Growing Strawberries and Mangoes in October

Last weekend we visited my parent's property in Yandina to check up on the fruit trees. They are looking ok after the feeding and pruning last month, but do need some more mulching. There are no pictures from Yandina this month, but I do have a photo of my potted strawberry patch!

After some more research, I found that the mango trees need the same treatment as the citrus, so we set to work on the small mango tree. It's ten years old, but only looks like a three year old. First I threw two handfuls of feed around the outter circle under the tree. Then we placed newspaper down, rather than try and remove the weeds by hand like last time, then wet it down. Then we covered it with a thin layer of mulch. We really need a thicker layer of mulch, hopefully we can get that done next time we're out there, possibly in January.

my next attempt at a potted strawberry patch

Last week I also planted out some strawberry runners into a potted strawberry patch. For the last 3 years, this strawberry has been hanging on in a coconut fibre lined hanging pot that we put out into the yard to get sun and rain. It's never really produced fruit so I kind of gave up on it. But its still alive, and with this recent inspiration I decided to give it another go. I planted individual plant runners into small pots as it obviously doesn't need a deep pot. The hanging pot is shallow and very dry. I also prepared that soil like I did the tomatoes, with blood and bone and slow release fertiliser. With a closer eye on these strawberries, perhaps we will get some summer fruit off them? We shall see ...

Planting Potted Tomatoes in Brisbane

I've decided to make another attempt at growing tomatoes, after a flush of cherry tomatoes in recent months. They've finished now, so I've planted out these two seedlings into 30cm pots.

two potted tomato seedlings with bamboo trellis and companion plants basil, rosemary and lavender

After a recent visit to my father-in-law's garden in Stanthorpe, I was inspired to try again with his advice. These two seedlings came from his greenhouse, made from recycled materials. One is a roma tomato and the other is a yellow pear.

Freya and Brian made this greenhouse from recycled materials

First, I prepared the pots with ripped up egg carton in the bottom to stop the soil from falling through the drainage holes. Then I filled the 30cm plastic pots with premium potting mix. I use plastic pots because they are lighter than pottery, and easier to remove a plant for transplanting. Planting in pots also makes the garden more flexible with placements. I moved 3 companion herbs to sit next the the tomatoes, as they are notorious for liking company like basil, rosemary and lavender. I prepared the soil with blood and bone, and a general slow release fertiliser like Osmocote, and watered that in.

Finally, after planting the seedlings into the pots, I rigged up some trellis with bamboo from my mother's house and some kitchen twisties.  A week later and the seedlings are looking quite keen, almost as keen as I am to see how this latest project grows.

Tiny Shells Newborn Beanie

Using a larger hook and thicker yarn, my tiny shells premmie beanie becomes big enough for a newborn, like this one I've made using organic 8 ply and a 4mm hook.For this newborn sized beanie, just follow my tiny shells premmie beanie with the larger hook and thicker yarn!

tiny shells newborn beanie

Rainbow Serpent Draft Stopper

I've spent months working on this, as well as months planning it, and finally its finished, a draft stopper in the shape of a Rainbow Serpent! In Australian culture the Rainbow Serpent is a good luck totem from the Dreamtime, when the large creature shaped the land. Perfect as a draft stopper in my house, and good luck to boot!

Rainbow Serpent toy that is also a handy draft stopper

My son showed some interest in an old yellow draft stopper I made years ago when I started to crochet again as an adult. I have an excess of brightly coloured cheap acrylic and knew it would be just what I needed to make a new snake in rainbow colours. I did about 6 rounds of scales in each colour. The acrylic is 8 ply, so I used my 4mm hook.

I made this pattern up myself, starting with rounds of a few scales, then increasing to 6 scales in each round. This stitch is sometimes called 'crocodile stitch' but its a vintage stitch known as 'scale stitch'. This stitch is also sometimes known as mermaid tears. I learnt how to do it from youtube, when I made a small crocodile stitch purse to go inside my handbag.

I finally finished the head with 16 rounds of sc in dark green, with a red drawstring. I embroidered two black eyes onto the smooth rounds of sc before I filled the serpent with old socks and cut up t-shirt. Then I sewed the drawstring closed to form a forked tongue. This is a great toy that also doubles as a useful item in the home to keep out the drafts.

2 month old cotton sprout

I planted out my eldest potted cotton plant to its larger pot this weekend, as its now 2 months old. Here are some photos of this plant which I took a few weeks ago. I have two other cotton plants but they're not looking as robust, I think perhaps because I didn't prepare the soil with enough fertiliser like blood and bone.

2 month old cotton planted out into 30cm pot

6 week old cotton sprout

5 week old potted cotton sprout

Simple Circle Coasters, free patterns

I quickly made up these simple circle coasters to match the striped 'Olives & Wine' two way tea cosy I made back in July. These will be given as house-warming gifts to my brother and his wife, who indicated to me that she liked the tea cosy.

4 circle coasters

I originally was going to make all four coasters striped, but after finishing the first one I decided three single colours ones would be better, being quicker to make up with a neater result. I still have not perfected the skill of changing colours seamlessy, much to my frustration!

