Children of the New Forest

Weekending

2010-08-15T09:24:00.001+10:00

A profusion of purple

Easter daisies from the markets

Friday Favourites and a FO

2010-08-13T13:48:00.006+10:00

A perfect sunny late-winters day. Sky so blue you could reach right out and touch it.

Dancing angels to watch over the wee one as he sleeps.

Happy Imbolc!

2010-08-01T08:07:00.004+10:00

Today we're celebrating Imbolc/Candlemas. I don't know if these two festivals are actually the same thing, but in my mind they are. It's a time to celebrate the promise of spring and new beginnings. I have taken down all our winter decorations. Our nature table is bare, save for a plain white silk and a single candle. For the time being candles are our only decorations to symbolise that this is a time of preparation, hope an expectancy. They also serve as a reminder of the little flicker of flame burning inside the earth ready to burst forth in new life at spring.

The six weeks between Imbolc and Ostara are when I embark upon a thorough spring clean of the house. Trying to get everything sparkling and decluttered so we can enjoy the lightness of the summer months without having to do any major housework (it's waaaay to hot in summer for that!!). It's also a time to dig over and prepare the garden beds.

This is also said to be an ideal time to visualise and dream about what you hope to bring forth this coming year.

Finished Object Friday

2010-07-30T09:57:00.002+10:00

Finished the little gnome celebration circle. Here they are dancing away:

10 little gnomes stand up straight

10 little gnomes make a gate

10 little gnomes make a ring

10 little gnomes bow to the king

10 little gnomes dance all day

10 little gnomes hide away

WIP Wednesday

2010-07-28T10:13:00.003+10:00

The wee one took an early nap so I got in a little bit of morning crafting. Taking a break from the red socks (one down!!) and working on one of these gorgeous little rainbow gnome celebration circles.

Waldorf Mondays

2010-07-26T20:03:00.001+10:00

On Monday night I made beeswax lanterns with my oldest son using Morning Sun Rae's tutorial.

Although we didn't decorate ours, the soft golden glow of the beeswax looks unbelievably beautiful in a dark room.

Waldorf Mondays

2010-07-20T14:07:00.004+10:00

On Mondays we do wet-on-wet watercolour painting. As its winter we are currently working only with blue.

I paint alongside the little one. As an adult I sometimes find it hard to let go of the need to create 'form' in my painting, so before I begin I like to keep in mind these words from Sharifa Oppenheimer (Heaven on Earth) "I paint, slowly and with curiosity, watching as the red moves around the page. my purpose is not to crate a formed image, but rather to really experience the feeling of red!"

And a picture of my beautiful yellow roses bought from the farmers markets on the weekend, because I love them so much.

Weekending

2010-07-19T08:31:00.003+10:00

In a matter of seconds the sky was blazing with a hundred tiny fires.

Friday Finished Object

2010-07-16T15:43:00.004+10:00

No crafting to show for this week, still going with the socks.

Here's some apricot cashew bliss balls instead. Bliss balls are the latest craze around here in my search for healthy snack food.

To make: br />
Place the following in the bowl of your food processor:
1.5 cups raw cashews
1.5 cups dried apricots
1/3 cup of desiccated coconut
2 tblsp honey
juice of half a lemon

Process on highest speed until the mixture is well combined and starting to stick together. If your mixture is too sticky add a little more desiccated coconut, if it's too dry, a little more lemon juice or water.
Roll into balls then roll in extra desiccated coconut.

WIP Wednesday

2010-07-14T16:37:00.008+10:00

Still going with the red socks... Working the heel of sock #1 at present.

Progress is slow, but that's why I like knitting.

Waldorf Mondays

2010-07-12T13:19:00.003+10:00

Twinkle moon and twinkle star

It doesn't snow here in Brisbane, so to me Winter is a time to celebrate the dark of night.

Weekending

2010-07-11T19:38:00.006+10:00

A trip to the farmers markets for some new additions to the herb garden

and enough red onions to make red onion marmalade.

Then a little fabric shopping, inspired by this great checkerboard.

Friday Favourites

2010-07-09T11:31:00.003+10:00

A picnic morning tea with the little ones.

WIP Wednesday

2010-07-07T19:31:00.003+10:00

The red socks.
My first attempt at socks.

Mothers Day Crafting

2010-05-06T14:11:00.006+10:00

I like to give mothers day gifts that are genuine and from the heart. Something hand crafted or often a pretty flowering plant or a pot of herbs.

This year I've made a pair of fabric covered A5 notebooks (one each for my mum and MIL) following this great tutorial on Craft Blog. The fabric I used is Ginger Blossom by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller, which I got on special for $11 per meter at Peppermint Stitches. Can you believe it?? I want to go back and buy all they have left!

I couldn't resist posting a picture of this gorgeous little note card set I picked up at the newsagents this morning when purchasing the blank notepads. That sweet little tin it comes in is going to be perfect for storing craft bits and pieces.

24.04.2010

2010-04-24T14:40:00.000+10:00

Early morning rain makes me feel cosy and warm inside my home.

Playing in the Rain

2009-12-29T08:19:00.004+10:00

After months of feeling as parched as the landscape, we are finally getting some decent rain here.

This morning the little one raced out for a turn on the swing, it had just started drizzling, but I thought "what the heck, we were about to have our shower anyway". So I popped him on the swing. As I sat out there pushing him the rain fell upon us. Lightly at first, then quite heavily. We stayed out there as the rain drenched our clothes and skin and hair. It felt so nice the pitter patter of rain drops on bare skin.

When the rain eased up we headed inside to dry off. I felt so refreshed and energised, like that feeling you get after swimming in a brisk ocean. Then the sun came out turning all the raindrops into tiny crystals. Everything looked all the more beautiful for us having just been out there.

I wonder why people have become so afraid of going out in the rain? It's only water! The only thing that would have made our splash in the rain more perfect is if we were naked, then I wouldn't have been left with a pile of soggy clothes to deal with :)

Hope you had a good Christmas!

Photo credit http://30secondrule.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/rain-puddle.jpg

Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree

2009-12-03T09:01:00.003+10:00

We don't get a lot of kookaburras here in the suburbs, but lately there's been a group of three of them hanging around. I snapped this magnificent one sitting on the neighbors clothes line this morning.

"Nature and the Human Soul" a Book Review of Sorts

2009-12-02T06:33:00.005+10:00

I read a lot of books. Too many books really. Any time I want to know something I immediately turn to a book. Which is fine, but all this reading takes a lot of time. Time in which I could be actually doing things. So in a way reading about something is a form of procrastination for me. An excuse. I can put off actually doing something until I've finished reading about it. Which is not really fine. Because often reading about it is as far as I'll get.

I've also come to realise that there are a lot of ordinary books out there, and life really is too short to waste time reading an ordinary book. I also find that I invest many hours reading a book, only to have it tell me something I already know. So with free time at a premium, I could save myself a lot of time by just listen to my inner wisdom first. Too much reading is just clutter for the mind.

You could say that "Nature and the Human Soul" by Bill Plotkin has changed my life. This is IT. This is the one book that I have been looking for my whole life. This is the book that I have been searching for in all my readings, all the ecology, sustainability, spirituality, pagan/wiccan books I have been reading to date have just been skirting around the issue. This book is the real deal. I admit that I haven't read the whole thing yet, but what I have read so far I am mighty impressed by. So impressed that I took all my other library books back. So impressed that I actually ordered a copy of it from Amazon to have for my own. I know I will be referring back to this book again and again.

