Mermaids

Just as January closed, Perth went into a Covid lockdown for five days.  Sunday 31 January I went to pick up the left-over bread and found the shelves bare!  The panic buying had begun again.  Don’t people know supermarkets go on as usual as we are allowed to do essential shopping? There are no toilet paper shortages because we make our own!  And what’s more it’s only for FIVE DAYS!  My freezer needs emptying from stuff that’s been there for months and my garden is producing some greens still so I should be ok even if I weren’t allowed to go shopping, but I am!

The lockdown didn’t slow me down, in fact I found a heap of things to do which amazed me, as I thought I was getting on top of the to-do-list!  I can’t believe the two big pots of freesia bulbs have all started to come up and it’s not even autumn yet!  This meant I had to transplant both lots of bulbs into my garden as quickly as possible.  I didn’t want to have any more bulbs in pots as they didn’t flower very well last year, so the plan was to plant them around the base of the roses under my lounge window.  Hopefully this will mean they will not get so hot and will have abundant flowers.  I still have a bucket full of bluebells that need a spot in my garden… I’m not sure where!  Of the seeds I planted, only 6 of the tomatoes came up.  These went into pots as they will need to be moved with the sun as it disappears from my garden in the winter.

Another thing I have been meaning to do since returning from my last trip to Asia was to fix the wheel on my carryon cabin bag.  I had forgotten it was broken when I went to Geelong for my sister Jen’s 60^th birthday November two years ago, so now was the time to fix it.  Praying before I got started that it wouldn’t be too difficult, I unzipped the inner lining to see what I might be able to do. There was a screw and washer loose in the bottom of the bag, but that wasn’t the cause. I checked out both wheels and found that one had a small metal plate that the other was missing.  Praise God it was also floating around in the lining. Now the challenge to get it back in, as there didn’t seem to be much room to work with and nothing to unscrew to get it back in. I did unscrew a piece of cardboard, plastic covered backing board which did enable me to get a bit closer. After much wriggling, pushing, jiggling and prayer it slipped into place. I was elated! I then sort of glued it into place re-screwing the backing board. God-willing this will last till my traveling days are over as it is my favourite travel bag. It’s great for cabin luggage and expands to hold more as things are collected on my travels and the retractable handle and little wheels are very convenient. It now sits on the bed in the spare room with the preliminary items for my trip in April.

Working in the garden has certainly been a God-send, especially during the week of lockdown.  I decided I’d only be going out to jog and swim and on two occasions picked up some shopping en route home from the beach.  The first three days I avoided the shop, but my lovely neighbours Jess and Kath bought a few essentials for me.  By Friday 5^th February, after a restless night’s sleep where I spent most of my time planning the next pond project, I was fired up and enthused with ideas.  My back wasn’t so enthusiastic but I was determined to push on.  The large container I found in my neighbours‘ skip bin was the inspiration for this new pond arrangement.  Some weeks back Glenda had given me two long self-watering troughs, which I also wanted to use.  I had decided there was a spot for all three in my central garden where the pear and grape are and where the path has a bit of a curve.  I had wanted to buy some Taro, English watercress and Kang Kong and after seeing Josh on Gardening Australia growing some water chestnuts, thought I’d order some of those too. The job needed to be finished before the rains which were predicted for that coming Saturday. There was quite a bit of work to be done in a short time as I wanted to dig all three pots into the ground plus block up the self-watering overflow holes so they will retain water, making them ideal containers for the taro and water chestnuts which are bog loving plants.  Before I got started I had to make sure the large circular pond was water proof.  It was this water that later went back in ready for the pond weed which was left over from a previous purchase.

