Local Beach – Page 4 – Head in the Clouds

Planting Flowers & Taking a Walk

Hello!
I am feeling a little extra sore tonight. Finally did my first hike around Anniversary Bay with Fiona this afternoon. Creaking now!

I am not sure the before and after has much impact in this garden. Still… its another job done that was lurking around in the back of my mind. I had to get in and try to carefully dig out the oxalis that was starting to creep in

Beau planted out my sunflowers here while we were away and they are doing well… pretty close to flowering I think.

I also put in the remaining marigolds that were still in pots…

I also had a good number of surviving Portulaca in pots so I got some of those in the ground too. I was happy to note that there are quite a number that have self seeded, even though so far they are very small.

Our weed pile is really getting big. It keeps the chooks amused though. If they are not digging through it, they are napping in it!

Around the garden, things are on the move… the corn seeds I put in the other day have started popping up, as have the sunflower seeds!

I am yet to get a zucchini to grow… I suspect this one might die off too.

The watermelon doesn’t look super happy… but at least I am starting to see a flower or two.

The recently planted tomatoes that were in their pots too long are still looking fine. The new growth is coming through green so I hope they will be ok.

I am anxiously watching those cucumbers… I so want them in a salad! Maybe a couple more days…

Tomato plants are randomly appearing everywhere. This one is growing in the runner beans. Sigh… whatever! I’ll leave those alone and just see what happens!

The tiny outside tomatoes really put on a growth spurt in the last week!

Still debating over moving this self seeded lettuce. I have to put something around it if I leave it where it is so I don’t trample it.

The apple cucumbers are trying their best!

And one lonely egg today!

Overall I think the garden still needs an awful lot of work to look nice again! I am happy that food is growing, but even as aesthetically relaxed as I am… all those weeds are really bugging me!

Anyway, swapped my gardening clothes for my hiking clothes and met Fiona at the top of the turnoff to Sisters Beach and we went down for our walk. A sea mist was in so it looked a little gloomy today.
We didn’t do too bad. I was surprised really as its been about 6 weeks since I have done proper hiking! We didn’t even have to stop when we went up our least favourite stretch which we have nicknamed something unkind.
My policy is not to swear on my blog… So I can’t tell you its name. haha.
It really is a horrible little stretch of hill… pretty much straight up and it tests us every time! I don’t ever seem to be able to get a photo that adequately shows you how steep it is. You’ll just have to come and see for yourself!!

We were lucky enough to come across a wallaby on our walk today too!
I was able to walk a lot closer than I thought I would be able to! It took a while before he/she decided I was too weird and hopped off.

You are welcome for the wallaby-bottom shot 😀

There are tiny wildflowers out everywhere up there at the moment. I will have to take up my macro lens next walk to try to get some nice photos of them.

Anyway, that’s about all from me today!
Hope you had a fantastic day too!
Cheers!

Tripping About

Hello! Its been a busy few days and really good fun catching up with friends and showing off a little of our area.

Mariette & Ian are travelling about Tassie for a couple of weeks, but landed on our doorstep about an hour after they got off the boat, where they got fed fresh eggs, bacon & home made bread and then dragged all about the countryside for the day!

Walking (and sitting) and taking photos at Black River Beach

We walked up ‘The Nut’ at Stanley and had lunch there before taking a detour back to Dip Falls

Back home to home made hamburgers and maybe a bottle of wine 🙂

Today the weather continued its gorgeousness. We spent a lot of time walking the beach at Fossil Bluff before driving over Table Cape towards Sisters Beach

It was quite beautiful looking out over the ocean today

Beautiful clear views up the coast.

The tide was coming in but there was enough beach left for a short stroll up Sisters…

All too soon our friends had to hit the road and head south. Pretty sure they will be back to enjoy some more of the North West Coast (and I am trying to entice them to join in on our next Overland Trek!)

I got a bit of gardening done this afternoon, but will share that tomorrow!
Bedtime for me!

Cheers!

First Deadly Encounter for the Season!

Hello Weekend!
First of all a quick show & tell… my new bag! I like the heftier padding at the back, so now when I stuff my camera, three lenses, lunch, drink, extra clothes etc etc in there, they won’t dig into my back forcing me to repack once or ten times!

I took it on a walk today – happy with it as its very comfortable. Its going to make a good day pack when travelling Japan (in a month! Gulp)

And a duckling update:

I rang the wildlife carer today – I was a bit nervous asking if any of our little bats survived. But apparently the last three are not only surviving, but thriving! And they are Mountain Ducks – not what I reported before.
So that’s pretty fantastic! So glad we had some success in ‘Operation Chase Ducklings All Over Flowerdale’

In between the rain & wind today, we got a bit of sunshine too… so we escaped out for another hike.
Jeff decided to load up and test out his travel bag to see if it would make a good extended hiking pack

Along the top of the first part of the track we encountered our first snake of the season! It mostly wriggled away, but left its tail hanging out of the grass so I could get a photo.

