CHOOKS GRRRRRR

This is what's left of my wormwood

Can you see it? It's those couple of sticks in amongst the mulch.
I planted the wormwood in the chookyard with a fence around it in the hope that it would grow big and strong and the chooks could peck at the leaves through the wire as it's supposed to stop mites and worms. Well, they shouldn't have any now, as they somehow got under the fence and totally striped it.

It took me ages to find a wormwood down here and I really thought I wouldn't be able to find another, but guess what I turned up today? Ta Da...

A better fence will be put around this one.

In other chooky news, I also had to put up this fence yesterday.

My poor asparagus, pumpkins and zucchini were getting trashed every time I let the chooks out to roam the garden.

But wait... There's more.

This is the third thyme I have bought in the last few weeks once again thanks to my darling chooky chooks. I'm hoping they can't get to this one.

So as you can see, it's been an interesting week with the little darlings, but they are laying lots of eggs for us, so they get to stay.

In other news, I bought a new bay tree (I managed to kill the last one) a sage for my herb garden and some comfrey plants to border my vege patch to hopefully keep out some of the couch grass.



and... my beetroot and spinach seeds are starting to shoot.

I think that's it, hopefully there will be no more demolishing of the garden this coming week.

edited 1/2 hour later...... Sophie's fairy garden is now minus all the flowers, hmmmm. The chooks have previously ignored the fairy garden, apparently it was just to tempting today.
Blessings, Sue

STUDY, WEIGHT, EXERCISE......

It's been a big week. The kids went back to school and I have settled into some sort of a study routine as my Sports Nutrition assignment is due in 20 days. I'm unsure what to study next, if anything. I really did the Sports Nutrition for my own benefit and there are certain people who do ask for my advice on some sports related subjects, so the more I know the better. I find it interesting learning more about the human body and how to improve performance.

I have been really good this week, watching what I eat and exercising. I had put on 2kg over Christmas and the holidays but lost them this week thank goodness, my pants were feeling a little tight.

I'm back to lifting weights and punching that bag. I also did one of my Les Mills balance DVD's this morning, a hard one at that and it felt great.

GARDENING ART JOURNAL

My gardening journal this year is taking a different turn. Instead of just journaling, I have decided to turn it into an art journal of sorts. Here are some of the week to week pages I have been working on.



I have finally made a firm decision not to go back to karate. I love Kyokushin but I no longer want to grade for a higher belt I only want to go for fitness and as that is not possible in this style, I will no longer be participating.

I will however still be going to kickboxing, this has always been my passion and now I will not be working Tuesday nights, I am free to attend.

In other news, he chooks keep getting into my pumpkins, asparagus and herbs grrrrrr. I really need to put up some fences. They have started laying though, so we're very excited about that.

My plan to not use "convenience foods" for school snacks has started well with a big baking day yesterday. I made muffins, sausage rolls, slices and biscuits and the kids were sent to their first day at school with an assortment of yummy homemade snacks, fruit and salad wraps for lunch.

I also purchased new lunch boxes for them with different compartments to keep foods seperate, therefore not needing any plastic wrap. I am really trying to reduce our consumption of plastics and this is a start.

Sophie now has a stainless steel water bottle for school, the boys bottles are coming when I have some extra cash.

I'M OFF CAMPING

See you after the 25th.
Have a good week, I know we will.
xxxSue

FAB FRIDAY

Yep, more preserving going on here while the stone fruit is cheap. It will be great to have some yummy summer fuit for the cold winter this year.

The next photos are of 2 books I have borrowed from friends and the library and have wanted for myself for ages. I sold an item in my madeit shop and decided to spend the money on these books.


I picked my first tomatoes and strawberries today, I can't show a photo as I ate them right away.
Blessings
xxxSue

2010 CREATING MY GODDESS YEAR

I have just downloaded my copy of this fantastic workbook and planner from the amazing Goddess Leonie
I can't wait to start filling in these gorgeous, colourful pages.
Here's a peek


for more information click here

IN THE KITCHEN

Banana & Berry Bread from The Thrifty Kitchen by Suzanne and Kate Gibbs.
This book is fast becoming my best friend.

Preserving apricots and peaches for out of season yumminess.

What's happening in your kitchen?

psss.... there's a new tutorial over to the right under "tutorials".

FRUIT AND VEG NET BAGS

This tutorial was originally written by myself for the Down To Earth forum.

Level of expertise: Beginner
These bags are designed to put your fruit, vegetables or nuts etc in when visiting the grocery store.
They are kept lightweight and see-through so as not to add to the weight of your produce and so the checkout operator can see what is in them without opening each bag.

You will need:
netting or old net curtains
lightweight cord or shoelaces
safety pin
general sewing supplies
sewing machine

This tutorial is for a large bag, feel free to change the size to suit.

Lets begin....

Cut a piece of netting 29" x 11" and fold the length in half, your measurement will now be 14 1/2" x 11".
Pin the 2 sides (the fabric is slippery).

Sew along the sides in a zigzag stitch for strength.

On one of the top edges sew 2 lines about 1" long from the top edge going down to the centre of the bag.
Cut a small slit in-between these lines of sewing.

Fold the top edge over 1/2" and pin.

Sew along the raw edge in a zigzag stitch to create a pocket to thread the drawstring.

Turn your bag the right way out.
Thread your cord through a safety pin then push the pin through the slit and into the pocket at the top edge of your bag.

Work your way around the bag until you come to the slit again, then push the pin through, take off the pin and cut your cord to the desired length.
If necessary tape the ends of the cord to stop fraying.

Tie the 2 ends of your cord together and you are finished.

Here are 2 of my bags, 1 large and one small.
I use the smaller bags for nuts, dried fruits etc.
The measurement for cutting fabric for the small bag is 16" x 7 1/2".

These bags are quick and easy to make, have fun and know that you are doing one more thing to tread a little more lightly on this earth.