It's funny when something I plan to do gets a reinforcing message such as the one posted on Molly's blog today. I am even more convinced that I need to lose weight and get fit to prepare for what is facing the World in the not so distant future.
A future with famines, eco refugees and widespread poverty are horrifically frightening to me. I need to be fit and healthy to give my family the best chance for the future.
Can't imagine trying to climb fences to scrump apples in my present condition ;)
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Friday, 29 August 2008
Our fair share, reduction of food consumption and one fat Crone
I have gained 14kg's this year. In my defence my endocrinologist says that most of it is due to the corrective meds for Graves disease but I have to be totally honest and say
"I'm way too fat, I eat too much"
Now given that I am trying to live in a gentle, ethical manner I think that the time has come for me to start eating healthily and being honest about the amounts of food I am consuming. There is just no need for me to eat the Tots leftovers; I need to give them less to start with and let them eat as much as they need. I also need to get back into portion control and slow down my rate of chewing.
I have to let go of the "finish everything on your plate" mentality.
I am exhausted with lack of sleep and have been eating way to many sugary treats (yes they are homemade but they are still high in calories) than I need. I make the Tots eat fruit as snacks, now I need to walk the talk.
Speaking of walking, I shall be trying to boost my metabolism with some daily exercise.
So, Day one stats (and this is killing me being so open and honest about how fat I have become)
Height: 161cms
Weight: 96kg's
Mood: Grumpy
Edited to be even more honest: The reason for my newfound inspiration to lose weight, nothing elevated or spiritual or love thy fellow man. Nope, it was being hugged by one of the Tots at preschool today and hearing her say out aloud
"Mumma, you have the biggest bum!"
"I'm way too fat, I eat too much"
Now given that I am trying to live in a gentle, ethical manner I think that the time has come for me to start eating healthily and being honest about the amounts of food I am consuming. There is just no need for me to eat the Tots leftovers; I need to give them less to start with and let them eat as much as they need. I also need to get back into portion control and slow down my rate of chewing.
I have to let go of the "finish everything on your plate" mentality.
I am exhausted with lack of sleep and have been eating way to many sugary treats (yes they are homemade but they are still high in calories) than I need. I make the Tots eat fruit as snacks, now I need to walk the talk.
Speaking of walking, I shall be trying to boost my metabolism with some daily exercise.
So, Day one stats (and this is killing me being so open and honest about how fat I have become)
Height: 161cms
Weight: 96kg's
Mood: Grumpy
Edited to be even more honest: The reason for my newfound inspiration to lose weight, nothing elevated or spiritual or love thy fellow man. Nope, it was being hugged by one of the Tots at preschool today and hearing her say out aloud
"Mumma, you have the biggest bum!"
Thursday, 28 August 2008
"Crone, Crone!"
"Quick wife, come here! There's a slug in the spinach! Arggghhhhh Aiiii yaaaaa, it's even got a shell!" Said in a freaking out Chinese accent
"That's a snail you twit!" Said with a snort in an English accent!
"That's a snail you twit!" Said with a snort in an English accent!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Into the mind of The Crone
You've all had those wonderful dreams of time travel haven't you? You know the ones where you experience all the sights, smells and emotions of another place in time.
Well imagine that you found yourself in the midst of Henry VIII's Tudor England. Ohhhhh, royalty, I hear you mutter to yourself! Gorgeous clothes, carriages, intrigue! Don't forget those men with swords!
No such luck in my dreams though; I was a bloody gardener playing with the worms! Yes, if I was astral travelling in any shape or form, I had to go and find myself the only compost heap in the universe in which to do so!
You all stopped giggling yet?
Just editing to add that it was the most glorious compost heap; the soil was dark and sweet and alive with lovely plump long worms!
Well imagine that you found yourself in the midst of Henry VIII's Tudor England. Ohhhhh, royalty, I hear you mutter to yourself! Gorgeous clothes, carriages, intrigue! Don't forget those men with swords!
No such luck in my dreams though; I was a bloody gardener playing with the worms! Yes, if I was astral travelling in any shape or form, I had to go and find myself the only compost heap in the universe in which to do so!
You all stopped giggling yet?
Just editing to add that it was the most glorious compost heap; the soil was dark and sweet and alive with lovely plump long worms!
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Finally the camera works
Or to be more truthful, The Teen showed me how to use the new one (blush).
Last years lavender cuttings with the Blue Moon rose beside
Coffee tree (you can see last years heat burn from the nursery)
Lychee
Last years lavender cuttings with the Blue Moon rose beside
Can you spot the eggplant?
Edible Chrysanthemuns! I am going to dry some of the petals to make tea!
The second straw bale bed :)
Coffee tree (you can see last years heat burn from the nursery)
Lychee
Pepino
Nectarine in blossom
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
A couple of questions for you
Firstly, why is the man flu so much more debilitating than what women get?
