Small Fail

I cooked a pork belly for dinner tonight.

My plan was for crispy skinned slow cooked pork belly.

Well, it was slow cooked and it was pork belly, but it was not crispy skinned!

Sadly, this is my second fail at crispy skin!

I scored the skin and I rubbed salt into it and I cooked it in the very hot oven (230C) for 30 minutes and then reduced the heat to 170C for the next two hours... just as the Jamie Oliver recipe suggested.

Last time I used a different recipe, but the instructions were basically the same.

My skin just doesn't go crispy.

The pork itself, was delicious and tender and melted in the mouth.

I lay it on a bed of apple, cabbage and bacon mix.  Potato mash and baked pumpkin on the side with a fairly disappointing gravy.

Unfortunately I had a visitor for a couple of hours this morning, so I didn't get to make the chocolate muffins as I'd planned.  That will be a job for tomorrow now.

It was another beautiful day today and after I'd been to the Seat of Knowledge, I pedalled around town for a while looking for 'something' to photograph.

There wasn't much happening, so this is all that I have to share today.

Adoring Husband and I are not doing very well in our local footy tipping comp this week.  We only have 2 out of 4 so far and the fifth game is not looking promising at this point .. however there is still 23 minutes to go, so there is still hope.

I'm off to cheer the losing team on!

Nite all.

Group Therapy

I don't know if you remember me telling you about the 104 group that I started in facebook a few years ago.

It's called '104 Things to Photograph in 404 Days', and I started the group to encourage some friends, and friends of friends with their photography.

The numbers in the group fluctuated a bit in the first year.

One or two people caused a bit of a stir and were asked to leave, others joined the group but never contributed, so I removed them.

Gradually the numbers steadied and after about 18 months, when most people had taken a lot of photos from the list, the group became quiet and needed a bit of a boost, so we began weekly challenges just to change things up a little.

That injected some new energy and soon we were all taking turns choosing themes for the challenges.  We had a lot of fun with that.

Each of us have shared a few highs and lows with each other over the THREE years that this group has been together ... I can't believe that it's been that long!

We've each provided some emotional support through some good and bad times, but since just before Christmas, the room became very quiet again.

So, at the beginning of this month, I set a new challenge.

"Ten photographs that show us a little bit about YOU, and a paragraph explaining why you chose each photo."

I expected 'light', 'trivial' or 'quirky' eg a photo of a dog with an explanation about how they acquired the dog and how it is now a family member OR photos from other countries with a description of the dream holiday OR collections of shoes, bags, jackets, teapots!

Not this group.

This group have posted photos from the most meaningful and deeply emotional moments in their lives and have written essays that have literally moved me to tears.

I wish I could share some of them here with you, but that's the beauty of the group.  It's closed and private, so we all know that it's just between us and we can bare our souls safely.

The best part is, that opening up about these massive events that changed our lives forever, seems to be linking us in a way that I never thought possible, and everyone is supporting and encouraging each other, which is beautiful to see.

The only problem that I have with it, is that I feel like it's almost 'expected' of me to share my own dramatic life moments (which I am very hesitant to do), but on the other hand, I don't want to trivialise their beautiful stories by posting a photo of my strange middle toe that is longer than my big toe!  I'm sure you understand what I mean.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this information because I am so amazed by the friendships that have formed, albeit in the cyber world, and how comfortable these ladies are, sharing intimate details of their private lives.

It seems that the timing of this challenge was spot on because some of us really needed to purge!

I love my 104 group :)

Nite all.  

Fire!

Yesterday, around lunchtime, a fire broke out in the forest just north of our town.  It's still burning.

The State Emergency Services were activated yesterday afternoon.

Adoring Husband, along with the majority of our local SES group, have spent the last 24 hours supporting the 50+ Volunteer Fire Brigade members, who have been working tirelessly fighting this fire.

The volunteers in these groups are all very dedicated and really deserve our respect and gratitude for keeping us safe.

This is what it looked like from my front driveway this afternoon...

The fire fighters are still out there keeping the fire at bay, while we sleep in the comfort of our beds.

While AH was fulfilling his SES duties, I was in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

I'll be away for a few days next week, so I've prepared some meals for AH to reheat in the oven.

Turkey Mince Shepherds Pie (which is also full of other veggies like spinach, carrot, zucchini and onion).

Chicken and Mushroom casserole (also has tomato, onion, chilli, spinach and zucchini).

Mini Sweet Potato and Potato bakes.

There is already Pumpkin Soup and a Beef and Veggie casserole prepared in the freezer.

Yes, you might gasp!!  "What a lucky man that Adoring Husband is, to have such a considerate and dedicated wife as she!"

Tomorrow, I have to make our special GF Muesli so that I can leave some for AH and also take some down to my little Chicklet.  I'll make some chocolate muffins, some of which I'll take with me for my Sunny Coast family.

Vegan Chickie will need a candle in one for her birthday on Sunday!  Note to self ... take a candle!

That's it for tonight.  Sleep time for me.

Nite all.

Start the Day

I don't know about you, but just recently I've been finding it a real struggle to get out of bed in the mornings!

I would rather lie in bed for an hour with my ipad, than get up and greet the day with enthusiasm.

I've decided that I don't like starting my day like that and I want a new routine.

So I've come up with this idea.

