Cwm Goch Chronicles

Meet our adopted gosling, "Hercules"

2011-09-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

This is Hercules.
Hercules was the last born of our 4 goslings. He also arrived a lot later (1 week) and as often happens (so I've read in the last 24 hours) the parents/flock often reject latecomers. And that's unfortunately what happened in this case.
After arriving to let the geese out in the morning and finding him all alone kicked out of the nest, we witnessed the geese lead their other charges out the door and throwing Hercules back in the pen each time he tried to follow. This was followed with a series of sharp pecks and when he was lying on his back struggling to get up, a stomp on the head which left him shaken and dazed. He wasn't being allowed access to food or water and with the beatings to top it off something had to be done. Kids were distraught watching it all and begged me to intervene.
I know some people would say that you should let nature run it's course, but I won't stand by and watch a perfectly healthy baby die when some help could save it.

So Hercules has been adopted by our family. He imprinted on us within 12 hours and thinks humans are great already. He chatters to us, calls out when he can't see us and is reassured by a call back or a pat, is eating and drinking well. He would be dead already if we hadn't intervened, and I'm hopeful he'll live. He seems strong and healthy so far.
In a couple of months we'll try to get him to join the flock - I've been reading that it can be done. Until then, we have a gorgeous gosling to entertain us with his cute antics and tug at our heartstrings. What a sweetie!

Support Species in a Food Forest

2011-09-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

It has taken me a while to get my head around the concept of support species and how they work. All the diagrams in every Permie text I've read show cross-sections of a hypothetical Food Forest and I've always thought - "how do the larger support species not compete heavily for nutrients in the early phases when they are outgrowing the productive species (heightwise)?

I stumbled upon this video recently and suddenly it all clicked! I have now gone mad planting Tagasaste babies everywhere around my young fruit trees and filling out my forest.

Huzzah for Geoff Lawton!

Permaculture principles & Notes to myself

2011-08-28T07:46:00.001-07:00

This blog was intended as a log of our progress on the permaculture journey. The last couple of months has seen some more changes, and the principles of Permaculture have helped to create some synergy and maximise their impact.

WOOD SHED: The small garden shed near the house has now been deemed 'The Wood Shed'.
Reasons:
1. It make sense to have the shortest distance possible to travel when you're ducking out to get some wood in the cold and wet of winter.
2. There is space immediately in front of it to chop rounds into smaller pieces.
3. The shed heats up quickly even in weak sunlight - drying out the wood inside. (Am considering building a greenhouse on the north side to further maximise this attribute)

KIWI VINE: Instead of building a free standing trellis for this new plant, I've planted them at the corners of the washing line. The plan is to train it up, past the lines, to the top part of the frame where the metal is thicker. The washing line is a great shape for a trellis, will be strong enough to support the vine, and the vine itself will provide shade to the clothes underneath in the hot summer months.

GRAPEVINE: We've had an ongoing problem with debris flying into the carport from the chook pen (and feathers from moulting geese too). The area gets messy, and then traipsed through the house. Needing to blow vac it every week to manage it. In addition the place looks so bare and dry in summer - I really want a green fence/border to cool the area down.
Solution: Grow 2 grapevines along the fence (it's north facing and high enough). These will prevent a lot of the debris flying in for much of the year. The beds they are planted in (about 60cm wide) can hold low crops simultaneously and other crops in winter (climbing beans. snow peas etc) so it will always look good, be productive and serve it's purpose!

All of these solutions have multiple uses - brilliant!

The Permaculture thing is really happening!

2011-08-24T05:40:00.000-07:00

A while back I read a wonderful Permaculture book, (can't remember title - have lent it to my cousin) in which, in the opening chapter the author describes her meander from her car to the front door with all the glorious sights and sounds of her permaculture propery and the handful of snacks she grabs all within the 10 metre walk. Ah....bliss!

And reading this I thought 'THAT is the sort of place I want to live in' and I imagined in 20 years or so I might feasibly be doing the same. Well, looking around I'm realising 20 years was unrealisitc. our property is really starting to come along now. And things are happening in a 'permacultural' kind of way, where the progress is exponential because the systems are starting to integrate and weave their magic.

Today I planted another handful of plants, and though these will take a couple of years before they produce, in the interim we have some others which should give us a bit of produce this year. It's so exciting!

Today I bought/planted: A dwarf coffee bush (only grows to 2 metres so perfect as a mid-layer), 2 raspberries, a flame seedless grape, a green variety seedless grape, kiwi vines (pollinating pair), an icecream bean plant, another blueberry, a rose geranium, some fennel, land cress and propagated more pepino. In 3 years - YUMMO!

My compost and worm farms are happening so these plants went into the soil which was properly prepared (that's a big change from a couple of years ago!) from biomass from our own property! Everything got watered with worm tea too.

The food forest (though very young) is growing splendidly and we have no pest problems. The balance is right!

Won't be long before I can take that snack walk from my car to the door! - Reckon I'll be taking the LONG way round!

Sob!

2011-08-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

My pond.....post doggy fun! :(

Catching Butterflies...

2011-08-11T05:06:00.001-07:00

Sigh!

Potential! And some photos.

2011-08-07T04:49:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday afternoon sitting in the sunshine potting up seeds ready to place in the cold frame. Huge thanks goes to Cathode as most of these were gifted by her!

I'm tempering my excitement about this lot. I have had a tendency in the past to plant hundreds, give away half before they've sprouted and then find only a handful survive. :( No promises to anyone until they're of planting size this year!

The sunshine meant time to get out and take some photos too. Everything looks so squeaky clean and bright after rains. Beautiful!

Garden update

2011-07-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

I managed to get the mulch resulting from the tree pruning in front of our property - a whole truckload for free! So this year our front native garden is getting a decent layer of mulch (I'm usually stingy with it because in the past we paid for it). The munchkins and I worked on it for nearly a week, digging up African Love grass and mulching. It looks like a real garden now - like a section of Kings Park almost. I've been sitting out there taking photos of dew and insects and playing my guitar..well practising playing guitar. Bliss!

Women's Circle

2011-07-21T04:03:00.001-07:00

I have just recently joined a Women's Circle which has newly established here in the Hills. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, but hesitated because of the politics and ego I had experienced in a similar set-up years ago. This seems to be the right one for me though. What a wonderful group of women. No egos, no politics, no power plays. Just a diverse gathering of women, sharing, for the sole purpose of encouraging and supporting one another's personal and spiritual growth.

I'm really enjoying the richness of the gatherings I'm attending lately, whether it's here or drumming, or a Choice Theory evening or whatever. I'm starting to feel out my niche, where I feel I belong. Late bloomer or what?
Painting by Molly Roberts

Fungi ID help please!

2011-06-28T22:59:00.000-07:00

We've been out taking photos of the lovely fungi which has popped up after the rains. Elder Munchkin found a beauty but we can't identify it. It looks similar to a Russule, but the underneath is spongelike, not striped like the Russules are.
If anyone can identify it we'd be grateful!

The Enormous Radish!

2011-06-27T05:37:00.001-07:00

Ok - this has to be the brag of all brags.....
Check out this radish!

Yes, that's a normal radish next to it. Same variety, planted in a different spot.
I pulled this up when I was weeding thinking it was wild radish (the weed). It was 13.5 cm in length and 10cm across.

THIS is what happens when you buy your soil from the Green Life Soil company people!!!

I dare one of you to plant turnips in their vegie concentrate!!!

And to top it off, no it wasn't woody at all despite it's massive size. It tastes fine. We're using it in sushi and salads.... to be honest I don't know what else to do with that much radish.

Once again for those of you who missed it before.

www.greenlifesoil.com.au

AMAZING!

Permaculture Ingenuity!

2011-05-18T03:53:00.000-07:00

With permaculture being something we aspire to, we are always looking at ways to reuse or recycle bits and pieces around our property.

I don't really think about it much until someone who visits says 'Oh my gosh, look at that!' at something we've made into something. This happened during a visit from Cathode the other day and I thought I might post a pic of the 'objet d'art' that caught her eye.
Behold, our chook pen!

Yes, that's a ute canopy at the back, and ute back frame at the front. Chooks love it! Entrance door is now painted blue so it's half-way pretty even!
They roam during the day, but the small scratch yard in this means that if we're late, or have to leave them in, they at least have a bit of room to move. :)

Spiders and Scorpions and Quenda! Oh My!

2011-05-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

When the Husband and I moved to our property years ago, the only marsupial around was the odd Brushtail possum. In those early years we were involved in volunteer work at Karakamia Sanctuary, a place nearby which, through exclusion of feral animals, hoped to see the rise of endangered animals which used to be common to the Hills, like Woylie (Brush tailed Bettong) and Quenda (Southern Brown Bandicoot).

Their work has seen a tremendous increase in these animals, especially the Quendas, whose young are small enough to squeeze through their fox/rabbit proof fence. The Quenda started populating the area surrounding the sanctuary and now not too many years later, they are once again a common sight in the Hills.

We are lucky enough to have a number of these critters residing at Cwm Goch. Each night when I venture out to lock up the geese and chooks, I have to be careful where I step as inevitably one will run across my path or be underfoot.

They are very inquisitive and aren't shy at all - the very qualities which make them easy prey to predators like cats and foxes. We don't have any cats or foxes about at the moment, thanks to a vigilant neighbour so the population here is increasing. Tonight I snapped these pics of one who was busy scavenging from the chooks scrap dish. What a cutie!

Yes the girl is still alive!!!!

2011-05-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

Hi again to all of you! It's been a while.....ok that's an understatement. I've been seriously busy...and the proof is in the pudding (or the permaculture in this case!).

I saw a dear friend of mine today, who said I really needed to post an update..and so here it is!

First a quick peek at how things are looking... then some explanations!
Ta Dah!!! Yes that's actually my garden! I must admit, it is starting to look like those pictures in the permaculture books that I have been green with envy over for ages!

Soooo much to tell you! I've been learning and doing heaps....where to start!

Ok - first I got hold of the most amazing book ever - all Permies out there PAY ATTENTION. It's called Edible Forest Gardens (for temperate climates) by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier. It comes in two volumes. The first is the theory, the second is design and practise. I got Volume 2 and it works as a stand alone text (there's more than enough theory in this one too!).

