Organic Gardening on the Island

 

This year we have had the best results with our summer produce.

We don't use any chemicals at all.

Instead we net some beds and we are fortunate to have one special natural bug remover...

FROGS !

 

This one is on an eggplant. They are all through the garden beds, eating all the freeloaders.

 

A green tree frog in the frangipani tree.

 

A newly hatched cricket we just happened to see.

Amazing wings and colour.

 

 

 

 

A cicada just hatched.

These live underground for 17 years as a nymph and crawl to the surface and hatch and lay eggs.

Life cycle when hatched is short.

They are the biggest we have ever seen them this year and incredibly noisy!!

 

You can see the shells of the ones before, that hatched (left).

 

 

They appear white / pale but later have a brown patterning as they mature.

They attach themselves to the trees to hatch.

 

Fully emerged and drying its wings.

(click on image for a bigger pic).

 

You can see the size of the Cicada in my hand and its developed colours.

Totally harmless too.

 

This butterfly was caught in the greenhouse. We let it out and landed on the Hibiscus -

what are the chances of getting this shot?

You can see the pollen on his wings as he feeds on the nectar (yellow pollen).

 

The budding rose bush.

This was planted in memory of June Rose.

And she's blooming this year.

 

Lastly, the two knuckleheads. You know them !

 

 

 

 



Christmas on the Island 2013

 

 

So this is Christmas....

 

Peace to all.

 

We have made a decision to go vegetarian.

I have to say, we did not miss the traditional meat at all.

We made a vegetarian wellington with all the traditional roast vegetables. It was delicious.

Of course we did make a fruit pudding and pavlova !

 

 

Jeff preparing the fruit mince pie pastries.

Jeff & a very hopeful Shadow in the kitchen.

 

Preparing the layers in the Vegetable Wellington.

 

It has char grilled eggplant, capsicum, artichoke and a layer of creamed rice within the pastry.

 

 

Voila ! Wellington.

 

Fruit mince pies cooling on the rack.

 

Santa's on the table.

 

It must be Christmas !

 

 

Oh the Pavlova....mmmm

 

The main feast, minus a beast !

 

Popping the cork.

 

Pudding !

Its a big day for a big puppy.

 

 

Merry Christmas to all x



Holiday to Vanuatu ~ Espiritu Santo ~ Island of the Pacific.

 

Espiritu Santo ~Vanuatu.

One of the 83 islands of Vanuatu - I recommend this one !

Think magical blue warm water, soft white sand, coconuts, palm trees and sunshine.

 

We were lucky enough to get away again to spend time together and have

a great time swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and good food.

 

 

Using an underwater camera, we have managed to have the lens half under the surface.

 

Above the clouds .

 

 

Barrier Beach House ~ Boutique Resort.

Maximum guests 6 !

 

 

Our waterfront fare' (camera doesn't show it well).

 



 

Main house for waterfront meal dining.

 

Beautiful breakfast views.

 

The bluest water on earth.

 

Flowers were so brightly coloured.

 

 

The Coconut ! LOL

 

We were here...

 

 

Champagne Beach ~ The most beautiful beach we have ever seen.

(First pic is same place - shows clarity of the water).

 

Champagne Beach.

 

Who is that man ?

 

Very happy cattle that live, wandering Champagne Beach. No fences.

 

 

"Little Paradise" ~ more super blue water.

 

Outside the restaurant at Little Paradise.

 

Back to Barrier Beach for a rest.

 

Captain Kayak.

 

 

Happy Days...

 

 

 

 

Well What Do Ya Know...

 

 

Well things are evolving here.

 Some more of the renovations are completed, a year after they began.

The new combustion fire is in with timber wall, mantle and stone tile floor.

After many frustrating phone calls to tilers, pinning one down and then being stood up, Hubby has done the tiling himself. I must say its a superb job, better than any tiler.

 

The garden is showing winter flowers and the winter vegie patch is up and seedlings are in.

 

All in all, looking fabulous.

 

So cosy now, just in time for the winter.

 

Before...

 

 

 

This is Fern. She has decided to live with us on the Island.

She seems shy...at first.

 

 

The Bird of Paradise has flowered for the first time.

 

The bromiliads are in flower.

 

 



 

Vege patch full of winter seedlings.

 

 

 

Tundra turned 11 this month - Happy Birthday my girl !

 

 

 

 

Shadow enjoys teasing Tundra behind the (safe) glass.

 

Simple things amuse..