Monthly Nine - July

Well here we are again and we are looking back and focusing on the 9 areas of simple living that Christine started back in 2012.  Linda our wonderful host has been really busy so pop over and check out what she has been up to and join in and share what has been going on in your world over the past month.

Here is what we have been up to over the month of July.

Nourish -Make and bake as much as possible from scratch. Ditch over packaged, over processed convenience foods and opt for 'real' food instead.
July was a busy month with me going back to university and this month the stockpile of meals in the freezer came in so handy.  It gave me so much more freedom to get into a routine and get used to studying again.  I also tried to make meals that lasted a few days.

Prepare - Stockpile and preserve. Freeze extra meals or excess garden/market produce. Bottle/can, dehydrate or pickle foods to enjoy when they are not in season.
I made some pumpkin soup and I have made another batch of fresh pasta that gives us 6 meals.

Reduce - Cut down on household waste by re-using, re-purposing and repairing.

Not much happening on this front this month.

Green - Start (or continue!) using homemade cleaners, body products and basic herbal remedies. The options are endless, the savings huge and the health benefits enormous.
Not much to report in this area although I have been reading a great book on making your own herbal remedies.

Grow - plant/harvest. What's growing this month? What's being eaten from the garden?

Just like last month there are spring onions, mini capsicum, as well as lettuce and silverbeet too. The egg production has picked up a little which is great as we love eggs.
We have heaps of herbs going and I have both thyme and sage going well and ready to use as a cold remedy should one hit. 

Create - To fill a need or feed the soul. Create for ourselves or for others.

I have been working on a crochet blanket and it is coming along nicely.  It is currently over 1.2 metres square and every night I do a little more.  I am using it as one of my tactics to help me sleep better at night.

Discover - Feed the mind by reading texts relevant to current interests.

I have been reading lots over the past month both fiction and non fiction and a few of the books have been really great so will be getting a post of their own.

Enhance - Community

Not much to report here

Enjoy - Life! Embrace moments with friends and family. Marking the seasons, celebrations and new arrivals are all cause for enjoyment.

This month both Hubby and I celebrated our birthdays this month and Hubby turned the big 40 so we had a party in the park with family and friends.  I did all of the catering except the cake and got lots of compliments about the range of tasty salads I made.

Hubby and I

My bestie and I

Jessie keeping our friend Frank company

All the boys

What have you been up to?