Keeping it simple

This year I have not focussed as much as usual on simple living but keeping it simple still plays an important part in our life here.
We cook as much as possible from scratch, and this works especially well on weekdays and when the routine is in order. When the routine is out of whack, I succumb very quickly to cheap and nasty, but delicious, alternatives! This year I have managed to make lunch at home a lot of the time, so that is another way we're keeping our diet healthy and simple. I'm not so sure that it is always cheaper.
We've been growing vegies in the garden for a while now but this year the patch has not been as fruitful. In fact, we did much better last year planting out of soil that had been compacted and must have been sorely lacking in nutrients. At the moment, Mr S is picking the zucchini while they are small, otherwise they start turning bad the bigger they get. The strawberries grew well but I just didn't put in enough of them. Always learning!!!!
Our grapes were our biggest success and I can't wait until next year. It was really nice being able to share our produce with others. We shared with neighbours, family, friends and workmates. The only way we managed to do it was because Mr S covered the whole pergola in a net and we pulled down the plastic blinds around the sides. I think it also helped keep the insects out.
I consider my flower garden an important part of my simple living regimen. It keeps me grounded and puts me in touch with nature. I try not to use too much water and where possible we use water saved at the sink for the smaller plants. We hope to get a tank one day. We've also been saving the water used when washing the rice. Over summer I didn't get outside too often as it was too hot. As autumn comes I hope to get out there a little more.
The other way Mr S and I keep it simple is by not letting consumerism rule our lives. I menu plan while Mr S is very good at using up every last crumb in the cupboards. Yesterday he made up a couple of apple pies in order to use up the last few apples sitting woefully in the fruit basket. We both try to op shop and we both do fairly well at avoiding the mega-shopping experience. On Thursday we went to get a present for a friend at one such place and Mr S was turned off by the smells. He was right. I'm sure there was an overkill of what seemed to be plastic type smells which I had never noticed before.
So, there you have it. Our simple living journey will go on in 2016 even though my goals for 2016 do not reflect that.  We will continue to plant vegies and cook as much as we can at home. If the opportunity arises during the year, I would like to try my hand at sewing or soap-making. Other than that, I hope we can have a good life by organising our lives more effectively, making conscious choices about what we do and how we do it, and by being open to what naturally evolves day to day.

Goals: Heading in the right direction

After quiet a few weeks of not feeling well I think I'm finally getting back on track. This morning I was able to pop outside and cut off some of the dead flowers in the front garden. It was a good feeling and a beautiful morning, as well. Now my mind's ticking over with other little jobs I might be able to squeeze into today's program.

At the start of the week I set myself some goals, taking into consideration the limitations of having no car and still needing to take it easy. In some ways it was a little harder than expected. I found I was extra tired and waiting for buses took more time than expected.

My goals were focussed on waking early, eating homemade lunches, drinking water, going for a walk and cutting down my screen time (hoping that would give me the opportunity to get on to other more productive jobs).

Waking early: I certainly woke early each morning but that time was taken up with catching the bus.
Eating homemade lunches: Um...er...it only happened once.  For the first time I bought some cream cheese and made up a wrap with avocado. It was scrum-delicious.  This week I've bought cheese and chicken, bread and wraps to have on hand for lunch and snacks. It's nice to have something new in the humble lunchtime repertoire.
Drinking water: no...no... no
Going for a walk: no.... public transport takes up my time and my energy
Cutting down screen time/ using computer time effectively: Well, there has been improvement. I've been more careful about using the computer. One night I made myself  work out on paper what I needed to do and ended up having a very focussed evening. One night out of four is good, right? The other nights I did go online but I'm proud to say that I stayed off FB all week.

So, all in all, I feel that I'm heading in the right direction. I ended up making inroads on my food goal of one new recipe a month, which wasn't planned this week. I have often wanted to take public transport sometimes as a means to reducing my carbon footprint so that's a green living goal which came to be but also wasn't planned. I'm managing to get up early which, remember, is something I haven't been able to do for over twenty-five years. This did not start as an intended goal but I'm certainly glad it's happening.  I've begun to reduce screen time but I know that, really, I need to go much further.

It's 35 degrees today so not good for going for a walk. I'm sure, though, it won't be long before that can happen. The pantry is stocked and ready for three days of homemade lunches. I might need to wake up a few minutes earlier- gulp!-to make sure I have enough time for preparing lunch.

My goals this week will remain the same. I will keep heading in the right direction and I actually think that these smaller steps are more reliable than going all out on and changing life in a big way.
It's also shown me that tiny, substantial steps towards goals is easily managed and possibly more dependable long-term.

