Relearning

There is something I haven't done for I don't know how long.  For the last 30 to 40 years, I always put my washing in the dryer either in the laundromat or at home, even though we live in California where the sun shines all the time. I had to come to South Africa to hang my clothes on a line and let the sun do its work. They do smell nice and fresh when I took them down.
The only problem seems to be that my pans are starting to shrink. Can this be the sun's influence?

Our friend Bernd left two days ago, so I am in charge, well not in charge, of course, Rassie is still in charge.

He is not letting me out of his sight, just to make sure I am not leaving too.

I am having a great time here walking on the beach, working in the garden and doing stuff around the house, and waiting for Patricia to get here by the end of this week.

First day back on the job

It's the first day back in the saddle caring for Gavin.  We had a great time during the holidays, but we missed our little pumpkin so much.
Today was a beautiful Southern California day in the 70s. Hearing all the horrifying stories in the media about the cold in the middle and northern parts of the land, we feel very blessed.
Anyhow, be that as it may, we spent most of the day in the garden planting and cleaning up.
Gavin was a great help.

First, he did some ground work,

then he worked on the irrigation system with me,

while Patricia entertained herself sifting horse shit for great fertilizer.

Patricia also got all the new hydroponic bins set up, so we could grow more lettuce and other leafy greens.

We have four bins of lettuce, to accommodate 2 couples, and some spinach and mache,
another type of lettuce, have just been planted.

The system is quite simple. Bins with lids, 2" holes on the lid to seat 2" net pots (from Carlsbad Hydroponics) and a 'Jiffy' pellet in each pot.  Add a nutrient and fill the bin with water to touch the net pot.  Plant your seeds, and Voila.

The seeds sprout in 4-7 days; roots seek the water and produce lots of fresh greens
 for months - winter months - and throughout the year.

Patricia also cut up new potatoes with sprouted eyes for planting. We will have a great variety of potatoes this year (Yukon Gold, French Fingerlings, German Butterball, and all Red).
In the meantime, Gavin was trying to close the green waste bin.

He just has to grow a bit more.

Then he was ready for a BBQ after a day's work well done.

Then there was another garden

I am not so much into horticultural stuff, but the Chanticleer Gardens were something else.  We went on the recommendation of the lady (who happened to be from Santa Barbara) working at TJ's 'eat at Joe's' stand. She mentioned it as we were shopping, and instantly three customers chimed in that it was the best garden on the east coast, so we had to go.
It was 35 acres of absolutely beautiful, even if I say so myself.
So if you are ever in the area of Wayne, PA, this is a place to see for sure.
Here are some of the pictures Patricia took. They are beautiful, but even they don"t do justice to the place.

Taking shelter from a quick downpour

Hydrangeas were everywhere

One of the cabanas surrounded by Mediterranean gardens

Three serpentine gardens were of three kinds of kale.

Water lily in the Asian pond area

Serpentine kale gardens: Tuscan, curly leaf and red leaf kale

King Michael on his stone throne

Ok Ok here it is

Natalie has been pestering me to update the progress of Aariel's front yard; so here are pictures of our substantial effort.

First, I had to make sure that all the piping is ok. Even though

I am not using the old system as it is, all has to be watertight.

Then we had to get rid of the old grass, 

but first we had to bash off the soil and take off the plastic mesh backing.  Did you know that sod is grown  in/on/with a fine green plastic netting  - which has to be removed before disposing of said sod at some recycling stations?  A major pain.

Mind you, Aariel does not stop just because baby needs to sleep.

The plot needs to be nicely leveled,

and the plants need to be placed by our top designer.

We do need a break on occasion; it's hot in this Southern California sun.

 For some, mulching is the fun part.

 In the end, all got done, and now Patricia can do more of her
magic with all the little things in between. 

Who else wants their front or backyard designed by Patricia?

Lets have some Vacation

Vacation, for us, was at least the idea when Aariel finished teaching for the summer. However, best laid plans... But first there was a project that needed to be done, now that we all have time on our hands. Here goes.
Once upon a time there was a perfectly good front yard, in a nice quiet cul-de-sac.

But something needed to be done, because it uses too much water, given that we live in Southern California.

So the women of the house went to task.

This looks like hard work

But it's all worth it

The biggest part is yet to go, so we decided to get Oscar and young Michael to help us with the big stuff.

This used to be a nice lawn. Now we'll see what we can do with this. Stay tuned for next week.

All is being done under Gavin's expert supervision.

To be continued, no doubt.

Sapote Tree

On Crest on the property where we used to live, there is a great Sapote tree.  Most people around here don't know what to do with it's fruit.

This is what it looked like in August.  Guillermo cleaned away all the
dirt around it and replaced it with new composted dirt,
so the tree can now breath and be nourished again.

By September, the new leaves are showing up all over the tree.

This is only three days after I took the picture above.

This is the same tree after only two weeks

As I was looking, I found one fruit from last season hanging lonely on the tree.

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Can't wait for the tree to bear fruit again; I could eat myself sick on this custard like fruit.

A garden of Eden

The roads where I walk have a special bonus: every year I anticipate the five fig trees along the way, and it's now harvest time. The trees are hanging out into the road, so I assume when I go past at 4:30am that the fruit is for my picking, and I do.

Close enough to the road to be public property.

Still a bit green but laden with fruit.

Happy harvesting, when the time comes, is all I can say.

The Yellow Deli

What a great place to eat and relax. Aariel had taken Patricia and me there a while ago.  The other day when we were there just before lunchtime, getting more familiar with the Vista area where we might buy a house, we decided to stop and refresh ourselves.  The Restaurant is called the Yellow Deli.  The food and atmosphere (the vibe) are great, the service excellent and the prices very reasonable.

Read their story; it's quite interesting and inspiring. 

Remembering a story

Whenever I see a citrus tree in a garden, I remember going from Germany to Australia in 1971.  On the ship, I met another German named Klaus; he was with his wife, an Australian from Melbourne, on his way to relocate there. Early on in their relationship, he was staying at her parent's house, and one day her mother asked Klaus to go to the backyard to get her a lemon.  After a while, he came back and said he could not find the box with the lemons. He was then told that they were hanging on the tree, unlike in Germany.
We are house sitting for our friends Sandy and Lon, and they have lots of citrus and avocado trees, which I love going down to harvest.

Avocados like grapes: how many you can find?

Lemons all year round

Grapefruit almost ready to pick

Then there are the blood orange trees, and that is what we are using today.

This is an amazing fruit, very sweet and colorful

Then there is the enjoyment of the squeeze. 

Passion fruit planted

Again at every party, people ask me about our passion fruit vine, and I tell them just to cut off a bit, put it into the ground, and water it well, and it will grow.
Now it is time to test that theory.

I planted six cuttings on August 27 2012

Let's see if they will take root; I water it liberally twice a day. 

If they do take root, this is what it will look like in about two or three years.

This is what it looks like in the Biergarten

This is what it looks like after three years.

So we will see if my theory works out. I am watering the little
plants every day at least once.

Succulents at Edenvalle

Last year on our visit to Australia, Patricia planted a little succulent garden at Lorrischka's Hannam Vale property, Edenvale.
There was a spot with nothing on it.

Let me clean this up and see what I can do.

Ok Lorrischka, I cleaned up this spot; the boys added some dirt,
and now I am going to plant some succulents here.

Nice job and the first plants are in the ground

 Now,  10 months later, Lorrischka has sent pictures of the
fruits of Patricia's labor.

An abundance of succulent flowers

Succulents in bloom

It looks so nice next to the cistern.

Patricia is very happy

This is what a lot of rain can do, even to succulents.