It's going to be hard tomorrow, having MrTops at work all day and looking after the Crankmaster by myself for the whole day. I've done it before but it was so long ago. But this is the plan for the next year so I'd better get back into it.
I did some pottering in the garden for the first time in forever. I planted two zuchini seedlings and the rest of the silverbeet. I weeded out more of the old parsley and a bunch of grass (and sadly, one of the capsicums). I'm a little daunted by the fact that my new lettuce seedlings are surrounded by a carpet of what must be tiny new parsleys. I'll need to move some and lose a lot of them if I want to grow anything else there. I need to be strong and rip up old plants to make room for all my new seedlings.
The rest of my free time today went to have lunch with MrC in town. It was cool to chat. Hopefully his time with work and family can be arranged so we can take him out shooting on saturday morning.
09 February 2010
08 February 2010
Of mice and mangoes
The numbers are stacking up. I spoke too soon about the mouse stats. Fronti actually caught a mouse last night and there was another one in the trap this morning. Total body count is now 6. The recent mice have been smaller than the first 4 so maybe the babies are coming out now. I'm glad the cat has decided to be useful again and not just a large furry slug.
And the mango glut seems to be upon us. I took all the mangoes to BaggyT's place yesterday to share out. Six of them from the last few days. Today I got another six. Tomorrow, who knows. I may have to make chutney soon or attempt to spread the mangoes further afield. Some of the mango enthusiasts left town before the fruit ripened. Speedy, you said you wanted some. Come visit and take mangoes away. Or we could deliver.
Crankmaster had his second day at pre-school. He cried when he woke up and said he didn't want go to. As soon as he saw his teacher I was redundant. Completely forgotten. A very odd feeling. Food and drink was consumed this time but he was so tired when he got home I don't think he had a sleep. There was crying when I turned up to get him and teacher said it was a great performance, which suggested that it was put on just for me.
MrTops' part time job has started in earnest, which means he will work mostly full time until the work runs out. And he's had interested phonecalls about two other jobs, one part time, one full time. He's sad about losing his life of leisure but I'm keen to have an income again. In fact, I plan to brush off the resume and see if anyone out there needs a perl programmer for the short time Crankmaster is in preschool. It's very unlikely but you never know until you look.
Yesterday there was recording some music for an SCA composer. One song started with two long notes and an unfortunate set of words. The second verse started "For Cu (pid)". Say it out loud if you don't get the picture. I was too busy thinking about the notes to notice until someone pointed it out. Then the next time we sang it the alto section completely collapsed in a fit of giggles. The first verse wasn't much better actually, "As so (ftly)".
And that's about all the news of the moment.
And the mango glut seems to be upon us. I took all the mangoes to BaggyT's place yesterday to share out. Six of them from the last few days. Today I got another six. Tomorrow, who knows. I may have to make chutney soon or attempt to spread the mangoes further afield. Some of the mango enthusiasts left town before the fruit ripened. Speedy, you said you wanted some. Come visit and take mangoes away. Or we could deliver.
Crankmaster had his second day at pre-school. He cried when he woke up and said he didn't want go to. As soon as he saw his teacher I was redundant. Completely forgotten. A very odd feeling. Food and drink was consumed this time but he was so tired when he got home I don't think he had a sleep. There was crying when I turned up to get him and teacher said it was a great performance, which suggested that it was put on just for me.
MrTops' part time job has started in earnest, which means he will work mostly full time until the work runs out. And he's had interested phonecalls about two other jobs, one part time, one full time. He's sad about losing his life of leisure but I'm keen to have an income again. In fact, I plan to brush off the resume and see if anyone out there needs a perl programmer for the short time Crankmaster is in preschool. It's very unlikely but you never know until you look.
Yesterday there was recording some music for an SCA composer. One song started with two long notes and an unfortunate set of words. The second verse started "For Cu (pid)". Say it out loud if you don't get the picture. I was too busy thinking about the notes to notice until someone pointed it out. Then the next time we sang it the alto section completely collapsed in a fit of giggles. The first verse wasn't much better actually, "As so (ftly)".
And that's about all the news of the moment.
06 February 2010
Vox Humana - we still got it
I used to sing in a 5 part acapella group. The tenor is tuning 50 and is holding a party which is a concert of songs from all the many and various music groups he's been in over the years. "It's my party and I'll sing what I want to"
The remaining local 3 members of the group got together to see what songs we could perform. We haven't sung together for nearly 10 years. And it all just came back like it was yesterday. A song started and the harmonies were just there to come out. The blend was effortless. There was no learning required, just remembering. So easy. Gosh darn, we're good.
It was a bit of a walk through memory lane. And then the teenage daughter came home and we swapped rude jokes with her. Then we all sat down and ate homemade pizza together.
