tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44761903670763990042024-03-14T08:21:02.207+11:00Chookie's Back YardGardening and family life in the middle of Greater SydneyChookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-40201399313929714442012-10-30T22:36:00.000+11:002012-10-30T22:36:04.707+11:00October Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEcKAZYk5u0/UI-yjVkam1I/AAAAAAAABwg/4CaRZXRKz2M/s1600/Bbrush+head-on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cEcKAZYk5u0/UI-yjVkam1I/AAAAAAAABwg/4CaRZXRKz2M/s320/Bbrush+head-on.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The Echium looks wonderful, but I need to find out how to care for it after flowering. There seem to be two schools: prune it hard, and prune it lightly. Oh dear. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNlcd9Ckc2g/UI-zHt2sFDI/AAAAAAAABwo/agGQtAdTgfQ/s1600/Echium+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNlcd9Ckc2g/UI-zHt2sFDI/AAAAAAAABwo/agGQtAdTgfQ/s320/Echium+head.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3EtinCs9ro/UI-zT-kiT3I/AAAAAAAABw0/-OMlLLrcadI/s1600/GreenBRYCs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3EtinCs9ro/UI-zT-kiT3I/AAAAAAAABw0/-OMlLLrcadI/s320/GreenBRYCs.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTt0pK4Ikyk/UI-z3P2lXiI/AAAAAAAABw8/jYEaek_7Jzg/s1600/PInk+Bbrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTt0pK4Ikyk/UI-z3P2lXiI/AAAAAAAABw8/jYEaek_7Jzg/s320/PInk+Bbrush.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Thought it would be fun to try to grow a pineapple. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GYu4fc7E9U/UI-0Yg2hUvI/AAAAAAAABxI/RWcGmkpi_jA/s1600/Pineapple+planted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GYu4fc7E9U/UI-0Yg2hUvI/AAAAAAAABxI/RWcGmkpi_jA/s320/Pineapple+planted.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0s1WD5fbQ8/UI-0rbDQiuI/AAAAAAAABxQ/ASKlnFSD2IM/s1600/Pink+Clover+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0s1WD5fbQ8/UI-0rbDQiuI/AAAAAAAABxQ/ASKlnFSD2IM/s320/Pink+Clover+Flower.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pm_eAC0M0s/UI-1Rbnln_I/AAAAAAAABxc/AzylJty1UNI/s1600/Radish+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pm_eAC0M0s/UI-1Rbnln_I/AAAAAAAABxc/AzylJty1UNI/s320/Radish+Flowers.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVl4srzuX40/UI-1pbvD9GI/AAAAAAAABxk/1VtOVDhbi7c/s1600/Sage+&+Echium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVl4srzuX40/UI-1pbvD9GI/AAAAAAAABxk/1VtOVDhbi7c/s320/Sage+&+Echium.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75E7gV9GXCM/UI-2EhjQxiI/AAAAAAAABxw/aam1Eelsy0M/s1600/Sweet+Peas+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-75E7gV9GXCM/UI-2EhjQxiI/AAAAAAAABxw/aam1Eelsy0M/s320/Sweet+Peas+2012.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
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My passionfruit has started to grow. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOpLAPEnEf4/UI-2klvWdHI/AAAAAAAABx4/1MT1Q5Yi_k4/s1600/Tendril.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sOpLAPEnEf4/UI-2klvWdHI/AAAAAAAABx4/1MT1Q5Yi_k4/s320/Tendril.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-27018777598040988082012-08-12T17:53:00.000+10:002012-08-12T17:54:34.210+10:00Ghastly Moments in Gardening V: Red in Beak and ClawYesterday, the boys came rushing in to tell me that there was a mouse in the chook food bucket. The bucket was nearly empty and the poor mouse, not a very large one, was unable to jump out. I roused on the boys for leaving the lid off overnight and took the bucket outside.<br />
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There we were as I tipped the bucket slowly sideways to let the mouse out: the Geek, the Twig, the Sprig and the chooks wandering near us. The mouse finally leapt out and bolted between my husband's feet, looking for safety in the grass nearby.<br />
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But too late! One of our chooks saw the movement and tore after it. To my surprise, she was able to snatch the mouse up in her beak -- it shrieked! -- and then all the chooks were after her. The poor mouse was dropped and snatched up several times before one of the girls triumphantly carried off the now-lifeless body to a corner of the back yard.<br />
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I had no idea chickens would attack an animal as big as a mouse!Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-43130869848442742712012-08-06T22:29:00.001+10:002012-08-06T22:29:46.476+10:00The Back Yard in Early SpringA lot has happened, but not much in the back yard. Rain and family activities have cut my gardening back a trifle. Then I looked up and saw spring everywhere.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsIjRIkJjmE/UB-wfYKF2bI/AAAAAAAABvA/yJJT1MyMFOk/s1600/Red+Flowering+Quince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsIjRIkJjmE/UB-wfYKF2bI/AAAAAAAABvA/yJJT1MyMFOk/s320/Red+Flowering+Quince.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAuwqLhf7LE/UB-xPUwSoVI/AAAAAAAABvU/2-hRYexXtfs/s1600/Rosemary+&+Wattle+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAuwqLhf7LE/UB-xPUwSoVI/AAAAAAAABvU/2-hRYexXtfs/s320/Rosemary+&+Wattle+1.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br />
Remember those sweet little chickens?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wV_7DfB19NA/UB-3-EiYnhI/AAAAAAAABwM/dISLpt7PNzo/s1600/Chicks%2Bafter%2Btransport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wV_7DfB19NA/UB-3-EiYnhI/AAAAAAAABwM/dISLpt7PNzo/s400/Chicks%2Bafter%2Btransport.jpg" /></a></div><br />
They've grown up a bit! The chook at the front is laying. Note her fully-developed comb and wattles. The one at the back has not come into lay yet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRlFhYh6SZ4/UB-yPzYjEMI/AAAAAAAABvo/86Paw7mfMXM/s1600/Two+Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRlFhYh6SZ4/UB-yPzYjEMI/AAAAAAAABvo/86Paw7mfMXM/s320/Two+Girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Our guinea pigs have decided on a feral lifestyle. They have spent most of the winter outside and DO NOT want to be caught!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_Xwj1lYbno/UB-ylogwQ5I/AAAAAAAABvw/ENUBKvVyiqg/s1600/Watching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_Xwj1lYbno/UB-ylogwQ5I/AAAAAAAABvw/ENUBKvVyiqg/s320/Watching.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br />
I finally pruned the quince.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TxNdyTF6Bw/UB-wADep8jI/AAAAAAAABu4/_D2yiJRnMDY/s1600/Quince+Shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TxNdyTF6Bw/UB-wADep8jI/AAAAAAAABu4/_D2yiJRnMDY/s320/Quince+Shadow.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
And after having no tomatoes last summer, the plants have decided to bear through winter instead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOUS4hSrclU/UB-wp7r4YEI/AAAAAAAABvM/bkrKVJuvnko/s1600/Red+Zebra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOUS4hSrclU/UB-wp7r4YEI/AAAAAAAABvM/bkrKVJuvnko/s320/Red+Zebra.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-89166230522265769332012-05-22T22:43:00.000+10:002012-05-22T22:43:59.406+10:00Finding my Own Style<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/266627240409375830/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://media-cache8.pinterest.com/upload/266627240409375830_Bp20Wo8a_c.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.abeachcottage.com/2012/04/make-your-own-bouquet.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">abeachcottage.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/chookie/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Chookie</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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While wandering the blogosphere I came across a <a href="http://www.fieldstonehilldesign.com/2012/05/overcoming-decorating-paralysis-get-to-work.html" target="_blank">Personal Style Bootcamp</a> by <a href="http://www.fieldstonehilldesign.com/" target="_blank">Fieldstone Hill</a> (whose house I admired a while ago on <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1102411/list/Houzz-Tour--Historic-Fieldstone-Home-in-Pennsylvania" target="_blank">Houzz</a>).<br />
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The first step is to use words to describe what you'd like your home to be like, in terms of purpose, feel and look, with the aim of narrowing down to about five adjectives. Here are mine:<br />
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simple<br />
comfortable<br />
serene<br />
welcoming<br />
open<br />
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(The author also suggests a "Don't buy word" to prevent yourself from buying things you really shouldn't!)<br />
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As we have a number of things to buy for our house, including some expensive items, I thought I'd better think about decorating for a bit. While I enjoy reading <a href="http://www.abeachcottage.com/" target="_blank">A Beach Cottage</a> (that first picture), it's not my style, exactly. I love the same textures, but I need more colour in my life. Besides, I'm a little further from the beach!<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/266627240408680956/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache2.pinterest.com/upload/266627240408680956_nauftuuU_c.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/2011/08/inspiring-spaces.html" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;">belgianpearls.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/chookie/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Chookie</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div>
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And I have a similar problem with <a href="http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Belgian Pearls</a>: beautiful textures, but while those subtle tertiary tones are lovely under the soft Belgian light, our bright sunshine would turn it all to grey. We need stronger colours: acrylics, not washes, under our harsh light.<br />
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/49309/Dining-Room---" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dining Room " border="0" height="320" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/49309_0_3-6629--.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/other" style="color: #444444; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">other design</a> by <a href="http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/birmingham" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">birmingham interior designer</a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/traceryinteriors/tracery-interiors" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Tracery Interiors</a></span></div>
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What I love:<br />
linen<br />
woven<br />
wooden<br />
cast iron<br />
hammered metals<br />
hand-forged<br />
turned<br />
simple<br />
traditional materials and craftsmanship<br />
wabi-sabi<br />
handmade<br />
a bit of industrial<br />
Australian timbers<br />
glass<br />
green glass<br />
grubby<br />
stone<br />
concrete<br />
wool<br />
faded<br />
historical context<br />
practical<br />
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/44386/The-Lettered-Cottage-traditional-dining-room-other-metros" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage traditional dining room" border="0" height="320" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/44386_0_3-1388-traditional-dining-room.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/dining-room" style="color: #444444; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">traditional dining room design</a> by <a href="http://www.houzz.com/professionals/media-and-blogs/" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;"> media and blogs</a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/letteredcottage/the-lettered-cottage" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">The Lettered Cottage</a></small></div>
What I don't like: <br />
plastic<br />
shiny<br />
formal<br />
neat<br />
sleek<br />
hygienically clean<br />
antibacterial<br />
tizzy<br />
frilly<br />
busy<br />
two-pack poly <br />
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/49308/Living-Room-eclectic--birmingham" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Living Room eclectic " border="0" height="320" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/49308_0_3-8449-eclectic-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic/other" style="color: #444444; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">eclectic other design</a> by <a href="http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/birmingham" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">birmingham interior designer</a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/traceryinteriors/tracery-interiors" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Tracery Interiors</a></small></div>
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Colours I like:<br />
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blues, especially blue-greens<br />
yellow, except yellow-browns<br />
purple, but not mauve<br />
greens, except olive-greens<br />
ecru, but not beige<br />
red-browns<br />
charcoal, but not black<br />
soft whites and creams, but not pastels<br />
peach and apricot, but not banana and orange<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/266627240409414821/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://media-cache2.pinterest.com/upload/266627240409414821_16kvSrL2_c.jpg" width="554" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://thepapermulberry.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/laundry.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;">thepapermulberry.blogspot.com.au</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/chookie/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Chookie</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
</div>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-82543016059901364622012-05-09T19:35:00.000+10:002012-05-09T19:35:33.390+10:00Ways and Products to Save Energy and CO2e<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-qD_FNIq4U/T6kUFSIHOZI/AAAAAAAABug/qyYby6gakYY/s1600/Grandma%27s+Draught+Snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-qD_FNIq4U/T6kUFSIHOZI/AAAAAAAABug/qyYby6gakYY/s320/Grandma%27s+Draught+Snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Power</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
New South Wales' electricity supply is generated by black coal power stations. It has been <a href="http://www.savepower.nsw.gov.au/get-the-facts/power-use-in-nsw.aspx">calculated</a> that</span> the average NSW home uses:<br />
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<b>7,300 kWh of electricity a year</b>,</div>
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which is derived from burning<br />
<b>3.7 tonnes of black coal, </b></div>
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and causes</div>
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<b></b> <b>8 tonnes of carbon pollution</b></div>
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I've looked at old bills and think that our household used ~5400 kWh/yr before the renovation.<br />
