quarta-feira, 8 de julho de 2026

The (semi) automated garden







Preliminaries







THE KIT

Hose, can, lawn sprinkler, extension hose. TAp!

The controller unit input and outputs:
* blue hose with yellow adaptor: water from the tap.
* Button A: top adaptor - to backgarden lawn.
* Button Bmiddle adaptor - to backgarden edge.
* Button C: orange adaptor tap - to front garden.



The Job

The black hose with the orange adaptor goes from the controller to the front garden, reaching behind the rose bush nearest to number 3 Pulford Way. It is normally connected to an adaptor to a black pipe that goes from the rose bush to the house front door. 

Task 1 - fill the hedge water bags (with the watering can, for instance).
Task 2- water the front lawn using the sprinkler:
  1. Close the tap.
  2. At the front, disconnect the black hose with the orange adaptor from the front rosebushes and connect the extension hose to it. 
  3. Turn tap wide open.
  4. Turn Button C on to water the lawn via the sprinkler.
  5. Turn Button C off.
  6. Turn tap off.
  7. Reconnect the black hose to the adaptor to the rosebushes.
  8. Just in case: reconnect the blue hose to the tap.
  9. Leave the tap wide open.
  10. .
  11. .
  12. THANK YOU!






















Photos that may be used in the future:












segunda-feira, 18 de maio de 2026

vietnamese style prawn wraps à Gemini


These light and fresh Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls (Gỏi cuốn) hit all your cravings. They feature juicy prawns, crunchy carrots, fresh mint, and crisp bean sprouts. Traditionally made with vermicelli, they can be easily made with glass noodles, which offer a delightful chewy texture. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
📝 Ingredients
For the Wraps:
10–12 round rice paper wrappers
15–18 cooked king prawns, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
100g glass noodles (or thin rice vermicelli)
1 large carrot, julienned (cut into thin matchsticks)
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
1 handful fresh mint leaves
1 handful fresh coriander or Thai basil (optional)
A few soft lettuce leaves (like butterhead or little gem), torn [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
For the Classic Dipping Sauce (Nước Chấm):
3 tbsp fish sauce
1–2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp warm water
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red chili, finely chopped (optional) [1, 2, 3]

👩‍🍳 Instructions
1. Prep the Fillings
Cook the glass noodles according to the packet instructions. Once cooked, rinse them in cold water to stop cooking, drain well, and roughly chop them so they are easier to roll.
Prepare all your vegetables—julienne the carrots, rinse the bean sprouts, pick the mint leaves, and tear the lettuce. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
2. Mix the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk the warm water and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice, minced garlic, and chili to taste. [1, 2]
3. Soften the Rice Paper
Fill a wide, shallow bowl or pie dish with warm (not boiling) water.
Take one rice paper wrapper and submerge it in the water for about 5–10 seconds. It should still feel slightly firm when you remove it—it will continue to soften as you add the ingredients. Lay it flat on a damp cutting board or clean tea towel. [1, 2, 4, 5]
4. Assemble and Roll
The top section: Place 2-3 prawn halves cut-side up in the top third of the wrapper. Add a few mint leaves around them for a beautiful, visible finish.
The bottom section: In the bottom third (closest to you), lay a small piece of lettuce, a pinch of glass noodles, a handful of bean sprouts, and a small pile of carrots.
Rolling: Fold the bottom edge of the wrapper up and over the filling bundle. Pull it tight, fold in the left and right sides like a burrito, and roll firmly upwards until the roll is sealed and the prawns are beautifully displayed on the outside. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
5. Serve
Serve the rolls immediately with the dipping sauce on the side. [1]
(Optional Tip: If you prefer a creamy sauce over a citrusy one, you can swap the fish sauce for a peanut dipping sauce!) [1, 2]

sábado, 6 de julho de 2024

lawn and water

Inthe house:  plants, rocky
Back garden: sprinkler, hose
Front garden: sprinkler, hose


In the house:

* plants are in the kitchen and in the large bedroom. The watering can is in the utility sink. Every 6 days. 1 can downstairs, one upstairs. Orchids just need a splash at the base each time.

* food for rocky: this portion every 3 days plus check his water level.

* Overview of the cage (with an open door) and water bottle. 



* View of the closed cage door.
 



Front garden

* Take the blue hose to the front through the gate. The extension hose reel is by the gate. And there's a door weight there as well to wedge the gate open. 
* Locate the sprinkler and have fun (settings below for sprinkler tabs and water flow).  
* Use the nozzle for the bed by the bay window, especially the roses and the tree in the pot. Now and again do the strip by Tim's too.  









Back garden


* locate the sprinkler and set the water flow - the water will reach fences on both sides.
* Nozzle for pots by the house and for the leftmost, recovering trees.



terça-feira, 28 de maio de 2024

Movimentos Bíblicos 101: a divisão das águas

  •  No vigésimo quinto dia do quinto mês do Ano da Graça de dois mil e vinte e quatro dessa nova era foram efetivados os seguintes fotodocumentados movimentos da leiva por intermédio de implementos e agrimensura.
    • Agradecimentos: Murilo, William, Thais, Bruna, Liam, Adriana, Nuno
  • Antes:



  • Depois:


  • Tarefa 1 completada, mas só com o subcanal F; tarefas 2 e 3 a serem repensadas.
    • O subcanal sai do canal principal a 3m da cerca com 3 Pulford Wy, a -30cm (abaixo do nivel da grama). o canal principal tem -20cm perto de 3 Pulford Wy, cai a -30cm na saida F e depois aumenta para -20cm de novo a 5m da cerca com 3 Pulford Wy. 
    • Lições:
      • as pás nao permitem largura menor que 20 cm para canais.
      • somente a tarefa 1 custou 2 pessoas.dia (mais ou menos 1.5m3 de terra retirada e 300 litros de brita colocadas)
      • fazer o proximo canal (tarefa 2) criando um degrau a 5m de 3 Pulford Wy que vai de -20 para -30cm e isso serve de reservatorio paraas arvores do canto, mas premite fuga de agua para F se o reservatorio tentar encher mais que isso.
    • Para o futuro:
      • repensar o tamanho de novas valas e como cavá-las.
      • dia 28: construir pa' estreita (Jose')
      • Dia 29-05: Jose+Nuno: 
        • etapa 3: 
          • canteiro de flores: nivela com jardim e tira plastico verde
          • NOVO: talvez canal fino levando da hortensia ate' perto da altura da saida F, longe do canteiro lateral e do do fundo.
  • 20240529 - Jose' + Nuno
    • Tenho uma pa' nova, estreita (10cm), mas com cabo comprido para cavar o canal. 
    • Fora isso tenho 3 pas para tirar terra do canteiro lateral e para mover pedras e terra para os sacos para o lixo.