Enticing Weather

What wonderful weather we have been having, rainy days interspersed with warm sunny ones.  Perfect weather to entice you into the garden or to start a new outdoor project.  Both of which I accomplished.

Unfortunately this month started with a nasty incident with the landlady of the grumpy tenant across the driveway.  She said she heard I was throwing rubbish onto his place. I denied it but she said she believed him not me!  He had accused me of throwing a pizza box into his carport, the funny thing is I don’t eat shop made pizza, I make my own, and he has them home delivered! The other thing is I’m the one who keeps the place tidy of rubbish! It was in fact the high winds we had been having which also blew rubbish into my place, including a pizza box, the difference was I put it in the bin without blaming someone for it.

This tenant had also accused Kath, another neighbour, of hitting him with her car, which he also reported to his landlady, who then also accused Kath.  Kath said if it had been true, he would have reported the incident to the police!  I decided it wasn’t worth getting upset about the accusations as I knew they were untrue, so I came before the Lord, forgave her and her tenant and left them in His Hands.  It’s comforting to know the Lord sees all.  The Bible reminds me that vengeance is the Lord’s not mine. (Hebrews 10:30) Why should I stress over an untruth.  Having prayed about it and committed it to the Lord I had a real peace come over me.  A few minutes later my doorbell rang. It was another neighbour from across the road, offering me some terracotta pots and plants.  God is so gracious. What a blessing, just when I needed a distraction and cheering up.

When I told Kath that I have forgiven both of these antagonists and refused to let their callous words hurt me or rob me of my peace, she was surprised and said she had tossed and turned all night thinking about their behaviour, but agreed next time she would try not to let it affect her.

Glenda is my gardening buddy from church.  She has recently started helping out with the coffee run on Tuesday, helping us get coffees out to the teachers at the school.  While I clean up, she does the church garden, then often comes back to my place for an iced coffee and lunch before returning to the school where she mentors one of the children through Kids Hope. This is a program that helps assist children who are struggling at school. One Friday we decided to go out for lunch, followed by a trip to Bunnings and then our favourite desert, crème brulee, at Toms just down the road from me.  It was a full day, a full car and full tummies by the time we got home. I had bought most of the supplies for my new project, which is a permanent bird net over the fig tree – star pickets and small gauge chicken wire.  Hopeful it will also keep the rats out!  I was also planning to get most of the work done before the rains, which were predicted in three days’ time and before the fig tree has put out more leaves or grown any higher! But things didn’t go to plan as I’d hoped and I’m still midway through the project.

That night I woke around midnight with a thought (much of my inspiration comes during these early wakeful hours): if I keep the birds out permanently, then who is going to eat the bugs. I have been seeing a butcher bird visit my garden, looking under all the leaves, jumping from one branch or stick to another exploring every nook and cranny. He didn’t seem to mind me standing watching him as he tilted his head from one side to the other as he peered under the foliage. I would hate to keep him from his ordained livelihood of eliminating my garden of pests.  This led me to an idea of leaving an opening like a flap which can be closed up once the figs begin to ripen, the rest of the time it would be open for the birds, who will hopefully learn how to come and go through the gap.

My next challenge was how to get the netting over the structure.  I had bought four 2.4mt star pickets which were to go into holes I’d dug. My neighbour Kath helped me secure one as I poured in the quick setting cement. The others I did by mixing the cement and pouring it into the holes, then holding the picket as straight as possible while it set enough to let go.  I think I did quite well, except for the last one which has a bit of a slant on it but it will suffice.

Another area that needed a bit of thought was how to attach the thin rods of metal which I’d previously used to hold the net off the tree.  I wanted to reuse them to do a similar job of giving a bit of support and structure like a roof, which would also give it a dome shape.  It took quite a bit of mulling over before I came up with some sort of a plan: using the existing poly-pipe which had held it in the ground I drilled holes into each of the plastic pipes and screwed them onto the star pickets then wired the rods holding them upright against the pickets. It was then I realised I had needed more star pickets, so I returned to Bunnings for three more, two of which I hoped would work well for the small shade cloth which I’ve been trying to finish since two summers ago!  I had been waiting for a friend to help me with putting in a few poles, but decided to go ahead on my own in preparation for the warmer weather, as I have had to use a makeshift shade for the past 3 years.

One of the challenges I face in my work in the garden is the need for an extra pair of hands, especially now that I have to be careful of my broken finger. One of the trials of being single!

While digging the holes for the star pickets, I took some soil out to test the acid and alkaline levels, to see if it could help me find out why three of my native plants have died. I was blown away with how alkaline my soil is! It registered the highest on the soil testing kit!  No wonder my plants didn’t survive; although many Perth costal native plants do grow in these high alkaline, sandy soils, it was obvious why these ones didn’t. So now, after the cage construction is complete, I will plant three cockies tongues which I grew from seed.  They are native to this area, so I’m hoping they will survive. I have also sprinkled sulphur over the rest of my garden, to be watered in with the next lot of rains, generously putting it around my fruit trees as most fruit bearing trees prefer less alkaline soil.  I’m praying this will help them retain their fruit too.  Some praiseworthy news is I have seen new green shoots on the persimmon sapling. Hallelujah!  I wasn’t sure it had survived the heat of the summer.  I’ve now put up more shade cloth, which I’m hoping will help this year.