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It makes sense to minimise our use of electricity and to use gas or solar energy in preference to coal-fired electricity. <span style="font-size: small;">This post covers methods and products which reduce energy</span><span style="font-size: small;"> consumption</span><span style="font-size: small;">; a later post will cover <span style="font-style: italic;">passive</span> energy-efficiency measures which we have designed into the house.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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Heating Water</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><a href="http://www.savepower.nsw.gov.au/about/data-assumptions.aspx">Households</a> use about a third of their energy to heat water.<br />
We already have a solar water heater. It has an electric booster on a timer switch, which we have programmed to go on for two periods a day: 6-8am and 5-8pm (of course the power only runs when the thermostat requires it). This covers our showers and the washing up.</span> I normally wash clothes in cold water, and try to use solar-heated water if I need warm -- that is, I run warm loads in the middle of the day.<br />
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Lighting</span><br />
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<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr><th><br /></th><th><span style="font-size: small;"><b>INCANDESCENT</b></span></th><th><span style="font-weight: bold;">HALOGEN</span></th><th><span style="font-size: small;"><b> COMPACT FLUORESCENT</b></span></th><th><span style="font-weight: bold;">LED</span></th></tr>
<tr><td><span style="font-size: small;">Watts Per </span><span style="font-size: small;">Equiv. 60w </span><span style="font-size: small;">Bulb</span></td><td style="text-align: center;">60</td><td style="text-align: center;">60</td><td style="text-align: center;">14</td><td style="text-align: center;">6</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lifespan (hours)</td><td style="text-align: center;">1000</td><td style="text-align: center;">2000</td><td style="text-align: center;">15000</td><td style="text-align: center;">30000</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, I cannot remember where all the data for this table comes from; I collected it from various sources. Lighting comprises only about 7% of household energy use, and I imagine that proportion is declining. LED lighting is only just starting to make an impression; give it another ten years and we'll see it take over from compact fluorescents. We've used a number of LED light fittings and the rest are CFLs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My favourite LEDs are the strips under my cabinets, which I use while cooking. A lovely warm white light and definitely worth the price!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjbU5iiwwT8/T6kTYE6WbHI/AAAAAAAABuY/GRDwUi-Ckqo/s1600/Nougat,+LED+reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjbU5iiwwT8/T6kTYE6WbHI/AAAAAAAABuY/GRDwUi-Ckqo/s320/Nougat,+LED+reflections.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span><b>Heating Air</b><br />
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We have not yet installed the gas heater which we think we might need in the family room. This winter will be an interesting test of our passive measures! My Grandmas's draught snake now lies at our front door (that's it up the top). We have also installed beautiful full-length lined curtains, with pelmets, on our family room doors and window. Glass is a very good conductor of heat and needs to be insulated. Proper curtaining provides you with an air layer to buffer the room from the outside. Double-glazing was simply too expensive.<br />
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<b>Cooling Air</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We have installed a fan in the family room. Sydney's summer humidity makes a fan the best option for a large space. We have retained an elderly air conditioner in our bedroom, but use it rarely. L</span>ast summer was so mild that we didn't use the air con and barely used our new fan!<br />
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<b>Refrigerating Food</b><br />
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Refrigeration accounts for about 14% of a household's power consumption. We have one fridge and I am considering buying a small chest freezer as my children's appetites get bigger. One of the great hidden electricity users of Aussie households is that old, less efficient fridge, which is moved to the uninsulated garage, filled with beer and (often) left running, in case of an impromptu party. <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/gadget-addiction-threatens-to-create-energy-poverty-20120427-1xqbe.html" target="_blank">Apparently,</a> 40% of freestanding Australian homes have a "beer fridge"!<br />
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<b>Household Appliances and Entertainment Equipment (excluding refrigerator)</b><br />
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These are thought to account for about 27% of energy consumption, particularly if you don't turn them off at the mains. <span style="font-size: small;">We chose our appliances by looking at <a href="http://www.choice.com.au/" style="font-style: italic;">Choice</a> magazine for efficient products that suit our needs. </span><br />
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We now have a dishwasher, which I use once a day. It heats its own water using mains electricity, which is a new cost. My previous dishwasher still operates regularly; it's about 6' tall and needs a kiss to start, rather than a mains connection. Our new grill and range hood are also electric, but we have a new gas oven and stove.<br />
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The washing machine is also new. We bought relatively efficient appliances but a top-loader (which uses much more water and energy than a front-loader) is the only sensible option for a busy family with growing children. As is customary amongst Aussies, I own a clothes dryer, but only use it during wet spells.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We have a number of computers but they all have LCD screens, as does the TV. We have not yet replaced our defunct sound equipment. Below is one of the unusual things I asked the builders for:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7au0wxchjPE/T6kb_-QKNZI/AAAAAAAABus/Ksuat-CueR4/s1600/Black+Switch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7au0wxchjPE/T6kb_-QKNZI/AAAAAAAABus/Ksuat-CueR4/s320/Black+Switch.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Most people's sound gear is plugged into a power point located inconveniently behind the equipment, so it's usually left on standby. The black switch you see above will turn off the TV and sound equipment at the mains. From the kitchen. My children have not yet worked out the implications of this, but I am sure they will grasp it when they are teenagers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have you worked out any ways to reduce your power consumption?</span>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-37657584182136844442012-04-30T18:03:00.001+10:002012-04-30T18:09:50.330+10:00Gardening Weather at Last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0xlOSr_tMMk/T5053psCcwI/AAAAAAAABuE/OV00-V9aLoE/s1600/Garden+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0xlOSr_tMMk/T5053psCcwI/AAAAAAAABuE/OV00-V9aLoE/s320/Garden+sign.jpg" width="90" /></a></div>
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Down the side of my driveway is a gap to the fence of no more than 15cm, as deep as the slab. The gap had nothing in it at all except weeds, and I thought I had no soil to put in it until I remembered the unused planter box mix sitting in a heap near my Hill's hoist. We weeded, then I barrowed the planter box mix to the driveway and the kids swept it into the gap. When we were uncovering the mix, we found a nest of blue ants with their eggs.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Em6ZxBWGSw/T505RBM8LxI/AAAAAAAABt0/CBc0pQgznE8/s1600/Blue+Ants%27+Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Em6ZxBWGSw/T505RBM8LxI/AAAAAAAABt0/CBc0pQgznE8/s320/Blue+Ants%27+Eggs.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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At every fence-post, the Sprig planted <i>Dietes grandiflora</i>, which I had divided from a clump in the front garden. The clumps are shallow-rooted in my clay soil but were very hard to dig out because the clump was a good half-metre across. Dividing the clump took a while too as I hadn't tried it before. Dietes is a great plant for Sydney, growing in a slow-spreading clump of strappy leaves to 60cm and requiring no attention whatever. The flowers are of the iris type, with a purple 'cup' over a wide white 'saucer'. Unfortunately, these wilt quickly when cut.<br />
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At the shady end of the long bed, the Sprig strewed forget-me-not seeds. I popped in a <i>Pelargonium</i> where we will see it from our family-room window, then planted rooted segments of <i>Coleus amboinicus</i> up at the sunny end. Near our pond garden, I found a baby <i>Erigeron karvinskianus</i> growing, and I've transplanted this to the driveway bed too.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YL0Za5V39WI/T505rubHrVI/AAAAAAAABt8/BZEwQG5xQiI/s1600/Garage+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YL0Za5V39WI/T505rubHrVI/AAAAAAAABt8/BZEwQG5xQiI/s320/Garage+bed.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
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The native violets I bought the other day (with the sweet peas and bugle flower) has gone under the little bracelet honey-myrtle by the pond. The sweet peas are planted around two tetrapods in the herb bed. I've also planted the blugle flower there. I have a feeling it is <i>Ajuga reptans</i> 'Cavalier' rather than the <i>Ajuga reptans purpurea</i> on the label: the cultivars were mixed in together and mine has large purple leaves rather than small ones. I thought the Ajuga would look good next to the Echium because of the contrast in foliage, and I do hope the bloom periods overlap: the bugle flowers are the same shape and colour as the Echium's, just much smaller.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVxYkEgQj_s/T504l5V2PkI/AAAAAAAABtk/nDRFeV8lHhk/s1600/Ajuga+reptans+%27Cavalier%27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVxYkEgQj_s/T504l5V2PkI/AAAAAAAABtk/nDRFeV8lHhk/s320/Ajuga+reptans+%27Cavalier%27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ixia viridiflora</i> are a turquoise colour with a purple-black central eye, so I thought they'd go well with my mallard-green pergola. I've planted them around the bugle flower. There are now half a dozen <i>Allium</i> 'Drumstick' bulbs at the back of the herb bed too. <br />
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<a href="http://www.strangewonderfulthings.com/Ixia_viridiflora_6664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.strangewonderfulthings.com/Ixia_viridiflora_6664.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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The peacock flower, <i>Moarea aristata</i>, has snow-white petals with a navy-blue stain at the base. I thought they'd look nice near my rosemary (which has a deep blue flower) and marjoram. At the other end of the bed, I have planted deep velvety purple <i>Sparaxis</i> so one day they will flower near a pineapple sage (not yet purchased).<br />
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<a href="http://www.ekapa.ioisa.org.za/module5/images/Moraeaaristataobservatory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://www.ekapa.ioisa.org.za/module5/images/Moraeaaristataobservatory.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I've started a row of 'Greenfeast' peas near my washing line and am soaking some snow peas for planting on one of my tetrapods in the herb bed. The other tetrapods have sweet peas around them. The only harvest in prospect is of small tomatoes, but they are delicious!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14Mo5IVu3FE/T505IHXtkpI/AAAAAAAABts/Jb1Jy2W59PU/s1600/BRYC+tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14Mo5IVu3FE/T505IHXtkpI/AAAAAAAABts/Jb1Jy2W59PU/s320/BRYC+tomatoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-18349178319890934352012-04-18T13:57:00.002+10:002012-04-18T14:25:50.718+10:00After the RainI popped into Bunnings the other day and grabbed a few little things to add to my garden:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u359OMgeXnc/T44oCZps-MI/AAAAAAAABsA/yd9dljVAqTM/s1600/New%2Bpurchases%252C%2BApril%2B2012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u359OMgeXnc/T44oCZps-MI/AAAAAAAABsA/yd9dljVAqTM/s400/New%2Bpurchases%252C%2BApril%2B2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732563397399869634" border="0" /></a><br />Then it started to rain, which stopped me from planting them. By this morning we had an ankle-deep pond in the back yard, but the rain is still pouring down. I'm thinking about an ark.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVRqQXep8Tg/T44vwIrurfI/AAAAAAAABsY/eICM7Fx7M30/s1600/Huge%2Blake%2B2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVRqQXep8Tg/T44vwIrurfI/AAAAAAAABsY/eICM7Fx7M30/s400/Huge%2Blake%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732571879700344306" border="0" /></a><br />There were a few moments of sunshine, however, so out I went to see what I could see.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUJcqnSS5F0/T441ebBTTEI/AAAAAAAABs8/L3nhnabVX3Y/s1600/Droplets%2Bon%2Brosemary.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUJcqnSS5F0/T441ebBTTEI/AAAAAAAABs8/L3nhnabVX3Y/s400/Droplets%2Bon%2Brosemary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732578172454784066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j5jvM7V62qQ/T44xibpVIrI/AAAAAAAABsk/ZuhvK_vBWu4/s1600/Droplets%2Bon%2BTea-tree%2B2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j5jvM7V62qQ/T44xibpVIrI/AAAAAAAABsk/ZuhvK_vBWu4/s400/Droplets%2Bon%2BTea-tree%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732573843295642290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TUsSAm-c8w/T44xiyXKhOI/AAAAAAAABsw/nRXV5AgtxQs/s1600/Droplets%2Bon%2BSwamp%2Bfoxtail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2TUsSAm-c8w/T44xiyXKhOI/AAAAAAAABsw/nRXV5AgtxQs/s400/Droplets%2Bon%2BSwamp%2Bfoxtail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732573849393464546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pj4_bFVdM9o/T44oC6rPlGI/AAAAAAAABsM/Wqaa0lPb5jw/s1600/LIttle%2Bragged%2Bblossom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pj4_bFVdM9o/T44oC6rPlGI/AAAAAAAABsM/Wqaa0lPb5jw/s400/LIttle%2Bragged%2Bblossom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732563406264702050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swJ57wbuODU/T44hDPlOTdI/AAAAAAAABr0/kqo0O7o19ok/s1600/Water%2Bdrops%2Bon%2BEchium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swJ57wbuODU/T44hDPlOTdI/AAAAAAAABr0/kqo0O7o19ok/s400/Water%2Bdrops%2Bon%2BEchium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732555715295202770" border="0" /></a><br />Mysteriously, the tomatoes are starting to flower. In April!