Butterflies and Breezes

B is for Beauty - PBP

2012-01-27T15:54:00.000+08:00

It was not until I started following a Pagan path and a simplified life, that I truly started to see the beauty in simple, Goddess given gifts..Over the years I have learnt beauty does not come in a bottle and I still work on beauty not just coming in a size 12.. *smiles*
Today, I looked purely around my home and garden to enjoy the things that delight me.

The smell of freshly cut grass, it is one of those very fresh, raw scents, that breaths beautiful summer days and abundance.

The beauty that is the size of this flower. Sunflowers standing tall, their faces following the sun as it crosses the sky.

The beauty and the joy seeing the humble buzzy bee, working busily in his camouflaged work place. What a precious gift to see.

I love the sound of a wind chime, there is something beautifully ethereal hearing this one picked to honour the dragon flies, as it tinkles above our garden for the fae.

Nothing soothes like the sounds of water tricking over rocks and back onto it self.. there is beauty in this serene sound.

There is such wonder in the simplicity of a fragrant bud, this one scents the garden and adds such a beautiful contrast of colours.

This banner, a wee dedication to the Goddess... and asking her if she may bless the beauty in my yard.

The peace and tranquility of our home.. there is beauty in the stillness and the silence.

The goodness of nourishing food, made with love and beautiful organic goodness.. Such a blessing to share this wonder of natures bounty.

There is beauty to me, in the flickering of a flame, the rising smoke and scent of incense.. both burnt to honour the Gods and Goddesses - to celebrate all they bring to our lives. Blessed Be

A glimpse of a miracle

2012-01-26T14:46:00.001+08:00

My husband and I have had a week of running in damage control.. trying with all we have to be pro-active not re-active.. I doubt I will ever share the reason for the turmoil, we are still coming to terms with everything.. but today.. there was a phone call from my son that made this mother happy.. I'm excited to learn today, there is a little miracle going to happen in our lives come September. My thoughts and prayers are with my little grand baby (frodo bump) I am so looking forward to meeting the new buba.. May the first part of your journey be blessed with health, and a safe cocoon to nourish you.. Blessings to your Mummy and Daddy..

I would be most grateful if those of you who read my blog and who practice a faith, if you could offer a prayer/ light a candle or however you worship do this for this wee one. This bubs little haven needs to remain snug and secure, a warm cocoon until the birth..My DIL has a bicornuate uterus and this has led to a previous miscarriage which was heartbreaking for all of us.. We could all do with a wee miracle and please let it be this wee baby bumb. Blessed be little one..

Strength in Song

2012-01-24T04:56:00.000+08:00

We swing on the wind
We're unraveling

I inhale your touch

We are traveling

Here lives my love

Here hide the sacred

This is where I sleep

Where I become ThePagan

I am where you arefrom

And I love you much

Taste it on my tongue

Sing it in this song

Here lives my love

Here hide the sacred

This is where I sleep

Where I become ThePagan

Sometimes...

2012-01-22T18:50:00.000+08:00

Sometimes unexpected, unexplainable and unpleasant things happen to ordinary,nice,everyday people. Their walls get shaken to the very core...

So I am taking things one day at a time, keeping it simple - moving slowly to the beat of the earth, shaking off the dross - breathing each breath, feeling the pulse, gathering our feelings, strengthening the walls, as we rebuild the fortress around all those things that should have been safe and sacred.. and I offer no apology for that.

Hanging About

2012-01-20T16:25:00.005+08:00

It's amazing what you find hanging in peoples houses - hats or coats at the front door.. photos and paintings.. drying flowers or cooked apples... that's what was hanging about in our house recently.

I got brave, broke out my of my comfort zone and decided to make some apple jelly and some apple and raspberry jelly. Now I have to admit to messin' the photos.. so your going to have to play pretend and imagine it's raspberry in the pot. cause I forgot to take a photo ..

For those of you who haven't tried to make jelly.. try easy as.. for those of you who have then.. you know what comes next..

Apples.. and a big pot.. now the thing I like about this recipe is there is no peeling or coring.. you just grab your 3kg of apples. I used Sundowner , probably not best to use a green apple like Granny Smith because you will end up with a major pucker factor at the end - so chop them little babies up cores, skin and all, pop them into your pot with about 6 cups of water.. you can leave it like this or do what I did was toss in the dregs of the raspberry bag, about 300grams, you could add more just take a cup of water out. Cook your apples for about 30 minutes.. till they are soft and mushy but not like apple sauce. Cook them down and strain them through muslin or cheese cloth.. you could use a clean old pillow slip, but I used a ham bag.. Suspend this from somewhere, I know not that easy a taste, with cats, dogs and kids but this is a improvise, adapt and overcome moment. They say not to squeeze the bag.. I didn't, so maybe you shouldn't either.. you can't argue with hundreds of years of woman saying * don't squeeze the bag it makes it cloudy*
In the morning measure out your apple juice.. I had about a litre.. I measured out four cups. brought this to the boil then added 4 cups of sugar. Next time, I am going less sugar or stevia to see what happens. Boil this brew for about 10 minutes. A good rolling boil..

This is the pretend photo, pretend this is pink from raspberry.. nice and clear.. test after 10 minutes by putting a little on a saucer.. it will wrinkle if you run your finger through it.. if it is still to wet, boil for another 5 minutes. When it will set, pour it into hot sterile bottles. I water bath these for 10 minutes..

This is my finished apple and raspberry jelly.. It was really so easy and rather tasty.. and something to enjoy in the cooler months. *wonder if this is how a squirrel feels when he fills his house with nuts for winter*

A is for Apothecary

2012-01-17T16:17:00.003+08:00

If you were to look in a dictionary, for the word apothecary or apothecaries you would find this as one definition a·poth·e·car·y - a person who prepared and sold medicine and drugs.

The origin of the word apothecary is old.. one of its origins is derived from the word apotheca which is a place to store herbs, spices and wines. In my research on this, I found the that during the 13th century the word became popular in Britain and it was used to describe those people who sold the spice etc from shops and stalls, basically they were grocers. By the 1600's these grocers had become what we today would call modern day pharmacists. These apothecaries even formed a society with a little help from King James wife Anne who swilled potions from one of the grocer types.. Scary eh :-)
King James justified his decision in the House of Commons in 1624: "I myself did devise that corporation and do allow it. The grocers, who complain of it, are but merchants; the mystery of these apothecaries were belonging to apothecaries, wherein the grocers are unskilful; and therefore I think it is fitting they should be a corporation of themselves."
So how does this word apothecary fit into witchery? While I am no expert nor historian, I know that cunning men and wise woman have been apothecaries, known by many other names long before the word apothecary was ever written on parchment, by some bald headed bloke, in a bad wig.
Before there were drugs and doctors there were herbs, cunning men, wise woman, midwives, grandmothers, witches.
History has long confirmed this, that village people knocked on the doors of these wise folk, seeking herbs and healing hands, in latter times this often leading to persecution.
Many of the herbs they used were those dispensed by apothecaries, barbers, surgeons and clergy but the practitioners of those occupations were never burned for their dispensing.
Comfrey, Feverfew, Arnica, Woodruff, Yarrow, Meadowsweet, Hyssop, Lavender, Marigold, Borage, wild Bergamot, Chamomile, Plantain and Valerian to name just a few that are part of my life. I know, as well as my ancestors did, the powers and magickal abilities of plants. Although, I do not sell herbs as medicine per se, personally they as well as teas, tinctures, washes, sachets, oils, salves, incense and charms all have important roles in the eclectic journey I amble along.
It is not unusual to find jars of herbs infusing on my window ledges for salves, handmade soaps and magickal oils.

While, I do have a bit of a love affair with those delightfully witch-y apothecary jars, I tend to make things in portions to be used. 500ml to 1 litre bottles in fact. Some of those would be the likes of a house cleansing wash, healing salves of Comfrey, Plantain, Calendula or Arnica then there is four thieves vinegar.. my recipe is not for your salad greens. Some of the easier apothercary mixtures can make for a little daily magick on the most basic level within your home and craft..
I use on a weekly/fortnightly basis in my home, a house protection wash for doors and door steps
So easy to make;
I prefer to use rain water or filtered water.. tap water left out over night would be fine.. I heat the water and then add a bundle wrapped in cloth of Rosemary, Hyssop, Lavender, sometimes Rue all in equal parts then I add some Van Van oil ( I make my own) I let this steep for a week or so. I then add a cup to half a bucket of water and use this to clean the external doors to my home and door steps.. if your house is feeling a little "down or negative" you can use this to wash the floors.. when I have finished with the water, I pour it down the drain out side my house on the street, quiet conveniently placed I must add. . but any external drain will do...
A word of warning though.. please be mindful of what your doing with herbs and what your ingesting.. not all plants are of the eating/drinking variety and can make you very sick.. if not worse!

$12 well spent

2012-01-08T14:07:00.002+08:00

Yesterday, my D and I headed up to Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, now usually this wouldn't have made me go 'duh us'.. but with D still on leave we are not looking at clocks or calenders, so when we left we forgot it was Saturday. Saturday on the Peninsular, at places like the farm this time of year screams a squillion tourists.. we walked up the hill through the car park and ran straight into a wall of people, seriously wall to wall people - everywhere... I almost said to D "lets make a run for it back to the car" but I put my big girl pants on, grabbed my sailors hand and pushed him into the throngs.. he wove his way up the steps, to a few box's of jam strawberries, I pointed to the one, he grabbed it with his spare hand, and we headed inside.. that 'look' on his face made me think, his Navy brain was yelling "Brace Brace Brace" readying himself for the onslaught of a couple of bus loads of Asian tourists and as many red stained, sticky faced, screaming children! I tossed the money to the teller and we made a break for it.. It will be a cold day in Hades before we venture to buy strawberries on a Saturday in tourist season.
I turned our treasure into Jam.. rich, sweet and tasty.

Smells so good

There is about 3.7 kilos of jam there..

I pulped a few of the left over berries to freeze, for yogurt and Kefir

And... this boring old plastic box.. is going to make an awesome soap mold, should hold about 7kg..

So all in all that was $12.00 well spent. $15 if you count the sugar..

SARA.. left a comment on my post Baby Magpies.. Sara if your reading.. have a look at this post.. I think you might like it. http://butterfliesandbreezes.blogspot.com/2011/06/wee-visitor.html

Baby Magpies

2012-01-07T07:20:00.006+08:00

I took this photo the day of our last heatwave.. I had, had a plastic bowl on the ground but I felt it left the birds to vulnerable, so we picked up this bird bath for next to nothing.. it has been so well used in the short time we had it.. do you remember this post H Triple M well look who has come back with her 2nd or 3rd mob..

Mama on the ground guarding her two babies..

Watching for harm, as the little ones drink - she didn't herself.

It is a huge delight to me, to see the wildlife in my yard.. I have got quiet attached to this family and the Crow who gets an equal amount of delight from peering in my windows.

For those interested, I have posted over at Tales From A Crones Hearth.. Magickal Plants

Altar your attitude

2012-01-06T19:56:00.000+08:00

Today is the first of the Pagan Blog Project posts.. starting with the letter A. I thought about a few topics but my line of thought kept coming back to altars. Even before there were established religions, people from all continents have, for thousands of years been constructing shrines, cairns and altars in caves, forests, fields and in their homes.. turning mundane and ordinary places into those that were both mystical and sacred. This is true in my own home..
When I first started walking a Pagan path, it was one of joy in each new discovery.. hearing the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, spoke to me like the voice of the Goddess, walking along the beach each crashing wave was like her heart beat.. while digging in the garden feeling the cool earth between my fingers I knew I was holding something special, there were age old secrets in that dark rich loam. The wind through my hair left me feeling more alive than I had remembered, like I had breathed in creation itself.. Feeling the sun on my skin left me energised, eyes closed I could feel the fire..standing imagining my spiritual roots going deep into the earth left me feeling centered and with a sense of being home.. and be it in the shower or even running water over my hands I could feel any negative emotion just washed away.. it was such a cleansing feeling.
I was and still am very drawn to the elements, and at the very start, I was led to create a "space" where they could be honored.. this was my first altar - dedicated to Earth, Air, Fire and Water.. my main altar is still set up to this, it changes as the wheel turns with a few things added that are important to me, things that I may find.. recently I found a wee birds egg shell unfortunately not so Sacred Temple Kitty stole it.. but I digress..

My sacred space and working altar in the family room..a place where a table is dedicated to the elements, incense is burnt here, candles are lit here, hands are clapped to music here, drumming happens here. This is my space; this is the area of the home from where energy flows to every corner. It is a place of grounding.

I work with two Goddess's and have spaces in my home that are dedicated to them.. they have in essence turned into altars. One is for Hekate who is a triple Goddess representing Maiden, Mother and Crone. She is the Goddess of night, the crossroads, life and death, beginnings and endings...

Not all altars or sacred spaces have to be big.. this small tile beside my stove, holds a red candle, an amethyst and a small bunch of lavender to honour Hestia.. virgin Goddess of my hearth and home.

As the pagan wheel turns, we celebrate different sabbats, one of my favorites is Samhain - it is a time when we honour our ancestors and the ancients that have gone before..

While each altar we have looks different and is used for a different reason, there is one thing each does that is the same.. It can and will alter your attitude. A glance toward it, can change a negative thought to a positive one.. to gently touch it can leave your spirits uplifted.

There have been times when I have struggled with my faith, my spirituality. Times where l have lost sight of my own truth.. but one thing that helps bring me back to basics, is a place/space that I have created with a purpose.. it puts me in touch with deity, with my earth mother, with the essence of all things.. and importantly, with myself...

Change and Gratitude

2012-01-05T18:49:00.001+08:00

Lots going on the last few days.. I have decided to take part in the Pagan Blog Project.. over 12 months, once a week I will write a post about my faith.. beginning with the letter A.. it will be interesting for me for a couple of reasons, it will give me more focus on my spirituality, something that has been a little hard over the last few years.. and perhaps it will be enlightening to those who know little of a pagan path.

The other thing, I have decided to become involved is.. I CAN change one thing... which is a goal setting exercise. There are a number of things I want to archive this year, some of these things are developmental.. for example..show myself a little more love, one of the hardest loves to give.. so over at witch-blog there is a free little book to down load, so you can write and follow your goals.. if you want to check it out pop over to I CAN Change One Thing download the booklet. There is also a Gratitude Journal, something I am looking forward to working on, and I do have many things to be grateful for..

I also got some great news yesterday at the Dr's.. as some of you know, I have been adjusting to life with AS.. however just before Christmas, it was discovered that the medication I was on to help treat it, has caused problems with my heart in the form of atrial fibrillation and angina.. I have had numerous tests over the last few weeks.. and yesterday was told that, while I need to stay on medicine to help my heart rate, there has been no permanent damage to my heart - I am so relieved, it has been a huge worry over the last month but it has also been a bit of a wake up call for me.. to be in the ER and wondering am I going to have a heart attack and that's the end of it., so this has led to a new place for sharing.. a new blog.. it will not take the place of Butterflies and Breezes, this has been my baby for 4 years now.. my new blog is going to focus more on my personal change, on my Pagan path, on how I feel about growing older and entering a new phase of my life.. Crone. I could write all this here, but I feel Butterflies and Breezes has evolved into something I am happy with, a place to share living in general, recipes, ideas, some paganism.. I just didn't feel it was the right place to explore this new area.. soooo if folk are interested in reading this new blog.. come and take a peek at "Tales From A Crones Hearth" It is set up to go but I am sure I will be changing the layout and tweaking it a little.. I would be happy to have you stop by..

