Holey moley, it's dry!

I've done more work to our Gladstone bags this past week.  When checking the leather on Nick's bag, after my spa treatment, I noticed a small tear.  It's near the edge of one of the end gusset pieces, so not hugely noticeable - but I will mend it.  

Once I'd decided to repair the tear, I chose to also replace the holey lining on both ends.  I cut out two pieces, as neatly as possible.  Fully replacing the lining is probably beyond my skill-set and enthusiasm at this stage but I think I'll do OK with these smaller sections.  Fingers crossed!

Once the worn fabric was removed, I could see how dry the leather was - in spite of conditioning the outer side. I gave each end a liberal dose of conditioner.  I'll leave that a few days before trying to patch the tear.

After pondering, I decided to remove the pocket elastic.  The trickiest part was working in a deep bag, in a poorly lit room!  Yes, I could've found a head-torch rather than balancing this little one but where's the fun in that?!  

I threaded a double length of new elastic through.  It's pinned firmly, ready for the next step.  We have a property inspection later this week.  I find them stressful, so am probably doing a lot more preparation than is necessary.  On the bright side, while I'm busy with those other missions I'm also thinking about the best way to patch the leather tear - and attach the replacement lining sections.  I just hope the reality will be a good match for my vision!

Two Glad?!

I really enjoyed using my Gladstone bag on our latest trip.  It was such a good thing that I went searching for another one.  I was lucky to find a Gumtree seller not far from home, so bought this second bag for Nick today!

Measurements had been posted as part of the ad, so I thought the two bags would be similar in size.  When I got them home I sat them side by side and as you can see, there isn't much difference between the two.  (I saw one advertised further away but decided against it, as it was a smaller version).  

The styles are quite similar, though not identical - which is fine.  Both are lined in tartan, which seems standard.  The pockets were made differently, so Nick's has elastic which has aged.  I might be able to replace the failed elastic but will need to have a closer look at the interior first.

From chatting with the seller, I learned she had never used the bag.  I'm not sure whether she bought it new but she still had the keys.  Even better those keys also fit my bag!  Hooray!

As I'd done with mine, today's bag was also given a spa treatment.  Many of the scuff marks were removed or lessened - and a liberal application of leather conditioner was given. I'll check tomorrow to see if more moisturiser is needed.  Erin had some 0000 steel wool, so I used that to give the metal fastenings a bit of attention.  I wasn't trying to make them look new, just a little brighter.  They've come up really well and I'll do the same on my bag (when Erin finds the rest of the steel wool).  

I'm very chuffed with our lockable luggage!  Total paid was $100 - $40 for mine and $60 for Nick's.  I reckon that was money well spent.  I'm keen to take both bags away on our next adventure, whenever/wherever that might be!

Staying home ...

We're living in very interesting times - and I've been revamping my garden as distraction from the ongoing world-wide chaos.

Of course, if anything grows/thrives as a result of these most recent efforts, it would be a marvelous bonus (and I'd be hugely chuffed)!

The first stage of my project was our back verandah.  It's used far less often over the hot summer months, so was looking neglected.  I re-potted various plants and have planted seeds for new herbs also.

Heavy rain in February restored green-ness to our yard and the back paddock.  Sadly the wet conditions provided excellent breeding conditions for mozzies and other bitey insects.  Fingers crossed their numbers dwindle as the weather cools.

My gardening efforts last year resulted in small amounts of home-grown produce.  It was a better yield than previously, so I am hopeful of even more success this year. 

I haven't ventured to Bunnings or any local nurseries to seek seedlings or plants.  I'm not sure whether those expeditions would be successful.  Instead I've decided to work with seeds already on-hand.  Erin grows some greens for lizard food and has contributed her seed packets also.  Between us we had quite a few leafy green varieties that are relatively quick growing, so those have been planted in the square beds. 