The single colour coasters are 3 rounds of dc, with a final round of sc to make them the same size of the tri-colour coaster, which I made first. Each round is an increasing round, with the first round starting with 12 dc. Each dc round is started with 3 ch. For the tri-colour coaster, I inserted a round of sc after the second round of dc. Again, each round is an increasing round, starting with a first round of dc and each dc round starts with 3 ch. I think I'll take this opportunity to practice my pattern writing further, please let me know if I make any mistakes!

tri-colour circle coaster

Tri-colour Circle Coaster
worked in 4 rounds, gauge not important, hook and yarn determine size of finishjed coaster
(I used 8 ply 'classic' wool from Bendigo Woollen Mill and a 4mm hook)
1. 4 ch (counts as first dc throughout), 11 dc into 1st ch, sl st into 4th ch (12 dc)
2. 3 ch dc into same, 2 dc into each dc to end, sl st into 3rd ch, cut yarn and fasten off (24 dc)
3. (change to 2nd colour) starting in any st 1 ch (counts as first sc), sc into same, sc into next, (2 sc into next, sc into next) repeat to end, sl st into 1st st, cut yarn and fasten off (36 sc)
4. (change to 3rd colour) starting in any st 3 ch, dc into same, dc into next, dc into next (2 dc into next, dc into next, dc into next) repeat to end, sl st into 3rd ch, cut yarn and fasten off, (48 dc) weave in all ends, wash and dry flat

3 simple circle coasters

Simple Circle Coaster
worked in 4 rounds, gauge not important, hook and yarn determine size of finishjed coaster
(I used 8 ply 'classic' wool from Bendigo Woollen Mill and a 4mm hook)
1. 4 ch (counts as first st throughout), 11 dc into 1st ch, sl st into 4th ch (12 dc)
2. 3 ch dc into same, 2 dc into each dc to end, sl st into 1st st, cut yarn and fasten off (24 dc)
3. 3 ch dc into same, dc into next (2 dc into next, dc into next) repeat to end, sl st to 1st st (36 dc)
4. 1 ch sc into same, sc into next, sc into next (2 sc into next, sc into next, sc into next) repeat to end, sl st to st (48 sc)

Old Pa Murphy's Garden Hoe

Here is a picture of the old garden hoe David used in Stanthorpe when we were helping his dad with some Spring planting. It used to belong to Brian's father, who was also known as Pa Murphy. That's why Brian likes to be called Pa Murphy, to carry on the tradition.

an old hoe belonging to the Murphy family

This old garden hoe is so old, it even has rounded corners, when originally it had been square. Old Pa Murphy was a farmer on his property in Kyogle in New South Wales. All of my son's great-grandparents are from N.S.W., he's a real Aussie!

David with his grandfather's old garden hoe

Two More Spring Flowers

Here are two more spirng flowers I made last month and haven't posted before. I rather like the pink one, it has 3 layers of petals and is made with a pretty variegated pink 4 ply cotton.

my version of an Irish Rose made with 4 ply variegated pink

The second flower is my own version, I hope to share the pattern one day. It's basically two layers with Heather's flower on the 3rd layer in green so they look like leaves. I made this one out of bright 8 ply acrylic.

a tri-colour flower with green Heather's flower leaves in 8 ply acrylic

A Fabric Covered Button

I rather like this fabric covered button I made a few weeks ago. I've attached it to a simple hair tie and like to wear it when I'm wearing pink and green.

a pink and green fabric covered button hair tie I like to wear

A few weeks ago, I bought two different kinds of fabric covering kits to try out. The cheaper plastic one didn't work at all I found, and I think it was a waste of $3! The metal one is the one I ended up using for this button. I still have 6 left of the packet, so I hope to make some more when I get the chance.

how does the button look with this pink and green flower, with pink stretchy lace?

While I was at Lincraft, I also bought some stretchy lace to see if I could make some headbands to go with the spring flowers I made. I only bought about $6 worth, I hope I haven't wasted my pennies on more useless craft material! I took some photos of how the flowers would look against the stretchy lace. I rather like the pink and green one with the fabric button in the middle. I wonder if anyone else does?

Aunty Annie's English Porcelain

Last month, when I visited my mother she spoke to me about this English Porcelain that once belonged to a lady we call Aunty Annie.

three pieces of old English porcelain

Aunty Annie was the lady who married my father's grandfather Charlie after his wife died. So really, she wasn't an aunty, she was a step-grandma. Aunty Annie's best friend was my grandmother Beverly's mother, Mary Margeretta, or Aunty May. That's how my parent's met, because My father's mum Mavis and Beverly knew each other, and conspired to have my parents go on a date!

the Imperial stamp on the back of the casserole dishes

My grandma Beverly inherited Aunty Annie's things, instead of my grandmother Mavis. Who can understand the reason? But in the end, it is in my mother's cabinet. These three pieces were the only ones that weren't chipped, the rest of the set was thrown out. It's not worth a great deal of money, but it's one of our family treasures that helps tell the story of our family.