Around here - Snow Peas

I don't have a lot in my veggie garden however what I do have is thriving.  Snow peas are super easy to grow and taste so fresh and I've loving picking them.  The lettuces are amazing and I have gifted 3 to family and friends all very appreciative of the fresh produce.  Also I've grown a heap of rocket which is thriving as well.  I want to plant some spring onions this afternoon as I have some space in the garden. 

Chinese Cabbages growing well.

Around here - Perth Trip - Part 2

Here's a few more photos from our Perth which seems like yesterday we were there.  My sister is in Brisbane for another night and then is flying back to Perth tomorrow night.  

While we were in Perth we had big discussions about "Customer Service" at cafes and restaurants and the use of QR codes so you can individually order your meal.  There are pro's and con's for both.  The cafe we went to a lot when I was in Perth in January have introduced QR codes to order and there were 3 of us at the table and all three of us had to order our food.  Since I was there in January my credit card expiry date had changed so I had to update the same card details with a new expiry date in the app rather than quickly change the expiry date.  I tried to order the orange juice and coffee and bacon and eggs several times and updating the cart and it didn't work.  I think it took me more than 5 minutes to get my order in and then our food all turned up at different times.  My sister has a very specific order for her coffee which wasn't on the menu and there was no space to write a note.  If she was served by a person she could give them her order however instead she ordered a hot chocolate to make it easier however it wasn't what she wanted to order.  My sister who lives in Perth had been going to this particularly coffee shop just wants to be able to walk in and order a coffee over the counter from a person however you have to do everything yourself and at the bottom of the cart in the app it offers a section to tip them three different percentages.  

We started going to a different cafe up the road called Oxford Yards where the service was outstanding, and as soon as you walk in the Manager says hello to you, and bring you water and the food is delivered to your table in 5 minutes of ordering.  Friendly, great food and outstanding service and it makes a difference.  We ended up having a big chat with the Manager and staff about the QR codes and he said they thought about it however if everyone ordered on the QR codes they couldn't control the orders in the kitchen as in they could get 30 orders all due at once and that wouldn't be good.  They like people coming to the counter to order and then they can get the meals out in under 5 minutes.  It was exceptional everytime we went there.

There are cases where the QR codes are good ie a big table full of people ordering and paying for their own food instead of splitting the bill at the end of the evening.  At Gage Roads where there is seating for 1500 people, having QR codes is a must and makes so much sense.  Not having to have staff to take orders and handle money is absolutely the right place for QR codes.  There are staff at the bar of course where they serve you however the food is ordered through the QR codes and then delivered to your table.

In the world of technology and everyone has to "do it yourself" however it's not cheaper and then they expect a tip for it.  It just seems crazy.  At the supermarket you do everything yourself and in the last six months I went through a checkout as it happened to be empty and it felt really weird to put my things on the conveyer belt and for someone to scan and pack it.  Weird that the normal back in the day now felt weird, and we just expect to do everything ourselves but still pay the same price as if someone was employed to pack and scan our groceries.

It's school holidays in Queensland for the next two weeks before starting Term 3 and on the count down to my daughter's last year of school.   Have a good week and enjoy some more photos from Perth.

Perth Skyline

                                                                               Sittella Winery

Food for our Sunday lunch at Sittella Winery

Looking out the window of our Airbnb and a rainbow.

Gage Roads at Fremantle and the Gage Roads Brewing Company

My sister and niece.

Fantastic service and food at Oxford Yard Cafe in Leederville.

The friendly Manager & staff at Oxford Yards Cafe.

Kings Park on a wet afternoon.

 

Kings Park and another rainbow.

My niece's daughter is so cute and cuddly.

Around Here - Perth Trip - Part 1

On the 1st June, my sisters and I headed to Perth to my nephews wedding using up our final flight credits from 3 years ago.  While we all arrived in Perth on the same day, we were on different airlines and different planes so my sister had 3 trips to the airport on the Thursday to pick us up.  

The wedding was on the Friday afternoon and it was so lovely.  My nephew looked handsome and his bride was stunning in a silver gown she made herself.  The bridesmaids were in a green colour and these dresses were also made by her as well.  The wedding was at a Hotel on the Rooftop and it was a clear sunny cool day which was lucky because 2 days later it rained non stop the rest of the week we were there.  In fact they had more rain one night than in 37 years so it was a lot of rain. 

Our trip is basically all family time which is just the way I like it, catching up for breakfast, or lunch, and roast dinners.  We went to the Casino one night for my favourite Sweet & Sour Pork dish and some games of Keno.  While we were there we went to see two movies, the first one being "The Book Club - The Next Chapter" which we enjoyed.  The next one even though it had a great cast was so boring and weak which was "Maybe I Do".  It took forever to get to the punch line and there were a couple of funny bits but it was really slow and boring.  I'm happy to watch a movie for what it is but this was surprisingly disappointing.

My Niece's baby who was 6 weeks old when I was over there in January is now 6 months old and is so cute laughing and interacting with everyone.

This was the Airbnb two of us stayed in for 5 days and then when my sister flew home for work we checked out and I went to my sisters place down the road.

This is the building we were at the back on level 2.