"Nature and the Human Soul" offers a model for the life long spiritual development of our wild selves. The parts of our selves that are denied in our current culture of unremitting production and consumption. But the best thing about this book is that it's not just a theoretical model Plotkin's offering. There are actual practical guidelines for the "tasks" of each stage of development. I intend to work closely with the advice offered in this book. I don't know about you but I feel keenly that there's some dimension sorely lacking in my current life, and I hope the exercises in this book will help to address that.

This book is deep and dense and not always an easy read. But don't let that put you off. See if your local library has a copy. If you live in Brisbane, it definitely will (because I've currently got it!).

What Did You Do?

2009-11-25T07:13:00.005+10:00

it's 3:2 in the morning
and I'm awake
because my great great grandchildren
won't let me sleep
my great great grandchildren
ask me in dreams
what did you do while the planet was plundered?
what did you do when the earth was unraveling?

surely you did something
when the seasons started failing?

as the mammals, reptiles, birds were all dying?

did you fill the streets with protest?
when democracy was stolen?

what did you do
once
you
knew?...

DREW DELLINGER, "HIEROGLYPHIC STAIRWAY"

Photo from http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens1766242_1227240845Last_Child_in_the_Woods.jpg

Deep Ecology

2009-11-24T17:23:00.001+10:00

Small Steps - Disposing of Garden Poisons

2009-11-04T10:58:00.005+10:00

Spurred into action by reading Silent Spring and having a very inquisitive toddler on the loose, I decided it was time to get together and dispose of all the bottles of garden chemicals that have been lurking in the garage for who-knows-how-long (certainly longer than DH and I have been together...) These chemicals are not the sort of things I want to be using in my garden, and honestly I don't see why anyone needs to be using poisons in their garden. Seems like overkill to me.

Unfortunately you can't just dump this stuff in your wheelie bin and forget about it. In landfill the poisons would leech out of their containers and contaminate soil and groundwater (just like what happens when you spray them in your garden!). In Brisbane the council runs designated "collection days" at local tips. Our next one is not until December 5th. So I have gathered the offending items into a box with a big label on it reminding me of the collection date, and placed it somewhere that I definitely won't miss seeing it. I do not want to miss that date!

Contact your council to find out how garden poisons are to be disposed of in your area.

And if you haven't read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, it will frighten the heck out of you. Certainly makes me more committed than ever to purchasing organically grown produce.

Small Steps - Locally Grown Garlic

2009-11-01T09:04:00.005+10:00

Garlic is one thing we use a lot of but unfortunately don't get much of in our CSA boxes at the moment. I used to just pick up a bulb or two at the supermarket to make up the shortfall. Unfortunately at nearly all supermarkets and fruit and vegie shops around here, the only garlic you'll find is imported. Though it was obvious that the imported stuff looked a lot different to what we get in our vegie boxes, what I didn't realise was that all garlic imported into Australia is fumigated with Methyl Bromide. This is not something I want to be ingesting while eating something that is supposed to be good for the health!

Now the only garlic I'll buy is the Aussie grown stuff, which I get at the Chandler Markets. It is a lot more expensive than the imported stuff, but you don't need a lot (I paid $1 per bulb for those above). And just look how beautiful it is :)

Small Steps - Grey Water Hose

2009-10-30T21:29:00.005+10:00

Finally reconnected the grey water hose! We were using it all the time in the height of the 2007 drought but packed it away while the house was being renovated. Now it's back! Carrying waste water from the washing machine to the herb garden out the front. I wash all our clothes in Lux soap flakes plus Eco Store brand Oxygen Whitener for the nappies, so I'm fairly confident it's safe for the garden. And the herb garden sure could use the extra water.

Time and effort = about 10 minutes.

Why hadn't I done this sooner?

It's Raining It's Pouring

2009-10-14T14:47:00.003+10:00

Finally!!

{From last night's storms}

Been Playing with my Jig Saw

2009-10-13T10:27:00.004+10:00

I have just started getting into woodworking and it is a lot of fun and surprisingly easy to knock something together. The baby is going through a phase where he loves to perch down on low ledges etc, so I decided to make him a little bench seat.

Here's what I came up with. Own design, pine timber purchased from Bunnings, jig saw, electric sander, hammer and nails. And that's it! Total cost of materials around $20. I know it's not quite professional quality, but considering it's the second piece of woodworking I've ever done, I'm pretty happy with it. I'm not sure what to do about finishing it... The last thing I want to do is coat it in something toxic. Will have to do some research.

I was first inspired to try my hand at a little woodworking when I saw the Waldorf Fire Stacker over at The Mystical Kingdom. If you're interested, I say jump in and give it ago. I find with most crafts it's best to just dive in and learn techniques as needed for the projects you want to work on. Even big projects are can be broken down into a series of manageable steps and techniques.

HOME Film

2009-10-08T13:57:00.003+10:00

This morning I watched a really inspiring film on You Tube (trailer only above). Well, the first 1hr and 20 minutes of it was really inspiring. So I recommend just watching that. Then press stop and go away and consume less and do all you possibly can to halt the dramatic devastation we as a species are wreaking on the planet.

The last 10 minutes are supposed to be inspiring and hopeful, and for the most part they are. But the part about the wind farms and the solar panels, to me that was just a giant cop out.

While I agree that the only true surplus that we can harness is energy from the sun, where are the resources going to come from to build all these acres of solar panels if we have already used up the majority of the earth's mineral deposits?

Less people and a heck of a lot less consumption is the only solution I can see.

Here's the link to the full film.

BOGI Organic Fair

2009-10-05T07:54:00.008+10:00

On Sunday I attended the annual Brisbane Organic Growers' Fair at Albion. This was the first time I had attended the BOGI fair and it was well worth it! I came home with a baby passion fruit vine, three packets of sees and a mind buzzing full of ideas.

Particularly about Chickens!!!

I'm sure the chicken bug bites all 'simple lifers' sooner or later, and we have been toying with the idea for a couple of years now. We were almost going to get some at one point but I vetoed the idea when I realised DH had visions of building a 6ft high monstrosity of a cage for them.

However, after talking to the good people at Allan's Cages I now realise that chickens can actually sleep in those cute little A Frame Coops. So we could have them free-ranging around the back yard while we're at home (which is a lot of the time), and shut up in their little coop at night. This is great news! No monstrous cage necessary.

Clearly, I don't know a lot about chickens. But I am determined to learn all I can before making a decision about getting some. To help me along I ordered a couple of books from the local library. The prospect of getting chickens is really quite exciting.

Photo 1 from BOGI website

Photo 2 from Allan's Cages website

Ecological Gardening

2009-10-02T16:06:00.005+10:00

There's an interesting article in the current G Magazine entitled "Gardens that Grow Themselves".

The basic idea is that you plant your garden beds densely with a diverse range of plants. Some of these are then left to go to seed, so that the soil in your garden bed builds up a "seed store", some of which will germinate when the conditions are right and a space opens up within the bed for them (ie. when other plants come to the end of their life cycle). Thus in theory creating a self-renewing produce garden.

The part of the article that most appealed to me was the idea that this densely planted area creates a highly protected micro-climate. As you can see from the photo above, my "vegie plot" is in a dire condition with all the hot weather and lack of rain we've been experiencing lately. Hmm... I probably should have mulched... And now is not the ideal time to be growing spinach in Brisbane, but I thought it was coriander. Oops

So I'm going to give this "ecological gardening" lark a go. Starting with allowing any "volunteer" vegies that show up in my garden beds to go for it.