My Container Garden

2012-01-03T07:11:00.000+08:00

We had a bit of a heatwave here yesterday, the temps got up to 40.5c that's 104.9f - I knew once the wind got up and came from the North, it would scorch and sear anything in it's path, because it comes in off the desert. Being on holiday here getting out of bed early was a bit hard..but as I am a container gardener I knew if I didn't, my small garden would suffer badly and possibly fry without a good drink before the heat of the day.. In a heatwave, even large established plants wilt and wither.
I wonder though if I am the only person outdoors at 6.30am in their pajamas, messing about in the garden.. I took my camera to take a few photos the other day.. and tonight it was lovely eating fresh vege - organically grown and by my own hand.. such a satisfying feeling while nourishing our bodies with chemical free produce.

A pot of zucchinis, these are a dwarf variety..but look I have babies in here

Im thinking this would be tasty, stuffed and fried in a little tempura batter.

Pots of cucumbers.. the tall one is not going to do so well, its mates died, so I am not sure it will have enough pollinated flowers to grow more fruit.

however, I will get two cucumbers which isn't bad for the cost of two seeds.

Three tubs of tomatoes. I am amazed at how well these guys have done.. .

the fruit are huge

My first red tomato

The lawn so needs mowing, but this container has beetroot and capsicums, the green, wooden ammunition box has dwarf beans in it.

Beautiful fresh beets

More ammunition case, beans.

A different herb garden.. in the recycled old wooden book case, spring onions, garlic chives and flat parsley and in the black tub.. coriander

Pots of Russian Tarragon, Holy Basil (Thai) and its hot

And that is the vege patch.. It shows if your not able to put plants into the ground that you can still feed your family. Have you ever grown vege in tubs, if so what do you grow?

Simplicity in 2012

2012-01-02T06:37:00.000+08:00

I hope you all had a safe and happy entry into this new year 2012.. at nearly 51, I remember when that date was something you would see in a 80's Sci Fi movie. But wait, this 'would see' is now 'do see' I swear there are days when I feel like I am living in a sci fi movie. When you see adverts for 3d television, 3d camcorders, ipads, ipods, ebooks, androids, robotic vacuum cleaners, ethanol fireplaces and coffee makers that cost more than a small car one could be forgiven for feeling that way.
I had always tried to keep up with modern technology in the past, hey I have a four slice pop up toaster, a waffle maker, yes I even have a girl in my mobile phone that talks to me - Siri but I woke up one morning and everything had changed. I had turned into a technophobe.
Trying to turn on the dvd player these days, leaves me feeling like I am trying to launch the space shuttle. I bought a new alarm clock recently with an iPhone dock on it.. duh me, it only took two nights of being woken up at midnight to realise I had not done what I thought I had done to switch the alarm off.
I watch the teens of the house breeze through, gimmicky gadgets with the ease of toddlers putting blocks in holes ~~which indecently I still struggle to do~~ and I just blink at them dumbly as they do.

Recently, my eldest daughter (29) said to me "Mum, I want one of those old fashioned telephone handsets, the ones that had round dials on the front" so I went looking online for what she meant, thinking she wanted a 1940's vintage phone.. bless her.. this is what a 29 year old thinks is an old fashioned phone.

Ummmm you can still buy these AS phones and people still use them. So I have decided, even as a modern, iphone using, sneaker wearing woman living in the 21st century, I am happy to stop my knowledge of technology right where it is. I am happy to get back to basics.
Yes, I will use what I have but I still prefer to use a broom to a vacuum cleaner. I could do without a microwave, hair dryer and my new clock. I prefer to use my own hand made soap and cleaners. I am happy to be slowing my life down in a society that needs to have more things to save them time, so they can work longer hours to buy them. Simplicity is slipping through the nations fingers and I for one, find that a shame.
What are you going to do this year to simplify your life and get back to basics?

Solstice and Christmas Blessings

2011-12-24T15:29:00.000+08:00

Summer Solstice was celebrated here on the 22nd and tonight I sit with a smaller than usual family getting ready for. the next celebration.. My two kids from another mother are on the other side of the country with their maternal grandmother, my son and grandson are several thousand kilometers away back in New Zealand.. My Christian daughter Sarah loves Christmas and I get a lot pf pleasure out of making it special.. her boyfriend will join us for a traditional celebratory meal of roast turkey, roast veg, Brussels sprouts, followed by pav good raw cream and Chrissy cake.. it is always feels a little sad without my son with us, but we will give him a call.. tonight we will dine on German sausage, potato salad and sour dough rolls - a tradition I remember from my childhood and set by my German mother..
For my Scottish husband New Year is the bigger celebration.. but that is another post..
Tonight though, I wish all my readers, a safe and happy holiday.. no matter what path or faith you follow.. my wish for you all, is abundant blessing to your hearth and home, and a safe and prosperous new year..

Bit of this and that

2011-12-13T17:41:00.000+08:00

It seems forever since I was here blogging. So many things going on, and sadly I have just not had the energy to share them. It has been my first Christmas running my soap business, and I have been blessed it has been so busy, however I had not been 100% prepared for the rush. I have been working sometimes 6 or 7 hours a day.. next year, I will have a better idea of what to expect. A couple of little challenges have been popped up, throwing a spanner in the works, an unexpected night at the hospital last week and more Drs and tests this week and next.. all little things that make settling down to blog, just a little harder.

However, we did get the tree up on Sunday, we opted to replace our tired old artificial one, with a real one from a Tree farm.. the house smells so nice, with the fragrance of pine.

Today, I got the cake done, a bit late on it, but last week I managed to get all the cake fruit soaking in a serious amount of booze, thanks Delia Smith for the recipe I didn't take photos as I was doing it to share, but when the cake is turned out I will take a few. From what I can see and feel this is a very moist cake..
I have recently started to get some beautiful raw milk, oh it is so nice... last week I bought a small pot of cream and today, I used the cream skimmed of the milk mixed it with the cream and made some beautiful butter. I did not add enough salt for my husbands taste buds, but it is so smooth and silky and how natural does it taste!

This was the butter after about 3 minutes mixing

Draining off the buttermilk..

While I had not added enough salt, this buttermilk was a little to salty to use, *shame faced* I threw it away, I didn't know what to make with it.

This was after I had "rung" it out and rinsed it a few times in ice water, to get rid of the last buttermilk.

The finished butter... ready to eat

Well, thats me lot really, aside from a pot of cherry jam, made when the power went out for 8 hours the other day ( got to appreciate a gas cook top in a power cut)

.. luvely stuff :-)

Remembrance

2011-11-11T07:47:00.001+08:00

Every year, on 11 November at 11 am – the eleventh hour ofthe eleventh day of the eleventh month – we pause to remember those men andwomen who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations. Today I will bow my head, and remember. Iwill stop what I am doing and remember, those men and woman who gave their all for our freedom.

There is nothing sadder than watching a ramp ceremony..I will remember the families of these men, who arrived back in Melbourne, Australia just days ago.. There are days when can I take what these men and woman do for granted, yet I will also be thinking of my husband who next week will have given 30 years of his life to this country. I will also remember those who are my neighbours and friends, offering a quiet thank you to them and those who still actively serve this country. When I wander around the base and see the uniforms, I am often humbled by their choice - to fight and lay down their lives in time of conflict. No greater gift can be given.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them..

New Article

2011-11-02T17:50:00.000+08:00

My article for this month over at PaganPages - if you feel like a quick read pop over to PaganPages - Hearth and Home

The wheel has turned ...

2011-11-01T06:04:00.002+08:00

To those of you who are in the North and who celebrate in welcoming the ancestors home Blessed Samhain / Happy Witches New Year / Happy Halloween my friends and to those of us here in these Southern lands Blessed Beltane, may your balefires burn bright and your paths be rich and fertile. May you all be blessed by the God and Goddess, with health, abundance and success. The wheel has again turned and the veil is
thin.. Blessed Be

Fingers Crossed

2011-10-30T19:11:00.001+08:00

We have just sent an application to Animal Rescue, to adopt a 10 year old, blind Maltese terrier who has had a hard life.. we would love to enrich his life, as he would ours.. soooo prayers and crossed fingers please, so that if Kedron is our new doggie, it will come to pass.

A little nourishment

2011-10-26T16:34:00.001+08:00

Recently, I have noticed my body has not been to happy when I eat red meat and last week I was feeling lethargic and a little seedy, nothing I put in seem to agree with me, and funny enough I started to crave kefir, be it milk or water kefir - I really believe now my body is now acquainted with kefir, it knows what it needed so that was close to all I consumed. The natural healthy bacteria in Kefir, cling to the lining of the stomach and colon and stay there, this is a good thing.. I was given some water kefir from Narelle over at Just Like My Nan Made it has been a wonderful gift, one which I have already been able to pay forward, here is some of it in apple juice, one of my two favourites, I love kefir blueberry juice as well.. *laughing* I think this though, is turning into cider, might need to get a hydrometer to check the alcohol content.

Yesterday, I strained and bottled it for a second ferment.. I had some of this juice this morning with some rice pudding for breakfast.. for lunch I made some lovely mushroom soup.. it is so easy and quick..
the recipe needs
Mushroom Soup
500 grams of mushrooms
1 onion
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons of flour
1 cup chicken stock or vege if you prefer
2 cups milk
salt and pepper
a little lemon juice
Melt the butter and fry finely chopped onion until just transparent, add finely chopped, peeled mushrooms, cook 2 or 3 minutes, add the flour and stir.. add milk and stock and cook until thick about 6 minutes, now I like it a bit smooth so I take out a cup of the soup, then blend the rest a little with a stick blender, pop the missing cup of soup back and stir.. now if your like me, I do not like it to thick so I add about 3/4 cup of water, bring to the near boiling, add about a tablespoon of lemon juice and serve.

It is a nourishing and quick meal, we had it with a slice of fresh sour dough bread.

Mind the fence..

2011-10-23T09:33:00.000+08:00

The things you can see when you are hanging out the washing...

Zooming past the house

In the sky over HMAS Cerberus married quarters

Oiii - watch out for me fence!

Playing nicely together

Game on!

Umm.. I think this one is upside down

I could see the pilot - could he see me?

bypass the trees please

Out with the old

2011-10-22T12:52:00.000+08:00

Yaaaaaaaaay.. after two weeks with no oven..I finally have a new one..

oh trust me, you do not know how much you miss an oven till you do not have one... As we are in a Navy house, it is basic..

but bless my bread, it goes. My first loaf in two weeks.. I cant wait to have a baking day :-)

It Flashed "HELP"

2011-10-11T18:37:00.003+08:00

Hauling my sorry butt through the second week of another sinus infection, I thought the easiest meal would be pizza's - a few toppings on top of pita bread.. yes store bought *sigh*
Tom paste, basil, some mushrooms, capsicum and a bit of mozzarella and into the oven it went - it smelt reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally hot, so I stayed to watch, came out looking awesome, and tasted as good as pizza can when your head feels like a busted hockey puck..
During the dishes there was an awful lot of giggling, went to check the feral's who were watching the oven.. and it was flashing "help help help help help" gee's the pizza wasn't that bad... we wiggled some switches and it settled back down... but it really did need help.. it hasn't worked since.. I may never make pizza again..
Well, maybe when the new oven arrives ;-)

Hairy Bikers and a bit of chicken

2011-10-04T18:29:00.002+08:00

I am huge fan of hairy bikers. Not just any hairy biker...two in particular, you know Dave and Si those two lover-able rough around the edges blokes who travel around the UK and other far off places on a couple of Triumph motorbikes.. The Hairy Bikers It is a treat for me to sit and watch these guys show off great local produce in often unorthodox ways.. I have seen many do-able recipes of these and recently, I took one to our table and oh my goodness it was sooooo good. It was rustic, comforting and easy.. Now I did miss some steps in the photo taking but you will get the idea..
Somerset Chicken
It serves six, but I used 4 chicken breasts and the same amount of everything else. Now this recipe calls from some Somerset Cider, you could use apple juice but I was happy having a bit of a boozy twist to this. You can also do this recipe using pork.

6 boneless chicken breasts, skin on
3tbsp olive oil
75g butter
2 onions, sliced
4tbsp plain flour
2tbsp grain mustard
2 dessert apples, peeled and sliced into batons
110g button mushrooms, sliced
250ml chicken stock
300ml cider
250ml double cream - I used fresh cream without any of those additives they tend to put in these days
1tbsp finely chopped sage leaves
300g Cheddar cheese, grated - I used Mainland Tasty
6 baked potatoes
Preheat the oven to 200°C (gas mark 6).
Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper.Heat a large saute pan and add 2tbsp of the oil and 50g of the butter.
Fry the chicken breasts in batches for 1-2 mins on each side until golden. Put them into a deep-sided oven tray and roast for 25 mins until the chicken is cooked through.

Add the remaining butter and oil to the pan and cook the onions for 4-5 mins until softened but not coloured. Add the flour and mustard to the pan and cook for another 2 mins.

Add the apples and button mushrooms and cook for 1 min. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to the boil, then pour in the cider. Bring back to the boil and cook for 5 mins.

Add the cream and sage, cook for another 5 mins, then season with salt and black pepper.Take the chicken out of the oven and pour the sauce into the dish to cover the chicken completely. Preheat the grill to high. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken and place under the grill for 5 mins until the cheese is melted, golden and bubbling. Serve with jacket potatoes topped with a knob of butter.

This photo doesn't show this dish in all it's wonderfully, scrumptious glory, my camera work not the recipe. My husbands tummy was growling, so I never got a photo of it plated up.. it is well worth a try, a great winter warmer, or a tasty dinner when our souls need a little nourishing too.
We really enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to making it with pork..

A Matter of percetption

2011-10-01T20:23:00.005+08:00

My article this month over on Pagan Pages... A Matter of Perception

Catching Up

2011-09-29T08:45:00.000+08:00

I have to admit to feeling like I semi abandoned my blog over the last month. A few of lifes wee challenges has seen the blogging energy dwindle, but in saying that my hands have not been idle. I thought I would play catch up and post a few photos of what I have been up too..
Well, firstly we went shopping, we had been looking at replacing my car due to it's old age and it had developed Salamander Syndrome, it was bought forward when some wally in a HUGE 4x4 drove into the side of the "da broom" this is what it was replaced with.

It was a very good buy actually, it has already shown its usefulness bringing home to very large 8 foot book cases. It will also be useful for bring home all manner of things in the future.. We took it to the Dandenong Market a few weeks ago, and bought home a serious amount of tomatoes.. about 18 kilos - last year here was shocking for vege due to the floods, so my tomato sauce supply ran out, gosh eating canned sauce after homemade is nothing short of disguising.

This is half of what I had the rest have been, chopped and added to this pot.

