Now I am the first to admit that my hubby works pretty darn hard.
He works in a very physical job as an Arborist (Tree Dr) and spends his days climbing trees, cutting them down and fixing them up (not necessarily in that order).
In addition to his job being physically demanding he also generally works 6 days a week, 8+ hours a day, most weeks then still has to come home and help out on the farm. This leave little quality time as a couple.
He is often over tired and the last thing he wants to do is slog it out mowing 1/4 acre of lawn with a push mower, not even a self propelled push mower might I add.
Until recently we had shared the job of mowing lawns but I currently have an injured back so cannot help out.
So when the idea of purchasing a ride on lawn mower was raised yet again I realised that yes it was time to give this the go ahead even though it represented a substantial outlay of savings.
So he got online and made some calls to see where he could get the best deal. Thankfully mowers and chainsaws are often sold in the same shops so he was able to go to a retailer he regularly deals with and get a good deal, $400 off the RRP.
So off he set to pick up the new mower.
He returned a few hours later with the new mower and pleased as punch and it was time for a test run.
Well what a breeze. It mows forwards and backwards and took only half the time that it does with a push mower and that was without really having the swing of it.
The verdict.
Well yes it was a lot of money but considering we only get 2 full days a fortnight to spend together, and some of that has to be spent doing chores, I think that the extra time we gain will work out to be worth every cent.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
One Naughty Puppy
Earlier this year we got a puppy (Jessie) and she has been giving us lots of love and entertainment.
We had been talking about getting a puppy for a while so we were aware of the time and effort required as well as what to expect in terms of naughty puppy behaviour.
We have been taking her to puppy school and so far I feel we have achieved quite a lot, sitting, walking on the lead, not coming inside when the door is open (well most of the time) and generally being a fairly good little puppy for her 4 months of age.
However, she has recently developed an unhealthy obsession with the chickens.
Until now she has not been too interested and just sat outside the Chicken run (a large 6m x 15m enclosure surrounded by .9m fence) looking through the wire or watched them if we let them out into the house yard.
But she has now decided the best fun of all is to climb the fence and chase the chickens around the run.
So the chickens are squawking and flapping and the more they squawk and flap the more excited Jessie gets. She has never tried to catch one, she is just chasing them, but I have a bad feeling the catching part is not too far away if we don't nip this it the bud.
Now I cannot blame Jessie entirely for the bad behaviour as she is a Kelpie and Kelpies are herding dogs with huge energy potential (adults can heard stock covering up to 40km in a day and still not be exhausted), so she is doing what comes naturally to her. But this cannot go on.
The chickens can't take the stress and quite frankly I can't either!
Tomorrow night is puppy school so no doubt the trainer will have some tips for us. But because training takes time action had to be taken.
So early this morning I went to town and purchased some 1.8m garden stakes and a roll of chicken wire. Hubby is currently out in the rain raising our fence to 1.6m (bless his (wet) cotton socks) which will buy us some time while the training takes place.
I have just been out to inspect/pass approval on the work being undertaken and it is looking good. So good in fact that my mind has started running through a list of climbing plants that might like to take advantage of this new fence. And that is where I leave you. I'm off to see what kind of chicken proof, climbing, hopefully food producing plants I can plant around the run.
We had been talking about getting a puppy for a while so we were aware of the time and effort required as well as what to expect in terms of naughty puppy behaviour.
We have been taking her to puppy school and so far I feel we have achieved quite a lot, sitting, walking on the lead, not coming inside when the door is open (well most of the time) and generally being a fairly good little puppy for her 4 months of age.
However, she has recently developed an unhealthy obsession with the chickens.
Until now she has not been too interested and just sat outside the Chicken run (a large 6m x 15m enclosure surrounded by .9m fence) looking through the wire or watched them if we let them out into the house yard.
But she has now decided the best fun of all is to climb the fence and chase the chickens around the run.
So the chickens are squawking and flapping and the more they squawk and flap the more excited Jessie gets. She has never tried to catch one, she is just chasing them, but I have a bad feeling the catching part is not too far away if we don't nip this it the bud.
