Two of my special girls.

It has just turned midnight, so I'm simply going to share some photos of two of my beautiful girls (and Dadoo).

Nite all.

Steady Pace

If you want to know something, you need to ask the right people the right questions.

I got brave and posted in the online student common room, asking the other students for advice on how to deal with this online studying and whether they had ideas to make it a bit easier for someone who hasn't studied for many years.

So far, I've had two excellent replies, with fantastic and helpful tips.

One of them told me about 'mind maps'.

I have NEVER heard of mind maps!

So I googled it!

WOW!

Hundreds of images of mind maps in all different colours and styles.  Hand drawn.  Computer generated.  There are youtube videos showing how to create a mind map.  There are even apps for mind maps!

While searching youtube, I discovered a whole series of video tutorials on how to write essays and how to complete assignments.

Things have certainly changed in the 25 years since I studied.

My first essay for Naturopathic Philosophy needs to be 500 words in length.  My first incomplete draft is already 600 words!

Clearly, I need to hone my essay writing skills.

I posted this revelation on Facebook which triggered some more helpful advice.

By the end of the day, I had gained new insights into methods of planning study and writing essays and creating assignments and sitting exams.

This is now a whole new ballgame!

I do, now, feel better prepared and I have some great ideas to put into practise.

I also made a 'to do' list yesterday and actually completed everything on the list.  Sometimes I amaze myself.

What a roller coaster ride this experience has already been, and I haven't even completed my first assignment yet.

They do tell me that it gets easier.  I just have to ride the wave of self discovery!

Nite all.

*sigh*

Another afternoon of study.

Far out.

Some of it, I'm excited to get started on and other parts, I'm scared witless .. and I'm not even at the scary bit yet .. like Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry and Biochemistry!

It's a constant battle with myself to block the negative self talk.

I think I need to post some positive affirmations around my work area .. something that will keep my mind clear to focus on the studying, and not on failing, falling behind or losing my way.

There are moments that I am completely paralysed with fear, and I have to snap myself out of it.

Those are the moments that I move on to something else that is less paralysing!

I just watched an episode of 'Parenthood' and somebody there quoted "You're not in over your head, you're just out of your comfort zone."

That's pretty appropriate for my situation ... I might write that on a post-it note and stick it on my monitor.

It'll be ok.

I will be ok.

Really!

I've got this!

Nite all.

The Right Direction

I feel that this day has been very successful for me.

Adoring Husband spent 6 hours at the SES shed today, and I filled 5 of those hours in full study mode.

I had to change the web browser on my imac to accommodate the video streaming requirements for the study site.

I had to update the Adobe Flash Player.

I also had to order the third and final text book for the first semester - the tricky part was finding somewhere in Australia that stocked it, so that I could receive it within 1-2 weeks, instead of 6-8 weeks from overseas!

I printed masses of information (because I am 'old school' and need to 'feel' the reading material - I also like a change of scenery, so I can read while sitting on the garden swing, or down by the river).

I completed the five tasks that are required prior to commencing Lesson One.

I watched two video tutorials.

I read the three chapters plus the sheet material, making lots of notes, for Lesson One and then completed the review activities.

I tagged the chapters in the order that I have to read them in my 'Counselling' text book.

That just about covers it.

As much as I feel like I accomplished a lot today, I still don't feel confident with my organisational skills and my ability to keep up .. especially after reading the student forums for my group.

There are over 200 people studying this course online, 50 in my group, (I didn't see any traditional male names in the list - though quite a few non-gender specific names were there) and their information sharing and feedback is very comprehensive and full of naturopathic and medical jargon.

I feel a little out of my depth and very much an outsider, but I won't allow it to deter me.

Onward and upward!

After today, I feel like I've almost caught up - once I have, I'll need to commit about 3 hours per day so that I can complete the assignments by their deadlines (or perhaps my old brain will require an extra hour or two during the week???)

Anyway, it's been therapeutic for me to write all of this down.  Your boredom has been invaluable to me :D  Thank you for listening!

Nite all.

Believe in good

I loved this ...



Despite an incredible sleep-in until 8.30am, I got a good session of study in today, as well as making some banana bread and also starting the fermentation process on some organic apples (yes, on purpose).

I found this beautiful specimen along the riverbank this morning ..