I made two batches this size, about 5kg per pot

It made about 7kg all up, and there is always one random half jar.. I will buy another lot later and make enough to last a full year, the rest of the tomatoes became soup.

While I am on the cooking thing.. I finally got around to making some delicious steamed fruit rolls, now it seemed to take forever to accumulate the tins to make them in, but here is the final product..

and umm yes I had to slice a piece to quality control, pretty good.. thanks to Narelle over at Just Like My Nan Made for the recipe..check out her blog, it is an awesome place to pick up some nifty ideas not to mention great recipes.

Now, I know I could have done this in a more frugal, recycle-y way, but I didn't.. it was a serious bargain though so please don't be to harsh, when you see what I bought..

I have wanted one, well forever..

No show without Punch, in this case DimSim aka Sacred Temple Kitty

Can-O-Cat

Once I managed to convince the cat it was not something for her, I got onto the job of mushing the worm bedding and adding the worms.

I will keep you updated on this little venture, I have used some of the worm water already on some plants and was seriously astounded by the results..

We went of to the Red Hill Market about a month ago, and I was delighted to bump into Rod and Eryn Barnett from Wee Folk Garden Art it had been sometime since I had purchased any of there work and it seemed fitting that I add something new to my collection..

This is the beautiful Emily Havachat, isn't she just lovely, she has joined the family and she hangs proudly on the wall in my kitchen.
There has been another wee venture going on in my kitchen cupboard, will photogragh and update you on this one... I am hoping to drink some of it later today, hopefully I won't wake up drunk and naked, in a dumpster with any non vital organs missing.

Oh and here is the link to From My Hearth - my new soapie website and blog

Mornington Peninsula Handmade:.Meet The Maker

2011-09-28T10:04:00.000+08:00

I was privileged to be asked recently, to be part of Mornington Peninsula Handmade's blog.. a blog promoting local business who make and sell handmade goods.. I was chosen to take part with meet the maker. Next time I need to be photographed, I will smile in the photo.. :-)

Mornington Peninsula Handmade: Meet the Maker.........Wendy from "From My Hearth"...: .

On My Mind - Freedom of Entry

2011-09-16T05:37:00.000+08:00

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it. Then scoot over to On My Mind at Down To Earth leave a comment and post your link there. Great way to meet your blog neighbours.

On My Mind - Freedom of Entry

On My Mind today is the pride I have in my husband for his service to this country and the Royal Australian Navy. It is a centenary year for the RAN and HMAS Cerberus celebrates 90 years of service. Today, 1500 men and woman of the training establishment, HMAS Cerberus march for Freedom of Entry to the city of Melbourne. An age old ceremony that has only happened here in Melbourne, 3 times in 90 years. They will march the Queens colors, a ceremonial honour.
A small section on Freedom of Entry Sailors ahoy! It’s been 100 years

Finding the Divine

2011-09-01T17:57:00.001+08:00

Things have been hectic here this month. With Fathers Day and Christmas coming, my soap production has been on the increase, my husband has also had 10 days leave from the Navy, so everything is put on the back burner, so we can spend some good quality time together. Because of this my second article on Pagan Pages has been partly borrowed from a post I made here a few years ago.. however it is still relevant in my life today.. if your like minded or would just like to pop over for a read, here is the link Pagan Pages - Hearth and Home

I have been taking all sorts of photos though, so over the next week, I will play catch up and post some piccies..

On My Mind - Lions & Tigers and Oh My

2011-08-26T05:55:00.002+08:00

Today I am taking part in On My Mind over at Down to Earth -
This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it. Then scoot over to On My Mind at Down To Earth leave a comment and post your link there. Great way to meet your blog neighbours.

On My Mind ....

A day so special, I can barely find the words to express it.. my husband has been on leave for a week, and he arranged a secret date with me.. little did I know, it was a behind the scenes, with the zoo keepers from Melbourne Zoo. It was an amazing experience with these beautiful animals.. and enlightening talking about their natural habitat and the issues they faced , with Mike who had just recently returned from 6 months in Borneo. My husband knows my heart and not a greater gift could he have given me.. yesterday will be treasured always.

It Started with a ....

2011-08-18T07:21:00.001+08:00

On My Mind - Feeling Connected

2011-08-12T05:28:00.006+08:00

Today I am taking part in On My Mind over at Down to Earth, Please join in by following the link.

On My Mind....

We had a beautiful taste of spring here last week; theweather was unseasonably warm and the sun, while still low in the sky, shone.Seeing this photo this morning reminded me, how much pleasure Iget from washing up at this sink. A few of my favourite things linethe window ledge and I have a wonderful view into a wee gardenwhere lilies and lavender grow. The sun on the leaves of thegum tree sparkled like jewels and I feel refreshed by the breeze thatcomes through the window. I can look over the golf course which looks more likea huge park filled with gums and pines. So even on those days when my health isnot doing my day justice, I still feel connected to my home and nature whileworking at my kitchen sink.

H triple M - Hmmm

2011-08-04T17:33:00.003+08:00

The other day I was out front, putting a few pansy's into a planter box, and as I walked past a container near the front door, that homed my red geranium - I had a look at it and thought how the winter had been a little rough on the coconut fibre inner, it was all falling apart.. I decided this weekend I would take a trip to the garden centre and get a new one,.. here it is below in all it's scruffy glory.

Now this morning I was sitting at the computer doing a little work - The computer is right beside the window looking over the front lawn, and as I was sat, I noticed a little movement out of the corner of my eye.. Thinking it was the crow that comes up to the floor length window to peek in at me most days, I turned for a look... nope not a crow to be seen... but there was a visitor - A Magpie.. some folk hate them as they are very territorial in breeding season, but I really like them..

Be gentle on the photographer, these photos where taken hastily, between a gap in the blind, through the glass of a closed window, which is covered in fly mesh.. so some are a little funky.

Now it took a double take to realize what this bird was up to.. hmmm

I think I might hold off on replacing this liner as it was not a cold, blustery winter that had reeked havoc on my coconut coir, pot liner! It was Mrs Maggie Pie, tugging out the fibres, until her beak was suitably full.. Well, I may have a scruffy planter, but I am feeling a little blessed to know it has gone to a good cause, and she will have a warm and cosy nest for her family and really isn't that what we all strive for.

My first article - Pagan Pages

2011-08-02T05:45:00.001+08:00

For those who are interested, my first article is up on Pagan Pages. If you would like to pop over and have a wee read, it is here Hedge and Hearth. If the name sounds familiar it is because it was the name of my old blog...

The wheel is turning and while it is hard to imagine spring here soon, we are celebrating it's return today, the earth is warming, days are longer and life energy is building within the dormant seed.. Bone Mother will soon be seeking other places to roam. The Maiden is returning and the God is young and full of life...
Blessed Imbolc to those brothers and sisters down here in the south and to those of you celebrating in the North, Lughnasadh blessings to you, as you partake in the fruits of the harvest....

Animals are not immune.

2011-08-01T19:21:00.003+08:00

Many of us are turning away from processed food and are moving back to simple, honest home made food., be it organic or not we no longer want to ingest chemicals and preservatives that can cause us ill health, not to mention those allergies so many folk are falling victim to these days so with our families making a change - what of our 4 legged family members? Do we still feed them things out of a can or out of a plastic tube? I used to and my dog itched and scratched. I even found a docking ring in one roll - seriously. It was not part of the animals 'pluckings' it was a bright orange docking ring. I was horrified! so I started my dog on chicken and some kibble. Wow he itched and scratched worse than ever.. how bizarre..so off to the vet we went.
I had a rather enlightening conversation with our vet. Did you know most dogs who have allergies, that are not due to plant contact actually come from chicken, beef and wheat. My vet suggested a couple of options, a kibble made from beetroot and potato or I could make my own.. I opted for the bought variety, partly through ease of use and secondly my dog is a fussy little feral. The result of this diet was a little butter ball on legs.

In the last month I have changed from the vets kibble and now make him a mix he loves, much to my surprise. There are a number of recipes for home made, economical dog food.. however they don't seem to cater to the poochikin with an allergy. No wheat, no chicken, no beef. What does that leave us with.. Well, not many people have the suggested Emu tucked in the deep freeze - don't shoot the messenger here ok, but Kangaroo is another good choice for the allergic dog - then there is Turkey, which is what I use ( Mr P doesn't like Kangaroo) to bulk it up we have to find a wheat free alternative, so we use Barely and Balsamic rice but potatoes, is another good additive.
I made a batch today. I got two turkey drumsticks - $7.40 - yes they where drumsticks.. I forgot to photograph them first :-P I simmer them for a couple of hours in enough water to just cover them.

Now there is another photo missing here, the barely and rice. So in the pot below is 1/3 of a cup of rice and 1/2 a cup of barley, which I soaked overnight in water - then drained and added to the stock the drumstick were cooked in.

Then I add the chopped turkey leg meat there is good amount of meat here.

I then grate up a carrot, and add a very large clove of garlic

Now your pooch may be more accepting of veg then mine, so I only add 1/2 cup of mixed vege (peas, carrot and corn), I am going to slowly start to add a wee bit more broccoli etc.

I cooked all this for about 30 to 45 minutes, it really depends on the barley and how quick it is cooking, do soak it though, it makes for faster cooking and makes it a little more digestible.
When it is cooked, I take it off the heat, add 1/3 of a cup of canola oil.. This helps with the coat and skin and also helps there... number 2's.

Here it is close up.. now I have got a teaspoon and eaten it.. gosh it is good. Turkey leg has such good flavour, so even the fussiest hound with eat it.. now if you have a whopping hulk of a dog, just double or treble the recipe..

I put this mix into old canola spread or butter containers.. there are three, 1/2 cup portions per pot.. one pot will do him three days..

I do not count the cost of the barley, rice or vege, as it is something already in the house.. so for a few cents over $7.00 for 2.5 weeks meals, it is economical.. but this was not all about cost, it was about my dog not turning into a mini blimp while eating calorie ridden " vet formula" and to ease the discomfort he has with food allergies. Yes, this mix has made a difference to him, so the time I take to make it is worth it.. and if we ever run short of a meal, I know where to find one in the freezer :-)

The Green Thing

2011-07-27T14:35:00.002+08:00

I have been a bit snowed under with one thing and another.. have photos, but not today :-)
Today my daughter sent me an email forward, and this one is worth the sahring..how many can relate to this..

At the check-out, the young operator ridiculed an older woman and told her that she should bring her own grocery bags when she went shopping because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized to her and explained, "It's a bit awkward for my generation as we didn't have the "green thing" back in my day."
The clerk responded, "and that's exactly our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment." She was right -- our generation didn't have the "green thing" back then. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled - But oh no, we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go to the corner dairy.
But she was right. We didn't have the "green thing" in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes in the sun and the wind on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up precious energy -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Lake Taupo.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up a petrol engine just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right; we didn't have the "green thing" back then. Instead of buying a cup or a plastic bottle every time we needed a drink of water, we ran water from a tap into a cup or glass that we washed and put away for next time we were thirsty, we refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we either sharpened or replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
Back then, people caught the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the "green thing" back then?

Much Excitement

2011-07-13T05:29:00.009+08:00

Last week, I had an email notification saying that a lady named Jenn had left a comment on my blog. I felt quiet flattered and somewhat surprised at its content. She said I should be writing for them.. I had no idea who 'them' was. So I followed the link via her name and ended up in one of my favorite Pagan sites Pagan Pages, which I have a link to <----- over there in "Places Worth A Visit"
I sent a wee note to Jenn, thanking her or the compliment to which she replied 'Well, you should be writing for us'
Funnily, way back in the day when the world was still in black and white and dinosaurs roamed the planet, I wanted to write for a living, I wanted to be a jurno but as an insecure and impressionable 15 year old, I was embarrassed out of it, not able to take criticism well.
I wrote an article that was critic-ed by the, then Parliamentary Press Secretary (my English teachers husband) and he ripped it to shreds, he finished by saying and I quote "your writing shows a complete lack of education) I stopped writing anything after that for years, I was gutted..
Now, I don't know about you, but when things like that are put to me, there is that pesky little past memory Monkey that climbs up on my shoulder and starts saying the words.. ~~blah blah blah,~~ all the "Yea but's' and the "everyone else is more .... " not to mention "What do you have to offer" really though if that monkey had climbed up on the other side it wouldn't be half as bad, as the hearing isn't so good over there! Things got a bit easier after I put on my big girl pants and smacked him about a little with my 'Get A Grip' stick - sooooooooo now the contract is read and signed, I can tell you starting this month, I will be submitting a regular article to Pagan Pages - I get to name my column, however I will tell you what it is called after I have sent my first article to my editor, I think she should get the first look... nervous uh huh... excited much :-)

Playing catch up

2011-07-11T18:38:00.005+08:00

I'm playing catch up here.. with the kids on holidays this past week, my time seems to have been sucked into some sort of teenage vortex.. We went shopping on Saturday.. I really don't like shopping, but we went and bought a new camera..something I need for my online store.. and it was a red hot bargin, we got all the bells and whistle for half price.. makes sense to practice with it.. so I took some photos of some muffins Miss C and I made, they started out as Lemon Poppy seed, but morphed into something else totally due to the lack of plain yoghut - so they became Lemon, Berry, poppy seed Kefir muffins..the batter was sooooooooooo nice, they near didn't make it to the pan..

I rest my case on the batter tasting good.. I had to wrestle the bowl of her to wash it

I also took photos of lunch in the making.. there was a very good reason for this choice of meal but you will see later.. We made Minestrone soup. Frying some onions....

Peeling the vegetables is Miss C,

I chopped carrots, potatoes, celery, leeks, cabbage and beans and then added beef stock and a can of tomatoes and

this... the reason for the soup..

another can closer to making something that's going on over at Just Like My Nan Made

At Last - Cabbage

2011-07-04T15:18:00.004+08:00

I started to write this post a few days ago, but life turned a little funky and the post never got finished.

People have been doing it for thousands of years.. and in all sorts of places.. My mother did it, and hers before her... so if this is the case why am I and why have I been spooked by the thought of it and commitment to it.. For the whole, I am worried about not having enough buckets to accommodate the family should I poison them all.. I am talking about lacto fermented vegetables - which fills me with the same trepidation as biological warfare. But fear is to be overcome and a big fat cabbage did I buy...

I read a few recipes and I decided to wing it and follow the basics.. no wonder I am scared of toxififing everyone *laughing*

I also bought a huge jar, to put my cabbage in..see above...Every recipe I looked at said to use some sort of whey or something to give it a jump start, they only thing I had was a little Kefir whey.

I fished some out and put it aside in a glass

I thought about using the kitchen whizz to cut up the cabbage but decided on using a knife.. I cut up 3/4 of the cabbage the rest we ate for dinner :-)

I added a couple of tablespoons of salt, and then with the pestle I bruised the cabbage until it was sort of glossy, I added about 2 tablespoons of the Kefir Whey, mixed it with my hands and then put it into my big new jar...then took it all out and put it in an old jar.. way smaller. I was amazed but I really shouldn't have been at how much that cabbage squished down.. The bowl ended up at 1/4 of the volume.
I wanted to weight it down but nothing fit in the mouth of the jar, so I cut a circle out of an ice cream container lid.

After I stacked it in the jar, I topped it up with water that had been sat out overnight.