Now I cannot blame Jessie entirely for the bad behaviour as she is a Kelpie and Kelpies are herding dogs with huge energy potential (adults can heard stock covering up to 40km in a day and still not be exhausted), so she is doing what comes naturally to her. But this cannot go on.
The chickens can't take the stress and quite frankly I can't either!
Tomorrow night is puppy school so no doubt the trainer will have some tips for us. But because training takes time action had to be taken.
So early this morning I went to town and purchased some 1.8m garden stakes and a roll of chicken wire. Hubby is currently out in the rain raising our fence to 1.6m (bless his (wet) cotton socks) which will buy us some time while the training takes place.
I have just been out to inspect/pass approval on the work being undertaken and it is looking good. So good in fact that my mind has started running through a list of climbing plants that might like to take advantage of this new fence. And that is where I leave you. I'm off to see what kind of chicken proof, climbing, hopefully food producing plants I can plant around the run.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
The Loss of the Still To Come
Today is a sad day for me as it marks 12 months since my best friend Trevor took his own life after a long battle with injury, mental illness and depression.
But when I say sad I don't mean bury my head in a pillow all day sobbing kind of sad (although a few tears have been shed today), more of a sad he is not here to share life's experience's with me sad. Sad that he did not have the strength to carry on and sad that his illness did not allow him to see the the possibility of a better time to come.
I remember all of the good times we shared, all of the mischief that we got up to and that brings a smile to my face, but I think it is part of human nature to always be thinking about the time to come, the experiences you are yet to have together.
And that's what I miss. The still to come, the possibility of what might have been.
As someone not prone to depression I choose to live my life looking for the good and the precious and the beauty of life regardless of how dark life might seem to be. I have learnt that even in the darkest weather there is always the promise of sun after the rain and that sometimes it is the stormy weather that allows us to build strong roots and defences to help us stand up in tough times to come.
Sadly the reality is that for some people depression and mental illness is a part of their daily life.
Sometimes as a spectator like I was, living through the feelings of helplessness and the constant fear of where this might lead. And sometimes as a participant where the dark days outnumber the bright.
According to Beyond Blue one in five of us will suffer from depression at some stage of our lives. So while it might be difficult to start the discussion with a friend or family member about how they are feeling it is often more difficult for them to come to you and let you know there is a problem.
So get out there people. Touch base with your friends and family. Check in and say hello, let them know that you are there. And if you need help seek it, let your friends and family know how you are feeling.
For everyone regardless of if you are the support person or the sufferer go to http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx for more information about where you can get help and support.
And if you are able donate, volunteer or get involved please do so, remember one in five pretty much means we will all be touched by this at some time in our lives.
But when I say sad I don't mean bury my head in a pillow all day sobbing kind of sad (although a few tears have been shed today), more of a sad he is not here to share life's experience's with me sad. Sad that he did not have the strength to carry on and sad that his illness did not allow him to see the the possibility of a better time to come.
I remember all of the good times we shared, all of the mischief that we got up to and that brings a smile to my face, but I think it is part of human nature to always be thinking about the time to come, the experiences you are yet to have together.
And that's what I miss. The still to come, the possibility of what might have been.
As someone not prone to depression I choose to live my life looking for the good and the precious and the beauty of life regardless of how dark life might seem to be. I have learnt that even in the darkest weather there is always the promise of sun after the rain and that sometimes it is the stormy weather that allows us to build strong roots and defences to help us stand up in tough times to come.
Sadly the reality is that for some people depression and mental illness is a part of their daily life.
Sometimes as a spectator like I was, living through the feelings of helplessness and the constant fear of where this might lead. And sometimes as a participant where the dark days outnumber the bright.
According to Beyond Blue one in five of us will suffer from depression at some stage of our lives. So while it might be difficult to start the discussion with a friend or family member about how they are feeling it is often more difficult for them to come to you and let you know there is a problem.
So get out there people. Touch base with your friends and family. Check in and say hello, let them know that you are there. And if you need help seek it, let your friends and family know how you are feeling.
For everyone regardless of if you are the support person or the sufferer go to http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx for more information about where you can get help and support.
