Simply Starting Over

Permaculture Garden Tour

2014-12-10T07:07:00.000+10:00

Every so often I get the amazing opportunity to spend time with my local Permaculture Group at one of the member's farms. It is a great opportunity to learn new ways of doing things and to see what I have learnt put into practice. It is this type of farm I one day aspire to creating. Hope you enjoy the pictorial.

The hill where a gravity fed tank will be installed

Permaculture gardens always have plenty of bamboo

I must ask for some Banana suckers for my garden.

Mulberry bushes and bunches of hanging bananas

I should have written down what type of bean this one is

Protecting young seedlings with poly pipe

Row and rows of productive garden beds

Leeks and spring onions

They recently added the drip irrigation system

Beneficial dandelions to attract bees, and well protected bean seedlings

I must have another go at planting sunflowers...spectacular

Love the colours and textures and diversity of this garden

A very healthy cape gooseberry. I had no idea they grew this big

They use untreated sawdust for mulch, low cost from local timber mill

A very practical outdoor sink with a view

Puts my garlic to shame

Simple Living Sunday 45

2014-12-01T15:55:00.002+10:00

Squash, squash and more squash. I was really surprised to see how much these had grown in a week. We had some heavy rainfall which was a blessing and just what the garden needed. These guys are the size of a small pumpkin and overfilled my basket.

So, a separate photo of the cherry tomatoes this week. They are producing a decent size now which are so much more versatile than the tiny ones from last season.

I love the contrasting colours of the green and gold.

I had to go and get a box to carry them inside.

This pumpkin I photographed last week has tripled in size.

I spent most of the weekend getting the layers of old paint off my deck upstairs...well, making a start on it anyway. If we ever want to sell this place, there are plenty of repairs and renovations to be done.

The boys and I tried sanding the paint off, but it was patchy and really hard work because the boards are not all flat.

A large tin of paint stripper was what we needed. Man my back, legs and arms are sore today!

This is a shot of the stairs showing the lovely finish...a huge improvement. That's the cherry tomatoes growing through the bottom steps.

With so many squash I decided to get a pumpkin out of storage and make a vegetable curry. Even after six months the pumpkins are still fresh and juicy. Makes you wonder how old they are when you buy them in stores.

I decided to stick with my home grown produce for this curry, with the exception of the spices and a little wombok that needed to be used up.

I didn't have any onions so decided to use some spring onions, freshly dug up.

And my garlic which was hanging on the verandah.

The beauty of freshly picked produce...look at the moisture in this zucchini. Beautiful!

I diced up my vegies and stirred through some indian and moroccan spices...and cherry tomatoes.

Twenty minutes later in the pressure cooker. My dinner for tonight and lunches for during the week. Yay!! I think a vegie lasagne will be next on the list.

What's been happening at your place. Do you like squash?

Simple Living Sunday 44

2014-11-24T11:23:00.004+10:00

Another busy week has flown by. I was thankful to have the weekend at home after last week's sports carnival in the heatwave. I managed to get a lot of mowing done by getting up early and doing a couple of hours before full sun, and then again in the late afternoon. It is still too hot during the day here to get very productive outside so I am hoping for a cooler spell this weekend.

I was amazed to find these huge squash on my other plant in the food forest garden. In a week they had grown from golf ball size to melon size. I think they were supposed to be green button squash but they look more like the patty pan squash I grew last year. Anyway the size does not affect the flavour and the skins are not too tough so...I have some awesome vegies to eat this week.

Not a great photo but you can see how fleshy they are. I made an awesome relish from squash last year, so if I get too many I know what to do.

Location and soil preparation make all the difference in raising an abundant vegetable garden. This squash was planted the same time as the others, in the same north facing sun...but in a different garden bed.

This is the one planted in my no-dig food forest. Amazing how some take off and some don't.

Another example is this golden nugget pumpkin planted under my lime tree, not in a garden bed.

And the same one planted in the no-dig garden which is layered with compost, manure, soil and mulch.

Yay, I can finally see a straight, normal looking zucchini.

And I am learning to pick my cucumbers young before they turn yellow.

This is a forgotten rosemary in the herb patch which I totally failed with last year. Would love to get some major herbs going here.

The lemonade tree is also forgotten but still bearing fruit despite the dry weather. The recent rains will hopefully see this fruit ripen.

I love the little surprises you find that grow themselves.This passionfruit vine sprung up from nowhere in the front garden...

...and I am hoping to trail it up and around the front porch beams.

Not sure if this is a pumpkin or a melon vine but it just sprouted up under the tap outside.

I try not to waste any produce but the recent storms shook up the lemon tree, and the heat spoilt the fallen fruit...I really should have picked them up sooner.

I turned the yellow cucumber which was slightly bitter into relish, together with my abundant cherry tomatoes. I salted the cucumber over and then rinsed before using.

I added a capsicum, turmeric, garlic, sugar and apple cider vinegar and let stew for an hour.

Perfect. I mixed a little in with my chicken casserole for dinner which was really yummy.

And I have enough for the next week or so with my salads...and a jar for the preserves cupboard. Only 100 or so bottles left to fill now :)

So, that's what I have been up to this week. What's going on at your place?

Simple Living Sunday 43

2014-11-17T09:56:00.000+10:00

Well, it was hardly simple living today as we sweltered in 41 degree heat. Gympie Athletics went ahead with their planned athletics carnival, so needless to say we had a pretty tough day. It was lovely to come home, cool down and have a forage around the garden before dinner.

I managed to pick a few cape gooseberries. I am still trying to get the timing right for picking them. They are sweeter when they turn yellow but I find if I leave them too late then they dry out in the hot weather. So, apparently you can pick them green and let them ripen but I have found the tart taste of the greenish ones not unpleasant anyway. They taste very much like a mini tomato.

The squash are going crazy which is awesome. The two large ones I picked today will last me for the week.

Tomatoes (besides cherry) are not a great success here with the heat. This is a mini roma that I picked up at Bunnings on a clearance table for $1. Glad to see it is fruiting but the leaves are looking a little heat affected.

This tomato plant has been in the ground since the beginning of the year and has produced a few tomatoes so I let it keep going.

This indian lab-lab bean plant is now as tall as the squash.

My malabar chestnut looked dreadful after the frost so I am happy to see it is coming back.

The pigeon pea are really taking hold now.

This avocado had been struggling with the heat so I am really hoping for some rain.

