Slow Living Essentials Monthly 9 linkup......

I am joining in for the first time to Christine at slow living essentials with the monthly 9 for February.  It's been a busy time: -

Nourish :- I always try to eat organic food where possible.....fruit and vegies from the Kallista organic store.  I prefer my fruit to have blemishes and marks on them...if the insects and birds are happy to eat them...then so am I. 

Organic apples.....complete with blemishes and imperfections....just like me really...

Prepare :- The garden is producing a really good amount of produce considering the weather we have been experiencing...that heat has not been too good for the garden....as always zucchinis have flourished...they are excellent growers in all conditions....instead of giving away the surplus I have blanched and frozen them ..ready to go.

The blanched and bagged up zucchinis ready for the freezer......

Reduce :- Am avidly trying to reduce spending...I totally admire all of the frugal webpages...I don't seem to be going all that well...things continually pop up...broken tap, had to buy new tap and pay the plumber...Daisy got sick...after hours trip to the vet on Saturday night....Yikes !!...the list is neverending...am trying to reduce the cost of my grocery bill each week....it's not easy.

Green : - I read an article last month on "taking the hard line on soft plastic" in Green Lifestyle magazine.  Flexible or scunchable plastic waste is considered difficult to recycle and if placed in the normal recycle bin will still go to the rubbish tip..... A recycling initiative by non-for-profit organisation RED  Group have introduced plastic waste collection points at Coles supermarkets and the plastic is recylced into benches and donated to schools....I have been collecting my soft plastics....this is one months worth.  If you'd like to join in and help go to http://redgroup.net.au .

Flexible plastic for recycling....it's amazing how much amasses in just 4 weeks.

Grow :- I have grown lots this month....I love the summer planting season....tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum, lettuce, herbs, strawberries, pumpkin, zucchini, silverbeet, beans, potatoes, beetroot and corn...I get great satisfaction from the garden...and love picking fresh food whenever I can.

The buttenut pumpkin vines have spread themselves out amongst the other vegies.....



I am happy with the growth in the garden considering the difficult weather we have been experiencing.

Some of the tomatoes...not as good a season as last year but plenty of tomatoes to go around.

I have 12 of these lovely Qld blue on the vines.....also have 20 or so butternut pumpkins coming soon

Create :- I had a go at making my own candles this month....using recycled candle jars that I have saved up over time....the process was messy but easy...although I think there is a trick to making candles that burn well...mine seem to have burnt a hole down the centre of the jars and not used up the sides...will need to investigate that one.

Tricky part getting the wicks to stay in the right place.. added rose geranium essential oil...

A couple of the finished products....hopefully a bit of research will resolve the burning issue..

Discover :- My birthday was in February and I turned 55....I discovered that there are worse things than getting older.

Enhance :- The book for February with my bookclub is 'My fathers daughter" by Sheila Fitzpatrick....really struggling with this one.Sheila's father Brian was a journalist and radical historian and the book covers her relationship with her father..haven't got very far into the book so will have to get a move on before the next meeting..

Enjoy :- A group of friends have organised monthly dinners at each others homes where we can try recipes that we have not cooked before....I love the concept and will need to get organised for our turn which is in May.....The lovely Janine & Michael prepared a delicious meal with Chicken and asian salad...we had a great afternoon.

Janine & Michael's yummy chicken dinner..

I'll sneak this one in which was actually on 1st March....but he is so cute.  He wanted a blue and green birthday party...his favourite colours...Enjoy special times with your family as they are so precious and the memories will last a lifetime.... 

Our very own baby batman celebrating his 3rd birthday....big cake cooked by his adoring mummy...

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

My weekend had the worst of times.   Our dear friend H lost her battle with cancer.  Her courage and determination was an inspiration to all who knew her.  A truly beautiful person who fought so hard to stay.  To know her was to love her....and I thank her wonderful husband for allowing us to see her in hospital to say goodbye....it broke our hearts but she looked very peaceful...sending our love to all her family and many many friends....  Life will not be the same without you in it. I will think of you often and always with memories of the wonderful times we shared. Farewell my beautiful friend.

Our beautiful friend H in happier times...she was undergoing chemotherapy at the time but
still came to celebrate my daughters 30th birthday....she was so courageous

Our gorgeous Gbaby on his new bike....Happy Birthday precious boy.

