I thought I would take a look about and see what I could come up with for ideas to get me blogging more often, the inspiration is there, I just never find the time, or I am all set to go and nothing comes to mind for me to type out.
So seeing alot of things around such as "wordless wednesday" "unschool monday" and the like on alot of blogs about the place I thought I would start my own type of "day".
As it happens I did this on a wednesday and as such because I was wondering what I could do for inspiration I came up with Wondering Wednesday.... so maybe by next wednesday I will have more 'wonderings' to share!!!
I do have a really lovely blog post to do about the visitors our property has had since we moved in, and another about the bounty that Nature has provided us with while being here, but the photo's are still not on the computer and I just haven't found the inspiration to get all the cables connected and do it!!
I have been wondering alot lately about how I can go about making a little supplementary income for us here, get some debts sorted out and save, save, save for some fencing and livestock to get ourselves set up just a little bit!!
Not being the type of person to rush at things, I am trying to sort out some sort of business name first and the ideas just are not flowing where I want them too. I have a plan of action, products, services etc... but just not a name! I want a name that will suit if my business develops into something that I have not yet thought of.
Just so lost in my own head space that nothing is making sense and I can't find what I need in the chaos of my head!!
Homestead news - Broody hen 1 who had chickens late and lost them both within days, is now in a neat, tidy and secure broody box, with 12 fertile (hopefully) eggs. is about 2.5 weeks we hope to have about 8 chickens under her... I would much prefer 12 but don't want to be too optimistic.
Dog Pen is almost there, 1 more post hole to dig and post to put in then a half dozen star pickets? and the fencing can go up! Should get done this long weekend if I am lucky.
What to go to the local market on the weekend too but finances are tight and I am not sure I will make it.
October 27, 2010
October 21, 2010
Religion
The journey to learning around religion is a hard one to make. I myself am pagan, more specifically Eclectic Wiccan, and while I would LOVE for my children to follow my path on that journey, I am determined to let them make their own religious decisions... But does that mean I can put up with the possible 'brainwashing cult' down the road, taking over their lives? Or is it my responsibility to stop them from falling into that trap?
Christianity in all it's forms is much the same as that brainwashing cult to me... does this come under falling into a trap too?
Do I tell them the pure raw basic facts about a list of religions and then just hope they take those facts on board?
Do I just teach them the basics to life and to respect the lives and beliefs of others around them and hope that will be enough for them to find their own way?
My dilema in all this, is that I want my family to celebrate with me when it comes to pagan festivals. Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve (Samhain), is something that I would celebrate at the start of May! The beginning of the dark time of the year...
Right now we are coming to the celebration of Beltane on the pagan/wiccan calendar.
I want to celebrate with them, but should I go all out or should I just let it lie?
Christianity in all it's forms is much the same as that brainwashing cult to me... does this come under falling into a trap too?
Do I tell them the pure raw basic facts about a list of religions and then just hope they take those facts on board?
Do I just teach them the basics to life and to respect the lives and beliefs of others around them and hope that will be enough for them to find their own way?
My dilema in all this, is that I want my family to celebrate with me when it comes to pagan festivals. Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve (Samhain), is something that I would celebrate at the start of May! The beginning of the dark time of the year...
Right now we are coming to the celebration of Beltane on the pagan/wiccan calendar.
I want to celebrate with them, but should I go all out or should I just let it lie?
Christmas Looming - but first Halloween???
Halloween, don't get me started... Try reading this....
See? Here in the southern hemisphere where we are heading INTO SUMMER... it IS NOT HALLOWEEN!!!
Trying to teach my daughter that, is another story and even if she gets it she doesn't care because all she see's is an opportunity to dress up and have a party!
At this time of year, here in the southern hemisphere we should be celebrating the coming of summer and all it's bounty. Try this on for size??
See Halloween = the end of summer
Beltane = the beginning of summer...
There is a difference there right?
Now as for christmas, I am not CHRISTIAN....
But traditions are traditions so christmas is henceforth named "Family-mas" in my blog.
Unfortunately with my family "Giftmas" would also be appropriate!!
So with Family-mas getting ever closer it is time to start considering what gifts the children and various other family members, will be receiving. I am struggling alot with this. It is time to start writing lists, of things needed and wanted to try and work out an appropriate path to take.