There are already a couple of volunteers in my lettuce patch, below. Let the experiment begin!

The Web of Life

2009-09-27T10:04:00.003+10:00

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

All things are bound together.

All things connect."

Chief Seattle

Image from http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/RITCHISO/spiderweb2.jpg

Happy Ostara

2009-09-25T20:48:00.003+10:00

It's spring!! I missed the equinox by a couple of days, but finally the balance has been tipped in favour of the light. What a glorious time of the year this is. The days are warm and sunny but the nights are still cool enough to allow plenty of snuggling in bed.

To me, the one thing that symbolises this time of the year is flowers. I love flowers but I rarely buy them. This time of the year is a real treat because for the next six weeks I splash out and ensure we always have fresh flowers on the table, as a way to celebrate the season.

Here's wishing you a beautiful spring, full of colour and joy.

Crazy Haze

2009-09-23T13:55:00.004+10:00

Brisbane has been engulfed in a large dust cloud. It came over suddenly this morning. The day went from being relatively clear to dusty as can be, in the space of an hour just before lunch time.

Apart from looking really eerie and casting a most unnatural light, you can actually smell and taste the dust in the air. It is not pleasant. I can't help but wonder if this is a taste of things to come if climate change proceeds.

Sisters on the Planet

2009-09-20T06:34:00.003+10:00

Our local Transition Towns branch ran a screening of Oxfam's Sisters on the Planet: Women Fight Against Climate Change short films. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend, however these films are freely available on the net. So pop along here and check them out! Each film is fairly short, about 8 minutes or so.

Some of the stories are really inspiring and it is good to get a little bit of a reminder of why it's important to continue working hard to reduce my environmental impact. Sometimes, being surrounded by such a consumer culture, it can be easy to forget what's really important.

Below is the film from the Australian woman, but there are five short films in total if you follow the link above.

Hobbity House

2009-09-06T07:57:00.002+10:00

Oh this house, I love it so much!!

Image from http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm

Spring Sunshine

2009-09-05T11:34:00.007+10:00

The sunshine always seems more dazzling after the rain.

And so does everything else.

I am completely in love with this bougainvillea which is creeping over from next door.

Enjoy the weekend!

New Spring PJs

2009-09-02T14:35:00.006+10:00

Sewn during baby's nap today from a thrifted sheet and a slightly modified version of an old old thrifted Mc Call's Pattern 2157.

They are so comfy I can barely bring myself to take them off...

Wooden Bowls

2009-09-01T16:51:00.003+10:00

As part of my plan to live a more natural lifestyle, I have been seeking alternatives to plastic goods whenever I need to make a purchase. One of the things I am always on the lookout for is wooden bowls and plates for the baby. I have learnt the hard way that he is not to be trusted with our every day porcelain plates!

It's probably not surprising, but reasonable quality wooden crockery is not that easy to come across. I found the little bowl at Ikea a couple of months ago, and was thrilled today to happen upon the little wooden platter at Target. I'm thinking it's going to be perfect for baby's sandwiches and dinner.

The thing about wooden bowls and plates is that you can't just chuck them in the dishwasher. You need to give them a little hand wash after each meal. Which is perfect, because that way you need only one!

Book Week Costume Crafting

2009-08-24T14:42:00.004+10:00

This week my older boy's school is celebrating Book Week. On Tuesday morning the children have a chance to dress up as a book character for the Parade. Since we are reading the Hobbit together, DS decided he'd like to dress up as Gandalf.

So the sewing machine was dragged out of hibernation and with the help of this pattern's helpful Line Art and this online tutorial for making a wizard's hat, I transformed a queen size grey sheet into the Gandalf costume above. Total cost was $16, for the sheet! DS is wrapt, particularly with the wizards hat. We can't wait for the parade tomorrow morning. Dressing up is so much fun!

Morning Sky

2009-08-20T08:46:00.003+10:00

This morning it was cold again after some warmer weather. Looking up at the sky made me feel like I was submerged in an icy lake looking up at the surface.

Imitative Play

2009-08-14T14:13:00.004+10:00

From a very young age toddlers are interested in imitative play. One thing that is a big feature in the daily routine around here is hanging the washing out to dry! Now that the weather is getting a bit warmer and the days a bit longer, I do two loads a day, one goes out in the morning and the second at lunch time. Usually DS is content to play with the pegs and pull the washing out of the basket (and drop it onto the dusty ground...). But this afternoon I set up a little play line for him (a bit of twine strung between two fence posts next to our actual line), and he is mighty impressed.

Between the "play line" and his little "play kitchen" DH fears that I am turning our boy into a perfect housewife. But I don't think there's any chance of that with me as his role model!

Sustainable Living Talks

2009-08-12T12:49:00.004+10:00

It must be getting warmer, my coriander seeds sprouted! Dreaming of spring salsas, guacamole and noodle stir fries.

Also, over the next three months Brisbane City Council is running a series of Sustainable Living talks throughout its library network. Topics include:
Backyard organics
Producing food on your balcony
Solar Cooking
Keeping Chickens in your Backyard
and plenty more.

I am really keen on the last two but have yet to call and reserve my place, hope I'm not too late...

Here's a link to the full program of talks.

Spring is on its way!

2009-08-02T14:38:00.004+10:00

Over the weekend we celebrated Imbolc, or the coming of Spring. This is probably the sabbat which I anticipate the most, as by this time of the year I have well and truly had enough of the cold and am looking forward to some warm weather ahead!

Already we are starting to see signs of spring around here - the wattle is in bloom and the neighbor's mulberry tree has gone from stark to covered in luxuriant new growth in a matter of days. The spring birds are also starting to arrive and the magpies have been busy gathering twigs for their nests.

Imbolc is traditionally of new beginnings and holds the promise of renewed life after the barren winter months. As with many of the pagan sabbats, this is a time to reflect on our hopes for the year ahead and the "new life" we would like to breathe into our own lives. Now is the time to plant the seeds of our dreams and tend them carefully. It is also traditionally a time for a good spring clean! Time to lift the darkness and stillness of winter and energise and lighten your home for the warmer days ahead.

Image from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/imbolc/BOWIE3_2009/natur/Snowdrops.jpg?o=190

The Op Shop Fairies Were Smiling Upon Me Yesterday!

2009-08-01T11:15:00.003+10:00

Yesterday from the minute I woke up I could hear the Lifeline Bookshop calling to me. Never one to ignore such things, as soon as I looked in the window I knew exactly why I was being called there. A beautiful copy of the River Cottage Family Cookbook was staring out at me! I flew into the shop nearly bowling over two fellow shoppers who I was sure were heading for the same book as me (they weren't...). What a find, I feel so lucky!

Beelarong Community Garden

2009-07-31T10:03:00.004+10:00

On Wednesday afternoon we visited Beelarong Community Garden in Brisbane's east. It was really inspiring to see all hard work that the community gardeners had put into their plots. There were so many vegies growing! Even some that I had never actually seen being grown before (like zucchini hmm...)

Plots are available to members of the community for an annual fee. I would so love to have a plot there to tend, as our yard at home is on the small side. However being in the midst of raising small children I have been forced to admit to myself that now is just not the right time for me to realise my vegie growing dreams. One day...

Just down the road from the Community Garden is a paddock where horses are agisted. I am always delighted to find little "rural" pockets within the heart of suburbia!