He was getting a bountiful feed of huge brown grubs from the front lawns of two houses!  He sniffed around the clumps of grass and then dug his nose right under the roots, coming up with these big grubs every time!  Amazing to watch.

Adoring Husband arrived home, safe n sound, from his course in Gympie this afternoon.  It's good to have him home.

We've just experienced a bit of a storm - nothing to get stressed about.  Some wind and rain.  I watched it, on the BOM site, move all the way from south of the Sunny Coast.  It took about four hours to get here, but I think it had just about exhausted all of it's fury by the time it arrived.

Down south there was minor flooding and some pretty spectacular cloud formations - lots of photos were posted on facebook, which I can't share here, unfortunately.

But I can share this!!

Nite all.

Fine LIne

As the song states .. there is a fine line between pleasure and pain.

Tonight was Beauty's 50th birthday party.  Family and friends travelled from all over to attend this special party.

This morning, Beauty's husband, 'Beast', was taken to hospital in an ambulance and was still there tonight while we continued on with the birthday celebrations.

So even though it was a happy occasion worthy of great celebration, it was tinged with sadness because Beast missed out on all the fun that he had helped to organise, and has to endure heart surgery in the coming days.

Still, Beauty put on a brave face and was the perfect hostess, mingling with her friends and family with a bright smile and plenty of laughter.

She looked just as her nickname suggests, absolutely beautiful.

I didn't take my camera, so I have no photos of the occasion to share .. but there were lots of people there with their little point and shoot cameras and their phone cameras.  There were plenty of shots taken, so she will have a record of the night.

 For now, I need to sleep, so ...

Nite all.

The Other Woman

You know the drill .. it's Friday night, I've had a few drinks and I'm ready for bed.

Grannymus might not be too keen on this, but I really want to go see this movie.  It looks hilarious!

Adoring Husband .. you said that you don't watch the videos that I post here, but you'd best watch this because you'll be coming to see it with me :D



Nite all.

Study Mania

Isn't it amazing how because I put the word 'sex' in yesterday's post, it's had twice as many views as my usual posts?  *rolls eyes*

I've been studying like mad today .. have just discovered a page on the study site that I didn't know existed, which lists the lessons and times/dates of tutorials (two of which I have missed - but it's ok because I can replay them).

Sometimes, I feel like an old woman when it comes to computers .. and I realise that I know a lot more than some people my age .. but sometimes I'm pretty slow on the uptake and I'd like to give my self a forehead slap.

Needless to say, after my time away last week, and my ignorance of the study site, I have a lot of catching up to do!

Luckily, Adoring Husband will be busy with training this weekend, so I should have lots of uninterrupted time to put my head in the books and catch up on tutorials.

This morning, I got to soak up some Autumn sunshine and took a couple of photos on my trike ride, then stocked up on some local raw honey, before heading home to work.

I should attempt an early night so that my brain will be ready to absorb tomorrow.

Nite all.

Sex Education

Caroline Heldman, the speaker in this video, does an incredible job explaining the objectification of women, how it's gotten worse, how damaging it is, and what we can do to address it.

Please take 13 minutes of your time to watch this video .. be you female or male, this is important for everybody to recognise and acknowledge and understand.



She makes so much sense!

*******

We brought three new laying hens home yesterday.

One beautiful strong black bird whose feathers shimmer peacock green in the sunlight.  She is feisty and doesn't like us at all!  She wants to fight and I'm looking forward to introducing her to the psychotic dogs this afternoon .. I think that they will come off second best.  We have named her 'Happy' in the hopes that her name will improve her attitude.

One delicate submissive white bird who has a chipped beak.  The chip on the end of her top beak is bigger than the chip on her bottom beak.  She seems friendly enough and has been happily eating and drinking today without any problems, so she should be ok.  I named her 'Hector' simply because a friend told me yesterday that she liked the name.  Yes, it's a quirky name for a female bird!

One brown/red relaxed girl who looks just like our Helen.  I did email Helen's namesake a few days ago and asked her if she would like to name one of our new hens, but she hasn't been back to me, so Adoring Husband and I have decided to name our third girl, Helen II.  Helen served us well and provided lots of delicious eggs, so I hope that her successor can find the same happiness here.  It suits her.