Can you believe it there were people swimming in this pool and it was a cold day.

Toby relaxing on the couch.

Roast dinner at my sisters.

On the Sunday we had lunch at Sittella where my niece got married 3 years ago.  She wanted to show us where she got married.  We were originally going to Perth for the wedding in April 2020 and 3 weeks before the wedding it got cancelled due to the pandemic.  When it was rescheduled to November, 2020 unfortunately none of us could get over to Perth.  

Beautiful Roses in the Garden at Sittella

We had lunch on the deck.

The newly weds catching up with family.

We went to the Margaret River Chocolate Co which is just outside Perth.

I really wanted to bring these large freckles back for my kids but I knew they would get broken on the fight so I got them a Chocolate that had a Quokka on it instead.

Me in Chocolate Heaven, so much to choose from.

Around Here - Date Walnut Loaf

I recently came across this Date Walnut Loaf recipe which is a really great recipe and wanted it on my blog.  The recipe link is above and if you go to that link it has the normal instructions as well as Thermomix method.  It's a bit confusing because both methods are written together instead of separately so I've just typed up the Thermomix recipe here.  I can highly recommend this recipe and although I don't have a photo it is worth it.  I'll make it again and take a picture to add to this blog post.

DATE WALNUT LOAF

INGREDIENTS

250gms pitted dates

250gms water

90gms melted butter

150gms brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 egg lightly beaten

225gms self raising flour

1 teaspoon bi-carbonate soda

pinch of salt

90gms walnuts chopped

THERMOMIX METHOD

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.

Grease and line the base and sides of a loaf tin [approximately 12cm x 30cm] [4.5inches x 12 inches]

1. Place the dates, water and butter into the Thermomix bow.
2. Mix for 4 minutes, 80 degrees, Speed 2 [until dates have softened and resemble a thick paste]
3. Mix to blend into paste.
4. Add the brown sugar and mix for 10 seconds on Speed 6.
5. Scrap down the sides of the bowl and repeat 10 seconds on Speed 6.
6. Add the lightly beaten egg and vanilla extract and mix for 5 seconds on Speed 6.
7. Add the self-raising flour, bi-carbonate soda and a pinch of salt.
8. Mix for 5 seconds on Speed 6.
9. Scrape down the sides and mix for 5 seconds on Speed 6.
10. Manually add the chopped walnuts by folding them in the mixture.
11. Pour into loaf tin and cook for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
12. Note:  I cooked for a further 10 minutes.
13. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Around here - Blogs in 2023

In July 2023 this simple living blog of mine will be 11 years old.  Things come and go and it seems that blogs are on the way out and not many people are writing them anymore.  Back in 2011 when we moved into this house I used to make my morning coffee and look forward to reading my daily 15 blogs and that was the technology done for the day.  So many of those bloggers no longer have blogs as it appears that the current technology like Instagram is the preferred method.  I do love Instagram and more so when it was only a photo sharing app however now every second post is an ad or a loud video which is not as great as it once was.  Also your IG and FB feed comes and goes in a heartbeat and a blog post you can add lots of photos and words and have it as a record in time.

I still write on this blog because I have so many things stored on here, recipes, outings and things I often refer back to.  I was in a FB group today and a lady was asking about making Vanilla with Vodka so I jumped onto my blog and searched "vanilla" and up popped the Vanilla post from November 2013 when Sienna made our first Vanilla extract when she was 7 years old.  It's great for a timeline of when we did what and where.

There are so many links to recipes on my blog as well that I have made and loved over the years.  After a while along with linking the recipe I would also write it in my post because blogs were disappearing which means so would the recipe.  I only ever post recipes that I love and will make again so if it's on my blog I can quickly refer to it and then bake it.

Over the years I have printed out my blog in a hardcover book so that if one day it's no longer there I have printed copies however you don't have the search function available.  Emma from She Sews Seeds [closed her blog] recently after I told her about printing it out using Blog2print before she closed it.  She posted she had to look up a recipe recently but then had to flip through books and books of her printed blog however at least it's all there in writing.  It's super easy to print your blog into a book as you put in your blog name and whether you want the comments printed or not, whether you want a new page after each blog post and what size you want the photos.  If you get on the mailing list they often have 30% sales which when you are printing a book with lots of pages certainly helps.

I thought I would post a few old blog posts for a trip down memory lane.

Our very first time making pasta together, how could me kids be so little and cute.

James making Five Seed Bread when he was 9 years old.

Sienna planting veggies in our veggie garden when she was 8 years old.

Our first veggie garden at our other house was a huge success with just two garden beds and I made a photo book of that garden which was such a joy.

Best cupcake recipe using cream.

A favourite slice called "Happy Pantry Slice" which we have been making since 2015.  I don't actually put chocolate on top now to make it a bit healthier for the school/uni lunch boxes.