Finances are not great either so it will be a struggle to get anything done early as we will need to wait on other things until the last pay before the day!!
History
Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)". The name is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". A similar festival was held by the ancient Britons and is known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced Kálan Gái av).
The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year".
The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home while harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.
Another common practice was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink.
The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day traditions derive from the Old English era.
Origin of name
The word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even ("evening"), that is, the night before All Hallows Day. Up through the early 20th century, the spelling "Hallowe'en" was frequently used, eliding the "v" and shortening the word. Although the phrase All Hallows is found in Old English (ealra hālgena mæssedæg, mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even is itself not attested until 1556.
See? Here in the southern hemisphere where we are heading INTO SUMMER... it IS NOT HALLOWEEN!!!
Trying to teach my daughter that, is another story and even if she gets it she doesn't care because all she see's is an opportunity to dress up and have a party!
At this time of year, here in the southern hemisphere we should be celebrating the coming of summer and all it's bounty. Try this on for size??
History
In ancient Ireland the main Bealtaine fire was held on the central hill of Uisneach 'the navel of Ireland', one of the ritual centres of the country, which is located in what is now County Westmeath. In Ireland the lighting of bonfires on Oidhche Bhealtaine seems only to have survived to the present day in County Limerick, especially in Limerick itself, as their yearly bonfire night and in County Wicklow in Arklow[citation needed], though some cultural groups have expressed an interest in reviving the custom at Uisneach and perhaps at the Hill of Tara.
In Irish mythology, the beginning of the summer season for the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians started at Bealtaine. Great bonfires would mark a time of purification and transition, heralding in the season in the hope of a good harvest later in the year, and were accompanied with ritual acts to protect the people from any harm by Otherworldly spirits, such as the Aos Sí. Like the festival of Samhain, opposite Beltane on 31 October Beltane was also a time when the Otherworld was seen as particularly close at hand.
Early Gaelic sources from around the 10th century state that the druids[dubious ] of the community would create a need-fire on top of a hill on this day and drive the village's cattle through the fires to purify them and bring luck (Eadar dà theine Bhealltainn in Scottish Gaelic, 'Between two fires of Beltane'). This term is also found in Irish and is used as a turn of phrase to describe a situation which is difficult to escape from. In Scotland, boughs of juniper were sometimes thrown on the fires to add an additional element of purification and blessing to the smoke. People would also pass between the two fires to purify themselves.
The festival persisted widely up until the 1950s, and in some places the celebration of Beltane continues today.
See Halloween = the end of summer
Beltane = the beginning of summer...
There is a difference there right?
Now as for christmas, I am not CHRISTIAN....
But traditions are traditions so christmas is henceforth named "Family-mas" in my blog.
Unfortunately with my family "Giftmas" would also be appropriate!!
So with Family-mas getting ever closer it is time to start considering what gifts the children and various other family members, will be receiving. I am struggling alot with this. It is time to start writing lists, of things needed and wanted to try and work out an appropriate path to take.
Finances are not great either so it will be a struggle to get anything done early as we will need to wait on other things until the last pay before the day!!
October 15, 2010
Creativity and Craft
I would love to claim sole responsibility, for the product featured in this post and although I did make it from measuring to drawing pattern to finished, I did not create the basic shape of the pattern without some inspiration in the way of a tute from here. The tute gave me the basic idea and I went from there, I can't find the exact thread again, but I am not a member and could view it so you could try a search for "Wrap Jumper Top"
This is actually a wrap around button up top for my daughter, I don't have measurements, it is about a size 1, I can measure the pattern if anyone wants me too.
This is the pattern I made up, without the seam allowance, You put the straight edge on the fold of your material and cut around it allowing room for seams.
I cut out 1 piece in each fabric of choice...
Then put right sides together pin around the edges, and sew leaving an opening for turning, I left the straight edge that is to become the top front of the top, right in the centre of this pic.