The garden above is amidst the old orchard site (old as in there's only 4 old trees, the rest we ripped out as they were past their use by date). The plan is for this site to become a food forest in the years ahead. This is a long process as things grow in succession. We'll enjoy sunloving vegies from this space for many years yet, before the canopy finally starts to join and create a different microclimate underneath (which is when we'll grow more berries and less drought resistant foods).

For the first time I feel like energy in, is equalling produce out. We have food!
I've been doing things really differently. No more garden beds with crops which i plant, then rip out and start again in the next season. I'm combining HEAPS of things I've learned from different sources and it's working!

Ok so here's a bed (it's actually a mound set on contour - the path alongside it acts as a mini-swale catching and slowing down the water/rain and hopefully holding it in the soil a little longer). You'll notice it's a polyculture...This bed joins few fruit trees. A Wheelie bin Mulberry, middle left with wire around it (it was salvaged by a friend and arrived growing in a wheelie bin!) an apple tree, and a pomegranate (which you can just see in the top right hand corner). In the bed itself is a variety of things all intermingled. Just in this photo you can see Pepino (bottom left with flowers), mint, Beetroot, garlic, tomato (self sown), kale, onions. Sounds crazy huh?! But it works!
There's method in the madness.

I got the idea of on the spot succession planting from reading about Fukuoka's methods. When something is ready to harvest (like the beetroot just about is) I simply pull it out, and replace it with a handful of manure/compost and a seedling of some other kind of plant. Crop rotation happens on the spot, the soil is replenished and weeds don't have a chance to get in.

Other bonuses are that there are plant layers happening, because of the mix of plants and also because of their age. There's no room for competition from weeds, pests are kept at bay because there are no rows of vegies (and therefore no patterns to recognise and attack), microclimates happen in patches under larger plants, so fragile things like lettuce seedlings benefit from the part shade, and evaporation is minimised. And to top it off, it looks pretty! Never has so much been going on in so small a patch of my garden!

This patch is ticking over nicely now, one thing out, another goes in. But here's one that's just starting....

This is a close up of a very new bed. I read that when soil is disturbed, it releases a flush of nutrients. That's why weeds appear very quickly in disturbed ground. But we can take advantage of this. This bed was made of my existing soil (and I use the word soil really loosely because it's seriously rubbish stuff) and Vegetable Concentrate which I got from the Green Life Soil Company (link to them at the end of this post they are AWESOME!). Having dug it all in, and therefore disturbed it nicely, I threw radish and coriander seeds on it as a cover crop (because that's what I had on hand). THEY benefitted from the nutrient flush, and radishes, being a super quick germinator, ensured that weeds were outcompeted. The next step is to pull out a radish here and there as they are ready and replace it with a seedling. You'll notice I've already done this in a few spots in this bed. There is broad bean, tatsoi and lettuce in here. More brassicas and things will be added over the next few weeks as they grow to a suitable seedling size in my seed raising bed.

There is also a lemon grass in the photo. Each bed I set up has a few perrenials in it, either fruit trees, berries or herbs. The annuals are planted around them, so there's always something in the bed, always some shelter and pest control.

There's more happening around the property, but that'll be for another post.

One last thing - if you live in WA, I seriously recommend getting your soil and any additives you need from the Green Life Soil Company. They even have the rock dust Josh Byrne talked about on a Gardening Australia show recently - which puts all those minerals which are missing from Perth soils, back into the ground and into your vegies.
My garden absolutely TOOK OFF within a week of having their soil in. Even the Pepino (which constantly flowered and never grew fruit suddenly got some). Cat from Cathsode is my witness!
They really know their stuff and give great advice. A link to their site is below.

www.greenlifesoil.com.au

Happy gardening people!

New Moon

2010-11-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the new moon and I've been thinking about what I want to get rid of. Unhealthy stress. Not the kind that motivates or niggles because something should really be acted on, but the movie reel over and over in my head type stress. The pointless kind that I end up feeling sick over or getting headachey over when my logic part of my brain tells me 'this is really stupid, let it go or deal with it in another way'.

I bring work stress home, even though I try not to. I worry about interactions I've had with people during the day - what did they mean by.....?, did I come across as too 'know-it-ally', aloof, a bad parent, a complete ditz etc. I haven't written/phoned/seen such and such in ages - I wonder if they're going to be upset/feel snubbed etc. I worry about so many things...despite my logical brain screaming 'GIVE IT A REST'.

I know I shouldn't do this. I try on a daily basis to be the best kind of person I can be. That is the honest truth. I shouldn't beat myself up about the number of times I fall short, because I don't hold others to ransom for these kinds of things....we get busy/tired/suffer from compassion fatigue sometimes, all of us. And yet, these niggly thoughts creep in constantly and I end up playing those reels, even when I'm in the garden where I should just be focussing on relaxing.

This moon, I am giving myself permission to ignore and send off all those useless thoughts.
And perhaps, if there's truth in the idea that a new habits takes 28days to form, it'll stick!

I'm going to plant a sunflower seed by this new moon (or lack thereof!) so I have a reminder every day of this goal. Perhaps by the time it flowers, I'll be feeling as sunny as it is.

Lesotho Keyhole Garden

2010-10-29T05:29:00.000-07:00

Recently I turned our round raised bed into a Lesotho style keyhole garden (minus the wedge) as an experiment in 'arid' gardening, because let's face it with multiple days in a row of 40+ heat here in summer, temperate gardening techniques aren't really adequate.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the concept, Lesotho (in Africa) has a temperature range of 40+ during the day, down to -15 degrees at night. Some years ago the people were in dire straits, as their crops weren't producing and a large proportion of the population was malnourished. That was until they developed the idea of a keyhole bed.

The keyhole bed is a raised circular bed (made of stones, bricks etc) with a wedge cut out for access to it's centre. There, in the middle is a basket which sits through the core of the bed. The bed is built up in layers (like no dig gardens) but the inside is raised so the dirt/straw etc slopes down to the outer edge of the circle. Food scraps, manure, straw, compost etc is placed into the central basket, and grey water is poured into the basket which ensures the bed is gravity fed and moist right to outside, whilst fertilising as the baskets contents break down.

There are a number of great sites on this method. Here a link to one which shows you how a group of school children did it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I-_6Bog-rM

I planted some seeds and a few plants in mine, and it's the most exposed garden bed I have - yet seems to be doing really well so far. I'm still top watering though as I haven't managed to fill the basket (chook wire in my case) to the top yet so the gravity fed aspect isn't functional yet.

Just a tip though to any of you thinking of giving it a go....cover each layer of food scraps with sand, clippings or something...as the smell from mine wasn't terrific after a week or so in the sun until I sorted it!

Photos to come in a future post.

Dragons, Pan and the Fool

2010-10-23T22:33:00.000-07:00

I love this time of the year. Besides the intense need to spring clean, there is a sense of new beginnings, potential and renewed energy. I see it in the kids who have revived their interest in the sandpit and are now chasing Spring pets (in the form of aphids and bugs), in our beautiful goslings and the hen who has decided to go broody again this week, in the Husband who has been inspired to help build our lower pond, in the seedlings which have sprouted from the dark soil, in the dreams that visit with some definite purpose and even in me, and my outlook on how I will grow this season.

Obviously I'm not the only one to notice it - some like-minded souls shared their sightings of Spring energy with me this week, and the common thread couldn't be missed.

I even found the energy to go to the drumming circle that I've neglected for a couple of months and felt energised on so many levels from that night. I realised how much I appreciate this group of people. We're an eclectic mix but each member has their place and the rhythms just wouldn't be the same without the contribution of each one. I feel happy when I'm with them, and comfortable because a few of them are 'like-minded souls' and that adds another element to what we share.

Today I had a chance to chat with the Crone (of Wit's End fame) and during our conversation I found myself thinking how lucky I was to have found some people that understand things the way I do. People I can share things with, without having to explain, justify or watch for the raised eyebrow.

And later I felt, I'm getting better at being me.

Sunshine through the rain!

2010-10-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

There was sunshine at our home today despite the rains... but this golden orb was fluffy!

Zeus, Medusa and Persephone are pleased to announce the arrival of Nysa.

She was born early this morning. Nysa, means 'goal, ambition' - fitting since she was so keen to break out of her egg first.

Another gosling has since arrived this afternoon, but being a little damp still, it was hard to tell the sex...so naming will wait until tomorrow though I think it was another little girl. Since these goslings have arrived during a day of spring rain, I'm giving them both Rain Nymph names.

There are still a few eggs to hatch so tomorrow will bring more joy. The Munchkins are delighted. *Sigh* Isn't spring wonderful?!

Wisdom of a 6 year old

2010-09-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

Quote of the week - When asked why he simply refused to have gel put in his hair - after all his brother was keen?
Elder munchkin replied "Because, I don't want that stuff....I think people should just look the way they are"

Mum beams in the background....!!!!

Spring is here!

2010-09-06T04:13:00.001-07:00

Would you look at these gorgeous colours? Who says vegies aren't beautiful?

I really need to get outside - there's stuff to harvest and weeds to pull everyhere I look. This week though has been busy with some spring cleaning. It is so intrinsic - that need to open windows and smell fresh air in the house, to bring out the lighter coloured linen and bring vases of fresh flowers into the house.

I've decluttered, cleaned, sorted and polished bits and pieces and gosh it feels fine!

Some respite

2010-09-04T04:46:00.001-07:00

It's been one heck of a week - the kind that reminds you how cruisy things are usually. I was well and truly burnt out by last night.

The good parts are that a: we have an official 'everything is ok with your child and no diagnosis of any kind is needed' from the paediatrician. Elder munchkin is just 'bright' and 'a little different', and "we are all different and need to allow for people's individuality' said the paediatrician. I could have hugged him! This is what we've felt/hoped the whole time - but you start to doubt yourself - am I being blind to my child's issues because I want everything to be ok? Am I in denial? At least now we have it officially.

It doesn't detract from the fact that Elder munchkin does need some support with a few things - but things are happening to make progress in those areas so I'm just happy to accept that what we need is patience, and time and things will work out.