Walking on a Winter's Afternoon

2009-07-29T08:19:00.005+10:00

Every afternoon the boys and I go walking, the little one sitting (or standing) in his pram and the big one on his bike. Sometimes going for a walk is the last thing I feel like doing, but once we are on our way I never regret it. I love being out in the fresh air and having the chance to observe some of the beautiful pockets of nature in our area. Though it is still winter here, our winters are so mild that in many respects this is the best time of the year to go walking.

Here are a couple of things I particularly liked on yesterday's walk:

Striking pink bougainvillea against the blue blue sky

These luminous berries look like miniature oranges for fairies. This tree also has gorgeous delicate lacy purple flowers that are out at the same time as the berries, and the purple and yellowy orange make a stunning colour combination. Sadly it was only when I got home I realised I'd missed out on capturing the flowers too.

Magical Moments of Childhood

2009-07-18T21:26:00.004+10:00

When I remember back to my childhood, there are certain occasions that stand out as being pure magic. Where life diverges from the ordinary and you end up in some alternate space where the rules that normally bind your budding existence no longer apply.

Today I took my boys to Wellington point for the afternoon. It was such a gorgeous day and the baby was in a good mood so we decided to stay on a little longer than we'd planned. The shadows began to lengthen, the sun mellowed and coated us in its viscous honey light, a gentle breeze came up off the water. Families packed up and left, and others started arriving with their picnic teas.

Watching my older boy run and play among the giant fig trees with his band of newly found friends reminded me of evenings spent on the beach as a child. The awareness that I had then of the day ebbing and drawing to a close, and the thrill of still being out on the beach, free, with night approaching. The feeling that this was a special day, a day different to all the others, a day fully lived.

Those were magic times, I wonder if my son will remember back to this day in the same way. As the sun finally sets and we head home, I think to myself that we should do this more often

Photo from http://www.herveybaygossip.com/images/January2009/beach-evening.jpg.

I wish I'd taken my camera with us today.

Beach in Winter

2009-07-11T06:33:00.002+10:00

Yesterday was one of the last remaining days of the school holidays so I took the boys to see the sea. I love the beach in winter. There is something so perfect about being on the beach in a sweater!

Hand Made Gifts for Baby

2009-07-09T09:29:00.003+10:00

The Baby turned one earlier in the week. Gosh it's such an occasion!! In addition to getting waaaay more love and attention than one little person can handle (hence the 6pm meltdown...) I made him a couple of little presents.

Felt pentagon ball (which he absolutely loves) and fabric stacking ring set. He hasn't quite figured out what to do with the stacking rings, but he loves to pull them all off the cone and they are the perfect size for grasping in his little hands. If you're looking for ideas for a hand made gift for a one year old, I wouldn't go past that felt ball, so easy to make too.

Urban Farmer?

2009-07-08T08:42:00.003+10:00

No, that's just how they cut the grass on the sidewalk around here...

More Scouting Fun

2009-07-02T07:40:00.005+10:00

As a kid I spent countless hours on my bike. Not only was it fun and freedom, but riding a bike is a great way for kids to challenge themselves, test their limits and learn about responsibility.

Unfortunately, my older son (8yrs) doesn't have this same affinity with his bike. Sure he likes to get on it occasionally and will ride up and down our driveway a couple of times, but that's it. I do wonder if my concern for his safety on the road is what's holding him back from enjoying his bike, so as part of our scouting activities I decided to set him some bike riding challenges.

DS was really excited by the idea and eager to get onto his first mission. Mission one involved riding 50m down our street, crossing over, taking a photo of the creek there and riding back home. I set him five missions in all, getting progressively more daring, with the final mission being to ride to the end of our street (about 600m, involving a couple of crossings including one small roundabout) and marking a chalk X on the pavement, then riding home.

DS completed 4 of the missions yesterday afternoon! I was expecting he'd do them over a couple of days. He really enjoyed the missions, and what's more both he and I now have a sense that he is capable of riding safely in the vicinity of our house even when I cannot see him. This is a big step!

Sunrise (Again)

2009-07-01T07:15:00.006+10:00

I know I've posted a lot of sunrise shots lately, but this morning's was just so spectacular I had to share! We were under a sea of pink and orange clouds.

I like the one below, the sun is just coming up behind the trees, sending out a ray of pink out to the right.

Sigh, what a wonderful way to start the day.

Scouting for Boys (and Girls)

2009-06-30T20:06:00.007+10:00

I recently had the good fortune to come across an immaculate copy of the "Scouting Book for Boys" at my local second hand book shop.

Thus inspired, we decided to form our own family scout group (of course we are not real Scouts, just pretend ones), to undertake some of the activities in the book. We proudly hoisted our troop flag and chanted our troop call EE-EE-OO-OO (yes, DS8 chose to call our troop the Monkeys).

Today being our inaugural meeting we set to work learning some of the basic scout symbols given in the book.

The above symbols, from top to bottom, mean:

1) Follow the path in the direction of the arrow

2) Don't follow this path

3) There is a note hidden three paces away in the direction of the arrow

4) I've gone home.

We practiced writing the symbols on our paving in chalk, and gave each other quizzes.

Once everyone had their four symbols down pat, we took turns to go around the yard hiding notes for the others to find via the symbol left as a clue. There sure were some good hiding spots!

We had a blast at our first scout meeting and can't wait for the next.

Crystal Balls for Lady Beetles

2009-06-27T11:19:00.001+10:00

Sugar Snaps and Sunrises

2009-06-25T12:12:00.006+10:00

Sometimes it's a real struggle on these cold winter mornings to hop out of bed when I hear bubby crying out in the darkness.

But then slowly the light seeps into the world outside and I am rewarded with a spectacle like this:

I think he wakes me up early some mornings just so I don't miss such a wonderful sunrise.

In the vegie garden the sugar snap vines have finally got their first flower!

I had almost given up on them, after all the vine was already this big

They were planted at the same time as the butter beans next to them, and the beans have all but finished their harvest.

King Winter

2009-06-23T12:57:00.002+10:00

King Winter dwells in the North;

Far away in the Frozen Zone,

In a palace of snow he holds his court,

And sits on an icy throne.

(link to full poem)

The Last American Man

2009-06-22T10:16:00.003+10:00

I recently finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "The Last American Man", a biography of mountain man Eustace Conway.

The book was interesting, but it wasn't quite all I hoped it would be. I was hoping to read more about Eustace's philosophies and experiences in nature, but I guess that'd be a book written BY him, not about him.

This was one of my favourite passages from the book:

"... only those who live in the wilderness can recognize the central truth of existence, which is that death lives right beside us at all times, as close and as relevant as life itself, and that this reality is nothing to fear but is a sacred truth to be praised."

That kind of thing really gives me something to think about because it's so at odds with our current cultural perception of death and shows how far removed our society has become from an understanding of the natural order of life. And although that understanding of the cycle of life and death is something I can try to understand intellectually, within our current culture, it is very difficult to appreciate and really feel the truth of this statement because we are so sheltered from the death of both our fellow humans and that which takes place perpetually to keep us fed.

Winter Solstice 2009

2009-06-21T20:06:00.003+10:00

Winter solstice

Festival of light

Bringing hope out of the darkness

Of the longest night

A pause within the year

A time of still reflection,

Of rest and growth.

Brother Love

2009-06-20T11:07:00.003+10:00

From the big one, to the little one, on his first birthday.

The song is one big brother made up and has sung to his little brother (with actions) since he was a teeny baby. Eight is such a precious age, I wish I could bottle him now and keep him 8 forever!

