tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28988382636126303042011-11-28T11:53:05.655+10:30Fumbling and flailing through our efforts to live a little leaner, a little meaner, and a whole lot greener. Watch our garden grow.Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.comBlogger601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-24522076518856725832009-04-28T09:28:00.002+09:302009-04-28T09:31:38.534+09:30

Whether as a means of inspiration, or a sense of some manner of purpose, it can be tempting to romanticize the lives of our forebears. Of this folly, I find women, in particular, are often guilty. We use romantic versions of nearly every lifestyle choice to bolster our spirits and convince us that we're doing the right thing, whether that thing is conquering a board room , raising a family or,

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-81100204433939104902009-04-23T22:33:00.001+09:302009-04-23T23:19:27.719+09:30

I, like most of you, am often a mess of common, niggling ailments. Migraines that sour my mood, sniffles that sap my energy, muscle aches that make the couch all too appealing, and who doesn't get a bout of insomnia now and again? In my small family of pill-poppers, we spend twenty or more dollars each month on treatments for each of these issues. We have pain killers, sleeping pills, allergy

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-44633824970559656362009-04-18T23:54:00.001+09:302009-04-19T10:01:22.422+09:30

We're moving. Wait, wait. No. We're not moving, yet. We are, however, in the process and mindset of preparing our little hovel for the market, and keeping a weather eye on house prices so we can find that precious little sweet spot that allows us an easy purchase while making buckets on our own sale. It's fun, really...Getting the house all primped like it's going on a first date. Unfortunately,

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-64176562914792763342009-04-14T14:44:00.004+09:302009-04-14T14:52:03.758+09:30

Perhaps it is my inborn American nature, inspired by the upcoming sacred holy time of Tax Day, but something about this time of year brings out my inner spreadsheet guru and has me thinking in terms of Compounded Interest and Adjusted Net Worth.One might think this would lead to a detailed description of how to scrimp, save, go frugal and add to your bottom line, but alas, I'm still figuring out

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-88136391756490153472009-04-07T10:33:00.004+09:302009-04-08T07:19:50.989+09:30

No season brings out my inner chef like Fall. While my warmer weather dishes drift toward the gourmet, something in the crisp chill of the autumn air, the frequency of grey, rainy days and long, clear nights inspires a deep craving for filling, richly colored dishes that no other season can bear. Two recent autumnal meals, in particular, have scratched this culinary itch.As a side note, today's

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-23385116802296394062009-04-03T09:09:00.002+10:302009-04-03T09:11:05.559+10:30

Silence may be golden, but it's a bit counterproductive for a blog. Sadly, I must announce the grim and violent exit of my beloved Samsung camera. She fell prey to the snarling devil beasts that are my dogs. The hubby, in his desire to allow us a bit of extra weekend shuteye, let pup and mom out of their room and let them roam. Alone. In the House. Without supervision. Destruction ensued and my

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-86113423207323914972009-03-28T08:10:00.001+10:302009-03-28T10:22:16.167+10:30

"Order is the shape upon which beauty depends" - Pearl S. Buck"Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work" - Flaubert"Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" - Albert Einstein"Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-84628232859282238812009-03-25T22:40:00.000+10:302009-03-25T22:45:00.916+10:30

Some days you wake up with thousands of words just itching to spill from your fingertips, and then there are days like today. So how about a tour of what's sowin' and growin' on the Suburban Plot, instead?Our poor, poor sisters. Some may remember the Three Sisters experiment. Well, two weeks of 45c+ temperatures sent two of our sisters running for colder climes, leaving only the pumpkin behind.

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-42277516040606727412009-03-23T10:28:00.002+10:302009-03-23T15:49:56.016+10:30

The first month of Puppydom is a relative slice of mudcake when compared to the second. Before that miraculous 4th week they are nearly 100% reliant on mom for all their wants and needs. After that? It's us they need! What is sometimes a daunting task for someone dealing with only one or two dogs, was cubed for our tribe of nine. Eleven, if you count the humans. Here is how the second month

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-869365690861095022009-03-21T10:20:00.007+10:302009-03-21T12:05:16.454+10:30

For the past three months our lives have been focused on exactly one thing. Puppies. Midwifing puppies, housing puppies, feeding puppies, cleaning puppies. Puppies! We just sent our last pup to it's new, loving home and have received reports back from owners and vets alike that, whatever we did, we did it right. I thought I'd share some details of our puppy-raising experience, stage by stage.