Photos will come tomorrow, so that I can introduce them formally :)

Nite all.

New Luv

There is a new luv in my life.

Adoring Husband is aware of this.

My new luv's name is Pete Evans ... from 'My Kitchen Rules'.

I've known Pete (not personally) for a long time, but he meant nothing to me .. until recently.

I read the transcript of an interview with him, where he talked about his keen interest in nutrition and how his and his family's diet had changed as a result of this interest.

A few weeks after this, I discovered that he had created a recipe book and then I saw two interviews with him on television.

With every word that he spoke, my heart was being pulled by his passion and his nutritional beliefs, which almost mirrored my own .. and then today, I bought his book.

Aside from being a qualified chef for 25 years (with the admission that chefs are not taught about nutrition), he is also, having just completed a course in nutrition,  a qualified health coach.

His cookbook is full of paleo style recipes which are gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and grain free.

Browsing through the book from cover to cover, each photo of the completed recipes made my mouth water and I can't wait to try them all!

Tonight I made his poached pear recipe and they were delicious.  I added my own touch of toasted coconut shavings, but I overcooked the coconut which Adoring Husband didn't enjoy.  The pears were great!

He also has a great section in the book on fermented and cultured foods, like sauerkraut, tomato ketchup, kimchi, mustards, chilli sauce and cultured vegetables.

I was surprised to see that he even shares a recipe from Thomas Corner Eatery on the Sunshine Coast, which has been a favourite haunt of ours in the past.

So the book is called 'Healthy Every Day' - 120 delicious and nourishing recipes for energy and good health.  I got it for $24 at Big W today.

I'd asked Adoring Husband to buy it for me for my birthday, but I just couldn't wait that long!

Now I have it in my hot little hands and Pete Evans is the new luv in my life.

The other fun thing that happened today, was 10 Pin Bowling at Maryborough Tenpin Bowl.

Over three games, Adoring Husband and I both scored 383 points.  The Manager brought us the printout of our games and told us that Adoring Husband had beaten me by one point, but I have just added the scores and we are exactly even!

It was a lot of fun and I wish the bowling alley was closer so that we could play league again.  The 40 minute drive to Maryborough is just too far to travel at night for us oldies.

I found this today and could relate to it.

and then I saw THIS ...

... and I can relate to it EVEN MORE!

More study tomorrow, so I'm outta here.

Nite all.

Sara Bareilles - Brave

This is my new favourite song.  It's a great song on it's own, but the video just adds so much more to it.  It makes me feel happy and it makes me want to be brave!

A piece of exciting news from today ...

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Japan’s so called ‘scientific whaling’ program breaks international law and must stop.

Over the last 25 years, more than 10,000 whales have been killed in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by Japanese whalers.

That ends today.
The judgments of the ICJ have binding force and are without appeal.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who stood up for the whales! This is a huge victory.

We had a big storm here on Sunday afternoon.  The dread was palpable from the moment we spotted the dark clouds, to when we checked the Bureau of Meteorology website to follow the path of the storm, to when it actually hit and for the 20 minutes after it was over.

The fear welled deep inside us as we sat on the couch holding hands and waiting for it to pass.

When we felt safe again, Adoring Husband said to me "Are we ever going to get over this?"

Post Traumatic Stress = Anxiety = Fear

I know that there are others in town, whose homes were damaged in last year's tornado, who are also  still suffering from that trauma.

I also know that there are people in town who did not suffer damage, or who were out of town at the time, and who cannot comprehend our fear and think that we should be 'over it' by now. 

Next Time Someone Tells You To Just ‘Get Over’ Your Anxiety, Show Them This. It’s Perfect.

A cartoon-about-anxiety

Now I have to decide whether to watch "Mrs Robinson" or go to bed!

Nite all.

Chicklet Photos

Bit of a blah day today, but I did get some joy going through the Chicklet photos though.

Tomorrow will be a big day of study, after my week away, so I'm off for an early night.

Nite all.

Food for Thought

Just to give you an idea of what your body absorbs in a day and also what it tries to filter and eliminate using your precious organs, here is a short and basic list of (unnatural) ingredients in SIX everyday products that you use regularly.

A bar of soap:  Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Etidronic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA.

