Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Simons's Cat in 'Cat and Mouse'

Regular readers know I like this guy a lot. Here is his latest.



Cheers.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Here's something different.

Here is something I tried but never thought would work.

You see I've known for ages that you can bung an onion back into the soil after it has been harvested and stored and it will start growing again and go on to produce viable seed.

So when I came home from the supermarket with a hand full of purple dutch carrots I had a flash of inspiration and thought to myself, 'I wonder if I bung a couple of these back into the soil if they would start growing again and go on to produce viable seed?'

So I bunged them into the soil never expecting anything to happen except for them to go rotten in the ground.

These are carrots that were harvested I don't know how long ago and they have been kept in cold storage for I don't know how long hence my low expectations. But as you can see from the photo this is the result about four or five (I didn't make a note of when I planted them) weeks later and they are looking like they will go on to produce seed which I'll then use to plant more of these yummy carrots.

For me all I can say is if you don't know if something will or won't work at least give it a go and see what happens, you might be surprised like I have been.

If you stumble across this post then you can click here for a progress report.


Cheers and here's to heaps of purple dutch carrot seeds,

Stewart.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

13 things about Cucumbers.

 A facebook friend posted this 'Little Gem' of information about the cucumber an I was so stunned by the information included that I had to re post it here. 
I hope you find it as amazing as I did.
 
The original posting can be found on the link below.

 
 
 
 
 
WHAT A LITTLE GEM THE CUCUMBER IS, I WILL LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY NOW.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to someone who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems..
 
Cheers and have a cucumber rocking good veggie day.
 
Stewart.