06/14/2009, Ballylickey Irealnd
As the emails roll in from our cruising friends out there, Sora in Thailand, Robyns Nest in Vanuatu, Sisu in PNG, Asylum and Scholarship at Minerva Reef, trying to get to Fiji and a few others, sometimes we wish we were there, other times maybe not.
Heather is teaching sailing now in Adrigole, I'm doing a little racing and boat repair and the other day we decided to do a little cruising ourselves. Here we are underway to the Coomhola River, just around the corner from where we live. There are a few things to note about this photo. First, short sleeves, very unusual here. Ditto on the sunshine. Second, the wellie boots, mandatory both here and New Zealand. Third, PFD's on. No questions about it here, its the law on every boat all the time. Not a bad idea, especially in cold water.
Our cruise took us to a nesting swan we knew about, only to be attacked by the male as we got near. He spotted us from about 400 meters upriver and there is nothing quite like the sound of swans wings hitting the water as he powered toward us. We retreated.
|
i started planting seeds back in Feb. everyone thought it was early but now they marvel at all teh vegies we are eating already! a very long time ago, before i started sailing, i had a green thumb or two. i actually farmed for a living and lived for farming. so seeing that we were now settled in as landlubbers i became excited at growing herbs and vegies again. since the sailing schools' business is very slow with the economic downturns, ive had all the free time this spring to prepare the soils, plant the seeds, tranplant the seedlings, mulch with seaweed, make manure and nettle teas for fertilizer, weed and now enjoy the fruits. everyday us and our neighbors have been eating salads and fresh herbs. we have had so much spinach today i made a huge spanokopita packed full of it, and theres still more out there.the other day we started pickking sweet peas off the vines as well. the carrots, beets, brocoli, jeruselum artichokes, broad beans,leeks, spring onions, more peas, celery, celeriac, and more are all growing bigger each day. esp. now we are in a summer heat wave. there are the brids and slugs to battle with or not! im just planting more and more to feed us all. we also have a big glass greenhouse which is full of tomatoes, green beans, aubergines, courgettes, sweet peppers and basil.
its been great fun and i found after all that salt soaking there is still some greeness on my thumb, along with black under the nails.
|
looking from the upper area of garden, this is the salad bed with arugula, mizunas, lettuces, fennel, mustards, brocoli, spring onions and parsley.
|
here are strawberries, lemon verbena bush, sweet peas, foxgloves, salad and more.
|