And if you are able donate, volunteer or get involved please do so, remember one in five pretty much means we will all be touched by this at some time in our lives.
Friday, 25 March 2011
Possession Obsession
With the latest technology release (iPad 2) only hours away the hype surrounding it got me thinking about societies obsession with possessions, and more specifically the constant upgrading of items we already have.
We all know of people who are convinced that they must have and can't live without the latest gadget, fashion item or appliance.
This craze of always having the latest version of something even though the one we have is still in perfect working order baffles me and illustrates the type of wasteful society we have become. How far removed we are from the lifestyles of our parents, grandparents and those who lived through the depression.
How is it that as a society we are prepared to camp out overnight in the street just to be the first to have that latest "thing" yet many people are no longer courteous to one and another, possess basic manners or do not have the patience to tolerate minor inconveniences, such as slow drivers, without becoming agitated?
And for What?
What does ownership of that item actually get you? Respect? Admiration? A feeling of belonging to an exclusive group the "first to haves".
I suspect that this validation from being in the "first to haves" group is short lived.
Within a matter of days many other people have become a "first to have" and the exclusive bubble is burst. You are no longer receiving interest from your peers as they too are joining the now not so exclusive group. Then within months, if not weeks, they are everywhere, almost commonplace, and that feeling of elation and validation is over. Now you are just one of the masses.
And then you hear about it. The next "it" thing. You just have to have it.
So there you are back on that mouse wheel, always trying to stay ahead of the pack. And where does it get you? The short answer is not very far. There will always be a next thing.
So what is it that people are missing from their lives? How is it that we have become disconnected from each other and instead are connected to machines that feign a personal connection?
For an in depth look at where we are as a society on some of these topics I would suggest reading "Affluenza" by Clive Hamilton.
Our houses are bigger than ever, but our families are smaller. Our kids go to the best schools we can afford, but we hardly see them. We've got more money to spend, yet we're further in debt than ever before. What is going on?
The Western world is in the grip of a consumption binge that is unique in human history. We aspire to the lifestyles of the rich and famous at the cost of family, friends and personal fulfilment. Rates of stress, depression and obesity are up as we wrestle with the emptiness and endless disappointments of the consumer life.
Affluenza pulls no punches, claiming our whole society is addicted to over consumption. It tracks how much Australians overwork, the growing mountains of stuff we throw out, the drugs we take to ‘self-medicate' and the real meaning of ‘choice'. Fortunately there is a cure. More and more Australians are deciding to ignore the advertisers, reduce their consumer spending and recapture their time for the things that really matter.
This is fantastic must read book that I encourage everyone to read. If you ever felt like you were caught in the spending trap and wanted to get out this book will help you see how you are constantly being sold to and give you ideas about how break free from the cycle and recognize the manipulation that goes on.
Even if you a living a simple life I think you will find this book a great read and maybe like me you will feel like perhaps you are doing a good job of fighting off the suggestion that shopping will make you happy and solve your problems.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
We all know of people who are convinced that they must have and can't live without the latest gadget, fashion item or appliance.
This craze of always having the latest version of something even though the one we have is still in perfect working order baffles me and illustrates the type of wasteful society we have become. How far removed we are from the lifestyles of our parents, grandparents and those who lived through the depression.
How is it that as a society we are prepared to camp out overnight in the street just to be the first to have that latest "thing" yet many people are no longer courteous to one and another, possess basic manners or do not have the patience to tolerate minor inconveniences, such as slow drivers, without becoming agitated?
And for What?
What does ownership of that item actually get you? Respect? Admiration? A feeling of belonging to an exclusive group the "first to haves".
I suspect that this validation from being in the "first to haves" group is short lived.
Within a matter of days many other people have become a "first to have" and the exclusive bubble is burst. You are no longer receiving interest from your peers as they too are joining the now not so exclusive group. Then within months, if not weeks, they are everywhere, almost commonplace, and that feeling of elation and validation is over. Now you are just one of the masses.
And then you hear about it. The next "it" thing. You just have to have it.
So there you are back on that mouse wheel, always trying to stay ahead of the pack. And where does it get you? The short answer is not very far. There will always be a next thing.
