Category Archives: Amusing

Rain Signs.

March 25, 2018 Munchkin

I think that I have mentioned before that we don’t bother with the weather reports any-more since we have never found them accurate. For a time, we relied on the fruit-monger but we haven’t seen her in ages. Today, is it going to rain or not? So, Gnome pointed out all the the rain signs; we have observed these signs, over and over again associated with rains. Honestly, we do use the scientific method. 😉

“…well, the rain hawk was going off like crazy and…you (Munchkin) have a splitting headache…the road just got graded and there was a sudden build up of grey clouds over half an hour.”

“…Hmmm…are four signs enough for a rain…”

Well, let’s just wait and see if our Munchkin and Gnome Rain Signs work!! 🙂 Or, do we need to add more Rain Signs to the criteria?

Anyway, I ‘ll will leave you with a few pictures of vegetables from the farm (oho, the excitement of being a Munchkin and Gnome knows no limits!!). This year, we have kept the plants to a minimum so that we do not need to use up too much water over the dry season. These plants are being irrigated with grey water (washing machine/ shower and dish-washing water).

The Chinese winter melon is growing up the one side of our duck coop. So funny, I couldn’t get one for Chinese New Year but now the plant is producing lots of fruit. The Chinese usually eat them (in soup) when they get really big. I have started harvesting them young because we can’t possibly get through the sheer volume of eating mature fruit. They taste like cho cho (chayote) and other types of curcubit plants.

The rocket (arrugola…is that how you spell it? That’s the Sicilian word for it by the way) is dong really well despite the drought:

Asparagus is doing great:

This eggplant looks like an egg; not much taste though…it’s a bit rubbery but great to look at (if anyone is interested in looking at eggplants that resemble eggs). 😉

This is an unusual striped orangey egg-plant. They don’t get very big but I like them since they are sweet tasting and (God-Forbid!!) they make a nice ornamental. Munchkin philosophy: You really should just eat it and not just have something for pretty.

Just as I finish writing this post, the rain is starting (a little)…

Amusing, Belize, Farming

The Life and Trials of Mark Goosie.

March 22, 2018 Munchkin

Mark Goosie (I am with-holding his real name since people might think that I named him after some-one real) was one (of a pair) of geese that we first introduced into our farm back in the good old days.

Unbeknown to us, at the time, we were ruthlessly sold two boys. So, we had asked for a breeding pair but did not get what we asked for! Anyway, the two of them paired up (as geese do) and seemed quite happy together. We tried to introduce female geese later on in the game but the two remained inseparable. One female goose was found un-expectantly dead (there’s been a murder!!) under the house and we decided to put it down to a crime of passion. The two original geese would not let anything get in the way of their relationship.

After a while, Mark’s partner went to Great Goosie Heaven and we observed Mark Goosie mourning for a long time. At that time we couldn’t find a new companion goosie so we introduced a white duck in the hope that he would accept him as a friend. And he did; for a long time they walked through the farm together side by side like old buddies. White duck died a few years later and again, Mark was left all by himself. Five more years went by and he wondered around the farm alone occasionally honking in unison with passing honking trucks.

Last year, we managed to procure some female geese and finally Mark accepted a “she” goose companion into his life. They were really lovely together and it was as if Mark had found a new lease of life. During breeding season, he located a nice nesting spot for his companion and filled it with his own feather down. He stood guard by her side, day and night, whilst she was setting. They always walked proudly together and did not appear to mingle with the other goosie groups.

Well, a few weeks ago, we found his female companion dead in amongst a pile of rocks behind the duck coop. We weren’t sure what had happened (a snake perhaps??). He was so distraught…honking madly and flapping his wings. He was in such an emotional state that we had to place him in the confinement of the duck coop; he wouldn’t leave the spot where he lost his girl. Whilst in the coop, he continued to place feather down on the ground to make a nesting spot. When we saw this, we felt such sadness for his loss. Awwwhhhh!!!

Anyway, what to do with Mark Goosie??

Well I never!! We thought that he would not recover from this last bereavement. But, he has re-emerged like a phoenix from the ashes- and has become head bossie (sensei) for the young’uns (the five brand new geese from last year). He acts as their sentinel, guard and teaches them “the way of the goosie.” Every morning, we see him proudly leading his troop to the pond in an orderly straight line. What a Champion…we love a happy ending, don’t you!! Go Goosie Go!!