Ironic that Paul's Pink Trumpet Tree is looking the best it ever has.

This young mandarin Lauren gave me for mothers day is finally starting to settle in.

I have had three large cucumbers from two vines and am pleased to see a few more growing.

The zucchini are growing well but some of them end up narrowed at the end.

I picked three kilos of cherry tomatoes and there are still tons more. The chooks love them.

We still have patches of green lawn but it is getting very dry here. You can see the running track the boys mowed and my budding food forest garden.

Another shot taken before dinner, facing the mountain.

My garlic was not a huge success but I did manage to get a few bulbs up to dry.

This is an old filing cabinet that I sprayed black. It sits in my kitchen and houses one of my addictions...

...glass jars! Can't wait until my Xmas break to start preserving again and will do a follow up post soon about the results from last years 'vacola fest'.

We had a welcome barbecue for dinner last night as it was way too hot to cook inside.

I threw together an exotic salad utilising my home grown and preserved produce which was amazing! Cucumber, cherry tomato, gooseberry, lychees and basil topped with homemade cherry tomato relish. Makes you feel absolutely wonderful to source a meal from your own produce.

This is a shot of the lychees I preserved last year and I will definitely be doing them again this year. They stayed firm and made a lovely sweet addition to balance the tartness of my salad.

So, that's my weekly round up. What have you been up to at your place?

20 Years A Mum and 20 Years Without One

2014-11-12T07:33:00.001+10:00

This is my beautiful mother, whom the kids and I affectionately call Nanna Kerrie. Lauren was four months old when she died suddenly at 45yo, and the twins were born four years later. It hit me this week, when I was getting a little tired of all the driving around that being a single mother of teenage boys brings, that I have been a mother for a staggering 20 years. Any wonder some days it's tiring. However it also hit me that I had also been without my mother for 20 years, a huge number of years filled with so many unshared memories. So today, on the anniversary of her death, I thought I would share a few photographs and stories...for my family to look back on and cherish.

My mother, like my daughter Lauren, was always very girly. Although I did hear stories of her swinging from willow trees in the creek with her five brothers, even from an early age she loved to dress up and don a frock.

I especially love this photo and the vintage of the boy's cars. Mum looks pretty determined to race with her pram in the middle.

She was only 5ft tall and very petite when she met my dad at sweet sixteen.

My Dad was a mad golf enthusiast. Love these pedal pushers and classic 60's hairdo.

Lauren wears her hair a little like this and looks very much like her. Mum met my dad when he was on leave from the bank in Port Moresby and they had a long distance love affair, writing to each other and planning a future together. I kind of brought that future closer for them...

...they had to marry sooner because of me. Mum was 17 and my dad was 20. I remember asking Mum why she looked so sad in this photo and she told me she loved my dad but was not ready to get married and have babies. But there were very few options available at the time, and they were madly in love. I remember them being very happy and affectionate and after an argument my dad would always bring home flowers or a gift.

I remember she would spend hours at the dressing table teasing her hair and applying makeup. She loved to look her best when Dad came home from work.

Along came Tanya in 1967, nearly seven months after they married. Mom told me she used to sticky tape my ears to my head when I was a baby so they would't grow sticking out. I must say they are nice and flat, but I must have looked rather silly...and her. My kids ears grew just fine without the tape lol.

A rare colour photograph of my mum and dad...is that a golf club he is holding? Mum always complained of being a golf widow but I knew she was very proud of him. Dad was very talented and had tournaments most weekends. He was always bringing home trophies and prizes.

Mum went on to have three more children. My brother Mark was born 18 months after me and then they had Aaron who was born with downs syndrome. Following from Aaron was my sister, Krishna, seven years my junior and an absolute blessing to my mum after Aaron passed away when I was 7. I don't think my mum ever got over the loss of Aaron and she lost her father around that time too. She had Poppy's sense of humour and a 'daffyness' which is one of the things I loved most about her.

In her late twenties she took a part-time job as a waitress at a motel where she met Colin and had a scandalous affair. He was a travelling salesman who sold Addis brushes and she left to move with him to Sydney. We stayed with Dad. I was 12 and my sister was only 4, not yet started school. Apparently she wanted to take us but the family would have no part of it. Fair enough too, who knew what sort of life we would have in Sydney? Despite her leaving I have cherished memories of the time spent with my dad. This is Mum and Colin's wedding photo and I think they were married for about five years. She told me she always regretted leaving my dad and to never leave the father of my children because she could not go back. She used to send me postcards every week from Sydney and I still have many of them. She was on an adventure and living a life that she didn't get a chance to before she married.

A prized photo. Four generations of Steel women. I think I was 16 here. Ghastly purple dress I am wearing but Princess Di had a similar one so it was all the rage...along with the fluffy 80's hair.

When Colin's job transferred to Adelaide I went with them, as I had moved to Sydney to be with mum. Actually I was a rebellious teen and Dad did not know what to do with me after I threw a party behind his back (fair enough too!), so he sent me to live with mum...best move ever. Mum and I grew really close (besties) and when she broke up with Colin she met Peter, and they married soon afterwards.

Love this photo of us three girls. Guessing I am 17 here and my sister 10. Mum would have been about 34. She always wore her hair up from about this age as she was balding. Hormonal the doctors said or maybe a result of all that teasing. She always told me it was because she had children.

This photo was taken a few months before her death. She married Robert when she was 45, just after Lauren was born. It was a beautiful wedding and she was truly happy with Robert. They lived in Newcastle and bought and restored antiques which she loved. It was while he was out on a buying trip early one morning, that mum passed away in her sleep of a congenital heart disease she never knew she had.

Another favourite photo taken a few months later at my brother's wedding. Mum is holding Lauren and we were both captured wiping tears from our eyes. This is the last time I saw her one month before she died. I am so thrilled she got to meet Lauren and I have a few wonderful cards she wrote to Lauren that survived the floods which I have shared with my children...love from the grandmother they never knew.

She would be very proud to know that she has seven wonderful grandchildren and her three kids are all doing well. I am proud that I can pass on her legacy to mine. She was a gorgeous, loving woman and I truly believe that she was meant to start her family so early so that she would see us grown up and meet two of her grandchildren before she died.