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1LPpohYLdk/T44hCoLxfqI/AAAAAAAABro/4U69yG0y-3U/s1600/Tomato%2Bflower-truss.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1LPpohYLdk/T44hCoLxfqI/AAAAAAAABro/4U69yG0y-3U/s400/Tomato%2Bflower-truss.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732555704719474338" border="0" /></a><br />I hope I get better results than I did with this Brandywine. Ugh!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMVVmOs0gkA/T441ezEtGXI/AAAAAAAABtI/8urBM0vfsPc/s1600/Bugs%2Bon%2BBrandywine.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMVVmOs0gkA/T441ezEtGXI/AAAAAAAABtI/8urBM0vfsPc/s400/Bugs%2Bon%2BBrandywine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732578178911508850" border="0" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-73045214867445034322012-03-29T22:33:00.014+11:002012-03-30T22:06:50.531+11:00March Garden UpdateIt hasn't been a good summer for a gardener, and I'm a bit disheartened at the dreadful state of my garden (not helped by a number of family crises which reduced my gardening and blogging time considerably!). Here's a quick tour.<br /><br />These are some of the few tomato flowers I've seen, on a "Broad Ripple Yellow Currant" that I planted in January. In November I planted "Brandywine" tomatoes and now there are two large but green fruits on one plant. That is all.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptElsskrpCQ/T3RJoVCnN1I/AAAAAAAABq4/HRAzMqBY2VQ/s1600/Tomato%2BFlowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptElsskrpCQ/T3RJoVCnN1I/AAAAAAAABq4/HRAzMqBY2VQ/s400/Tomato%2BFlowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725281983486441298" border="0" /></a><br />I've had a few cucumbers, but not anywhere near the number I expected. Hoping there are some still to come.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lTarfnUq6wg/T3RK1-6p16I/AAAAAAAABrQ/W60U9FVpR1I/s1600/Edge%2Bof%2Ba%2BCucumber%2BLeaf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lTarfnUq6wg/T3RK1-6p16I/AAAAAAAABrQ/W60U9FVpR1I/s400/Edge%2Bof%2Ba%2BCucumber%2BLeaf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725283317577275298" border="0" /></a><br />The frequent rain has kept my banana suckers happy, though!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8krytDaPY-g/T3RJoMCcj7I/AAAAAAAABqs/9DFv8h_1RO0/s1600/Young%2BBananas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8krytDaPY-g/T3RJoMCcj7I/AAAAAAAABqs/9DFv8h_1RO0/s400/Young%2BBananas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725281981069823922" border="0" /></a><br />The chicky-babes have grown up a lot. This was how they looked in mid-March, at a month old.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1firLQcuv0/T3TpZp0HJbI/AAAAAAAABrc/thUNtS4R6ug/s1600/Chicky-Babes%252C%2B1%2BMonth%2BOld.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1firLQcuv0/T3TpZp0HJbI/AAAAAAAABrc/thUNtS4R6ug/s400/Chicky-Babes%252C%2B1%2BMonth%2BOld.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725457653225170354" border="0" /></a><br />Ages ago I planted some Swamp Foxtail grass down the back of my garden, but it was overshadowed by a grevillea. Now the grevillea is senescent, we can finally see the grass which marks the end of the bed. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jj02ITzsM4g/T3RK1SKhvDI/AAAAAAAABrE/oKSZIMAKIKw/s1600/Swamp%2BFoxtail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jj02ITzsM4g/T3RK1SKhvDI/AAAAAAAABrE/oKSZIMAKIKw/s400/Swamp%2BFoxtail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725283305564257330" border="0" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-86247723583932650312012-02-11T20:48:00.028+11:002012-02-11T22:14:44.384+11:00The Chickies Have LandedWe took a trip out to the western edge of Sydney today and came back with some new friends for our remaining chook, Lizzie. <a href="http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/jeepers-creepers.html">Annie</a>, our White Leghorn, had been in declining health for some time and finally died two weeks ago.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzgeYQjSlsY/TzY7Y65scqI/AAAAAAAABqg/fbful7JUWC8/s1600/Chicks%2Bafter%2Btransport.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzgeYQjSlsY/TzY7Y65scqI/AAAAAAAABqg/fbful7JUWC8/s400/Chicks%2Bafter%2Btransport.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707814877052826274" border="0" /></a><br />These chicks are about five days old, and you can see their feathers are already growing in. Three are Rhode Island Reds; the others are Australorps. The latter are a distinct breed descended from the Black Orpington and other breeds, sturdy backyard birds known as great layers (250 eggs per year). The Rhode Island Red lays about 200 eggs per year and is also a hardy bird.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VupOcz3gPE/TzY7Yfj1ikI/AAAAAAAABqU/OXJ43mF9kMs/s1600/Chicks%2Bin%2Bnew%2Bhome.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VupOcz3gPE/TzY7Yfj1ikI/AAAAAAAABqU/OXJ43mF9kMs/s400/Chicks%2Bin%2Bnew%2Bhome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707814869713390146" border="0" /></a><br />A the moment, they like to spend a fair bit of time <span style="font-weight:bold;">in</span> the feed bowl. One of the Rhodies seems very dominant, pecking all the others.<br /><br />The Sprig is thrilled about the chicks and has taken charge of them. The Twig is on crutches after a soccer injury and can't do much at the moment.<br /><br />Now for a moan abut the weather. This has been the Year Without a Summer as far as we are concerned, with only one beach trip taken during the entire summer holidays. We have had rain, rain, and more rain, including a thunderstorm today. Even though the kids are back at school, normally a precise sign of sunny days, only one day could be called swimming weather, and gardening has been near impossible on my waterlogged clay soil. Corn and bean seeds have just rotted, and I haven't had a single tomato! Woe is me!<br /><br /><table style="background-color:transparent" border="1" bordercolor="#333333" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" width="400"> <tbody><tr> <td>Month</td> <td>Mean Rainfall</td> <td>Actual Rainfall</td> <td>Mean Rain Days</td> <td>Actual Rain Days</td> </tr> <tr> <td>December 2011</td> <td>68.2</td> <td> 133.2</td> <td>7.2</td> <td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>January 2012</td> <td>90.8</td> <td> 159.2</td> <td>8.2</td> <td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>February 2012</td> <td>106.4</td> <td>83.4 (so far)<br /></td> <td>8.1</td> <td>7 (so far)</td> </tr> </tbody></table><a href="http://www.code-generator.net/html/html-table-generator.cfm" target="_top"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">HTML tables</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-72655171332563056952012-01-21T21:20:00.001+11:002012-01-21T22:17:03.639+11:00When You Have Chooks...When you have chooks, they come to see what you're doing with the camera. And if you are holding a trowel, they will come and "help" you with your digging. Lizzie here was helping the Geek dig up weeds in the garden today. She was so comfortable working with him that she wiped her beak clean on his shorts.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kS4_LyjrY0M/TxoaM_SqzLI/AAAAAAAABpw/RmyUActcML8/s1600/Lizzie%2BApproaches.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kS4_LyjrY0M/TxoaM_SqzLI/AAAAAAAABpw/RmyUActcML8/s400/Lizzie%2BApproaches.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699897088841272498" border="0" /></a><br />When you have chooks, they leave some of their food behind, so you get surprise plants.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fun8_PbJhg4/TxoUTAmYawI/AAAAAAAABpk/sxuP0bNNYRk/s1600/Volunteer%2BSunflower.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fun8_PbJhg4/TxoUTAmYawI/AAAAAAAABpk/sxuP0bNNYRk/s400/Volunteer%2BSunflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699890595201837826" border="0" /></a><br />When you have chooks, they poo all over your patio.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RIDfYSFsOAE/TxoUSczcR5I/AAAAAAAABpY/5Zv6J9Z5Hys/s1600/Poo%252C%2BBack%2BDoor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RIDfYSFsOAE/TxoUSczcR5I/AAAAAAAABpY/5Zv6J9Z5Hys/s400/Poo%252C%2BBack%2BDoor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699890585592940434" border="0" /></a><br />When you have chooks, they hide their eggs in places that they think are secluded.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHqdYIjwx0g/TxocqVhTynI/AAAAAAAABqI/n5UK8OsL24I/s1600/Egg%2Bhiding%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHqdYIjwx0g/TxocqVhTynI/AAAAAAAABqI/n5UK8OsL24I/s400/Egg%2Bhiding%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699899792047721074" border="0" /></a><br />They are often wrong.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMpxz2j4VHI/TxoaNvb8khI/AAAAAAAABp8/yuFEubDajwk/s1600/Egg%2Bhiding%2B2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMpxz2j4VHI/TxoaNvb8khI/AAAAAAAABp8/yuFEubDajwk/s400/Egg%2Bhiding%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699897101765087762" border="0" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-76310374605705982492011-12-23T20:33:00.009+11:002011-12-23T20:40:48.819+11:00Bog Garden PlantedBelow are some typical bog plants for this part of the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dianella longifolia</span>, the Pale Flax-Lily, which has beautiful blue berries:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZnEyGxKHBM/TvHA_OM5vTI/AAAAAAAABo0/2hN2s8sSCnU/s1600/Dianella_longifolia_tubes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZnEyGxKHBM/TvHA_OM5vTI/AAAAAAAABo0/2hN2s8sSCnU/s400/Dianella_longifolia_tubes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688539996722150706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Isolepsis nodosa</span>, the Knobby Club-Rush, for the margins:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5WrkBwQaI8Y/TvBwLlOtXWI/AAAAAAAABoc/eo0WSeXDiH4/s1600/Isolepsis_nodosa_tubestock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5WrkBwQaI8Y/TvBwLlOtXWI/AAAAAAAABoc/eo0WSeXDiH4/s400/Isolepsis_nodosa_tubestock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688169673643613538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mazus pumilio</span>, Swamp Mazus, is a ground-cover with pretty blue flowers a bit like snapdragons:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JQjfK75y1Q/TvBmYM1amQI/AAAAAAAABoQ/7ShJew3ZYVw/s1600/Mazus_pumilio_pot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JQjfK75y1Q/TvBmYM1amQI/AAAAAAAABoQ/7ShJew3ZYVw/s400/Mazus_pumilio_pot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688158895317096706" border="0" /></a>And then there's the Bracelet Honey-Myrtle, <span style="font-style: italic;">Melalauca armillaris</span>. It's not from my area, really, but the endemic Melalaucas are unsuitable for this position. I need something small, which will take on a tree-shape rather than a shrub-shape, and not scratch people. I'm hoping the position is not too wet as <span style="font-style: italic;">M. armillaris</span> tends to be found in heathlands in high rainfall areas, not bogs. I've built it up a bit but am hoping it will tend to soak up water like other Melaleucas do.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G364dq7F0oo/TvBmX0LBzII/AAAAAAAABoE/nmC7mPvkdtc/s1600/Melalauca_armillaris_tube.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G364dq7F0oo/TvBmX0LBzII/AAAAAAAABoE/nmC7mPvkdtc/s400/Melalauca_armillaris_tube.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688158888696859778" border="0" /></a>I put a Dianella at each corner and the Melaleuca is on the hillock in the foreground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUEEkVVQINY/TvBxHvLOnFI/AAAAAAAABoo/xRu4YU4Q5Do/s1600/Bog%2Bplants%2Bin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUEEkVVQINY/TvBxHvLOnFI/AAAAAAAABoo/xRu4YU4Q5Do/s400/Bog%2Bplants%2Bin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688170707105520722" border="0" /></a>The rushes are planted notionally around the edges of my pond, but it had been raining so they are actually in the water at the moment.<br /><br />I have recycled some concrete edging in the hope that the lower Dianellas won't be washed away.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86F4pgnYSnI/TvHCW5jRyiI/AAAAAAAABpA/y-akPn0b6kE/s1600/Bog%2Bplants%2B%2526%2Bconcrete.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86F4pgnYSnI/TvHCW5jRyiI/AAAAAAAABpA/y-akPn0b6kE/s400/Bog%2Bplants%2B%2526%2Bconcrete.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688541503007345186" border="0" /></a>Another view, with long shadows cast across the pond.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bQb2IiMj_q0/TvHDLXX6J3I/AAAAAAAABpM/o9jYHPf3n-0/s1600/Bog%2Bgarden%2BW%2Baspect.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bQb2IiMj_q0/TvHDLXX6J3I/AAAAAAAABpM/o9jYHPf3n-0/s400/Bog%2Bgarden%2BW%2Baspect.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688542404365920114" border="0" /></a>I love the shadows cast on the wall by my Shasta daisies too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZnSgY82mcI/TvBk_yYirLI/AAAAAAAABn4/bzg9CYFDtqY/s1600/Shasta%2BShadows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZnSgY82mcI/TvBk_yYirLI/AAAAAAAABn4/bzg9CYFDtqY/s400/Shasta%2BShadows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688157376388181170" border="0" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-61317924500925476492011-12-10T21:32:00.001+11:002011-12-10T22:14:50.587+11:00Bog Garden Construction StartedThere has been more rain since my last post and of course many more activities, so I only managed to pop out to start on the bog garden today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMZaBtY9HF4/TuMMF5YjebI/AAAAAAAABnI/pSNp72CPsNc/s1600/Current%2Bpond%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMZaBtY9HF4/TuMMF5YjebI/AAAAAAAABnI/pSNp72CPsNc/s400/Current%2Bpond%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684400450114386354" border="0" /></a><br />I dug out a shallow circle in the middle of the triangle today, but there is still so much standing water that only the top edge is visible. I removed some more concrete from it and perhaps the drainage will improve now it's gone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLauncUebDA/TuMue469miI/AAAAAAAABng/36v1B-skjsM/s1600/Pond%2Bdug%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NLauncUebDA/TuMue469miI/AAAAAAAABng/36v1B-skjsM/s400/Pond%2Bdug%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684438262882343458" border="0" /></a><br />My plan is to plant each corner with sedge to provide a marker, so nobody walks into it by mistake, and a small shrub in the uphill corner (species undecided as yet). The Sprig has requested edible plants so I'm considering water chestnuts and mint in addition to native plants.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ1-CHtw3RQ/TuMs0exARmI/AAAAAAAABnU/4DsVLyI7hHc/s1600/Pond%2Bdug%2B2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ1-CHtw3RQ/TuMs0exARmI/AAAAAAAABnU/4DsVLyI7hHc/s400/Pond%2Bdug%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684436434795120226" border="0" /></a><br />I am also considering building a small wall on the far side so that less driveway runoff enters the area. This bed has been waterlogged for two months, after all. Didn't smell the best when I was digging it up.<br /><br />I've been digging elsewhere in the garden as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GAmrMiIaFSw/TuMzmHkDZiI/AAAAAAAABns/PAhenmAN9ps/s1600/Water%2Btable%2Bproblem.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GAmrMiIaFSw/TuMzmHkDZiI/AAAAAAAABns/PAhenmAN9ps/s400/Water%2Btable%2Bproblem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684443884630009378" border="0" /></a><br />This grille is one of the entry points to our vast retention pit, where runoff from our driveway, patio and garage roof collects. Note that the water is very high and the soil is not level with the top of the grille, so we've had overflow around the shaft. This isn't much fun to step in by mistake, and the unevenness of the ground is rather dangerous. I've now made the area surrounding the grille level. There are plenty of uneven areas in the back yard for me to dig up for fill. At the moment the soil is soft enough and the weather cool enough for it not to be a great chore. I had not expected to do this work until autumn.Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-47111163215090080102011-11-27T21:00:00.000+11:002011-11-27T21:27:29.717+11:00Preparing for a Bog GardenWe had only 45 minutes of sunshine in Sydney last week. The local rain gauge says we've had 137mm since the start of the month, more than one-and-a-half times the average. That's La Nina for you!<br />
