The Update

So, we've been without internet for a while...but that just meant more time for the Shouse & garden. In addition to the Big Bed, we have more tomatoes in those 'holes' left my my nemesis the earwigs (& milipedes, apparently). I'm going to have to pull out my old ammunition - the beer traps! Sadly, (but not really) MyMan doesn't drink so I may have to hit MyDad's fridge for a soldier to fall on that grenade. I think the native pine is poisoning or overshadowing one of my beds so I may have to rethink what goes in there...I might risk some of the random zucs, cucs and melons I've got left over. The beans have fallen victim to the creepy crawlies so I might be trying them again, perhaps I'll even just throw a few in the failed seedling pots I still have left and pray. But the corn is looking good, about 15cm high some of it. I can tell the difference now between sunflowers and beans now they're past their first few leaves and I've got a few of both surviving. The chickenwire 'trellis' is up for the random peas. One of the herb gardens is infinitely more successful than the other so we know where to plant the tomatoes in the future as my 'spares' are going wild in the Eastern bed tucked between catmint and coriander. Tomatoes in the big pots with basil are booming. Aloe Vera has had too much water, Cardamon has had too much or too little heat, but they're hanging on. MyMan has been busily painting walls and hanging up artwork as directed by me, as well as hauling in those items of furniture from my place that pass both of our approvals for the long-term cohabitation of the Shouse (be buggered if I'm hauling anything in and out of utes that I'm not going to want for the next few years). As a result he's hit himself in the hand with a sledgehammer, slammed his elbow in cramped quarters and nearly put a screw threw his hand trying to drill screws into stone without pilotholes when TheToddlerTerror ran cackling from the room and tossed his $100 drillbit into the washing pile. After folding every piece of washing, moving couches, checking in DVD players (just in case) MyMan waited till payday to replace it (and buy a spare as well) TTT was plucking at the fuzzy blanket I keep over the ugly green couch in MyMan's bedroom and smugly returned to us the bit. MyMan now has THREE expensive drillbits...as well as a drilled hand. TTT has his own playroom, the teens have their own TV & DVD and the place is starting to look like a real home (not a pretty home, but a loved one). We have a PingPong table now and some space to put it now TheOwner has moved his caravan (still waiting on mains water & the removal of 24 bales of mouldy wool though). But moving the van allowed for MyMan to arrange his fishing gear and tools in OCD-approved straight lines on the shed walls. We also have a contract, a deposit and we're waiting on bank approval. Fingers crossed...