My Cowgirl

Rebecca had a full week at school which included the Swimming Gala... she looked so cute.
She's a fairly strong swimmer so she enjoys the gala but next month is the Athletics Meeting which is not as much fun for her, poor baby has her mothers running ability! I don't do speed.



Practicing her skipping for school. Yes, this is indoors, she moved the furniture (we have very high ceilings) and it sounded like a herd of elephants as we have wooden flooring.



She ended the week off with a friend's party... it was dress up and she went as a Cowgirl.
"Howdy Ma'am"



Most weeks don't have as many activities on top of tests, orals etc.
She's been sleeping in a bit this weekend, clearly tired. But a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.

Apples and Almonds

My friend and fellow gardening enthusiast, Anthea, harvested her first almonds. As I read the description of her joy at finding and tasting her produce, I could so relate. Earlier this week I picked my first apple. I held it up in triumph to my family like some kind of trophy.

The first of many... hopefully.



The tree of promise.

Healthy Rush

Life is seasonal, there are patches when it feels like not much is going on or you never see anyone. Then in one weekend you have six invites and need to juggle things. Well, lately its been a juggle from the time my eyes see pre-dawn until the late hours (and I hate to go to bed late).

So in the race for extra time in the morning, I've been opting for Smoothies, which I make the night before and then we each 'grab and go' our bottles in the morning.

This is a my favourite because of the peanut butter (sometimes I do leave it out and use a large handful of berries instead and only half a banana), to make sweeter just add honey to taste.

My protein breakfast smoothie



1/2 cup natural yoghurt
1 cup soya / normal milk (can replace 1/2 with apple juice)
1 banana, chopped
1 - 2 teaspoons wheatgerm
1 - 2 tablespoons good peanut butter (depending on how much you like it)
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1 tablespoon ground almonds

Blend all and chill (add a little ice to blender if you are drinking straight away). Shake and enjoy!

Green Yuck!

I just had a mug of Green Tea, it is supposed to be full of anti-oxidants, blah, blah, blah.
The first two sips were fine and I thought to myself, 'I could incorporate this into my lifestyle', but with each passing sip after that I thought, 'No way'. It tastes grassy and slightly smoky, in fact I feel like I just smoked a cigarette. Not cool.

I think I'll stick to 'Green Tea Iced Tea', which is lovely because all those weeds, uh... herbs are
very well disguised!

Shrove Tuesday

Today is the day before Lent begins (ending with Easter) and is known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday because it traditionally means the last day of rich foods. Shrove is derived from the word 'Shrive' meaning 'to confess' - supposedly a time of self-examination.

The English celebrate with pancakes, the Swedish with Semla (scone-ish) and the Portuguese eat Malasadas, which is like a doughnut. These beauties are delicious and moist. My mom adds pumpkin to hers and then we cover them with cinnamon sugar. Today I had mine with rivers of syrup - good, good, good!



Thanks Mom!

Garden of love

Since this is the 'month of love' I thought I would share something out of the Song of Solomon,
it is romantic and heady, the imagery is beautiful, and its from the bible. A marraige should be a exciting adventure...

"You have captivated my heart, my sister (not literal), my bride,
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
How beautiful is your love...
How much better is your love than wine, and
the fragrance of your oils than any spice.

Your lips drip nectar...
honey and milk are under your tongue...
A garden locked is my sister, my bride
a spring locked, a fountain sealed.
Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates,
with choicest fruit..
henna with nard... saffron... cinnamon... myrrh...
a garden fountain, a well of living water and
flowing streams of Lebanon.

Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind
Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow
Let my beloved come to his garden,
and eat its choicest fruits."

Being coy in pink

She's meant to be in pajama's but she waltz's into the family room with a pink dress, make up,
jewellery, a crown, slightly heeled shoes and announces that she felt like dressing like a princess
and asks "Dad, when I grow up, will you buy me a pink BMW?"
Dad: "No"
Me: "Can I have a picture?"

See for yourself...

A manner of speaking

Last night while reading to Rebecca, the story took a turn.
She looks at me and says "Mom, I don't trust that guy, nor his accent".
I laugh.
She thinks.
I wait (still laughing), while the cogs in her head turn.
"The accent is you, Mom?"

Enunciation aside, I don't trust him either - we will have to wait until tonight to find out.

Simple Pickin's

"I'm beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones
after all." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Attempting

So yesterday among other things I attempted the pancakes. I read many recipes and this is my final edited version.

Gluten Free Pancakes



Whisk together: 1 egg, 300ml buttermilk (or regular milk), 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon honey
Measure in a bowl: 1+1/4 cup brown rice flour, 1/2 cup of quinoa flour, 1 slightly heaped teaspoon of baking powder, a pinch of salt, 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Mix wet and dry together. Get a non-stick pan very hot and proceed like regular pancakes. Turn once bubbles form. (Don't lose heart if the first one sticks and is difficult to turn - once pan is very hot they are super easy). I tossed a few bits of chocolate into half the batter and blueberries into the balance. We had a little honey on the chocolate and Hillcrest Blackcurrent jam on the blueberry ones (this is a lovely jam - not sweet but fruity).

Now... did they taste like regular pancakes? Kinda... not really. The texture was more spongy than regular pancakes. Will I make them again? Yes. In fact I'm having reheated leftovers as I write this, with a little butter and jam.

To do

I'm definitely feeling better and therefore can now tackle some overdue tasks and other things that I've been dreaming about (i.e my Wednesday list) like Blueberry pancakes - I've got a gluten free pancake recipe that I want to try. I know I should start on this list first thing tomorrow but its so hard to concentrate on a fruit-only breakfast, don't you think?


That's my green morning mug!

Lovables

I've been a bit mopey this week with flu so haven't felt much like blogging, but in order to make myself feel better (especially while sipping slowly on ginger tea, yum, not!) I thought about all the things I love (besides the obvious stuff eg family etc). This list can actually go on for pages but I won't bore you (I hope).

Things I love...
Freshly ground good coffee (a vital need in the morning)
Lipstick
Wearing tracksuits (I could live in them - very sad)
Homemade marshmallows
Levi jeans
My green mug (I use it every morning)
Vanilla cake
French manicured nails
Short nails
Faulty Towers (Brit sitcom) - love Sybil
Freshly mowed lawn
Wearing sock (summer and winter)
Porcelain teacups
Proper silverware
Roses
Not going to the hairdresser
These trainers

Fridays
The Amazing Race
Pavlova
Cabbage (seriously)
Gardening
My grandmothers embroidered linens
Fresh laundry
Not brushing my hair
Playing chess and 30 Seconds
Vida coffee
Reading
Blueberry pancakes
Any movie with Sandra Bullock
Quiet time in the morning (peace, quiet and coffee)
Brazil Nut Toffees
When Rebecca sets the table (note her egg cup is being used as the salt dispenser)

Madagascar (movie) - very funny
New stationary
Going to movies
Sitting outside with Wayne having tea after Becca is asleep
Eating ripe cherries till you're wearing natural lipstick
Not cleaning
Baking
History
Apple Crumble
Spitting watermelon seeds right into the yard (gross? maybe)
Jogging
Opera
Laughing (like when you can't stop)
Neil Diamond
Freshly baked bread
Wearing slippers (I'm wearing them now)

Happy thinking - about your favourite things!