Love you Nanna Kerrie xxxx

Social Media After A Marriage Break Up

2014-11-11T06:45:00.001+10:00

One aspect that has been a little frustrating with regards to my marriage break-up is our links and common ties with social media, in particular Facebook. I have become a little fanatical about seeing photos of us together and promptly deleted any on my Facebook, but the reality is they were also on his and other people we mutually know. It got me thinking whether I was being a little anal about this whole situation and wanting to pare back my joint social exposure. It's not that the photos are painful to look at, but some of the lovey dovey comments attached to them just don't wash so well when you have been dumped.

So, I did what every good blogger does before writing such a post, and consulted the universe...the wise god Dr Google, and came across this great guide to breaking up on social media which tells me I am not the only one who has been through this. Okay now here are the six steps we all need to know if we are going through a break-up, most of which you will do by instinct if you are anything like me:

Step 1. Address Your Relationship Status:
When my husband said that it was absolutely over for us, the first thing I did on Facebook was change my status to separated, and as suggested in this article I did not make this public. It wasn't a statement I was trying to announce, I just felt that my profile should reflect what I really am and that is well and truly separated. I did go one step further though. When Fathers Day came around and I realised I was no longer a part of the extended family gathering I decided to change back to my maiden name on Facebook. I did not realise I made it public, and of course I received a barrage of concerned comments...but hey at least it was out there. I wasn't hiding it anymore.

Step 2. Erase the most obviously lovey-dovey Facebook and Instagram photos:
Lyndsay Rush suggests a two stage process for this. Stage 1 is to delete all the photos of the two of you, and Stage 2, absolutely any and all group photos of you in love. My first port of call was my wedding photos. I almost deleted the whole album but there are great photos of the kids so now it just looks like I married myself...plus I look good in them, even though the memory of the day is now tarnished.

Step 3: Dig Through Your Facebook Timeline:
I have never been a really big poster so I have not bothered to go back through this. If I happened to say I loved him on his birthday and made it public, so be it. It does not bother me that it's there.

Step 4: Deal with The Friendship Question:
This has been a biggy for me. At the moment he is still my 'friend' on Facebook although I have unfollowed so I do not receive all of his notifications. Sometimes I do think my posts of the boy's sporting achievements are none of his business and apparently I can choose not to share them with him, which is something to consider. But, hey, he can still read my blog to catch up on what I am up to if he really wants to...but I did ask him to unlike Floodproof Mum's Facebook. Just seemed like the right thing to do really.

Step 5: Unfollow on Twitter:
All I can say is....thank goodness I do not use twitter. Sounds like a nightmare to erase their presence from that.

Step 6: Institute Social Media Roadblocks:
I am definitely at Step 6 now. Many of our Facebook friends and family are mutual and it gets complicated when you don't want them to see something you post, or it's not relevant to them, but then your brother or sister (for example only, this has not happened yet) likes it, and because they are his friends too, then he sees it anyway. Phew, does that make sense? Seems I need to do a lot more digging into the privacy settings, cull some unnecessary connections and as Lindsay suggests, asking your connections to do the same. Truth be known, some of my family have already done this.

So, there you have it. Check out Lindsay's article for the full explanation of all the above. especially if you are in this situation and feeling like you are neurotic...I'm sure Paul thought I was crazy getting him to delete all of our joint photos, and it doesn't feel right not to be able to do it yourself somehow.

Simple Living Sunday 42

2014-11-10T09:54:00.001+10:00

It was a hot and sunny weekend in my part of the world so not ideal for gardening. We also had the boys's regional athletics competition on Saturday which was an all-day event. The four boys did well and got through to state for all five of their events - looks like I am off to Brisbane again in December. Yesterday was spent harvesting, tidying and catching up on jobs...plus I did manage to declutter my wardrobe and purge more of Paul's stuff from the top of the wardrobe which made me feel really good. Every box I fill is comforting in some way.

It is lovely to see more variety in my basket now. I still pop a pumpkin in because I still have about 20 in storage which are keeping really well. I was so pleased to harvest a zucchini as these guys were elusive for me last season. My other squash did really well but I only got a few zucchini.

This second plant is not faring quite so well but I do need to plant more flowers to attract the bees to this side of the garden.

I harvested three cucumbers and left this one on a little too long so it is yellow. It won't be great for salads as the taste will be bitter but I will pickle it to avoid wastage.

This is my largest squash plant, in the food forest. I harvested a couple of small ones which had dropped off but now have a few large ones which have taken off.

In front of the squash is my one and only thriving LabLab bean. It is now knee high so I expect it will start producing soon.

I also have two healthy pigeon pea, despite planting a whole row. They are now thigh high and thriving.

This is Paul's pink trumpet tree which has recovered well from the frost and is looking better than it ever has.

The arrowroot has taken off near the Jaboticaba tree and is almost as tall.

I was fascinated with the growth of brussel sprouts. I don't think I will harvest many due to pests...

...but I love how they just bud all along the stem. I never knew that.

Happy to see I have an eggplant growing. This plant is from last season and I left it in to see what would happen.

Another shot of my cape gooseberries. There are heaps of them now, all in a row.

Finally, I found this little forgotten fellow under the lemon tree. Not a great position for it...the chooks went mad over the soft capsicum.

So, there is my quick garden tour for the weekend. When the sport settles down I will be looking at updating some previous simple living posts and projects, as well as getting stuck into some more. As a single mum, my boys are always my first priority. Bring on my two weeks off over Christmas!

So, what have you been up to at your place? Is your garden growing well?

Thankful Thursday - My Boys

2014-11-06T11:39:00.000+10:00

I made a decision recently to do a weekly gratitude post. My local Womens Health Centre had a free gratitude workshop which I attended a couple of weeks ago and it has had an amazing effect on my wellbeing. Talking and sharing with other women, under the guidance of an experienced facilitator, was a very special experience and is just one step along the way to help me appreciate that I am not to blame for life's current complications.

So, this week I am extremely thankful for being blessed with such beautiful twin boys, Lachlan and Cameron.

We recently had a very busy weekend when the boys qualified to represent Wide Bay at the state school athletics in Brisbane. Cameron was selected for triple jump.

Lachlan competed in the 400m. Both boys beat their personal bests and made their mum very proud.

Just competing in the main stadium at Nathan was a wonderful experience. This is the start of Lachlan's 400m and I couldn't get any closer to zoom in on my camera. He finished well and knocked 2 seconds off his best time.

I love this photo of Cameron mid-stride for his triple jump. He finished 10th in the state amongst a field of 25 athletes. Very well done.