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-82996602115136934232009-03-19T12:17:00.002+10:302009-03-19T12:21:08.427+10:30

It's strange what circumstances bring us to a state of reflection. It could be anything, really. Some people find their peace on a country stroll. Others prefer their reverie with foamed milk, two sugars and a biscotti. And still others forget about the entire concept until something reminds them that you don't require permission to daydream.I'm a member of that last group.It took three weeks of

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-81543430834488694632009-02-09T11:49:00.000+10:302009-02-09T11:49:05.738+10:30

Bleak. Stark. Still. We'd heard the stories and should've known, what with For Sale signs declaring the area's decline, that our drive through the towns of the Lower Murray would dampen the mood of our day.Imagine you've based your life on a river. You fish for food and profit, you provide riverboats and tours for visitors. You do what your parents did, and their parents. You farm, live, exist on

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-56799569303922854032009-02-07T21:29:00.001+10:302009-02-07T21:30:23.859+10:30

When Autumn and Spring drift into these Australian lands, I can share recipes to my heart's delight, as the weather of both northern and southern hemispheres is similar. But, in these simmering summer months, I find it hard to get in the sharing spirit, knowing only half of my friends can relate. So, here's the solution. One hot and one cold! I hope you enjoy these treats. They keep me and mine

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-64449530835585817892009-02-03T11:50:00.000+10:302009-02-03T11:50:37.363+10:30

The Realm of Home Improvement is a special level of hell reserved for masochists and wide eyed dreamers. You fix and change, renovate and re-do, and you always find more waiting on the horizon. But my, how we love it! The scent of sawdust is a near aphrodisiac and nothing beats the instant gratification of a splotched, hopeless wall suddenly gleaming to life with fresh paint.If, like us, you have

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-26733504051233185632009-01-29T15:48:00.000+10:302009-01-29T15:48:41.459+10:30

It's hot. No, that's not right. It's blisteringly hot. Yes, that nearly covers it. With "vacation" winding to a close on the Suburban Plot, we find ourselves in the belly of a record-breaking beast of a heatwave. In just the past two days we've scaled thermal heights I thought impossible outside of Death Valley, seeing temperatures of 122 F (50 C) in sunshine, 113 F (45 C) in the shade. Oh yes,

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-38854591556725574812008-12-31T07:50:00.001+10:302008-12-31T07:52:12.290+10:30

Christmas and Hanukkah have passed us by, expanded waistlines and shredded piles of spent gift wrap have been left in their wake. Tonight, the eve of the new year, will conclude my first holiday season in the land down under.It's been a busy season, jam packed with home project mania and brief forays into the real world for family dinners and shopping trips, but all went beautifully well, in

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-23080016442096807492008-12-22T08:28:00.000+10:302008-12-22T08:28:45.707+10:30

The mania of remodeling, renewing, and refurbishing continues on the Suburban Plot, holidays notwithstanding. The stack of dramatic before-and-afters piles higher with every day and, still, the To Do List remains chocked full of fun for the whole family.There was a fair bit of good fortune involved in this weekend's tasks. You see, more than six months ago, even before our wedding, the husband

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-61960494543497243102008-12-18T00:03:00.000+10:302008-12-18T00:03:52.434+10:30

Few things scream Deep South like the mild tang of green tomatoes. Other cultures dabble in the land of the un-reddened, unripened fruit, but Southerners embrace it with big, wide, opened arms. With the pending harvest of dozens taunting us in its tempting green state, this Southern American girl caved and cooked up a couple green tomato delights, this week, thanks to the enormous third-of-a-kilo

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-16693954046404408102008-12-17T08:29:00.000+10:302008-12-17T08:29:45.112+10:30

Scrape and patch, plaster, sand, and paint. That is the rhythm of the week. Another dragon in the forest of Phase 1 Re-dos has been slain! What once was a dingy, lumpy, bumpy bathroom with pink marbled tiles and a blue tub and basin, is now smooth, cool, and blue...with pink marbled tiles and a blue tub and basin. But, that's why it's called Phase 1.Hubby dutifully smoothed out the walls, getting

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-44138105626684157062008-12-15T08:58:00.000+10:302008-12-15T08:58:58.724+10:30

Yet another report crossed the airwaves, in the past month, telling of tainted ingredients in commercial dog food products. Last time, it was Melamine causing organ failure. This time? Salmonella in the chicken meal used to make a few major brands.It's unfortunate that folks can't trust the foods they buy for their best furry friends, and it makes us even more resolved to provide good, whole