So there it is, my first jar of sauerkraut I hope - After 4 days, I put it in the fridge, I am not sure what it is meant to look or smell like, presently it smells a little like cabbage and a wee bit sour.. maybe tomorrow I will try it and see. If I make this again, I think I will do it without the water, the cabbage I used had plenty of liquid to cover it..

On My Mind..Procrastination

2011-06-24T05:34:00.001+08:00

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. When you write you write your blog and post a photo, put a link on it back to l DOWN TO EARTH - ON MY MIND It is a great way to meet new bloggers!
About 18 months ago, my husband rummaged around in his box of 'can't throw this away' and hauled out a suede covered book. Now the reason he did this was because I had complained every time I baked or cooked, "I wish I had a nice book to put this pile of papers in - I can write them all down and have a nice collection of recipes, in a book that i can one day pass on... "
Well, I do have a nice book to put the pile of papers in.. they are still sitting in it.

Sorry about the lousy photo, I am without a camera.

This is a little challenge to myself for those days, I am not physically upto doing much - I can sit and write all these lovely recipes I have collected from the web, books, and from you all into this big old book!

Now all I have to do is work out the best way to divide it up and index it - I am open to any ideas.

Yeastie Beasties

2011-06-22T19:13:00.012+08:00

Firstly, I had to share the fruit sour dough.. I'm afraid it never made it to the deep freeze on the night it was made, come 10pm that evening, my husband and I went and looked at it, it screamed cut me and we ate two large slices, and oh my goodness it was sooooo good!

I had huge plans for the weekend, but the best made plans of mice and men, well woman in this case..I couldn't find a decent cabbage that was worth the $4 plus they wanted for it, so the sauerkraut making went out the window.. As for the sourdough pancakes.. maybe this weekend...I do want to make Christine's fruit sourdough again and the recipe calls for a healthy amount of starter and I want to keep up a good supply, so one of my yeasty beasties upgraded to the penthouse suite.

Dough Baby got a new jar, it holds a LOT which suits me and he fine.. Kamut Baby is developing that wonderful smell that only comes with wild yeasts.
My newest baby arrived today, t'was a difficult delivery - the "stork courier" delivered my precious goodies to the wrong house.. after a call to the "priority" courier company, I was told "it was delivered" my reply, "Yes it was delivered but not to my house" he then went on to say "Did you look in the garden" .. "I shouldn't need to look in the blimmin' garden" "Fair call" he said.. He would call the driver and ring me back.. the call never came but the parcel did via some sailor's child that I had never seen before. Out of courtesy I called the company back to say 'yeastie beastie #3" was here... they informed me that the driver said he didn't know what number house he had delivered to..good on you Toll Priority and thanks for calling back... but look.. this is my newest venture, this ~~unusual looking weird thing~~, beneficial budding Kefir culture, doesn't have a name yet, but isn't it an amazing bit of nature.

Looks like a cauliflower sprig, but spongy.

Apparently this cute little milky manifestation self propagates

And this unassuming jar of milk is its new home.. can't wait to see whats going on with it tomorrow..

And it really should have been the first not the last.. Blessed Solstice to you all...

Postie Presents

2011-06-20T18:47:00.002+08:00

I love getting mail. I love getting parcels in the mail, and while I get lots of deliveries of soap making products, I love those just for me parcels.. and I got one today.

Now, I have this wee passion for all things quiltie.. I lust after those gorgeous bed quilts that squeal "please let me be a family heirloom" those beautiful quilted items everyone else seems to be able to make but me, however I can't sew my way out of a wet paper bag -
But wait there is more, my quilt passion runs a close second to my love of all things chicken.. I have chickens strategically placed about the kitchen and dining area.. I even have a couple of Royal Dalton chickens, now before you all see $$$$$$ rolling in your eyes, don't fret they were seriously marked down from three figures to a mere $30 and $19 but wait.. there is more... what if I could get my two favorite things in one envelope? Yes I know smuggling livestock in envelopes is illegal but this isn't...

A bed quilt was way out of my price range, but when I was looking at quilt shops on Etsy, I found this wonderful quilted table runner. I saw it, ~~I needed it~~..wanted it. I love to by Australian made but have never seen anything like this here, so it came all the way the US.

And it looks lovely on the table I think.

Perhaps one day, I will put my mind to try making one, but for the moment I am content to enjoy the beauty of another woman's cleverness and creativity.

Inspirations and Baby Gremlins

2011-06-16T19:13:00.008+08:00

Yesterday, I said I had another batter on the go, this time the majority of the flour was Kamut. I have decided the batter with Kamut as well as the Kamut flour starter resembles, that old baby food "baby rice" or Baby Farex" without the gritty bits - It was interesting to work with, it was quick to take liquid, but it didn't seem to need as much as I would normally use. It was very easy to knead... I wish I could have taken more photos than I have, but I am using my phone to take photos (camera is broken) After the first rise, I was sure it was to wet, it seemed to be a bit sticky, so I bypassed yesterdays casserole dish and went for an open pan.. It rose the second time quiet well.
I am such an advocate for very high heat for the first 10 to 15 minutes of cooking, It really gives the yeasts a huge boost, releasing lots of gas causing an increase in size and a great crust, so the oven was up on 250c. Another thing I have gotten in the habit to do, is placing an empty pan in the bottom of the oven, and when I put the bread in, I pour water into the pan and get the door shut as quick as I can..this makes steam, again aiding in a nice crust.

This is my finished loaf. It has semolina on top.

The bottom looking flat, unlike yesterday

I haven't cut this loaf.. we are trying to live a frugal lifestyle so it is in the deep freeze. And yesterdays experiment is still being eaten. I did learn a valuable lesson today... *insert suitable red face* see below-

Do not put glass pie dish in bottom of 250c oven, then add water even if it is boiling... big badda boom.. broke my favorite pie dish.. where was my usual container.. look up - the breads in it - duh me.

I appreciate this post is a little long.. thanks for hanging in there.. :-)

I am always excited to read about others bread making endevours, and today I was delighted to see what was going on when I popped on over to Slow Living Essentials to visit Christine, who also enjoys making bread with wild yeasts - she was making sour dough with a glorious twist.. for me there is nothing better than a slice of thick crusted, chewy yet flavorsome sour dough, how can this be improved? by adding fruit and far more cinnamon than the recipe ever said. So, I borrowed Christine's recipe which she blogged about today, and modified it. It makes 2 generous loaves and calls for 500grams of leaven.. I have worked 'dough baby' pretty hard the last few days and decided to use just a small amount of him and give 'Kamut baby' a go. It was about a 40% dough baby and 60% kamut baby. Remembering this starter is only 2 1/2 days old.

I was not disappointed... after 3 of the 5 hour first rise time.

The dough never made it to 5 hours, while this will have affected the flavour a little I had no idea how the Kamut starter was going to reactI didnt want the dough to collapse.. I decided to cut the rising time short and shape it into two, weird looking loaves.. I went off to the library ran some errands and came back and popped them in the oven...

Unfortunately, I got engrossed in a soap book and they over cooked a little, well a lot.. but they will still be good to eat. I was not disappointed with the result.

Lastly... I no longer have cute bubbling baby.. nooooooo I have created a, do not feed after dark wild yeast gobbling gremlin.
I fed Kamut baby today - there was maybe 1/2 cup of starter left after the fruit bread.. I added 3/4 cup filtered water, and 3/4 cup Kamut flour.. left the 'babies' sitting in a kitchen where the temperature was 13c.. and look 2 hours later.

Below is 4 hours

At 5 hours, I took to it with a spoon, and mushed it into submission, it was gonna escape out of the jar.

As I type, the Kamut Baby is back up to the rim.. it doesnt have the lovely, yeasty sour dough smell yet..but I am sure it will come. I am surprised at how reactive this flour is. I am no expert, but I expect the high protein in Kamut flour has something to do with it. On the weekend I am going to try our favorite sour dough pancakes with the Kamut starter and flour.. also some home made pasta.. which Kamut flour is also good for.. possibly sauerkraut and next week my Kefir grains arrive will keep you informed, if you haven't all nodded off :-)

Babies, Bread and Toast

2011-06-15T17:10:00.002+08:00

My baby was gurgling and bubbling happily this morning when I got up.. however she still had her little water ring - it was just bigger.

However, as the morning moved on and warmed up... look what happened.. it disappeared, so it leaves me to believe it was new baby syndrome and the colder temperatures.

See above how the bubbles are all the way down to the bottom of the jar and the ring of liquid has gone...

I feed her this afternoon.. I cut her in half then added 2/3 cups of Kamut flour and 2/3 cups water and gave her a good mix, I was astounded how she was reacting 2 hours later. This is a very energetic baby.. I may not feed her tomorrow. Kamut Baby on the left and Dough Baby on the right.. I fed them at the same time and baby is more active. Amazing.

Well, I said I would post pictures of yesterdays bread experiment. The only fault I could find with it, was not enough salt, I erred on the side of caution. I have another one on the go.. this time I am following a recipe, substituting one cup of the flour for Kamut, and tomorrow I will add enough salt.. This is what it looked liked

When it was cut.

And as my breakfast...with a big slurp of home made peach jam.

New 'Baby Kamut'

2011-06-14T18:38:00.007+08:00

I love all aspects of bread making, how the yeasts work, the smell of the yeast or my sourdough starter, the feel of Goddess given, ground grains in my hands and the therapeutic aspect kneading the dough brings. I have never felt it to be a chore. I always try to pick flour types that are natural, unbleached - rye flour or meal, wholemeal, spelt and now slightly more modern version of an ancient grain, similar to durum wheat. Kamut flours common name is Khorasan wheat and it's from Egypt. The benefits of eating products made from this flour is vast. While it has gluten, it is easy to digest and also has no fructose, which is helpful to those with allergies, it is higher in vitamins, protein and amino acids. It can be used in any baking you use normal wheat flour.. you can even eat the grains. A 5kg bag of this flour followed me home on Friday, along with some wholemeal spelt and rye.
This new flour has a different texture than I am used to so it is a learning curve for me. As I am a huge fan of sourdough another bread steeped in ancient history, it seemed a foregone conclusion that I would make a sourdough starter with it. So I would like to introduce you to 'Kamut Baby'

I have put 'Kamut Baby' on the left and my original sourdough starter 'dough baby' side by side so you can see the difference in the colours. The Kamut flour is white until you add the water and it changes to a fawn colour. As the weather is very cold here at the moment it gets down to 8 or 9c over night colder as winter progresses, I don't have a warm place to keep the starters, so I knew the new starter would be slow or may even fail. So I cheated a weeeny teeeny bit, to the 1/2 cup of Kamut flour and 1/2c cup water I put about a teaspoon of my original starter in to kick it along. By bed time I was already seeing a little action, Kamut being a very strong flour and the joys of being blessed with an amazingly active starter.
This is what greeted me this morning.

'Dough Baby' on the right is trying to climb out of his glass crib and wee 'Kamut Baby' is making little baby bubbles on the left. Again you can see the colour difference. I am noticing a difference between the too apart from colour.

See how there is a layer of plain looking flour paste on the bottom, a layer of liquid and then the bubbly flour brew on top. Now I think this could be because the bench top is cold, and it is not fermenting the same at the very bottom.. the liquid layer in the middle is common in a starter, but it is usually on the top.If anyone has another idea, I am happy to live and learn.
I have fed baby again this afternoon, and she is looking good this evening, I will post a photo of her growth tomorrow. I will know she is up and walking when I can smell her yeasty, goodness.

MORE BREAD....
While I am on the topic of bread and growing things, I read some where about making bread a little like you do sourdough.. by mixing your flour water and rising agent (starter or yeast) then leaving it all sitting 24 hours to brew.. now I wanted to see if this made good bread. So I had a go - I cant give you a recipe, I didn't really use one, just put some flour, some water and a good sprinkle of yeast in a blow, stirred and left it.

This morning I had a bubbly bowl.. again no real recipe, I tossed in some salt, sugar, a little milk powder, a little oil and flour... Mixed it up and then kneaded it.. nice an glossy waiting for the first rise by the furnace.

After an hour or so I put it into it's cooking container, again new to me a casserole dish. While it was raising, I heated the oven to its very hottest setting- now it has doubled in size (2nd rising) it got weirder still - I added 3 tablespoons of water to the container and jammed on the lid, and quickly shoved it in the oven.

After 20 minutes cooking at around 250c I took of the lid, slashed the top and quickly shut the oven door, turning the oven down to about 180c - I left it cooking for about 20 minutes until it sounded hollow when it was tapped.

It looks and smells so good right now. The water made a good thick crust as it turned to steam inside the casserole dish. Then when the heat hits it without the lid, it gets crunchy. However not everything was as it seemed at first.. next time, I will use only 2 tablespoons of water next time,. and I will also roll the dough and secure it a little more tightly, because it unrolled itself - so it was my mistake. It is still very edible just a little crustacean looking.

I can't tell you what it is like yet, bread is best cut a couple of hours after coming out the oven.. if you can wait that long. My breakfast it shall be, and I will take a photo for you then......

On My Mind - left behind

2011-06-10T06:25:00.001+08:00

I got this beautiful mortar and pestle from my daughter for Christmas... it sits proudly on my counter top. However, I am always wondering how it always becomes the raffia receptacle, when I am labeling and wrapping soap, something I prefer to do on my bench. Everything gets cleared away, but some how the raffia always seems to remain in the mortar for a day or two afterwards. I will put it away this morning - again

Green Cleaning Ideas.

2011-06-09T18:17:00.003+08:00

I was going to write this post days ago.. but after my last post, there was an issue trying to get into my blog.. I was so worried I would have to leave it abandoned, as Google were not to helpful in assisting getting back in here.. however here I am so it was meant to be..
Now, as some of you may or may not know, I like to make my own soaps, cleansers and breads including sourdough.. heck I bought my sourdough starter "dough baby" 3000km across the country in the back of the car, so much is it part of our family.. today though I want to tell you how excited I was to get back to the homemade cleaners. I had to stop for a wee while, mainly due to the health issue.. Last week I had a wee concoction making day.. The recipes are not mine, they have been gathered from other wise woman, who no doubt, got them off another wise woman, and so the knowledge is shared.
Rhonda over at Down To Earth was the inspiration for me ever starting making my own soap powder.. now I love the dry powder, but I always wanted to try liquid. I like the ease of it, no need to try to dissolve it, just pop it in the machine.. and I have a front loader and it works well. So I set about making some liquid laundry powder.
I won't post the recipe, you can find it here at Rhonda's there is more information on this page than just the recipe, so go have a go it is great and it makes about 9 to 10 liters for less than $3.00 HOMEMADE LAUNDRY LIQUID

This was mine all nicely bottled and bucketed. I put a little to much Eucalyptus oil in mine, but it leaves the washing smelling great.