Felt pens on canvas.

A Pile of Pentagons

2009-06-19T11:48:00.001+10:00

Well it looks like my hiatus from Making Stuff was short lived...

Winds of Change

2009-06-16T20:21:00.007+10:00

For the past 9 months I have knitted, crocheted and sewed compulsively, in every spare moment I could find.

Then just as suddenly as the urge to create came upon me, it has up and left. The item I was eagerly knitting last week has been lying dormant on my needles for four days now...

You know what, I think I just took on too much and it all became a bit of a chore. I started out knitting and sewing little fun things - amigurumi and vests for bub. Then suddenly I'm knitting and sewing my own garments. I got in way over my head.

And now it's time for me to take a step back and let go of the need to create. It's about ebb and flow. Even the act of creation must be balanced with reflection.

Since 'quitting' knitting and sewing (I'm sure I will return to it one day soon, just at a less feverish rate), I have been decluttering the house like mad, exercising more and spending quite a bit of time just sitting round staring into space.

It feels good, so I'm going to run with it.

Photo from the fascinating http://www.treehugger.com/

Apricot Dawn

2009-06-15T07:06:00.002+10:00

Greeting the Goddess

2009-06-13T07:37:00.003+10:00

9 o'clock, a cold winter night

I step out into the bracing cold

a steaming cup of tea in hand

To watch the moon rise,

To greet the goddess.

The cold air tingles on my cheeks,

the streets are silent

and the smell of wood smoke is in the air.

Winter 2009

Photo from http://www.pbase.com/olallaphoto50/image/50370267

Wee Willie Winkie Knit Hat

2009-06-08T08:59:00.005+10:00

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town

Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown

Tapping at the window and crying through the lock

Are the children all in bed, now it's eight o'clock?

Free Pattern: Striped stocking cap (Ravelink)
Yarn: Patons Jet

Opening your Heart

2009-06-07T06:39:00.005+10:00

I think a major part of the pagan journey is seeking a connection with nature and the desire to see or feel the divine manifest in the world around us. I find that by performing the following visualisation/meditation on a regular basis (every day, sometimes a couple of times a day) I have a lot more of those moments of true connection with all that is majestic in the world. You know, those moments when you see the moon rising on a chill timeless winter evening and you just think how perfect and wonderful this universe is and how lucky you are to be a part of it.

Open Heart Visualisation

Sit or lie still and focus on your breathing. Feel it flow in and out of your body, until you have reached a state of calm and centredness. Now imagine a pure white light shining in your heart. This light grows stronger and takes the form of a beautiful flower open in full bloom. I like to imagine a white oriental lily, but you can choose any flower you like. The open flower symbolises our open hearts. Each time you breathe in, breathe in deeply and feel your chest expanding and swelling with love for all things, as you do so, imagine your heart as that open flower, its petals opening ever wider with your swelling chest. I find after a few breaths I experience an almost euphoric feeling of joy. Continue until you have had enough!

Photo from http://www.smugmug.com/community/Worth1000/keyword/casa+blanca#324890852_ZmKMS

It's Snowing...

2009-06-04T14:47:00.004+10:00

Jasmine, the cold weather has it bursting into bloom like the first snowfall.

But their snowy whiteness is the closest we'll get to snow here in Brisbane. Most years we don't even register a frost. That doesn't mean it doesn't get cold though!

Nature Excursion - Minnippi Parklands

2009-06-03T07:20:00.005+10:00

I have decided to move our "nature excursions" to Saturday so that the whole family, especially DS8, can benefit from the outdoors time.

Last Saturday we went to Minnippi Parklands which is a large grassy tract of parklands in Murrarie beside the Gateway motorway. Getting to the park for the first time is a little dubious as you drive through an industrial estate then a deserted little lane way through bushland, but the park itself was inviting and bubbling with families when we got there.

There is a large natural pond in the lower part of the park where we stopped to look at the ducks and waterfowl. There are some cycling paths and the standard playgrounds dotted around the place, but one of my favourite parts of the park was a playground by a giant fig tree, built of concrete and designed to look like an old tower ruin. I really enjoyed its originality. The plaque below was at the base of the big old tree.

It reads

To call a tree sprite forth to play

Gather leaves x4 this day

And here while mixing pods and seeds

Recall a fairy from your dreams

Barbie Thumbelina and Token Enviro-Consciousness

2009-06-01T07:40:00.004+10:00

Yesterday DH and I took a little trip into town minus the boys, we stopped in at a toy shop briefly (horrid horrid place full of plasticrap), and I noticed that the Barbie Thumbelina toys were making a token effort at being eco-friendly by having "fully recyclable cardboard packaging". Which got me wondering whether Thumbelina was some kind of eco-story. So I hired it out, and it seems it is. I admit to only having watched half an hour of it so far though.

While so far there are some good messages in the film for kids about the shallowness of consumer culture and the need to preserve nature, I find this to be at extreme odds with the amount of merchandising that is available for the film. I think what we really need to be teaching our kids is that token efforts for the environment are not going to cut it. Aside from slowing population growth, drastically reducing consumption is the single most important thing we can do for the environment. It's by not buying that plastic Thumbelina doll that we are helping the environment, not by recycling her cardboard packaging.

I understand that when kids view those gorgeous Disney images they desire to "possess" them in some way. But maybe by encouraging our kids to draw or create in other ways the objects of their desire, ie. draw Thumbelina or make a Thumbelina doll of their own (with our help even), then they can feel that they have fully "possessed" Thumbelina without the need to buy a plastic doll. Remember, Thumbelina existed long before Disney got hold of her.

Going to one of those big toy shops leaves me feeling very sick inside. All that plastic. We are trading the beauty of our planet for that. That ugliness. And cheapness. And uselessness.

I no longer buy plastic toys for children's birthday presents. If there is nothing I can make them, I will buy them something non-plastic, like a book. No more junky plastic toys destined to end in landfill after only a month.

I realise now I have stepped way outside the margins of mainstream society.
I hate twitter
And the new ipods (it's all those apps, or should that be crApps, it's like it's designed so we never have to spend a single moment actually being present for our lives.)

Ok, end of rant :)

Early Morning Sunshine in the Garden

2009-05-29T07:16:00.002+10:00

Coating everything in its gorgeous honey glow.

Further Adventures of a Breadstick Toastie

2009-05-28T14:32:00.002+10:00

You can use the little breadstick toasties I posted about the other day to make the most delish croutons for a caesar salad. Proceed exactly as you would for the standard toasties, but after you have spritzed the second side with olive oil, sprinkle them with grated parmesan cheese before popping back under the grill. If you are feeling extra adventurous you might even like to rub the bread with a garlic clove first.

Now that you've got your croutons sorted you may as well make your own caesar dressing. This is too easy and tastes like the dressings that you'd get on a restaurant salad, not some pale imitation from the supermarket shelves.

You will need:

1 raw egg

1 tblsp white vinegar

2 tsp smooth mustard

6 anchovy fillets

3 cloves garlic, sliced

1/2 cup mild olive oil

the juice of half a lemon

Put the first 5 ingredients in the bowl of your food processor and whiz until combined. Add the oil in a slow stream while the processor is running. Then allow it to run for a minute or two afterwards until the desired consistency is reached. At this point I give the dressing a little test taste and add the lemon juice a little bit at a time until it tastes like I think it should! We do like our caesar dressing strong around here, so if you'd prefer it a little less pungent just cut down on the amount of garlic and/or anchovy you use.