He ran too fast for me the first time....I did not even get him in the frame :)

It was also great to share the experience with their long-term bestie Dallas. It certainly was fun sharing the experience with 3 teenage boys...

...their attention was constantly distracted by the many fit female athletes haha.

We have athletics in Gympie every Friday night and the boys compete most weekends...next year they are talking me into competing in the veterans events and you just never know, maybe I will.

The boys and I are great friends and have grown closer since Paul left. I am blessed that they share so much of their lives with me and that we can talk about nearly everything. We are currently distributing resumes for jobs and in January they will both start driving so we have many more experiences and adventures to share.

How lucky am I? Thanks for being my boys!

If you have not visited Sarah's beautiful blog before please check it out. You will be inspired!

Southbank Brisbane - Wordless Wednesday

2014-11-05T07:47:00.000+10:00

During our hectic weekend for the boy's state athletics we spent a wonderful afternoon at Southbank. It's my favourite part of Brisbane.

5 amazing things I have gained from Flood-Proof Mum

2014-11-04T10:03:00.002+10:00

Over the past couple of months I have thought a lot about blogging and what it means to me. I had to give it a break for fear of writing too much negativity (and who wants to be known for that?) due to the process I was going through with my marriage breakup. But lately, through contact with the amazing people of the 'blogiverse' I have decided to embrace Flood-Proof Mum and today I am reflecting on the top 5 things that have happened as a result of my blog.

1. Inspiration

I started Flood-Proof Mum in the hope of connecting and sharing stories with other victims of flood. In twelve months I have achieved that and so much more. As well as gaining inspiration from others journeys I have also been overwhelmed by the number of times people have told me that I am an inspiration to them. It is something I never considered and an attribute that I humbly and gratefully acknowledge. It is an amazing thing to think that you inspire others by telling your story but it is a two-way street and that is the beauty of blogging - you can be inspired and inspiring at the same time.

2. Friendship

http://opinionsandexpressions.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/online-friendship/

I never really knew what it was like to have online friends. I have had Facebook for many years but only connected regularly with those I already knew. Blogging is far superior to any form of social media. Through reading others blogs you get to know them (or the self they choose to share with you) and I have met many people whom I consider as kindred spirits with lives parallel to mine. Meeting some of these people in person is an experience I immensely look forward to. But it's not just the bloggers, many of my readers don't blog but share similar interests and I am honoured that we have connected. Thank you all especially for your beautiful and kind words during my sabbatical.

3. Reconnecting

A few months ago I received a text from a very dear friend with whom I had lost touch. Her name is Amanda and she was there with me when Lauren was born 20 years ago, and a beautiful bridesmaid at my first wedding. She found me through Flood-Proof Mum and recognised my photograph. It means the world to me that we will be able to catch up in person after so many years and share stories. I also think it is fate that she has come into my life now. I had to shut down the past couple of months and become a mushroom, it's my way of dealing with things...but I know that she understands, and I cannot wait to share Amanda with my family.

4. Recognition

I never set out to do anything major with Flood-Proof Mum. It is not a blog designed to make money or attract sponsors. It is my personal journey and a source of information on simple living in a flood prone property. It is also a great opportunity for me to hone my writing skills and share stories, so I was absolutely overwhelmed and honoured to have my blog archived on the National Libraries Database. It is now preserved and generations to come will be able to read my flood stories long after I am gone...hence why I did not want to be a misery-guts-woe-is-me blogger over the past month :)

5. Education

When I read my early posts I am always amazed at the array of skills and knowledge I have gained and shared. I have experimented with many simple living and gardening concepts and I so appreciate the fact that I recorded this information to look back on. My personal posts also reflect what I was going through at the time and I have designs to record more memories or memoirs, perhaps in another blog. There is also the wealth of knowledge I have gained from other bloggers, readers comments, and simple living forums. The sharing of information with friends is an experience I treasure.

So, there you have it. My top 5 amazing benefits gained from blogging. I would love to hear about yours if you blog, and if you don't I would love to know what you gain from reading others blogs.

Have an awesome day!

Simple Living Sunday 41

2014-11-02T21:56:00.001+10:00

I am finally back in the real world again. The last couple of months have been an absolute blur, and the things that have given me such pleasure over the past twelve months have sadly taken a back seat. Before my marriage break up I was excited about the array of seeds I would be planting but sadly I missed the boat whilst in mourning so am slowly trying to catch up and get some produce in the ground. Thankfully my soil and bed preparation has meant that I have some things going...but certainly not what I had planned. Life's like that at times :)

I ended up with my huge tree full of mulberries...and have been feeding the local bird population. Luckily they tend to stick to the top branches which I cannot reach, and as long as I pick early in the morning I usually end up with a decent bowlful...not the buckets I have been used to in previous years. The tree is due for a big cutting back soon.

I have spent time re-focussing on my diet and, on the recommendation of my doctor due to suspected lactose intolerance, have had to cut all dairy...which has meant quite a few of my simple living projects such as yoghurt and cheese-making have come to a standstill whilst we test the waters. My stomach initially felt healthy whilst drinking the kefir but after a couple of months it did not agree with me. My new diet which consists of non processed foods only is working wonders...and I am really appreciating the added flavour of my herbs.

I have many pots planted with coriander, basil, parsley, herb robert, gingko, thyme, rosemary and oregano...

...on the verandah outside the kitchen door for easy access whilst cooking.

This little fellow is a madagascar bean which I scored from one my permaculture friends.

I planted eggplant and capsicum seedlings as my diet tends towards the mediterranian flavours.

This is the cape gooseberry I planted last spring which I discovered will grow into quite a large bush.

it is already bearing a lot of fruit so i have designs to plant more in my food forest garden.

The roses have been quite spectacular, huge blossoms in vibrant colours.

...and a few smaller flowers have survived my neglect of the front gardens.

I always love the spring bulbs...it's a shame they are so short-lived.

The hibiscus always amazes me with it's hardiness. There was not a leaf left after the frost. Usually it gets chopped back but this year I left it and it is replenishing from the bottom up.

This photo is the start of my cucumber patch taken a couple of weeks ago.

More beautiful colour.

I have planted my usual zucchini which grows well here...

...and button squash which are starting to fruit.

This plant is a pigeon pea, great for adding nutrients to the soil and what the permies call a chop-and-drop. They are used to shield small trees from harsh weather and provide great mulch when cut back and left on the ground.