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-16958365934743989062008-12-13T23:59:00.001+10:302008-12-14T01:30:38.069+10:30

My, oh my, another busy weekend on the Suburban Plot. The garden has received some unprecedented, and much needed, rain, and thus has lost our focus for the past few days. So, our attentions have remained inward. Though, my daily inspection did reveal fresh wheaty, tasseled plumage sprouting proudly from the 3 Sisters Corn, and a few summer broccoli and cabbage seedlings pushing their way toward

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-12735172979670039492008-12-11T22:33:00.000+10:302008-12-11T22:34:07.165+10:30

Have you ever begun a project, which led to a project, which led to a project, and the next time you looked up, several days had floated by? Yeah, that's the deal on the Suburban Plot.In the past few days we've torn out a kitchen, put in another one, rearranged the living and dining rooms, planned out floor refinishing and begun ripping up vinyl, bought gear for turning standard door into a

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-36462457960097735102008-12-08T07:20:00.002+10:302008-12-08T08:25:37.537+10:30

Our cherry harvest boomed in, this weekend. All eight cherries of it. But we're really quite happy with that count as we didn't even know we had a cherry tree until two months ago when hubby carved it out from amongst a veil of suffocating vines. There are still another dozen, or so, cherries on the tree, and oh boy are they sweet. Like little balls of honey, these bright red treats.So, after

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-42881478159929197802008-12-05T13:55:00.000+10:302008-12-05T13:55:55.747+10:30

Anyone who's known me for any real length of time knows I have a sick obsession with spreadsheets. I can do anything, anything, given enough time and access to Microsoft Excel. It takes very little to set me off on a tabular tailspin, entering random figures, thoughts, plans, and daydreams into calculable formats.Today's obsession came in the form of estimating the total amount of food, in

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-80798013226972074982008-12-04T21:59:00.000+10:302008-12-04T22:00:19.663+10:30

On the rare, drizzly Spring day in South Australian, one is inspired to forget that the seasons are reflected in this hemisphere, and that forgetfulness allows you to pretend your way back to Autumn with its rich, hearty flavors.Today was just such a day. The fridge, bursting as it was with veggies soon to go off, tempted me into satisfying my craving for a meaty, sweet dish of dark day comfort

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-8326622335570247042008-12-03T22:55:00.001+10:302008-12-03T22:57:33.330+10:30

The scene was grim, Tuesday afternoon, as I sorted through the piles of junk mail we'd received in the past three weeks. Piles and heaps and heaps of piles of tree pulp turned into ads promising the best deals on holiday food, toys, roof repairs, and consumer electronics.Consumer. Consumption. That's the word for it. We are voracious consumers, and no matter how much we avoid playing into the "

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-82459694306770341542008-12-03T13:48:00.001+10:302008-12-03T13:51:18.609+10:30

Another decade has passed, this one coming in with a roar and going out with something like a meow. Given all that has changed since my last birthday, I'm pretty grateful for such a peaceful exit to my twenties.In the last year, I've moved half way across the world, married my hardworking man, become a homeowner, begun a greener lifestyle, and have become doggy-mom to the best behaved canine

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-10293101075464904902008-11-29T22:18:00.005+10:302008-11-29T22:32:05.661+10:30

The day began with bowls and spoons, whisks and cups, and a whole lot of mashed, roasted pumpkin. With Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks chick-flicks keeping me company on the television, I whipped up some delicious pumpkin bread, thanks to the recipe Mom sent from the Paint Bank Ladies Auxiliary cookbook. An adjustment here, a substitution there and this country women's recipe helped to produce two

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-60341809396326086602008-11-28T08:30:00.002+10:302008-11-28T08:35:07.691+10:30

Here it is, the American harvest festival day, and here I am, still planting seeds! These beauties recently appeared in our mailbox.Imagine my glee, a few weeks ago, when I ran across a random post on cheap living journal, offering seed samples from a commercial farm supplier. New world records were set with the speed I used to e-mail the lovely girl offering the freebies. Before I knew it, an

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-21841746642312411132008-11-26T23:01:00.002+10:302008-11-26T23:06:31.210+10:30

When a person ups and moves across the globe they are faced with unusual decisions. High amongst these is the selection of what stays and what comes along for the journey. Unfortunately, for my move, holiday decorations found their way into the stay-behind pile.A few dear items made the trip. Treasured ornaments, the dreidel hand-carved by my father, a couple charmingly dilapidated votives that

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-36896399278981591532008-11-25T08:27:00.004+10:302008-11-25T08:41:16.334+10:30

