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...