I used an overlocker to sew around the inside as I thought it would be easier than trimming the seams down later so that turning it right way out would look flat and more professional. I did not realise at that stage how difficult it was to sew curves with an overlocker, so after a steady but SLOW pace I managed to get around the whole thing, it probably does not help that the Husky lock in question is OLD, and a little worn out ;)
Turn your fabrics right side out,
Fold the unsewn edges in, sew along the opening, add some button holes and some buttons and you are done.
Close up of the buttons and buttonholes, this was my first ever attempt at button holes and I am very happy with the result, but they could be a bit neater. My intention was to make it reversible but in the interest of it looking neat I don't think that will happen.
And the model for whom the top was sewn :)
Don't mind the daggy nappy!
Things I would do differently....
1. I will do the next some with the sewing machine and trim it, or try a more up to date overlocker, the cutter on the one I used doesn't do its job quite right....
2. Try and get the button holes neater
3. Sew buttons on both sides of straps, through only the top layer of fabric!
This is actually a wrap around button up top for my daughter, I don't have measurements, it is about a size 1, I can measure the pattern if anyone wants me too.
This is the pattern I made up, without the seam allowance, You put the straight edge on the fold of your material and cut around it allowing room for seams.
I cut out 1 piece in each fabric of choice...
Then put right sides together pin around the edges, and sew leaving an opening for turning, I left the straight edge that is to become the top front of the top, right in the centre of this pic.
I used an overlocker to sew around the inside as I thought it would be easier than trimming the seams down later so that turning it right way out would look flat and more professional. I did not realise at that stage how difficult it was to sew curves with an overlocker, so after a steady but SLOW pace I managed to get around the whole thing, it probably does not help that the Husky lock in question is OLD, and a little worn out ;)
Turn your fabrics right side out,
Fold the unsewn edges in, sew along the opening, add some button holes and some buttons and you are done.
Close up of the buttons and buttonholes, this was my first ever attempt at button holes and I am very happy with the result, but they could be a bit neater. My intention was to make it reversible but in the interest of it looking neat I don't think that will happen.
And the model for whom the top was sewn :)
Don't mind the daggy nappy!
Things I would do differently....
1. I will do the next some with the sewing machine and trim it, or try a more up to date overlocker, the cutter on the one I used doesn't do its job quite right....
2. Try and get the button holes neater
3. Sew buttons on both sides of straps, through only the top layer of fabric!
October 13, 2010
Creativity - A Blessingway Flag/Quilt Square...
How do I start? It all started with a gorgeous pregnant woman, Lauren, put it out there that she would like contribution for her blessingway, to give her courage and support through the final stage of her pregnancy and birth. As creativity strikes her alot it was requested that we use a red theme so that it can be made up into a beautiful quilt for her and her family to treasure in the years to come.
Of course I jumped at the opportunity to support another mother through her journey and as such the research began, I decided on a goddess being 'born' from a lotus flower.
Lotus flowers are a symbolism for opening your mind, heart, and body to receive the new life that is coming forth. The opening of the cervix and vagina, as you give birth.
The goddess to provide strength and support throughout the process.
I hit google images with those thoughts in mind and found these images.
The images and the fabric square Lauren posted to me to use.
Next I did a search through my fabric stash (a rather small one I might add) to find the fabrics I could use.
The design I ended up with in the beginning stages of being sewn
The finished product, I am very happy with the result, I hope Lauren is too :)
Close up of it to see a bit more detail :)
Of course I jumped at the opportunity to support another mother through her journey and as such the research began, I decided on a goddess being 'born' from a lotus flower.
Lotus flowers are a symbolism for opening your mind, heart, and body to receive the new life that is coming forth. The opening of the cervix and vagina, as you give birth.
The goddess to provide strength and support throughout the process.
I hit google images with those thoughts in mind and found these images.
The images and the fabric square Lauren posted to me to use.
Next I did a search through my fabric stash (a rather small one I might add) to find the fabrics I could use.
The design I ended up with in the beginning stages of being sewn
The finished product, I am very happy with the result, I hope Lauren is too :)
Close up of it to see a bit more detail :)
October 8, 2010
The Missing Egg Mystery...