The other thing - is that we've had some really positive behaviours from both the Munchkins the last couple of days, and I'm wondering if the diet is helping after all. We've added salicylates and everything is fine - I'm rejoicing at this part because I was fearing all those tomato seeds I'd planted wouldn't be used!

I'm starting to think nitrates and sulphites could be the nasties.

For anyone interested there is an organic, preservative free butcher in Mundaring who has great meat products, and best of all nitrate free ham! It tastes amazing - way better than normal ham. He'll also make sausages up for you using YOUR ingredients. So you can take in your own organic garlic, and herbs and he'll make them up. The only condition is that you have to do it in 8kg lots (to make it worthwhile) - it's pricey, but terrific we think.

Anyway - It's been an exhausting process the last few weeks but I've learnt heaps about all sorts of things, so that's a positive too I guess. One thing though that has struck me, is that I'm starting to feel a little angry at how narrow our perceptions of how a child is 'meant' to be, has become.
Where has the freedom to be 'different', 'themselves', 'creative', and 'individual' gone? Supposedly we are in a society which 'nurtures' children and their potential. I'm feeling a little disillusioned with that view at the moment. My experiences lately have shown that those things are fine as long as they sit within very narrow goal posts and are 'convenient' to the school system. And as a teacher, that's extremely disheartening to learn.

Two steps forward..

2010-08-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

And a couple of steps back. :(
Not great days with either of the munchkins the last couple of days. I'm so frustrated with the whole thing. Trying to stay hopeful that this is the reason they say you have to stick with it for 3 weeks, and get 5 good days in a row.
Perhaps we're all going through withdrawal, me included.

Progress?

2010-08-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

I'm trying really hard not to get excited, but it can't be denied that:

Younger munchkin has slept through 2 nights in a row and his teacher commented on how calm he seemed today. He also came home and washed dishes, was a dream to shop with and whispered in the library- unheard of!)
Elder munchkin remembered to take his bag to the car today for the first time in 2 years, he's been reading without being nagged, and his teacher said there was a little more focus today...and that his handwriting has significantly improved overnight! (the book mentioned handwriting!!!!)

I'm trying really hard to not see things that aren't there, but these things were obvious and brought up by the teachers. I've told them about the diet and our agreement is that in the weeks ahead when we try out the challenges I won't tell them, they will hopefully notice it and say 'THIS WEEK!!' when it happens.

Elder Munchkin's teacher has seen a few of her students on this diet. She said in half the cases there wasn't a substantial enough change to warrant it being food alone, but in one case it was definitely so. She said that little boy was intolerant to salicylates (tomato was a particularly bad trigger). If he'd eaten tomato you could guarantee he'd punch someone out in the playground within 48 hours. Poor kid.

Fingers crossed. One day at a time.

EXTREME!!!! I'll give you extreme!!!

2010-08-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

I did something so out of character today. I got MAD in public at a man in a shop.

I was waiting in car while Hubby went inside the store. While I was sitting there, I read the posters and notices on the window. One of the was a huge poster with labels reading 'Ban Fishing', 'Ban shooting' and 'Ban 4wding' - 'Stop the Extreme Greens before they stop our sports'.
I sat there reading this rubbish and suddenly felt really mad. I can deal with the to and fro that goes on between political parties but THIS crossed the line. THIS was ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!
WHAT LIES!!!
'
I got out, found hubby and said 'Look, is this the only place we can get this thing from?. He's looking at me strangely and says 'er...no - why?'
'Because I don't want to shop here. Have you seen the posters?' He looked, saw (the place was plastered in them) and understood. We thanked the owner, but told him not to worry about the item, and went to walk out.

The owner asked me what the problem was .....and (I still can't believe it) I told him. I said I didn't like his posters - they were utterly untrue, and people will believe that kind of stuff.
He said "Well that's the truth." I replied 'No it's not - those are complete LIES. The Greens have never said they would ban fishing or anything. That's totally misrepresented. They only want to have it managed so that future generations can enjoy the same lifestyle we do. We fish, and shoot (only rabbits for conservation purposes) and still vote Green.
He said - 'Yeah well I'm a conservationist love, but you've to read the fine print'.
Hubby, who'd already made it to the door, has now returned to drag me away from what is becoming a scene (customers are staring). As I get exited I cry 'I HAVE read small print - that's HOW I know!!!

Then I sat in the car totally abashed. What was I thinking? I never cause scenes. I keep my opinions to myself in public. Weird - is it the diet? I just got sooooo mad at how outrageous the poster is.

Anyway - for those of you wondering about the small print. The Green's do NOT want to ban fishing - especially as a sport (nor are the other claims accurate). Their suggesions for restraint apply to commercial fishing, not recreational. And as for the 'ban', the fine print reads...and I quote

"It is not 30% of the marine environment (as some parts of the fishing lobby is erroneously claiming) but 30% of the marine reserve areas."

Yeah I know, EXTREME huh?!

OMG what have we got ourselves into!

2010-08-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

We're trying to stay chirpy about it all. Hubby has been a great sport and so have the kids althought younger munchkin confessed to me this afternoon this 'diet thing in the book is stupid mum' - 'stupid' being his strongest word. Luckily he was ok after we chatted again about why this was important, and that it's only for 2 weeks. 'We can do it!' I encouraged enthusiastically. I think I sounded convincing.

THANK THE GODDESS it's only 2 weeks is all I can say. It is killing me feeding my family the sort of stuff we have avoided like the plague for years. I actually felt embarrassed loading white sugar, Pretzels, and Crisps on the counter at Coles - what a way to feed a family.

It feels like all we're eating is sugar and carbs. It would help if the stores stocked the stuff we are craving - like the soy yoghurt and cream cheese. That would go a long way towards increasing the range of meals we could make. Unfortunately Coles and Woolworths don't carry the stuff. There is a Soylife Vanilla one - but they had to go and stick 160b in it didn't they?

So far I have definitely learned something - that it is really hard for the people out there who are intolerant to things to access the products they need. I didn't appreciate how easy shopping is for us. I have new sympathy for those who deal with it always.

FAILSAFE diet

2010-08-17T23:33:00.000-07:00

Elder Munchkin has been having troubles at school for a while. Early in the piece he had surgery for constant problems with his tonsils and ear infections. That should have fixed some issues relating to his speech but it hasn't seemed to fix it all. Granted he doesn't snore as much or get tonsilitus (obviously) but his speech sounds like he constantly has a blocked nose. When he blows it, nothing comes out - it's more like the membranes are swollen. The specialist thought it may have been allergies, but nasal sprays haven't helped either. As a result, his speech is poor, he has poor habits also - drops end sounds and doesn't open his mouth enough. We've been working on this for ages with limited improvement.
In addition, I was approached last year and again this year by his teachers who suggested he was on the Autism spectrum. I'm a teacher myself and ok, you might say I'm in denial, but though he has behaviours that overlap with Aspergers (and don't we all) he doesn't exhibit the key ones or enough of them in my opinion. They suggested this because his social skills and attention aren't in line with his abilities in other areas (where he appears gifted)
If I was asked I'd say he would be diagnosed as ADD (not ADHD). His attention and focus is terrible, he can't follow routines, gets lost halfway through instuctions...just gets distracted by other stuff constantly (just like me as a child, less so now). He's not hyperactive, and happily sits quietly playing Lego, Kinex etc for hours - loves construction. I'm so hoping I'm utterly wrong, as the idea of medicating my child for this sort of thing just isn't something I want to have to face.

We have had routines in place for this child since he was born. Our house has charts with morning routines, evening routines. Our children don't watch TV (except for movie nights), they don't play hours of computer games (that sort of stuff is closely monitored). They don't eat rubbish etc etc. EVERYTHING we are supposed to do for a child's ideal development is done. And yet, the problems are there. It's frustrating. Obviously, there are thousands of families out there in the same boat. I have a dear friend (Asperger herself) who has all 3 of kids diagnosed with the same thing and she is an amazing mother. It's wrong of me, but I feel a little jaded when I see families (and in my line of work you see plenty) who don't bother putting in half the effort we do as parents, and yet their kids present as 'fine'. Ok, that's a stupid thing to say, but I guess I'm grieving this a little.

In any case, we are booked to see a paediatrician in a fortnight and in the meantime I stumbled across the FAILSAFE diet, which thousands and thousands of families apparently swear by.

The FAILSAFE stands for Free of Additives, Low in Salicylates, Amines and Flavour Enhancers. http://www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/healthandlifestyle.asp?sid=191

The results of this system seem too good to be true - and this stage, that's what I'm looking for because I do suspect food has an impact on our Munchkin - it explains why some days he seems fine, and others he's terrible. If it was something else, you'd expect more consistency in his behaviours.

So today was spent emptying our pantry and fridge and filling both with only 'allowed' foods so we aren't tempted. I'm lucky enough to have a gorgeous husband, who's every bit as wonderful a dad - who said, 'Right, well we'll all be on it then'. So the house is 'clean' to ensure no mistakes during the next 2 weeks while we're on the elimination part of it. We want to do this right, to give it the best possible chance.

There's reports that it has helped migraine sufferers too - so I might get something out of it too.

It's going to be an interesting 2 weeks....

Five Glorious Five....

2010-08-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

A Munchkin in our home turned 5 today! We had a fun filled morning with the Munchkin's Kindy friends and a family gathering tonight.
Munchkin seriously stalled going to bed tonight. Obviously didn't want the day to end. And stroking that soft little Munchkin's hair as they settled into bed tonight, neither did I . Where does the time go? How do babies grow so fast? I try to savour the moments and yet every time I stop to look, it feels like so many have just slipped through my fingers.

I guess most parents feel this way...and to those of you out there who don't - please share your wisdom. I could use it.

Introducing Zeus, Medusa and Persephone

2010-08-08T04:51:00.001-07:00

Zeus (the Goose...well ok gander) was so named because he was the underdog in his previous home. We felt he needed a fresh start with a bold name. He is the white one with beautiful blue eyes.
I guess we had a theme at that point, and Hubby suggested Medusa for one of the females, as she is very beautiful, has a snake like head and hisses!!! You can see her in the background to the right.