This is finally the start of my indian lab-lab beans. I planted heaps of seeds but only a few are coming up.

I am also finally having some success with my comfrey. I tend to 'set and forget' about it so have had a few goes at it now.

This is the pepino I bought from the Yandina Community Gardens. I am hoping it will bear some summer fruit.

The grape vine which was hammered by the frost has come back beautifully. I am hoping to grow it up the poles and underneath the back verandah.

And you just gotta love these hardy little buggers...cherry tomatoes are back in town. My morning breakfast consists of my own eggs, tomatoes and kale. A beautiful organic way to start the day!

So, what's been going on at your place?

Simple Living Sunday 40

2014-09-28T13:38:00.001+10:00

Life has been busy lately with the boy's football and now athletic commitments so it has been nice to enjoy a rare weekend at home. I have been lacking motivation for the garden which I was so looking forward to planting this Spring. I am hoping that will return once I spend more time outside...and start embracing and accepting my life the way it is now. These posts always made me feel good about so myself so Simple Living Sunday is a start to finding my way back again.

The recent rains have done wonders for the mulberry tree. It is back in full form...and massive.

The branches are laden with berries...

...and judging by the various stages, I will be picking for a few weeks very shortly. Yummo!

The leafy greens have kept me going for most of this year. The kale is still plentiful, and I am loving this rainbow chard with my eggs...

...speaking of which, look at the amazing yellow colour in this omelette. The chooks have been a welcome addition to the household and I collect 3-4 eggs per day at the moment. Enough to have breakfast every day and pass on a dozen to my daughter when she comes over on Sundays.

The regular cherry tomato patch under the stairs is blooming again.

I have been slack with the greenhouse...once a day watering is not enough to keep the pots moist in the heat so I will stick to planting my seedlings upstairs on the balcony in summer.

The cape gooseberry has taken off...it will eventually be a large shrub I discovered when I visited a permaculture farm last weekend.

The leeks are finally starting to look 'leek-ish'.

I harvested my first cauliflower and have a couple more growing. Controlling the caterpillars has been the biggest challenge. This is a purple cauliflower.

And a regular white one growing well.

The arrowroot in the food forest is starting to multiply...and add valuable nitrogen to the soil.

The mint is also spreading out...I am hoping to get some black mint going too.

The yard has been getting a big cleanup which included the fireplace.

A welcome sight on Saturday night.

And a welcome sight on the way to work...dairy crow crossing.

That's the week at my place. What have you been up to at yours?

'Stand n Stuff' Quiche

2014-09-26T09:09:00.000+10:00

I have recently come across this easy quiche made in the slow cooker. Last night I decided to bake some in the oven...just to make sure the shell stayed crispy. They turned out beautifully and I packed one for lunch today with some salad. So why did I call them 'stand n stuff'?

Well, because I used these beaut little soft taco boats as the base. Super easy and lower in calories than pastry.

I placed four 'boats' on a greased oven tray.

Then chopped some bacon, kale, tomato and capsicum.

I placed the fillings into the boats, then poured whisked eggs (six) to cover, and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

Voila! I baked them for about 30 minutes at 150 degrees. You don't want the oven too hot or the 'boats' will burn on the edges. These look a little dark in the photo but were just perfect!

How is that for the easiest, quickest quiche on the run?

Time To Let Go

2014-09-16T08:29:00.001+10:00

Two years ago today I was on a beautiful beach in Nai Yang, Phuket for my sister, Krish's wedding. It was such a beautiful, romantic ceremony, complete with bare feet and these amazing parasols we picked up for a couple of dollars at one of the temples. I was so honored that Krish asked Paul and I to attend as we had shared their journey from the very beginning of their romance when they met online, and we supported Krish through her breakup with her ex.

I am so very proud of my little sis and so ecstatic that she found the love she deserved after years of turmoil. Congratulations Krish and Pete!

Ironically one of the reasons Krish asked us to attend was that Paul and I understood what it was like to have such an incredible romance...that the depth of affection we had for one another was akin to hers with Pete, soul mates. Unfortunately, at the time of going overseas we had just been through another major flood earlier that year...and it was taking it's toll on us. We really needed the break, and despite my checking on the kids all the time, we all did have a lovely time...except for one big mistake I made which I planned with Krish before we left Australia.

I arranged with the celebrant to have a renewal of wedding vows for Paul and I, under the flower arbour, after Krish and Pete were married. I wanted to try and capture some sort of romantic spark that had been missing from our marriage. Mental note....never ever spring a surprise renewal of wedding vows on someone. Like that situation would ever present itself again, right? It was incredibly awkward, Paul didn't get the gesture, and later said he didn't think it was a good idea.

The reason I share this story is that I think I realised then that my marriage was hurting, that large romantic gestures shouldn't be necessary to keep things moving. Now, two years later my marriage is over.

You cannot go back from someone telling you they don't love you anymore, that they don't want to grow old with you...and that nothing you do can change that. You have to let them go. If they are so unhappy then there is no point holding on to save your broken heart. You have to realise the fairytale is over, even though you would have tried to save it over and over again because you made solemn vows and promised to do so....and, let's face it...you still love him.

A month ago I couldn't talk about this, hence the reason for my bloggy break. Some would think it's not appropriate to air this in public but I felt like writing what was in my heart today, especially on this anniversary of such a moving and beautiful wedding. A day that will always hold a special place in my heart regardless of who was there.

Pete and Krish, I know you will have an eternity of anniversaries and I so look forward to sharing them with you. Don't be sad for me, I deserve to be with someone that will love me for a lifetime, no matter what...just like you.

Thanks for helping me let go...love you both so much!!

A Bloggy Break

2014-08-25T11:05:00.001+10:00

Hey! Attention all you awesome people who read my blog. Something totally catastrophic happened to my family this week and I need to take a break for a week or so to get our lives back together.

I don't mean to be mysterious but now is not the right time to be talking about it. I promise I will once I have digested it all.

I hope you will stick with me and be there when I get back into the swing of things!

Thanks for your support xxx

Pumpkin Kale and Quinoa Salad

2014-08-22T08:46:00.002+10:00

I was looking for an up-market salad to take to a party last weekend and thought that I would try and use up the abundance of pumpkins and kale I have at the moment. A quick Google search using the two ingredients led me to this recipe, which I have varied slightly. It is an ideal winter salad as it can be served warm or cold and it really brings out the flavours of the pumpkin without the kale being overbearing. Plus...it looks pretty fancy!

