Monday 17 February 2014

What The .......Are People Actually Eating This?

Just when you think people are actually starting to be aware of good health and nutrition, considering what is in their food before they eat it, avoiding chemicals and GM foods....the list goes on.  Just when you think there is not much more that the food producers and supermarkets have left up their sleeves to surprise you with....I mean pre boiled potatoes packaged for you to just reheat, avocado in a tube and pre packed whatever.....they still have the power to shock and outrage you.....today I saw these two shockers in the refrigerated section....scrambled egg in a carton and if that isn't horrible enough a pre boiled and peeled egg!!!....seriously I know people are time poor and convenience foods seem to be a solution for a selection of the population but really, they can't boil or scramble an egg !!  The use by date on these products is up to five weeks......who wants to eat month old scrambled eggs ???.......Food producers and supermarkets need to take a good long look at themselves........This type of food is outrageous and possibly dangerous to people's health.....it makes me sad to think that people out there consider this to be a good idea....even sadder to think that there are people out there who will eat this garbage.....this is not a convenience food, this is six dollars for scambled egg that I wouldn't feed to my dogs......Wake up people, don't eat this rubbish....nothing beats a fresh egg and it takes three minutes to scramble them.


Unbelievable.....scambled eggs in a carton.......Yuck !!

I pity the person who thinks a pre boiled and peeled egg wrapped in plastic is a good idea !

Wednesday 12 February 2014

How Does Your Garden Grow.......

Have been reading a lot of books on self sufficiency and also reading several blogs about saving money and being frugal.  While I am keen to save money and become debt free...who isn't.... I do think it is more important to spend money wisely while at the same time ensuring it is in the best interest of my health and the planet..organic food, local produce, supporting your local traders does not come cheap....I think my money will best be saved by not buying things I don't need...reusing where possible..although I have struggled in the second hand clothes arena...I think that must take lots of practice...Easiest money saver for me so far has been growing my own vegies...although the initial set up is quite costly...I do intend to grow my own seedlings in the future, this would save quite a bit of the outlay to get delicious fresh veggies...this mornings selection...first ever cucumber (burpless...see how that goes), spring onions, beans, capsicum, lettuce, basil....I think I see a frittata and salad coming up !!

This mornings pickings from the garden...........

In the interest of saving money I have started a christmas club...first time ever...so December is taken care of....also have a holiday account on the go....if we ever get the chance to take a holiday....Am going to try and do a NO SPEND MARCH ....have seen a lot of blogs where others are trying this...I will give it a go....meanwhile the garden is providing lots of goodies...if you aren't growing your own food....give it a try !!

Thursday 6 February 2014

If We Knew Then What We Know Now.........

The connundrum of aging parents who are facing ill health is certainly something that brings you crashing back down to earth when things are going rosy in your own life.....My father's health has been poor for many years now and we may be entering the last phase of his life...my advice to any one out there is NEVER SMOKE....I have never had a cigarette in my life after being raised hearing my father's smoking cough hacking out every morning.  While he hasn't smoked for 30 years the damage was already done and at 84 he may be losing the battle. My helplessness has never been more pronounced.  My inability to fix this problem leaves a control freak like myself with no where to turn. He is still fiercely independent and while I want to allow him to be in control of his own destiny, I wish he was more agreeable to any suggestions to improve his quality of life. It is so painful to watch his suffering....life can be cruel and it appears that old age  is not the graceful transition I always hoped it would be.  The old adage to "grow old gracefully" appears to be a misconception.  Life is finite and I wish there was an easier transition from this world to the next.

My garden gives me great comfort during this difficult phase of my parents lives. It is like balm to my soul to harvest what I have sown in the garden. It reassures me that life goes on and the sun will come up tomorrow.  There is so much life in the vegie garden ...the pumpkin vine grows a couple of inches overnight...the zucchinis will turn into marrows in a day or so if you don't watch them, the beetroot actually popped out of the ground demanding to be picked..the tomatoes are plumping up and more appear every day...it's true , you reap what you sow..in all aspects...take care of your health and avoid anything that will give you health concerns in the future. 

This beetroot was so ready to be picked they had started to pop out of the ground !!

The zucchini's are going gang busters....I think I can hear them growing they grow so fast !!

Bottled the Beetroot and made zucchini relish.....all in a days work !
There is a lot going on in my life in relation to taking care of my aging parents.....but still the plants grow and need to be bottled, garden needs to be watered....things need my attention....chickens need to be taken care of.....I think I will head outside with a glass of wine and let the girls free range among the fruit trees..