We have named the second female (hidden behind Zeus) Persephone. Goddess of spring who was said to make the earth fertile (one of the reasons we got geese!). She is also beautiful.

They are settling in it seems. Though they are still nervous of us, Zeus will take food from my hand, and the others from less than half a metre away if I put it down between us. They love carrots!

Hubby saw some mating antics happening amidst the waterplay, and indeed one of the females - I didn't see who, is making a nest...and has laid an egg in it. I'm not counting any goslings before they hatch. I'd LOVE for them to hatch some this spring, but realistically, I would have thought the trauma of moving home would mean she probably won't sit that well.

Time will tell. Meanwhile we are thoroughly enjoying them and looking forward to letting them out into the orchard in the weeks ahead.

We Have Geese!!!!!

2010-08-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

My camera's batteries are dead but pics tomorrow I promise!!!

It was short notice - and a busy weekend for everyone around here (thanks goes to our parents and Cousin Jim for all their help!) but they are home.

The new chook house is similar to my design (Hubby tells me he can make an outside door for egg collection cown the track) but a lot sturdier. It's made from 2 ute canopies, modified thanks to the amazing design and welding skills of our fathers. It's great and about $600 cheaper than the $600 dollar model we were looking at buying. All recycled too!

As for the Geese, they are Pilgrim Geese and absolutely beautiful. Hopefully in time they will become excellent weeders and feeders to the orchard. Currently they are staying in their shelter, just for a week or so until they settle in and feel at home.

Photos tomorrow!

The things we do!

2010-08-05T07:02:00.001-07:00

This is how I communicate with my husband!

You're probably wondering what on earth this objet d'art is.. well, glad you asked. It's going to be our new chook house. (We are getting geese and they will be going into the current hen house so the chooks need a new home).

After numerous attempts to explain what I wanted and him trying the same - this got rather heated- and me failing dismally at some sort of diagram, I finally went away, then returned to plonk this in front of him.
"THIS is what I want!" I said proudly. He, rather rudely squinted at it, and made various remarks like "Do you think it'll need a door?" and 'What no roof or wire?".... ignoring the fact that it has an outside access point to eggs, and this design (unlike other unnamed people's) meant that the roosts are to the side so chooks aren't traipsing through their own muck to access the nesting boxes. Did he comment on those wonderful points...no! But at least he agreed to build it. Finally!

Now all we have to do is find a giant sized Nurofen box and we'll be right!

Bonfire and Brew

2010-07-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

Our cousins from the UK arrived this week - along with their gorgeous twins. Tonight the Clan gathered to welcome them properly with a bonfire. I think bonfires are one of my favourite winter things.
The way was lit with bottled candles and flares, down to the tangled mass of sticks, branches and roots that rose from the ground like an out of place beaver lodge. F-I-L had been busy the last few months, with a plan in mind.
It was a slow start, leaves lighting up brightly, then dying. But there was no end of encouragement from the crowd and after a quick scavenge for twigs we soon had a bright orb, and then a fire!
The young lads fueled it enthusiastically until the circle that had gathered widened considerably, to cope with heat, and better appreciate the view. There's something so connecting about a fire. One beautiful cousin had brought a friend with her and was introducing her to the Clan. In the explanations that followed about who was who, I mentioned 'Everyone here is connected somehow' (we are an extended group). And as I said it, I realised how we are so broad (cousins and second cousins and cousins once removed and in-laws, and siblings and friends that are family by choice) but there is a definite clanness to us.
I married into this clan, and feel it strongly as this is so unlike the family experiences from my background. But this is a family where the matriarch only ever treated me like a daughter, not a daughter-in-law, and I have a sister, (not a sister in law) and the cousins call me their cousin (not their cousin's wife). Here is a space and place for everyone - even my side of the family who are clan now too, not 'in-laws'.
With hot soup, roast meat, bread by the basketful, spicy mulled wine and wonderful company I just sat and bathed in the glorious feeling that I would not want to be anywhere else in the world but here. This is home and these are my people. And I am just the luckiest person alive.

The quiet time

2010-07-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

Things are very slow at the moment. It's too cold to sow much into the ground (though I have been moving cabbage and spinach seedlings out into the orchard).
I thought I'd planted way too much broccolini this year (about 20 plants) but no, it's still not too much. We've been harvesting from the first succession every week or so (small amounts) and now that the others have caught up I managed to get a substantial double handful for tonight's chicken pie, but there still isn't enough to have this much every day or two, nor give bushels away to family/friends.
I wonder how much it takes? Every year we plant more, but still nowhere near enough. I'm at the point where I've decided to make every seed I can, count... and fill every space I can find with a vegie plant. I know some won't get the water they need, but those that tough it out will have their seed collected and perhaps I'll develop more drought tolerant varieties.

The good thing about winter is the time it leaves to plan and organise. I've been scouring Diggers' catalogues and placing orders. Boy will I be busy in spring!
In particular I've set myself a tomato goal for this summer. I'm waiting on an order of Amish Paste tomatoes, Jaune Flamme and some others of mixed varieties. The first two are for the sole intention of preserving.
The tomatoes were a flop last year. Soil was moist but leaves got burnt to a crisp in the 40plus heat...no crop!
This year I'm planting the tomatoes under trees in the orchard and in other spots where they'll be partly shaded. I was reminded by my father in law this week that they only needed heat not sun, which I knew..why didn't I do this last year?
In any case, we've never had a big enough crop of tomatoes that there's been heaps of surplus. This year I want SURPLUS PLUS! I dream of jars of homemade pasta sauce and dried tomatoes, neatly lined up in our store cupboard, ready for the winter months when we love to have pasta and pizza. This is the year!

The Fire Pit

2010-07-17T01:47:00.001-07:00

The light's not great because it's late afternoon but Ramsey reminded me I'd promised photos of the fire pit. This is it!

Red bird of Happiness

2010-07-17T00:58:00.001-07:00

You know those times when things really start to get on top of you? Final straw broke the camels back for me last night after we had some friends over and I was mortified by the way our kids behaved. They so know how to use manners and how to behave...so what the hell happens when they come in contact with people?

Its been a hard month or two where I'm feeling utterly incompetent in all my roles as mother, wife and professional. I am swamped, tired and angry that despite my best efforts nothing is seeming to run smoothly, or show the outcomes of the effort put in. The house is a constant battle to keep in any semblance of order, the kids are constantly at each others throats, not using their manners and being disrespectful and I am exhausted dealing with it all.

I go back to work in 2 days after the break, and I don't feel ready or enthused....not a good thing.

After a good cry last night I've sat down today to make 'tactical response plans' (which is how I usually deal with this kind of thing once I've fallen in a heap. Time to get up..."now what am I going to do about it" type thing.

I'm keeping up the high expectations of the kids and yes we've have a few 'Stand and think' sessions for both of them today. I've revamped our routines and looked at the tough spots. And realised why I get so stressed when I do - hubby's not usually home at the busy times of the day when I really need an extra set of hands. Like someone to run bathtime/clean the aftermath while the other tidies up the dinner dishes etc. Shift work is a killer for both the person doing it and for their partner.

In any case Hubby has come to the party agreeing to do some set chores 'sometime' during his week between shift hours. Those are things I can rely on being done and forget about them.

Anyway - boring post for anyone reading this. Personal rant and recovery really. Sometimes you just need to vent.

Despite feeling blergh today - I had to stop smile and quickly grab my camera for a moment of bliss when I saw this little guy on our railing outside the window. Isn't he beautiful? We are getting more and more small variety birds - and the Robin is one of my favourites.

Just as good as a bluebird of happiness.

A new look and some photos

2010-07-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

Since this is a new start to the year of blog for me I thought a new look was in order. And here are the photos as promised.

The first is of the 'Potager' or herb circle. You can see the tiles I used. It has grown HEAPS since this photo was taken, but I still have to fill in some soil at the back - ran out of steam on this project...but will get there.

The next photo is of the front view (the lavender in the bottom left of the top photo is the lavender hedge you can see middle left in the 2nd shot). You can jus see my little blue shed in the background. This view is the view from our dining room.

And below, my cold frame. Mini - but is sufficient for now.

It's all looking so 'full' and green - the sort of garden I've always wanted. Have to admit I'm feeling very pleased that all that hard work is starting to pay off. If you click on the photos you'll get a better look.

And we have big plans for the place. And this time when I say 'we' I actually mean it! Hubby has agreed to get on board with the big projects namely to enclose our north side verandah (our house is solar passive so this will mean trapped heat from the bricks and no wind which will reduce the cold air on those windows) with bistro blinds so that we can roll them up in summer when we don't want the glass house effect.

In addition we are planning to build a shadehouse across the front of the house (south side) as this is the side that gets terribly hot in the afternoon in summer when the west setting sun hits the walls and windows. The shade house will be covered in a deciduos vine (grape or kiwi I'm thinking) so it will still let light in during the cooler months but provide cool breezes through the house in summer.

I think the plan will be to start on the shadehouse in Spring so we get the benefits of it this summer.

Things are in swing!

The RETURN!!!

2010-07-11T06:05:00.001-07:00

It has been soooooooo long since I last posted. Life got very busy - as it does between caring for a young family, work and play (namely work... on our land).

The results will be posted up over the next few weeks.

So garden wise what have I been up to? Well research in a big way. I've been reading anything and everything I can on permaculture and finding ways to make it work here.

Here's a list of the changes since last post (over a year ago!)