Toothpaste:  Calcium Carbonate, Sorbitol, Arginine, Bicarbonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Flavour, Sodium Silicate, Carmellose Sodium, Sodium Bicarbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Acesulfame Potassium, Xanthan Gum, Sucralose (artificial sweetener) and Limonene.

Mouthwash:  Alcohol, Sorbitol, Flavours, Poloxamer 407, Benzoic Acid, Cineole, Sucralose, Zinc Chloride, Methyl Salicylate, Thymol, Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Flouride, Menthol, FD&C Red 40 and FD&C Blue 1.

Deodorant:  Butane, Isobutane, Propane, Cyclomethicone, Aluminium Chlorohydrate, Isopropyl, Palmitate, Parfum, Bisabolol, Persea Gratissima Oil, Ocyldodecanol, Glycine Soja Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethiconol, BHT, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol.

Hand Wash:  Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Frangrance, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, Polyquaternium-7, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Benzophenone-4, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamilla Recutita Flower Extract.

Body Lotion:  Isopropylpalmitate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Bisdiglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Ceteareth-12, Tocopherol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Glycine Soja, Beta Carotene, Wheat.

That is just SIX everyday products that we all use.

Consider, on top of this list, all the other products that you use eg hair conditioner, clothes washing detergent, dishwashing liquid, face toners/cleansers/moisturisers, make-up like foundation/mascara/eyeliner/blush/lipstick,  hair products like hairspray/styling gels/mousse, perfumes/after shave lotions, hair removal creams, nail polish/polish remover, eye drops, indigestion tablets, panadol/paracetamol/aspirin/ibuprofen/nurofen, and then there are all the cleaning products .. go and count how many bottles you have for cleaning your home!

Either your skin is absorbing, or you are inhaling the fumes of all, or some of these products, every single day of your life.

You also have to include what you eat and drink.  Coffee, alcohol, sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, additives, herbicides, pesticides, chemicals, food dyes just to name a few.

Your kidneys, liver, small and large intestines, skin, lungs and lymphatic systems all filter the unwanted/unhealthy toxins that you introduce.

Just from these few products that I have mentioned .. your body is working overtime to keep you healthy, but as you get older, your organs just can't cope and health issues like heartburn, arthritis, allergies, blood pressure, back pain, gout, kidney stones, headaches, ulcers and angina, just to name a few, become common problems.

Now .. the point of me telling you all of this is because your body needs water to do all of this detoxing every day.

For every 60kg of weight, you need at least 2.5 litres of water each day, just to function at a normal level and stop those health issues from occurring.

***If you already have any of these health issues, it will take rehydration over a prolonged period, before your body will feel the positive effects.***

If, when you drink this amount of water, you find that you are spending much more time on the toilet, it's not because you are drinking too much water, it's because this is your body's way of removing unwanted toxins.

When the body doesn't receive a constant reliable supply of water, it has to ration what is available and it cuts back on certain functions to make the supply go round.  Essential systems like the brain are prioritised while others are impaired or cut back until the brain decides that it has enough water.

If you're not drinking enough water and your body becomes chronically dehydrated, the body's rationing system also turns off the signal of thirst, and dehydration continues unabated.

It's a vicious cycle.

So, just because you don't feel thirsty, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are drinking enough water, it may mean that you are chronically dehydrated.

You need water for brain, bone, nerve, cell and digestive functions.  The body will even go so far as to extract water from your fecal matter and send it to other parts of your body .. and as you can imagine, this is not good!

Those issues that we deal with, believing it's just a sign of 'old age', like arthritis, heartburn, diverticulitis, kidney stones, gout, blood pressure etc can all, at the very least, be eased, by drinking the right amount of good, clean, filtered water every day.

So I hope that I've summarised this into a short enough version to hold your interest and to help you understand a little bit more about your body.

The fascination, for me, continues.

Nite all.

I have returned!

It finally stopped raining and the way was clear for me to get home today.

There are flood warnings still current, so I consider myself very lucky!

During the trip, I had to sit across the aisle from a very strange and disturbing man, so I was pretty relieved when the train finally stopped at my destination.

As always, it was fabulous to see Adoring Husband's smiling face as I disembarked.

I found some great smoothie recipes that you might enjoy ...

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

Nite all.

Beyond Wet

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, we've had almost 3 inches of rain (approx 71mm) in the last 12 hours.

