Sunday

Again, I woke around half six only to turn over and wake again around seven. Sigh. Ah, well, I probably needed the rest. At least I had no nightmare visions last night!

The weather is absolutely perfect for gardening: overcast with a pleasant breeze! Unfortunately, I have some indoor stuff to do first.

When the cheese didn't seem to have settled properly after the 11 hours per recipe, I decided to leave it longer. An hour later, it seemed to have settled somewhat more and I decided to leave it overnight. This morning, I've got a healthy lot of cheese. It's in the cheesecloth, dripping away - again, I didn't squeeze out too much whey, as I prefer it somewhat wet.

I used the whey instead of water for my bread! I've prepared a wholewheat loaf and added some Marjoram and Thyme as well as some sunflower seeds. Should be interesting!

I've packed away the frozen strawberries, then cut the bananas and put them in the freezer. I've re-packed the meat and it's in the freezer as well.

Oh, and last night I tried out that 'Gardener's Hand Balm' - that works really well! Any cream or moisturiser I tried in the past still left my hands hard enough to use as a scratching tool, but this stuff? Truly softens all the hardness from working in the ground!

Right now Lady Jane is tripping on cuddles - I had better tend to her until she's had her fill, she, too, has quite an annoying mip when she demands attention!

Och, does she only want lovies today! I wonder what's gotten into her? She understands the word 'busy' - I use it often enough. So, when I'm busy, she curls up nearby and waits. When I'm done, she mips for attention. I've picked her up, I've scratched her ears, I've sung to her, I've sat with her in my arms in my arm chair ... and still she mips! Sigh. Here she is again!

I've washed the dishes - urgh! A colleague told me last week, how he enjoys washing the dishes, he feels it therapeutic, as he clears his mind of everything but the dishes for that time! All I could think as he told me that is "no wonder you have such a volatile temper, if your mind is forever time travelling? Never 'here and now', with your body; except while you're washing dishes?" No wonder his first reaction to any new thought is aggression! I've learned to introduce new thoughts to him only when I've braced myself for the onslaught ... then let him ramble without interruption ... then go away to give his brain time to catch up with what I actually said. Then wait until he's ready to discuss the matter in a decent manner. It's unprofessional and emotional - exactly what women are reputed to be! Ironic, eh?

Anyway, ... uh, here's Lady Jane again!

Okay, she got more cuddles. Maybe it's time I go outside into the garden! It's already eleven - fortunately the weather hasn't changed. First, however, I should start baking my loaf of bread.

Yeah, by the time I got to the garden, the clouds were beginning to break up. I tried using the towel again, sitting half cross legged, one leg foot flat and up ... until I noticed the inside of the other leg was the colour of ripe strawberries! The towel is also somewhat cumbersome ... so, I gave up.

Tynx made me laugh, though. She absolutely had to know what I was doing - and join in! I dig a hole, she fills the hole! Then she sat down and I wondered whether she was going to piddle right under my nose - fortunately she didn't. Next, she walked under my upright leg investigating the inside of my shorts!

I had started a thorough cleaning of the bed alongside the fence by my lawn, but, as the sun started baking me, I changed strategy. I used the big fork to loosen quite a stretch and then, whenever the sun wasn't too bad, I'd pull out just the big stuff. It looks like a lot got done - actually I just scratched the surface. Literally!

I pottered around the garden for most of the afternoon. When the sprinklers came on, I gave everything a thorough soaking again and pulled some more grass from various places. The grass is a real problem, it's got these long, tough roots going absolutely everywhere. And I don't want to end up with grass as tall as the fence again!

Anyway, mippies are inside and had their treat. I finished the cheese - it's quite bland without any flavouring! And somewhat crumbly this time. Well, I added avocado oil, funky ouma biltong salt and the spices which came with the kit. The bread looks good, I'll know how it tastes tomorrow.

I packed the frozen banana slices and then put the left over bread rolls into the freezer - each in it's own bag, so I can take them out one by one, if I choose.

When I was cooking my dinner - the second half of that massive steak - as I tried to turn it over, it slipped off the fork and went splat on the floor! I wish I had cleaned the floors, now! Ha Ha! Well, I put it back in the pan and ate it anyway. No cat hairs on it.

Well, that's about all for today. It's already half ten, so I had better get to sleep soon!