Here’s a picture of Mark Goosie leading his team of youngsters:

Amusing, Belize, Farming

Still Going!!

March 14, 2018 Munchkin

I can’t believe it has been ten days since I last wrote. The days have flown by and we have taken advantage of the very dry spell…not a single drop of rain since last night’s single (literally!) drop of rain. Gnome had to stop mowing for a few days because of carpal tunnel but he seems okay now with it. He has been chopping trees down to make charcoal; one tree fills up a 55 gallon drum about 2 to 3 times over, stuffed very full. The charcoal is being stored for colder days.

I had a slight mishap with my right middle finger when a concrete block accidentally banged down on the tip. Ahhhhh….it was so painful (I am not good with pain and the worse patient ever). I didn’t even bother Gnome (because he was too busy) and sorted it out myself. I treated the initial inflammation and then came back out of the house with a huge bandage wrapped around my finger and wrist and kept on going. What a brave Munchkin!! I did not realise how important the tip of a middle finger was until I had difficulty opening bucket lids, washing dishes properly with a scrubber, even lighting the stove and so many other activities of daily living. Anyway, it’s all fine now and the injury has healed.

Little Goosie is about 5 weeks old and her weight is going up everyday; she is more than 2 lbs (1kg) in weight. I estimate that her weight will be 5lbs once she gets to 12 weeks. That is not too much considering that if you intend to feed up a green goose (equivalent of broiler) your aim is to get them up to 10lbs in 12 weeks.

This is an old picture: Goosie is probably four times bigger now:

No more little goosies yet and the sneaky goosies have switched all their old nesting spots so we can’t find any-more eggs right now.

We have two very broody females, sitting in nests (yes they finally figured out that the big square structures with soft natural furnishings were nests).

However, we don’t trust their haphazard setting abilities so they are sitting on a bunch of rocks. We have tried de-brooding them a number of times by sticking them in the duckie coop…somehow they manage to get back out (Houdini Goosies) and plonk themselves back on their nest of rocks.

Anyway the farm is looking great with the new hair-cut. Gnome will be getting onto the coconut area soon. We will keep on going and have a natural break with the Iguana rains…

Dear Ms Iguana, I hope the rains come soon so that you can lay your eggs but please don’t lay them on our farm because we don’t have enough succulent greens to feed your little blighters!!

Amusing, Belize, Farming

I Don’t Recognise This Place!!

March 8, 2018 Munchkin 2 Comments

We have naturally gone crepuscular this year; I think it’s partly because the first cry from the geese is about 4.30 am. So, 4.30am has become our natural waking time. We like to talk and have a cup of tea (or two) in the morning, plan our day and then we are out on the farm early. Look at what’s happening!! I don’t recognise the place…the bush has come down and we can actually see all around us!! Ha-Ha!!

There’s Gnome charging ahead and disappearing into the bushes:

I guess I am taking pictures just for our benefit because the reader is probably none the wiser. But you have to realise that we were practically living in bush for the last 6 months because we have had mass machinery break-down. So, let me indulge myself with a few more pictures:

Oooooh:

Ahhhhh:

We even found a very spiny bamboo that has grown up (into an adult size):

We have re-claimed fruit trees too:

Also, Gnome is busy with other projects. He woke up the other day and said:

“That’s it!! That’s it!! Algae is the answer to everything!!”

He went on about a super big protein source, survival food and natural solar panels. He said quite a lot and then said he wanted to cultivate algae; and, so he did:

Well, this is what I said:

“Well okay, you can breed your algae in your spare time…but first clean the farm up!”

(That is the Chinese in me coming out which he tells me is endearing at times).

So, more pictures of cleared up farm…

Look, I can actually walk about:

Amusing, Belize, Farming

Cleaning Up!!

March 3, 2018 Munchkin

Gnome is boldly going where no Gnome has gone before (well, he has been there before but it was a very, very long time ago). He is re-claiming the farm territory and expanding into the unknown. Phew…we have never, ever been able to clear up the farm in one go so here’s hoping that all goes well this time!