Back in 2019 I got into learning about additives and preservatives that are in our foods and how to avoid them.  What is alarming that spinach wraps from the supermarket did not contain any spinach and yet they are allowed to get away with it.  I listed to these 7 podcasts which was very eye opening and then I did the 4 week online course with Tracey & Jo, sisters from Additive Free Lifestyle.  The girls have just launched an app now and you can take a photo of the ingredients on the packet, crop the image and then it will pop up with all the additives and preservatives in the item and then the traffic light system of red, yellow and green pop up and then a description of the additives, where it's used and how harmful or good it is.  The app is a game changer to make shopping easy.  If you only do one thing I would listen to one of the following podcasts a day for the next 7 days.

Day 1 - Preservative 282

Day 2 - Annatto 160B

Day 3 - Perservative 220

Day 4 - Caramel 150c

Day 5 - Take Away Foods

Day 6 - Swapping it up

Day 7 -  Embracing the Change

School holidays and visiting the Koalas at the Daisy Hill Koala Centre.

Still making this laundry power for our washing which I love.

This Apple Slice recipe of my Mother in Law's is amazing I can highly recommend it.

Baking in the Country when my friend moved to acreage 15 minutes from me we would spend a day together doing some sort of baking and preserving.

I have been making this Mayonnaise and Coleslaw Dressing since 2019 which takes all of 10 minutes to get the ingredients out and whip it up with a stick blender.  Super easy, economical and best of all no nasty additives and preservatives.

Around here - Celebrating Motherhood - The Magic in the Everyday

Whilst my Motherhood journey is at the other end of the spectrum the value in all those years of photographing our everyday lives remains immeasurable.  Regardless of the unique circumstances we face, the power of photography transcends, reminding us that the essence of Motherhood lies in the beauty of everyday moments, forever cherished and treasured.

I've created a Free Facebook Group for Mothers who are just starting out on their journey as Mothers or Mothers who already have a number of kids.  Whether you have a camera or just an iPhone you are welcome to join for tips and tricks and a space where we can encourage you to get in the frame and document your day to day life.  If you are reading this blog post and you know any Mothers this would be of interest to, please pass these details on as I've just opened this group.  I'm passionate about Motherhood and celebrating all the things we do.

Here is the link to the Free Facebook Group.  Celebrating Motherhood - The Magic in the Everyday.

Around here - Ikigai Book Review

One of my passions is buying books and since 2008 I have been buying books from the UK Book Depository as the books get delivered to my door and free postage.  The sad news announced on the 5th April, 2023 that they are closing down on the 26th April, 2023.

Book Depository is a UK-based online book seller with a large catalogue offering free shipping to over 160 countries.  Founded by a former Amazon employee, it was acquired by Amazon on the 4th July, 2011.  My first reaction when I heard the news was because of Amazon they were closing down however Amazon actually owns them so it's not a business going out of business because of Amazon.

I don't buy novels however I buy lots of simple living, gardening, mindful books and stories and have purchased lots and lots of books over the years.  I don't buy clothes, shoes or handbags but I love buying interesting books.

A book which I purchased recently is called "IKIGAI". I had to google and listen to someone actually say the word so I could pronounce it myself.  IKIGAI - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.  I thought I would summarize the principals of Ikigai so I have a record of them on my blog too.  I loved this book and can highly recommend reading it.

The Ten Rules of IKIGAI are as follows:-

1.  Stay active; don't retire.  Those who give up the things they love doing and do well lose their purpose in life.  That's why it's so important to keep doing things of value, making progress, brining beauty or utility to others, helping out, shaping the world around you, even after your "official" professional activity has ended.

2.  Take it slow.  Being in a hurry is inversely proportional to quality of life.  As the old saying goes, "Walk slowly and you'll go far".  When we leave urgency behind, life and time take on a new meaning.

3.  Don't fill your stomach.  Less is more when it comes to eating for long life, too.  According to the 80 percent rule, in order to stay healthier longer, we should eat a little less than our hunger demands instead of stuffing ourselves.

4.  Surround yourself with good friends.  Friends are the best medicine, there for confiding worries over a good chat, sharing stories that brighten your day, getting advice, having fun, dreaming...in other words, living.

5.  Get in shape for your next birthday.  Water moves, it is at its best when it flows fresh and doesn't stagnate.  The body you move through life in needs a bit of daily maintenance to keep it running for a long time.  Plus, exercise releases hormones that make us feel happy.

6.  Smile.  A cheerful attitude is not only relaxing - it also helps make friends.  It's good to recognize the things that aren't so great, but we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world so full of possibilities.

7.  Reconnect with nature.  Though most people live in cities these days, human beings are made to be part of the natural world.  We should return to it often to recharge our batteries.

8.  Give thanks.  To your ancestors, to nature, which provides you with the air you breathe and the food you eat, to your friends and family, to everything that brightens your days and makes you feel lucky to be alive.  Spend a moment every day giving thanks, and you'll watch your stockpile of happiness grow.

9.  Live in the moment.  Stop regretting the past and fearing the future.  Today is all you have.  Make the most of it.  Make it worth remembering.

10.  Follow your ikigai.  There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end.  If you don't know what your ikigai is yet, as Viktor Frankl says, your mission is to discover it.

I absolutely loved this book and can highly recommend buying it or seeing if the library has it.  A book I did get out of the library a while back which is also good is by Dan Buettner called "The Blue Zones"  Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest.  I find this subject fascinating.