Going, Going, Gone

And this time next year, there will be a shiny new Aldi store on the site.

There have been the usual concerns about the need for another supermarket, considering that there are already six supermarkets in our local council area, including an Aldi store, all of which perform well. However, with the ever-growing population in my town and the surrounding area, an additional supermarket would be beneficial.

I'm really looking forward to having an Aldi store in town. Although the other store is only a twenty-minute walk from my house, there is no public transport nearby, and as I don't drive this makes bringing groceries home difficult. The new store, however, is just a three-minute walk from a bus stop, making things much easier.

Until next time, stay safe and be kind to each other, Janette.

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What To Sow or Plant This Month

If you live in a temperate climate like I do and you haven’t already, March is the month to sow seeds for the winter garden.

Photo courtesy of Louisjos via Pixabay

There is still time to plant out basil and amaranth before the weather gets too cold. It’s also the time to plant out garlic cloves and chickory, horseradish, and Chinese (Wombok) Cabbage. Plant leek seedlings now as well.

You can sow burdock, carrots, corn salad (Lamb’s ear or mache), radish, rocket, shallots, and turnips directly in the garden.

Seeds that need to be sown in pots or seedling trays are members of the brassica family such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, pak choy, mizuna, mustard greens, swedes. Broad beans, chives, coriander, dill, endive, fennel, lettuce, New Zealand spinach, parsley, peas, silver beet (Swiss chard), spinach, and spring onions can all be sown now as well.   

This year, I’m keeping things simple and sticking to some of my tried and true favorites. If you’re looking to plant something reliable and delicious, you might want to consider these:

Broccoli: A fantastic source of vitamins and super versatile in the kitchen.

Snow Peas & Sugar Snap Peas: Perfect for snacking straight from the vine! They are perfect in a stir fry and add a sweet crunch to a salad. 

Carrots: I can’t imagine my vegetable garden without them. They never disappoint! Plus, there’s something so satisfying about pulling fresh carrots from the ground. 

Garlic, Onions, Shallots, and Leeks: Garlic is an essential ingredient for me; it’s my go-to aromatic. While I’m not a fan of onions due to their strong flavor, my daughter and son-in-law are currently living with me and use onions in nearly every meal. As a result, I will be planting some this year. Although I don’t enjoy onions, I do appreciate the flavors that leeks and shallots add to a dish, so I will find space for them in my garden as well.

Lettuce: The cooler months are the only time I can grow lettuce, so I take full advantage of having it in my garden.

Are you thinking about starting a winter vegetable garden this year? If so, what do you have planned? Are you excited to try out varieties that you've never grown before?

Until next time, happy gardening.

Janette.

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Getting to Know Me

This post has been sitting in draft form for over a year, so I thought it was time to answer the questions and post it. 

1. What was the last thing you ate?
Baked beans on toast.

2. Do you sleep naked?
Not since I had children.

3. The worst physical pain you ever been in? 
Giving birth to my children, although having shingles was no party either.

4. Favourite place you’ve ever been? 
Of the places I have visited so far Kangaroo Island would have to be a favourite.

5. How late did you stay up last night?
 Between 10.30pm and 11.00pm. 

6. If you could move somewhere else, where would you move to? 

My ancestry is for the most part English, Irish and Scottish. There is a smattering of other ethnicities as well, but if I was going to move from Australia, it would more than likely be somewhere in Great Britain. 

7. Christmas or New Year? 

Christmas! At least it used to be, but it has become so commercialised now that it’s lost some of its magic for me. Last year Christmas decoration were in the stores in September.

8. When was the last time you cried? 
Finding out my daughter No. 2 was pregnant with her much longed for first child. I cried like a baby. No pun intended.

9. What’s the last photo on your phone? 
My grandson who has just turned seven months old. He is so stinking cute!

10. Two of your favourite movies? 
I don't have a favourite movie per se, but I do like a good mystery thriller or apocalyptic movie.

11. What's your favourite season?
Autumn, closely followed by winter. After the heat of our hot, dry summers the cooler months bring such relief.

12. Which famous person would you like to meet?
I can't think of anyone in particular, but if I could go back in time and meet some of my female ancestors and find the answers to some questions I have, I would.

13. If you could talk to ANYONE right now, who would it be?
My mother. She passed away in September 2000 and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss her.

14. Are you a good Influence? 
I like to think I am.

15. Does pineapple belong on pizza?
Absolutely!

16. You have the remote, what show would you be watching right now?
I'm single, so I always have the remote.

17. First Concert? 
The Bay City Rollers.

19. Favourite food? 
Pizza. Sushi runs a very close second.

20. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My family was Catholic so I wanted to be a nun because they always seemed so serene, but then my mother (who went to Catholic schools growing up) told me what some of the nuns were like and that put me off the whole idea.  When I grew older I thought being an air hostess would be a fun way to make a living the only problem was I am far too shy and introverted for that type of work. If I had the chance to go back and choose now I would be a forensic anthropologist.

Until next time, stay safe and be kind to each other, Janette.

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