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There's a new garden bed between my newly-concreted driveway and path. Well, there would be if I had added any soil to it -- it's just clay and a few weeds. And 137mm of rainwater.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnNKlU3PG10/Ts8l5KTHRyI/AAAAAAAABm8/WWMc2BO1SHo/s1600/Current+pond+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnNKlU3PG10/Ts8l5KTHRyI/AAAAAAAABm8/WWMc2BO1SHo/s320/Current+pond+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Our builders came back this week to deal with a few issues and The Geek was solemnly warned that this reservoir so close to the house was a Bad Thing, because the house is downslope. Initial excavations today have revealed some thin concrete inside the
bed, which may have reduced the speed at which this water drains into
the subsoil. I am not hopeful that we can keep the area dry in the long term.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkXVtdP8wII/Ts8kUk8nnmI/AAAAAAAABm0/6KwerdosGm8/s1600/Current+pond+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkXVtdP8wII/Ts8kUk8nnmI/AAAAAAAABm0/6KwerdosGm8/s320/Current+pond+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This water is runoff from the driveway. We are going to have a recurring problem here. The subsoil is clay and if the soil is saturated, the excess water has nowhere to go. If I were to mound up a garden bed on top of it, either the soil would wash away or the plants would drown. I am going to have to allow for temporary flooding but want the excess water to be taken up by plants. Now how does a frog habitat sound? </div>
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<b>What do frogs need?</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Most common frogs don't require standing water; temporary ponds are enough </li>
<li>If there is a pond, it should have gently sloping sides as not all frogs can climb</li>
<li>Frogs need plenty of cover: shrubs, logs, tussock plants and so on </li>
<li>They frequent moist, shaded areas and can roam some distance from water sources</li>
</ul>
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<b>What do tadpoles need?</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Tadpoles do need some water </li>
<li>Tadpoles need water that isn't entirely shaded -- they eat algae, which grows in sunlit water</li>
<li>Tadpoles need oxygenated water. Duckweed and Azolla tend to decrease oxygen levels and will need to be removed. </li>
<li>Tadpoles also eat the fungi and bacteria from decomposing plants</li>
<li>Tadpoles are sensitive to manure</li>
</ul>
<b>What do people need?</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Not to have frogs singing under their bedroom windows. This location is away from our bedrooms and not too close to the neighbours' bedrooms either.</li>
</ul>
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My plan is to create a dished depression in the middle of the triangle, add some leaf-litter and shelter, then plant the whole area with bog plants. I imagine clumps of sedges at each corner as markers for people using the paths. Nobody wants to fall into a bog, garden or not!<br />
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The Australian Association of Bush Regenerators has put together a list of <a href="http://www.aabr.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94:frog-friendly-native-pond-and-bog-plants-of-the-sydney-basin&catid=93:fauna-corner&Itemid=71">Frog-friendly Sydney plants</a> here. I am particularly interested in these ones, as they are known to grow in my area: <br />
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<ul>
<li>Hydrocotyle peduncularis (Native Pennywort)</li>
<li>Persicaria decipiens (Knotweed)</li>
<li>Knobby Club-Rush (Isolepis nodosa)</li>
<li>Common Rush (Juncus usitatus)</li>
<li>Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia)</li>
</ul>
Stay tuned! <br />
If you are interested in encouraging frogs into your garden, I can recommend the following websites:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.fats.org.au/FATS/Welcome.html">FATS</a>, the Frog And Tadpole Study Group of NSW</li>
<li>
The <a href="http://frogsaustralia.net.au/">Frogs Australia Network</a> has plenty of information for Australians about frogs. </li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.backyardbuddies.net.au/">Backyard Buddies</a> programme helps children identify andd conserve local wildlife of all sizes.
</li>
</ul>
Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-55235735996709964862011-11-14T18:10:00.000+11:002011-11-14T22:44:54.881+11:00How to Remove a Banana Grove<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week I started my first renovation of my poor mangled garden. Our grove of bananas is poorly placed, so it was time to chop the bigger trees down and move the suckers (the babies) to a better spot. I had about eight trees to remove: <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8RXnrxfbzhk/Tr-ZaN2ORXI/AAAAAAAABmA/xW4ciCzEZs0/s1600/Banana%2Bgrove%2Bbefore.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674422731182851442" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8RXnrxfbzhk/Tr-ZaN2ORXI/AAAAAAAABmA/xW4ciCzEZs0/s400/Banana%2Bgrove%2Bbefore.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Before you start, there are a couple of things to know. The first is that bananas are pretty easy to chop down by just shoving a spade into the trunk repeatedly. More importantly, they are full of sap which stains your clothes irretrievably. Never wear clothes you care about when either harvesting or felling bananas! Look at the copious sap here:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ih5D9MX-xx4/Tr-VrnA2qsI/AAAAAAAABl0/jM5bmnaedUc/s1600/Beware%2Bthe%2Bbanana%2Bsap%2521.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674418631949593282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ih5D9MX-xx4/Tr-VrnA2qsI/AAAAAAAABl0/jM5bmnaedUc/s400/Beware%2Bthe%2Bbanana%2Bsap%2521.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
Leave the felled banana plants somewhere out of the way to dry out. I'm planning to use the dry leaves on my potato bed later.<br />
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Bananas produce suckers rather like succulents produce pups, so you just have to split them off from the parent with your spade and try not to pull off all the roots when you dig them up.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hwK9KJaL4bQ/Tr-bawYRvhI/AAAAAAAABmM/z1Q4se9uklU/s1600/Banana%2Bsucker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674424939475746322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hwK9KJaL4bQ/Tr-bawYRvhI/AAAAAAAABmM/z1Q4se9uklU/s400/Banana%2Bsucker.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
Try not to plant them too deeply; you'll see a bulge where the soil level ought to be.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfqsblr6L0I/Tr95epVuwzI/AAAAAAAABlo/lohgy31RS84/s1600/Sucker%252C%2Bplanted.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674387622910149426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfqsblr6L0I/Tr95epVuwzI/AAAAAAAABlo/lohgy31RS84/s400/Sucker%252C%2Bplanted.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
As with any transplants, water them in well but do not fertilise. I gave them some seaweed tea this morning; it's thought to reduce transplant shock. Time will tell whether the 35-degree day has beaten the seaweed tea. Fortunately, our next few days should be more comfortable.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PT2Ts3Y5q-E/Tr5N02X6hKI/AAAAAAAABlc/p8nYHK--52A/s1600/Water%2Bin%2Bwell.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674058150877758626" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PT2Ts3Y5q-E/Tr5N02X6hKI/AAAAAAAABlc/p8nYHK--52A/s400/Water%2Bin%2Bwell.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
I'll probably remove the tea-tree and a bottle-brush a bit later. At right is a curry-leaf tree, <i>Murraya koenigii</i>, which will probably stay put. Behind is my potato bed, part of my new vegetable garden. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iN6iS2cxIJE/Tr-fe03ss8I/AAAAAAAABmY/sz_P1O96h_s/s1600/Banana%2Bgrove%2Bafter.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674429407447266242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iN6iS2cxIJE/Tr-fe03ss8I/AAAAAAAABmY/sz_P1O96h_s/s400/Banana%2Bgrove%2Bafter.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-37414454887619011002011-10-30T21:49:00.005+11:002011-10-30T22:22:24.079+11:00How Annoying!It appears that the camera batteries are dead, so I can't take photos of my garden for you today. I'll have to leave you with a verbal snapshot:<br /><br /><ul><li>I poured boiling water on some bindies today. Yes, they do prefer compacted ground, so they've been easy to spot. Various other weeds are also colonising our patches of clay. Unfortunately, we've had some Cobbler's Pegs come in. Under the Hill's hoist. Of course.</li><li>Our cool damp spring has even encouraged some grasses to begin sprouting.</li><li>This year's vegetable patch will primarily be in my new herb bed. I have tomatoes, cucumber, and pumpkin in already with the herbs, and planted some beans today.</li><li>My tomato seedlings (three colours of Zebra tomatoes, and 'Reisentraube' and 'Broad Ripple Yellow Currant') are up, but not yet the chillies, eggplant or capsicum.</li><li>The choko has not been as aggressive as hoped -- yet. Nor have my 'Brandywine' tomatoes really taken off. I'm a bit worried as they won't set fruit once it gets very hot.</li><li>Lizzie has been laying reliably.</li><li>The guinea pigs have escaped and are living wild in the long grass at the end of the back yard. They appear quite happy until they see humans, whereupon they look noticeably guilty.</li><li>The 'Iceberg' rose is flowering its heart out.</li><li>We finally concreted in our new letterbox today. A pity the front yard is a disaster area!</li></ul>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-5163761865276896202011-10-09T14:42:00.000+11:002011-10-09T14:52:15.256+11:00Garden Visit: Government HouseLast week, I had an Elvish Rest Day. Tolkien's elves, you may remember, did not sleep, but rested their minds by thinking of beautiful things. That is what I set out to do.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hht.net.au/museums/government_house">Government House</a>, in Sydney, is the official residence* of the Governor of NSW. The grounds are open to the public, or so they tell you, but in fact you can only view about half the gardens unless you wish to risk official wrath. I visited with my iPhone last week, so the photo quality is somewhat lower than usual.<br /><br />Like the gates?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixGnkZYMf3w/TpAEsJkrQ0I/AAAAAAAABe0/8LwHBH_KFWw/s1600/Govt%2BHouse%2Bgates.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixGnkZYMf3w/TpAEsJkrQ0I/AAAAAAAABe0/8LwHBH_KFWw/s400/Govt%2BHouse%2Bgates.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661029888135217986" border="0" /></a><br />Construction of Government House began in 1836. Due to economic problems, the building was not completed until 1845, though it was in use beforehand. There have been many additions and alterations since; the porte-cochere dates from 1872.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dGv05wXFcCA/TpAEsOTcoEI/AAAAAAAABe8/R6gg3yPYDEg/s1600/Govt%2BHouse%2Bfront.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dGv05wXFcCA/TpAEsOTcoEI/AAAAAAAABe8/R6gg3yPYDEg/s400/Govt%2BHouse%2Bfront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661029889405132866" border="0" /></a><br />I love the curve in this gate:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cw1WLJZdXYo/TpAErq4EhWI/AAAAAAAABes/qiHfgTXDFXs/s1600/Gatepost%2Bdetail.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cw1WLJZdXYo/TpAErq4EhWI/AAAAAAAABes/qiHfgTXDFXs/s400/Gatepost%2Bdetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661029879895065954" border="0" /></a><br />Part of a covered way from the House to The Chalet.The Chalet is Federation-era and I suspect the covered walk is too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-V1KVM4r_8/TpADuhvK-DI/AAAAAAAABek/lupeAVgNV3g/s1600/Covered%2Bway.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-V1KVM4r_8/TpADuhvK-DI/AAAAAAAABek/lupeAVgNV3g/s400/Covered%2Bway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661028829469800498" border="0" /></a><br />On the far side of the covered way was this beautiful border. Very much Sydney in late spring: irises, osteospermums, shasta daisies, sages, anemones and wisteria. The Harbour Bridge is visible in the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxm8xe7BfJY/TpADBxWJ4MI/AAAAAAAABeM/InpjzHDdOmw/s1600/Herbaceous%2Bborder%252C%2BSydney%2Bstyle.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxm8xe7BfJY/TpADBxWJ4MI/AAAAAAAABeM/InpjzHDdOmw/s400/Herbaceous%2Bborder%252C%2BSydney%2Bstyle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661028060565725378" border="0" /></a><br />I also had a good view of the gubernatorial Hills' hoists*.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3Gk5RgPSaQ/TpADCFTKBxI/AAAAAAAABeU/tu_7eH708KE/s1600/Gubernatorial%2BHill%2527s%2BHoists.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3Gk5RgPSaQ/TpADCFTKBxI/AAAAAAAABeU/tu_7eH708KE/s400/Gubernatorial%2BHill%2527s%2BHoists.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661028065921861394" border="0" /></a><br />This glorious verandah on the eastern side is also a late addition, from 1879. The residents at the time found the sun too bright and hot in the eastern rooms. The verandah opens on to a formal terrace with flagged walks and a central fountain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5KfRX5-RaM/TpADBhQ4aHI/AAAAAAAABeE/-6dtaY_ocVE/s1600/I%2Bsuddenly%2Bfeel%2Bmy%2Bpatio%2Blacks%2Bambition..jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5KfRX5-RaM/TpADBhQ4aHI/AAAAAAAABeE/-6dtaY_ocVE/s400/I%2Bsuddenly%2Bfeel%2Bmy%2Bpatio%2Blacks%2Bambition..