A lovely evening.
The remaining local 3 members of the group got together to see what songs we could perform. We haven't sung together for nearly 10 years. And it all just came back like it was yesterday. A song started and the harmonies were just there to come out. The blend was effortless. There was no learning required, just remembering. So easy. Gosh darn, we're good.
It was a bit of a walk through memory lane. And then the teenage daughter came home and we swapped rude jokes with her. Then we all sat down and ate homemade pizza together.
A lovely evening.
Not a creature was stirring...
Last night there was no squeaking or scrabbling behind the stove or tents. Either we got them all or the rest are in hiding. Yay. The smell of mouse piss when you turned on the oven was really getting to me.
So much rain this week and a bad case of wind this morning. And periodic. Just when you think it is safe to venture forth it starts all over again. It should be good for the garden. Sadly, there isn't a whole lot on the go right now. It might be good if I could get the seedlings out of the pots and into the ground but I'd have to do it in the rain and get completely soaked.
There was a Chinese dragon at the fruit markets this morning. We had to explain the noise to Crankmaster and hold him high so he could see. It made us all happy. Bring on the Tiger!
So much rain this week and a bad case of wind this morning. And periodic. Just when you think it is safe to venture forth it starts all over again. It should be good for the garden. Sadly, there isn't a whole lot on the go right now. It might be good if I could get the seedlings out of the pots and into the ground but I'd have to do it in the rain and get completely soaked.
There was a Chinese dragon at the fruit markets this morning. We had to explain the noise to Crankmaster and hold him high so he could see. It made us all happy. Bring on the Tiger!
04 February 2010
Cool song I saw on Sesame Street today
Kid's music is so much better these days (but then again, they are an exploitable market these days too...)
Two dead mice
We've been plagued by mice again. We set out a trap, but the mice are smarter this time and cleared the bait without setting off the trap. Either that or the cockroaches ate it.
Smasha gave us her mouse traps since her problem is rats and not mice. They were a different design so the mice didn't know to avoid it. I set them up last night and very quickly there was a victim. I got Tops to deal with it because I could. He thinks I've gone soft and squeamish and yeah, okay, I was squeamish, but as I said, I don't have to be tough if I can talk someone else into doing it.
Today, I heard the trap go off and discovered little mousie was still alive and struggling. I couldn't think of a solution so I avoided it and threw the trap and mouse outside hoping the fall would kill it. The chickens immediately snatched up the mouse and began fighting over it.
A little while later I ventured out to see what was left and couldn't find the trap at all. I searched and searched. Eventually I shrugged and had to give up. "It will turn up sometime". I turned around and the trap had indeed turned up.... in Fronti's mouth. Mouse was completely dead now. I emptied the trap and left mouse for Fronti to eat.
Big brave Fronti. Them mices are so much easier to catch with a trap on their heads.
Last mouse season we got six. I suspect the numbers aren't quite so high but I also suspect there might be more mice to trap.
Smasha gave us her mouse traps since her problem is rats and not mice. They were a different design so the mice didn't know to avoid it. I set them up last night and very quickly there was a victim. I got Tops to deal with it because I could. He thinks I've gone soft and squeamish and yeah, okay, I was squeamish, but as I said, I don't have to be tough if I can talk someone else into doing it.
Today, I heard the trap go off and discovered little mousie was still alive and struggling. I couldn't think of a solution so I avoided it and threw the trap and mouse outside hoping the fall would kill it. The chickens immediately snatched up the mouse and began fighting over it.
A little while later I ventured out to see what was left and couldn't find the trap at all. I searched and searched. Eventually I shrugged and had to give up. "It will turn up sometime". I turned around and the trap had indeed turned up.... in Fronti's mouth. Mouse was completely dead now. I emptied the trap and left mouse for Fronti to eat.
Big brave Fronti. Them mices are so much easier to catch with a trap on their heads.
Last mouse season we got six. I suspect the numbers aren't quite so high but I also suspect there might be more mice to trap.
03 February 2010
Hello recipe fairies
Okay. You were good with the cabbage suggestions. Let's test your skills again.
What does one do with tiny pastas? I've got little baby stars (about 3mm) and little rings - anellini. Is it possible to use them in a dish of their own, perhaps some sort of macaroni cheese, or are they only useful within a soup or stew?
The person with the best suggestion gets to feel smug for 10 minutes.
What does one do with tiny pastas? I've got little baby stars (about 3mm) and little rings - anellini. Is it possible to use them in a dish of their own, perhaps some sort of macaroni cheese, or are they only useful within a soup or stew?
The person with the best suggestion gets to feel smug for 10 minutes.
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