The weekend was also my Gbaby's 3rd birthday...very hard to keep a smile on our face...our friend was losing her battle with cancer.  It reaffirmed for me that the circle of life continues.  Deep sadness and heartache can be momentarily replaced with joy as you watch your beautiful grandson ride his new bike.  It is comforting in it's own way that the human spirit can process your grief and still allow you to do find joy. Life is precious...enjoy every moment.

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 !

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 !!

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..

Wonderful Way with Water.......

Have you ever wondered about the quality of your tap water.....while Australia has some of the best quality water in the world (so I've been told)....they still add chlorine and flouride to our water supply.....this along with whatever else finds its way into reservoirs is being consumed by people every day.......I spend a lot of time and effort avoiding the use of chemicals, pesticides and pollutants......water quality is an important thing to be aware of...we drink a lot of it.....I have had a reverse osmosis water filter installed in my kitchen....the water quality is so good......doesn't taste like anything....which is how it should be....no smell either....tastes great......I think they are  a great investment for your health.

Undersink unit comprises water filters and the holding tank.....stays pretty cool under there...!!

The tap is installed on the kitchen sink........no more water in plastic bottles for me....
I fill my own eco container and take it with me....

 Having my own ready supply of filtered water removes the need to buy bottled/cask water saving the planet and saving my pocket.....just need to remember to take my refillable bottle with me...

It's the Little Things.....

I really think it is the little things that we do in life that make it so more enjoyable.....my youngest daughter has a busy life which includes nightshift work and we love to catch up over brunch at Cafe's in the hills...it is such a simple thing but so nice......

Took the time on the weekend (now that the weather has settled down) to plant some fruit trees.......The girls helped clear up the ground so that I could plant the Avocado tree....not sure how this will go but have been told by experts that there should be no problem......hopefully in a few years will have some avo's....yum..
  

The girls got very busy preparing the garden bed for the Avocado tree.....

Plenty of mulch and a bit of protection....apparently the experts (Pete the Permie)
tells me you need to protect the roots from nosy chooks scratching around.....
Hopefully one day I will have avocado's......YUM



Also planted a couple of apple trees....this is a blenheim orange....apparently
perfect for growing in our area....should see lovely apples in May...not sure what year !!

This apple tree is an Arkane...should produce apples in February...once again...
could be a bit of a wait....but how exciting when we do get an apple !!!

Also planted a Damson Plum tree....perfect for jam making.....this should bear fruit in
the next 12 months I have been told...hhhmmmm will wait and see... love plum jam !!

It is such a buzz for me to plant these fruit trees and see what happens....the thought of being able to pick apples, avocado, plums, apricots, lemons and figs from my own yard is something that I really would love....it has been a dream that may come to fruition....see how they go...simple things but loads of pleasure.

How much fun can you get from a bag of your own potatoes....you wouldn't believe me !!

I just love, love, love picking vegies from the garden....our ancestors had it right...you should grow anything you can, with whatever space you have....still in discussion with my man about digging up the front lawn...he's not that keen on me planting edibles in the yard....we may compromise and I will plant flowers that I can cut and bring into the house....love flowers....I think I am a simple soul at heart...

Heat Waves and Eco Guilt ......

Wow...summer has hit us with a bang......the heatwave this week has been exhausting....I have read blogs were those who care as much as I do about the environment haven't used their air cons because of the electricity usage....made me rethink my committment to the planet....bit of a conundrum really...I have used our evaportive cooling every day without a thought to the environmental impact....I'm feeling a little guilty but have had to weight it up ....family members stayed with us as they didn't have cooling at their home....is this a justification....my only solution to this dilema is get the solar panels on the roof as soon as possible....that way the power I use will be renewable and not increasing my carbon footprint....these type of issues will always be cause to reconsider what we do and how it impacts everything around us....I have also used plenty of water in the vegie gardens....cooled off the chooks with a quick hose....I don't have water tanks in place as yet...they are also on the list....weighing up water usage and sustainability of plants and animals......more food for thought...,..I have a serious case of Eco Guilt......am I practicing what I preach......am I green when it suits me....I have nothing but admiration for those who are so committed they don't use their air con when the temperature is over 40 deg.....the rest of us should still continue to do everything that they can....install solar and water tanks....that is my project for this year.

Pumpkins have survived the heatwave so far....a couple of pumpkins on it..