There was rain predicted for the next three days so I had to get some work done before it arrived.  I didn’t really feel up to it as my back was playing up.  But if I didn’t get started, things would snowball. I bit the bullet and put my back into it.  I dug the trench for the self-watering pots, mixed up some quick-set cement, making a bit of a mould to hold all in place and poured in the cement.  Once this was done, I covered the lot with black plastic to keep it dry for next few days to help the cement set well.  I then dug out a deeper, wider hole for the pond.  I had just reached the depth I wanted when I noticed the pipe that I knew ran somewhere beneath this part of the garden.  I had marked it out some years back near the limestone wall so knew roughly where it ran.  Praise God it didn’t obstruct the depth of the pond and another good thing is that the pond was now partly covering it, giving it further protection.  As I dug the holes, I saved the soil in bags that previously had potting mix in.  One bag of the better quality soil I was able to return to the garden; the other one and a half I’m hoping I can give away through Gumtree as I have done in the past. To finish off, I used my leftover paving pieces under the lip of the pond to help support it as it wasn’t in the best condition, possibly needing a bit of waterproof glue to strengthen a split in the lip

The rain was a welcome blessing in many ways.  The garden was crying out for a good soak, my new persimmon was suffering, even under the extra shade I had given it.  I needed rain for my water tank and for the fish ponds. The constant downpour for three days was just what was needed. I collected buckets of rainwater and later used these to test out my new bog troughs, which I’m delighted to say held water well.

I contacted my friend Don from church and asked if I could drop off the things I had borrowed from him and ask his advice on fixing the top of the new pond.  When I arrived, he offered me a fiberglass pond he no longer used.  I was a bit put out, having spent so much time putting mine in. After considering his offer and realising it was better to change it now before adding fish, I humbled myself and took up his offer.  It didn’t take much to hoist out the old dilapidated plastic tub and the new one slipped easily into the original hole.  God is so gracious.  This new pond was only 5cm smaller in diameter than the last one and the same depth and looks much smarter.

When lockdown moved to the next phase – masks and 1.5 meter distancing, a neighbour asked if I wanted to visit the Yanchep Lavender Farm.  Had I known what was about to transpire, I wouldn’t have gone.  She was very reluctant to wear her mask and when I insisted (because she was in my car) she argued that it wasn’t necessary and that it was harmful as we breathed in our own exhaled breath.  I reminded her that she had previously discussed trying to avoid stress and I was getting quite stressed over her attitude, so she eventually partly complied, covering only her mouth not her nose. Why do people have to try to buck the system?  There are so many people going against the recommendations of the health experts.  Even if you don’t agree, or have another opinion keep it to yourself and comply for the sake of others who might have a supressed immune system, who might be afraid to go out amongst the crowds but need to.  There are certain things I agree we should stand up and fight for, but something like this which won’t really kill you to submit to but may actually help others to stay alive, then comply.

I would like to say that was the last of it but no she was still complaining all the way there and all the way back, making an excuse to take it off to have a sip of water.  While at the farm, the masks came off as I was able to keep a 2mt distance.  The owner showed us around explaining that fields weren’t as spectacular as previous years as their drip reticulation had become blocked and many plants had died.  I wanted to help this business so bought lavender-infused products from the shop, including lavender flavoured ice cream, laundry powder and ‘Pillow Spray’ to enhance sleep.  It smelt wonderful but unfortunately didn’t help my sleep.

That week I also invited my friend Glenda to join me for another visit to the Woodvale Fish and Lily Farm.  On our last visit when I bought the Rosy Bard fish, she had put a down payment on a mermaid fountain to replace an ugly urn which she had offered me.  It was far too big for my garden but I suggested she keep it and grow a cascading water plant over it instead and I would buy the mermaid water feature off her. There were two mermaids, one standing and the other lying down.  Of course I preferred the second one, so a quick exchange was made and the purchase of a small solar water pump.

I now needed to find a limestone rock for the mermaid to lie on as well as a pot for the water to be pumped out of and in which I wanted to grow English Watercress, which prefers running water.  I didn’t want the pump in my fish pond as I prefer this to have still water as I enjoy watching the fish.