Built a keyhole shaped 'potager' - mainly filled with herbs. It's made out of the recycled roof tiles from our old house and is thriving! What a change from the dry patch it used to be. Plan to cover it with shade cloth for summer and put up a grape on trellis at the back shield carport.
Put up a small shed - second hand passed on from a neighbour. It's blue and I love it! It got deemed 'mine' and has all my gardening stuff in it, plus a bench for workspace. I think I finally get the whole attraction men have about sheds.
Built a swale....well sort of. I dug ditches in the orchard to catch the rain that runs downhill so fast. Not sure that they're exactly on contour as my method of planning them wasn't very scientific. I got the hose, watched where the water ran, and heaped dirt in front of it to stop it going down and redirect it sideways. Soon had a horizontal line across the orchard which I dug and heaped the dirt on the low side. In any case it works! I've also redirected the water from the driveway. The orchard is always so very dry in summer. Hopefully this year will be different - in any case it's never had this much water in it before.
Built 2 ponds. Below our decking was a dry spot where nothing grew (water resistant soil due to the effects of leaves from the eucalypts above it). Since putting the 2 ponds in the decking area is noticeably cooler in summer and the wildlife has thrived. Insects abound and the quenda diggings have increased in that area 20 fold.
Planted more fuit trees.
Rezoned the main vegie patch. The orginal spot we tried years ago was too dry at the time. Since then the lavender hedge and lime tree surrounding it have grown and offer enough protection for it to be sheltered and ideal as a vegie patch. Again- recycled tiles form the raised bed.
Build a rough compost bin area from old corrugated iron and some star pickets. It's not fancy but I have compost for the first time ever!
Changing the face of the orchard - sowed a pasture of green manure (hoed and sowed by hand I might add!) and am trying to establish a food forest there instead of the typical orchard in rows. It will be some years before it looks as it should but this is a start.
Saved some old grapevines that were lying on the ground in the paddock and have raised them on a wire/star picket fence.
Built a fire pit/drumming circle area. We have to remove some pines due to the risk of borers. The segments have been arranged in a circle with brazier in the centre. I'm in the process of planting up the outside with natives to eventually create a 'cave' or secluded area. The kids already love it and we've had a few marshmallow toasting sessions to try it out.
Have started making our own yoghurt. It's so easy - why haven't I been doing this for years?
Installed a wood fire - this one we bought new for two reasons. Firstly we looked for months and couldn't find any decent ones secondhard. Those that were available aren't legal anymore due their emissions levels. Secondly Hubby insisted we get a 'pretty' one. We ended up getting a 'Jotul' which is supposed to be incredibly efficient (one of the best brands in the world in this regard apparently). The brand is Norwegian but I understand the parts were made here. There was much debate about getting a wood fire but the research showed they actually are greener than gas and electricity. With the cost of electricity going up too we thought it was silly to not make use of our land and be self sufficient in this regard. So I'm madly planting firewood for the years to come.

See - no time to blog when this is all happening. Photos to follow once I steal the batteries for my camera back from the kids!

Winter Solstice 2009

2009-06-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

It was wet, really wet, cold and blustery but the prospect of a bonfire made for two very excited Munchkins who happily put sticks into the fire and toasted marshmallows in between showers.

It takes a huge effort to get me out on this kind of night, but I guess once a year you have to, to really remind yourself what winter is all about and help you really appreciate the warmer weather when it returns. It helped that we had family around us, a lovely meal, some mulled wine, and a short drumming session which some of the family kindly humoured me with.
Good company and good food will always warm the coldest night.

The rain held off at sunrise this morning, so today for a change I gallantly ventured out to my thinking log, warming my hands on my first morning coffee and counted my blessings out there amongst the dew dripping gumtrees and bird calls. Sigh..... :)

Pay it Forward

2009-05-03T05:12:00.000-07:00

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days to do it in…What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!The catch is that you must participate as well: you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going.(just cut and paste this one if you like!, which I did)

So, if you are interested, sign up and send me your address . Also please let me know your favourite colour, one word to describe yourself (the you you aspire to be) and a natural element you identify with.

Look forward to your responses!

I responded to Crone's 'Pay it Forward' @ http:thecroneatwitsend.com

Eostre Moon Sleepout

2009-04-09T20:16:00.001-07:00

We camped out on the trampoline last night and couldn't have asked for a better night. Perfectly cool, clear skies and a full moon.

We went for a nightstalk with our torches, watched the stars, found satellites, saw a helicopter pass overhead, watched and listened to the small flocks of cockatoos that flew over us on their way to their roosting tree and then bickered for an hour like kids at a sleepover, had a midnight feast and heard the story of Eostre and the Rabbit before snuggling down to sleep. After which I quietly took a few photos - this was one of them.
If there's a nicer way to spend a night I don't know it! :)

Pics at last!

2009-04-08T04:29:00.003-07:00

Finally some pics - the patch looks so bare now since I've ripped up all the summer fruiting stuff. time for a clean canvas!
Here are the peas and ....carrots!

The other beds are a mix of stuff. Can't wait for the 'weeks ahead' photos. They grow so quick in Blogland!

Today Hubby sprayed poison (yes I know it's dreadful) around the house before the rains come and the millipedes do too. For those of you who aren't familiar with Portugese Millipedes (and I'm sure they're fine in Portugal) these introduced little blighters emerge after the first rains in plague proportions.
We have tried every natural trap there is, and sure pots of water with little lights etc work - but when you're talking about millions of the things coming in at once those remedies are a pee in the in the ocean. We literally need a moat. They have been getting worse and worse over the last few years. Last year we woke up every morning to our hallway and toilet walls that were black and wriggling. I kid you not. They form a mat of bodies over every surface and release a pungent odour in the oil they secrete. It meant about an hour of vacuuming every morning before we could start the day - and the house reeking for hours after from the smell of the bodies you'd walked on, and the full vaccuum cleaner which had blown out that smell throughout the house.
We finally sprayed last year around the perimeter and it meant that we just had to sweep up the piles and piles of them every few days. I filled our kitchen bin to the top with bodies in one morning.

Can you tell I really dislike these things?!

On a brighter note - I have promised the Munchkins a sleep out on the trampoline tomorrow night. It's a full moon or close enough to for a short bushwalk, and likely to be one of the few dry and warmish nights left of the year so we're taking advantage of there being no school the next day (Yay for holidays!) and making it fun. Might be some pics if we're lucky enough to spot some interesting animals.

Operation Chilli Dog and birthday greetings to Cynthia!

2009-04-05T04:20:00.000-07:00

Bindi the Dobermann is an ...interesting mutt. Stunning looking, a true beauty, affectionate and very loving (when she's not mauling the kids), highly intelligent...and a thief.
She steals any morsel of food from the kitchen or anywhere - she has pinched entire school lunches that I was in the middle of preparing and left for 5 seconds to deal with some munchkin disaster, stolen whole pounds of butter, tipped breakfast bowls off the table int he time it took us to go get a spoon etc etc. NOTHING edible can be left unattended.

It occurred to me that years ago when our ball mad Border Collie took to jumping up and stealing all the mandarines because they looked like balls, that we cured him by painting the bottom few fruits with Chilli oil. He tried one ....and tried his luck again once more before deciding they weren't such a good idea. Cured.

So tonight after Bindi stole one of the kids bowls off the table (tipped it onto the chair so she could lick it out). I put her outside as usual as penalty, then liberally sprinkled chilli powder over the remainder of the contents of thebowl. I let her back in, shut her in the dining room and left the room so she felt she was alone.....ha HA!

Needless to say she took the bait...but this dog is like no other...she decided it wasn'tbad really....lick lick, not bad at all actually and promptly finished off the bowl licking it especially clean.
Admittely she went to the water bowl after with a little more urgency in her step but that was about it as far as a reaction.

This isn't over - there are hotter things than chilli powder. Breakfast tomorrow = Stage 2 in Operation Chilli Dog.

On another note altogether it is our dear Aunt Cynthia's birthday today and I've heard she occasionally drops into this blog - so if you're reading this Cynthia, we hope you're having a lovely day and are thinking of you!

XXXX

Autumn plantings underway

2009-04-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

I met up with a new friend today - the mother of one of Elder Munchkin's school friends. the morning went very quickly as she and her husband are avid gardeners so there was lots of info to share. I'm thinking of trying out her hexagonal bed idea. She said there was noticeably less evaporation from those beds than the rectangular ones they'd put in.

In any case I was inspired to get out into the garden after they left despite my early decision to wait until the rains before planting stuff.

Today I planted some lettuce, celery, 2 types of broccoli, broccolini, bok choy, spinach and snowpeas. The ones I got are a dwarf variety (not sure if they are hybrid or not - they were from the nursery) and I made a kid sized frame that the munchkins can walk all the way around to access both sides without trampling everything else in sight! All up I spent $20 on seedlings but I know I'll get WAY more than that of vegies from them. I had thought about only planting from my saved seed, but decided to get a head start with these and use the seeds for successive plantings downthe track.

Last week I did plant some sugar snap and bush feast peas (just a few) and they have already sprouted. Some of the garlic has too, though it needs a little TLc as the soil was a little water resistant. It felt so good to get out in the garden today after the long hot summer. I had lost a little enthusiasm after collecting the last of the bulk of the harvest and watching every starting to seriously dry up. It's good to see moist soil again and green shoots appearing.

Pics over the next few weeks - once the hols are here and I have more spare time!

Good news...sort of...

2009-03-19T04:13:00.000-07:00

Our youngest munchkin has had a wheat allergy since the age of 11 months, so we thought, resulting in chronic eczema every time wheat was ingested. We were told most children grow out of their allergies by the time they're 3, but this wasn't the case with younger munchkin, and in fact we've been noticing more and more things that seem to be causing allergies. With this in mind, and the worry of the development of asthma and further allergies, we decided we had waited long enough now to see if the allergies would go away by themselves, and now we would look at the desensitisation option. So today we took younger Munchkin to an allergy/immunologist and found out Munchkin DOESN'T have a wheat allergy per say (though yes wheat is having a negative effect). It could be Coeliacs or a partdermatology type eczema. That bit remains a mystery but the good news for munchkin is the doctor recommended trialling small amounts of wheat again, while being very careful to keep Munchkin's skin in very good, moisturised condition and see what happens. Munchkin got to have an icecream cone today, complete with cone, for being so brave, and you never saw a child enjoy one quite so much!

We did find out our suspicions of dust mites was correct. Munchkin tested positive to dustmites, pollen and 3 types of grass. The kiwi and pineapple is being tested next time.

So now an order has been placed for the desensitasation stuff (gets made into a lozenge to be dissolved under tongue - no injections for paeds - yay!) and we wait 6 weeks for it to arrive from France. The treatment continues for 3 years or so and hopefully within 6 months we'll start to see results.

