Lock-down Day 639

Relatively early morning, lovely day! It's overcast - perfect for gardening ... only, I don't quite feel like gardening? Weird, eh?

Took a while, but I've got myself into gardening mood. I decided to work out back today. Clear my view from the armchair! Which will then encourage me to continue clearing the patch under the Jacaranda - which is starting to get out of hand. The weeds are past knee height, by now!

History repeating itself, if I do, ha ha! That's exactly what I was doing this day last year. Only, let's hope that's ALL the repeat of history - because that afternoon, we discovered that we had no water! And ended up without water for a couple of days!

Well, I've started clearing along the patio out back. Although it's mostly overcast, the sun occasionally peeks out - and when it does, it hurts! On my burnt back! Ha Ha! That'll teach me ... or at least, it should, shouldn't it?

I'm also doing a bit of laundry. The bed covers. I first washed them with just vinegar and soda, at 95 Celsius, now I'm washing them with conventional detergent and fabric softener at 60 Celsius.

Sun is coming out more than it's hiding! Bit of a problem. I checked the UV Index, it's 9 of 10 now, going up to 10, then to 'Extreme' for the next couple of hours. Fortunately, as I'm moving along, I'm getting out of the sun and into the shade from the Jacaranda tree!

Smeagol showed up again. I filled his bowl, gave him a bit of attention ... he decided he'd like to go into the house! I'm right there, so ... let's see ... hissing and growling! I catch Smeagol atop the counter next to the coffee machine! I chased him out, he had a tiff with Mini before shooting out the front door! I actually think he's more afraid of fights with my mippies, than they are of him? Anyway, the piece of %$@& sprayed atop the counter at the wall! Lucky for him, he missed the plug! Grrr ...

Before

After

I cleared the ground in front of the bed, nothing more. I've been struggling with that white owl, I've tried several locations, but it doesn't seem to want to light up at night. I'm guessing it has to do with the outside security light, coupled with lack of access to sun during the day. So now I've moved it in the center - closer to the house, where I'll also be able to see it nicely, from my armchair!

And look what's come back to life! It had stopped turning a long time ago, I had tried everything ... and now it seems to have come alive again! I've now placed it, where there are no obstructions, so it can turn and turn!

I've finished the bed along the fence as well. The portion towards the Jacaranda tree is a bit empty - only the Amaryllis growing there, nothing else. So, I think I'll scatter some seeds this afternoon ...

I started working along the fence, back towards the house. At first I cleared a wide space, enough for another bed - but further along, there is nothing growing that interferes with my mowing, so I left that as is. I had better spend my time in the section by the Jacaranda ... which is ... well ... threatening to get out of hand, if I don't tend to it soon!

See what I mean? On the right, is where I cleared, but the center section is covered with a
type of low-growing ... something. It's no problem!

And behind the fence, you can see what I mean about the weeds threatening to get out of hand again ...

They look bad, but since it's mostly just large plants, they're easy to pull. Take out one weed, and you've cleared quite a bit of space!

Mewthos is looking forward to my company ... only ... when I came back outside, after taking these photos, it started raining! Quite unusually, the rain came from the front of the house - usually it comes from this side. On the plus side, that meant I could clear that corner, as it's under the roof. On the down side, it meant that it rained into my bedroom! Ha Ha!

Smeagol came running, and ducked into the outside room! I'm glad he's using it to stay dry!

I decided to use this opportunity to wash the sliding doors. I got half-way done with the back window on the outside, when the rain turned and started coming at the doors - as usual! So, I washed the insides! Looks much better! I almost think I should put up some stickers, to avoid running into the closed door!

About half an hour later, the sun is out in full blaze! We had a few mm rain, so: not bad. More rain is forecast, and although the south is all sunshine, with very few clouds, the north - where we get our weather from - is overcast and looking quite dark.

Well, can't really work in the garden, now ... everything is wet!

What the heck, I carry on weeding! Ha Ha Ha!

At first I started thoroughly weeding, but frankly - that's going to take too long! And, after all, the main purpose is to get it back to where I can mow there! Again!

See how much I've cleared?

Oh, and those tall things, I left standing? They're flowers! A type of Zinnia. They grow wild here, and I found a few last year. I carefully left them to dry completely, so they'd scatter their seeds and here we are! Bushes and bushes of them!

They attract local butterflies, too! There's a white one on one of the flowers!

My previous landlord used to pull them out and throw them away ... asshole! I'd carefully transplant one into my flower bed, he'd come in, pull it out and throw it away!

Anyway,  I decided to call it a day. I went to sit on the veranda and returned a video call from an old friend. We talked for a really long time, which I - surprisingly  - enjoyed!

Then my sister made the obligatory Christmas call - between dinner and dessert. My nephew enjoyed the chat more, I gather. I showed off my garden and all my plants. 

Around seven it got not just dark, but the wind turned almost violent! And it came from the east - normally it only comes from the west. That's how both those trees fell towards the house. The wind got so strong, I worried the Jacaranda tree might come down! The reeds out back were nearly at a 45 degree angle!

Then the rain came pouring down and the wind let up. And, as expected, the power went off. 

I had been running my bath, so, I bathed, but I'm too lazy to pick up the gas bottle, so I'm just having the last vienna's for dinner. Cold. It stopped raining, crickets are giving a concert. 

It's half past eight, I'll probably read for a while, the go to sleep.