Now all you need is some cos, a couple of boiled eggs, some fried bacon, a bit of shaved parmesan and you're good to go!

My Little Helper in the Garden

2009-05-27T06:33:00.004+10:00

Yesterday we had a big afternoon in the garden. Out came the straggly tomatoes, and in went some rhubarb. I really like rhubarb, it's my favourite "cooked" fruit. I wanted to start a whole patch of it, but there were only two teeny rhubarb plants at the shop, so we'll start with that and be on the look out for some more next time.

I also had a chat to my neighbor over the fence who was out in her garden and she pressed some sweet pea seeds onto us. The generous aspect of gardening is so heartwarming. We have had quite a few seed and plant exchanges over that fence!

Breadstick Toasties

2009-05-25T13:46:00.003+10:00

These little toasties are great with cheeses and dips, as an easy home made alternative to store bought crackers.

First you will need to make yourself some tasty baguettes. I make mine by putting:

1.5 cups water

1 tsp dried yeast

2 tsp sugar

4 cups white flour
and 2 tsp salt
in my breadmaker on the dough cycle.

Once the dough cycle is complete remove the dough and break into eight pieces.

Roll these into breadstick shapes. Leave out to rise for 30 minutes, then bake in a 200 degrees centigrade oven for 20 minutes.

These breadsticks are super yummy fresh out of the oven smeared with butter. They also work well as hot dog buns, but watch out they are filling as they are denser than your average bakery breadstick.

To make the toasties, once your breadstick has cooled, cut it into slices about a centimeter wide. You should get about eight per breadstick. This is even better done when the breadsticks are slightly stale.

Lay these pieces out flat on your baking tray, spritz generously with olive oil and place under a hot griller until they are golden but not burnt. You will want to leave them in as long as you can get away with, because if they're under done they'll just taste like stale bread, not quite what we're going for! Take them out of the oven, turn over, spritz the other side with the olive oil and again grill until golden.

After grilling both sides, lay the toasties out on a baking rack to crisp up. These are best eaten the day you made them.

We are having some this afternoon with a tasty looking Rough Red from our Food Connect cheese club.

Dark Moon

2009-05-24T07:28:00.006+10:00

The new moon rises today, and again she embarks on her journey to appear whole again. The waxing moon, time to make fresh starts. Time to begin all those new projects I have spent the last two weeks dreaming up!

My recent experiment with deliberately slowing down during the moon's waning phase was a definite success! I spent the early days finishing off smaller projects, after that I was able to spend some quality time working on my Purla Vest, which is my only major WIP. I find that usually I get so caught up in starting new projects that my major WIPs fall by the wayside. It was good to make some real progress on the vest, now completion feels more within reach.

Yesterday as the final day of the waning phase, I set aside even the Purla Vest and spent the day tidying up my workspaces, unravelling never-to-be-finished-objects, finishing off small mending tasks, and packing away any bits and pieces which had been left out from projects undertaken during the month. I think this final step was an important one in the process as it allows me to start the new creativity cycle with a clear mind and clear space.

During the two-weeks, however, I did generate an A4 page chocked full of ideas for new projects I'd like to start... But I think it is good to have that pause between idea and action because it has allowed me to give more consideration to each project and how or even if I will actually begin it.

I can see there are definite benefits to living in this cycle of activity-reflection and the moon is a poetic way to keep track of where you are in that cycle. I will keep up this experiment and see to see if it has the beneficial impact on my life that I expect it will.

Here was the list of limits I set myself for the waning phase:

- No new sewing/knitting/craft projects

- No trying new recipes

- No making major purchases

- No making major decisions

- No starting new books.

I have come to realise that while it is fun and exciting to try "new" things, it is also somewhat stressful, and that it is nice to have a time without novelty to allow proper reflection. I feel to date that adequate time spent in reflection has been absent from my life, which is why this process has been so valuable to me.

Oh to be Eight Again...

2009-05-22T15:08:00.002+10:00

I so want to climb that tree!

Baby Beans

2009-05-21T11:17:00.002+10:00

Can you see it there? OMG how cute.

Apple Crumble

2009-05-20T07:40:00.005+10:00

This has been one of my favourite seasonal treats since I was a little girl.

Recipe from the amazing Exclusively Food, embellished slightly by adding lemon zest, vanilla and sultanas to the apple, and using rolled oats, cinnamon and almond meal instead of the chopped nuts in the crumble.

Grey Skies

2009-05-19T14:46:00.002+10:00

It hasn't rained here in over a month, so this is most welcome. I know it's a cliche but waking in the night to the sound of rain outside was just so comforting.

Nature Excursion Close to Home

2009-05-18T14:31:00.010+10:00

The irony of driving somewhere to enjoy nature is not lost on me, so last Friday we set up the picnic rug and enjoyed a "nature excursion" in our own back yard.

We have a teeny-tiny back yard. I do dream of living surrounded by land instead of suburbia but as that isn't in my near future I tell myself that until I have exhausted the possibilities of the land that we do have, I really can't wish for any more! And that keeps me satisfied for the most part...

As I started to really look around our back yard, I noticed there was a lot to see.

The bougainvillea is blooming beautifully

As is the yellow grevillea

And the pink one

The gum tree is laden with gum nuts

I was also surprised at just how many food plants we have.

The just-blooming bean flowers. These are exquisite, so delicate like tiny little fairy orchids.

Cherry tomatoes, surely on their last legs by now:

Passionfruit, also one of the last of the crop: The lemon, the one and only lemon to be produced by our tree so far. Baby is obsessed with trying to pick the lemon, but it is holding tight for now.

Kaffir lime looking ridiculously green and glossy:

The view from the best seat in the house:

Not a cloud in the sky What a perfect day!

How to Store Leftovers Without Plastic Wrap

2009-05-16T09:13:00.004+10:00

When I only need to store left-overs for a couple of hours or overnight, this is the perfect way to do it without using plastic wrap or even having to get out a storage container! And if the leftovers are in a bowl, just do the inverse and put the plate over the top, then pop the lot in the fridge.

When it comes to keeping plastic out of landfill, every tiny saving helps.

Pecan Perfection

2009-05-15T12:11:00.004+10:00

In the vegie box this week we received a little bag of fresh picked pecan nuts in their shell. Oh my, these were so good. I have never tasted pecans like these before, so sweet and buttery. There was a recipe for Pecan Pie in the farm letter, but ours didn't last that long.

It is a rare week that we don't get some little novel treat in the vegie boxes.

Enjoy the weekend!

Mama Made Jarmies

2009-05-14T07:05:00.003+10:00

When they get to a certain age, kids become very difficult to sew for. Seems they'd rather die than be caught in mama made clothing! But PJs, now surely an 8 year old can get away with mama made PJs? Well, he likes them! And I was so pleased with my handiwork. I even button hole-d for the first time! :)

Here's the details:

Pattern: Simplicity 4381, Style A

Size: Boys Large

Fabric: Flannelet from Spotlight. 3m @ $4.99/m

Again the cost of the fabric alone was more than the cost of buying a pair of PJs at Big W. DH told me that when he was a kid his mum used to sew a lot of his clothing, and she would have saved a fair bit of money doing it. Not so anymore, when did sewing your own clothes become a luxury?

Winter is Coming

2009-05-13T07:04:00.002+10:00

This morning as we farewelled my husband there was steam on our breaths and dew on the grass.

Time to put another blanket on the beds.