I feel relieved to have been able to do something about this finally, especially a no pain option because when we first looked into desensitisation a few years ago the option was needles every week and not something we wanted to do to our little one. Fingers crossed now that the treatment will work out successfully and we work out what's happening with wheat.

Have to say though - that we're not too keen to change our wheat free diet. It has been good for us as a family in terms of varying our diet, especially grains.
Sometimes blessings are hidden.

Help! Rotten Egg Smell Problem!

2009-03-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

We have a chook who is clucky and noticed the most putrid smell coming from her nest.
I went to investigate today (after taking a day or two to work up the courage) and it looks like there's a rotten egg that's broken. She and her eggs were in a wet smelly puddle.
I took all her eggs from under her and cleaned them up with a warm wet cloth the best I could, transferred her to a clean nest and cleaned her up too. I'm guessing there may be one or two more that are rotten that she's sitting on and only hope they don't break before the chicks hatch. They are due in 3 days.

Anyway the trouble is I now STINK of rotten eggs - AFTER a really really good scrub in the shower. I can't get the smell off my hands and I'm supposed to be going out this afternoon.

Is there are remedy for this? I'll try anything!

Peter Singer, Choice Theory and CHANGE!

2009-03-01T02:23:00.000-08:00

It's been ages since I've blogged - life has been so busy...but hopefully now things will be different.

Firstly though - I went to hear Peter Singer speak at UWA the other night about his book 'The Life you can Change'. He discussed aspects of the psychology of giving, why people do or don't etc. His speech was moving and very interesting.

He talked about the fact that people don't give because they don't think the money gets there, the issue never improves (there's STILL poverty in Africa after decades of aid) they don't see other people giving and think 'Why should I when others have more money?' they feel like it's a drop in the ocean etc etc.
The facts tell a very different story. 20years ago 40% of the world were in extreme poverty, now it's only 20%. The aid is getting there - in more effective ways (which support whole villages and promote self-sustainability). And as he points out, it's not about the ones you can't save - our focus needs to be on the life we CAN save.
There were suggestions from the audience about the government giving on our behalf via taxes, but Peter Singer said whilst that was a good idea, some people were put off it because when you give through taxes your donations go to the politically motivated destinations. Australian aid predominantly goes to PNG, Indonesia and Iraq.

A lot was said, but in essence his plea was for not for some people to give a lot, but for everyone to give a little. His suggestion for an low to average income was 1% and the scale rises with income proportionally.

He has set up a website www.thelifeyoucansave.com where you can pledge your support. We talked about it and decided we would pledge this and work on it this year through buying many of our goods through OxFam (they have heaps of Fairtrade Organic stuff like tea and coffee) and buying'unwrapped' goods for family and friends who would appreciate it. The kids decided they'd like us to buy a goat as a family too so that's next pay's project.

Check out the website yourself. You can buy his book from it too if you're interested in buying it.

On another note - I returned from the 4 day intensive Choice Theory course...changed.
I walked into work straight after and resigned from my HOD position. Still teaching but not as HOD. I feel liberated! I learned that sometimes what you want and what you need are two very different things. And I will be making very different choices as a result.

To anyone out there who has heard of Choice Theory and contemplated doing the Intensive Course - I say GO FOR IT. I know this has/will be life changing for me, and the flow on for my family and how I interact with others is already noticeable. What a positive experience.

Have a wonderful week. :)

New babies at Cwm Goch!

2009-01-24T02:33:00.000-08:00

We have had some new additions to our family this week.
Firstly we bought 6 new chicks (since 60% of our flock was lost in the last month or so).

Then today we brought home a very special little bundle. Her name is Bindi.

She is a Dobermann Pinscher and 10 weeks old and utterly adorable. We've learnt a thing or two over the years with dogs and breeders, and were really impressed with her family. We met the mother, grandmother and half sister and all of them had the most wonderful temperaments and very obviously genuinely loved by their owner.

We are very pleased - all of us! The boys are thrilled to bits and dying to play with her, though it will have to wait until she's settled in a little. She is curious, confident and very gentle - what better mix could there be.

No doubt more photos will follow as she grows.

There's nothing like animals about to make a house a home. :)

Home Sweet Home

2009-01-19T03:24:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a holiday...to remind you how much you LOVE home!
We just came back from a few days down south. It was lovely. No flies, cooler weather and the munchkins and Zach had great fun at the beach.
But coming home, as we pulled into the driveway, we had to pause at the gate as a family of Silver Eyes flitted across in front of us, and drive very slowly avoid the Bronze Wings (who seem to forget they have wings once they get in front of a car!) and then we gazed at the crows and 28s (Port Lincoln Ringneck - for non locals) who were sitting on the chook fence...and wondered if any other chooks had been taken by the Wedge Tailed Eagle, who we suspect was the culprit responsible for the injured and subsequently dead chook we found the morning we left, and which plants had survived the few days without watering, and how many more tomatoes were ripe now.....

And I sighed with contentment, glad as glad to be home.

Ta Dah!

2009-01-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

I have just patched my first patch on a pair of jeans. The jeans were well worn (from kneeling in the garden!) and finally a proper hole appeared. I was so excited! Yay a hole! Hubby thinks this is yet another sign I'm slightly demented.

Anyhoo, I now know how to put a patch on - thanks to a mix of 'how-to's' from the net, and some sticky stuff which was supposed to be for hems, but that I stuck between the patch and the jeans and it worked anyhow!

Yay me! :)

Sewing advice please!

2009-01-07T02:42:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to learn to sew my own clothes for a while - mainly because I don't like a lot of the stuff in the shops and want to wear what I like.

Bought what looked like a really simple pattern from Spotlight (for kids pj's), which the lady said was 'Absolutely basic - only 2 pieces for goodness sake'. This has done nothing for my self-esteem since I gave up on those pants and made my own. The trouble with the 'easy' pattern is it assumed prior knowledge and seemed to skip heaps of steps so i was left baffled as to how I was supposed to get from one illustration to another.

Have made a couple of PJ pants for the boys now (using a simple, sew 2 bits together, stick one inside out into the other, sew turn them out, fold the top and thread elastic through the hole. Keeping in mind that THIS was an achievement, can any of you suggest any REALLY simple (we're talking stuff a 10year old could do!) patterns that they may have seen on the internet anywhere (free preferably).

I've seen the Burda site - not simple enough. Lessons just aren't possible at the moment timewise. But tips and suggestions always welcome. Even good blog site addresses where people have made simple items of clothing.

Thanks in advance - I know there are a number of you who are great sewers out there.

:)

@*&!ing March Flies!

2009-01-05T03:33:00.000-08:00

I am strongly debating the right of this post to be placed under a 'Beauty of Cwm Goch' label.
We have been inundated with March flies (Family Tabanidae) this year - more than ever before.

Here is a picture.

You may notice the photo of the March fly and my knee is slightly blurry - that's because it is DARNED hard to keep still when these things are biting you - even through pants!

The females have a nasty bite and this year have swarmed on us in groups of up to 10 at a time the minute we step outside. The info on them says they are attracted to dark blue (which we haven't been wearing). They just seem attracted to any bare skin they can find. No amount of insect repellant or Eucalyptus oil, which we use around the decking to ward off the usual house flies, seems to work.

Cat suggested fly traps - we're looking into those. Any other suggestions gratefully accepted. We are wearing long sleeves and jeans in 40degree heat just to be able to venture outside.

Help!

The Brain that Changes Itself

2009-01-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

You all just HAVE to read this book. You'll find yourself amazed on every page.

I can't recommend it enough - for anyone, but especially if you know anyone who suffers from dementia, Alzheimers, or any physical damage or condition related to brain damage. This book will astound you.

Early morning walk

2009-01-03T18:29:00.000-08:00

With 4 little boys in the house we decided the best way to keep us all happy would be to keep them all very busy. The day started with a quick brekky then off to the Bridle track for a walk before the weather got too hot.
Great opportunity to take some shots too!

Here are some Mulla-Mullas.

Gravel!

And beautiful acacia seeds about to drop from their pods.

What a lovely way to start the day!

New Year's Resolution - Choice theory

2009-01-03T04:11:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me, know that I am forever reading. Over the last 6 months I've been reading a lot of William Glasser's work. Glasser is a psychiatrist who developed Choice Theory, an interesting concept that I have become more and more intrigued with, the more I read about it.

There are few things I don't necessary agree with in his first book, but what has been interesting in reading subsequent texts is the applications and implications it holds for use in so many situations.

Choice Theory teaches some interesting concepts like the idea of a person's 'Quality World', what that looks like to a person and how it impacts on their perception of their lives and how they live it. And a concept called "External control psychology', which is fascinating!

Glasser asserts that all we do is 'behave' and that we choose all our behaviours (with the exception of some physiological ones) - based on our aims to achieve 5 basic needs. He makes verbs out of actions, for instance, he would say that we are not 'depressed', rather we are 'choosing to depress'. We aren't angry, we are choosing to anger' etc.
His theories and ideas go hand in hand with other authors I've been reading lately - like Stephen Covey (Habits of Highly effective people). Like the premise that you can't change other's behaviour, but you can choose to change your response to their behaviour etc. This relates back to the ideas of circles (inner one of personal control, sphere of influence outside that, then things in the outer circle that you can't control).

He has a whole range of sensible, workable ideas regarding relationships and people's interactions. Like the advice to 'stop before you open your mouth, and ask yourself, 'Is what I'm about to say going to push this person away or bring them/us closer' - I'm paraphrasing but this is the gist of it.

In talking about people who are unhappy, he puts the majority of people's unhappiness down to them actually being unhappy/unsatisfied in their relationships (hence his strong focus on relationship building).

In another book 'Unhappy Teenagers - and a way for parents and teachers to reach them', (brilliant, brilliant book that I'd highly recommend to anyone who has teens or works with them) he says that the biggest influence on the choices a teenager will make is not the threat of grounding/punishment, but the strength of the relationship that youth has with the parent. THAT is what stays with the teen when he's out of sight/reach of the parent and so that is what needs to be nurtured.