Now, this one above is dry soap powder. I always have plenty of soap ends to grate up for this recipe.
Here is the recipe.
4 cups grated laundry or homemade soap or store bought soap flakes, 2 cups borax, 2 cups washing soda.
Now you can use it like this, but I prefer mine much finer, so I toss it into the kitchen whizz and mix it to a fine powder.. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and store in a plastic container with a lid. Use 2 to 3 tablespoons per wash. You will have to experiment a bit, it really depends on your water type (hard or soft)
Once in it's storage container, add about 2 teaspoons of Eucalyptus or Lavender essential oil, this is optional, but I like the smell. The other thing.. it doesn't make bubbles! Soap manufacturers tell you it needs bubbles... and add icky glop to it, to make it froth. Bubbles dont clean, they just give your head some kind of bubble happy.. soooo noooooooooo it doesn't need bubbles, this one was hard for me to get used too.. but trust me on this * smiles*
Narelle over at Just Like My Gran Made has concocted one of the greatest citrus cleaners about. Please go check it out if you love those citrus spray cleaners... I cant be without one and does this stuff work, you can bet your bottom dollar it does.
Now do you use.. Clorox Gumption, Jif, Ajax, or any of those other cream cleansers?? Yes I used to, I swapped to baking soda and vinegar, but last week over on the DOWN TO EARTH FORUM I found a recipe for one of those great cream cleansers. It need a bit of modifying. So here is the recipe:
1 cup baking soda, 2 tablespoons dish liquid, 1 tablespoon glycerin, 1 teaspoon Eucalyptus oil (see a theme here) or Lavender if you like, stir and mush till it is crumbly, then add very slowly while stirring enough water to make a smooth paste. I store mine in a wide mouth El Paso salsa jar. When I need to use, I swirl the cloth about in the jar, then clean sink, bath hand basin.. comes up so clean.. The picci below shows what it looks like.

If you don't already use green cleaners, I do urge you to try, they are as cheap as chips to make and green cleaning like our great grandmothers did, is a far better way I think. No harsh chemicals, not contact dermatitis on our hands from chemicals and far better on the environment.

A Wee Visitor

2011-06-07T17:30:00.007+08:00

It has been a bitterly cold day here in Victoria today, about an hour ago the temp outdoors dropped to -1.8c thats about 25f. It is a real winters day. I watched someone playing golf in the hail and wind wondering if they were in fact a legend or a fruit loop, and as the wind whistled and whirled across the golf course I sat waiting for their umbrella to blow inside out, or for tem to take off Mary Poppins fashion.. alas I was amused by neither.. what I did find, was a lone babe from the woods.
I am expecting the wind blew a little hard and this wee one tumbled out of the nest. It managed to get onto our fence, just under the eaves to stay out of the wind and rain.

A very cute, but chilly baby Magpie, I doubt this babe is very old.

To spite the sleet and chill, this little one sat on the fence and jabbered away in baby Magpie talk for the longest time, my awwww moment for the day.

Every now and then this little one would stop it's baby jatter, and look up as if to say "Are you here yet Muma"

What a precious gift.. I was so blessed to have been able to spend sometime,nose to beak through the window, now the night is now that much colder, I hope it's Mumma came taking it somewhere that it is warm and dry and safe from foxes and feral cats.. Goddess Bless little one.

Cool days in Victoria

2011-05-26T18:13:00.002+08:00

I am totally enjoying being wrapped up by winter for the first time in a few years. Autumn has whisked away the leaves on the deciduous trees around the yard, they now stand naked in the wind, there roots curling deep down in the cold damp earth.. resting, waiting. While they rest, I feel a little like I have been re-born, everyday the cortisone in my hip is working at giving me a little more freedom, it is almost insurmountable to me how much relief it has given me.. When I have had the surgery, I know things will be so much better, I will be out digging up the yard for a vege patch "laughing" or maybe the depots golf course.
With the weather cold and blustery outdoors, I am feeling so content in my home with my new found strength. Cleaning like I haven't been able to for months, decluttering and I have even made 5 batches of soap this week, something I couldn't do for the last few months as I couldn't stand up long enough. Luckily I had plenty stored .. can't run a cottage business with no stock :-)
The hub of my home has been rocking with activity..

I hauled 'dough baby' out the fridge, gave him a feed and made sourdough bread.

2 loaves of dark rye sourdough bread, and blocks of newly cut soap.. Dragons Blood, Nag Champa, Lavender, and Earth Mama all mint and herbs...

My new soap - Mama Earth

Blessed is my hearth.

Clever recycle idea

2011-05-24T18:21:00.000+08:00

I would love to take credit for this, but I can't. Kudos to the person who came up with this idea. My husband sent me this, as it was an email forward.
This is to reuse drink bottles and plastic bags. . It makes a waterproof and airtight seal. No more twist ties or rubber bands.

Cut the top of a plastic drink bottle, water or soda bottle, like the photo shows.

Thread a plastic bag through the neck of the bottle, and fold over the top, secure the top to seal.

How nifty is that.. when I find the owner of this idea, I will post a link.

Quick and Painless Treats

2011-05-22T14:19:00.000+08:00

It has been a week almost since I had a fluoroscope and pain relief into my hip joint, it is about 70% better, so I feel I am coping much better. I know it is a temporary measure, however if it gets no better than this for now, I will be happy enough as my quality of my life has improved due to it.. I knew it was working when I could vacuum the whole house, do a basket of ironing and still bend to pick up some fallen pegs under the washing line.. I could not have done one of those things a week ago without needing to rest for an hour or so afterwards.. After several months of this, I feel like I have some control back and it;s blissful.

Today I wanted to bake.. Bran muffins with sultanas but for the life of me I could not find the jar of wheat bran flakes I had, one of liefs little mysteries as it is not in any of my cupboards - back to the drawing board, well recipe book actually. I found a recipe that may have been used back in the days of rationing during the war. No eggs and a scant tablespoon of butter... Sultana Loaf

Into a bowl put 1 cup of either sultanas, raisins, mixed fruit or a combination, add 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon golden syrup, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Pour in 1 cup of boiling water, stirring gently until the butter has all melted.

Add to this 2 cups of plain flour and 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder. Moving quickly as the mixture is warm and the raising agents will start to act..stir until just combined. Do Not over mix!

Put into a lined tin, and bake in an oven pre heated to 180c for about 40 minutes or until it is cooked.

Leave in the tin for 10 minutes before, turning onto a cooling rack.

This was so easy to whip up, I am going to remember this one for those days we need something nice in a hurry.

DTE Cloth Swap

2011-05-17T13:09:00.002+08:00

Over at the Down to Earth Forum we have had a dish cloth swap going on.. I got a wonderful package from Marnie over at her site Noonee Wilga ( an Aborginal name that she explains the meaning off - beautiful) she sells a pretty amazing range of eco items for woman, babies and toddlers, (menstrual pads, breast and nursing pads, moontime cups and lots for bubs too) stop by and pay her a visit, as it is hard to find good eco products like this.. there is also a substantial link page to DIY sewing.. please pay a visit... but I digress, Marnie sent me her first ever dish cloth and I am proud to be it's owner, almost to pretty to be used.. along with the cloth came two very nifty reusable makeup removing pads.. here are a couple of photos, unfortunately one is blurred, took it with my phone as the camera batteries were flat..

Aren't the colours lovely, this has inspired me to learn to crochet.. Thank you Marnie for a lovely swap.

No warm fuzzies today

2011-05-16T05:58:00.001+08:00

What a weird old weekend it has been, a huge power cut that seen me tossing just about every dairy product I had in the fridge out.. Mister 15 left for his Year 10 camp..they left the school at 4.45am flying to Sydney then onto the Gold Coast.. what ever happened to camping? I have woken up with hay fever in autumn and a case of the heebie jebbies over the continuing saga of hip and spine..
I have in the last few weeks been diagnosed with spondylitis in my spine, sacroilitis and a laberal tear of the hip.. while everyone thought the pain in my lower back was related to the hip, a very observant radiologist picked up a problem with my 'other bits' while looking at my hip. The specialist is confident that my symptoms and the radiographers random findings match, so I am having more tests to see if I have the marker for the disease Ankylosing Spondolititis. I am having more xrays to make sure my spine has not started to fuse. I hate waiting around for answers,one answer I do have though is I am looking at surgery for my hip either a total replacement or hip resurfacing and today I am having a fluoroscopic investigation of the joint and some cortisone into it, so I can at least function or get some relief. Not sure how I went from a sore hip to all of this... I am not having warm fuzzies about any of it. In fact I would rather be having my teeth extracted with barbecue tools.. and thats all I have to say about that.

Lights out

2011-05-14T18:46:00.001+08:00

The weather has been a little stormy over the last few days and last night at 6.40pm while putting together pizza for dinner.. the power went out amidst a huge gust of wind and squall of rain.. we thought it would come back quickly, but on the trip to the train station 5 minutes away to get my daughter Derek was stopped by the bases fire dept, as there were power lines fallen onto the road. He came home and got a torch and walked through the golf course to get her and while I lit all the candles we had.. it was quiet cosy.. knowing the power would be out for a little longer than first assumed, my thoughts turned back to dinner and the pizza half made and no oven..I could wait it out and hope the family didn't fade away from lack of food, or I could improvise, adapt and overcome. I chose the latter.
While I had no electric oven, I did have a gas hob and a large fry pan. So with candles all about the stove, I put the pan on the hob and let it heat up fairly hot, then slide the first pizza into the pan.. I could hardly see and had no idea what was happening on the bottom of the dough, all I could do was rotate the pan and hope for the best.. When I found the other torch I had a peek under the pizza base it was perfect, but the top was a bit lacking.. some might call it sacrilegious, I call it doing what ya gotta do.. I flipped that sucker over and fried the top. How do you tell if the top of your now fired pizza is cooked? You don't you flick it out when it smells about right- and feed it to hungry teens..I got raving reviews from the kids, but knowing teenagers will eat anything thats not bolted down even if it isn't easily identified,.I wasn't convinced..this time they were right and my doubts were unfounded because it was pretty damn good pizza and the base was perfect. Not bad for pizza in the dark..
As for the power, it came back on 18 hours later, after the lines were replaced and the frazzled sub station was repaired.. I am glad I didn't wait...

Stayin' Warm

2011-05-11T13:12:00.000+08:00

The weather has turned wild and chilly here.. I know I was looking forward to winter, however it would have been nice to have had a minute to acclimatise.. the apparent temp today is hovering 1.8c (34f) brrrrrrr!
Being so cold I thought to make some soup, as D was able to get home for lunch.. and we had found a bargin on Butternut the other day 88c a kilo sooooo cheap so I bought a couple.

Once peeled and chopped I had about 2.5 kg of butternut..

To this I added 4 medium potatoes, 2 onions and a litre of chicken stock, a couple of garlic cloves (optional) plenty of ground black pepper and some grated nutmeg.

Pop the lid on and cook.. about an hour little more or less.. cook it till it's cooked :-)

This is what "cooked" looks like.. you could give this a stir and eat it as is, but we prefer ours smoother

so out comes the stick blender

Bit to steamy to photograph well... this red thing that is going on here with pots and blenders, is purely coincidental, I am not a fan of red anything... weird huh.

I blend it till it is very smooth with no 'bits' in it.. now this was a huge batch,. as I wanted to freeze some, this is the stage I will put it into containers to freeze.. For our lunch I took out about 1.5 cups and added some milk, how much is dependent on the consistency you like. I added about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup.

Pop it back onto the stove to reheat.. then serve. Today we had them with some of the best scrolls.. the recipe is a firm favorite in our family,.. and I got it from Christine over at Slow Living Essentials

Happy Mothers Day

2011-05-08T13:18:00.001+08:00

A Blessed and Happy Mothers Day to you all...
It has been a quiet and pleasant day here today so far, Mothers Day started off with coffee and cards, which were lovely Both cards made em spring a wee leak with their well chosen words and sentiment. My husband cooked us all a good old fashioned if not calorie laden breakfasts, scrumptious.
I have had time to potter in the kitchen making a boiled fruit cake still in the oven, and I also made solid lotion bars for an order..
Now.. sitting here with a mug of hot lemon and green tea, while the late autumn wind and rain whistle through the trees outside.. but I can still hear Jean Auels new book The Land of The Painted Caves calling me.. a gift that was a long time in the coming. Thank you Derek for my copy..

Blessed Samhain / Beltane

2011-05-01T17:59:00.000+08:00

Tonight in the South we celebrate Samhain.. end of summer, The wheel has turned and we enter and welcome the dark time of year, the nights are longer and colder, the Crone, Grandmother, Queen of Winter roams the land.. bare trees rest, roots deep within the earth, waiting for suns return in spring. Samhain night, the night when the veil between the worlds are thin.. a night when we honour our ancestors, those who have gone before, tonight they hear us call. Tonight I welcome and embrace The Crone, within whose company I find comfort, in the cool, reflective darkness you bring, may I learn as I reflect on the past year and the year to come.
"As evening gathers Her darkness tonight, samhain's mystery is revealed... Bless the ancestors...bless those to come... The veils between the worlds will thin... Let them in. Let them in..." Lucy Cavendish

And for my friends in the North, who are enjoying the fertile energies of Beltane, may your Bel fires burn brightly and may you be blessed with prosperity and love.

We Will Remember Them

2011-04-25T07:13:00.003+08:00

With their hair a little whiter,

their step not quite so sure

Still they march on proudly,

as they did the year before.

Theirs were the hands that saved us,

their courage showed the way

Their lives they laid down for us,

that we may live today.

From Gallipoli's rugged hillsides,

to the sands of Alamein

On rolling seas and in the skies,

those memories will remain.

Of airmen and the sailors,

of Lone Pine and Suvla Bay

The boys of the Dardenelles,

are remembered on this day.

They fought their way through jungles,

their blood soaked desert sands

They still remember comrades

who rest in foreign lands.

They remember the siege of old Tobruk,

the mud of the Kokoda Trail

Some paying the supreme sacrifice,

with courage that did not fail.

To the icy land of Korea,

the steamy jungles of Vietnam

And the heroic battle of Kapyong and

that epic victory at Long Tan.

Fathers, sons and brothers,

together they fought and died

That we may live in peace together,

while at home their mothers cried.

When that final bugle calls them,

to cross that great divide

Those comrades will be waiting,

when they reach the other side.

ANZAC DAY

2011-04-24T19:09:00.003+08:00

I know every year I post on Anzac Day.. and I will continue to do so as long as I write a blog.. Tomorrow morning thousands of Australians and New Zealanders will gather at dawn to remember the ANZACS, it stands for the Australian New Zealand Army Corp.
"ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans."
Tomorrow morning we will attend the dawn service here where we live at HMAS Cerberus .. and remember those who fought for out freedom, we will remember those men and woman who still serve today and those men and woman who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Lest We Forget.

There's no flowers on a sailors grave,
No lilies on an ocean wave

The only tribute is the seagulls sweep,
And the tear drop on a loved ones cheek

"There are no great men - only ordinary men who, from time to time,

are called upon to do great things"

An hour in the kitchen

2011-04-23T15:46:00.001+08:00

Managed to spend an hour or so in the kitchen in not to much discomfort sooooo I got cooking..

I know it looks like Im boiling my dirty dish cloths, but under the bubbles are bacon bones, lentils, split peas and barley - tomorrow I will make a pot of bacon and veggie soup for ANZAC Day lunch.