Mint Tea

2009-05-12T08:31:00.004+10:00

For tummy troubles:

A couple of sprigs of mint

A slice of lemon

I prefer this one without honey as the mint has an almost sweet taste of its own.

Mint is named after the Greek water nymph Minthe, who was changed into the herb by the jealous goddess Persephone when she discovered her husband was having an affair with the nymph.

The goddess of the Underworld began to step on Minthe, beating the poor Naiad with furious kicks. Minthe however was transformed into the mint plant, and with each tread of Persephone's foot, this plant released a delightful scent. This is the myth of how the aromatic mint plant received its name.

Friday Nature Excursion - Wellington Point

2009-05-11T07:45:00.007+10:00

It was another stunning day on Friday, so we headed out to Wellington Point, on the bay.

I have lived in Brisbane pretty much all my life so I am embarrassed to admit that I was in my 20s before I even knew this place existed! It is now my favourite destination when I want to be by the bay. There is even a little area where you can swim, though its too cold for that now.

In the first picture, out to sea on the left hand side you can see a little island. I'm not sure what this island's really called, or if it even has a name, but it seems to be known as "Pirate Island" to the local kids. At low tide there is a sandbar that you can walk across for about 1km to reach the island. There is nothing on the island, but it is a great adventure!

Seagulls are considered a bit of a pest around here, but I think they're gorgeous, I love their snowy whiteness.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T10:19:00.006+10:00

Happy mothers day to all the wonderful mamas!

Mothering is the most wonderful, amazing, trying, frustrating, and important thing I will ever do, I am sure of that. While it has been so nice to be spoilt by DH and the boys today, mothers day is also a good reminder for me of how lucky I am to have the little ones and DH and how special they are.

Yesterday I went to Hawkins nursery, in Chandler, to buy some herbs for my mother and MIL.

I thought I'd share some of the lovely little set-ups they have there:

I'm sure that last one is a little fairy's island. Here is a close up of the staircase leading to the magic Faraway Tree:

Thyme Tea

2009-05-09T10:30:00.005+10:00

To strengthen the immune system:

A few sprigs of thyme

A slice of lemon

A teaspoon of honey

A delicious way to warm up on these chilly mornings.

Thyme, herb of bravery courage and strength. Rudyard Kipling once wrote that “wind-bit Thyme smells like the perfume of the dawn in paradise.” I think he could be right.

Thyme has also been used as a charm for seeing fairies. Collect thyme flowers from a hillside where fairies are known to gather and lay the flowers upon your eyelids. Legend has it you will be granted the power to see any Fae folk who happen to be nearby.

Greeting the Dawn

2009-05-08T06:33:00.004+10:00

My favourite time of day

The calm before the morning storm.

Recycled Jack-o-Lantern

2009-05-07T14:38:00.009+10:00

Yummm

Pumpkin pie recipe here.

I planted a couple of Potimarron pumpkin seeds this morning. Hopefully I will have a little harvest like this later in the year. I have never attempted to grow this variety before but I love the vivid orange of the potimarrons, they look how I imagine a pumpkin should look. They are supposed to be fabulous in a soup too, with a real chestnutty taste. I love pumpkins, they are just so generous, don't you think?

Potimarron image from: http://www.windward.org/notes/notes67/walt6719.htm

One Hour Socky Toes

2009-05-06T16:24:00.004+10:00

It's starting to get cold here and bub has outgrown all of his newborn socks. Now, I have miles of yarn just crying out to be turned into itty bitty socks but I wanted something that would be really quick to make, cos he needs them right away!

After spending hours trawling Ravelry for a suitable pattern, I came across these little crocheted footsies. Although the pattern is sized for a newborn it is super easy to modify for size and yarn type. I made this little pair out of some Patons Jet that I had in my stash and it took only an hour or so and I am not a particularly speedy crocheter.

Aaaw cute!

An Afternoon Fishing

2009-05-03T18:22:00.009+10:00

We have just arrived home muddy and weary but in good spirits after DS7 and I spent the afternoon down by the bay learning how to fish. We attended a "Families Bending Rods" session funded by the Brisbane City Council and led by 2 Bent Rods, a local fishing school.

I was interested in trying fishing knowing that it is one of the few forms of hunting still practiced in the present day in my culture. It was also a good excuse to spend a couple of hours out doors and by the water.

It was a really enjoyable afternoon. First we dug for yabbies (bait) and nearly lost our shoes squelching over the mudflats. This was followed by a discussion of the various types of bait and some hands on practice attaching our hook and sinker. After that we were finally fishing! I admit we didn't catch anything but it was still a lot of fun. I was amazed to see how interested DS7 was. His only complaint was that mumma was hogging the fishing rod. Oops...

DH and DS9months spent the afternoon relaxing on the picnic rug at the nearby Lota Camping Reserve. It was a gorgeous evening on the bay.

Taking Time to Exhale

2009-05-02T21:15:00.008+10:00

There is a belief in wicca that when the moon is waxing it is a time for decision making, new projects and moving forward.

When the moon is waning it is a time for pause, reflection and completion.

Sometimes I think I live my life as if the moon is always waxing. Always busy chasing some new idea or starting some new project, without allowing due time for pause and reflection. And I don't think I'm the only one living like this!

So starting this month, I am going to take this old piece of wisdom and apply it literally to my life. No new sewing projects, no new knitting projects, no new books begun (Lucky I started "The Last American Man" today, even though I haven't finished Little Women yet...), no new ideas, no new hobbies, no new habits begun while the moon is waning.

Just steady work on projects already begun, careful tying up of ends, time to rest and reflect. And plenty of sweet, sweet idleness.

Aah I wish it were that time already.

Image from http://www.philhart.com/gallery2/d/11834-4/Epsilon_Moon_047_400-2.jpg

Happy Samhain 2009

2009-04-30T16:18:00.005+10:00

Tonight is Samhain for us in the southern hemisphere. Samhain is a powerful night on the pagan calendar, when the veil that separates the world of the living from the spirit world is said to be thinnest (the same is true at Beltane, on the opposite side of the calendar).

Tonight we will light old pumpkin head (or Mr Soon-to-be-pumpkin-pie), to light the way for any lost souls that may be roaming the streets.

Although not considered a true pagan tradition, the bright orange glow of the menacing face and the flickering shadows of the candle light are perfect for this time of darkness. Umm... I think ours looks more comical than menacing...

Here is one interesting rendition of the Jack-o-lantern legend, from About.com:

Originating from Irish folklore, the Jack-o-lantern was used as a light for the lost soul of Jack, a notorious trickster, stuck between worlds. Jack is said to have tricked the devil into a truck of a tree and by carving an image of a cross in the tree's trunk, he trapped the devil there. His pranks denied him access to Heaven, and having angered the devil also to Hell, so Jack was a lost soul, trapped between worlds. As a consolation, the devil gave him a sole ember to light his way through the darkness between worlds.
Originally in Ireland turnips were carved out and candles placed inside as lanterns lit to help guide Jack’s lost spirit back home. Hence the term: Jack-o-lanterns. Later, when immigrants came to the new world, pumpkins were more readily available, and so the carved pumpkins carrying a lit candle served the same function.

Happy Samhain to all!

Weekly Meal Plan

2009-04-29T19:53:00.003+10:00

We have been getting a vegie box from Food Connect for a couple of months now, and I am hooked. I cannot imagine buying my vegies any other way now! In addition to everything else, it is super convenient that all my vegie shopping involves is literally picking up a box.

