slow living august 2013

I know, I know three posts in a week!! What has gotten into me? 

Well, I'm not sure really other than I have lots to show and tell. And I do enjoy sharing my news, views and thoughts with you all. 

I have a lot to catch up on, so I've decided to join in with Christine's Slow Living month by month so I can tell about all of our doings in one go!!! 

Oh yes, there is another reason why I've been so prolific this week but I'll tell about that later.....

So here goes, for a much busier, more prolific month than I'd thought!

NOURISH: Oh, nourish! This one has been at the forefront of our month, so it's only right that it's also the very first category! I mentioned a while ago that I'd been reading a couple of books that have had a big impact on my thinking. I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson and Trim Healthy Mama by Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett, have quite literally changed the way I/we eat. I wont go into details here as I'm hoping to be a bit more in depth in a later post, but I will say that Sarah's book explained in detail what I hadn't fully realised about fructose, which is the baddie in sugar; and not only sugar but agave nectar, honey and most other alternative sweeteners. 

Then Trim Healthy Mama gave me a lot more fascinating info and a whole arsenal of recipes and we have been trying out new sugar free delights ever since! I now have a whole new way of eating and am slowly working my way through the family, converting them one by one!!! (two down, quite a few to go!!)

Below are three grain free, sugar free treats - cheese biscuits, rhubarb scones and gingerbread scones, all made with almond flour and stevia. 

This one is a flax-meal cinnamon muffin-in-a-mug with stevia sweetened yogurt.... breakfast!! 

PREPARE: We are behind in the garden. I had hoped to have it all dug over and covered with mushroom compost before September but we have had so much rain that gardening was not an option. We did manage to dig up the last three rows of potatoes and spread two loads of mushroom compost over the empty beds but the rest is still waiting. There was a day where we had a few 'garden gnomes' helping to spread a load of sawdust on the paths but overall the garden remained a no go zone!   

GREEN: I really can't think of anything green for this month, other than the green smoothies enjoyed by all of us and especially by the Elf!! 

On second thoughts, there are some 'green' happenings further down list.    

GROW: The last of the potatoes were harvested - another 90 kilos!! Thats over 180 kilos this year and quite a good haul! We have kale, spinach and parsley in abundance, the garlic is growing well and the first tiny tips of asparagus are popping up. Not sure we will get any to eat, as this is their first year but its exciting none the less. Other than that, there's not much in the garden - winter here is just too cold for much growth although I noticed today that the weeds are starting their spring surge...sigh!

REDUCE: A couple of years ago our Elli was gifted with two baby magpies. We advertised on the wanted board at our Post Office for an aviary to keep them in and were given this one below. The magpies grew up and were freed a long time ago and the aviary just sat there, empty. Until we had the brilliant idea of re-purposing it for a chook house. So using all the man and woman power that we had on hand, we carried it to its new position. It needs a new roof and some modifying but at least it's being put to good use again. 

CREATE: I've finished knitting the 'in three's' vest for the Small Elf and will share pics of her in it when next she visits. I've also repurposed an old jumper and some too small trousers, turning them into some cute winter pants for the Small one too. It's so very satisfying to reuse old clothes and I get a kick out of it every time I succeed in keeping something from going to the op shop! 

The other major creation in our lives is that the bearers and joists have gone down for the extension!! I am so pleased and can hardly wait for the framing to go up. See those loose boards on there? I've been using them to imagine where the lounge will go and how much room I'll have left for a BIG bookshelf!  

   

ENHANCE: Hmm, not sure about this one..... perhaps I enhanced my friends' trip overseas by giving her a lesson on sim cards and ipads? Hopefully I enhanced the lives of the three young people (all friends of my children) that have come to stay with us over the last month or so. I certainly enhanced their tummies!!!  

DISCOVER: This category goes right back to the first one - my reading and healthier eating discoveries. I refer to the Trim Healthy Mama book at least three times each day and often more.... it is just so interesting and I am learning much about food that I knew but never really understood. 

ENJOY: I have enjoyed the extra company that we've had with all the comings and goings of various children and friends. I've enjoyed a lovely night away in a Hobbit Cottage with my man (courtesy of our sweet children). I've enjoyed stretching my mind. I've really enjoyed the occasional sunny day. I've enjoyed discussing the new plans and new directions that have been put before us. I've enjoyed feeling healthier, and correspondingly, happier! 

Okay, so now you've read all the way to the end, I'll tell you why I'm posting more often (other than because I have a backlog of photo's haha!) Next week, I'm flying to NSW to visit family and friends for. a. whole. month!!! I am SO excited. I really miss my mum and closest friends and it's not so easy to visit when there is a big stretch of water between. So while the two girls and Stuy hold the fort, 13yo Dj and I are trundling around with suitcase and backpack. I hope to post while we are 'on the road' because we have some interesting places lined up to visit.

Will let you know more soon. 

Thanks again for reading about my little world. 

And thank you Christine for hosting this great peek into our past months achievements.