It has barely stopped all day and it has mostly ranged between steady and teeming.

There is a minor flood warning for the Mary River, which is between here and home, so hopefully it will be minor enough not to stop my train from getting me home tomorrow.

The sound of constant heavy rain for just this 24 hour period, has almost been a form of torture for me!  I feel like I'm going troppo!

The wind gusts have been over 45kph as well, but luckily, we are very well protected in this gated resort, so it hasn't been too much of a concern.

The other uncomfortable part of the whole situation is the 99% humidity.  It's almost oppressive.

Warm and uncomfortable and clammy and sticky.

I don't like Mother Nature when she gets loud.  She scares me.

I much prefer her when she is beautiful and at peace.

Ok, well that's my whinge for the night.  Thank you for listening.

I have taken a LOT of photos of my little Chicklet, but it will be Saturday before I get to look at them, so I'll post some then.  I hope that at least a couple of them will be ok .. she still gets a bit cranky with me when I get the camera out .. but with Vegan Chickie's help, I think we may have had some success.  Fingers crossed!

Time for me to attempt some sleep.  The sound of this rain is not so relaxing tonight.

Nite all.

  

Are ya ready?

Here is another evening of 'fillers'.

... and on a sad note, our dearly loved chookie 'Helen' was put to rest on Tuesday.  The vet suggested  (without an expensive autopsy) that she had a large tumour inside her and poor Adoring Husband had to make the decision to end her pain as humanely as possible.

RIP lovely laying chook Helen.

Nite all.

A bit of fun ...

If I don't have the time or the inclination to write a big post, you get facebook quotes, photos OR youtube presentations.

I really enjoyed this one and thought it worth sharing.



It's been raining since last night and has rained practically all day today.

Chicklet and I have been jumping in muddy puddles and searching (unsuccessfully) for frogs today.

We also had a trip to buy some new toys .. dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles, frogs, lizards, books and a very large plush talking Wreckit Ralph!

Plenty of stories before bed tonight and now I hope to fall asleep to the sound of the rain.

Nite all.

I'm Here

After the usual 3 hours sleep the night before I travel to the Sunny Coast, I arrived here safe n sound just before 8am.

I was so exhausted that I slept for about 2.5 hours this afternoon and I woke up feeling just as tired!

Half an hour after I woke, my throat began to feel a bit sore, well, not actually sore, but you know that feeling, like you might be coming down with something?

I had a teaspoon of Byron Bay Honey and have been drinking plenty of water and it doesn't seem to have progressed any.

Just to be on the careful side, I am going to bed early and hopefully, my body will heal itself overnight.

It's been a few years since I had a cold or flu, so I guess I could be due for another one to build up my immunity levels.

Anyway, it's lovely to see my little Chicklet and we've been playing with dinosaurs and cars and octonauts and reading books.

She is my little treasure and I'm feeling the love.

Nite all.

Warm and Fuzzy

I loved this so much, I just had to share it.  Please click on this baby bump link and watch and listen.

Did you love it too?

That's all I'm sharing tonight because it's already late and I have to pack!  I'm leaving at 5.15am tomorrow!

Nite all.

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.

Broken Sleep

I climbed into bed early last night and switched on the telly just for some background noise, only to discover that the movie 'Sleepless in Seattle' was on!

I forced myself to stay awake and watched it to the end, but fell asleep the instant it finished.

Unfortunately I was woken by a barking dog at 2.20am.  Colli was in the laundry barking, so I got up to see what she barking at.  I couldn't see anything, so I told her to get back into bed and I too, went back to bed.

Within 10 minutes she was barking again, so I got up and checked again.  Nothing.

I opened the laundry door to let her outside, so that she could either do her 'business', or satisfy herself that there was nothing to bark at anymore.

I put her back to bed and then went to do some of my own 'business' before climbing back into bed.

Of course Colli started again, so I got up and brought her into the bedroom with me.  I figured that if there was something or somebody outside, she would continue to bark in the bedroom and then I could take some kind of action, otherwise she would go to sleep and then so could I!

Well, she went to sleep alright, but by now, I was wide awake!  It was almost 4am when I finally fell asleep and then the alarm went off at 5.15am for me to go to work.  There was absolutely no way I could get out of bed, so I reset the alarm for 6am and went back to sleep.