I have also recently added a weekly fruit box to our subscription. Pictured above is the contents of our Single Fruit Box for this week. It seems to vary quite a bit from week to week, which is nice. There are things in there I would never think to buy, but I like that!

Here's the weekly meal plan:

Friday: Gnocchi with sweet potato and bacon sauce.
Saturday: San choy baos (lettuce, mince beef, potato, onion, cucumber, peanuts).
Sunday: Calzones with silver beet, onion, asparagus and mushroom.
Monday: Kangaroo stir fry with carrot, corn, broccoli, beans, oyster sauce. Rice.
Tuesday: Zucchini and fetta fritters with rice, lemon and tomato relish (from fresh tomatoes).
Wednesday: Pumpkin soup (including, beetroot, onion and potato).

Long weekend lunches:
1) Baked potatoes with cottage cheese, lettuce, corn and bacon.
2) Ham, cheese, aioli and sun dried tomato toasted sandwich on home made French bread .
3) Sausage sizzle, salad, home made baguettes.

Saturday family breakfast:
Apple and cinnamon scrolls with fruit salad of apples and kiwifruits.

My First Garment

2009-04-29T07:51:00.003+10:00

Ta da! Introducing my first garment.

Simplicity Pattern 4589.

Following a pattern for the first time was interesting to say the least! I just got my first little sewing machine in February and haven't had any lessons, so it was just a matter of muddling my way through.

I have since made a second top, in a larger size (and using a different fabric), and there was a lot that I learnt in making the first that I applied to make the second better. It was great to just get in and have a go. The end result is not too bad. I will wear it. Mostly out of stubbornness....

It is such a great feeling to be able to make things by hand.

Oh, and the top's not actually lop sided, that's just the way I am standing!

Friday Nature Excursion

2009-04-24T13:13:00.004+10:00

Every Friday I make a point of getting out of the house and going somewhere where we can be close to nature. Today we went to Wynnum. Having a young bub means we can't travel too far afield, so Wynnum is often our Friday destination.

First stop was Pandanus Beach to wriggle our toes in the sand.

Then a walk along the tree lined path. I love those big old pines.

Out on the jetty, you can see all the way to the islands. I love the expansiveness of the sea and the sky. It's so peaceful .

Walking back along the jetty. See the metallic fish inlaid on the path.

Have a good weekend!

Observing Pagan Sabbats in the Southern Hemisphere

2009-04-23T08:27:00.013+10:00

To me, the Pagan sabbats or festivals are about three things:

1) Observing and celebrating the changes taking place in nature, and recognising the cyclical nature of the seasons and life in general.

2) Reflecting on various aspects of my life and life in general. Because humans are part of the natural order, to a degree the changing seasons are reflected in our inner lives or psyche (or rather can be if we choose to live in tune with nature). Different times of the year prompt reflection on different aspects of life.

3) Engaging in activities to mark the occasion.

I think the greatest challenge in celebrating the sabbats in the southern hemisphere is that our culture is so dominated by the northern hemisphere that festivals such as Halloween, when they have been imported, are publicly celebrated on the same date as in the Northern Hemisphere (Oct 31), which is seasonally inappropriate for us and removes a lot of the original meaning of the occasion.

The same occurs with the Christianised festivals of Easter and Christmas. While I do observe Christmas in December etc, I mentally hold these celebrations in a separate category from my seasonal observations, and they are done more in the spirit of celebrating family life rather than as an occasion to reflect on the underlying seasonal/cyclical issues.

So What is Samhain Actually About?

Nature aspects:
Samhain marks the passage into the "dead" of winter. Summer greenery is diminishing and the leaves turn and begin to fall. We also experience the first frosts of winter.

Psychological aspects:
Samhain is the festival of celebrating and remembering the dead, of honouring our ancestors. It is also a time to recognise and reflect on the certainty of death and the fact of decay, old age and eventual demise. It is associated with the Crone aspect of the goddess who is revered for her wisdom and experience. Many pagans also believe in the continuous nature of existence - that life is a constant cycle of death and rebirth, so Samhain is still a celebration, not a bleak event!

Samhain is also the pagan "new year" as it marks the death of one year and the rebirth of the next.

A lot of the popular imagery of Halloween such as ghosts and monsters are related to human fears about darkness and our relationship with death.

How Will I Celebrate Samhain?
I will bake a pumpkin pie or an apple pie (or probably both!)
I will carve a jack o lantern (cos they are so damn cute)
I will take the time to reflect on all the stuff outlined above (though this is done over the course of a couple of weeks around Samhain rather than just on one set day)
I will put up a couple of seasonal decorations around the house, such as those in my last couple of posts.
I will get outside and spend some time in nature to feel the seasons turning
And that's it!

Disclaimer:
I have been a pagan in my heart for as long as I can remember, however I do not and never have belonged to any pagan groups, so these are solely my own personal musings.

Image from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/samhain/hennafoot/samhain.jpg?o=44

Samhain Kitt-eh

2009-04-22T11:27:00.002+10:00

Cos every good witch should have a little black cat.

Pattern from Nimoe (Ravelink)

Samhain Redwork

2009-04-21T07:59:00.003+10:00

I always get so excited by the myriad of crafting opportunities presented by Samhain (Halloween, for us in the Southern Hemisphere this rightly falls on 30th April). I love all the imagery associated with it - the ghosties, witches, pumpkings, black cats, bats, spiders. Nothing too scary though!

While browsing on the net a couple of months ago I saw some examples of Redwork, and found the use of a single colour, particularly the strong blood red, very striking (and apt for Samhain).

Redwork is a style of embroidery which became popular in the 1800s with the introduction of a colourfast red thread from Turkey. Prior to that, threads had not been colourfast in the wash and could not be used to decorate every day items. You can find more info on redwork and some free patterns at Redwork.info.

There are so many shades of red embroidery floss available. I chose DMC304 which is quite a dark red. I didn't use a pattern, instead I traced a child's "colour in" picture from the internet directly onto my embroidery cloth. This was my first attempt at an embroidery of this size, I have done one other small one of a bird on DS9mths sun hat.

Three Bears Porridge

2009-04-20T07:12:00.008+10:00

Now that it's getting chilly in the mornings, it's nice to sit down to a steaming bowl of porridge for breakfast.

This makes enough for one mama bear, one grade school bear, and one baby bear.

Three Bears Porridge
3/4 cup rolled oats (not instant)
1 1/4 cups milk
small hand full sultanas
2 tsp sugar
pinch cinnamon
pinch salt
Combine all ingredients in a heavy bottom pan and simmer over low heat, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy and porridge-like.
Top with cream and brown sugar or whatever else takes your fancy.
Yummmmm

A Short Break

2009-04-19T18:59:00.006+10:00

We have just returned blisfully relaxed after two nights at the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast. The weather was absolutely glorious.

I spent most of my days by the pool working up some serious lawn lust

Lawn gets a bad rap by everyone it seems, but I must confess to a long held fantasy of living in a manor house in the country with a long tree lined driveway, surrounded by acres of sumptuous rolling green lawn. Mmmm....

This Morning

2009-04-17T06:55:00.004+10:00

The sky was covered in unusual wispy clouds this morning. Like little tufts of curly fur. There is a new chill in the air. It has been so hot lately I was wondering what happened to Autumn, but it's back. Looking forward to my bowl of steaming creamy porridge this morning!

The bean seedlings are also shooting up. I can't believe how fast they grow! I suspect we will be able to climb up them, a la Jack and the Beanstalk, any day now.