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661028056248641650" border="0" /></a><br />The terrace, alas, is closed to the public. I would love to have been able to see the plantings.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MPzL7u7Sa00/TpABRaaxSaI/AAAAAAAABdk/mdx57iTWrQI/s1600/Eastern%2Bfacade%2BGovt%2BHouse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MPzL7u7Sa00/TpABRaaxSaI/AAAAAAAABdk/mdx57iTWrQI/s400/Eastern%2Bfacade%2BGovt%2BHouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661026130265721250" border="0" /></a><br />And what can you see from the terrace? Practically to South Head; the ship is moored at Garden Island Naval Base. Note the change in paving; I'd say this crazy-paving dates from the 1920s. Two Norfolk Island pines flank the path. These majestic trees were used to mark great estates all across Sydney.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ubc1qO_LJsQ/TpABQ7vq7dI/AAAAAAAABdc/9Fl-GqCNIVI/s1600/View%2Bfrom%2BEastern%2Bfacade%2Bgovt%2Bhouse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ubc1qO_LJsQ/TpABQ7vq7dI/AAAAAAAABdc/9Fl-GqCNIVI/s400/View%2Bfrom%2BEastern%2Bfacade%2Bgovt%2Bhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661026122031885778" border="0" /></a><br />This low wall surrounds the terrace. The pots contain venerable <span style="font-style: italic;">Agave victoria-reginae</span> specimens (at least I think that's what they are) -- appropriate for a residence built in Victoria's reign. More Norfolk island pines define another axial view.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPs0Lar46tg/TpACQwMsxCI/AAAAAAAABds/oXRL2L68-As/s1600/Terrace%2Band%2Bcactus%2Bpots.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPs0Lar46tg/TpACQwMsxCI/AAAAAAAABds/oXRL2L68-As/s400/Terrace%2Band%2Bcactus%2Bpots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661027218444043298" border="0" /></a><br />Details from a sunny tapestry bed of alyssum, lobelia, red ranunculus, primulas, and perennials not yet in flower. The gardener is a genius!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDgD2PBBFMA/TpACRErB-PI/AAAAAAAABd0/9PtxE0JEl7c/s1600/Sunny%2Bborder.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CDgD2PBBFMA/TpACRErB-PI/AAAAAAAABd0/9PtxE0JEl7c/s400/Sunny%2Bborder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661027223939971314" border="0" /></a><br />At one corner of Government House is this scene, common to older Sydney gardens: a Moreton Bay fig (these were preferred to the local Port Jackson Fig, which doesn't have such vast buttress-roots nor such large, deep green leaves), with underplanting of Bird's-nest ferns (<span style="font-style: italic;">Asplenium</span> species) and cliveas. There's an elkhorn up in the fig, too. Cliveas are still the plant of choice here for dry shade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rm87kDzXas/TpACRQjo89I/AAAAAAAABd8/JwLngTLtPzE/s1600/Very%2BSydney%2Blandscape.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rm87kDzXas/TpACRQjo89I/AAAAAAAABd8/JwLngTLtPzE/s400/Very%2BSydney%2Blandscape.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661027227130196946" border="0" /></a><br />The western facade: all Gothic Revival. No castles in the colonies! Were they pining for them?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcSgQVQJACE/TpABQgIdzdI/AAAAAAAABdU/RoLhMLnylKg/s1600/Crenellations.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcSgQVQJACE/TpABQgIdzdI/AAAAAAAABdU/RoLhMLnylKg/s400/Crenellations.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661026114619690450" border="0" /></a><br />Gothic Revival style was used on Government House because of the building below. These stables for the future Government House were designed by Francis Greenway for Governor Macquarie in 1816, but the Home Office put the brakes on Macquarie's ambitious public works programme before he could commission the main building.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77oHp81idMI/To__2M4j_HI/AAAAAAAABdM/qiRMOKNYWLA/s1600/Stables%253AConservatorium.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77oHp81idMI/To__2M4j_HI/AAAAAAAABdM/qiRMOKNYWLA/s400/Stables%253AConservatorium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661024563264486514" border="0" /></a><br />The stables became surplus to the Governor's requirements in 1916 and it has housed the Sydney Conservatorium of Music ever since. The shrubbery above, in the Royal Botanical Gardens, is actually a green roof over some classrooms. It has a beautiful view too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3dFm_lJlsA/To__1-CiQDI/AAAAAAAABdE/9gI9fyAanXE/s1600/View%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BCon.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3dFm_lJlsA/To__1-CiQDI/AAAAAAAABdE/9gI9fyAanXE/s400/View%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BCon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661024559279783986" border="0" /></a><br />Front of 'the Con'. The tall cabbage-tree palms (<span style="font-style: italic;">Livistona australis</span>) are endemic to the area. They are often found standing naked around older buildings like this, but naturally grow in mixed wet coastal forests. I am not sure what the shorter palms are -- they seem too slender to be Phoenix palms (<span style="font-style: italic;">Phoenix canariensis</span>) which were widely planted here a century or so ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxxqfAGVlM4/To__1vA4cwI/AAAAAAAABc8/Xj9AeuDaagI/s1600/Conservatorium%2BFront.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxxqfAGVlM4/To__1vA4cwI/AAAAAAAABc8/Xj9AeuDaagI/s400/Conservatorium%2BFront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661024555246318338" border="0" /></a><br />It was lovely to spend a day by myself looking at beautiful things!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">* Government House has not been used as a residence for 15 years, though it is used as the venue for Vice-Regal functions; this meant it could be used for many more community events as well. The State Government announced a few days after my visit that Government House would become the official residence once more, in part because it is expected that the next Governor will be a person from country NSW. I hope that means that we will see the Vice-Regal undies flapping on the Hill's hoists again.</span>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-67178456036053672032011-09-11T21:26:00.002+10:002011-09-11T22:46:25.971+10:00How It All BeganIt's time to look back.<br /><br />How can one recall all the factors that have led to the conception of a design, then brought forth a renewed building?<br /><br />I suppose it all began when we bought our postwar cottage. It was well-built and comfortable and, I remember saying, it would be easy to extend from the kitchen/dining area, into the lovely north-facing back yard. Not that we wanted to, of course, but it would be possible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8E8HfXv0utM/TdELd56lz9I/AAAAAAAABFA/n9sk15FRXLM/s1600/Original%2BHouse%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8E8HfXv0utM/TdELd56lz9I/AAAAAAAABFA/n9sk15FRXLM/s320/Original%2BHouse%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607275619443658706" border="0" /></a><br />But we bought in October, so one of the disadvantages of our house did not become apparent to us for a good six months. While the back yard was full of bright northerly light -- in fact, a bit too much light for comfort in summer -- the house did not make any use of it. Here, count the windows on the back yard side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_KQtkqwqCs/TdENTPPqiPI/AAAAAAAABFQ/xxGZae1SznU/s1600/NE%2BAspect.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 72px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_KQtkqwqCs/TdENTPPqiPI/AAAAAAAABFQ/xxGZae1SznU/s320/NE%2BAspect.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607277635213887730" border="0" /></a><br />One for the dining room, one for a bedroom, and the other two rooms getting that premium light are... the bathroom and toilet! And that's the laundry in the middle, shielding the rest of the house from light and heat. It's a lovely house in summer, keeping its back to the sun. There are big windows on the street side to catch the cooling southerlies. Most of the time, it's a cool, well-ventilated house.<br /><br />Winter is considerably less pleasant. Cool becomes cold, and ventilation becomes draught. The occasional overnight minimum of -3 C won't sound like much to Europeans, until you realise how Australian houses leak air. Every room has wall vents open to the outside -- and you can't close them. Our windows and doors aren't made to be airtight, and our thickest winter clothes are thin by European standards.<br /><br />Then I found this amongst the building books at work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-AGkKJX_G8/TdEKF2nlGfI/AAAAAAAABE4/mmZ2bwjbF0E/s1600/warmhousecoolhouse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 279px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D-AGkKJX_G8/TdEKF2nlGfI/AAAAAAAABE4/mmZ2bwjbF0E/s320/warmhousecoolhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607274106730125810" border="0" /></a><br />This excellent book is still in print, and is a helpful guide to energy efficient thermal comfort for Australians (particularly in our major cities). I don't know how many times I borrowed <span style="font-style: italic;">Warm House Cool House</span>, fascinated by the possibilities which would make suburban housing so much more liveable. One of my first decisions was that if I ever extended the house, I would need a concrete slab on the northern side of my house for thermal mass in winter, and big windows to let in winter sun. But this fit in with the location of the maybe-extension anyway.<br /><br />In summer, of course, I'd need to have my slab and window shaded with an external pergola smothered in passionfruit vine. But that's what Sydneysiders do with passionfruit plants: if it isn't a pergola, it's a verandah, and it will have a passionfruit vine. (The choko vine goes over the shed and dunny.)<br /><br />Then the news of the Greenhouse Effect reached the general public. I'd heard of it, of course; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Seymour_%28author%29">John Seymour</a> mentioned it in his 1987 book, Blueprint for a Green Planet, which I had bought. (I suppose John Seymour had better take some credit for this extension too!) The populous parts of Australia were in drought. I never ran out of cloth nappies for the Twig, because the washing was never rained on.<br /><br />At the same time I was pondering my own wealth. Unlike many Australians, I'm aware that I'm wealthy on a <a href="http://www.globalrichlist.com/">global scale</a> and on the national scale. It seemed to me that to consume water and energy excessively was unbecoming for a follower of a famously <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+8%3A20&version=NIV">homeless man</a>.<br /><br />Of course, a major extension is also expensive. You <span style="font-style: italic;">can</span> do a cheap extension, but it's usually ugly, made of cheaper materials, uninsulated and generally tends to result in more consumption later, whether because of increased running costs (eg heating uninsulated rooms) or maintenance and replacement of the materials. We didn't want that. We wanted to do something that would be beautiful and long-lasting. There are plenty of cheap extensions in our area as it is not a wealthy part of Sydney.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqe237jsLfE/TdEKF0UWIQI/AAAAAAAABEw/vw59Mq3wtO0/s1600/sustainablehouse.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 286px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqe237jsLfE/TdEKF0UWIQI/AAAAAAAABEw/vw59Mq3wtO0/s320/sustainablehouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607274106112581890" border="0" /></a><br />Like many gardeners, I've been aware for quite some time that water ought to be conserved (and that there are better things to do with stormwater than push it all out to sea), that artificial fertilisers and so on are not healthy foods for soils, and that pesticides and herbicides often create more problems than they solve as they damage biodiversity. I have a basic understanding of soil chemistry. I love fresh air, sunshine and flowers and didn't want to be breathing in too many outgassed chemicals from glues and paints.<br /><br />Michael Mobbs made me aware of the ubiquity of PVC in the building trade and the possibility of replacing it with other materials. I even considered leaving the town water supply as he did, but decided that the costs and disadvantages were prohibitive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bo4WxnXXps/TdELeHPUsLI/AAAAAAAABFI/OIJo0WamUws/s1600/Original%2BHouse%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bo4WxnXXps/TdELeHPUsLI/AAAAAAAABFI/OIJo0WamUws/s320/Original%2BHouse%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607275623020277938" border="0" /></a><br />The ultimate frustration with our house was down to the simple fact that a house that was comfortable for a working-class family in 1946 was not always a good fit for a middle-class family in 2011. The kitchen was built for the rationing period, and for a family who might have risen to an ice chest, not a modern fridge. The back yard was not a place you took your few guests; it was where you grew your vegetables and hung your washing--the home barbecue had not yet arrived in Australian culture. There was nowhere for us to sit outside, really, until a volunteer mulberry grew to shade the home-built carport. The dining table didn't quite fit into the dining room and <span style="font-style: italic;">we</span> didn't quite fit into the lounge room, either.<br /><br />Eventually, we went to <a href="http://www.archicentre.com.au/home-renovator/design-concepts">Archicentre</a> and used their flat-fee service to develop a concept plan. We liked it so much that we retained the architect, <a href="http://www.katris.com.au/">Peter Katris</a>, for the project. And last night, we slept in our renewed house for the first time.<br /><br />Here's the short version of the list of reasons for extending as we did:<br /><ul><li>Easy to extend this particular house</li><li>Allow for modern use of space: outdoor entertaining, computers, etc</li><li>Provide bigger kitchen and lounge room</li><li>Provide better articulation to back yard, and an outdoor sitting area</li><li>Improve thermal efficiency of house: better access to sun and light, and better ventilation control</li><li>Replace inefficient/non-functioning appliances</li><li>Improve stormwater management and conservation</li><li>To beautify the house and maintain the heritage of our street</li><li>To minimise the use of certain plastics where practicable</li></ul>I'll post more information about some of our decisions later.Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-8373507735625915302011-09-03T17:05:00.001+10:002011-09-03T17:11:52.412+10:00Details from my Kitchen<blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things. (Plato)</span>
<br /></blockquote> I feel like that child today, as I see daylight in my completed kitchen.