Last evening, I was taking the pooch out for a wander in the front yard when our neighbor, Janet, dropped by. She has been thoroughly charmed by our sweet pup, but the dog seemed to be an easy entree into what she really wanted from us.Janet is a lovely grandma of Scottish extraction, who lives to our left with her garden-mad husband, Eddie. She's often seen strolling across the street to visit

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-45211265323305783352008-11-24T16:00:00.000+10:302008-11-24T16:00:12.686+10:30

Once in awhile, I find myself in a prolonged haze, with apathy creeping in. It's times like these that the old movies and chick-flicks find their way to my television screen. Naps become frequent and lengthy, and I start fantasizing about things currently out of reach, like renting a van and driving across India, or buying a stone shell of a Tuscan house and becoming an olive farmer. Nothing at

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-3619497089434787352008-11-23T13:11:00.004+10:302008-11-23T17:58:48.511+10:30

Photo by Bishops Adelaide HillsYet again, we find our food bill creeping northwards. Ironic, as fuel prices have finally dropped nearer to cheaper oil markets. Still weeks away from any real harvest, and more than a month until we will have our chooks, we again find ourselves struggling to cut back on grocery costs.One possibility we've been considering for awhile is the purchase of whole or

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-1884566616899705522008-11-22T07:59:00.000+10:302008-11-22T07:59:58.405+10:30

Oh, how the girls have grown!Sister Corn is reaching for the clouds, growing more shoots than any corn plant I've ever seen. Sister Bean has curious tendrils, finding their serpentine way around Corn's long, leafy arms. And Sister Pumpkin is not to be outdone, spreading her vines around the base of it all.Visually, it's quite impressive how these three, with no guidance or assistance, have

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-3454400913788332992008-11-21T08:36:00.001+10:302008-11-21T08:38:07.449+10:30

I'm not one for spoiling our furry friends. I do my best to treat dogs like dogs. On the other hand, I love to cook and will take any possible opportunity to try something fun in the kitchen.So, each week, I'll be whipping up Laney's biscuits and dog food, trying to find the right balance of nutrition to plump up our bone-skinny pup. I hope you enjoy! Oh, don't forget that nearly every recipe is

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-12103152811748381772008-11-20T08:25:00.001+10:302008-11-20T08:27:50.359+10:30

Tom Petty sang it right, the waiting is the hardest part. When it comes to a first-year garden, you plant, you weed, you water, and...you wait.Sometimes seeds sprout, sometimes they fail. Sometimes the heat abuses your young plants, sometimes they survive. Sometimes Mother Nature uproots the whole works, sometimes she brings a bit of rain. After awhile, you really start hating the word "sometimes

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-22891814322064350492008-11-18T11:20:00.000+10:302008-11-18T11:20:36.383+10:30

Weight loss and gardening...really? Is there a connection? Of course there is!We all want to be healthy, fit, and many of us want to slip into slimmer party clothes for the days when we've dusted the dirt from our heels. But who has time (or money) for gyms, memberships, classes, and equipment? Not I, said the City Mouse.I began my own weight loss journey at the end of Aussie winter, sometime

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-31630990582416658692008-11-17T07:48:00.000+10:302008-11-17T07:48:15.842+10:30

It was a gorgeous weekend, followed by days of intense catch-up work on my latest writing assignment. But let's forget work and talk about the beauty that the Barossa Valley shared with us, last weekend.The entire trip came about as a gift from hubby's boss. A lovely, considerate favor of a pre-paid cabin in a quaint little caravan park on the edge of Tanunda. With our lower cash-flow, these days

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-84384314650360342052008-11-14T21:39:00.007+10:302008-11-21T08:42:17.430+10:30

Oh blogaverse, how I have neglected thee! And the first thing I must do upon my return is to ask for a little advice.Someday soon, I will spill all on the organic, green beauty that is the Barossa Wine Valley, but for now, I need to introduce a new family member. This is our, as yet unnamed (though we're leaning toward Laney), newly adopted dog! She is a beauty, and will be making her way through

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-76906691868433147102008-11-08T06:51:00.003+10:302008-11-08T07:09:07.142+10:30

We had a small realization as we sipped our morning coffee and began preparing to leave on our wine country adventure. We made this exact same trip six months ago, to the day. My dear friend, Annette, was in town for our wedding and we three musketeers drove off to the Barossa for a day of tipsy fun. Funny how things work out that way.It's harder than I thought to leave our budding garden. Just

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-34927265546439317342008-11-06T12:03:00.003+10:302008-11-06T12:35:22.124+10:30

Have you ever gotten to that place where if you sow another seed or pluck another weed, you might just take a torch to the whole damned lot? With the time and space that separates we few, proud gardeners, it's easy to feel as if you're the only one.I am in that place.I swear to all that's holy, if I dig one more spadeful of dirt for our patio, or transplant one more seedling, I will go insane!

