Beginning 2014

Shallow Inlet - Victoria

 

Where to begin with this first post for the year?!  Firstly it seems I had disappeared for a bit and truly we did.  We've just returned from two weeks away camping down near Wilson's Promontory.  We found a little bush caravan park on Shallow Inlet that was much quieter than the Prom camping ground and where it is much easier to get a site.  We did drive down to the Prom a couple of times because it is beautiful and the beach was lovely.  We've spent a couple of weeks relaxing, reading, swimming, fishing and playing games together in the evenings.  Such a simple existence.  Just what we needed to begin what will no doubt be a busy year.

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I've been busily reviewing books for my dear friend Rel and am very excited to report I am into my 17th book for the summer.  My goal is 20 by the time I go back to work.  I have 8 days.  Not a problem!!!

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Rather than setting resolutions for the new year I read about someone who sets a theme instead.  I like that idea much more than making goals that probably won't ever be accomplished.  I decided our goal for the year should be "healthier" .  We have discussed the idea as a family and whilst the children were miffed a time or two when I reminded them ice-creams are not healthier everyone agreed it is a good thing after all.  For myself I have begun a journey with "The Maker's Diet".  I read the book about 7 or 8 years ago and appreciated the Biblical perspective the author gives.  Obviously there are always bits and pieces that are either impractical, impossible or inappropriate for individual circumstances and one must take a balanced view on what will work.  I do remember the first phase being a challenge but worthwhile and given the holiday season excesses it is probably quite timely to spend some time detoxing from the things I have not avoided as I should have.

Meanwhile, it is good to be home.

Of Baby Birds and Other Outside Joys

We have been watching a mother bird sitting on her nest for quite a few weeks now.  This afternoon when I went to see how she was doing she wasn't there.  What a perfect time to get a photo of what she's been caring for.  Little did I know her chicks have hatched - we have baby birds! How exciting.  I hope the new Mummy finds plenty for her chicks to eat around here.  Heaven knows the bunny that visits has been happily munching his way through our grass!

Around the few days on either side of Christmas Day I decided it was time to get my herb garden back in shape.  If you look very carefully you can see rosemary at the back there and the purple flowers of the chives.  The rest, embarrassingly, is weed.  Nice, healthy, choking weeds.

 

Herb Garden - Before

Because I am such a weakling and a wuss it took me three goes to get through the weeding.  I started and after half an hour or so I just couldn't do anymore.  I'm not so sure that's just cos I'm tired either.  In any case, I finally got to the end and I can see my herbs again.

Herb Garden - After

We still have some work to do.  The soil is quite tough just under the surface so my heroic (and very strong) hubby will need to help me pitchfork it over. I'm simply not strong enough.  Then I want to add some compost before buying some herbs and mulching the whole thing.  I've always wanted: thyme, lemon thyme, oregano, parsley.  Perhaps even some basil, though that's never been terribly successful.  

I have to say, it's completely satisfying to have the time to wander outside a bit.  To enjoy watching a mummy bird and getting that garden bed in order.  I've even sprayed the lemon tree, which is looking a little worse for wear.  Perhaps next spring I will even have the mental capability to consider a vegie garden, given my teaching degree will be on the verge of completion!

Recipe: Ice-Cream Winner

Unfortunately the photo above is all that is left of last night's chocolate ice-cream.  I've mentioned this recipe before and it has become a very firm favourite in our household.  The recipe comes from Nigellissima, and of course I've tweaked it a little.  Firstly because I don't keep the liqueur she uses and secondly because our sweetened condensed milk comes in tins that are double the weight stipulated in the recipe.  The original recipe for 'no churn coffee ice-cream can be found here.  I've tried a couple of different variations to the basic idea of this recipe - they are below for your summer enjoyment.

Chocolate Ice-Cream

1x 395g tin sweetened condensed milk

1x 600ml container thickened cream

2 tablespoons cocoa powder (or more if you want it stronger)

Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and whip until the consistency of whipped cream.  
Pour into an airtight container and freeze for at least six hours.
I find my freezer makes this pretty hard so we put it in the fridge about half an hour before I want to serve it and it scoops out perfectly.

Caramel Ice-Cream

1x 395g tin 'top 'n fill' sweetened condensed milk

1x 600ml container thickened cream

Method as above.