Ingredients

800g pumpkin, peeled, seeded and cut into 1.5cm cubes
Spray olive oil
Olive oil
1 x onion, finely chopped
2 x garlic cloves, crushed
1 x teaspoon finely grated ginger
2 x teaspoon ground coriander
2 x teaspoon turmeric
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
100g trimmed kale leaves, shredded
1/4 cup slivered almonds, pepitas or pine nuts

Method

1. Place the pumpkin on a lined baking tray, spray with oil and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden and tender. As my oven did not crisp the outsides of the pumpkin cubes, I tossed them into a frypan with some spray oil to finish off.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion for five minutes until softened. Add garlic, ginger, coriander and turmeric and cook stirring for one minute.

3. Add quinoa and 2 cups off water, bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until water has evaporated and quinoa is soft. I found I had to add more water and hence increased the quantities of coriander and turmeric from the original recipe, due to evaporation.

4. Stir through kale until just wilted, then gently stir through the roasted pumpkin and almonds. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

The salad was very popular and a wonderful showcase for the fresh produce from my property.

I hope you enjoy!

Simple Living Sunday 39

2014-08-18T14:38:00.000+10:00

This weekend was a write off in terms of spending time in the garden and on my projects. Even if I wasn't running the boys around all day Saturday for football, the torrential rain (Yes, Rain!!) would have prevented me from getting stuck into it. The rain was very welcome though to fill the tanks a little and green up the farm after the frost.

Kale, pumpkin, spinach and citrus are the main items of produce from my garden every week now. The chooks have been laying well again and you can see the three different coloured eggs. My favourite layer Ivory has got a cough I noticed today so it's off to the feed barn tomorrow to see what I can get for her.

I keep missing the fine line between letting the broccoli grow bigger and it going to seed. I let this one go and the bees have been going crazy.

This is supposed to be brussel sprouts but I can't see any sprouting :)

Another small cabbage head survives.

This eggplant has 'regrowth' like the gooseberry so I will see what happens with it.

I was wondering if the mulberry tree would fruit again as it had an unusual season earlier this year. Well, it looks like I will have a few mulberries but not a full crop as I did not get a chance to trim the tree back.

Although the berries are out of focus, I have left this photo in as it is a great shot of the block and trees.

I read that a good thing for a sick chicken is clover and I found this patch yesterday, so hopefully that will help her. Apparently apple cider vinegar and garlic in the water can help too.

I lost the battle with my husband's arson tendancies. I will get the boys to dig the rest of the bladey grass out and I will have another garden to plant.

This Russian Red kale is amazing, almost a metre tall and has not stopped producing, even through the frosts.

The same plant I took a photo of last week, and now there is a little baby cauliflower under the leaves.

The lettuce seeds I planted last week are already beginning to sprout.

And so is the black mint which I got from Fair Dinkum Seeds.

Finally, I was asked to take a salad to a party yesterday and came up with this pumpkin, kale and quinoa one. It was very popular and used up some of the pumpkin and kale I have here. Recipe later this week.

I hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoy your week! What did you get up to at your place?

Slow Cooked Pork and Pineapple

2014-08-15T11:02:00.000+10:00

I posted a review of my multicooker this week and had a request for this recipe. I must confess I made it up as I went along and it turned out beautifully, so I thought it would post it here. That way I will remember how to make it next time!

Ingredients

700g diced pork (I used forequarter chops which were only $6/kilo and cut the meat off the bones, removing all fat)
1 x can of pineapple pieces (including the juice)
1 x onion chopped
1 x red capsicum chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 x teaspoon chilli powder
2cm piece of ginger, chopped
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup kecap manis
1 cup chopped pumpkin

Method

Combine garlic, ginger, chilli powder, hoisin sauce and kecap manis in a bowl. Add to the diced pork and marinate overnight.

I then sauteed my onion in my multicooker, but if you are doing this in a slow cooker I would just add it raw. Add marinated pork, tinned pineapple including juice, capsicum and pumpkin and stir to combine. When adding the pineapple juice, the total amount of liquid you need depends on the size of your slow cooker. You don't want to cover the meat, and I find about half way up the meat level works best as the pork juices will add further liquid.

Slow cook for 6 - 8 hours on low, depending on your slow cooker. I had mine on timer and when I got home I added some homemade natural yoghurt to thicken the liquid a little. You could also use sour cream or a little cornflour mixed with water.

Serve with basmati rice. The pork falls apart on your fork and is rich with asian-inspired flavour.

Enjoy!

Multicooker Road Test: New Wave 5 in 1

2014-08-12T07:18:00.000+10:00

With the money I received from relatives for my birthday I decided to purchase a multicooker. My main reason for buying one is that I love to cook slow cooked meals over winter and my current slow cooker does not have a timer. It is also a little overzealous so I could not leave it on all day whilst at work as it would overcook the food.

The other thing that appealed to me about a multicooker was the inclusion of a pressure cook function. I have never used one before and was fascinated at the possibilities and practicalities for a full time working mum of football-playing-eat-like-a-horse teenage boys.

So I did a bit of research and read heaps of reviews and decided on the New Wave 5 in 1 Multicooker which I ordered from Kitchenware Direct. It cost about $140 delivered (in 3 days) and just so you know, this post is not sponsored. I mainly want to let you know that so far I am extremely happy with my choice. These are the 5 functions that my multicooker performs:

1. Searing

You can brown your meat in the dish before slow or pressure cooking. Very handy for adding cooked onions and garlic to your dish - extra flavour without the added washing up.

2. Slow Cooking

These are a couple of dishes I have made using the slow cook function.

I came home to this pork and pineapple curry tonight which was such a treat. I marinated the pork overnight and put it in the cooker with the vegetables at 8am this morning before I left for work. I had the timer set to come on at 10am for six hours. The cooker then automatically switches to 'warm' function so it was absolutely perfect when I got home. I only had to boil some rice, but a lot of people put that in too.

You can see how clear and easy the functions are selected. The red time is the preset time and the green time is how long you want it to cook for. There is no low or high setting like most slow cookers and I find the timing to be in between. Most dishes you would cook on low for eight hours or high for four hours, and I find six hours is perfect in this cooker.