Simple Living Sunday: Frightfully frugal gardening tip

Don't throw away your  banana peels. Give your plants a potassium-fix!

Here is a frightfully frugal tip.

Banana peels soaking in water overnight: free potassium-rich drink for your plants the next day!! (Bananas are a rich source of potassium and  hopefully "chemical-free")

This tip comes from one of my friends who is frightfully knowledgeable about all things botanical.

Simple Living Sunday: In the garden

The weather’s been getting a little warmer and a little sunnier these last few days. It’s heartening after the long, grey, bleak winter.

I’m getting over a bout of laryngitis. All my good habits fly out the window when I’m sick so I’m enjoying being able to get back to a normal routine this weekend.

I’m about to harvest my first vegies for 2014 – not counting the spring onions. There are two short rows of broccoli. Last year my harvest was three broccoli and a handful of onion plants in total! I come across lots of blogs and articles about food swaps, preserving and canning, and farmers’ markets and now, for the second time, I can harvest vegies from my own vegetable garden. It's exciting to think about using my own produce  for meals and possibly having to give some of it away.

One of my simple living goals is to eat fresh, healthy food. Another reason I support simple living is because I think it's kinder on the environment. I put some of the food scraps and plant debris in the compost which then gets reused in the garden. So it's most satisfying to see some of my goals 'bearing fruit'.

I’m growing carrots and celery but I’m not too sure when they’ll be ready. Soon. I think. There aren't a lot of sun-rich areas around my garden so it will only ever be a small patch which suits me fine. I’m very grateful to a dear friend who helped me upgrade the vegie patch from my meagre efforts last year.  

Happy Sunday.

 

 Vegie Patch 2013

 Vegie Patch 2014

     Grape vine pruning



 

 

Goals, Goals, Goals- January

It's 10.30 at night and the hot day is finally giving way to some cooler breezes. I think I can smell rain in the air.
I thought his evening I'd take a look at my January goals and start to look at what I'd like to achieve for February.

January Goals

WELL-BEING

Ride my bike.  I've begun and it felt great. Now I just have to make it a regular gig and hope that my legs can sustain the practice.  (ALSO GREEN)
Exercise 3X a week. Hmmm, getting there. After a good start I've found it hard to maintain the routine when it can be so hot and when I have young people in my care. I started back at yoga. I've walked and I've ridden my bike. Feels good!
TV Free Tuesday. Back into it for 2012. Feels weird but I couldn't help noticing how much I got done on those days without TV. Loads got done! I think I'm also starting to see myself as a more discerning viewer which is pleasing.  (ALSO GREEN)
Pamper myself for the holidays. Yes, I did. I had a pedicure and manicure and I dared to choose a very bold turqoise colour which is great for summer.
Go to the theatre (=go out). Well it was booked out at the time I wanted to go so I've booked it for February.

SAD
Listen, really listen!  I think I've done well but it's so much easier on holidays.

FOOD and HOME

Cooking. I tried three new recipes. I'm proud of my attempts but the results were disappointing. Edible. Just!
Building maintenance. I'm dealing with unfamiliar areas which means I delay and avoid, avoid and delay. Last week I called for quotes so let's see if I can make things happen for February.


I've enjoyed having time this month to focus on goals and organisation but I have noticed that as soon as other things come up my routine goes out the window.

February Goals

SAD GOALS

• Listen. Really listen. Major focus starting back at work this week. (Remember, it's not about me!  Ask questions.)

WELLBEING

• Exercise 3 X a week.
• Ride my bike at least once a week with a view to doing one shopping trip.
• Drink lots of water at home and at work.

PERSONAL

• Organisation: Try to carry over my good holiday habits into work time. No. 1 : Go over schedule each evening. Check, update, plan.   Maintain routines. Maintain my desk area as a command centre.

FOOD and HOME

• One new recipe this month.
• Try to bake once a week.
• Pursue maintenance goals.
• Maintain house cleaning routine.  Taken from  "The Organised Housewife", "Flylady" and "Becci's Domestic Bliss".

Most of these goals continue from last year. My major focus for February needs to be LISTENING  and DAILY SCHEDULE TIME. 


I had wanted to begin one cyber free day a week. I'm not sure that I can do it both for practical reasons and for reasons of personal weakness!!! But I do wander if there's not a way I can use the computer more effciently and reduce the wasteful time I spend on it. Something to think about this month.

My KikkiK D-I-Y calendar

How do you manage your internet usage? Any suggestions for using the computer more efficiently?