Some seeds have already passed their best-before date.  I've used them anyway, heartened by my kitchen bench sprouting experiments.  The alfalfa is sprouting nicely even though the seeds were to be used by 2015.  Mung beans of similar age have also done well. I'll try some other combinations while I'm waiting for the garden beds to start producing.

Last year I grew dwarf beans in the taller metal bed.  I might try those again - or some peas.  I'll do some more pondering before planting either.  (My right forearm is currently painful, so Nick has been treating the area with heat gel and massage.  Of course, I also need to pace myself more slowly to gain the most benefit from his assistance).

The large black pot has some tomato plants that still have a few flowers.  I'll leave them for now.  We might get a couple of extra tomatoes - if we're lucky!

Glad Bag!

We haven't done any camping this year but I haven't given up hope of going in the near future! I have a lovely pair of purple paisley cases that I use for more civilised travel but they aren't really the thing for camper trailer trips. (I tried them for our Nambucca holiday).

Drifta has released a premium range of leather-trimmed canvas weekender bags.  They are nearly $400 each (where similar from the standard range is $149.00).  A lot more than I intend to spend!

Nick and I were poking about in an antique shop today when I spotted this Gladstone bag. It was priced at $48 and seemed in great condition.  Nick wasn't keen but I was - and after some quick online price checking, I took the bag to the counter.

I'd thought that if I was prepared to haggle, I'd offer $40 but as it happened the seller gave the discount without my asking.  How good is that?!

Once home I set about cleaning my "new" purchase.  I vacuumed some small leaves from inside (praps herbs, not sure).

I then sprayed the outside lightly with Koh, before reading that mild soapy water was best for cleaning old leather.  Whoops - call me too gung-ho!  There was wool detergent downstairs and I used that in a bucket of just warm water to gently wash the leather.  The inside of the bag had a musty smell, so I cleaned that also and propped the bag open to dry in the fresh air.

I couldn't find my magic sponge, so used a tiny sprinkle of Ajax and a damp cloth to remove a couple of small scuff marks.  Next step was a generous application of Leather Dressing (purchased at the Ipswich Show a couple of years ago and regularly used for cleaning my Blundstone boots).  The leather drank that in!

The musty smell had lessened after cleaning but was still evident.  I've put a liberal dose of carb soda in the bag and shut it up.  I'll leave for a day or so before vacuuming out.  Fingers crossed that does the trick!

There is some light tarnish to the clasps and metal trim.  I might use some extra-fine steel wool on those but don't have any on-hand at the moment.

Bloomin' success!

It's a bit over a week since my last gardening update - and a lot has happened in that short space of time! I'm quite amazed by how quickly everything is coming along.  Of course, I'm also rather chuffed with so much success!

Lettuce seeds sprouted in just 4 days, not one or two weeks as noted on the packet. My cherry tomato plants and baby capsicum bush all have flowers.  I now have 14 bean seedlings, all growing wonderfully.

My peas and snowpeas are holding onto their intended sticks, their neighbours' sticks - and their neighbours!  It's really neat to watch them stretching out in search of support.

A few of the compost heap sunflowers have sprouted.  I'm not sure whether the pansies are doing anything at this stage.  I can see specks of green in sort-of the right area but they might just be grass!

I found the lid for the worm tower and have dropped a few vegie scraps down.  No worms yet but I remain hopeful.

There's more progress on the verandah. Yep, it's all happening!

My oregano is taking over it's terracotta pot.  I planted thyme seeds in the spare area and they sprouted several weeks ago but remain tiny.  I'm thinking they may need a pot of their own to really thrive.

Some bonus chilli seedlings are also in line for larger living quarters. The coriander seedlings are starting to develop their proper leaves- and the spring onions are looking good, too.

Happy to report that we're using some of our fresh herbs.  Erin's bearded dragon lizard has enjoyed a couple of basil leaves.  Good to have his vote of confidence!  Non-lizard family members have sampled the oregano and Italian parsley.  Even better, I trimmed the sage plant trying to encourage bushier growth.  Those cut leaves were so yum, crisp-fried in butter as a garnish on Saturday night's pasta!

