Barkley Blah!: July 2008

Did I say I got the greenhouse? Probably - anyway, it's here now and the fun starts. Did I also say that I was a touch off on the measurements and that it wont fit where I want it to go, without moving the clothesline?

Before:

Work In Progress:

Now You See It!

Now You Don't!

Watch This Space...

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Saturday afternoon...

12:45 pm
Well, I spent the morning playing with a photograph that I wanted to print. Haven't done that for a while so had to recap a bit... Just the other day I found a really good Paint Shop Pro users/helpers group and a great bloke called tattoobob who helped me with another problem I was having with a photo. http://ravenspaintshoppro.yuku.com/directory

It took me hours, of course, to get the result I wanted on the photo, it's my own fault, I know that if I want to print a picture then I have to leave the resolution settings as high as possible on my camera. But, no, decided to reduce the size because mostly I take for digital photos and they don't need to be so big. So I've had to digitally enlarge the photo to get a large-size print, and that never works properly. Good enough though, to show the subject, which is what I wanted.

I've been clearing the yard for the place to put the new greenhouse (YES YES, I now have a greenhouse). I got it for a very good price, only half what I was prepared to pay, and it is the one I really wanted, even better; it's arrived, I haven't unpacked it yet, but there is one problem.

The space I had marked out to put it, isn't really long enough. Well, it is, but it's much too close to the clothesline (rotary hills hoist) - so I have decided to cut down the clothesline and am waiting for the man to come and do that. Next week, hopefully. I've found a space that will fit one of those fold-down lines at the side of the house. Much better, and I can place the greenhouse to better advantage.

Today is our first day of sunshine for a while and I did think I might do some more yard clearing while it was a bit warmer - and then I went into the kitchen and remembered that last night, in a fit of unseasonal cleaning fever, I had emptied out one of the kitchen cupboards with the intention of having a throw-away and a bit of a clean, and that is what I am supposed to be doing.now...

6:26 pm
Very strange, went back into the kitchen to finish the job, and decided I was a bit hungry, so made myself a crusty wholemeal bread roll, with bone ham and swiss cheese, fine slices of spanish onion and a tiny touch of mustard - finished that off and felt a bit sleepy. Curled up in my nice warm bed with a book and drifted off into a lovely nana nap.

posted at: 1:36 AM posted by: DellaB
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

with a little help from my friends...

Found some really cheap pavers I've been keeping an eye out for - couldn't resist and soon had them parked in the driveway.

Noel shifted them for me, thank heavens, a very heavy job..

girlpower at work

Willing Helper - fully fashion clad, of course!

Still Cheerful!

finished

looks good!

posted at: 5:47 AM posted by: DellaB
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Saturday, July 12, 2008

this is funny...

How do you decide who to marry?
(written by kids)

(1) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
- Alan, age 10

(2) No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

(1) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
- Camille, age 10

(2) No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
- Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

(1) You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

(1) Both don't want any more kids.
- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

(1) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

(2) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
- Martin, age 10 (who says boys do not have brains)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

(1) I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

(1) When they're rich.
- Pam, age 7

(2) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- Curt, age 7 (good point)

(3) The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

(1) It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

(1) There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favourite is........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

(1) Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
- Ricky, age 10

Labels: this is funny

posted at: 1:30 PM posted by: DellaB
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Monday, July 7, 2008

Things I Enjoy Doing..

I've been reflecting a bit about what I wrote in the last post, about 'getting a life'. There was a time when I did need to focus on that a bit. It was one of the more unpleasant, low periods, when I found I had to tighten my belt to survive, and to come up with reasons to keep smiling and be happy. Luckily I am good at that, and have some excellent tools to help.

There have been reams written about people who make lists, and those who don't, and I fit into the first category, in fact I probably lead the field, a list-maker extraordinaire, that's me! So of course, that's what I did. It was quite a few years ago, this one, before I moved back to the Gold Coast to live.

I mean, I'm not complaining, I've had a fantastic life so far, ups and downs with a few road humps here and there, but I do get bored easily and need to keep myself occupied. Work has been good to me too, and being a work-aholic (until recently) has kept mind and body busy.

So I had a re-think about what I wrote, and went and dug up the list. I didn't have to look too far, it is still stuck up on the side of a cupboard beside the computer, not quite in sight, but still there even after the move. So, let's see what I am left with now, and what changes need to be made.

First thing to go is the golf, cannot play any more with my crook neck; camping looks like a fizzer too (Noel and I did try, but there is a certain temperament that enjoys the rigours of camping, and one of us doesn't have it!). Dancing is out - although I do keep promising my sister that I will one day be fit enough to go Rock'n'Rolling with her (apparently age doesn't matter, she tells me, but I feel I need to lose some weight before I try that one...). And cross out walking - the pain in my neck has migrated down to my knee so it's more hobbling than walking at the moment.

So where does that leave me? Well, gardening is still at the top of the list; to the internet I can add blogging; still studying too, have completed a uni course in ecommerce, and two writing courses since I first made the list. Finally joined a library - and have to spend every spare minute reading just to get the books back in time - as for watching tv, well, now I work for a pay tv company and they give us the full service so we can talk knowledgeably about it - currently battling a syndrome known as Law-and-Order re.run.itis. The cooking shows are good too, I can't believe I am still learning about cooking... but I have to be motivated these days to do more than just make a meal...

Things I can Add to The List?

Number one has to be the grandmother thing, that's new - and it's worked out that I get to 'mind' the baby for a few hours a couple of times a week, not that she is a baby any more, turned four in April and is a delight in my life. And now I live at the beach, so I can do my reading under a spreading tree, watching the people at play on the beautiful sands under the brilliant Queensland sunshine. I should swim, I'm told, to exercise away the aches and pains. I like that idea - we'll see...

What else can I add .. well, I've always liked to play cards, and I used to play online a bit, so I might check that out - and do some more writing, I've been a bit slack about the 'Book Blog' so I should get back to that..

And so, back to gardening, and a decision I made yesterday after the fiasco with the Bunnings greenhouse that wasn't..

This is it! The one I really want and can see myself spending many happy hours in - I have decided what the heck, go for it and spend the money to do it properly...

posted at: 12:29 PM posted by: DellaB
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Saturday, July 5, 2008

the saga continues...

OR... maybe I just need to get a life!

Don't you just hate it! You'd think I would have learned by now, but no, still making the same silly mistakes... It's still about the greenhouse; I've been watching a couple of versions come and go on eBay, one I don't like at all really, and of course it's the cheaper one. So off I go to Bunnings, to do my research - and lo and behold, there is a greenhouse for sale, a 'special' item, marked shop-soiled, and very cheap. To be fair to myself, I did ask the shop-guy what 'soiled' meant, and could he assure me that all the bits were still there. He says, 'yep, that only means that the packaging is damaged, the product will be okay'.

Well, of course, it wasn't, was it ... everything in the box, except the connector bits that hold it all together. So back I go to Bunnings, and get my money back. So I still don't have a greenhouse, but my poor little tomato seedlings are hanging in, braving the winter cold and rain.

On the good news front - this cold spell has seen me indoors a bit more and today I've taken the plunge and completed my tax return online. You know they give you extra tax back, just for being 'old' and not earning very much.. how good is that?

Now there's a thought, I must be meant to have the more expensive model (of greenhouse) - when the tax cheque comes I should spend some of that - indulge myself! Yep, back to eBay and see if there's any left..

posted at: 11:50 PM posted by: DellaB
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Thursday, July 31, 2008

greenhouse progress (what else?)