Lock-down Day 492

Would you believe I only got out of bed around eight? Sheez ... what's wrong with me today? Ha Ha! Mippies crowded around me, Mini tried licking me awake, Mewthos tried mewling me out of bed ... only my bladder eventually forced me up!

I got mail from my aunt in Alaska again - which relieved me, as I had read about the earthquake and Tsunami warning in Alaska.

She also wrote me a delightful story, how she took me for a 'little' walk, when I was a baby - and she walked so far and so long, my mum went ballistic! Typical mum! Anyway, she had promised my mum then, that one day she'd become a worthwhile aunt ... hence the 54-years catching up on birthday presents.

I replied, trying to explain that that isn't necessary - though very much appreciated. Financial worth is not part of how I value people in my life ...

Anyway, it's now almost ten, I had better start on my chores, so I can spend some time in the garden today ...

Oh dear! Mini has caught a birdie! Still alive ... he he he, it got away, and I was able to open the window and let it out. Mippies are not impressed with me, right now ...

Janey's wound was oozing again this morning, I cleaned it again - which hurts, I'm afraid - then put ointment on it, again. There's still quite a lump just next to it - I fear that's fester, which will still have to come out ... poor girl! I really wish I knew what causes that ... possibly a spider?

Well, laundry is done and the kitchen cleaned, so I went out into the garden.

The Spekboom seem to be dead. All of them! I've never seen anything like that. And it's not just the Spekboom - the ponytail next to it is also turning yellow ... I checked the PH and it's as low as 5.5! But what could cause such a drastic drop in PH? When I looked further - the Spekboom in the center bed is looking just as bad! And here's the corker: the sticks of Spekboom in my pot are ALSO looking dead! Only the one in Rose's pot are flourishing!

I've checked the PH everywhere and it's low EVERYWHERE! Including in my pots! And those are filled with potting soil! That leaves only the water ... something's wrong with our water ... 

Well, I cleaned the bed, cut down the Spekboom - hopefully what's left can grow again ... then I poured a generous lot of seedling food all over that bed - that's 7.2 PH, so it should definitely raise the level in the bed! I also sowed bush beans and bush peas along the entire bed. When I turned on the sprinkler ... pfffft ... 

Power outage! A-fecking-gain! This is getting beyond frustrating, now! Nothing I can do though ... just sit around and wait.

Well, I did more weeding, of course, as I don't need electricity to work in the garden. I cleaned one of the six rose beds - one that I hadn't cleaned before. Half-way through, the power came back ... thank fecking heavens!

I finished the rose bed, added some special rose food and put the sprinkler on that bed. There are two more rose beds, which I haven't cleaned before and then the three which I already did clean once. A while back. Weeds are sprouting joyfully in all of them.

Both my orders will be delivered on Monday. And I'm considering placing more orders tomorrow ... fruit juice, meat, and I really think some seeds would be nice! Plus some fertilizer and something to counter the low PH.

Isn't that just about the saddest sight ever?

These are in a pot, with potting soil! Same sad sight ... and the PH of the soil in that pot is ALSO below 6!

And see this? See those yellow plants far left and far right? It's happening everywhere!

Yeah, it's really disheartening ... I just don't know what's causing it, so I really have no clue what to do, either!

Maybe it IS the water? It hasn't rained in months - maybe that's got something to do with it? Or maybe the continuous construction work around the pump? Well, whatever the cause, there really isn't much I can do ...

Well, at least I can get some Lime at Builders this week!

And I think I'll make the rose beds my next Friday afternoon project. Although, if I get time to garden tomorrow - that's about all I can do, as I haven't watered anywhere else ...

I've decided to get seeds I want - regardless whether I still have some from previous purchases. Yes, some seeds become less viable over time ... that's one reason. But I find too many seeds that I'd like have gone 'out of stock'. They're STILL out of stock ... that's five months later. It makes sense, I suppose - seeds don't grow on trees, ha ha ha!

Sheez, it's past eleven! I spent hours going through seeds and such ... and placed quite a large order! If only I could get some plants established - then I can collect seeds and grow the next crop from them ... I just hope this dying plant issue is temporary ... I'm really upset. My avocado trees also don't look alive anymore ... really upset ... 

Anyway, I should go to sleep now ... and get up earlier tomorrow morning.