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-48426383886052699152008-11-05T09:52:00.000+10:302008-11-05T09:52:49.532+10:30

Photo by Marilyn JaneIt'd be difficult to let a day as monumental this pass without comment. But, it's not the presidential election that compels me, today. It's not even the most controversial of the California measures up for vote. It's a lesser-known California proposition that would prevent some of the cruelty heaped onto factory-farmed livestock. So, please join me around my soap-box for

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-65314233020738789652008-11-04T07:16:00.013+10:302008-11-04T10:11:45.462+10:30

Today finds me sipping strong coffee on the shaded front porch of a sandstone house, with a sea view off in the distance. Rolling, faded-green hills surround me, stitched with fenceline and hedgerows. If you look to the right, you might glimpse a few wallabies sneaking past the acre of hard-worked vegetables. On the left, a pond gurgles, nestled in a horse-shoe of fragrant lemon myrtle and

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-79072740809486306502008-11-02T23:10:00.008+10:302008-11-22T08:02:06.564+10:30

In the way-back genetic machine, it's a fair estimate that most old American families have a smidgen of Native American (or American Indian) blood. You can see it in our culture, music, food, and in the few rare gems we seem to recall from that aboriginal past.The Three Sisters Garden, a blend of corn, bean, and pumpkin, is a traditional method of Companion Planting used from time immemorial, now

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-32131775196835821892008-11-01T07:29:00.008+10:302008-11-01T09:17:11.950+10:30

Halloween is, by far, my favorite holiday. It's a day of pure fun, experienced with inner-child abandon and blatant disregard for sensible things like "No candy before supper," and "Don't wear that!" Halloween is also an excellent time for building a bit of community spirit and getting to know the locals.I grew up in a land where All Hallows Eve is the second most money-making holiday, after

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-66987851892317849442008-10-30T09:20:00.018+10:302008-10-31T10:22:15.788+10:30

All we hear in the news, these days, is that the world's economy is faltering. But we don't need news reports to drive it home that property values are stagnating, fuel prices aren't matching up with the decline of oil cost, and food prices are higher than ever.Take heart! In our home, this financial necessity has birthed some lovely invention, especially in the kitchen. I've spent a good deal of

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-86323952754099739812008-10-29T07:29:00.006+10:302008-10-29T09:07:31.585+10:30

It's so sad. It's waking up to wind gusts of 25 kph (18 mph), looking out your kitchen window as you pour the morning coffee, and seeing three green strings thrashing, loose and wild, when they ought to be tight and sure and holding up your small tomato crop. It's such a peculiar sadness.I've never had my own vegetable patch before, even though my weekends growing up often involved indentured

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-58450217407384523462008-10-28T10:30:00.004+10:302008-10-28T10:47:15.487+10:30

I'm happy to announce that I've become a writer for the quirky eco-news website Environmental Graffiti.They saw fit to put my latest article, 20 Wonders of the Microscopic World on today's front page! Further down, they've also featured my story, Biofuel Racing Hits Atlanta.So, for environment related stories with a major sense of off-beat humor, that's the place to be!

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-85961545647542158332008-10-27T20:36:00.011+10:302008-10-28T00:22:02.987+10:30

A lot of people use a lot of things as a measure of personal superiority. Being "greener than thou" is definitely one of these measures.What you see here are (click on image above for full view) my current estimated personal environmental footprint and (click on image below for full view) my footprint at this time, one year ago. Now, instinct may lead to congratulations for cutting my eco-impact

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-85804428682760415532008-10-26T00:50:00.001+10:302008-10-28T09:23:08.730+10:30

Bonkers weather and gale-force winds have been kicking the crap out of our semi-established veggies. In the course of the last week, we've been as cold as 3c (37.4f) and as hot as 33c (91.4f)!!! That's just not fun for a garden that's really just finding it's roots.Saturday was spent in garden-free pursuits, what with the oppressive temperatures, hot north winds, zero humidity, and a cloud-cover

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-18105690500149162002008-10-25T12:16:00.004+10:302008-10-28T09:22:20.880+10:30