Secondly, why do gardeners compost? No, seriously, why do we compost? When leaves fall on the ground they don't walk into nice little piles and call out
"Please turn me every couple of weeks and don't forget a bit of lime"
No, they just lie there until some fruit falls on top, then maybe a bit of roo poo or the roo itself. The worms do the turning and then the whole layering mulching thing starts again.
So, why have we reinvented a perfectly designed wheel that Mother Nature thought out first?
Oh and another question for you; How much honey and lemon tea does it take to kill a man suffering from Man Flu?
Secondly, why do gardeners compost? No, seriously, why do we compost? When leaves fall on the ground they don't walk into nice little piles and call out
"Please turn me every couple of weeks and don't forget a bit of lime"
No, they just lie there until some fruit falls on top, then maybe a bit of roo poo or the roo itself. The worms do the turning and then the whole layering mulching thing starts again.
So, why have we reinvented a perfectly designed wheel that Mother Nature thought out first?
Oh and another question for you; How much honey and lemon tea does it take to kill a man suffering from Man Flu?
Monday, 18 August 2008
Blatant product endorsement!
I love love love my Diva cup and have just bought another one for my Teen. If you have ever thought about switching from disposable feminine hygiene products to a Diva cup then now is a great time to try one as they are on sale here and you can get another $5.00 off by using a discount code ARA177
Sunday, 17 August 2008
I don't care who wins this bet because ultimately we all lose
http://backseatdriving.blogspot.com/2007/04/new-global-warming-bet-for-7-10.html
I am literally throwing my hands up in the air and officially saying
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ANYMORE OTHER THAN THINGS ARE CHANGING AT A FRIGHTENING PACE AND I AM JUST GOING TO PLAN ON LIVING MY LIFE IN A NON CONSUMERIST AND ETHICAL MANNER"
Sorry, was I just shouting?
That should convey to you just how I am feeling right now! I watched 60 minutes tonight and you know what? I am more confused than ever. Global warming, Global Dimming, carbon not responsible for climate change, Economic Doom if we adopt a Carbon Trading Scheme, Environmental doom if we don't.
I just want to grow beans, you know!
I am going to go to bed soon and ponder, but you know what? I am fast reaching the point where I need to switch off the media and just 'be'.
If any of you have more clarity on the subject, let me know!
I am literally throwing my hands up in the air and officially saying
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ANYMORE OTHER THAN THINGS ARE CHANGING AT A FRIGHTENING PACE AND I AM JUST GOING TO PLAN ON LIVING MY LIFE IN A NON CONSUMERIST AND ETHICAL MANNER"
Sorry, was I just shouting?
That should convey to you just how I am feeling right now! I watched 60 minutes tonight and you know what? I am more confused than ever. Global warming, Global Dimming, carbon not responsible for climate change, Economic Doom if we adopt a Carbon Trading Scheme, Environmental doom if we don't.
I just want to grow beans, you know!
I am going to go to bed soon and ponder, but you know what? I am fast reaching the point where I need to switch off the media and just 'be'.
If any of you have more clarity on the subject, let me know!
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Just hand me a shovel and call me a Dwarf...
In my usual frugal manner I have sourced a supply of free mulch. There is only one condition; you have to accept whatever they dump on your front lawn which in our case was the entire contents of the mulching truck! This smoking heap stood higher than me (yes, I will get to the Dwarf bit in a minute) and even with me diligently shovelling away for the week, I have hardly made a dent in the pile!
I am a bit worried in case I can't shift it all before the hot weather rolls around. Mulch piles can spontaneously combust can't they?
I also took possession of my box of berries (all fifteen of them!), strawberries, loganberries, silvanberries, youngberries, blueberries, elderberries and raspberries. This has been an interesting exercise as I have realised that I have probably run out of planting room in my beds/surrounds and it is going to have to be pots from now on! Ohhh, just had a thought; there is a wattle taking up space in the 'forest' :)
Yes, I'm getting to the dwaft bit now. I had my check up at the hospital on Wednesday and it appears that I have been shrinking. I have lost two cm's in a year :( Now when you are only 163 cm's tall, every cm counts! So my eco footprint isn't the only thing that is shrinking!
Hormonal hair growth, shrinking stature, shovel in hand and Graves disease (makes you very firey), just sew me a hat and call me Grumpy!
I am a bit worried in case I can't shift it all before the hot weather rolls around. Mulch piles can spontaneously combust can't they?
I also took possession of my box of berries (all fifteen of them!), strawberries, loganberries, silvanberries, youngberries, blueberries, elderberries and raspberries. This has been an interesting exercise as I have realised that I have probably run out of planting room in my beds/surrounds and it is going to have to be pots from now on! Ohhh, just had a thought; there is a wattle taking up space in the 'forest' :)
Yes, I'm getting to the dwaft bit now. I had my check up at the hospital on Wednesday and it appears that I have been shrinking. I have lost two cm's in a year :( Now when you are only 163 cm's tall, every cm counts! So my eco footprint isn't the only thing that is shrinking!
Hormonal hair growth, shrinking stature, shovel in hand and Graves disease (makes you very firey), just sew me a hat and call me Grumpy!