The start of tonights dinner.. homemade pizza. We have been eating a lot of one pot meals lately to save me standing to long at the stove.. so I thought the kids might like pizza tonight.. whats more

Im making pudding, something we don't even eat much when I am functioning 100% but this will be self saucing chocolate pudding, here is the recipe:

Preheat oven to 190c

In a bowl, put 100 grams softened butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract beat till smooth, then add 1 and 1/4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional) mix well and put into a 2 liter greased casserole,

Then in a separate bowl mix, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornflour ( I add a tablespoon of instant coffee as well) mix well and sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter. Gently pour over the back of a spoon, 2 cups of boiling water. Cook for about 40 minutes or until the centre is firm..server alone or with ice cream.. such a simple pudding. The water and sauce wiggles its way to the bottom of the dish making a tasty gooey sauce.

Then there is Dim Sim aka "Meow" here she is, sitting on my kitchen mat waiting for her dinner.. she was making a ruckus until she seen the camera and decided to sit nicely for a photo!
.

Im also looking forward to tomorrow morning when my husband will be home. There is a roast of pork in the fridge so he can have a special dinner.. oh and Olly will be happy, he wants his nest back :-)

Sharing a Blog

2011-04-21T05:55:00.001+08:00

I was reading my way around bloggdom this morning and stopped by one of my favourite blogs.. and there I found something pretty cool. Worm farming.. Where I lived in Western Australia, I never saw worms in the garden, and I kept saying I am going to get a worm farm. I never did, mainly because it is a bit hard to convince the Navy into letting you ship a thousand worms around the country.. I digress though, here is a link to Narelle's worm farm plan and rather awesome blog.

Just Like My Nan Made: EASY CHEAP WORM FARM

Autumn leaves and apologies

2011-04-20T14:45:00.002+08:00

A wee apology to my followers, for having such a slow blog presently, I know I shouldn't but I feel like a real blog slacker.. At the, risk of joining the bitch and moaners club I have not been that fighting fit since we got here to Victoria, and over the last several weeks, I have been having more trouble keeping up with daily stuff. Even a walk around the supermarket leaves my hip and spine in serve pain. I have even struggled with my soap making. One would think with not doing as much as usual, I would have plenty of time to blog, but it has been doing my head in and screwing with my happiness.
I was referred to a rheumatologist a month ago, but he has said that what ever is going on is not a re-occurrence of an old problem, but it seems besides some spinal degeneration, he thinks there is something wrong with my hip, a FIA/ laberal tear.. I have had an MRI last week, so now I have yanked on my big girl pants and I'm just doing what I need to until next Thursday when I hope, all the eggs I have put in one basket, will magically make things better i.e cortisone into the hip and lower spine.. so will keep you posted, if you excuse the pun.Moving right along...

Now to some people, autumn colours are something they see every year, but for me it is the first year to be seeing them again after living in a very dry arid state, with nothing I can claim as winter.

The trees on my front lawn making a pretty, leafy carpet

The tree in my fairy garden.. same as the one out front but I have no idea what it is

Not exactly a Autumn colour, but he is more my constant companion then before. From this chair, we can see the tree above and watch the leaves falling.. very peaceful. Parker aka Mister P, rarely sits on my lap now - which is odd he always slept there. Now he hops up and straight off goes and sits on the arm of my chair and waits for me, or will sit there instead of my lap, makes knitting a bit hard but we manage. I wonder if he knows something isn't right at the moment.

He really is such a sookie boy.. holding on to Derek's hand, while giving it a jolly good clean..lol

Nooks and Crannies

2011-04-08T14:48:00.002+08:00

We don't have much of a garden in this house, but there is a cute little nook which is visible from my lounge room window.. I also look out over it when I am doing the washing up.. I think it is a little forgotten on the whole..
But it is very pretty... this is the fence the crow sits on to watch me doing the dishes in the mornings.. I often wonder if fairies dwell here.

I hope for the fae folk, but this naughty gnome is a surety, he tends to find himself in most of my gardens..

And this magical view is out of my front window.. I love it, and it is especially pretty when there is mist on the ground, looking forward to winter when the sea mists tend to come in.

Rustic Rose Soap -

2011-04-05T19:36:00.001+08:00

Rustic Rose Soap - by FromMyHearth on madeit

Appreciation

2011-04-01T18:30:00.001+08:00

You have to love a wonderful husband, who carries your brand new besom to the car, battling through the crowded, lunchtime streets of Melbourne, all the while getting glances from pompous business men who do not understand the ins and out of having a witchy wife.. bless mine, he is such a treasure.

Butterfly Effect

2011-03-30T07:58:00.003+08:00

There had been a power cut during the night, the clock was flashing red blips.. it was 5.20am, I thought it a tad odd to have a power cut with no storm or heavy rain. It was a dark and dreary morning when I let the dog out, 4 hours later as I look out the window beside me, I can see the sun trying to peak through a grey sky. The rays are hitting the water droplets on the fallen leaves on the lawn.. the wind is rustling the leaves in the gum tree in the front yard, I can hear volleys of shots coming from the rifle range on the Navy Base where I live. A solitary helicopter can be heard off in the distance yet I can still hear the crow who visits me here everyday, he didn't stay long this morning, he didn't try to look in my kitchen window or be his usual bossy self... perhaps he senses what the rest of us are feeling.
The flags are flying half mast here today, hearts are heavy with disbelief and sadness. When something happens within this "Base family" we all feel the effects from it, and I am no different.
Our base here is the major training facility, and last night 5 of our recruits were involved in a horrific car accident less than 5 minutes from the base. So close to home.. they were so close to being back on board, safe.. Three of these boys have been placed in, induced comas and are in very critical condition the other 2 were fatally injured.

I sit here wondering how my husband is feeling, as he often deals with these young recruits from the EF, All these boys were from the same class, a class of ten - while the remaining five class mates are being well supported, I can not but help to wonder how this will impact on the rest of their lives and careers.

The butterfly effect of this accident is immense, and I can do no more than burn a candle for the families of these men, whose lives and careers have changed forever. May they find some comfort in the days and weeks to come. There are days when I wish I was not an empath, today is one of them.
For those who wish to read the news article...
http://www.westnet.com.au/customers/article.html?id=14799

Witchin' in my kitchen

2011-03-25T18:50:00.001+08:00

Well, with a few days of cooler weather and that wonderful autumn breeze blowing in, came a day of kitchen contentment. Early in the day, I had an autumn clean, bit like a spring clean in March. I dusted, vacuumed, tidied out the laundry and the linen cupboard, polished the copper and brass bits about the house, I even did a bit of razzle dazzle to the windows before putting some lavender buds and calendula petals into some oil to infuse. Wth them set on the window ledge, I thought about making a large pot of soup - my husband who is not well with a pretty nasty head cold would appreciate for a late lunch. With the kitchen window wide open, I could feel the wonderful south westerly breeze coming in as I chopped the veges.
Now I do not know if any other of you pick up your vegetables and smell them while chopping... I do unashamedly. Swedes..

I cup them gently and really take in the fragrance.. the aroma of these beautiful old fashioned globes, speak to me of cool days, loamy soil and secrets held deep within the earth, yet when you taste them they are sweet and succulent.. they do wonders for my Pagan heart :-)

This is what they were added to.. some good old fashioned chicken soup, good for the soul they say.. good for the tummy I think.

While this was bubbling away, I took the dough that had been in the bread maker and fashioned them into some Rosemary Bread Rolls.. these things are so good. The recipe came from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

These bread rolls are the best and a firm favorite in our house, not light on the calories but who's going to worry about that with soup. Besides gives me a chance to give my skillet a workout.

And lastly a bunch of cookies, now these are also from the Pioneer Woman cooks.. I have the book, but the recipe is here.. Oatmeal Crisps Being in Australia I dont have access to Crisco and use plain butter works just fine, I also drop the sugar buy 1/4 cup. This recipe makes a lot of biscuits, which is great if you can get them to last.

An ode to the Autumn Equinox (Mabon)

2011-03-20T18:58:00.001+08:00

To my sisters here in the Southern half - blessed Mabon may there be balance and protection for you and to those sisters in the North, Blessed Ostara may it bring you energy, strength and abundance.

On my mind ...

2011-03-18T15:55:00.000+08:00

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. If you are wondering why no one has commented on your On my mind post, maybe it's because you haven't commented on anyone else's. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

On my mind, is a "sea change" or our "retirement place" we have been looking at places for sale for the last month,, dreaming and looking. We would like a few acres for chickens, a couple of angora goats and a cow.. oh and a BIG vege garden. We are looking at Tasmania and South Australia.. *sigh*

6.30 News

2011-03-14T06:02:00.002+08:00

How insignificant does it really make us? when we, the human race presume to act as if we know or can do it all. Medically, genetically, industrially, scientifically whateverlly - we put men on the moon? why just because we can... we mess with dna, why? because we can, we mess with nuclear energy and physics with enough power to destroy us, why? because we can, we bore holes into the earth, carve out super mines, dam up waterways, change the natural flow of nature and then like something out of a Hollywood movie special effects studio, the earth groans under the weight of it all, and the house of cards we built all falls down.
I am not saying ANY country is being punished for these actions, what I am saying is how small we are in the scheme of things, how powerless we really are against things.
Skyhooks really got it right, when they sang, it is a horror movie, the 6.30 news. A real story of horror!
As I watched the Tsunami the other night it could have been taken as something that didn't really look real, again because I think we as a race have been desensitized by television and movies, kids think the dead guys always get up and bad things are really not that bad because there is always a winner at the end of the show... well the news isn't make believe and how the hell do we as a race help find the winners at the end of the show... one thing that this has reinforced for me is - we may all look different, our skin maybe a different colour and we may not speak the same language, but we all sound the same when we scream, feel terror and loss the same gut wrenching way - and our tears all taste the same when we cry for you in Japan and Christchurch.

No matter what your spiritual belief, I hope that you will put your faith with mine, in asking/praying to the Deities for relief and comfort to those suffering the horrors still unfolding in Japan, and those still coming to terms with their loss in Christchurch also.

Busy Busy Busy

2011-03-10T18:04:00.000+08:00

I missssss my blog.. but I have been busy as busy can be. I am working hard at getting a small business going, and that is taking a lot of time at the moment. Having moments where I want to go stoppppp!!!! I want to go bake cookies and make bread and do all them other things, I do know though things will balance out once I am into a routine with my home also being my work place now.. lots of laughter and hair pulling moments.. today was one of them...
Ever have one of these days where stuff just goes pear shaped? I had my first ever really REALLY seized soap, and a recipe I use all the time, only thing I can put it down to is the brand of olive oil... I mashed
and squished it and got the mess into the mold.. what seemed like an eternity to clean the stick blender.. next batch fine... ha-ha luck didn't last.. made a batch scented it up with Coconut.. decided it didn't smell like
anything because of scent overload... made what was a very cool swirl then off it went to incubate.. clean up time.. duh me.. didn't smell like coconut cause it was grapefruit! I had hauled the wrong bottle off the shelf..
Top of a day filled with gremlins, I burnt lunch - interesting flavour to the omelette, I am glad they say charcoal is good for the digestion. The post came shortly after delivering 250 business cards. I was so excited until I seen one wrong digit in the phone number... whose fault was that, mine.. bang head on desk.. hey it is another day tomorrow and the start of a long weekend. :-)

Wolf song

2011-03-04T06:41:00.002+08:00

I saw this today and I thought it to beautiful not to share...

1st March .. whoo hoo

2011-03-01T18:47:00.000+08:00

Ohhhh it is the first day of autumn today, I love autumn, it is my my most favorite month and is host to my fav celebration Mabon the autumn equinox.. this is my first real autumn/winter in two years, and while I have really missed the scourging heat of Western Australia, there is something deep with that is making all my witchy bits tingle.. the final harvest is finally coming to close and the Crone will wander her way across the land.. with the pace settling about us, that wonderful time of reflection and Blessed Be

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." - William Cullen Bryant

Wool Felted Soap With Free Gift - by FromMyHearth on madeit

2011-03-01T18:02:00.000+08:00

Wool Felted Soap **With Free Gift ** - by FromMyHearth on madeit

Happy Birthday Sarah

2011-02-26T06:01:00.001+08:00

12 weeks old and looking worried

Sarah at 10 months, you walked a month after this was taken.. Want to say something about the tongue, but I won't.

Your first birthday

18 months old here with Caleb, and Peter Puppy

2 years old Aunt Christine's wedding - hope you don't do what you did at this wedding when it is your turn.. scream and run crying down the aisle..

Growing up... 11 or 12

Christmas - it was freezing so we lit the fire and you made a nest

things that make you go hmmmm

A very spacial photo with Nana

Beautiful..inside and out.
29 today

Happy Birthday to my daughter... a gorgeous, talented, wise and beautifully spirited woman. Who has the ability to make me stand in awe sometimes at the wisdom she shows beyond her years... who makes me laugh, who encourages me to laugh at myself, who shows kindness and respect to all she meets.. May you be blessed Sarah every day of your life.

A Heart Beat

2011-02-25T07:27:00.004+08:00

Have you ever been torn whether to post something or not? I have had this feeling this week. I doubt there is anyone who has not heard about the devastating effects of the earthquake in New Zealand. I turned on the tv when I first heard, it was not until I seen the first image of Christchurch cahtederal that I really understood what had happened, I sat shocked and shaken at the mess that was once a city I roamed, at the beautiful cathedral whose shadow I sat in on many a warm Christchurch afternoons while listening to "The Wizard" . I am like many others having trouble getting my head around the fact that that so much gone now.

We have family still in Christchurch, so far we have had news of one, the others we are sure are fine even though we have heard no news.. watching the news reports are hard, while Australia is now home, New Zealand is the country of my birth and I find the constant replaying of the same thing, upsetting especially with some of the reporting that goes with it...
My heart is with each person there, those hurting, those searching and those missing.. and with my family still back there... and as my daughter said on facebook.. I am blessed to have my family, a roof over my head, food on the tabl, I may not have all I want but I do have what I need - let these things not be taken for granted, for in a heart beat they can all be taken away.

Welcoming Abigal to the family

2011-02-18T04:23:00.000+08:00

On Sunday, we all went to the local Craft Market here at Mornington..I was queit excited because it had been the first time I seen Rod and his wife from Wee Folk Garden Art .since we arrived back in Victoria. I have a number of there sculptures and was keen to get a couple more..
Since the very first time I came to Australia 10 years ago, I have had an attraction to the Native gum trees, as a pagan woman I am very drawn to them.. I have flowering gums tattooed around my wrist and when I was hand fasted part of the circle was created with gum nuts..

so it is no surprise really that I was drawn to Abigal.. a perfect wee fairy taking a nap in a flowering gum nut...While she is an outside sculpture, she never made it that far and is happily snoozing by the door in our family room.

.
Isn't she beautiful.. I did make another purchase however I think that is worthy of a post of it;s own.

Half Century

2011-02-13T18:13:00.002+08:00

I went to bed 49 and woke this morning to the wonderful 50. I re read yesterdays post.. and one thing I thoughtlessly omitted.. should have been the first thing added.. to spite feeling like I am struggling to bloom where planted, presently .. I am thankful and blessed for a husband who loves and adores me, for children who love me, I thank the Goddess for having them in my life.. good times and not so good.I am thankful for an empathetic heart and compassionate spirit, and for the ability to look back over the last 50 years and smile, cringe, laugh or frown over achievements completed or opportunities lost..