So what is it that people are missing from their lives? How is it that we have become disconnected from each other and instead are connected to machines that feign a personal connection?
For an in depth look at where we are as a society on some of these topics I would suggest reading "Affluenza" by Clive Hamilton.
Affluenza
Af-flu-en-za (n). 1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the Australian dream. 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.Our houses are bigger than ever, but our families are smaller. Our kids go to the best schools we can afford, but we hardly see them. We've got more money to spend, yet we're further in debt than ever before. What is going on?
The Western world is in the grip of a consumption binge that is unique in human history. We aspire to the lifestyles of the rich and famous at the cost of family, friends and personal fulfilment. Rates of stress, depression and obesity are up as we wrestle with the emptiness and endless disappointments of the consumer life.
Affluenza pulls no punches, claiming our whole society is addicted to over consumption. It tracks how much Australians overwork, the growing mountains of stuff we throw out, the drugs we take to ‘self-medicate' and the real meaning of ‘choice'. Fortunately there is a cure. More and more Australians are deciding to ignore the advertisers, reduce their consumer spending and recapture their time for the things that really matter.
This is fantastic must read book that I encourage everyone to read. If you ever felt like you were caught in the spending trap and wanted to get out this book will help you see how you are constantly being sold to and give you ideas about how break free from the cycle and recognize the manipulation that goes on.
Even if you a living a simple life I think you will find this book a great read and maybe like me you will feel like perhaps you are doing a good job of fighting off the suggestion that shopping will make you happy and solve your problems.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
Monday, 21 March 2011
A Baking Bonanza - Banana Cake, Bread and Biscuits
Over the space of 4 hours today I managed to get done what I have been trying to do for the last 2 months.
Earlier this year the oven from my upright stove stopped working. The stove top still worked but no oven, no grill.
Parts were ordered and a repair man came and replaced what appeared to be a faulty part and left. I turned the oven dial and hooray the oven was working again so I set about preheating the oven and making some biscuits.
Then 5 minutes later and "Click" and off goes the oven. Ahrrrrr!
It's now after 5pm on a Friday so the biscuit dough goes into the freezer and it's another weekend without an oven.
Monday rolls around, I call the electrician explain what happened and he orders another part believing the first to be faulty, and 2 weeks later the saga repeats and he is back to install it, again.
Turns out that it wasn't the oven at all, but a faulty wire in the fuse board that failed when ever the was a load put on it (ie lots of power needed to heat the oven). Bless that electrician and his patience my issue is finally resolved.
So back to the baking.
The Bread
Last year the ABC ran a fantastic cooking series "The Free Range Cook" staring Annabel Langbein and all about creating great home cooked meals using produce from the garden with very little fuss.
Annabel demonstrated a "Busy Peoples Bread" http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/14548/busy-peoples-breadrecipie that I had been dying to try.
There is no kneading or waiting for it to rise, it makes two loaves and the mix takes less than 15 minutes to make. So I gave it a go.
Despite the fact that it sunk in the middle (because I should have given it 5 minutes more and was too impatient to wait) it was fantastic and I will be making it again. If you like a Vogels style loaf that is moist and full of seeds then this one is for you.
I also think I will try out some different seed combos for the filling, I'm thinking pumpkin seeds and linseed's in the mix.
The Banana Cake and Biscuits
While the bread was baking I got the biscuit dough out of the freezer to finally make those biscuits I'd been waiting to make. And then i saw the bananas.
Hubby loves to have banana smoothies for breakfast but doesn't like really overripe bananas (who would have thought it mattered for a smoothie but apparently it does).
So because I hate to waste food every over ripe banana goes into the freezer and if I'm not careful that one banana a week builds up till the freezer door is over run with frozen bananas.
Clearly an banana cake was on the cards.
So I whipped up the cake mix while the bread finished cooking and the biscuit dough thawed and as the bread came out the cake went in. Then while the cake cooked and the bread cooled the biscuits took shape. Two dozen choc chip, two doz jam drops and a dozen cranberry.