This is a tiger snake bottom.
I think they reside within the top 10 venomous snakes in the world (said with a note of pride in voice) but I pretty much trust them to move away when they feel you approach. I have never had a hassle with them even though I have accidentally come quite close (not least the bathroom incident!!!)
I think they are beautiful. If we see them we stop and give them every chance to glide away before continuing our walk.

“So husband dear, in that ridiculously large pack you are lugging about, is there a medical kit handy?”
“Nope”
“Oh good… so glad I am hiking with a Nurse”

Small beach things…

A different sand pattern

Tiny wildflowers are also popping out

Back home, I had let my lettuce out for the day!

I seem to have lost another random plant, but overall I am REALLY pleased with their progress!

The remaining lettuce seedlings in the original container are fabulous and really needs a home. Or I will be eating them soon!

My green manure has appeared too!!

I think there will be plenty of time for it to grow up a bit before I dig it back in so I can plant the corn!

Snow peas…

Chooks…

Rhubarb-knowledgeable people… is it too late to transplant this?

Also, in exciting news… I see the start of some cherry plums!! yay!

The final garden related task of the day was to get into the shed and salvage the last of the potatoes.
Tentacle city!

Despite the poorer harvest last season, we have been eating our own potatoes for 10 months. Not too shabby!
I knocked off the sprouts and took the ones that weren’t too wrinkly and pathetic. I suspect the chooks will get some leftover potato mash from my reject pile over the next few weeks!
Soon comes the terrible wait for the new potatoes! (I love potatoes!!)

Hope everyones weekend is amazing!

Cheers

A Long Overdue Hike

Hello – first of all an update on the little bats (ducklings)
They went off to a wildlife carer this morning as another one didn’t make it. 🙁 The lady assured Gudrun that she did everything right… but its just luck of the draw sometimes with these things. A whole batch might make it or die. But we can be a little comforted by the fact they would have had zero chance motherless next to a highway. The last three have a chance.
They are a wood duck – which go up trees which would explain the little bats climbing tendencies!!

Anyway – after a little running about doing this and that today, the tide and weather were about right to get out for a quick circuit around Anniversary Bay.

After several weeks of not doing this I very much felt every step of the uphill bits!!

The skies were dramatic and threatening, but no rain!

Lots of new patterns on the beach with the recent heavy rains.

I love the sand art so much!

The runoff cut a deeper trench into the beach on its quest to the sea!

Occasionally the sun popped out too!

Time to put the camera away and slog up those hills and get home. I had a lovely leg of lamb given to us yesterday by our neighbour (lucky us!!) so I had to get back in time to roast it up… and mmmm dinner was good!

Hope you had a great day too!

Puddle selfie or looking into the Underworld??

Winter’s Final Day

Winter is over! It was a gorgeous day too! And since I ate a disgraceful amount of lamingtons yesterday we squeezed in a walk around Anniversary Bay this afternoon.
I put about 7kg (14lb-ish) into my pack as lamington-punishment as well. My legs & shoulders are having a slight conversation with me about that now!

It was great to get out again and see what new water channels the recent rain has cut through the beach

Runoff from the hills making great patterns today

Spring weather is notoriously dreadful in Tasmania. But I am hoping for more good days than bad and get out on this hike a little more often (especially if I intend any more lamington binges)(Likely)

Heading up the final stretch of beach before turning up into the hills and the three challenging ‘up’ sections.

Despite the extra weight I made it up each section without stopping – but I sweated and panted a lot!

Earlier in the day I got back into the garden to actually finish a couple of jobs.

The sad little carrot/capsicum plot!

All better. Topped up with some mushroom compost and ready to go. I have decided to put my broccoli in here. I will be able to rig up a frame for netting to keep the cabbage moth away pretty easily.

The very last of the carrots! Some of these were on the plate for dinner tonight!

Overall even thought I am getting lots of plots ready, the whole garden still looks pretty scruffy!

I resisted starting on cleaning up the strawberry patch in favour of getting back in and finishing this plot. Jeff came along and helped out too (Which was great as I wouldn’t have done it in time to get that walk in)

I have this lovely big plot earmarked for the corn.

Even the chooks are doing their bit and egg production seems to be slowly getting better again!
Hope your day was lovely!

Cheers

Beach and Garden

Hello! What a beautiful Sunday! Chilly wind, I must admit, but the sunshine was rather divine!
We went down to Boat Harbour Beach early in the afternoon to meet my cousins who we hadn’t caught up with in a while!

It was lovely to catch up and stroll along the beach and check out the rockpools

I coerced Abbey & Ann to try eating some of the Neptune’s Necklace seaweed, but Bella, Phil and Jeff (sensibly) would have no part! (Its a bit salty and chewy but really not that bad!)

I love the bright greens!

Even though it is still winter, it brought out the mad few that went in for a dip!

Back home I felt I couldn’t let the rest of the afternoon go by without doing something useful in the garden. I guess every little patch I sort out is one step closer to the spring planting.

I really wasn’t in the mood to get back into the weeding, which would have meant getting totally filthy, so I went down to the duck yard and dug over plot #1 of the potato patch.