Photo by Dawn PerryA handful of my friends have dropped by The Suburban Plot and are envious of my new found space for gardening. As a former apartment-dweller, with nought but a balcony to call my own, I wanted to make a list of tips on what someone with limited wiggle-room can grow for themselves.Of course, most of these require a fair bit of sun, but you don't need a lot of space to eat fresh

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-67981272001834882052008-10-24T23:24:00.005+10:302008-10-28T09:23:31.419+10:30

I had a brilliant idea tonight. A Late Night Drinking and Digging Party!This was the test-drive for a future night when we'll actually invite over some age-appropriate family and friends and try it full-scale. Tonight? Just me and the man.DISCLAIMER: Don't try this at home without careful attention to safety, nor should you get so drunk that fun becomes danger. Thanks!It was great! We drank, and

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-17287962081795609752008-10-23T08:03:00.005+10:302008-10-28T09:24:04.132+10:30

Photo by Barry AllwrightDune. Arrakis. Desert Planet.Not quite—that's a view from the Northern Territory of Oz—but it can often feel that way in my neck of the woods.In Australia, there is a crude-but-accurate saying that the weather is "drier than a nun's nasty." Okay, so that's really gross, but it sums up just how little rainfall we really get. And I live outside the driest of the dry, when it

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-82560516007088986712008-10-22T07:14:00.012+10:302008-10-28T09:24:43.763+10:30

Man can not live by veggie patch alone...Okay, well, maybe he could, but I sure can't! I adore my veggie patch, and the beautiful old fruit trees on the land here, but I need some flowers and greenery to make my heart go pitter-pat.There's no real shortage of non-food planty goodness in our plot, but it can always use a little help. We just started digging up what will eventually be our patio (

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-15288723619441846842008-10-21T22:24:00.006+10:302008-10-28T09:25:02.842+10:30

There are few things, I've discovered, more satisfying than growing beans. I planted these climbing lovelies in our "three sisters" garden on October 10th, and only a few short days later they began to sprout. Just days beyond sprouting, they've unfolded their hunched little bodies and grown nearly as tall as the corn, planted two weeks prior. It's a small pleasure, perhaps, but a beautiful one.

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-32102772666551278292008-10-17T21:31:00.011+10:302008-10-28T09:26:05.989+10:30

plot n.1. a. A small piece of ground, generally used for a specific purpose: a garden plot. b. A measured area of land; a lot.2. A ground plan, as for a building; a diagram.3. The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama.4. A secret plan to accomplish a hostile or illegal purpose; a schemeThis blog exists in response to each of the four above definitions of plot. Sure, in simplest

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-90338509864470578472008-10-10T21:13:00.003+10:302008-10-28T09:27:02.796+10:30

Drip irrigation is an excellent water-saver, and it's good for your plants too. It allows precise, measured delivery of water to the roots of the plant, helping to prevent watering nearby weeds, or encouraging bolting on certain plants which respond badly to being watered from above.Bunnings (the Aussie Home Depot) currently sells pre-drilled 30 metre drip irrigation hoses for around $37, and

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-23455941333600224142008-10-09T15:07:00.001+10:302008-10-28T09:27:31.362+10:30

Photo by Rob FrieselIn our naivete, as previously explained, we assumed life wouldn't ever interfere with garden glory. In our poorly worked carrot patch, I had sprinkled an entire packet of seeds in rows occupying a space little larger than a square metre. Fools!Our carrots grew, miraculously enough, though at the most ridiculously slow pace imaginable. Now, some may ask why this was a problem

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-45207060898504217592008-09-30T09:11:00.004+09:302008-11-21T08:43:56.868+10:30

A veggie patch is an enigmatic and emotional thing, to be sure. You feel passion for it when you begin, frustration toward it as it struggles to grow, hatred for it as pulling weeds and methodical watering become your obsession, and finally joy as you harvest something from your own backyard.Lemme tell ya.. I'm deeply in the frustration mode. As lush as my yard may appear to passersby, it is

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2898838263612630304.post-55326294187728615552008-09-28T07:26:00.001+09:302008-10-28T09:28:25.140+10:30

This is me, The City Mouse, and my suburban born-and-bred husband of four months. Don't look like your vision of fruit & veg farmers? Well, we're not!Not so very long ago, I was sitting in a pimped-out office building in the heart of profitable-non-profitville in Washington, D.C. My days were filled with site performance reports, metrics analysis, millions of dollars in advertising accounts, and

Kelly the City Mousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.com0