Needless to say, I am feeling decidedly lethargic today.

I did make some poached pears for lunch ...

... and I've boiled up some organic eggshells and then put them in the oven to dry them out properly.  The next step is grinding them in the coffee grinder to make my own calcium.

I'll put it in my smoothies and in my cooking.

I have one photo to share from yesterday.  While I took all of the photos of the creatures IN the water, these butterflies were dancing OVER the water ...

I did have an hour at the Seat of Knowledge this morning and there were two turtles swimming around the boat ramp, as well as a lot of different fish.

The Captain was out on his yacht this morning and spotted a small shark in the water, chasing the smaller fish.

It's Super Saturday, so I am perched on the couch watching the football - I could quite possible doze off as last night's broken sleep catches up with me!

Nite all.    

Clean and Healthy

The Seat of Knowledge.

As you face the river, to the right of the Seat of Knowledge is a boat ramp.

To the left is a set of white timber steps (approx 12 steps to the ground).

At low tide, they lead to the sandy/rocky beach.

At high tide, they lead directly into the river, which comes about halfway up the set of steps.

This morning I sat on those steps and took these photos of the marine life.  It was better than Underwater World!

See the four cuttle fish?  Butter Bream and fish of unknown origin that look like floating sticks and leaves until you look closer!  There were 4 turtles around the boat ramp this morning.  Herrings and Mackerel and Zebra Fish.

We have lived here for almost 6 years and I have never seen so much life in this river, even at it's cleanest.  The river is cleaner and healthier than I've ever seen it.

A shark was spotted closer to the mouth of the river yesterday.  There have been a few sightings in the last couple of weeks.

Except for the sharks, I'd have given anything to grow a tail and become a mermaid so that I could slip into the water and join the other sea creatures this morning.

I was overwhelmed and my ride along the path that hugs the river was very slow and very enjoyable this morning.

Life is good.

Nite all.

Autumn Day

I love the month of March.

That fading out time.

Summer fading into Autumn.

The cooler temperatures that make for perfect sleeping weather.

The cleaner, clearer morning air that makes you breathe deeper.

The brighter and more vibrant colours of nature, that capture your attention.

The water is clearer and the wildlife is friendlier ...

... and the fish are freaking, as they are chased by the bigger fish .. mackerel, in this case...

It was a perfect morning and I almost didn't want to go home.  I could have pedalled around town for hours, soaking up the sunshine.

When I got home from my lovely morning, I made some blueberry crepes for breakfast, which were nice, but I didn't fancy the blueberries.  Apples next time I think.

Then it was time for some study, some housework, some more study, some facebook time, some more study and then I crumbed some fish for dinner and drenched it in lime juice - delicious with a side salad of baby spinach, cucumber and watermelon.

Chocolate muffin with strawberries and cream for dessert.

The day couldn't be much better.

An early night tonight I think, so that I can get an early start to another glorious morning tomorrow.

Nite all.

Leaky Boat

Nah, this is not about leaky boats.

It's about 'leaky gut'.

The 'gut' is the key to good health. If your gut is healthy, chances are that you are in good health, but there’s a condition called 'leaky gut'.

When your gut is leaky, things like toxins, microbes, undigested food particles, and other yukky stuff can escape from your intestines and travel throughout your body via your bloodstream.  Your immune system marks these “foreign invaders” as pathogens and attacks them and THAT can lead to all kinds of health problems like ...

• Digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhoea and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Seasonal allergies and asthma.
• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid conditions, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease.
• Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue or Fybromyalgia.
• Mood and mental issues like anxiety, depression, ADD & ADHD.
• Skin issues like acne and eczema.
• Candida overgrowth.
• Food allergies or intolerances.

Food, infections and toxins cause leaky gut.  Gluten is the number one food that causes leaky gut.  Inflammatory and toxic foods like dairy (homogenised and pasteurised, but not raw), sugar and excess alcohol are other culprits.

The most common infectious causes are parasites and small intestine bacterial overgrowths.

Toxins that cause leaky gut come in the form of medications, including NSAIDS (like Aspirin, Naprosin, Motrin and Advil), steroids, antibiotics, and acid-reducing/heartburn drugs (both over the counter and prescription).

There are also environmental toxins like mercury, pesticides and BPA from plastics.