~oo0oo~

This recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make.  I did this first thing Sunday morning for guests that evening whilst sipping my morning cup of tea, given the mixer truly does all the work it was absolutely no burden and took no more than five minutes.  I think you'll find it difficult to go back to commercial ice-cream after trying this.  I'm wondering how it would go with lemon zest and a little lemon juice rather than the cocoa.  When my lemons start to ripen I'll let you know!

Book Review: A Marriage in Middlebury

My review for A Marriage in Middlebury has been posted here over at Relz Reviewz.  I loved Anita Higman's style and her characters were so engaging.  If you're after a book that explores deep themes ensconced in a lighthearted wrapper this is just the thing.  Pop over and read the rest of the review.

Christmas Anticipation

We are in the calm before the storm here at our place; waiting with delicious anticipation for Christmas morning...the girls are counting down the hours.  Our extended family gatherings have been and gone and Christmas day is, for us, a quiet affair with just the five of us at home for the day.  Having been in and out of the kitchen for things like Festive Dip and Granny's Pavlova we are all now looking forward to our Christmas lunch - the makes of which are overflowing from the fridge!

~ Christmas Lunch Menu ~

Main Meal

Baked Glazed Ham

Roast Cherry-stuffed Pork

Roast Potatoes

Asian Salad

Corn Salad

Dessert

Sticky Date Pudding

Caramel Ice Cream

Trifle

Our recipes are a collection of favourites sourced from family members and food heroes like Nigella Lawson and Maggie Beer.  Each member of our family has made the requests that make up our menu after my question about what food makes them think of Christmas.  I think really, some of these things are more likely firm favourites and therefore a special meal could not be had without them.  These salads are, after all, not exactly traditional.  Even in a summery Australian Christmas.  And none of us are thrilled with turkey so that has never been part of our meal.

What food makes you think of Christmas?

Stopped in my tracks

Image credit

This morning as I was having breakfast I did a normally-benign kind of thing: I was reading the paper.  Well, you know, in a very modern kind of way via my iPad.  There I found an article listed on the front page of 'The Age' app about an Aussie couple living in a Bangkok slum.  As it turns out I knew this couple in the early 90's when we both worked for the same organisation.

The article (video and link to article can be found here), written by Tim Elliot, is authentic and compassionate, and accurately represents the character and intention of Ash and Anji.  As a Christian living in a Western culture, though, I found the article challenging and confronting in the face of the overt consumerism especially so close to Christmas.  What inspired me, however, was that Ash and Anji are enabling people around them to use their gifts and skills to support themselves and rise above their otherwise dire circumstances.  They actively work to promote hope.

Whilst I am not rushing off to live in a slum, or in fact move anywhere, there is much one can do to contribute to building hopefulness and showing people a picture of who God is.  Yesterday my girls and I cooked to provide meals that our church's pastoral care team can give out to those who have need of them.  In the final weeks of the term our school collected festive non-perishable food items and donated them to a local church who puts together food hampers for those struggling at Christmas time.  We can choose not to be so concerned about material 'things' and the gathering of them....even when the world about us insists we need their product to have a better life.

I'm still pondering the 'Heart of the Slum' article...and my pondering leads me to ask lots of questions.  Does my faith drive me to live differently?  Is life in a 'first world' country really that much better?  Do we really need all our stuff?  How does what I do in my normal life give others an image of God?

Lots to think about.  Read the article...be challenged and maybe transformed!

Summer meals on quiet summer days

Mr Busy undertakes the manly task of barbecuing

Another quiet day has passed here.  One can hardly be blamed, as it was 39C in the city today.  However, after a very industrious day of dusting, vacuuming and mopping yesterday I had intended to dust and vacuum carpeted rooms today.  Instead, I napped in the morning.  Miss Sunshine, I believe, turned the cooling on before the house got too warm.  In the afternoon I had another nap.  Really...this is beginning to be very unproductive!  Tomorrow!  I will get there tomorrow!!!

In our house when the mercury sores we BBQ.  I was once informed by a male friend that females are not permitted to cook a BBQ.  Now this presents a problem when the man of the house is still at work when everyone else is ready for dinner and we don't want to heat up the house to cook.  We have solved that problem in the form of Mr Busy.  Having been well-instructed by his Dad he took up the mantle of man-of-the-house-BBQ'er in fine form.

Miss Sunshine made a salad to go with our sausages and potatoes and we dined in fine style, although sausages are not my idea of 'style'.  They were simple a means to Miss Mischief getting her desired cold sausage sandwiches for lunch tomorrow!