So, more silly tales from Munchkin and Gnome: Grey goosie (aka April Jones of the Jonesey sisters…yes, you have to keep up with our goosie soap opera!) went missing a few days ago. We searched high and low for her but to no avail since it was still very bushy at that time. We figured that she was laying eggs in the back of beyond (somewhere!) and was most likely sitting on a clutch of eggs. Anyway, Gnome stumbled across her in some dense bush yesterday…she was hissing and carrying on and was none too pleased with the disturbance of noisy machinery and grass flying every-where.

So, Gnome called me over and asked what we should do. This is what we ended up doing: we mowed around her and left her a little island of dense bush!! I think that we love our goosies too much and are catering to their whims…don’t you think? This is not how you run a farm!!

Anyway, at the beginning of the year we had decided to put out nesting boxes for the geese. There are many of these washing machine coverings filled up with nesting material and smooth rocks scattered around the farm designed to entice the discerning, broody goose. Any takers?? Of course not…the goosies didn’t come to our “lay your eggs in our lovely nesting boxes made out of white goods” meeting. They would much rather go au naturel…

Oh well, that’s the usual kinda stuff that happens on the farm. Oh and we caught this funny looking possum which was the size of a rat. Gnome’s immediate response was that it wasn’t big enough to eat! I think that the bigger variety that we caught first time round was a Virginia Opossum (the ones that can “play dead”). This scary looking thing is a Grey Four-Eyed Possum. Anyway, since we raged war against the possums they seem to have vacated the area quick smart. No more possums to be found…that’s a good thing!

Amusing, Belize, Farming

Munchkin & Gnome Crèche!

February 24, 2018 Munchkin

Hey everyone!! We don’t have a guinea pig creche any-more for our young’uns so Munchkin and Gnome are running a temporary creche in the house (as-well as doing a multitude of things including cleaning up the farm, cooking up possum, making stuff to sell and of course, doctoring). Since we have to baby-sit them we have spent a lot more time with new goosie and duckie. Look at goosie…she likes to sit at the table with us; cuteness goes a long way!!

Duckie likes to sit in front of my computer monitor and keep me company. Here is duckie in our temporary crèche facilities watching a film with me:

There is a huge size difference between the two of them; Goosie-zilla is a monster next to the little one…we have to watch her carefully so that she does not trample over the little one…she’s a bit of a cute clutz.

Sometimes we have to hid the duckie in a box so that she can stay safe:

It’s all fun (mostly) but the tremendous amount of poop does get in the way of the fun. They will have to go outside soon and meet the rest of the gang. There are no more new ones since the possums have stolen all our eggs…hopefully with possum control, we can get a few more…

Amusing, Belize, Farming

Gnome is the New Sexy!

January 31, 2018 Munchkin

Well, he’s turned white (nearly) so we said why not?? Gnome is the new sexy!! This is also a pathetic bid to get our stats up…can a handsome picture of the Gnome get more people to read our Blog and be spurred to transform their lives in significant ways??

Anyway, what’s happening? It’s been pouring down for days, so much so that I’ve lost count of the number of days. The ground around the house is getting muddy and wet and it doesn’t help with the geese trampling about with their big clumsy feet. The goosies are a bunch of loitering hooligans around our house right now and I am getting headaches from their constant screeching and shrieking. Gnome’s comment:

“…if only they used that noisy energy to lay eggs…at least they could do something useful…”

Gnome has been feeling a bit dour lately and has commenced Gnome’s Hadrian’s Wall of Tyres. He is systematically forming a high fence of tyres around the house…an impenetrable barrier against the dastardly goosies.

Munchkin: “Gnome, I thought you liked the geese.”

Gnome: “Of course I like them. If I didn’t I’d make it a lot easier for myself and get rid of the whole lot. Instead, I am moving heavy tyres on account of them.”

Anyway, we are filling the tyres with soil, seaweed and sawdust; our plan is plant in each stack of tyres…we will be starting with papaya and I am sure we will think of many other food plants and trees. I will have pictures for the next post. I just wanted to showcase the New Look Gnome on this one. 🙂

Amusing, Blog

New Look Munchkin!

January 26, 2018 Munchkin

It has been horribly grey and pouring down the last few days. This afternoon, it has surprisingly cleared up with the sun shining and blue skies. There is not much farm news since the weather has not been conducive to outside work. Gnome has been learning to program with C++ with an (ancient) book from 1989. He says that it still covers the basics and that it doesn’t matter that it is an old book. I have been making lip balms and all sorts of concoctions. When the weather is like this, I usually go through a kitchen marathon. Anyway, not much to report but thought I would share with you my New-Look Munchkin since I can’t get any new pictures of the present character. This one is a more mature character…a snow woman in fact..