Stress and age also contribute to a leaky gut.

So, if you suffer from any of those conditions mentioned, it’s possible that you have a leaky gut.

To heal, you obviously need to remove the toxic and inflammatory foods from your diet, add good bacteria to help fight the bad, by using nutrients and supplements like L-glutamine, an amino acid that helps rejuvenate the lining of the gut wall, or good probiotics and my favourite ... good old fashioned home made bone broths.

See, no leaky boat :)

This is a photo, from the archives, that I took a couple of years ago at Apple Tree Creek.

I've always liked it.

I have to get up early in the morning to work, so I'd best get some sleep.

Nite all.

Let's Quote

Just because I'm feeling lazy tonight ... for your viewing pleasure ...

Nite all.

Greyish day

After a late night, I slept til about 7am and then lay in bed for over an hour, so I missed my morning time with the boys at the Seat of Knowledge.

I made some juice with the acid free pineapples that I bought at the markets yesterday.  It was VERY sweet!  I think it needs some lime juice to balance it a bit.  I still have a jug of it in the fridge ready for tomorrow morning.

I did a bit of studying and then went for a ride to check the mail and do a grocery shop .. meat and veggies.

I pedalled to the water, where I saw some Bar Tailed Godwits on the beach ...

After I got home, I made some Sushi for lunch for something different, but my goodness I made a hell of a mess in the kitchen doing it!

Once I got all that cleaned up, I made some of Adoring Husband's favourite muffins.  Chocolate Hazelnut Zucchini muffins with a chocolate ganache frosting.

They are pretty nice .. even if I do say so myself.  In fact, I might have one as soon as I finish this post!

AH and I are watching the last NRL game of the round, which is between AH's team, Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans.  The score is currently 12-12, so it's a good game!

Oh, I unexpectedly received another of my text books in the mail today .. I wasn't expecting it for at least another week.  I only need one more book for this semester and I'm all set.

So I'm off to watch the footy while eating chocolate muffins.

Nite all.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that plays a critical role in helping the immune system, joints, and arteries heal and function properly.

The health benefits of Vitamin C:

• Vitamin C plays an important role in the health and function of the immune cells.
• White blood cells depend upon Vitamin C in order to survive and withstand the attack of pathogens and free radicals.
• Vitamin C also plays an important role as an antihistamine and reduces inflammatory conditions associated with colds, fevers, flus and allergies.
• Vitamin C plays an important role in the production of collagen, which is the major constituent in ligaments, bones, discs, tendons and skin.
• Vitamin C has been shown to improve the healing process of burns, cuts, wounds, sprains/strains and broken bones.
• Vitamin C is also extremely important for the health of eyes and many experts believe that as little as 1000mg of liposomal Vitamin C, daily, may stop cataracts altogether.

This is just the tip of the ice berg.  

There is so much more information about Vitamin C and how it can be used to fight cancers and heart disease, and also how to find the best way to take Vitamin C, and in what form, plus a whole lot of links to even more information, if you go here.

I have never been a big believer in Vitamin C, but the more I read about it, the more interested I am becoming.  I don't think I'll be buying the orange flavoured, sugar filled Vitamin C tablets from the supermarkets, but I'll investigate further and follow my instincts.

I'm keen to learn more and I'll share the best stuff here in the near future.

I had a big sleep in this morning .. even after going to bed almost 2 hours earlier than usual!

I woke just after 2am to use the bathroom and noticed that it was raining very heavily, but immediately went back to sleep and then didn't wake again until my alarm went off at 8.20am!

I set the alarm to remind myself of an appointment for a photo shoot, so it was lucky I did, or I may have missed it.

Adoring Husband and I enjoyed a pleasant morning with the people involved, whom we have known for a few years now, but with whom we have never spent a lot of time.  It was a nice way to start the day.

After we arrived home, we enjoyed a very late breakfast of bacon, eggs and tomato and then, with a full belly, AH spent the afternoon in the garden, mowing and whipper snipping and making our garden look like somebody lives here, instead of like the abandoned home that it was beginning to look like!

I'm looking forward to spending tomorrow morning on some solid study while AH is at the SES shed.  

There is lots to be done!

I just had to share this .. it made me laugh out loud, because I have days where I want to do this ...

Nite all