I think Glasser's work is wonderful and I'm lucky enough to be going to a Choice Theory/Reality Theory course that it being held in Perth in Feb. Very excited! A colleague at work told me they are in 'a different place with their life' since doing this course.

My New Year's Resolution is to live by Choice Theory as much as possible, and try to integrate it into our family life as much as possible.

For those of you who find any of this interesting the Glasser Institute has a website. Just Google 'Choice Theory - Glasser' and you're bound to find it.

In ending - Glasser talks about 7 Deadly Habits (and there are behaviours you should replace them with...I'll let you visit his site for those!).

The 7 Deadly Habits are: Criticizing, Blaming, Complaining, Nagging, Threatening, Punishing, Bribing/reward control.

Sound like some habits you could ditch? Read 'Choice Theory' for how!

Weeds are our friends...and beautiful too!

2009-01-03T03:54:00.001-08:00

Another photo!

Spoilt Brat!

2009-01-03T03:49:00.000-08:00

I have been so unbelievably spoilt lately that it's hard not to feel a little guilty!

To top it all off, today my Dad came around (having just bought himself a new camera) and gave me his old one! I already have the one he gave me previously, so this is an upgrade...and it does MACRO! Superbly stoked!

We are babysitting the two extra munchkins again at the moment, but I managed to get them all to bed by about 6pm - yes just call me Super Nanny! That left me heaps of time to get out in the garden to have a play with my new toy. I love having the macro feature. You stop to notice everything you'd usually walk past when you're looking for small things.

Here are some shots to enjoy!

Christmas spider as promised!

New shoot growing out of lichen.

A spider - still to be ideintified. It makes a lovely zig-zag thread in it's web.

Rusty gate - just cos.

One of my favourite flowers in the native garden - unsure what it's called.

No doubt ever post will now come accompanied by photos!

In memory of our chicks

2008-12-29T20:32:00.000-08:00

Today is a sad day. When I went to the chook pen this morning to let the chooks out, I noticed the chicks weren't there. Being hen raised (not incubator) the chicks were the only ones of our flock to roost in trees occasionally, which they'd been known to do during the day, so we supposed they hadn't gone in that night with the others but roosted (which means they should have been safe.) The picture above is an old one. They have grown a fair bit - proper wings and feathers. Young poulets really though we still call them the chicks.

Those of you who have met the chicks know that they were allowed to free range, because they weren't causing damage like the others (who were limited to the pen and orchard). We often find them joining us out in the garden later in the morning after their morning forage. By mid morning I got anxious enough to do a thorough search of the property because I couldn't see them or hear them. Sure enough, beneath the grevillea hedge are the scattered feathers, some in clumps which we all know to mean 'fox attack'.

I have to admit I had a good bawl. Me, who was intent on not becoming attached to them because we knew a few were roosters and destined for the pot. But as I found the feathers of 'Blacky' (silently named, as we never 'gave' them names intentionally), and found the down from the one I thought of as the 'mafia chick' because of it's moustache shaped combs, I realised I had done the unthinkable and had thought of them as pets as much as stock.

It is just so disappointing. All that work by Stormy, the mother hen. And all the hours we spent watching them, and laughing at their antics in the mulch and garden. Few domestic birds are allowed to roam as ours did. What a shame.

What have we learned? Clip chicks wings (they were able to get in and out by flying) and keep them in the orchard with the others. It may not be as fun but it's safe.

Our only consolation (as if there is one really) is that for the brief time they lived, they were the happiest chicks we've ever met.

For now, just feeling very very sad. :(

Mystery of the Levitating Leaf

2008-12-28T03:19:00.000-08:00

Saw this leaf from a distance and just had to go investigate.

Turns out it was being used by an Orb Weaver Spider. It looks like she has gone down to the ground, picked up the leaf and attached it to a thread of web in order to use the leaf as an anchor for her main web which was a couple of metres up above. I tried to take some shots of the spider, but it's 8pm and the light isn't any good for macro shots. Isn't she clever though?

Walking through the garden at this time of night is magical. The busy hum of the insects have died down, but all the spiders are out (including the Jewel/Christmas spiders) everywhere quietly but busily making their webs for the night. As I walked I spotted a Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on our Buddleia. We get a lot of Wanderer butterflies but this is the first time I've seen a Monarch. The lighting was poor, hence the blurriness, but here is the shot I managed to get.

Will try for some shots of the Jewel Spiders tomorrow.

Djingle Bells, Djingle Bells!

2008-12-26T02:05:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has come and gone. Phew! With all our preparations I missed sending all the International family and friends cards this year. Will make it up to them with a letter in a week or so I promise!
Christmas at our place went remarkably well. It was actually really mellow and low stress on the day, thanks to everyone bringing a dish. All 40 odd guests fitted comfortably in the space. The weather was perfect, 28degrees with a cool breeze in the arvo, ideal for having lunch out on the decking. And the kids were entertained all day by their lovely cousins whom they adore. Sigh :).

Today was spent clearing away most of the mess, at our leisure and looking after my friend's two beautiful munchkins so she could spend some time with her parents (who are both unwell). After a hyperactive morning (mostly on the part of our kids not hers) they all settled and we have spent a wonderful afternoon playing games, eating popcorn and getting double the amount of kids ready for dinner, bath and bed. I think it was fluke, but it all went really smoothly. All tucked into bed now and sound asleep. :)

I take it back. Just checked. HERS are asleep...mine are stealing food out of the pantry and sticking scratch & sniff stickers on their wall.... quiet can be so deceiving!

The boys enjoyed their presents, and accepted without question that Santa's reindeer had left the deposits they found on the lawn (Shetland pony droppings kindly delivered by a friend while we were out to Christmas eve dinner). And as for me, I got seriously spoilt for Christmas receiving a Djembe from hubby and my Secret Santa (Uncle Gordon). It sounds wonderful, though with all the people about the last couple of days I still have yet to have a proper go on it. Can't very well pound away once the kids are in bed either. Aah, patience...

I feel more relaxed this holiday than ever before. Usually I don't feel this way until a week before holidays end, and then have to face work prep. This last week, busy as it has been has been wonderful. Having hubby home on holidays at the same time has been great.
And best of all...now that it's all over, we have a gorgeous house and garden to sit back and relax in for the rest of the holidays. :)

To all of you out there - I hope you had as wonderful a Christmas as we did. :)

Another thermomix post

2008-12-23T04:06:00.000-08:00

The Crone at Wits End (see sidebar) just wrote about her decision NOT to get a Thermomix. Until her post I'd never even heard of one, then this afternoon my sister-in-law came up to help with christmas preparations, armed with her very own thermomix which she's had for a week.
Husband, who is a white goods addict instantly loved it, and he spent the afternoon trying to convince me we really should have one too. I have to admit I was impressed. In a very short space of time they had made delicious lemonade (fresh from our tree), fettuccini with zucchini (fresh pasta made on the spot), then ground our own flour to make wheat free icecream and custard. Amazing.

For a gluten free, keen to preserve etc household I can certainly see the benefits. We have tried to buy flours in bulk to save money and found they would go off. Grinding our own as we need them would be very useful. It also does rissotto really quick - and you don't have to stand by it for ever. Certainly would be easy coming home from work and making quicker dinners...

Hubby has promised this would mean seriously decluttering too - we could give away the breadmaker, juicer, grinder, etc (ie his white goods collection that is taking up so much cupboard space).

Sigh. Don't let my hubby come anywhere near you Crone. He'll convince you too!

Our Gratitude Tree

2008-12-21T05:22:00.000-08:00

We like the idea of Thanksgiving. I have an email pal in the US who writes to us each year of the wonderful preparations leading up to this festival, and the fun things her family do. Looking on the internet I've found lots of suggestions for kids too - like a turkey with each feather having something on it you're thankful for.

While we didn't want to take on the American version (our history being slightly..ahem..different!) we did feel the concept is a lovely one. Reflecting on things you are grateful for is something we all should do.

So we have made a 'Gratitude Tree' - and decorated it with our blessings. I must admit I got teary when younger munchkin, when asked what made him happy, replied 'Mum makes me happy!'. Any mum out there would understand how I felt at that moment. :)

It was interesting to see the things the kids mentioned. Other than Mum and Dad, the rats got an honourable mention, as did homemade biscuits!

Even the last minute decision to have christmas at our house has been counted as a blessing - nothing like visitors to motivate you to spruce the place up. The hallway (after 5 years ....) has now been painted! Pictures are up, the decking has been oiled, bricks raised, garden beds mulched and the dog washed!

Not sure Zac the dog would have included that on his gratitude leaf!

Peach and Rhubarb fool.

2008-12-14T02:03:00.000-08:00

We had this for dessert TWICE last week because it was so delicious. Perfect for a summer evening. The recipe is adapted from a Jamie Oliver one- in his 'Jamie at Home' book.

I'm going to be rough with measurements because it was a throw together thing both times!

You need: Some rhubarb, sugar, peaches (or any stone fruit would do), natural yoghurt, honey.

1. Chop the rhubarb, place it into a small saucepan and add some sugar (this is to taste - mine was about 1/3 cup for 5 big rhubarb stalks). Cook it until it's all soft and mushy.

2. While that's going - mix the honey and yoghurt (again to taste).

3. Slice/chop peaches.

4. By now the rhubarb's probably ready - be careful not to burn it!

5. In some large wine glasses or parfait glasses, layer yoghurt, peaches, more yoghurt, rhubarb, yogurt, peaches etc etc until you get to the top. finish with yoghurt. Layer it carefully so the layers show through the glass.

That's it! So simple and SOOOOOOOOOO divine!!!!

I could happily eat this for brekky too!

Garden Proud?

2008-12-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Due to some changes in circumstances our family gathering is now being held at OUR place! The deal was "ok we''ll provide the venue, but everyone else has to bring the food!" And do you know - as the idea settled with me I found my first thought not to be 'Oh my gosh, we'll have to make the house look real nice...but Oh my gosh - we have to get the garden looking nice!!!'. Can you be 'gardenproud' instead of houseproud? I think I might be!