So we where collecting 6 eggs a day from 10 chickens, 2 of which we know are not currently laying, then one day there is none.... OK not to uncommon being that sometimes it may take them a little longer to make an egg. The next day there are 3, then 2... hrm ok maybe they have really slowed back. What have I done to cause this? Looks around the chook pen expectantly Hazzah! One egg on the ground! On occasion they just randomly drop an egg somewhere. But that is still only 3.... then I have a discovery.....
Can you see the little white specs?
Getting closer now and you can definately see them here...
Apparently the best place to lay is in the centre of a man fern in the chook pen.....
16 hard discover eggs....
I hope you enjoy then Mama Possum and Family
Can you see the little white specs?
Getting closer now and you can definately see them here...
Apparently the best place to lay is in the centre of a man fern in the chook pen.....
16 hard discover eggs....
I hope you enjoy then Mama Possum and Family
October 6, 2010
The Soup :D
Ok so before I get into the nitty gritty of the soup.... This is the pride and joy of my kitchen... hopefully to be upgraded in a few years to a better version!
I love my combustion stove, it does cooking, heating and hot water... and you rarely have to clean it because everything just burns off anyway! lol.
And now for the soup..... I am calling it Pumpkin Soup, it tastes great and I am utterly surprised by how it turned out :)
Ingredients:
1 carrot
2 medium Butternut Pumpkins
1 onion
2 parsnips
2-3 celery sticks
1 small swede
6 small round radishes
2 L Chicken Stock
Handful fresh Coriander
All the vegies where diced into approx. 1cm pieces.
Throw some butter in the pot and add in the onion, fry off with a sprinkle of each -
Ground: Garam Masala, Cumin, Cinnamon, Paprika, Lemon Pepper, Garlic powder (or spices/herbs of your choice)
Throw in all the vegies except coriander, stir well cook for 5 minutes of so before adding the 2L stock.
Cook for about 3 hours (on my stove) until vegies are soft!
This is the coriander which I added about 2 minutes before blending
Blended soup
Fresh bread rising to go with the soup, cooked in the electric oven because my stove's oven does not reach a high temperature (reason 1 for upgrade)
And the finished product, served with Fresh Parmesan cheese. I would have added a little cream too but we had none :) It is very sweet soup and delicious :)
I love my combustion stove, it does cooking, heating and hot water... and you rarely have to clean it because everything just burns off anyway! lol.
And now for the soup..... I am calling it Pumpkin Soup, it tastes great and I am utterly surprised by how it turned out :)
Ingredients:
1 carrot
2 medium Butternut Pumpkins
1 onion
2 parsnips
2-3 celery sticks
1 small swede
6 small round radishes
2 L Chicken Stock
Handful fresh Coriander
All the vegies where diced into approx. 1cm pieces.
Throw some butter in the pot and add in the onion, fry off with a sprinkle of each -
Ground: Garam Masala, Cumin, Cinnamon, Paprika, Lemon Pepper, Garlic powder (or spices/herbs of your choice)
Throw in all the vegies except coriander, stir well cook for 5 minutes of so before adding the 2L stock.
Cook for about 3 hours (on my stove) until vegies are soft!
This is the coriander which I added about 2 minutes before blending
Blended soup
Fresh bread rising to go with the soup, cooked in the electric oven because my stove's oven does not reach a high temperature (reason 1 for upgrade)
And the finished product, served with Fresh Parmesan cheese. I would have added a little cream too but we had none :) It is very sweet soup and delicious :)
October 4, 2010
Putting the pieces back together
So after the last post things are looking nicer around here.
We have the beginnings of car situation sorted, Hubby is looking at a car sometime this week, just a cheap daily for him to go to work in until we can save up and get a new car.
The tractor is on it's way to being repaired, thanks alot to a friend who helped to (or rather did) jack it up, pull it to pieces find the problem and compiled a solution...
Hubby helped a friend of his out with Bee's on Saturday and was stung on the hand, and after a mild reaction found himself rather useless in the tractor and wood cutting stakes when our friends came out to help yesterday! But we have enough wood for a week or so in the stove and as the weather warms that is all that is needed :)
The work drama's are averted (for now).
And we are on a mission to restore our finances so that we are not set back too far in our plans.
Homestead:
Well lets just say... refer to previous post!!!