My search for a suitable rock and pot for the watercress took me to our local tip recycling shop but nothing here caught my eye.  I called into Bunnings en route to my next stop and found a pot that might be suitable.  It needed to be deep enough for both the pump and the plant roots.  Then on to Soils aint Soils where there were a pile of limestone boulders. I knew sort of what I was looking for, an interesting shape with a flatish top, a bit of height and light enough for me to move.  I circumnavigated the pile with measuring tape in hand, humming and harring, moving rocks around to see their shapes.  A worker with a forklift drove over to give me some help but had to leave to assist someone else.  Another guy arrived just as I had decided on my rock.  He wasn’t sure about lifting it into the boot of my car but I assured him we could do it together, which we did.  It was a heavy rock and I wondered how I’d get it out when I got home.  It cost me a whole $5.  As I was driving home, I wondered who might lend me a hand and remembered Greg from down the road had offered to help with anything if I ever needed it.  He replied to my SMS and arrived shortly after I arrived home.  The rock was in place within minutes.

The next day Glenda and I collected the mermaid and more water plants. That evening I put special water plant potting mix into my bog-pots for the taro and water chestnuts. Glenda was looking after the English Water Cress till my running water was set up.  Now I needed to grind down the rock and somehow attach the mermaid with the water pump.  Hmmm I think I’ll ask Don for his advice as he has two beautiful ponds with some huge carp.  As usual he had some helpful tips plus tools I could borrow to complete my project.

My new pond had been in less than a week when I realised the water was turning brown. A quick Google search showed that the pond weed which I had probably over-handled was releasing tannin into the water, as some of the leaves were dying. The remedy was to use activated charcoal, which I just happened to have in my shed for the garden. I put some into a net bag and held it under with a rock.  A few days later it seemed to have improved the water condition.  Back to the pet shop to test the water before buying four more white cloud minnows and two sucking catfish.  I also rescued the last of the minnows from his lonely life in the urn with the Rose Barb, I’m sure he will be much happier with his own kind.

I had another job to fix the bulrush in the urn which was bursting its seams.  Roots were a fibrous mess extending over 8cm from the bottom of the pot. I had to cut it out of the pot, before separating it into two.  The larger piece I put back into the urn without a pot, strapping it upright so that, God-willing it would take root at the bottom of the urn and praying it didn’t overtake the whole urn which was still the home of four Rosie Barbs.  All the fish ponds were now complete, work could now commence on the water feature.

Don provided me with just the tool I needed to prepare an area for the mermaid, a sharpened tomahawk.  On the first swing at the stone, a chip flew very close to my eye.  I had forgotten to put protective eyewear on Praise God for the reminder before it was too late!  It didn’t take me too long to chip down the raised parts of the stone where the mermaid was to sit. Now I needed something to stick her to the stone. I looked into getting some sandstone coloured cement, but would have to buy 9kg!  Greg once again came to the rescue, with a huge bag he had hardly used.  During another wakeful night with ideas whirling around in my head, I came up with the idea of using white clay to form a mould to hold the cement. If I formed it around the base of the mermaid it would be the exact shape. I could also leave a space for the water tube.  I fell asleep after 2:30am, waking just before 6am, exhausted and too tired for my jog and swim.

I tested out the solar water pump to see how much the flow was from the mermaid and this helped me gauge where to put the pot for the watercress.  I then extended the water pipe coming from the mermaid, kind of made a mould to the shape of the bottom of the mermaid before pouring in the cement, pressing the mermaid into it and leaving it to dry. The mixture didn’t quite feel right and although it made a sturdy base, the mermaid wasn’t fixed permanently as I had hoped.  Don suggested liquid nails.  Kev offered me a tube he had which was brown in colour, but after some thought, I decided it might be better to get a tube of clear.  I was able to put a layer of liquid nails on the bottom of the mermaid as well as the indentation made in the cement. Praise God, this time it seems to be permanently attached.

I also needed a sturdy flexi hose to attach to the motor, as I could only buy corner joins not one with a ‘U’ bend and the other soft tubing kinked when bent. I called Total Eden and spoke to an attendant called Sally; she said she could give me a piece.  When I collected it, I also bought some little flags to replace the faded ones on my driveway.  The following day I did my best to fit the flexi tube onto the water pump and a poly-pipe which came up through the bottom of the flower pot. It was all a bit cramped. It took a bit to get the connections right because the soft tube kinked, stopping the water from flowing. Then the mermaid was too far back on her rock It was too late to move her now, so instead, I raised the back of the rock so the whole thing tilted over the pot.  Not exactly the look I wanted, but at least now when the sun wasn’t strong enough to pump the water, it wouldn’t trickle down the rock, missing the pot completely.  This would have been a huge problem if the pump ran out of water.