Positive ways to start your day:

• Before you even get out of bed, silently say 'thankyou' to the universe for allowing you to wake up and live another day.
• Lie comfortably in bed and look around.  Notice the beautiful morning light, listen to the early birds singing or just notice the colour and decor that you have created around you. 
• State an intention for the day eg be more patient with your husband,  make a 'catch up' phone call to an old friend, clean the windows or just take a quiet walk in your garden.
• Stand at your window and look outside at the sunshine or the pre-dawn light, better yet, step outside (in your pyjamas) and either feel the sunshine on your skin or feel the stillness of the early morning air.
• Go to the nearest mirror, look at your reflection, smile, say "Good Morning" to yourself, and then follow it up with "YOU ARE PERFECT, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE."

It doesn't matter if you are dieting, on a new fitness regime, are about to get a new haircut, are quitting smoking tomorrow or have absolutely no plans for yourself.

Right here, right now, as you look back at your reflection ... you really are perfect, just the way you are.

Now you should have a smile on your dial and a spring in your step and you can go ahead and make the day count.

I'm going to try this tomorrow and will report back my perceived results.

Nite all.

Smelly

Yesterday, I left the fish (the whiting that I offered the White Breasted Sea Eagle) in the basket on the back of my trike.

It's been there for 24 hours in 30+ degree heat.

Ew *insert screwed up nose here*

I have now removed it, but the garage smells REALLY bad!

Adoring Husband returned home safe n sound today, though pretty exhausted after some heavy duty training for the last 6 days.

All that I have to share today, is this lovely butterfly which was playing around my flowering Geisha Girl shrub this morning.

I'm taking an early mark tonight.  I was up til midnight last night baking chocolate muffins for Adoring Husband, so I have some sleep to catch up on!

Nite all.

Home Coming

No photos today.

I spent quite some time out on the trike this afternoon and got myself a touch of sunburn!

I took my hat off because it was so windy.  I thought I would lose it because it's quite loose fitting.

I wasn't expecting to be out on the beach for so long, but the White Breasted Sea Eagle appeared and I followed it from one end of the beach to the other.

I had a whiting as an offering, hoping he would swoop down to eat it, but I don't think he trusted me, and after a mid air altercation with a Whistling Kite, he flew off.

So I've spent the evening making chocolate muffins for Adoring Husband who is returning from Townsville in the morning.

Lemon Chicken Risotto for dinner, was delicious, and there is enough left over for lunch tomorrow.

It's after midnight, so I'm off to bed.

Short and sweet.

Nite all.

Focused on Study

Today, I was very productive, studying.

After my morning at the Seat of Knowledge, I came home and made a red smoothie.  This is my new favourite smoothie ...

You can replace the kefir with natural yoghurt or Greek yoghurt.

I had never tasted dragon fruit until today.

Last week when I was in the Go Natural store, I saw the dragon fruit, so, out of interest, I picked one up.  It has been sitting in my fridge for 5 days, so I grabbed it this morning and cut it in half.

Straight away, I fell in love with the colour and texture of this beautiful fruit.

I took a spoon and scooped out a mouthful to taste.  Sweet and juicy and delicious!

That's when I decided to add it to my morning smoothie and result was amazing.  I had two big glasses of it today and there is a glass left for tomorrow + the ingredients to make more on Tuesday.

The ingredients in this smoothie are very good for cleansing and detoxing, as well as adding good bacteria to your gut.

I think it also contributed to my clearer head for study today.  It's the first time that I've been able to fully focus on my study without being easily distracted.

I got 4.5 solid hours in today.  Previously I could only study for an hour before needing to stop and do something else to clear my mind.

I haven't been making smoothies every morning, like I was, so I think my nutrient levels have been a bit low.  I must be more diligent!  I need brain food!

Here is the finished product of Calcium Powder ...

If you want to try it, try to use 'organic' eggs and make sure you wash your egg shells after you've broken them .. you don't want any egg white left behind .. and I just stored mine in a bowl and on the kitchen bench until I had enough.

I use at least 18 eggs each week for breakfasts and in my cooking (eggs are a superfood!), so it didn't take long to have enough eggs for the calcium powder.

Boil them for at least ten minutes, then lay them on a tray and put them in a 200C oven for ten minutes.  That dries them out and makes them nice and crunchy for grinding.

Crunch them up by hand and then feed through the coffee grinder.

It's what I used in my smoothie today.  It's recommended to only use 1 teaspoon per day - otherwise it can cause diarrhoea... and we don't want that!  It's an excellent natural source of calcium without the synthetics and additives.

WHAT IS CALCIUM AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

Calcium is a mineral that is necessary for life. In addition to building bones and keeping them healthy, calcium helps our blood clot, it helps our nerves send messages and it helps our muscles contract.

About 99% of the calcium in our bodies is in our bones and teeth, but every day, we lose calcium through our skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and faeces, but our bodies can't produce new calcium.

That's why it's important to try to get calcium from the food we eat. When we don’t get enough calcium for our body's needs, it is taken from our bones.

It's important, when taking Calcium, to make sure you are getting a natural source of Vitamin D .. this is needed to absorb the Calcium.

Thirty minutes in the sunshine before 10am or after 3pm every day, with at least your arms and legs uncovered so that you have enough skin surface soaking up the sunshine.  No sunscreen!

That's your health lesson for the day :)

Nite all.