Make, Create and Grow

January 1, 2023. Happy New Year! Somehow, 2022 just got away from me, I’m sure most people can relate to that. I started more times that I can count to do a post about numerous things but never quite finished them. I’m not one for new years resolutions, I think if you want to make changes, just do it, don’t wait for a new year. But, there has been so much going on, I haven’t had the mental space to think about much. Now that we’re home from holidays and feeling a bit more settled, I’m committing to myself to follow through with more projects, and actually document them.

We have committed to doing some landscaping of the front yard while Louis is taking a bit of time off work, so that is our next project and I’m really looking forward to it. We had 15m3 of mulch delivered this morning, so we have a busy few days ahead of sheet mulching with cardboard, creating some new beds and tidying up existing ones. We’ll then get some soil and turf in and make some pathways with crushed granite. After that, we will be tackling the front slope and finally getting a few dwarf fruit trees in guilds into the ground. I will document as much as I can and do a dedicated post to it when it’s completed.

In the meantime, here’s a wrap up of the end of 2022 projects and garden updates.

We got our water tank in. A 22,700L round polytank, sitting on a crusher dust and cement base. It was a nerve racking time having it delivered, the truck struggled to get around the back of the house, but it got there! We still need to plumb it all in properly, as we need to change things around a bit with the current tank and gutters. For now, it’s temporarily connected to one of the downpipes.

The photos are a little misleading – Ruby enjoyed climbing the crusher dust, and I enjoyed shovelling about 10 shovels, then we went inside and Louis actually finished the whole base! He just doesn’t like photos, so there’s no evidence of him doing it 😉

The veggie patch has definitely taken a back step. I managed to get some irrigation set up to the no dig beds which really helped. I just used poly with individual drippers. We have been harvesting a steady supply of zucchinis, which have been growing well vertically. Lebanese cucumbers coming along in steady supply now too. I pulled most things out of the raised beds, topped them up with some manure and mulch and have just let them sit. A few things have self seeded – rocket, tomato, bush beans, and things I cut back have flourished: spring onions, parsley, rainbow chard, nasturtiums. I had a lot of trouble with the pumpkin fruit not setting, but after setting up the irrigation and hand pollinating a few, we’re finally seeing some pumpkins growing. The sweet potatoes seem to be growing well, and the dwarf banana has sprouted its first pup. We harvested a few beetroots and carrots and a few cherry tomatoes, but otherwise, it’s been pretty neglected. I plan to get a few more zucchinis, capsicum, tomatoes and cucumbers in. Ruby helped me plant some seeds yesterday to get them started, which was fun.

Most of the end of 2022 was focused on sewing. I just kept taking on projects and it got a little crazy. My photos aren’t amazing, but I’m proud of what I managed to get done. One of my favourites is the pink flower dress. It was fabric I found in my mum’s cupboard over Christmas. It’s over 20 years old because I choose it when I was about 10 years old and mum made me a dress from it! It has a very sentimental and nostalgic feeling to it.

Little Lizard King – Cusco dress. 20+ year old fabric! She loves the dress, just doesn’t like photos lol.

Pattern: Little Lizard King – Mackinac Island dress. Kookaburras and Magpie Christmas dress.

Pattern: Little Lizard King – Bellevue dress

Dress Pattern: Little Lizard King – Malibu dress. One for Ruby and matching one for my friends little girl. Skirt Pattern: Anywhere Skirt by Made Everyday.

I’ve got a lot more sewing projects lined up. My friends children choose some fabric to make some more shirts and dresses, and I found more 20 year old fabric in mums cupboard that I’d love to make Ruby some dresses from.

Fabric chosen by friends’ children for 3x dresses and 2x shirts.

Beyond that, I want to finish organising my sewing room. I got a pegboard for Christmas which I’m really excited about. I need to finish patching the walls and have another go at some wall shelves. I’d love to do a little more organising and decorating in Ruby’s room, and have a sandpit and mud kitchen project for Ruby in the back yard. Then just in case I get bored, or finish all that, I want to look at setting up some wicking beds, and our current undercover outdoor area to make it more useable. I’m sure I’ll be adding more to my list then I manage to tick off, but I’m excited about it all none the less! I’m off to start shovelling and wheel burrowing 15m3 of mulch for now, but will endeavour to continue documenting and sharing the never ending journey of my projects!