I want today to be the milestone where I know feel I can do anything... (will keep up updated on that) :-)

And bless the child who said to me this morning.. "good luck and enjoy your next half century"

“The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”

Mohammed Alli

Cookies, Life and 50

2011-02-12T18:39:00.005+08:00

Over the last week or so, I have not been feeling physically, spiritually or emotionally up to par...
Tonight I will be going to bed 49 and tomorrow I will wake up 50 years old. For me that thought has never, ever been a bad thing, I have not thought of it, screeched with horror and pre-booked Botox and a bottle of formaldyhde at the local museum.
I have for many many years, looked forward to turning 50. I have lived a very interesting and somewhat colourful life, including at times a reckless youth. To me personally, 50 is a bit of a milestone., the start of a time in my life where, I could look back on my life and go yes, I did this thing, or that. A time where I could look at my achievements, mistakes and regrets and accept them for what they were, and use those experiences to build upon them emotionally and spiritually, and a time also to relax more as my children are now independent adults (28 and 29) -
This time of my life is where I thought I could start to focus a little more on me, and what I want to do with the last 30 years or so of my life, I had been excited about approaching this time in my life, yet tonight I am sitting here feeling like I have been for the last month ... feeling a little ripped of, as harsh as that sounds. And yes, then feeling guilty because I feel like this.
Perhaps I am having a wee pity party, because I am not getting what I think I want or need, nor do I know how to get what I think I want or need at the moment.. I had my children by choice in my early 20's so by this time of my life I would have my "independence" so to speak, then one morning 2 years ago I became step mother to, two emotionally challenged children aged then 10 and 13, with no idea it was going to happen. I willingly gave these children what I could and what they needed, not because I had to but because I really wanted to, perhaps selfishly now I feel like at times I have been pushing poo up hill with a big pointy stick. I think perhaps if these young ones had come to us before some of the negative behaviors and character traits had developed things could feel a little different in our home at times. Don't get me wrong, I love these kids and I will keep on doing what I have been doing.
I had also planned to arrange a "coming of age ceremony" with someone in WA.. then we moved here, where I know no one to help with this... I could write a wee ceremony for myself, but to be honest, I feel that side of me is in some sort of weird hiatus, covered in the dross of everyday stuff. I have recently registered my own business, something I have been wanting to do for a few years, now I wake up in the morning thingking "what the hell stupid thing have you done" Life has been a real challenge since we got here, I have been trying to get a rhythm back but it has been lacking, the simplest thing seems bigger than Ben Hurr, I am tired and emotionally drained lately.. I know this post has come out as a bit of a whining session, may it is, may it isn't.. but I thought I would feel different than I do tonight. Tomorrow will come, one way or another as will 50 - perhaps I will be able to work through all off this and I will look back on this post and have a good old giggle.

Sarah my oldest child, said something to me today, that was very special..She said one day, the younger kids will realize, what they have here is something pretty special.. she likened it to the cookies I was baking..
"Homemade cookies in the cookie jar are priceless..you can't buy that love. You can not pay someone to come along and bake a batch of cookies like that.."

A soggy weekend

2011-02-06T07:50:00.000+08:00

Seems lately my posts have been weather oriented, not to surprising when this is whats happening in the area.. it started to rain on Friday afternoon... and then it rained some more.. did I mention it rained.. oh and my silly garage flooded yet again... still it is pittance compared to some homes 20 to 30km away in Cranbourne.

<p><a href="http://video.heraldsun.com.au/1782163384/Hundreds-evacuate-as-Bunyip-River-rises">VIDEO: Hundreds evacuate as Bunyip River rises</a></p>

My Toy Boy

2011-02-04T19:22:00.001+08:00

My husband and I woke this morning at 5.50am, I rolled over to have a cuddle before he left, and just before I could wish him a happy birthday, he said, "hey, I am only 2 years younger than you now.." it made me smile, my toy boy. I am no cougar (thank the goddess haha) but he always makes me feel like a million dollars, when I have potting mix on my shirt, or I'm buried under a pile of ironing and even when he comes home, gives me a hug and says "you been baking - smell like cookies yum"
This man has sat beside my hospital bed for so many hours while I was unconscious and I so sick after surgery... he has held my hand when I was scared, he has laughed till tears rolled down his face, when I have had a silly moment with him or the kids

.. he has encouraged me and believed in me, when I didn't or couldn't believe in myself., he is my best friend, my constant when the world hits me a curved ball.. every year he gets better with age... I can not imagine one minute of one day without him in my life and he is truley the Knight of my heart,, Happy Birthday...

P/s - He also points out my typos,... got to love that in a bloke, right

A Little Helpless

2011-02-02T10:25:00.002+08:00

As many of us either celebrate Lammas or Imbolc, my focus and heart is drawn to the horror that is again in the process off unfolding in Queensland here in Australia. We have friends and colleagues based at Cairns Navy Base - HMAS Cairns - I have fear for their well being as I do for every other person in this cyclones path. It is the second disaster to hit this state in less than a month and it leaves me feeling helpless to watch it unfold. It is my hope that this may via off or loose momentum as they sometimes do.
To those of you who read my blog, I ask that you lift up these folk either in prayer or positive thought, that they may be safe against the odds.

Australia Day

2011-01-26T07:52:00.000+08:00

Australia my hearts home, Australian not by birth, but by choice. I could not feel more pride or love for this country, even had I been born here. My great, great, great grandparents came to this country in convict ships from Surrey and Devon in England, so this song really touches my heart on so many levels.
Happy Australia Day, to all my Aussie family and friends not matter where you might be.

Catching Up

2011-01-25T06:39:00.000+08:00

What has been going on over the last few week... yikes, water

Pittance compared to what happened in Queensland, but the start of the garage flooding after a heavy down pour here. The water rose another 4 inches after this was taken.. completely covered the garage floor, where we had stored a queen size mattress and base, my daughters plasma tv, a deep freeze, dish washer, fridge and a number of boxes of uniforms, clothing and books.

By this stage we realised it wasn't going to stop coming, the camera was made redundant as Sarah and I were the only ones home we hauled, tugged, lifted and dragged what we could out the water. Not a lot we could do, so it was more wait till the water went down and mop up.. we did save the bed and the TV, with a bit of girlie ingenuity and power :-)

While I measured, pinned and sewed .... the younger kids

went up the road and bought me home a dozen big bull rushes, I love them. I need a piece of florists block to arrange them nicely, they will last months even without water.

.
A relaxed Sunday afternoon.
While Courtney was happily drawing and Sarah was engrossed in the paper

fresh breadcrumbs were made

I prepared some fresh beetroot to have with ..

our dinner.

It has been a little hard getting back into the routine of getting up early when you haven't had to do it for a month or so.. My mind has been busy but my body is having trouble catching up - on a whole, it hasn't been to bad, although

Back to a routine

2011-01-16T17:52:00.001+08:00

I have felt blessed to have spent a week with my beautiful daughter Sarah, it has been a little bitter sweet for her, but she has been home where she needed to be, when she needed it. Today she went home but I am looking forward to going to a craft market next Sunday with her... tomorrow my husband posts into his new position, so it will be back to trying to get the house back in order and a new routine in place. The kids head to school on the 4th of February, so I will be trying to get them into a routine without their Dad in the house everyday and try to keep them a little entertained until school starts.

Living on the "patch" here at the Navy base is a safe place for them to just go off riding or exploring, there is plenty of bush and park area around, and they can do it without me or them worrying. In fact it is kind of nice seeing other Defense family kids all running about the street and yards and into the edge of the golf course playing and not having to worry about them being "hurt"

So back to the grind, tomorrow I am going to try out my new vacuum cleaner and as I sit and type my husband is putting together the new weed trimmer in case I should need it.. haha

Queensland Disaster

2011-01-11T15:41:00.002+08:00

Tonight my heart and spirit is looking North of here to Queensland, where 3/4 of the state is now a disaster zone and the worst is not over yet. It is very hard to watch the images on the television, knowing that people have lost family members, homes, business.. This video is from Toowoomba , just one area hit -
<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.news.com.au/1735339765/Eight-dead-in-Queensland-flash-floods"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;VIDEO: Eight dead in Queensland flash floods&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

There are numerous organisation taking donations to help the flood victims, this is a web site I have chosen to place here should anyone wish to help with this..
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

There are somethings.....

2011-01-10T18:29:00.001+08:00

There are somethings that do not change with time.. that overwhelming feeling of compassion, that desire to take away hurt, that feeling you have as a mother when your little girl looks to you with tears in her eyes crying, because she has grazed her knee - or now as a woman, she looks at you with tears in her beautiful blue eyes, as her heart is breaking.. all you want to do is wrap her up in your arms and take that pain away.
I can not take this boo boo away my precious daughter, that is the job of time, but I can tell you that I am here for you, every moment of everyday and I above all others, love you.

Messin' in the Kitchen

2011-01-09T19:18:00.001+08:00

Well, finally made a start on the 10 kilos of tomatoes, I so need a bigger pot, the one I use only holds 6 liters and you can't really over fill, so there will be three rounds of sauce making.. with 2.5 kg of tomatoes at a time - my Dh has suggested we take a run over to Tyabbs antique and second hand shop to see if I can find a real preserving pan... Because of the small pot I can only do a few jars at a time.. I have a bowl prepared for tomorrow.

I also made choccie chip cookies for my daughter who is coming home tomorrow for a week with her Mum, and I am so looking forward to some Mum daughter time with her, and I also made a few Anzac biscuits as well, hiding in the pottery barrel.

For some odd reason I am not finding a balance in my kitchen since we moved in here 7 weeks ago, but I figure I will keep plodding in till I get the mojo flowing... any suggestions for the mojos speedy return would be received with open arms.

Home is where .....

2011-01-08T17:12:00.001+08:00

The other day I was in Best and Less looking for school socks and came across some door mats at half price.. when I saw this door mat and the wonderful saying, I thought, how true is this and it is where my story begins, as I am happiest tending hearth and home.. So here is my door mat pride and place in the entry to our home.

Tomatoes - On my mind

2011-01-07T17:57:00.002+08:00

This Is On My Mind is a Friday photo feature over at Rhondas blog - Down To Earth -

This box of tomatoes is on my mind.. Why? well no matter how often I walk past them on the kitchen bench, pick up one of these Romas and smell it, then take a bite and think yummo... no matter how often I think it is ironic that I have, 7 weeks after moving from Western Australia (WA check out the box), to Victoria a few thousand km's away, I bought 10 kilos of WA tomatoes at a very cheap price in a Victorian market .. and no matter how many photos I take of this box of tomatoes, nor how often I look at it, I can not will these tomatoes to turn into sauce.. tomorrow.. yes, tomorrow.

An Interesting Post

2011-01-06T17:54:00.001+08:00

I have had such an insanely busy and diverse few days... I have had my daughter and her bf home for the holiday, I have had a 12 year old really struggling to cope with a move to a new State and acting out in her inability to adjust and I am becoming more and more aware that in a few weeks I will be 50. Ironic that everywhere I have turned in the last few days, be it forums or blogs, that same sort of thing has arisen. Aging, the Crone, immortality,, the shadow feminine and why we hide or disguise this., There is so much I could write, but tonight I am exhausted after trying to unravel a rats nest Miss 12 created, so I want to share something from Rhonda over at Down To Earth and her post Aging and Death:The Final Taboo
I could queit relate to this, I am a few weeks of 50, I have gone from a nest empty 10 years to again the on hands mother of two aged 12 and 15, did I want to be? No. Is this what I expected as I approached this age? No - not really but we do what we do to benefit the children. Many of my dreams and hopes changed or where completely canceled out when my nest filled with children from another mother... I am a Grandmother, I am not as thin in body, wrinkle less or grey-less as I was 2 years ago but funnily enough I want to grow old without plastic surgery, without worrying if I will be judged for my extra kilos. I want to be remembered for the wholesome, comfortable home that I could make for my family. I want to be remembered for what I could share, would I could teach my family, for the love I could and did give to each of them. I have lived a life tainted at times by more than a lot of woman I know have experienced and I think I deserve to take the time to fill my near empty well, one so often neglected by me, I want to be who I am, and to be that person without guilt.
I found something else tonight that spoke to me so loud, and I thought to share it here as well, no matter your walk, I hope it may speak to you as well..

EXPLORING THE SHADOW FEMININE
What can I share of the shadow feminine? I sit here myself in trepidation because exploring the shadow is never easy and I have watched myself avoid the moment of actual writing all morning, and then laugh because it’s not just this morning, I’ve avoided my shadow most of my life. And so it is for many of us.

What is the shadow or dark side of your nature? I know when I started this exploration, I didn’t know, or didn’t believe I had one. Well let me just run a few things past you. None of us is all sweetness and light. The shadow side contains our anger, our raw controlling emotions, our desire for promiscuous sex, illicit drug taking, egotistical behaviour, lies, bad parenting, despair, loneliness, crime, depression, shame, alcohol abuse, madness – you name it – we all have it. The problem is that when we deny the shadow or dark side of our nature, the pressure builds up until like a seething volcano it explodes out of control, because the dark can no more be denied than the light.
Why are we so afraid of the dark? Why do we avoid investigating our shadow side? Why do we deny the parts of ourselves that we think unacceptable to speak of in polite company? Why do we shove down our dark emotional pain and behaviours and refuse to deal with them?
We have been taught from childhood that the dark is a bad place. What demons or monsters lurk under the bed once the light is turned off? We associate the dark with death and sin and that’s bad, right? We stereotype dark skinned people and make them bad. The Prince of Darkness is associated with evil dominion over.
The opposite of all that of course, is pure and light. We are taught this is what we should strive for. Stay away from the dark and always seek out the light.
When we observe nature, we see that dark is just the other polarity of light. Night follows day, the moon waxes from an inky blackness to a glowing fullness and back again; the seasons change from long light summer filled days, to long dark winter nights.
In each of these instances, the dark side represents a place and a time for rest and renewal. We ourselves also naturally need to cycle between the light and the dark. The shadow side of our nature belongs to the watery depths of our psyches, our subconscious, where we discover aspects of ourselves that aren’t spoken of in polite company. Society teaches us to always stay calm and centered, behave appropriately, be in control and above all, you must look good!
So let me ask you, what are you hiding in your shadow side that you don’t want to even acknowledge to yourself, let alone have others identify?
Acknowledging your shadow behaviours is the first step you must take towards healing them. Because they live in the unconscious, they run your life from the back seat and often see you engage in behaviours that are totally out of control. I have been flawed to discover some deeply ingrained shadow aspects operating in my own life as I investigate my dysfunctional relationships with men. Holding disempowering beliefs around the roles of men in my life, I have discovered that as a girl I watched my mother’s manipulative and victim behaviours, and took on board her attitudes that basically said “all men are bastards” and used the shadow aspects of her womanhood as the template for my life and how I relate to men. Now at nearly 50 years of age I am astounded to see how the shadow feminine has been playing out all my life, contributing to failed relationships, distrust of men, and a belief that I will do everything in my power not to be controlled by them. Hardly the basis upon which to engage in a mutually loving and supportive relationship.

