Tuesday 31 January 2012

PASSATA

Yes it's that time of the year once again to bring out my friend Squeezo and make up lots of passata and tomato sauce.
Squeezo makes this job so easy, definately one of my better investments for the kitchen.

FYI: I bought my squeezo last year on ebay, she was second hand but in great condition and very cheap. Squeezos have been around since the early 1900's but are relatively unknown here in Australia.

Thursday 26 January 2012

26/01/12

AUSTRALIA DAY
Happy Australia Day to all those celebrating our glorious country.

We now have a rather large flag pole in our yard (see above). Our very energetic neighbours, Ronnie and Donna, put up their pole a couple of weeks ago and asked us if we wanted one, Ronnie made them at his work. Darren has always had a flag hung in the shed, so of course he said yes. The two flags in neighbouring yards look very patriotic and quite fitting while celebrating this day.

In footy season, Darren is already sourcing a Hawthorn flag to go up. LOL.

We are usually away in Robe for Australia Day but this year we will celebrate at home with a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs and pancakes with sugar and honey. There will be cricket to watch and some crocheting for me while we lounge around in true Aussie style.

Have a lovely day however you are celebrating.

Thursday 19 January 2012

HOW DO I DESCRIBE TODAY?

I had to go down the street this morning to buy my best friend a 40th birthday gift and I ran into my yoga teacher. We chatted and I said how I couldn't believe how long it had been since I went to one of her classes, I told her that I still wanted to become a yoga teacher it's just that money always seems to get in the way. She gave me the new times of classes and I am really looking forward to going on a regular basis once again. I left with a smile on my face, this is just what I need now that I've made my study plans and yoga plays a big part in this. It just felt like now that a decision has been made, everything else is falling into place.

Another wonderful thing happened today. Darren's parents bought a camper van for us. His dad showed it to us this morning, I was imediately in love and he went and bought it!!!!! I know it doesn't look like much but with a bit of work I think it will be awesome.
It looks small from the outside, but once both end beds are pulled out, it's very roomy inside and it has an annex too. It sleeps 7 and the kids have already picked out their beds, oh the holidays we can have in this beauty!
It's appliances are in really good condition.
and the whole family has given it's stamp of approval.

Look what else was in the yard, a 1950's van!!! Be still my beating heart.
If you've visited One Crafty Habitat lately, you would have seen my caravan make-over. The once was storage area is now going to be my chill out area and my study room.

Speaking of study, I've had a lot of time for reflection and have been asking myself what I really want to do for future study. I haven't pushed myself for an answer and now I can finally say that I want to go back to what I have long had an interest in, natural therapies.

Way back in 1999, I completed my Reiki 1 and 2 certificates and to this day I have used Reiki for healing, although not as often as I would have liked to. So many things get pushed aside in life for other interests but natural therapies have always held a place and I want to learn so much more about certain therapies.

I will be chosing 5 therapies from the list below:

Holistic Nutrition
Kinesiology
Colour Therapy
Homoeopathy
Aromatherapy
Reflexology
Holistic Massage Therapy
Yoga

Meanwhile, here are some pics from my new study/quiet space.
I was beyond excited yesterday when I spotted this recliner at our local salvage yard. It was clean, in great condition, it worked and all for $20. I loaded it into the 4WD (with a little help, it's heavy) and prayed that it would fit through my little van door. Easy!!!!! After a good clean, it has found it's home.

Hiding under my "coffee table" are my preserving jars, now covered with a crochet blanket. (Oops, I see I've missed a bit of painting in the background)

Thursday 12 January 2012

DAILY HOUSEHOLD RHYTHM

While organising my weekly housework routine I decided to take a leaf out of Heather's book over at Beauty That Moves and make up a daily household rhythm for myself. This of course is not set in stone as for example, every second Wednesday I grocery shop and pay bills, it's just a guideline for myself to get into rhythm.

My rhythm will change over time and I will update accordingly, for now this is what I need, a gentle reminder through the day of what I could be doing.

Other lists that help me every day are my housework routine and my menu plan.

My Household rhythm lives on the back of our pantry door, the housework routine in a folder in the kitchen and my menu plan, on the fridge.

This is how I stay focused and organised, how do you sort out your routine?

Tuesday 10 January 2012

STUDYING

Why do I find it so hard to complete any correspondence study? I began studying my sports nutrition certificate 2 years ago and though I nearly finished, I just put it aside and didn't think about it again.

I emailed Beck Health & Nutrition and they have very generously allowed me to complete my certificate even though I'm a year late. While I will no longer be eligible for the statement of attainment due to the lapse in time, they will still grade my assessment and will be awarded the Certificate of Sports Nutrition. I will definately be completing this certificate as I refuse to take on any study until I do. I desperately want to complete a permaculture certificate, but will not go ahead until this other course is out of the way.

So I will be busy studying, baking, cleaning, playing and gardening over the next couple of weeks so I finally say that I've completed this study.
The Mt Gambier Under 15's cricket squad won the carnival!!! They didn't lose a game through the week and then went on to win the Grand Final.
Dan played really well, it was over 40 degrees on the first 2 days, he was vomiting on the Thursday night but still put in a great effort all week.

I went over to Horsham with Lachie on Wednesday, stayed Wednesday night in Casterton with my parents, left Sophie there and arrived in Horsham at the start of play Thursday morning. We stayed at the caravan park and pitched a tent, it only cost us $23 instead of an expensive motel room. I'd forgotten that we owned a small 3 man tent as there is no way I could have put up our huge 10 man tent by myself. See Darren, I'm not useless!!! LOL
We had a great time (apart from the vomiting) I was pretty sick too from this horrible tummy bug I've had for what seems like forever but it was nice to see the guys play and win so convincingly.

Monday 2 January 2012

EARLY RISING

This morning was one of those perfect cool breeze mornings that just beckoned me out to the vege garden before the hot day set in.

I spent an hour mulching tomatoes and strawberries, digging horse poo into vacant beds and watering the beds and hot-house. It felt good to do something productive as the rest of the day will surely be indoors out of the hot weather.

Speaking of hot, Dan is in Horsham playing cricket in 42 degree heat today!!!!! Crazy, thank goodness the caravan park they are staying at has a pool.

For some of today I want to sort out a bit of a cleaning and gardening roster for myself to get a little more organised and efficient.

Stay cool for those here in Oz.