This is not a great photo but it shows a mild sausage curry I made for the boys. I boiled the sausages first to remove fat and skins, then put the pasta in with the curry and sausages. I then put it on slow cook for three hours. Perfect!

3. Pressure Cooking

I am so impressed with the pressure cook function and have used this the most. Anything that I would normally fry I am now cooking in my multicooker, and it is so much easier to clean. I did steak the other night cooked in gravy which took 8 minutes and was perfectly moist and tender.Getting the timing right is the key to pressure cooking and I use the recipes provided and a fantastic Multicooker Facebook group if I am unsure. It is suggested to use the high pressure for meats and low pressure for vegetables

This bolognese sauce took 15 minutes on high pressure. Next time I will add the spaghetti at the same time.

The yummy beef casserole took 30 minutes on high pressure. I browned the meat (chuck steak) using the searing function in the photo above.

4. Soup

This is one of my beautiful home grown pumpkins.

Chopped up with some onion, garlic, chicken stock and bacon.

Two hours later, perfect pumpkin soup. I have also made this on the low pressure function which halved the cooking time.

5. Steaming

How perfect are these steamed vegetables? You just put some water in the bottom of the cooker and place the steam basket on the rack...and ten minutes later you have perfect vegies.

The cooker is quite big (6 litre capacity), and the insert is made of a very easy to clean non stick metal. You can buy stainless steel inserts separately if you want to. The steam basket and rack are shown below, together with the spoon which also came with the package.

So, if you have been contemplating getting a multi cooker I can thoroughly recommend the practicality and functionality of the New Wave 5 in 1. They also have a 6 in 1 cooker that has deep frying but I thought that would just get rather messy...and I don't deep fry anything anyway.

Simple Living Sunday 38

2014-08-11T11:46:00.000+10:00

It was a beautiful weekend here in Tandur. Overcast with a sprinkle of rain on Saturday and the promise of more next weekend. It is very dry here now and some heavier falls would be most welcome. I have spent most of my spare time in the garden lately getting my beds ready for Spring planting. I forgot to photograph my basket of goodies yesterday so the one above is from a couple of weeks ago but with the same content. Otherwise there would just be a boring photo of my garden beds as the header.

This a shot looking down the length of my eventual food forest. I have now moved the mulch aside through the middle to create a path so that I can easily access both sides of the bed. I have not yet decided whether to edge this garden. As it will have large trees eventually I would prefer not to, but I will see whether the grass can be controlled with regular mowing.

This is a close up shot of the pathway, showing how well the layers have composted, and how well the grass underneath has been contained.

This is the completed extension of the side garden, complete with a curious Alfie. He absolutely loves spending time in the garden with me. I will plant vegetables all along this bed.

This Tuscan kale is growing really well, with new growth in the centre...now that the caterpillars have been controlled.

The corn has been cleared and the water tank garden has been fertilised and mulched, ready for its next round of produce.

I have repurposed the old outdoor shower and toilet block into a potting shed...

...a handy place to store all of my gardening tools and soil, very close to my main gardens and greenhouse. I spent the afternoon yesterday potting seedlings to get a head start before September planting.

This is the inside of a cauliflower...can't see a head beneath all of the layers.

I am contemplating using this old barrel to plant potatoes. I have never grown them before but thought I would give it a go.

I finally used the pallets I picked up from the Red Cross, and made a compost pile, closer to the house and gardens than my one out the front.

I will take a bag of limes into work tomorrow as they are now starting to drop onto the ground and I don't want to waste any. We have them with our water every day, and I will juice some next weekend to put in the freezer.

This is my next patch to tackle. The grass grew long here through the pumpkin vine. Paul wants to burn it but I would prefer to cut it back and not leave a charred mess on the ground...so near to the house.

I have been recyling the water from the vacola onto my herbs on the verandah.

And I have started using the bokashi bucket again. Most of the scraps go to the chickens but there are some things they don't eat which can be made into valuable compost.

My herb robert plant in the centre is finally starting to flourish and I put it into my smoothie every morning.

Unfortunately the brahmi is looking a little worse for wear. I am hoping it will rejuvenate with the warmer weather.

So, that's my place in a nutshell. What did you get up to this weekend?

Slow Cooker Lasagne

2014-08-07T22:24:00.001+10:00

I had some time recently to experiment with my slow cooker. I have been making all sorts of bread and scrolls in it, with great success. Just lately it has become a tradition in my home to make a lasagne every Sunday for the kids, and they have the leftovers the next night. When I discovered I could make it in the slow cooker, and then found out how well it turns out, I decided I will never make it in the oven again. It only takes 3 hours on low (depending on your cooker) and it is beautifully moist. I also find the ceramic bowl so much easier to clean than an oven baked lasagne dish...and apparently the running cost of your slow cooker is cheaper than your electric oven, even with the extended cooking time.

Ingredients (for a six litre slow cooker)

700g mince
1 x finely chopped onion
400g tin tomatoes
1 x jar pasta sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp beef stock
2 tsp ground oregano
3 cloves crushed garlic
1 pack dried lasagne sheets
30g butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
3/4 cup grated cheese

Some versions of this recipe say you can add the ingredients to the mince meat and put it in the slow cooker raw, but I always make my meat sauce first in a separate pan. You can use your normal lasagne recipe which is what I used for this one.

Brown the onion until clear and then add the meat and brown, breaking up lumps with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic, beef stock, oregano, tomatoes, pasta sauce and tomato paste and stir well. Cook for about 20 minutes until mince is cooked through and is a beautiful red colour. It should be quite moist so that when it is added to the slow cooker, the dry lasagne sheets will cook.

Put 1/4 of the mince mixture into the bottom of your greased crockpot (I use spray olive oil). Now you need to make the white sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan, adding the flour, and then gradually adding the milk. I use a whisk to ensure there are no lumps. Cook over a low heat, stirring until thickened. Pour 1/3 of the white sauce over the mince in the crock pot and spread out with the back of a spoon.

Break up your lasagne sheets to fit and layer over the white sauce. Complete this process three times, ending with a final layer of mince. Sprinkle a good layer of cheese over the top. I then place a tea towel over the crock pot before placing the lid on the top. This will stop condensation dropping onto the lasagne and making it soggy.

Bake for three hours on low (check every hour just in case).