So many worms! Every fork of dirt that I turned had big fat worms under it! So good to see!
On advice from Phil, I am going to buy a couple more bags of seed potatoes. He said it wasn’t a good thing to put your own old potatoes in the new plot and best to start all new with the seed potatoes. Thats to prevent the possibility of contaminating the soil with any problems from the last lot.

The soil was a little heavy and clumpy, but I got there in the end! I’ll rake off and turn over the second patch in the near future!

Hope everybody’s weekend was fabulous!

Cheers!

Sunday

Was all prepared to be a sloth today, but Fiona rang suggesting a walk. Since I hadn’t been for a week I couldn’t justify a ‘no’ !!
It was pretty brisk out there, but we mostly didn’t get rained on and we felt good after our hike – even though our legs hurt a bit!

Back home I got into my original planned task which was turning those beetroots into pickles.

They were smaller than my normal ones, but one can’t be too fussy at this time of year hey?
Anyway, they filled a large coffee jar so I am happy again!

Remember my winter tomato lateral project?

Well… today finally I found one starting a root!

They are really slow to develop – again, can’t expect much in winter. Mostly its a gamble and if I manage to get a few early tomatoes going then I will be happy. If not… back to some seeds in pots in a few weeks!

Hope you have had a lovely day

Cheers

Sunday Stroll

Fiona was keen on a walk today – Jeff got his exercise on the stationary trainer upstairs where he wasn’t in the wind or cold!! Smart boy!
Actually, it wasn’t too bad as we were walking – kept us warm and we didn’t get rained on

We went in the opposite direction today – Fiona wanted to see the views coming from the other direction. Made a nice change. However – you are confronted with an awful lot of steps to start the whole walk… but we both agreed that overall, going ‘backwards’ around our loop is actually a lot easier.

So – here you go. The lay of the land.
Sister’s Beach. The community spreads back inland a bit as well.
Here you can see where we live in comparison as you can just see the faint outline of Table Cape which we live just a bit inland from.
You can also see where we park our car – its a big area that lots of people with boats come to as that is where the boat ramp is… and where we normally start our walk from.

It was a nice treat to come down all those inland hills for a change! Mind you… that’s a whole lot of other muscles that are complaining about it now!

***Squirt Update
I have been feeding her frequently off the spoon to try to get her energy back up. She will eat enthusiastically then tire quickly. But I found going back every half hour she is ready for more.
Jeff cleaned her box and put her with the other girls for a short time – it was heartening to see her try to dash for the bread scraps and eat them up. So she is still trying her little heart out. Then she fell over a stick onto her beak in a little bundle of feathers!! Time to pick her up, give her another feed and put her back in front of the fire.
She may or may not make it, but she will be the best palliated chook ever.***

Hope your Sunday is/was wonderful!

Cheers

Mostly Lazy Sunday

I had a lovely sleep in. Didn’t do so much today (not counting the 2 hour hike and the few barrow loads of wood I brought up to the back veranda)

The day was totally sunny until I got dressed to do a walk! Then it went dark and poured!
So I said I didn’t care, packed my raincoat and went anyway

By the time I met Fiona at the top of the Sisters Beach turnoff we had blue skies again!

So glad we got out! I hadn’t done a walk since the snow day and I was feeling it today walking up those hills!

Lots of rain recently so lots of new sand patterns

It was great to get out and let my brain wander along planning my spring garden. I run a small facebook page for beginner gardeners and I was thinking of the things I want to start sharing now that we are stampeding up to spring. (Its more to get people over the fear of starting a garden and knowing where to begin and a place they can ask any questions without feeling silly.) I just think the more people able to grow a few things for themselves the better!

This photo doesn’t show it, but by the time we had almost gotten around our course, the weather was about to finally catch up to us… in the end we only got a few sprinkles of rain – but it did cool down considerably!

Was nice to be home and snugged up by the fire, working on my crochet and watching bad movies with Jeff!! (Seriously – I am choosing tomorrow nights entertainment!!)

Cheers!

Afternoon Walk

Hello! How is everyones week starting??
I realised I am getting way too comfortable inside and thought today, rain, hail or shine I needed to walk off all the lasagne and home baked bread from this last week!! (Not to mention the cheese, bikkies & hot chocolate)(and the cake I baked)(I won’t go on)

The day started out with torrential rain – so I put on a slow cooked beef curry and by the time I was out the door, the weather had brightened considerably!

Oh but did I feel it on the first hill!! Haha – serves me right.

I had the beach to myself, but I suspect someone else was down here earlier…

A lot of new water/sand patterns after all the rain

The tide was on its way in…

I wore my gaiters today… glad I did. Got muddy up in the hills

I headed up inland – the afternoon light was lovely.

But the track was boggy and at times just a running waterfall

There was some creative hop, skip & jumping and I didn’t even fall over!

At times I just made a new path!
Anyway, I was glad to get out – beautiful fresh air, some much needed exercise and just the enjoyment of my favourite beach!

Cheers!