<br />
<br />The upper cabinets.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRBkb7zKWyw/TmGGiRrKVKI/AAAAAAAABbc/ELjMFFKEvdU/s1600/Wall%2Bcabinets%252C%2Bdaylight.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRBkb7zKWyw/TmGGiRrKVKI/AAAAAAAABbc/ELjMFFKEvdU/s400/Wall%2Bcabinets%252C%2Bdaylight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647943331117421730" border="0" /></a>
<br />Lower cabinetry.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPRph92u6bM/TmHObcQR-BI/AAAAAAAABc0/UX819RGN1_Y/s1600/Lower%2Bcabinets%252C%2Bdaylight.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPRph92u6bM/TmHObcQR-BI/AAAAAAAABc0/UX819RGN1_Y/s400/Lower%2Bcabinets%252C%2Bdaylight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648022378535581714" border="0" /></a>
<br />Enjoying the contrast between the E0 birch ply and the red hardwood.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCbjfq5KSm0/TmGviteTGlI/AAAAAAAABcs/lJHeMcifAdw/s1600/Birch%2B%2526%2BNative%2Btimber%2Bcontrast.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCbjfq5KSm0/TmGviteTGlI/AAAAAAAABcs/lJHeMcifAdw/s400/Birch%2B%2526%2BNative%2Btimber%2Bcontrast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647988418556402258" border="0" /></a>
<br />I didn't know my builders were installing this metal edge. I've seen the tiles just stop in some kitchens, but mine have a punctuation mark.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILxIRMDc8Lo/TmGrqDQUoAI/AAAAAAAABcE/BaRYYqpr6bY/s1600/Metal%2Bedge.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILxIRMDc8Lo/TmGrqDQUoAI/AAAAAAAABcE/BaRYYqpr6bY/s400/Metal%2Bedge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647984146615934978" border="0" /></a>
<br />Steel handles from Hafele -- comfortable, strong and recyclable.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ieAmtrzWofQ/TmGGi8TnZyI/AAAAAAAABbs/5v7BtjGPm78/s1600/Steel%2BHafele%2Bhandles.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ieAmtrzWofQ/TmGGi8TnZyI/AAAAAAAABbs/5v7BtjGPm78/s400/Steel%2BHafele%2Bhandles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647943342561388322" border="0" /></a>
<br />Red timber, steel edging, speckled grey tiles, 'Nougat' Caesarstone: I am so pleased by the colour combinations.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVRxEK1m7JE/TmGuQAaNZxI/AAAAAAAABcc/LdKegwpg9vk/s1600/Colours%2Bworking%2Btogether.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVRxEK1m7JE/TmGuQAaNZxI/AAAAAAAABcc/LdKegwpg9vk/s400/Colours%2Bworking%2Btogether.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647986997710382866" border="0" /></a>
<br />The character marks in recycled timber -- nail holes:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2fkjkIRPDo/TmGqrYvNpjI/AAAAAAAABb8/Q8Vy-F_IdEo/s1600/Nail%2Bholes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2fkjkIRPDo/TmGqrYvNpjI/AAAAAAAABb8/Q8Vy-F_IdEo/s400/Nail%2Bholes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647983070050887218" border="0" /></a>
<br />A borer track through the recycled timber:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DrJtIpbQdmo/TmGviWpTzQI/AAAAAAAABck/bU7nrTn6egg/s1600/Borer%2Btrack.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DrJtIpbQdmo/TmGviWpTzQI/AAAAAAAABck/bU7nrTn6egg/s400/Borer%2Btrack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647988412428569858" border="0" /></a>
<br />Light glows through the quartz on the bench edge.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzN9tpQmxoA/TmGqrN_1XzI/AAAAAAAABb0/cfESAJZSvOU/s1600/Quartz%2Bchips%2Bin%2BCaesarstone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzN9tpQmxoA/TmGqrN_1XzI/AAAAAAAABb0/cfESAJZSvOU/s400/Quartz%2Bchips%2Bin%2BCaesarstone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647983067167809330" border="0" /></a>
<br />The timber shelf between the kitchen and family room. I keep stroking it.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xdRYks6BRQs/TmGGi1u9bZI/AAAAAAAABbk/2ms65N3hWfU/s1600/TImber%2Bslab.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xdRYks6BRQs/TmGGi1u9bZI/AAAAAAAABbk/2ms65N3hWfU/s400/TImber%2Bslab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647943340797029778" border="0" /></a>
<br />End grain on the timber shelf between kitchen and family room.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKsqOUoDo_s/TmGuPva1OiI/AAAAAAAABcU/uY7IdoviVW4/s1600/Endgrain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKsqOUoDo_s/TmGuPva1OiI/AAAAAAAABcU/uY7IdoviVW4/s400/Endgrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647986993149590050" border="0" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-48278472773928287032011-09-02T20:44:00.001+10:002011-09-03T23:08:03.030+10:00Transformations: The Kitchen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLioFB1orn4/TkkbIKNF_aI/AAAAAAAABY0/JaHpqCSnuns/s1600/Most%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bhideous%2Bkitchen.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLioFB1orn4/TkkbIKNF_aI/AAAAAAAABY0/JaHpqCSnuns/s400/Most%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bhideous%2Bkitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641069835250433442" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here is much of my hideous, badly-organised, tiny kitchen. We had the enclosing arch pulled down before the shot was taken: the original kitchen was a room 11' wide and about 6' deep.
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<br />The original kitchen was, I suspect, far better designed than this cheap replacement. If you had a tiny kitchen, would you put in a double sink smack in the middle of your only run of bench space? Would you then put the stove in the middle of one short side? There was no elbow room! Moreover, there was nowhere to put the fresh fruit, or indeed anything that ought not to go in the fridge. You can see in the picture below how much room there was once we'd put in the microwave, toaster and electric jug. Add the crock for utensils and I had barely any room for food preparation. Not to mention the depressing colour!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TaOOk2ty10/TkkOd8VHPDI/AAAAAAAABYs/Ur8Q0n4oGoA/s1600/Kitchen%2Bwall%2Bgone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TaOOk2ty10/TkkOd8VHPDI/AAAAAAAABYs/Ur8Q0n4oGoA/s400/Kitchen%2Bwall%2Bgone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641055915831934002" border="0" /></a>
<br />In the dining room next to it, there were some projecting walls that made it impossible to use our rectangular table comfortably. We kept the table pushed in to the wall until we had guests, then had to weave our way around it to come in and out. We decided that all those walls would come down and we'd have one big room.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mdaj-s8fnPQ/TkkbxGEFsOI/AAAAAAAABY8/YxM0Bi5B84I/s1600/Hideous%2Bkitchen%2BGONE%2521.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mdaj-s8fnPQ/TkkbxGEFsOI/AAAAAAAABY8/YxM0Bi5B84I/s400/Hideous%2Bkitchen%2BGONE%2521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641070538513559778" border="0" /></a>
<br />Isn't it a relief to chuck out cheap, nasty junk?
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<br />And because we were extending outwards from the kitchen wall, we left a big open space where a window had been removed. It's about chair-rail height.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOacgT3lbWY/TkkdIkudQjI/AAAAAAAABZM/wzh1ChwuXkY/s1600/Bulkhead%2Bfrom%2Blaundry%2Bdoor.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HOacgT3lbWY/TkkdIkudQjI/AAAAAAAABZM/wzh1ChwuXkY/s400/Bulkhead%2Bfrom%2Blaundry%2Bdoor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641072041392947762" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here's what it looked like after the plaster, balustrade, lights, Marmoleum and painting were finished. It already looks like a comfortable space.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRt1OLR6hUI/TkkeyopQAII/AAAAAAAABZU/ip46M6ULtgM/s1600/Marmoleum%2Bin%2Bkichen%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gRt1OLR6hUI/TkkeyopQAII/AAAAAAAABZU/ip46M6ULtgM/s400/Marmoleum%2Bin%2Bkichen%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641073863510982786" border="0" /></a>
<br />Next thing was having the kitchen carcases installed. They are E0 birch ply. I counted thirteen layers of ply, but I might have been wrong.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nF4mIb6z87s/TkkhHvf0aqI/AAAAAAAABZc/WnU10rozqlM/s1600/E0%2Bbirch%2Bply%2Bcabinets%2Binstalled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nF4mIb6z87s/TkkhHvf0aqI/AAAAAAAABZc/WnU10rozqlM/s400/E0%2Bbirch%2Bply%2Bcabinets%2Binstalled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641076425150982818" border="0" /></a>
<br />It looks pretty nice without the bench top or doors!
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<br />Here's what Caesarstone looks like in 'Nougat':
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTvZJYnUIS0/TlzXm7qrIRI/AAAAAAAABbE/z1rN9XY5ZHw/s1600/Nougat%252C%2BLED%2Breflections.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTvZJYnUIS0/TlzXm7qrIRI/AAAAAAAABbE/z1rN9XY5ZHw/s400/Nougat%252C%2BLED%2Breflections.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646625096667439378" border="0" /></a>
<br />And here is how it looked when the appliances and counter were added:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0F2atsOai10/TmCZiTIpIrI/AAAAAAAABbM/9TDzaKMjh24/s1600/Appliances%2B%2526%2Bbenchtop%2Bin.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0F2atsOai10/TmCZiTIpIrI/AAAAAAAABbM/9TDzaKMjh24/s400/Appliances%2B%2526%2Bbenchtop%2Bin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647682747253727922" border="0" /></a>
<br />The last thing to happen was installation of the panels of Recycled Mixed Reds: Australian native timbers recycled from demolished structures. Species include Red Mahogany, Forest Red Gum, Blue Gum, Rose Gum, Bloodwood & Southern Mahogany. Jimmy the Joiner is pretty sure we have some Stringybark as well. As the timber is recycled, there are all kinds of 'character' marks from borers and nail holes. <a href="http://www.greenerkitchens.com.au/">Greener Kitchens</a> sourced the timber from <a href="http://www.thors.com.au/index.php">Thor's Hammer</a>.
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<br />Now let's just have that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Before</span> shot again:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLioFB1orn4/TkkbIKNF_aI/AAAAAAAABY0/JaHpqCSnuns/s1600/Most%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bhideous%2Bkitchen.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLioFB1orn4/TkkbIKNF_aI/AAAAAAAABY0/JaHpqCSnuns/s400/Most%2Bof%2Bmy%2Bhideous%2Bkitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641069835250433442" border="0" /></a>
<br />And here's the kitchen complete:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMwec7Y0DqA/TmC1YIQ3ENI/AAAAAAAABbU/Q3l1h_rSxfc/s1600/Kitchen%252C%2Bevening.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vMwec7Y0DqA/TmC1YIQ3ENI/AAAAAAAABbU/Q3l1h_rSxfc/s400/Kitchen%252C%2Bevening.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647713358862291154" border="0" /></a>
<br />Stay tuned for a <a href="http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com/2011/09/details-from-my-kitchen.html">follow-up post</a> in which I point out its excellences in detail!Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-83662926693227336142011-08-22T20:52:00.005+10:002011-08-22T22:24:45.187+10:00LightingLighting is really difficult! Illumination is like sound; it has so many qualities that finding what you want is more luck on the part of the consumer than anything else. Lights can be more or less strong, more or less directional, and it simply isn't something you can work out in a lighting shop, surrounded by other light sources. Some spotlights, for example, are really for security lighting; others are less concentrated and will provide comfortable light for outdoor dining.
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<br />Lighting shops, in my experience, are usually filled with astonishingly ugly fittings. Some years ago we discovered <a href="http://www.beaconlighting.com.au/">Beacon Lighting</a>. Their shops tend to be at least 60% attractive fittings, and even the unattractive ones aren't that bad, except maybe for this one:
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2yjRViC72c/Tk5lOkMC9XI/AAAAAAAABZs/YAxgmO4XeHk/s1600/Charlotte.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2yjRViC72c/Tk5lOkMC9XI/AAAAAAAABZs/YAxgmO4XeHk/s400/Charlotte.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642558684048586098" border="0" /></a>
<br />How on earth could anyone think this was attractive? Let alone practical! But I digress.
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<br />We ended up with the following, all from Beacon Lighting:
<br /><table style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" border="1" bordercolor="#ffcc00" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" width="400"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><tbody align="left"><tr align="left">
<br /> <td>Kitchen</td>
<br /> <td>Triple LED spotlights on bracket, LEDS for under wall cupboards</td>
<br /></tr>
<br /><tr>
<br /> <td>Family Room</td>
<br /> <td>LED downlights, stainless steel Typhoon fan</td>
<br /></tr>
<br /><tr>
<br /><td>Study</td>
<br /> <td>Laconia pendant</td>
<br /></tr>
<br /><tr>
<br /> <td>Entry</td>
<br /> <td>Recycle a fitting</td>
<br /> </tr>
<br /><tr>
<br /><td>Kids' Playroom</td>
<br /> <td>Rocket light</td>
<br /> </tr>
<br /><tr>
<br />
<br /> <td>Stairs</td>
<br /> <td>Project wall sconce</td>
<br /> </tr>
<br /><tr>
<br /> <td>Patio</td>
<br /> <td>Sentinel spotlights</td>
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<br /></tbody></table><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.quackit.com/html/html_table_tutorial.cfm" target="_top">HTML Tables</a></span>
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<br />And here are the problems we encountered along the way.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Choice</span>: it's hard to know exactly what you want, and whether it will provide adequate illumination. In some areas, like exposed outdoor lighting, the range is very small. This can mean you choose very quickly, or that you go away thinking, "None of the above!" Even without the returns we made, several shopping trips would have been necessary just to decide on fittings. On the positive side, Beacon were always very accommodating with returns and so on, and their staff are friendly and helpful (if occasionally short on technical knowledge).
