Lock-down Day 577

Blerry load shedding! I didn't check the news, so I got caught off-guard ... from 02:00 - 04:30. Most people don't mind power outage during the night - but for me? I keep the PC on overnight, to keep the audiobook going. And at this time of year, when that fan stops in the middle of the night? Not good ...

The weather is really not good this month. Temperatures fluctuating too much for comfort. I mean, they fluctuate from mid 30s to low 20s within a single week! Low temperatures aren't fluctuating quite as much, they're staying around the mid to high 10s - still, it's uncomfortable at night. I keep the ceiling fan going all night, and still wake up!

Mippies mewled me out of bed by six, I opened up and let them out. Now they keep popping in for cuddles ... 

My plan for today is to clear the partition outside my bedroom, so that I'll be able to mow there. There are bricks, rocks, branches everywhere, which will damage the mower. Plus, the carpet of thorns, and the leaves under the tree, also need to be cleared. I decided to do that in the morning, before the sun blasts that area.

Done. I carried some 6 or 7 pots to the compost heap - which just grows and grows! Something is living in it, too - I can hear it rustling around. So can mippies, who sit in front of that heap like kids watching Sesame Street!

I carried all the loose bricks to the pavement around the house, clearing just enough to be able to mow. Some of those bricks are quite deep, I'm not going to pull those out - today. Next project is to clear the partition under the Jacaranda & Peach tree, so I can mow there, as well.

Last year, I let the weeds and grass get so completely out of hand, that it feels like I lost an entire year's progress - just making up for that stupid mistake! I really, really regret that! I could have made so much more progress ... if only ... 

Well, I will most definitely NOT make that mistake again!

Half-way through clearing that partition under the trees, a blister popped! Now what? Call it quits? I really don't like leaving a job half done ... so, get a plaster, put on gloves ... on with the motley!

A friend wanted to visit this weekend, but he just sent a message that he's back at work, trying to fix a breakdown ... no sweat. Another time.

Funny, though, eh? I've lived here an entire year with nobody so much as wanting to see me, and now, all of a sudden, two visits in a row! Well, apart from At, whom I have to go and fetch & take home myself, of course.

Done! I carried about 10 pots of rubbish out of there! Jacaranda sticks, bark, seeds, peach pits ... I'd say more than just one year's worth. I'm glad it's done, now ... really, at least now I can either pull weeds or just mow them.

Then I figured it's time to start the bread dough ... but first, I decided to check on the snail. It's still there, busily digging itself into the ground behind the rock!

And then ... I picked up the garden scissors and started cutting off peaches! Last weekend, my friend said I should prune the tree ... which I had done. But it's clear that I wasn't aggressive enough - or she wouldn't have made that comment. Well, I kind of agree anyway, the branches are hanging low with bundles of green peaches! So, I went at each branch I could reach, and cut off all but one peaches! I left just one on each branch ... it STILL looks overburdened! But I'm hoping for peaches this year.

And then I managed to cut my thumb! It just got in the way of the scissors - it's so difficult to see where I'm clipping ... no serious damage, but a lot of blood!

Now, I'm sitting and looking at my hands - plaster on the right from the popped blister, plaster on the left, where I sliced my thumb ... I don't think my hands are in any shape to form bread dough! Now, what? Well, why not just bake a loaf in the machine? Cool! And while I'm at it, why not try something different? Cool! So I'm a baking sandwich loaf. I'm not sure how that's different from standard white ... I'll see!

It's really hot again, today! 33 Celsius in the shade - and less wind! No wonder I feel low on energy!

I just lifted my duvet to find a little present from Mini - a lizard! Still with it's tail on - so I caught it and set it outside on the window sill.

Internet went off again, and I couldn't write for some two hours! Never mind anything else ... I don't know what the problem is!

I just went out front to pick for the pot. I quite enjoy picking food from my own garden for my dinner! The peas appear to be once-off, I'm afraid. They grow, bloom, produce, die ... pity. It'll be a long time before I'll get more peas, I'm afraid. Anyway, some beans were also ripe, so they're in the pot, with half the peas. The other half of the peas I added raw.

I had to seriously kick myself to even cook food today - it is HOT! Really hot! And humid! If I put my elbow on my leg, it's wet almost instantly! Plus, I'm sure there's rain on the way - I've got another mild migraine. I checked the weather report, rain is on the way. Had that mild migraine coming on late yesterday already. Ah well, it's mild. I'll live.

I'm just cooking pasta, beans & peas, then frying the cheese sausages I meant to put in the bread rolls, with some bacon. Add the obligatory spinach, then mix in some sour cream: dinner!

It's nice to have something to show for all the work I've put into the garden! It may not be much, but it's enough for a start! Now I know how what grows where, so next year I'll plan better. Not that I have to wait a whole year - I'll still be planting stuff! I mean, it's still spring!

I don't even want to think about how hot this summer is likely to be ...

Well, I'm watering. Clouds are moving in, and my migraine is strengthening. Guess what I'm not doing today? Right! The dishes. I have a good excuse, though - apart from the heat and the migraine: I'll have a hard enough time trying to shower with my injuries! Ha Ha!

I think I'll go for an early night, followed by an early morning, so I can make my lunch tomorrow morning. The bread is still too hot to cut.

I tried to relax for a while. Set myself up for a nice time on the veranda ... then I got itchy fingers, ha ha! I picked up the scissors and started giving the ponytails their annual hair cut. I finished one, started on the next ... something got done.

The shower was pure pleasure! Tricky, with two plasters, one on each hand - but when I stepped outside? I was actually cold!

Anyway, even though I didn't clean the kitchen, I got a lot done, this weekend. I'm happy!