Sunday, 10 August 2008
18.7 degrees today :)
Whilst my dear friends in the ACT were shovelling snow from their driveways today, I baked bread in my solar oven!
Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, it was the perfect treat to come home too after a day at the Perth Zoo!
Hurry up and move to Perth dear ones!
Crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, it was the perfect treat to come home too after a day at the Perth Zoo!
Hurry up and move to Perth dear ones!
Saturday, 9 August 2008
I'm resigned to a life of dishpan hands
The Husband came home this morning bouncing and trilling with joy. He had spent his hour 'free time' at Harvey Norman and wanted to drag me back to look at some incredible deal for a Meile dishwasher.
"TAKE IT AWAY, NO MORE TO PAY $879, BELLS, WHISTLES, RARARARA" You get the idea?
Now if any of you reading are retail salespeople by profession, take note! When I ask about energy saving and water efficiency, I mean what I say, I am serious. Please don't dismiss me by saying,
"Who cares, water and electricity are cheap!"
I kid you not, she really did say this to me. Not a good start to a sales pitch :)
Well, I looked. I saw that it was indeed a nice model and I am sure that it would save a lot of water and make my life a whole heap easier by hiding dirty dishes in the machine all day long.
But I have a cunning plan;
I will hide all my dishes in the sink, soaking in water collected during the day and wash them by hand at night. Then when the Tots get older, they can take it in turns washing, drying and putting the dishes away :) :) :)
Oh, and the money saved by not buying the dishwasher has been allocated to a much worthier cause; Solar panels and a solar hot water system!
"TAKE IT AWAY, NO MORE TO PAY $879, BELLS, WHISTLES, RARARARA" You get the idea?
Now if any of you reading are retail salespeople by profession, take note! When I ask about energy saving and water efficiency, I mean what I say, I am serious. Please don't dismiss me by saying,
"Who cares, water and electricity are cheap!"
I kid you not, she really did say this to me. Not a good start to a sales pitch :)
Well, I looked. I saw that it was indeed a nice model and I am sure that it would save a lot of water and make my life a whole heap easier by hiding dirty dishes in the machine all day long.
But I have a cunning plan;
I will hide all my dishes in the sink, soaking in water collected during the day and wash them by hand at night. Then when the Tots get older, they can take it in turns washing, drying and putting the dishes away :) :) :)
Oh, and the money saved by not buying the dishwasher has been allocated to a much worthier cause; Solar panels and a solar hot water system!
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Pepinos
Well I am so glad that I didn't sign up for Crunchy Chicken's latest challenge because I seriously suck this month!
I stopped off at the nursery today to see if I could find any leeks anywhere. I had to buy one the other day and it was $5 for one! Of course it is too late in the season for leeks and I couldn't find any but I did find this little beauty
Pepino tastes like honeydew melons and grow on a bush. I also bought a climbing Blue Moon rose :)
I stopped off at the nursery today to see if I could find any leeks anywhere. I had to buy one the other day and it was $5 for one! Of course it is too late in the season for leeks and I couldn't find any but I did find this little beauty
Pepino tastes like honeydew melons and grow on a bush. I also bought a climbing Blue Moon rose :)
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
I must be calming down
Because for the first time in months, I want to buy and plant some pretties :)
I am looking at roses, can you believe it?! I love Mr Lincoln and Blue moon in particular. I have no idea if they will grow well in WA but I am going to see if I can find some. I am also on the lookout for Banksia roses. I think they will look lovely growing up and blocking out the Bogan neighbours :) (or perhaps a nice Boganvillia?)
I am looking at roses, can you believe it?! I love Mr Lincoln and Blue moon in particular. I have no idea if they will grow well in WA but I am going to see if I can find some. I am also on the lookout for Banksia roses. I think they will look lovely growing up and blocking out the Bogan neighbours :) (or perhaps a nice Boganvillia?)
Monday, 4 August 2008
Now about that Seed Swap
Hey Cath, share the link pic code for the WA seed swap!
Oh yeah, forgot you might not be online seeing as you tried to perform surgery on your own finger ;)
Oh yeah, forgot you might not be online seeing as you tried to perform surgery on your own finger ;)
Friday, 1 August 2008
I've been a bit quiet lately
You know how you get a whiteboard and an artline and are told to brainstorm? Well consider this the whiteboard
Rain
Hot chocolate
More rain,
weight gain
thyroid meds
weight gain
Cooking chocolate
broken camera
twitchy
Rain, rain, rain
insomniac tots
exhaustion
More chocolate
Mount Washmore
Nearly crashed the Big Red Car
More Sodding rain
That's been my boring week and I guess you can see where my head is at from the above list.
Rain
Hot chocolate
More rain,
weight gain
thyroid meds
weight gain
Cooking chocolate
broken camera
twitchy
Rain, rain, rain
insomniac tots
exhaustion
More chocolate
Mount Washmore
Nearly crashed the Big Red Car
More Sodding rain
That's been my boring week and I guess you can see where my head is at from the above list.
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