Munchkin surprised:

Munchkin Upside-Down:

Munchkin Thinking:

Amusing, Belize, Feedback

Morning Wake Up!!

January 23, 2018 Munchkin

I woke up this morning at the usual time 6am and then dived under the covers, covering my ears. I pretended that I was snoozing. Gnome was tossing and turning and huffing and puffing because he knew what was about to come: the usual 6am DIN. The goosies go off like nothing on earth…shrieking and honking like there is no tomorrow right at our doorstep: HONK –WAKEUP–HONK!!!! RISE AND SHINE MUNCHKIN AND GNOME–HONK HONK!!!. This has been our wake up call for the last two weeks and it has been gradually driving us potty! Gnome shouted into my little cave under the blankets,

“…can you sleep through that??”

No I couldn’t but I was insisting on not getting up!! Right now we are having early morning rains which is the perfect reason for sleeping in…but the geese are making it impossible. Anyway, as we got up, the noise rose to a fever pitch and when I opened the front door to peak through a crack, they cackled and shrieked with gusto… and when I finally opened the door wide, they suddenly stopped like nothing had happened. They were shuffling about on the yard minding their own business.

I swear, they are doing this on purpose!! The goosies are out to get us with their evil goosie taunts…

Anyway, last night we decided that we can’t stand the noisy geese during breeding season which happens to be 6 months of the year! An executive decision has been made to: “fence them out.” We are going to have a fence around our house to protect us from the noise pollution . We can’t however do it this year because any changes bang in the middle of breeding season will probably incite a riot and we might be over-thrown in the power struggle.

The original plan was to “Fence Goosies In” to protect them from critters and possums. The new plan is to “Fence Goosies out” to protect us from them…

“Fence Goosies Out.” is going to be job#586: we will get to it hopefully by the end of the year. Meanwhile, we have to get up at 6am every morning, rain or shine…

Amusing, Belize, Food, Plants

Vegetable Pictures!

January 17, 2018 Munchkin

It is still really cold at about 20C/68F; you know when it gets to this temperature because the coconut oil in the bottles solidify! Anyway, still hats, woolly scarves and home-made charcoal burner at our feet in the morning and at night. So glad Gnome is making charcoal!

We are still taming the chaos…does not happen over-night and I suspect it might take us a while to get back on top of things. The other thing is that the geese are getting badder (I like baaad english!! Pushing passed the barriers of expression) and I got a huge bruise on my thigh from a full throttle head-on attack. I had to sumo wrestle the head goosie and boy, did he have fun! When I let him win, he was honking like crazy and puffing out his chest as he weaved in and out of his goosie crowd, doing the goosie dance (a bit like a chicken dancing but with no head bobbing…head up in the air in the splendour of victory). I let him win, of course, since I have the unfair advantage of being bigger and cleverer and being human. 🙂

Anyway, back to the serious Munchkin and Gnome stuff. Growing vegetables, ogling at our vegetables, eating them and (taking pictures when we remember). We don’t grow vegetables or do our lifestyle in order to Blog about it!! Somebody asked us if we chose our lifestyle in order to talk (Blog) about it…what a very weird way of looking at things!!

To clarify: we grow vegetables to eat them because they taste good.

Vegetable and Fruit Gallery:

Endives grow very well; they are quite drought resistant so we might be able to take them through the dry season.

The fennel looks spectacular right now:

Kale grows well here too:

Spring onions:

Oh had to sneak in last New Year yum-yum picture. Smoked salmon (my favourite), prosciutto, salami and parmesan.

Barbados gooseberry (Ora pro nobis) time again:

Time to make more jam and preserves!

Casa Mascia Apothecary

Category Archives: Amusing

Rain Signs.

The Life and Trials of Mark Goosie.

Still Going!!

I Don’t Recognise This Place!!

Cleaning Up!!

Munchkin & Gnome Crèche!

Gnome is the New Sexy!

New Look Munchkin!

Morning Wake Up!!

Vegetable Pictures!

Everything Handmade in Belize.