I have been using the same basic biscuit recipe for ages and just change the fillers. It is so simple with only 4 ingredients, makes 5 - 6 dozen biscuits depending on how big you make them and the dough freezes well for a few months (as I well know).
Now we all know that biscuits are not good for us in excess, but since both the dough and the cooked biscuits freeze well you don't have to eat them all at once, plus they are cheap to make and you know exactly what went into them.
I have attached the recipe so feel free to make up your own cookie creation.
Basic Biscuits
500gm Butter
1 Can of Condensed Milk
1 Cup of Sugar
6 - 6 cups of Self Raising Flour
Fillings/Toppings to your liking
Cream butter and sugar, add condensed milk and mix well, stir in flour. Divide mix and add Chocolate chips, sultanas or other fillings at this stage. Shape into balls and flatten. For Jam drops make a dent in the flattened biscuit and add 1/4 tsp of jam. Bake 180 degrees for 10 minutes or golden the cool on racks.
Earlier this year the oven from my upright stove stopped working. The stove top still worked but no oven, no grill.
Parts were ordered and a repair man came and replaced what appeared to be a faulty part and left. I turned the oven dial and hooray the oven was working again so I set about preheating the oven and making some biscuits.
Then 5 minutes later and "Click" and off goes the oven. Ahrrrrr!
It's now after 5pm on a Friday so the biscuit dough goes into the freezer and it's another weekend without an oven.
Monday rolls around, I call the electrician explain what happened and he orders another part believing the first to be faulty, and 2 weeks later the saga repeats and he is back to install it, again.
Turns out that it wasn't the oven at all, but a faulty wire in the fuse board that failed when ever the was a load put on it (ie lots of power needed to heat the oven). Bless that electrician and his patience my issue is finally resolved.
So back to the baking.
The Bread
Last year the ABC ran a fantastic cooking series "The Free Range Cook" staring Annabel Langbein and all about creating great home cooked meals using produce from the garden with very little fuss.
Annabel demonstrated a "Busy Peoples Bread" http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/14548/busy-peoples-breadrecipie that I had been dying to try.
There is no kneading or waiting for it to rise, it makes two loaves and the mix takes less than 15 minutes to make. So I gave it a go.
Despite the fact that it sunk in the middle (because I should have given it 5 minutes more and was too impatient to wait) it was fantastic and I will be making it again. If you like a Vogels style loaf that is moist and full of seeds then this one is for you.
I also think I will try out some different seed combos for the filling, I'm thinking pumpkin seeds and linseed's in the mix.
The Banana Cake and Biscuits
While the bread was baking I got the biscuit dough out of the freezer to finally make those biscuits I'd been waiting to make. And then i saw the bananas.
Hubby loves to have banana smoothies for breakfast but doesn't like really overripe bananas (who would have thought it mattered for a smoothie but apparently it does).
So because I hate to waste food every over ripe banana goes into the freezer and if I'm not careful that one banana a week builds up till the freezer door is over run with frozen bananas.
Clearly an banana cake was on the cards.
So I whipped up the cake mix while the bread finished cooking and the biscuit dough thawed and as the bread came out the cake went in. Then while the cake cooked and the bread cooled the biscuits took shape. Two dozen choc chip, two doz jam drops and a dozen cranberry.
I have been using the same basic biscuit recipe for ages and just change the fillers. It is so simple with only 4 ingredients, makes 5 - 6 dozen biscuits depending on how big you make them and the dough freezes well for a few months (as I well know).
Now we all know that biscuits are not good for us in excess, but since both the dough and the cooked biscuits freeze well you don't have to eat them all at once, plus they are cheap to make and you know exactly what went into them.
I have attached the recipe so feel free to make up your own cookie creation.
Basic Biscuits
500gm Butter
1 Can of Condensed Milk
1 Cup of Sugar
6 - 6 cups of Self Raising Flour
Fillings/Toppings to your liking
Cream butter and sugar, add condensed milk and mix well, stir in flour. Divide mix and add Chocolate chips, sultanas or other fillings at this stage. Shape into balls and flatten. For Jam drops make a dent in the flattened biscuit and add 1/4 tsp of jam. Bake 180 degrees for 10 minutes or golden the cool on racks.
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