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<br />Vue from Beacon, for our kitchen, was an easy decision. Few of these rail-type fittings have such clean lines:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPxXqoY6s_w/Tk-lFHOcSLI/AAAAAAAABaU/g1_PBKt1Bco/s1600/Kitchen%2Blights.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPxXqoY6s_w/Tk-lFHOcSLI/AAAAAAAABaU/g1_PBKt1Bco/s400/Kitchen%2Blights.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642910365376071858" border="0" /></a>
<br />The second was <span style="font-weight: bold;">supply</span>: lots of things had to be ordered in for us as the Beacon stores don't hold very much stock. And the most convenient Beacon store is 20-30 minutes away, down the motorway. We had to come back for these Sentinel lights for our patio:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChJKxPF7hEU/Tf3jGVqjChI/AAAAAAAABLE/Zdq7D1ZD7EI/s1600/Sentinel%2Blight.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 149px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChJKxPF7hEU/Tf3jGVqjChI/AAAAAAAABLE/Zdq7D1ZD7EI/s320/Sentinel%2Blight.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619897608062568978" border="0" /></a>
<br />Thirdly, we had a problem due to <span style="font-weight: bold;">inadequate technical information</span>. The LED downlights were 62mm, not the standard 80mm. The fact that they had no user-replaceable parts wasn't mentioned either. Seriously --<span style="font-style: italic;"> once the LEDs failed</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">we were supposed to pay an electrician to remove the fitting from the ceiling and throw it away</span>. This sounds very wasteful to me even if the fitting is supposed to last 30 years -- for one thing, what if one light fails long before the others? Is anyone going to gamble against Murphy's Law?
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSCEsA8gwzo/ThAxtWYzVXI/AAAAAAAABNc/4ui1hm6mS90/s1600/Light%2Bfitting%2Bholes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSCEsA8gwzo/ThAxtWYzVXI/AAAAAAAABNc/4ui1hm6mS90/s400/Light%2Bfitting%2Bholes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625050589759231346" border="0" /></a>
<br />Of course we didn't know about the size until <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> our electrician had drilled the 80mm holes in the ceiling. He replaced the downlights with standard-size, user-replaceable LED fittings, which were cheaper than the ones we had found. Light fittings are expensive and it's worth seeing what your electrician can get at trade prices, especially things like downlights, which all look the same and which nobody will actually be examining closely.
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<br />Next, the Laconia pendant's glass shade was <span style="font-weight: bold;">broken</span> when the electrician opened the box. Bad luck, I suppose, but it meant a trip back to Beacon for another one.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnP343_6KRs/Tk-kIb3PTRI/AAAAAAAABaM/KlnYKELtKIQ/s1600/Laconia%2Blight%252C%2Bstudy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnP343_6KRs/Tk-kIb3PTRI/AAAAAAAABaM/KlnYKELtKIQ/s400/Laconia%2Blight%252C%2Bstudy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642909322943876370" border="0" /></a>
<br />Then we looked at the light fitting we planned to recycle, and discovered that the rod kit for the old fitting had <span style="font-weight: bold;">disappeared</span> during the building process, leaving us with the bowl. Our electrician, understandably, won't fit the bowl to a fitting it wasn't designed for, so we are waiting to hear back about a rod kit that will fit.
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<br />The Domus lights, which we bought from <a href="http://www.ozlighting.com.au/Domus-DIY-3-Pack-LED-Garden-Spike-Lights-With-Adjustable-Kit-P1291C75.aspx">OzLighting</a>, have a <span style="font-weight: bold;">transformer</span> which must be set 60cm above soil level. For most applications, this is fine: you attach it to the house wall and run the cables where you want them. This won't work on an island bed, however. Guess where we want it? Our electrician is getting a suitable transformer for us.
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<br />This is one of the fittings that <span style="font-style: italic;">didn't</span> cause any dramas. Of course, we haven't tried putting a globe in it yet!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raG60KfqTr8/TlEBVDIJBaI/AAAAAAAABa8/_rLXAjWrbtE/s1600/Sconce%252C%2Bstairs.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raG60KfqTr8/TlEBVDIJBaI/AAAAAAAABa8/_rLXAjWrbtE/s400/Sconce%252C%2Bstairs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643293269200274850" border="0" /></a>Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-9708610558986482162011-08-20T22:36:00.002+10:002011-08-20T23:08:01.313+10:00Transformations: LaundryWe had a couple of problems with our old laundry. First, there was the manhole. The shape of the room meant we couldn't get a long ladder in, so we had to use a folding one, but the ceiling sloped. I was unable to reach the frame to pull myself up into the roof space. My husband could easily reach the manhole, but it was really a boyhole: my husband's shoulders were too broad for it! So in all our time in the house, we had never been able to inspect the roof space.
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<br />And that sloping ceiling was asbestos fibro, of course. Only one thing to be done with it...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NGgiVV3ujP0/TjVOsfZ3MkI/AAAAAAAABV8/adlAca6I7a0/s1600/Roof%2Bgone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NGgiVV3ujP0/TjVOsfZ3MkI/AAAAAAAABV8/adlAca6I7a0/s400/Roof%2Bgone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635497034975228482" border="0" /></a>
<br />So we asked for a new ceiling and manhole, as well as having the tiny room next to it incorporated into the laundry space. I was never keen on the blue paint, either, and it clashed with those old kitchen cupboards.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59wX1T_QGFc/TgSGRPp37vI/AAAAAAAABMU/oAgjQLt6w80/s1600/New%2Blaundry%2Bceiling%2B%2526%2Bmanhole.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59wX1T_QGFc/TgSGRPp37vI/AAAAAAAABMU/oAgjQLt6w80/s400/New%2Blaundry%2Bceiling%2B%2526%2Bmanhole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621765865683283698" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here's the new level ceiling, painted.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSjsQqLtzTY/TiLjuhuk-KI/AAAAAAAABQU/hxKrU-7naSU/s1600/New%2Bmanhole.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSjsQqLtzTY/TiLjuhuk-KI/AAAAAAAABQU/hxKrU-7naSU/s400/New%2Bmanhole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630312872633759906" border="0" /></a>
<br />The room had to be brought to modern standards, so our builders installed a waterproof membrane on the floor. Old Aussie laundries are just concrete, which of course is porous. The blue bits in the picture below are the membrane; it has been covered with a cement bed here.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PDyocBaBWyA/ThaYhuC7z-I/AAAAAAAABPU/zhrtHIrhXpw/s1600/Laundry.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PDyocBaBWyA/ThaYhuC7z-I/AAAAAAAABPU/zhrtHIrhXpw/s400/Laundry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626852489509457890" border="0" /></a>
<br />Of course some local residents became curious about what was going on.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wP7RZgcCszU/ThaYhRVA23I/AAAAAAAABPM/Shp9A09qD_s/s1600/Chookprints.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wP7RZgcCszU/ThaYhRVA23I/AAAAAAAABPM/Shp9A09qD_s/s400/Chookprints.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626852481800657778" border="0" /></a>
<br />Next, the tiles went in; nothing fancy.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ttZcjbJYKY/ThalSegxdrI/AAAAAAAABPk/BCyPR8_9Aqk/s1600/Tiles%252C%2Bno%2Bgrout.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ttZcjbJYKY/ThalSegxdrI/AAAAAAAABPk/BCyPR8_9Aqk/s400/Tiles%252C%2Bno%2Bgrout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626866521292764850" border="0" /></a>
<br />Another problem with the old laundry was the double sinks, which leaked dry no matter which plug you put in, and the home-made cupboard underneath which was unusable due to the tiny door being posiioned right in front of the waste pipes. I was glad to see that monstrosity go!
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<br />But there was a little oopsie, when we realised that the laundry floor was now quite a bit higher with the waterproofing, mortar, glue and tile... so much higher that our brand new laundry tub was not going to fit under the taps! The choice was either to move the taps (which in effect would involve re-plumbing this room entirely) or to dig out the tiles. The tiles have been taken out. Can you tell?
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVKInySMJLQ/Tk-mLFMAY8I/AAAAAAAABac/d-waJeMcgYM/s1600/Laundry%2Btub.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVKInySMJLQ/Tk-mLFMAY8I/AAAAAAAABac/d-waJeMcgYM/s400/Laundry%2Btub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642911567419827138" border="0" /></a>
<br />And my choice of paint colour was just slightly out: I wanted the colour to match the doors of the old cupboard. It is a little greener than I expected. Still a pleasant colour, though.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vkk5ekYIumQ/Tk-pFDvc31I/AAAAAAAABa0/fOvEAsrFhsY/s1600/Laundry%2Bfloor%252C%2Bmanhole.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vkk5ekYIumQ/Tk-pFDvc31I/AAAAAAAABa0/fOvEAsrFhsY/s400/Laundry%2Bfloor%252C%2Bmanhole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642914762487291730" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrOKd7Zuj2I/Tk-m8BPI3II/AAAAAAAABak/KEu705YWMEg/s1600/Laundry%2Bloo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrOKd7Zuj2I/Tk-m8BPI3II/AAAAAAAABak/KEu705YWMEg/s400/Laundry%2Bloo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642912408172813442" border="0" /></a>I can't wait to be back using it again! Our rented house has a washing machine, which I call Amityville due to its uncanny noises and the weird dirt it puts on my washing. It is a Simpson SWT552 and all the criticisms you read about it online are true! I can't wait to use my new Fisher & Paykel!
<br />Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-90118787241969918922011-08-18T22:40:00.003+10:002011-08-18T23:17:19.385+10:00Transformations: Herb BedAs you all know, our patio is L-shaped.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pW9ClBt7e9k/Tk0M9RLS1JI/AAAAAAAABZk/5soPyiQDoww/s1600/Through%2Bthe%2Bdoors.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pW9ClBt7e9k/Tk0M9RLS1JI/AAAAAAAABZk/5soPyiQDoww/s400/Through%2Bthe%2Bdoors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642180154887427218" border="0" /></a>
<br />Our new herb bed, which encloses it, has weep holes on the outer side. Our builders advised painting it with a bituminous waterproofing compound to prevent damp when people might be sitting on or next to it.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuUuh1K00ck/TfB7KLq0ciI/AAAAAAAABIk/7B_ODunPsbs/s1600/Herb%2Bbed%252C%2Bwaterproofed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuUuh1K00ck/TfB7KLq0ciI/AAAAAAAABIk/7B_ODunPsbs/s320/Herb%2Bbed%252C%2Bwaterproofed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616124150192304674" border="0" /></a>
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<br />This kind of planter needs to be well-drained, as the soil at the bottom tends to become sour if left to its own devices. We used broken brick and tile at the bottom, then Re-Agg (recycled concrete in aggregate-sized particles). A special planter box mixture went on top.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vPAnhjQMhyw/ThanufhVVQI/AAAAAAAABP0/j67DOBPwA-s/s1600/Planter%2Bbox%2Bfilled%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vPAnhjQMhyw/ThanufhVVQI/AAAAAAAABP0/j67DOBPwA-s/s400/Planter%2Bbox%2Bfilled%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626869201623143682" border="0" /></a>
<br />The white spiky thing in the middle of the bed isn't an aerial: it's electrical wiring for garden lights.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PldsqDjS_XQ/ThanuvDHiVI/AAAAAAAABP8/M3-xEC6xcdo/s1600/Planter%2Bbox%2Bfilled%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PldsqDjS_XQ/ThanuvDHiVI/AAAAAAAABP8/M3-xEC6xcdo/s400/Planter%2Bbox%2Bfilled%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626869205791377746" border="0" /></a>
<br />The fun part was planting it, of course. So far, the herbs are <span style="font-style: italic;">Coleus amboinicus</span>, chives, savory, sage and thyme, and Russian garlic (the last after I took the photo). The flowers are a deep-blue lobelia and Veronica 'Oxford Blue', and my sons' strawberry plants.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae81_SuZ5IM/Tke_9kzxKhI/AAAAAAAABYk/A407yvCLcaY/s1600/Herb%2Bbed%2Bnorthward%252C%2Bnew%2Bplants.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae81_SuZ5IM/Tke_9kzxKhI/AAAAAAAABYk/A407yvCLcaY/s400/Herb%2Bbed%2Bnorthward%252C%2Bnew%2Bplants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640688122878568978" border="0" /></a>
<br />At the bend are two plants. The first (just visible at bottom right) is a choko, which I hope will grow over the pergola fast enough to give us shade this summer. The rosette of large leaves is <span style="font-style: italic;">Echium candicans</span>, Pride of Madeira. It should grow to fill the corner and produce wonderful blue flower spikes. I fell in love with this plant when I first saw it in Mildura, and again in the <a href="http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com/2010/10/melbourne-botanical-gardens.html">Melbourne Botanical Gardens</a>.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQxb6B1v4LM/Tke_9Eq3-NI/AAAAAAAABYc/Jdj-TPGuEh4/s1600/Herb%2Bbed%2Bwestward%252C%2Bnew%2Bplants.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQxb6B1v4LM/Tke_9Eq3-NI/AAAAAAAABYc/Jdj-TPGuEh4/s400/Herb%2Bbed%2Bwestward%252C%2Bnew%2Bplants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640688114251331794" border="0" /></a>
<br />I had to make one more change to the garden bed after the chickens discovered it and scratched the mulch up everywhere-- it now has a layer of light mesh over the top! Not attractive, but at least the plants won't be uprooted every time my back is turned!
