Blame the wonky focus on her ... chemicals, nibbles, silver trail ... just no carcasses ... they seem to have melted into the shade of the soil.

... *evil laugh* ...

Here is another problem brewing: cute maybe, but I think this fellow is the cause of black soot on my lemons and limes. Here he is on the lemon tree which has a smaller flower and many many more of them. Now that I have found this blighter, I note that the lower leaves are covered with a liquid and THAT liquid is what ferments (!?) black mould. Maybe I should research this ... need to take action before I go to Tasmania for 10 days next weekend. My housesitter will not even notice this sort of problem!

Exterior a month along

I have not disposed of last season's crop of leaves, yet. Nor trimmed all the droopy branches. But everything is going along swimmingly. My daughter and I go out to the garden shop on Sunday. I have promised myself no more pots. But will get me some scarlet petunias. And some more basil - bloody slugs!

Which is which?

One of these is a lemon and the other a lime. I forget which!

The lemon - whichever it is - produced about 10 fruits last year. The lime nil.

Fruiting

Both trees are totally covered. Lst year I thought this was the olive itself. Now I know it to be but the flower. Last year none of the flowers opened.

Patience is a virtue.

A sense of musky velveteen

When I worked at UTS in the first half of 2006, an Italian colleague insisted I try my first ever fresh fig. I was captivated from that moment forward. During my sojourn in the Languedoc last October, figs littered branches and ground alike. The ripe smell of musk clogged my nostrils. I bought me a variety on my return. This be it.

Bit between the teeth

I think I was fairly accurate with the term "plonk" (past participle "plunk"). Have yet to get the guts to hammer hooks in the walls for paintings and photos. I went overboard at the last place and repairing the walls was a burden. So have taken many photos out of frames and tossed the frames. I feel as though I am down-sizing for old age!

See the boxes in front of the book-shelf? They contain kid-things. Things that I can only sort a bit at a time because it becomes too emotional to throw things out - which I must.

Then need to buy a rug. And a table - sick of eating off my lap! However, yesterday (down near the viaduct of all places) I stumbled over a Lawson's Auction House which had a perfect table with just the central pedestal foot. Just what I am after. And next door to them is a wholesale carpet warehouse.

Over the weekend, I shall show you what spring is doing to the outside. And show you my nearly-fig!!

Cats' eye-view

Why dincha say? A cat's-eye view I can do.

Now THIS is the secret cubby house

They LOVE the stairs! They bolt up, eyes like saucers, when they are frightened. They caress them with their backs for that lovely scratchy feel.

And they hang out through the gaps to check out what I am doing ...

Moving forward slowly

It did not take her long to find this spot. I am having trouble working out which plants to put in which thin slivers of sun. I am more buildinged in than I had thought I would be.