With the new pot dug partly into the ground and partly under the overhang of the stone, I kept testing the flow of the pump to make sure the water landed in the pot.  This I did, before sealing up the bottom of the pot by using a saucepan to immerse the water pump.  The plant pot I was using had the usual drainage hole in the bottom, through this I glued the poly-pipe into place with the waterproof poxy glue I had used on the urn.  I then left it overnight before filling it with water and once again testing the pump.  The pot retained water and the pump worked well after adjusting the flow to minimum as the droplets from the font were going everywhere and it was still missing the pot and running down the stone when the sun went behind the clouds.  I lost about two litres of water! I may just have to turn it on for short periods instead of leaving it run. I could of course plant some more water loving plants around the pot to catch the drops but this wouldn’t solve the diminishing water level.  What a project!  It took several weeks to eventually get it completed and it still has challenges. Oh well, it gives me something to mull over on those sleepless nights.

Sure enough, that night I woke around 2:15am with a thought.  I could, until I find a permanent solution, use the fountain attachments that came with the pump.  This way I could set up the solar to power the fountain from within the pot and just keep the mermaid as a feature and maybe occasionally connect her back to the pump. In the meantime I could work on extending the garden around her with water plants.

On another topic, my kitchen trolley finally returned.  I needed to buy another set of four wheels just to use the swivel ones as each set only had two that swivelled and two fixed wheels.  The extension made from a leftover piece of the original benchtop now matched the rest of my kitchen bench and looked great.  The new system works well with the original handle holding the backing board to which the supporting brackets were attached. It will be very functional not only as an extension to the sitting area but as a mobile bench top to use when cooking and the extra drawers never go astray.

February also saw me working on my health directives and guardianship after reading an article on it in a magazine. The article recommended taking the burden off family by preparing what is called a ‘living will’, preparing your preferences for your future care when you are unable to make your own decisions. I found the checklist on the website they recommended very helpful.

Something else I’ve started doing spasmodically are brain stimulating games. Lumosity is an online program that helps you with your cognitive and memory skills.  One of the games is how fast you can take and making coffee orders.  I was pleasantly surprised that I was quite skilled at this, could it possibly be because I am a barista?  LOL  The worst games are either to do with maths or spelling words.  Not surprisingly.

Because of Covid lockdown we were a week late starting our new school term coffee run for the primary school teachers and Share-In, which is the church’s Friday morning art and crafts.  I had decided I wanted to be involved with sketching and painting, so put my name down for those.  I knew if made a commitment, it would encourage me to take things more seriously as I hadn’t picked up a pencil since finishing Jen’s drawing in November.  My first attempt didn’t go as well as I had hoped but I reassured myself it was just the beginning and things should only get better.

Wow!  I just found out that having a library card means I have access to four free movies a month!  That’s ok. Now just have to find ones I like to watch.

Photos:  1. The mermaid    2 Empty bakery shelves    3. Trigg Beach on a calm day    4. Lavender Farm    5. Old pond    6 & 7. New fiberglass pond    7. Most resent photo of the mermaid project     8. Kitchen trolley bench    9. An unusual date.    (photos may not be displayed in full – clicking on them will enlarge them).

Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for only a brief lockdown and no further cases of Covid in WA.  I praise Him for the vaccines for Covid 19 that are being rolled out across the globe.

I praise God for all the things I achieved this February and for my up-and-coming trip to catch up with my sisters and friends in the eastern states.

Please continue to pray that our borders remain open, that there will no longer be periods of isolation for interstate travellers and that the vaccine will be safe and available to all travellers.

Praise God for good health and for our safety as we start to see Australia starting to open up once again to interstate travellers.

I pray your year will be one of praise for the great things the Lord is about to do in our lives.  Live in hope and thanksgiving for His Grace and love towards us all.