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<br />I'm looking forward to adding a few more herbs: my rosemary has yet to be added. Oregano, marjoram and tarragon are definitely required, but there's a whole thyme family to consider...maybe a pineapple sage... bee-balm... <span style="font-size:85%;">I've always fancied a houseleek to protect against lightning... <span style="font-size:78%;">maybe I'd better stop now...</span></span>
<br />Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-50008245330921456982011-08-14T21:37:00.001+10:002011-08-14T22:20:32.287+10:00Transformation: The Stairs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ao4zVdF4MOs/TkY_RJeyRXI/AAAAAAAABXk/gkVph7LGCd0/s1600/Doors%2Bgone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ao4zVdF4MOs/TkY_RJeyRXI/AAAAAAAABXk/gkVph7LGCd0/s400/Doors%2Bgone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640265147163493746" border="0" /></a>
<br />The original steps from my house to the garden, via the porch, were at right angles to the door. How convenient...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ8q9-HXuEA/TkY_xTe7C_I/AAAAAAAABXs/x-zaSAGvJUg/s1600/Roof%2Bgone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ8q9-HXuEA/TkY_xTe7C_I/AAAAAAAABXs/x-zaSAGvJUg/s400/Roof%2Bgone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640265699604237298" border="0" /></a>
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<br />(The only difference in this final photo is the addition of tan-pink Marmoleum on the steps.)
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d87vlfdD73c/Tke71yR6bfI/AAAAAAAABYU/PHc3_t5nXv0/s1600/Marmoleum%2Bon%2Bstairs%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d87vlfdD73c/Tke71yR6bfI/AAAAAAAABYU/PHc3_t5nXv0/s400/Marmoleum%2Bon%2Bstairs%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640683591009201650" border="0" /></a>
<br />Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-30884729977550405592011-08-05T21:53:00.002+10:002011-08-05T21:54:22.761+10:00Patio & DrivewayIt's always fun when a digger turns up! Apparently Lizzie, our Rhode Island Red, was inspecting the bucket when the driver turned the engine on. She is reported to have departed in haste!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfhY0PTuzxo/TiQcQTzmvOI/AAAAAAAABRM/r1HGz0oFPA8/s1600/Levelling%2Bthe%2BPatio.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfhY0PTuzxo/TiQcQTzmvOI/AAAAAAAABRM/r1HGz0oFPA8/s400/Levelling%2Bthe%2BPatio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630656500640169186" border="0" /></a><br />Now some before-and-after pictures of the new path and driveway:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fousrp1lnyI/TjKpp9zWhUI/AAAAAAAABVU/iQ8LFJQYCO8/s1600/Reinforcing%2Bmesh%252C%2Bfront%2Bgarden%2Bpaths%252C%2B.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fousrp1lnyI/TjKpp9zWhUI/AAAAAAAABVU/iQ8LFJQYCO8/s400/Reinforcing%2Bmesh%252C%2Bfront%2Bgarden%2Bpaths%252C%2B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634752622223590722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJRzp3q57_4/TjpjhL8AH3I/AAAAAAAABWc/D0Pcd2a7hyM/s1600/Driveway%2Bconcrete%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJRzp3q57_4/TjpjhL8AH3I/AAAAAAAABWc/D0Pcd2a7hyM/s400/Driveway%2Bconcrete%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636927305398886258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgJPGgufyWM/Tjp5bpLlnmI/AAAAAAAABWk/QwGAsyDdfoQ/s1600/Driveway%2Bconcrete%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgJPGgufyWM/Tjp5bpLlnmI/AAAAAAAABWk/QwGAsyDdfoQ/s400/Driveway%2Bconcrete%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636951399425482338" border="0" /></a><br />The patio.<br />Reinforcing mesh being inspected.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IeRKZskSZYA/TjKocMsJGcI/AAAAAAAABVM/rlUvOQuz9E4/s1600/Chooks%2Bcheck%2Breinforcing%2Bmesh.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IeRKZskSZYA/TjKocMsJGcI/AAAAAAAABVM/rlUvOQuz9E4/s400/Chooks%2Bcheck%2Breinforcing%2Bmesh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634751286190086594" border="0" /></a><br />The final result!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MebNuNp6s6I/Tjp66MqEOUI/AAAAAAAABWs/QwbRUN7svIE/s1600/Patio%2Bconcrete%2B1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MebNuNp6s6I/Tjp66MqEOUI/AAAAAAAABWs/QwbRUN7svIE/s400/Patio%2Bconcrete%2B1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636953023856261442" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, that's coloured concrete: it's 'Honey Mustard', like the family room.<br /><br />From another angle:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rV-EKOrw1cw/TjKc-7zBBtI/AAAAAAAABU8/qq7Aa06LOig/s1600/Reinforcing%2Bmesh%252C%2BPatio.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rV-EKOrw1cw/TjKc-7zBBtI/AAAAAAAABU8/qq7Aa06LOig/s400/Reinforcing%2Bmesh%252C%2BPatio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634738688811402962" border="0" /></a><br />The colour was the Geek's choice, and I think it's pretty good too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jXOqoI0j6g/Tjph4Aax22I/AAAAAAAABWE/TQtO_zUl8qE/s1600/Patio%2Bconcrete%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jXOqoI0j6g/Tjph4Aax22I/AAAAAAAABWE/TQtO_zUl8qE/s400/Patio%2Bconcrete%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636925498420484962" border="0" /></a><br />Originally, we were going to have a spray-on colour -- a uniform colour, as we hate stencilled concrete. The concreter, though, was worried about the colour choices available as there was nothing even close to the 'Honey Mustard' we used on the family room slab. He proposed we mix in the same colour here. As the volume is small the colour wouldn't cost more than the spraying. Of course, the colours look different as the family room slab has been polished to expose the aggregate; it's redder than this, but this is a better outdoor colour anyway.Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476190367076399004.post-19561955896535868982011-07-31T21:25:00.004+10:002011-07-31T22:13:41.955+10:00A Full Tour of my Paint ChoicesIt's lovely to see you here! Please come in!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmByhqAmr6s/TjVFwSVImYI/AAAAAAAABV0/LpyMuHusDzI/s1600/Front%252C%2Bpainting%2Bfinished.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmByhqAmr6s/TjVFwSVImYI/AAAAAAAABV0/LpyMuHusDzI/s400/Front%252C%2Bpainting%2Bfinished.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635487204580563330" border="0" /></a><br />Our front door is Manor Red to match the exterior paintwork and gutters. The inside woodwork is China White and the entry walls are Clotted Cream. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YSe1Er4vsc/TjKRRbjzAUI/AAAAAAAABT0/c0pVWQ6PiWY/s1600/Manor%2BRed%2BDoor%252C%2BClotted%2BCream%252C%2BChina%2BWhite.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YSe1Er4vsc/TjKRRbjzAUI/AAAAAAAABT0/c0pVWQ6PiWY/s400/Manor%2BRed%2BDoor%252C%2BClotted%2BCream%252C%2BChina%2BWhite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634725812435616066" border="0" /></a><br />Please peep in again at my study. I'm so pleased with how the Cuddlepot looks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsKXz30lO-A/TjKXzEUgI9I/AAAAAAAABU0/x-CuvxfXGQQ/s1600/Cuddlepot%2BStudy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsKXz30lO-A/TjKXzEUgI9I/AAAAAAAABU0/x-CuvxfXGQQ/s400/Cuddlepot%2BStudy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634732987382768594" border="0" /></a><br />Let's look in the older part of the house first. Because the boys' playroom faces south (no direct light), I wanted a nice sunny colour that didn't look too much like egg-yolk. This is Sundaze.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PpvzhIhaPkY/TjKOWAvTHTI/AAAAAAAABTc/w--m_ImyRtA/s1600/Sundaze%252C%2BBoys%2527%2BPlayroom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PpvzhIhaPkY/TjKOWAvTHTI/AAAAAAAABTc/w--m_ImyRtA/s400/Sundaze%252C%2BBoys%2527%2BPlayroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634722592600562994" border="0" /></a><br />In our bedroom, I wanted something peaceful but fresh-looking: Spring Green. It looks like it will go nicely with the beech wardrobes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYYBahYkCw4/TjKPzPJXV7I/AAAAAAAABTk/ERdOcWEql3U/s1600/Spring%2BGreen%252C%2BMain%2BBedroom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYYBahYkCw4/TjKPzPJXV7I/AAAAAAAABTk/ERdOcWEql3U/s400/Spring%2BGreen%252C%2BMain%2BBedroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634724194195822514" border="0" /></a><br />The boys are thrilled with their Harbour Blue walls. This is a north-facing room so even a dark colour won't be <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> dark.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLgoQclJq-U/TjKXy0rlqlI/AAAAAAAABUs/a1ii-tIjYXE/s1600/Harbour%2BBlue%2BBoys%2527%2BBedoom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLgoQclJq-U/TjKXy0rlqlI/AAAAAAAABUs/a1ii-tIjYXE/s400/Harbour%2BBlue%2BBoys%2527%2BBedoom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634732983184632402" border="0" /></a><br />The bathroom and toilet next door are both painted in Diorite. Those are floor tiles on the wall -- when we retiled, the only wall-tiles available in all of Sydney were off-white! Boring!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GZML8vYP0Z0/TjKRR8xjpzI/AAAAAAAABT8/z99gjpucBbU/s1600/Diorite%252C%2BBathroom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GZML8vYP0Z0/TjKRR8xjpzI/AAAAAAAABT8/z99gjpucBbU/s400/Diorite%252C%2BBathroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634725821351700274" border="0" /></a><br />Now let's head back down the hall to the new bit. Lots more Clotted Cream and China White on the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7aZwEBMEm0/TjKSy0EAj9I/AAAAAAAABUM/0kNOsikzhHI/s1600/Clotted%2BCream%252C%2BChina%2BWhite%252C%2BHall.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V7aZwEBMEm0/TjKSy0EAj9I/AAAAAAAABUM/0kNOsikzhHI/s400/Clotted%2BCream%252C%2BChina%2BWhite%252C%2BHall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634727485460484050" border="0" /></a><br />The next stop is the enlarged laundry, the only place where I think I've made a boo-boo. This Mint Circle looked just like the colour on the old cupboard doors, but it's just a little too dark and a little too green. Can't win 'em all; at least we've had professionals do the first few coats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua_aiO2ESgw/TjKPzV-21pI/AAAAAAAABTs/b7mBjXs3x7o/s1600/MInt%2BGreen%252C%2BLaundry.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ua_aiO2ESgw/TjKPzV-21pI/AAAAAAAABTs/b7mBjXs3x7o/s400/MInt%2BGreen%252C%2BLaundry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634724196030797458" border="0" /></a><br />Back to the Clotted Cream in the family room (and in the kitchen, behind the wall -- nothing to see there yet).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-413aQWbBT0I/TjKSytZRE_I/AAAAAAAABUE/Xw2Dmx7pkBc/s1600/Clotted%2BCream%252C%2BFamily%2BRoom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-413aQWbBT0I/TjKSytZRE_I/AAAAAAAABUE/Xw2Dmx7pkBc/s400/Clotted%2BCream%252C%2BFamily%2BRoom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634727483670598642" border="0" /></a><br />There is a story to the Clotted Cream.<br /><br />Many years ago, my work moved to a brand-new building, painted mainly in off-white, but with feature walls in fire-engine red, midnight blue and mustard yellow. In sunlight, it looked fine, apart from the mustard yellow (ugh!) and the too-startling red. Problem was that whenever clouds came over, the off-white turned a gloomy pallid khaki. It was quite depressing in wet spells.<br /><br />I was determined to prevent such a problem from occurring in my house, so when I picked up all 150,000 off-white paint chips, I first discarded the ones which I Just Didn't Like. Then I checked the appearance of the rest in the new family room in sun, light cloud, and rain, and gave them a rating from one to three, with one being the best. The eight chips with the best results formed a shortlist, and I had a hard look at them in various lighting conditions before deciding on Clotted Cream. I was struck by how some colours which looked lovely on a sunny day could become bluish or brownish on a cloudy one. If you are choosing an off-white, take care! Other colours seem much more forgiving. Of course, if you are doing the painting yourself, you can take your time and use sample pots.<br /><br />Lastly, here is a view of the Mallard Green on my pergola. I needed a strong colour to stand up to the dark brick and Manor Red guttering. The Ivory fascia and soffits are just visible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKo9SdmO3J0/TjKV3jDuMlI/AAAAAAAABUk/sI6CkiuCNuw/s1600/Exterior%2Brear%252C%2Bpainted.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKo9SdmO3J0/TjKV3jDuMlI/AAAAAAAABUk/sI6CkiuCNuw/s400/Exterior%2Brear%252C%2Bpainted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634730865330106962" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sorry I can't offer you refreshments or even a seat today, but I hope you have enjoyed the tour.Chookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07230973711859964063noreply@blogger.com3