Tomatoes have had a big growth spurt during the heat....managed to keep them alive...

Zucchinis and beetroot all going well...beetroot needs to be picked and bottled...maybe
when the weather cools down next week.

Hopefully we have all survived the heat and risk of bushfire....the planet is warming and we can expect more episodes like this in the future....we all need to do our bit..I think every bit , no matter how small, if it contributes to the health  of the planet , is important....do what you can.

Beautiful Day....Simple Things.....

First success with broccoli.....didn't think there was anything left after the pests had been at it
but found these lovely heads today......will be delicious with tonight's chicken kiev....

Potatoes are available each day now from the garden.....and these two beetroots had popped
themselves out of the soil.....time to take them inside and eat them.

A beautiful summer's day today....not before time....was beginning to think we wouldn't see much sunshine this year.....spent some time outside in the vegie patch....it all looks good......a few baby pumpkins on the vine....tomatoes have a lot of flowers......and the zucchini's are popping up also....birds have nicked most of my blueberries....need to do more than just cover with bird netting...cheeky things have eaten them regardless of the net....A lovely day for reflection and thinking of other ways to keep life simple and help the environment....a friend is trying to organise a deal with a solar power company to get a better price if a group of us put in solar panels.....would love to get this up and going....Been out turning over the compost....one of the bins looks like it is almost ready...Have two empty vegie beds...just need to decide what to plant in them...not sure what is good to plant in January....will have to do a bit of research....It's a fabulous time of year....so much I plan to do...just hope procrastination doesn't get in my way......!!

Daisy still with the remnants of last nights spaghetti bolognaise on her chin........oh dear !!

Daphne managed to somehow clean her own chin (almost)....not much eveidence there....

Managed to fit in a walk with the dogs this afternoon....part of the get fit campaign .....they loved it but they looked a bit shabby I have to say....time for a bath I think....!!  Remember to keep your pet's cool and watered in the warmer weather....I filled the bird bath in the front garden today....have seen a few little birds flitting around in it....they must have been thirsty....not much water around here.

The Have's and The Have Nots..............

The Christmas lunch aftermath.......quite a clean up required when the vistors left..

As always Christmas was quite an eye opener.....we have new neighbours who are renting the house next door...a lovely lady and her three children...all with disabilities...not a lot of money to go around...lots of unpaid bills and not much left over to spend at Christmas....was very happy to send them a couple of things for the kids and lots of christmas cheer........The same day we attended a function in the evening where money was no object....waiters handing around expensive champagne and exotic canapes...heritage listed home in an exclusive suburb of Melbourne....excess everywhere I turned.....it really highlighted to me the different lifestyle of the Have's and Havenots'........happily we are somewhere in the middle....enough to go around ...plenty of love to share with family and friends...Christmas Day was spent outdoors eating good food and celebrating the time we have to spend together....wouldn't have it any other way .

Portrait I have painted of a friend who recently celebrated his 60th birthday...gave it as a gift to him
...first time I have ever given a painting as a gift.....hope they like it.

Yesterday's offering from the garden....leeks, rhubarb., lettuce and the first of the potatoes..
....as always the girls provided eggs...

Mum celebrated her 81st birthday on New Years Day....my gorgeous G Baby complete
with superman costume helped with the candles........memories to treasure !!

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year....hopefully the promise of fantastic things to come ....I love the beginning of the new year and am definitely a maker of resolutions....this year is all about health, wellbeing and hopefully trying to get fit.....good health is a precious gift.....treasure it.

A Few Thoughts For Friday.......

The pumpkins have started to spread out....can't wait until they really get going.

Strawberries coming along nicely....now if I can only stop the wildlife from eating them..



Everything appears to be flourishing in the vegie patch....even the tomatoes look good..



The Christmas tree is up and the presents are out.....not long to wait now...

Finally finished the scarf.....modelled here by my man....so I could get a photo....!!

It's Friday and the sun has been shining on and off for the last few days....a slow start to Summer but hopefully more beautiful weather to come....the vegie's are going great.,...also lots of greenery to feed the chickens....they are very happy about that...Christmas is not too far away.....Looking forward to that especially sharing it with my G baby who is very excited and has his christmas list prepared...which includes a ham sandwich???....hope Santa remembers to bring that one.   Finally finished off the scarf I was making for my mother in laws 80th birthday...hope she likes it...it has been quite a project...Celebration is on Sunday so fingers crossed. As always life is good even when it throws obstacles in your way....just step over them and keep on going....illness is snapping at the heels of my elderly parents...but I guess that is all part of the aging process....another reminder to keep yourself as healthy as possible by doing whatever it takes.....my thoughts are with them as we go through this hurdle together.....just putting the love out there !!