Some very sad news which I’m feeling devastated about and finding hard to share is that I found a very bloated body of one of the baby bobtails floating upside down in my duckweed pond.  I was so upset to think I was possibly the one who had caused this accident. The pond is far too deep to have a stone inside for them to climb out on, so I’m going to have to think of something else.

During a three day pause between rain storms, I was able to get most of my new garden structure up as well as a walk through Star Swamp en route to a dental check-up.  The bush is glorious at this time of the year with an abundance of spring flowers in an array of colours. Venturing off the beaten path to take some photos I heard some rustling in the grasses and thought it might be a snake, but was surprised to see two tiny quail. My friend Kath said she had seen a quenda.  These small marsupials are a type of bandicoot whose numbers are starting to increase here in the swamp.  Unfortunately we still have feral cats and even foxes which cause so much havoc amongst Australian’s native wildlife.

Another clear day and I grabbed the opportunity to get back out into the garden. I dug the last hole for the remaining star picket, steading the picket on the now dead Geraldton wax before pouring in the rapid setting cement.  The following day I was again busy in the garden, this time repotting, planting, and digging out the leaking fishpond, replacing it with a plastic container leaving it about 5 cm off the ground to try to deter the bobtails from falling in. A friend gave me some of my Mum’s garden pots she no longer needed; they have since been filled. I rerigged the solar fountain which, praise the Lord is still working, and covered the duckweed pond with a steel mesh hoping this will keep my little lizard family out.  My heart broke a second time when unfortunately there was another death, a week after the last baby died in the same pond!  So I put some of the bird netting over the mesh.  Praise the Lord I’ve since seen the two adults so I’m praying there will be more offspring this year.  After a full day in the garden I was grateful for my Shiatsu massage pillow; it’s been getting a good workout lately.  It certainly was a great bargain for $40!

Having completed our work on the outreach survey, Rob and I ventured out once again on Saturday to share the Gospel. I had prayed for boldness and God’s leading, so with a heart of intrepidation but also a sense of urgency, we met at our usual spot at Trigg Beach.  I spotted Rob talking with someone as I approached.  He greeted me, inviting me to join the conversation with Rene who had approached him to admire his car. We had a very interesting chat about all sorts of things before we offered to pray for his back, which he had told us was bothering him. Then offering Rene a tract, I wrote on the back the numbers for church and my contact mobile.  Early Sunday morning I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from Rene who was inquiring about the times of our services.  He came along for the 10:30am service, where I was able to link him up with Rob and some of the elders who invited him along to the men’s group. Rene said he really enjoyed the service and was looking forward to coming again and joining in the Men’s Biz.  I felt so blessed as a result of being obedient to the Lord’s leading to get back out witnessing.  Rob later told me he had heard that Rene had fitted in well with the Men’s Biz and had enjoyed himself.

School holidays have begun and my friend Sarah was now free to catch up.  I took the local bus to Hillarys, where we met for an ice cream and coffee before driving to King’s Park to stroll through the wild flowers.  We knew if we didn’t go then, it might be too late as the wildflower season is coming to its end. We walked over 4km along the paths through different garden areas which were in brilliant display with masses of everlastings throughout the gardens.  It was amazing to see how different, intricate and colourful each flower and plant was. God’s handiwork in all its glory!

The following day even though storms were predicted I was up early and out jogging by 5:45am. It was a beautiful, still, not too cold morning which enticed me down to the beach for my first swim for the season. The water was freezing but so refreshing.  I came prepared with fleecy track pants and skivvy, which I changed into after a cold shower at the beach to wash off the salt.  It still took me a bit to warm up after coming home.

Our units have finally had the owners meeting after one year reprieve.  I was pleasantly surprised how smoothly it went and relieved there were no accusations or grievances aired.  The following day I woke feeling terrible; I thought I must be coming down with something! I’d woken during the night then fallen asleep just before dawn and dosed off and on till I finally got up at 10am for breakfast. I spent the rest of the day recuperating, trying to regain my strength, giving my body time to heal.

Oh yes, my broken finger, thanks for asking.  I still wear the finger stall but it’s getting better. After 10 weeks, it’s still tender to the touch but we’re getting there.

Photos:  1. Pimelea Spectabilis – Kings Park    2. Unknown native flower    3. Large eucalyptus flowers    4. Bluebells from my garden     5. King Park flower display    6. Sarah at Kings Park

Prayer & Praise Points:

Praise the Lord for this beautiful spring weather, the wildflowers and friends to enjoy them with.

Please continue to pray with me that this virus will come under control, and that we will soon be able to open up the country without fear of it getting out of control.

Continue to pray for Afghanistan and all those in danger there. Pray that the authorities there will fulfil their promises of peace and humane rule.

Praise the Lord for our freedoms and prosperity which we often take for granted.

Rejoice with me over Kat’s news that her leg has healed well and the brace has now been removed.

Please continue to pray for my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat to come to know Christ’s love for them.