When we observe the life of Marilyn Munro we see the tragedy that was her shadow feminine played out on the world’s stage. Her sexuality sizzled and was punctuated by drug and alcohol abuse, by the men who wanted to control such a flaming and vibrant energy and the resultant depression and alleged suicide that portrayed the shadow side, out of control and unhealed. Lady Diana was not compared to Marilyn by chance, her life too was played out on a world stage but it was her willingness to share her frailties, her bulimia, her loveless and victimized marriage with an adoring public that saw her move through the pain into some semblance of happiness towards the end of her life. What the public loved about Diana were her frailties, her shadow nature made public. That which is so often hidden in the shadow and made private, was played out for all to witness and that ensured a legacy of popularity and love from a public who too, were not perfect and connected with her at heart level. She was brave enough to expose the shadow feminine to healing and watching on, we all applauded her heroic journey.

We need to be the hero in our own lives and investigate the shadow feminine for ourselves. Do not expect yourself to be perfect. It’s totally unrealistic. Own your imperfections and different shaped bodies and addictions and flaws and irrational behaviours and instead of hiding them away in the dark, honour the differences that makes us all human beings with both light and shadow sides. There is no shame in the shadow, only acknowledgement – for in healing the dysfunction, you’ll find that your life and the lives of those around you flow in greater harmony and joy, and you expend less energy on behaviours that stymie you.

STEPPING INTO THE DARK
To face your shadow side for the first time can be a very frightening prospect. To deny its existence will not make it go away, for it will not be denied. To begin healing aspects of your shadow, you first need to identify them. Begin by making a list. What do you not want the world to know about you? Your list might include:
1. I sometimes scream at my kids and want to hit or beat them.
2. I want more sex than my husband can give me. That’s not normal is it?
3. I hate my mother. She always tries to control me.
4. I want to explore occult, pagan, wiccan or new age religions, what will people think of me?
5. I hate my body. I’m afraid of becoming fat, old and unattractive.
6. I’m never any good at learning new things. I always stuff up everything up.
Remember, don’t tackle everything at once. Choose just one issue at a time. Then you need to acknowledge this to yourself. “Yes, this darkness is a part of me. This is the way that I feel. This is who I am – a woman who is not perfect. I am light and I am dark. The more I acknowledge the parts I disown, the less power they have over me.”
What else? The archetypes of different goddesses can act as wayshowers on your journey. Find out more about the dark goddesses and their stories – Hel, Medusa, Hecate, Cerridwen, Morrigan, Baba Yaga, Sheela-na-gig, Nuit, and Nyx. Perhaps create an altar to them, asking for their assistance. On this altar include things that represent your dark side. A black or red candle, a dark stone, animal bones, a snake icon, picture of spider, whatever signifies the dark for you. Find time to light your candle, the dark of the moon is always an appropriate time, and ask for the assistance of the dark goddess and she will begin to work with you. You must then be aware of the subtle influence she will begin to exhibit, or perhaps get ready to be thrown into the dark.
Make friends with the crone / bone mother and fully accept the cycle of death / renewal / birth and acknowledge the times when you need to retreat into quietness and solitude. Set aside time specifically to do just this. A time when you are bleeding is most powerful as the shedding of the blood is another of the potent mysteries of death and release that signal the creation of the new within your own body.
Above all, cut yourself some slack. By acknowledging that you are a combination of the light and dark, see your behaviours less as good and bad but more of how that does or does not serve me. Just by acknowledging that the shadow exists and becoming conscious of behaviours and beliefs that limit you, then you are on your way to nipping them in the bud when they surface.

Give thanks always that the journey is both dark and light, we were not meant to be pure white spiritual beings without sin living up to some ideal of holy perfection, that’s why we were given sensual, emotional, frail and strong bodies and called human beings. Enjoy your discoveries.

40 Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

2011-01-02T15:36:00.000+08:00

I got these pearls of wisdom from Cordellia on my Facebook.. she also has a loverly blog here Cordelia's Cauldron and I too thought it was well worth sharing.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Record your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement "My purpose is to____ today."

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in last year.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past. Negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets, Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. So stop complaining about the weather, the job, the rents etc etc

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

34. The best is yet to come.

35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36. Do the right thing!

37. Call your family often.

38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
"I am thankful for ___." Today I accomplished ____.

39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

Blessed New year

2010-12-31T20:04:00.000+08:00

I have been seriously absent these last week or two.. I have my daughter home with us, I have not seen her in 12 months, so it has been special catching up...
I sit and wonder where this year has gone, but not only the year, it is also the end of the first decade of the first century.. *laughing* that makes me feel a little old..
I did want to take a minute to wish you all a safe and happy new year, and to send you a blessing of love, happiness, contentment and abundance of spirit and well being. May the New Year bring ytou everything you need... Bright Blessing and I look forward to being here with you in 2011. Please be safe.. and be good to one another.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-25T19:13:00.000+08:00

Well the day is done.. and I wish I could have got here this morning to do this.. but better late then never..
I want to wish all of you, a safe and happy holiday, a Blessed Yule /Merry Christmas.
May the day bring yo you and yours warmth and happiness, joy, peace, unity and much love.

A Bit Of Baking

2010-12-19T17:33:00.001+08:00

I love Christmas baking, and I am playing catch up, with only 6 days till Christmas and my daughter arriving tomorrow and her partner on Friday, there is near nothing done as far as holiday cooking is concerned. Usually by now there are a few tins of buttery, Scottish shortbread, while not traditional Choccie Chip cookies, sometimes German Speculass and/or Stollen, a legacy from my German mother.
Last night, I made up a batch of fruit mince for the tarts, while it has not been left to develop in taste over the last few months, it is equally as tasty used the next day. Tomorrow, I will make shortbread but today I made up the sweet, short pasty, I just can not bring myself to use store bought pastry, for these..

I always double the mixture, not only because we all like the pies, but the fruit mince is tasty mixed into ice cream. Half of the fruit mince makes a dozen pies.

Here they are, straight out of the oven, now I do not know why but there is always one mutant Christmas tart.. my husband always has this one, I wonder if he sabotages one..

Here is the recipe.. firstly make the fruit mince.

1 cup finely chopped, peeled apple

3/4 cup blueberries ( I omitted these as they were far to expensive)

1/2 cup raisins-chopped

1/2 cup currants

1/2 cup sultanas

1/4 slivered almonds

1/4 cup castor sugar ( I use normal white sugar)

1/4 cup peel

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind,

1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon,ground ginger & mixed spice
1/2 cup either brandy, port, rum or orange juice ( as I doubled this mix I used port and rum)

Put all this in a pot and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft and pulpy. Put into the fridge overnight.

Pastry:

1 cup standard flour

75grams butter,

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water

Mix butter with sugar and flour until it looks like breadcrumbs, add the egg yolk and water, Mix to a stiff dough and chill for about 20 to 30 minutes. This makes about 400grams of pastry.

I am sure most folk know how to make the tarts.. after putting pastry into the patty pans, add about 1 teaspoon of fruit mince, pop on the lid and bake at 180c for 15 minutes.

Feels a little like Christmas

2010-12-17T18:11:00.001+08:00

Well, it;s raining here again. Which for what has been a drought stricken State, a very good thing, however it is unusual to see so much rain, over in Western Australia, it was hot, very hot and dry.. Today has been the first real potter day for me in our new house.. well 15 year old house, it has at times a cottage-ie feel to it and I love that. This is the day we moved in and the removal guys are required to unpack to the bench the breakables, then they leave and this is what your left with. Chaos. This is the kitchen and family room, the rest of the house looked almost the same.

I have been working really hard to try and make it feel more like home, rather than a house with our stuff in it. I know it is just a time thing really. 10 days later, we are almost there in the organisation stakes.

Before it rained today, I potted up some Parsley, Mint, Rosemary, Lemon and normal Thyme along with some Basil. It is important to me, to have fresh herbs not just to use but to add to the "feel" of the place. There is not vegie garden but there are little garden nooks, which are very peaceful. I am looking forward to trying to grow a few tomatoes, lettuce maybe some beans as well, I am just looking out for the best place for them.
I also baked my first batch of Anzac biccies today, the oven is a bit, well touchie, temperamental but we managed, it is fan forced and the fan sounds something similar to a single engine plane zooming through the kitchen, I am thinking it needs to be fixed as it made for a fairly noisy afternoon as I also made a good old fashioned Chrissy cake and the rattle and hum continued for a good 3 hours!

I have just given it a brush with Brandy and the house smells lovely... the Christmas tree was also decorated today, it is starting to feel a just little like Christmas.

After 14 days I am back

2010-12-16T18:03:00.001+08:00

Hello folks, well after trying to cram the contents of a large 4 bedroom, doubled garaged house, into a smaller 3 bedroom single garaged house and waiting near two weeks for the Internet to be connected I am here.. Some folks have decided to move on and no longer follow this bloggie and I appreciate that- me not posting leaves folks in a bit of a blog limbo.. tonight is my first night online. Our mobile stick modem only worked if we went to the wee cemetery at the end of the street..and really we have been far to busy trying to get our home in order and trying to catch up with you all who are prepared for Christmas.. I will post some photos tomorrow of the house when the box's exploded and how the place looks now.
I hope your all looking forward to the holidays.. I know our family is.... it is nice to be back
Bright Blessings to you all.

Think it's gonna rain

2010-12-02T18:36:00.002+08:00

Think it is gonna rain, a very strange phenomenon for this girl back from Western Australia. W. A has some amazing storms, but it has been a long time since I have seen storm clouds like this.. and when the skies opened, it thundered and lighteninged and rained, like I have not seen in a good while..and I enjoyed running across the car park in the pouring rain , hair plastered to my face, clothes sticking to me, my shoes in hands, with thundered crashing above me..made all my twitchy witchy bits tingle..

Awesome don;t you think... Muma Nature at her very best, bless her.

We have a House..

2010-11-29T18:35:00.003+08:00

Yaaay, we have a house... it is on the "patch" but that's ok... hopefully tomorrow we will know when we can move in... I'm sort of excited about it in a way.. We took the kids to see the place yesterday, they loved the place, right up until they seen the dishwasher would have to go into storage *laughing* they are going back to the old fashioned hand washing, which I personally love to do, and I have my kitchen sink under a window.. what else can I tell you about the house,.. oh yes.. it;s pink..pink carpet, pink blinds, pinkish cupboards, I am thinking someone with a sense of humour picked the colour scene, and I am thinking with our stuff in it, it will look a little more un-pink.., and I can not wait to put in some vege plants and a herb garden. I will post pictures when we are in, in the mean time here are a few piccies from my cross country jaunt.

Now this is Nellie, or Nelster, I have dragged this wee Nellyfant while globe trotting, so it was just the done thing to have her riding shotgun.

Australia is a huge continent, and many people don't believe that there is a sheep station here in Australia the size of Texas, and rumour has it we can fit that big ol' state in to Australia about 10 times. This road is in the middle of no where, from where we stopped there was nothing for a few hundred kilometres either side. This was the road.

and it went in a straight line for

Periodically, while driving along you could be forgiven for thinking there were giant X crossings for Kangaroos painted on the roads..

But they aren't

they are aircraft landing strips in remote areas of Australia, for the Royal Flying Doctors Service This organisation is amazing, they are not only air ambulance, but run medical clinics in outback Australia and bring health care to people who would not be able to receive medical care otherwise.

And then there is the wildlife, this trip was a bit lacking.. I have in the past seen squillions of roo's and even the most amazing baby Emu's playing on the sside of the road, but this trip was lacking in wild animal spotting.. I was really happy to see no road kill either, which meant there was enough food and water further back and the animals didn't need to come near the Eyre Highway where they often loose their lives.

I have no why people feel the need tp add graffiti and in desolate places who does this, but it made me look twice when I seen these guys with "road runner" wings "beep beep"

Oh now did I mention Nelly? Aww come on a girl can get bored on a 4.100km road trip

Bucket List, Rain and Houses

2010-11-27T18:10:00.002+08:00

It hardly seems like yesterday since we left Western Australia to take up a posting here in Victoria Australia. We have driven over 4,100km to get here, arriving on Thursday evening. .. It was the most unusual trip, we had planned on having this wonderful holiday / honeymoon on the way, but what neither of us took into account was how we felt... We are a Military family so posting to new places is not unusual for us, we just didnt take into account how this posting had rattled our cage and impacted on us.. all the support going into the children, who felt like they were abandoning their mum and Derek and I feeling very sad this time leaving his elderly parents.

I had mentioned we were heading to the South West corner of Western Australia, where we had plans to visit a whaling museum in Albany before heading to Esperance. When we arrived at Albany we were both worn out, so we booked into a motel, skipped the museum and headed on to Esperance the next morning.. we got there at lunch time decided not to stay and kept driving, it was crossed off our bucket list as been there, a done that and the t shirt wasn't worth buying.. *laughing* don't we sound like a couple of sorry a**ed cases. I do have some photos I will post, but the camera is still in the car and it is pouring down here.. that in itself is odd since we have lived the past 2 years in an area, that has been suffering from pretty serious drought..
Yesterday, we were offered a couple of houses, they are not in our *rating* but as they are all that was offered we have to choose between two. I think we have settled on one and it is down on the "patch" an affectionate term used for the housing area, used by those who live on the Navy Base. The area is actually very pretty with lots of trees and bush, birds and at times Koalas. When I went through the place, I wondered how on earth I was going to squeeze everything from a large four bedroom house into a smaller three bedroom house..
I know I will manage, and I know in my heart I can make this house a home for us, I also remember something Rhonda said over on Down To Earth, and that is Bloom Where Your Planted and if that is where the Navy plant us, then that is where I will grow.. Tomorrow, I will share the high light of my trip - my visit to Maggie Beers..
P/S// as all our stuff is still in shipping containers somewhere, and as we are in temporary accomodtaion, I had to go out and buy a manufactured sponge for the kitchen... oh my goodness.. I hate it.. I so prefer my own hand knitted cotton dish cloths, I know now I will never go back to store bought clothes willingly.

Pike River Miners - RIP

2010-11-25T06:00:00.002+08:00

As an ex pat Kiwi (New Zelander) my heart broke as I followed this best I could as I travelled across Australia. It was gut wrenching news to learn that all 29 men had perished at the Pike River Mine... My heart goes out to each of the those families whose men will not be returning home..

Conrad Adams, 43, Malcolm Campbell, 25, Glen Cruse, 35, Allan Dixon, 59,Zen Drew, 21, Christopher Duggan, 31, Joseph Dunbar, 17, John Hale, 45, Daniel Herk, 36, David Hoggart, 33, Richard Holling, 41, Andrew Hurren, 32, Jacobus 'Koos' Jonker, 47, William Joynson, 49, Riki Keane, 28, Terry Kitchin, 41, Samuel Mackie, 26, Francis Marden, 42, Michael Monk, 23, Stuart Mudge, 31, Kane Nieper, 33, Peter O'Neill, 55, Milton Osborne, 54, Brendan Palmer, 27, Benjamin Rockhouse, 21, Peter Rodger, 40, Blair Sims, 28, Joshua Ufer 25, Keith Valli, 62.