A Few Thursday Thoughts....

   

It is taking a while but I feel I am slowly getting back to normal.....post hysterectomy is quite a painful experience but at day 17 I feel pretty good....still taking things a little easy and haven't driven yet....hopefully not much longer to wait.    ......The weather is not helping today...the beautiful sunshine earlier this week is sorely missed....this winter blast of icy rain is not appreciated by me....however the vegie garden appears to be ecstatic.....the plant growth has gone berserk......they are bursting out of the ground....I love the vegie gardens.
Not having left the house much over the past 2 weeks I have managed to almost complete the scarf I am working on......it is for a gift which I need next week.....I will be clicking away into the early hours at this stage.....Hopefully my mother in law ...who is turning 80...will appreciate all the effort that has gone into it.


Whipped up a frittata...using up all the left over vegies...chicken...feta..
Delicious....beautiful teatowel was a gift....too cute to use .

Unbelievably Christmas is nearly upon us....I am more prepared this year than ever....most of the christmas shopping was done before I went to hospital...only a few simple one to get and I am done....will not have to face the crowds at the shopping centre.....hooray for that...Just planning the menu...I should be fully fit by christmas day and look forward to sharing the celebration with my family.....it's a great time of year. ..!!


A gorgeous bunch of flowers arrived during the week...I feel very spoilt.
They certainly make you feel better while recuperating



The beauty of nature....the lillies burst forth into bloom......beautiful !

Living Well Everyday.......

 Am now back home after having surgery last week........an experience that I have managed to come through quite well all things considered......The very drugs that keep you alive and stop your pain however wreak havoc on your body....and the hospital certainly wasn't offering any organic food.....in fact the food was pretty awful..........makes me feel very aware that I now need to sustain my system with healthy foods to combat the chemical overload that I have been bombarded with over the past 8 days......

It has made me think back to when I first started seriously undertaking the need to eat organic, whole foods wherever possible......and the reminder of the dirty dozen list that warns of the high chemical load that these fruits and vegies carry.... ..I have listed them here to remind not just myself but anyone who is reading this also......even if you can't manage to eat all organic fruit and veg at least try to ensure you avoid the chemical laden variety of the following.........

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Sweet bell peppers
4. Peaches
5. Strawberries
6. Nectarines – imported
7. Grapes
8. Spinach
9. Lettuce
10. Cucumbers
11. Blueberries – domestic
12. Potatoes

Plus: Green beans, Kale/Greens – May contain residues of special concern

I can't wait until I am well enough to get back to my gorgeous organic vegie shop in Kallista and buy the beautiful seasonal , organic produce........wishing everyone good health...


Some of the flowers that I received from well wishers 

On a happy note I have finally managed to overcome the slug problem.....no the rolled up newspaper did not work.....I bought little containers from Bunnings that I put in the ground...filled with beer ...and voila the slugs quite happily it seems....drank themselves to oblivion.....a well spent $8 I think....the seedlings are all now popping up beautifully....can't wait until the new year when the vegie garden will once again be full with gorgeous veg......

This is the weird looking little slug trap from Bunnings....I also threw red petal
into the garden.....a website advised that slugs don't like red !!...who knows
between the beer and the petals....no slugs ...yay !!



Some of the winter crops now ready for harvest....the garlic bulbs drying out...
just need to clean them up and plait and hang.....delicious organic garlic !

The Lone Fig....



The Lone Fig......there were a few tiny ones but unfortunately they dropped off...what to

do with one fig !!!

The single lemon.....hopefully a sign of better things to come next year !!

It would be reasonable to suggest that I am not the most patient of people....it would beg the question why would I plant fruit trees......after 12 months my fig tree has produced "one" fig..(it had four figs when I got it last year)...

The lemon tree....which was laden with lemons when we planted it early last year....has also produced only "one" lemon....the apricot tree is only 12 months old so needless to say has produced no fruit......I'm hoping for bigger and better things next year....am going to plant mature apple and avocado trees.....hopefully the wait will not be too long.