So the bed that was only half a bed of natives because nothing will grow in it, partly because it's in some shade and partly because I 've been stingy with the water, has now been planted up with divisions from anything and everything in the garden, and watered and mulched well. The plan is to water everything really well for the next 3 weeks (we can be stingy after to make up for it!) and hopefully have things looking reasonable for christmas day.
The patch we call 'lawn' will be a stretch, but it'll have to do. Must remember to add a pic later to remind me of the difference 3 weeks can - or can't make!

If nothing else I hope none of the divided plants die. Hubby's decided this might be a good excuse to finally paint the hallway too. Aah, motivation comes in weird and wonderful ways! Just need to keep the kids from hurling their Matchbox cars at the walls for a week or two after.

With christmas comes thoughts of new year and new year resolutions. Anyone else starting to think of those?
I have a few - as usual - in the pipeline. This year it was about establishing better routines to get organised, and admittedly it took me about 10 months, but we are finally at a point where we are functioning reasonably well, in between the odd laundry avalanche.

In the past I used to make a resolution (expecting to do it immediately), stick to it for a few weeks, get disheartened about not maintaining it after 3 weeks and let it go. This year was better. I'm learning that habits are hard to break and take time to replace with new ones. I am giving myself a YEAR to learn the new 2009 habits. That's realistic, and motivating because there's always time to hop back on that wagon if you happen to slide off once in a while.

What about you?

Move over Rose Hancock!

2008-12-03T03:35:00.001-08:00

WE bathe in Dragon's Blood!

:D

(and you've never seen little munchkins WANT to bathe as much as ours do!)

The Moon, Venus and Jupiter

2008-12-01T04:31:00.000-08:00

Just stepped outside and was mesmerised by the sight in our sky. A beautiful clear night meant we have a perfect view of the very special astronomical event happening at the moment.
here are some pics I just had to share - keep in mind they weren't done with a tripod or anything though so a little fuzzy.

The pictures don't do it any justice at all. It's all much bigger and brighter in real life. So to anyone reading this - if it's evening, GO OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW!!!!

This is really worth a look for yourself. :)

EPBA Gathering

2008-11-29T03:58:00.000-08:00

I've looked forward to our gathering all week and today yet again the Evil Plant Buying Alliance met. Spent a lovely morning, part tour of my garden, part Hills Pub Crawl!

There have been many, many satisfying aspects of getting into permaculture and all the related elements of if, but one of the most special has been the feeling of stepping into a vast community of like minded people who are aware, appreciative and supportive in so many ways.
Today was one of those wonderful encounters, and earlier in the week I had another experience which made me feel particularly warm and happy.

My family and I were at a local church op shop - which frequently has excellent goods for sale for next to nothing. I asked the lady if she had any decent sized wicker/cane baskets or wooden boxes large enough to store produce like pumpkins etc. We started chatting while her helper went out back to have a look, and she told me of a South African family she knew who used to live locally, who were entirely self-sufficient. After her helper returned with one basket, and a promise to keep an eye out for more, we thanked her and continued to look around. I was then approached by a customer who said' Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear that you were interested in gardening and self-sufficiency....we have just set up our very own aquaponics tanks..." and the conversation rolled on from there.

Hubby and I have made small steps towards doing this ourselves so we were very interested, and the lovely lady gave us her number and said to please call anytime to organise a visit as they'd be very happy to have us drop in for a cuppa and a look see.
I grinned all the way back to the car and some. How neighbourly! How very typical of our experiences with people who are interested in this way of life. Always happy to share of their time, experience and even produce.

We have moved into such a rich phase of our life. Countless blessings to enjoy and appreciate.
If happiness has a form it is a sunset colour and sounds like a Celtic Harp.

The Crone will understand this I'm sure.

:)

The Big Brag!

2008-11-11T03:38:00.000-08:00

Finally the pictures! :D !

And they pulled and they pulled....

2008-11-08T04:14:00.001-08:00

We had a great time today, the Munchkins and me and Nana and Grumps, harvesting the garlic!
The bulbs were big and fat. Some HUGE! We had great fun re-enacting scenes from 'The Enormous Turnip' with all of us lined up pulling on huge garlic bulbs. Younger Munchkin had the biggest grin on his face each time he landed on his bottom with a thump and a handful of garlic.

We also harvested our 2 raspberries (one for each Munchkin) and 2 small but tasty carrots. Can't wait for future seasons when the raspberries take off. Oh and coincidentally there were 2 fat strawberries too - so that was easy to share too!

Molly - the Amaranth is about 4cm high!

Other than that, today was spent weeding - there's a task that never ends around here, and transplanting seedlings that looked crowded. And I planted potatoes in one of the blue tubs we recently inherited. That'll be an experiment, but I'm pretty confident they'll work.

In addition to that - another batch of Loquat Chutney, and 2 jars of Mulberry and Rhubarb Jam. Yes! Today was HIGHLY productive!

:)

An award! Cool!

2008-11-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

The rules of this award are:
* Put the award logo on your blog or post (right click on award, save as)
* Nominate at least 1 blog that you consider to be Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

Thanks Molly! Very sweet!
Ok - I'm nominating 'Herbaholic's Herbarium' because I have used so many of the recipes from this beautiful blog. Molly you really should visit it if you haven't already - you would love it!

Today has been a fruitful day (wait for the pun...) because I made a batch of Loquat Chutney- hee hee...oh gawd, just as well I find myself amusing. Anyway, never done it before and it turned out AMAZING if I do say so myself. I'm planning to make another batch up real quick before the last of the loquats drop or get attacked by the Twenty Eights. Such a small window of opp with these fruit.

Evil Plant buying Alliance - you'll get a jar each for christmas!

Also - heard about Soy melts the other day and found out the are available at our local markets so I'm off for a look this weekend. Does anyone else use them? Have a source? If so can you tell me what scents you've seen about and rough prices?

:)

Beltane Blessings!

2008-10-31T03:34:00.000-07:00

We have some new arrivals to mark the height of Spring! 5 little chicks - 4 buttermilk colour and one black. They are absolutely adorable and keep us glued to the chook pen for long spans at a time. Mother Hen (Stormy) is being a wonderful mother looking after them beautifully.

Pics when my camera batteries are charged!

Beltane Bouquet!

2008-08-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

I realised today that I have the garden I always wanted. I remember when we first started planting our native garden and other bits and pieces saying to hubby 'I just want a garden where I can go and pick a beautiful bouquet for the house, anytime of the year'. Well we've reached that point! And this weekend being the end of Winter/arrival of glorious SPRING was the perfect time to go out and do some A-Septembering!

The display you see is sitting in our entrance - what a lovely way to start Spring!

Now to go and do some more Spring cleaning and decluttering!
:)

There's treasure in dem der Hills!

2008-08-01T23:03:00.000-07:00

Funny how things work out. We went garage sale hunting this morning - making a start on our christmas challenge (re-used, recycled, second-hand or home-made gifts). would you believe it we didn't find a single one.
In particular I've been looking for some of those wrought iron triangle thingies (iron lace?) that you find under the posts of old federation style homes. The plan is to make some bookshelves out of them for the wall in the hallway. Feeling rather disheartened we thought we'd stop in at a friend's place and ask where she found her 'goodies' (she has heaps of lovely recycled ornaments in her garden). As we were driving to her place we passed a lady who was writing a sign up on an easel. We thought, 'must look at that again when we go back' (being curious people!).
Well, we did - and it turns out she was having a garage sale! Hooray!
I asked if she had what we were looking for and she didn't but said she had bits of wrought iron, and kindly showed me through to her shed where we found THESE!
Please click on the image to see them in more detail. They are the sides of 2 seats. In retrospect I can't believe I hesitated all of 30 seconds thinking - gosh I'll have to do them up, worry worry - my woodwork skills are pretty shocking etc.
I didn't really look at them properly until I got home, and the detail on them is gorgeous. Nothing like the cheap nasty stuff you buy at Bunnings but pay a heap for. The lady had bought these back in the 70's. They are heavy and solid and beautiful and.... she sold them to me for $20 (for the 2 sets!). I am so very pleased - what a treasure and what a bargain.
I will have to drop round some tangelo butter or something to her as an extra thank you because I almost felt a little bad to take them for that price.

Hubby LOVED them and is excited about doing them up. We're starting tomorrow morning and using the old floorboards from our old place as the wood. Stay tuned for more pics in a couple of weeks when these hopefully will be transformed into beautiful garden furniture!

Meeting in Midland!

2008-07-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

Today I met Lara and Molly and Cat in Midland for a cuppa. What a wonderful way to spend the morning. It is such a different way to make friends this blogging thing - not through work or children but through a genuine common interest and feeling that these people will be like-minded.
I went home feeling inspired and chirpy at having made new friends and feeling that there are many good times ahead to be had with them.

Like Molly I got busy upon my return and Elder Munchkin and I hurriedly picked a large bag of tangelos whilst the parrots squawked obscenities at us. They were made into a tangelo dessert that we (hubby and I) love, and I'll have a go at freezing (if it even tastes half as good down the track that'll be ok) and the rest will go into more tangelo butter tomorrow since our Munchkins have already eaten all of ours.
Cat I know you aren't keen on Lemon butter so I'll leave you out - but Molly and Lara, you'll have a small jar each next time we meet. I'm not saying small to be stingy - it doesn't seem to matter how big a batch I think I'm making it never quite seems to fill 2 jars!

In any case if anyone's interested here's the recipe for the Tangelos (I got it from the Internet but can't remember where - it was a while ago). This makes a divine dessert - strong in flavour, more suited to an adult palate I must say (the munchkins aren't keen on it).

Tangelo Dessert
Ingredients
5 tangelos or oranges
2/3 cup of brown sugar
2/3 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (chopped finely)
2 bay leaves (bruised)
2 tablespoons B&B liquor (we use sherry instead)

Zest 1 fruit. Squeese 1/3 cup of juice from the fruit. In saucepan put peel, juice, brown sugar, wine, rosemary and bay leaves. Bring to boil. Simmer 8-10 mins until reduced by 1/3. Stir in liquer.

Meanwhile peel other fruit and cut into 1/2 inch slices. Remove bay leaves from juice. Pour over fruit. Serve or refrigerate for one hour then serve chilled.

Wow!

:)