Emotional Front:
I am feeling much more positive and ready to face the world... or rather the household, because as yet my world can not extend past the boundaries of where I can walk with 2 small children in tow :)
We have the beginnings of car situation sorted, Hubby is looking at a car sometime this week, just a cheap daily for him to go to work in until we can save up and get a new car.
The tractor is on it's way to being repaired, thanks alot to a friend who helped to (or rather did) jack it up, pull it to pieces find the problem and compiled a solution...
Hubby helped a friend of his out with Bee's on Saturday and was stung on the hand, and after a mild reaction found himself rather useless in the tractor and wood cutting stakes when our friends came out to help yesterday! But we have enough wood for a week or so in the stove and as the weather warms that is all that is needed :)
The work drama's are averted (for now).
And we are on a mission to restore our finances so that we are not set back too far in our plans.
Homestead:
Well lets just say... refer to previous post!!!
Emotional Front:
I am feeling much more positive and ready to face the world... or rather the household, because as yet my world can not extend past the boundaries of where I can walk with 2 small children in tow :)
Realisations
I have come to realise that the title of this blog is a bit out of place.
Everything we do in life is a journey to learning about something.
So ultimately this blog could be titled "A Journey through Life" and still have the same basic fundamentals.
So here I am taking a journey, everyday spent with (or without) my children allows me to learn more about them, myself, my husband and our family dynamic.
I am not taking anywhere near the amount of photographs I want, I have a whole stage of my life that I am missing photo's from, I have photo's of our land, not all of it mind you! I have photo's of my children, I have photo's of pets. I am missing photo's of the other aspect of our lives, the social aspect, I am missing photo's of friends, of my children playing with their friends, or me and my husband talking/working/playing with our friends...
That is a BIG thing to be missing, so I am going to work at taking the small camera with me EVERYWHERE I go so that I can work on remedying this situation.
Children:
Little J, has recently cut her first 4 molars, she seems to have a bit more trouble with these teeth, we had a day or cuddly time with a slight fever on and off.
K, enjoyed a play date yesterday with some friends.
I, seems to have the most news, in the school holidays we had her eyes tested after she complained of "fuzzy eyes" at school. It appears that she is long sighted, and she now has reading/writing/watching glasses, which she adores!!
We got a purple pair for home and a yellow/green pair for school.
Adults:
Both hubby and I had a great time yesterday, me chatting randomly with a friend, while hubby tried valiantly to be useful, working on the wood with another friend. He was stung by a bee on Saturday and while only having a mild reaction, his hand swelled enough to make it difficult to do much of anything. When you can not clasp your hand tightly it is hard to use a chainsaw/axe. Not to mention the heat and pain that is caused when you get swelling like that!
Everything we do in life is a journey to learning about something.
So ultimately this blog could be titled "A Journey through Life" and still have the same basic fundamentals.
So here I am taking a journey, everyday spent with (or without) my children allows me to learn more about them, myself, my husband and our family dynamic.
I am not taking anywhere near the amount of photographs I want, I have a whole stage of my life that I am missing photo's from, I have photo's of our land, not all of it mind you! I have photo's of my children, I have photo's of pets. I am missing photo's of the other aspect of our lives, the social aspect, I am missing photo's of friends, of my children playing with their friends, or me and my husband talking/working/playing with our friends...
That is a BIG thing to be missing, so I am going to work at taking the small camera with me EVERYWHERE I go so that I can work on remedying this situation.
Children:
Little J, has recently cut her first 4 molars, she seems to have a bit more trouble with these teeth, we had a day or cuddly time with a slight fever on and off.
K, enjoyed a play date yesterday with some friends.
I, seems to have the most news, in the school holidays we had her eyes tested after she complained of "fuzzy eyes" at school. It appears that she is long sighted, and she now has reading/writing/watching glasses, which she adores!!
We got a purple pair for home and a yellow/green pair for school.
Adults:
Both hubby and I had a great time yesterday, me chatting randomly with a friend, while hubby tried valiantly to be useful, working on the wood with another friend. He was stung by a bee on Saturday and while only having a mild reaction, his hand swelled enough to make it difficult to do much of anything. When you can not clasp your hand tightly it is hard to use a chainsaw/axe. Not to mention the heat and pain that is caused when you get swelling like that!
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