Goals! Goals! Goals!

It feels as though the whole blogosphere is on holidays. "Goals" and "challenges" are very timely topics at the moment. So, in the spirit of blogger kinship and New Year resolutions, I will follow suit. Here goes...


January Goals


Green Living
-Ride my bike. Ultimately I want to be able to ride my bike for small shopping trips and for leisurely rides along the creeks.
-Introduce Cyber-free Friday and continue TV-Free Tuesday. I want to become a more conscious user of these wonderful things but not have them determine how I live my life. I seem to be turning the TV off more and more and opting for more active and productive tasks.
-Buy mindfully. Have happily stayed away from shops except for items of necessity and food.


Personal Goals
-Listen, Really listen. This is such a hard one. I tried and tried last year. Although I made little headway I did gain some insights into why I don't listen well. I'm determined to do it.
-Secret project. Pursue. Let you know more later.
-Pamper myself. I aim to do this once every holiday. Booked the appointment for next week. :)
-Exercise 3 times a week.
-Journal once a week and blog three times a week. Journalled x1 and blogged x1
-Go to the theatre.

House and food
-a new recipe once a month
-bake once a week
-prepare and implement maintenance blitz (includes a new safer driveway, repair broken locks on door, window and shutter, hang heavy pictures)
-organise and carry out garden blitz, incorporating help of friend's son


I think that's enough and I'm pleased to say that I've already made a good start. I love holidays and the freedom and flexibility to get my teeth into domesticity and other personal pursuits.

A Paler Shade of Green

One simple thing I do to support my environment is to use green bags. I love this gesture as it's easy, demonstrative, achievable.....

Yet, in the last few weeks my effort has been rather poor! On holidays overseas I felt it was not always appropriate to be rejecting someone's attempt to provide quality service. I know that as westerners we may think it necessary to impose our values on others in the name of the environment but I like to tread lightly and respectfully  when I am on someone else's land. While we cry out that it's a waste the poor shop assistant may feel that they have not fulfilled their responsibility in providing the bag.

The last couple of weeks I have been busy adjusting to having a young person in my home. As I've said before, it's very exciting and a welcome challenge. Anyway, I've found that I no longer have that quiet, exclusive space when I shop. So I've accepted bags, time after time, before realising what's happening. I tell myself later that I will not do it the next time. But it keeps happening!!

Do you find that as a SAD person even with the best of intentions it's hard to do what you really want to do as your mind turns over so many things?

So let me go now and put the green shopping bags in the car. Then I won't have to put off my shopping as I did today, because I had no green bags and I was determined not to use another plastic bag!!

David Brown's House
former hill station
at the top of Penang Hill
Malaysia

Have a good week!

As Green As Can Be- That's Me!

I live a life as green as can be, which means that sometimes I'm not very green. When my energy is low green living doesn't happen very much. When I feel good, I love the challenge of finding ways I can be greener here at my suburban patch.

Some of my green goals are:

• Buy thoughtfully; buy local, buy eco-friendly, not buy at all, reduce packaging
• Save paper; reduce photocopying; recycle paper, introduce students to recycled paper for some tasks, go electronic
• Walk where possible and use public transport; I'm not very organised  and I'm quite busy at times so this goal happens sometimes
• Eat fresh and home-cooked food

Now it may surprise and even shock some readers that I occasionally buy from the take-away franchises, rarely buy in bulk and sometimes come home with a plastic bag I don't really want.

My priority is to eat. Full-stop. Eating green is really my second priority. I've never been a big eater and when I engage in a task I forget about everything else.  There have been times over the years when I chose not to buy products because they weren't green enough and then when I got hungry there was nothing to eat. So I will eat fast food if the alternative is too insubstantial and I've got no time to prepare something. I will buy individual items if the alternative- given my lifestyle and how I manage it- means that uneaten food is wasted.

September
Lately I've notched up a few greenie points (these are the green version of brownie points) in the following ways:

• I finally got a bike. It needs some adjustments. Hopefully these holidays I can check out the local bike path that goes through the grasslands. I also want to try riding to the local shops and library....
• No TV on Tuesdays. Still feels weird! But I'm actually thinking about trying to be more selective about what I watch as well as thinking about making another time in the week when I rule out TV. I often put it on for company.
• On Saturday I bought a new jacket. I managed to say no to the store assistant. when she offered me one of their glossy bags.
• Three cheers because lately I've been remembering my green shopping bags!!!
• Using lemons off the tree in the backyard (it's the closest I get to producing my own food)