And then there were two (or four)!

Yesterday, we bought a second Holman modular bed from Bunnings. Nick assembled it when we came home - after I cleared grass from the intended position. 

I already had a bag of garden soil as well as a generous half bag of mushroom compost leftover from the first bed(s), so we used those as filling.

Although I subscribe to (and read) Gardenate's email planting reminders for my climate zone I started my first garden bed in late April, so had missed opportunities to plant some vegetables I would regularly use. 

It occurred to me last night that those varieties may still be available as seedlings. Today was a local public holiday but our nearest Bunnings was open.  After careful consideration I chose a capsicum plant, some broccoli and zucchini seedlings and a pack of lettuce seeds.

I planted my new acquisitions into the second bed(s) this afternoon.  The soil was damp due to rain throughout the day.

When planting the seedlings, it became obvious I hadn't read the broccoli plant label properly.  From the picture, I thought they were broccolini seedlings - der!  Not to worry.  I found some broccoli seeds (a different variety) and have planted some of them as well. I'm a bit concerned about spacing for the zucchini but have planted them close to the side of the bed, hoping they'll spill over to the ground if necessary.

I really like how these beds look and enjoy seeing all the growing progress - up close or from our upstairs back verandah.  At this stage I'm not planning to buy any more beds though have thoughts of upcycling a couple of old pots with a can of spray paint.  They may become flower pots.  I did have some pansy seeds in my stash.  They were scattered just outside the first modular bed.  The site of the old "compost" heap has received some sunflower seeds.  I'm not sure either variety will sprout but they have a better chance in the ground than stored in a box! 

Peas and beans!

It's about two weeks since my last gardening post - and I now have plant babies, which is quite exciting!  It has become part of my morning routine to go downstairs and check on my gardening beds, with cup of tea in hand.

I'm recording progress every so often on my spreadsheet.  Radishes were first to break through the soil in the modular garden beds, closely followed by peas and snow peas.  All 12 peas sprouted but only two of 10 snow peas have emerged.   (The snow pea seeds had a best before date of August 2017, so I wasn't sure how successful they'd be).

The pea seedlings are now almost a week old and are growing quite quickly.  I gave the back row some satay skewer supports this evening, to guide them toward the chain-mesh fence.  I'm hoping that plan works.  I was going to rig some heavy string-lines for the front row but Nick suggested longer sticks as an easier method.  Fingers crossed peas are easily trained!

Given so many of the snow peas didn't make it I was losing hope for my beans, which were planted a day earlier and had the same expected germination range.  Yep, call me impatient!  I slept in on Mothers Day and hadn't done my usual morning rounds. I was surprised when Erin commented about the bean plants.  Where there had been nothing the previous day, six tall seedlings had grown overnight.  It was quite amazing!

A few more beans have surfaced since then.  I planted two dwarf varieties - butter and brown beauties.

There isn't any advice on the packets about height or whether they'll need support, so I'll do some more research.  It may be that they don't require any assistance - and that's OK, less effort for me!

In other progress - as well as the radishes, a few other tiny seedlings are poking through in the modular beds. I planted coriander and spring onion seeds in pots on the verandah and they have also sprouted.  My tomato seedlings are growing nicely, too.  There are even a few buds on one plant.  How good is that?!

I'm trying to propagate some succulent leaves.  They are in the blue bowl, which sits on our kitchen bench so I remember to mist them every so often.  That project started on 6 May.  It seems it may be another few weeks before I see any signs of success.  I remain hopeful!

The white PVC pipe near the tomato pot is a worm tower. Nick made it for me last year after watching some YouTube clips.  The theory is that food scraps are dropped down the pipe, which is open at the bottom.  (There is a lid for the top of the pipe, which I haven't yet fitted).  Worms access food via holes in the pipe, below ground level. I'll have to mound some more soil around the base cos one of the access holes is exposed - and I wasn't able to set the pipe any deeper.