Full Moon Meditation

2014-08-05T07:48:00.001+10:00

A while ago I attended a full moon meditation with my husband at the Pomona Healing Centre. When Paul first asked me to go I was expecting an open field, moonlight eerily streaming down upon white robed maidens chanting. The actuality was quite an eye-opener but not in the way I expected. I turned up at the above renovated hall....

...and what greeted me inside was nothing short of breathtaking. The hall has been painted with murals inside and you feel like you are stepping into a Greek or Egyptian palace, with white pillars and intricate 'brickwork'.

Every corner has some sort of display with appropriate looking artefacts and musical instruments, such as this beautiful drum.

Ishtarlia welcomes you to her full moon sound bath, and when you lie back and close your eyes, you are taken away by the sound of her voice (yes, the chanting but so beautiful and pitch perfect it takes your breath away). She used the above glass bowls to create different vibration sounds and matches it perfectly with her voice. You literally feel the waves of sound and vibration running through your body...which is very relaxing once you get used to it. And the acoustics of the hall...amazing.

Ishtarlia creates a magical mandala for her full moon sounds baths, an example of which is above. Before we even walked into the hall we were given a piece of paper to write something on that we wanted to let go of. Then we sat down on the mats and set fire to our papers in the middle of the mandala...a very spiritual experience.

So, if you are like me, and a little sceptical of something different...just jump in head first. I left the sound bath feeling invigorated and relaxed and will definitely be back again...when the weather warms up a little.

Simple Living Sunday 36 & 37

2014-08-04T06:56:00.000+10:00

I missed posting last week due to technical issues, so I am catching up his week with a two in one post. I have been on holidays this week and it has been wonderful catching up with some projects. Of course I did not get everything done on my list...but another week off in September should help with that. My main focus this week has been on getting garden beds ready for planting the first week of September. Yay! Can't wait for that. I have decided to focus on Spring and Summer vegie gardens as there just is not enough light during winter when you work full time...plus those damn caterpillars .

Today I dragged the juicer out and made up a bottle of vegie juice and a bottle of fruit juice, ready to make morning smoothies...I am giving up the coffee first thing in the morning, and I can add my brahmi, ginko and herb robert to the smoothie so I should have plenty of brainpower for work.

I got the Vacola out this week too...

...and made up a batch of pasta sauce. One dollar per jar - bargain.

One of my pullets laid her first egg, smaller than a quail egg, bless her!

I couldn't post without mentioning my pumpkin of course. Three weeks in the sun and they are beautiful and orange with hard skins, ready for storage.

I just had to make pumpkin soup of course...the best I have made.

I have several heads of broccoli now.

This was supposed to be a leek but is still very small...will leave it in just in case it decides to grow.

I have now extended the side garden out further, leaving more room for full-sun planting.

The lemonade tree has grown really big now, I can't reach that fruit up the top. I don't know why it is so close to the house though.

The frosted gooseberry has new growth at the bottom so hopefully it will survive.

I put together this basket with produce from my garden and the markets...

...to give the wonderful lady who gave me her beautiful puppy Alfie. Isn't he gorgeous? I have really missed having a dog around when I do the gardening and little Alfie is just perfect.

So, I had a great week at the farm. How was your week?

Yandina Community Gardens

2014-07-31T09:01:00.003+10:00

If you have a community garden in your area and have never visited it, I would urge you to do so. If you ever needed inspiration or advice to start your own garden, then these are the best places to go. You can see what grows well in your area and there are volunteers more than happy to answer your questions. I love the Yandina Community gardens even though they are a 40 minute drive away, because they are open on a Saturday morning, unlike my local gardens which are only open when I am at work. They also utilise permaculture principles which is always good to see in action.

This is an insect hotel full of different habitats to encourage beneficial insects into the garden.

An aquaponics garden using an old bath tub.

Raised beds with a variety of herbs and edible plants.

Banana circles are a central feature....

...as are the chickens.

I love the myriad of pathways linking up the various permaculture zones.

This is a hand made cobb oven...

...in the shape of a bullfrog.

This is a habitat to attract native bees.

A creative mosaic table.

Everywhere you look there is produce, citrus with underplantings of nasturtium.

And the homestead where you can swap produce, stop for a yarn or attend a workshop every now and then.

I will certainly be visiting again at the end of August because they have very cheap plants for sale - from $2, and I picked up some bargains last time I was here....and Costas from Gardening Australia is there for an open day and doing some presentations which I don't want to miss. Plus, on a Saturday Yandina has a great farmers market, so I am looking forward to that!

Do you have a community garden where you are?

Angel Gowns Australia - Donate Your Wedding Dress!

2014-07-29T09:37:00.001+10:00

I am home this week on leave from work, and have just unpacked my wedding dress to get it ready to donate to an amazing organisation called Angel Gowns Australia. I thought I would create this post and share what they are all about in case you have not heard of them, and in the hope that you think about donating your dress, or just spread the word around to others that such a beautiful non-profit organisation exists.

Image Source

In their own words Angel Gowns Australia are:

...a community organisation of volunteers who hope to touch the hearts of everyone in Australia especially those who suffer the tragic loss of their baby.

From donated wedding gowns we lovingly hand craft Angel Gowns which are then gifted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and Hospitals all around Australia for babies who are born sleeping and grow their wings far too soon.

With your help we will be able to gift our Angel Gowns to all Australian families when the most unimaginable loss happens.

Image Source

So, in a nutshell, what these beautiful women do is transform donated wedding gowns into stunning creations for babies who 'grow their wings too soon.' The dresses are sometimes donated by those who have lost a child, and some gowns are especially ordered and made from mother's wedding dresses for their own child.

Image Source

For me, I have not lost a child but know of many who have miscarried and would like to think that a little magic from my most special day would be passed on to a grieving family - courtesy of some amazing seamstress volunteers.

Image Source

When I mentioned to my husband that I was doing this he thought it was rather morbid, my wedding gown being remade to go into a coffin or to be cremated...but I see it differently, and so do many, many others. I will never wear it again, and chances are it will get donated to the salvo's or remain in it's memory box, but I think the scalloped design will make for beautiful angel gowns...and bring a smile to the faces of families who are grieving. Who could want more than that?

If you want to know more about Angel Gowns Australia or want to volunteer to be a seamstress (heaven knows I cannot sew at all), or even want to donate much needed funds for cards and angel pins, please checkout their Facebook Page and give them a like...you will be inspired by the daily posts, I guarantee it.