Rain: Inspiring and depressing

This past week has been somewhat a mish mash of feelings, thoughts and projects.  It has felt like a neverending week with the constant rain and just downright dreadful weather.  Although it's been testing, I have been inspired by this week and look forward to the coming changes that my family will experience in 2012.   I see that plenty of people are full swing into planning 2012 and have utmost positive intentions of making their worlds and the world around them a more comfortable place to be. 

Here's to changes and growth for 2012!!!

Peace xo

Gardening

This is the current state of our lovely little garden.  I love it!!!  It is somewhat overgrown with calandula, coriander, nasturtium, parsley and alyssum but it just looks so pretty and welcoming.  Through the winter there was not much action with any sort of productivity as far as the vegetables were concerned.  We harvested a few beans as well as sugarsnap peas.  There was some broccoli early on as well.  Overall our best performer was the kale.  It was an endless producer.  Looking forward to including this in the rotation for next cool season.  I think the main contiributor to the lack of productivity was because we planted too late.  Since it has began to warm a little and the days lenghthen somewhat the amount of growth has been amazing. 

Both the cabbages and the silverbeet appeared to be stunted until a couple of weeks ago and now there is plenty to go around.  Cabbages have been very low maintenence.  I have noticed a few munchers the past couple of days however I don't mind a couple of holes here and there.  I manually remove them and throw them to the hens. 

Here is some of our Spring Summer choices. 

I went a little crazy on purchasing seeds as I wanted to include varieties that I haven't grown before.  Eden Seeds have a great catalogue which included what I wanted to give a try.  I am especially interested in the Turkish Orange Eggplant as well as the Golden Beetroot oh, and the Armenian Cucumber.  Not to mention the little pumpkins!!!!  I hope we have success.

This is also something I hope we have success with.  To the left is the frame for a strawbale garden.  It has a frame as we need to stop the guinea pigs from eating our crop!!!  It will be filled with strawbales and then planted up in the coming weeks.  It's closer to the house and smaller than our other bed at the bottom of the yard.  With the impending heat, it can be shaded easily and will allow easier acces to the produce we will use often.  Also, with my size increasing it won't be such a hike to the garden.  The frame on the right is a sandpit for the girls.  Sandpits provide endless enjoyment for children.  I remember spending whole days in my sandpit that my father built when I was a child.  I am not sure what it was that I was doing but it provided me with infinite opportunities to explore my imagination and be with my siblings.  This area is shaded from 3:00p.m.ish of an afternoon.  I can see many summer evenings spent in this part of the yard...... 

Here we are in the front yard in amongst the hippeastrums, lilliums and agapanthus.  Most of the bulbs are now beginning to suface and will provide us with a spray of colour shortly.  These garden out front have been neglected.  They are just constant chores with weeding.  Cobblers pegs...I don't like you.  There is another garden which I won't be showing you as it is an absolute disgrace.  We have not found the inspiration or had the energy to clean it up.  There are just so many weeds it's overwhelming!!! It's on the to-do list though and with the evenings proving to be so inspiring at this time of year it will be seen to in the near future. 

Peace xo

Bye Bye Johnny and Sons

So we have said goodbye to our little man Johnny and his two sons.  Both of the hatchlings turned out to be roosters.  3 roosters bringing on the morning at 3:30a.m or earlier is not pleasant.  Johnny was becoming rather aggressive and difficult to manage.  We also noticed a change in the girls egg production.  He seemed to change soon after my return to work which I can only assume is linked to the decrease in contact???  I feel as though I have let him and his offspring down however I am confident that they are much happier at their new home - 130 acres just south of Ipswich with a family who rehomes unwanted livestock.  Their poultry free range over their property so hopefully the boys could find their own territory.  I won't forget you fellas....

Peace

xo    

Changes

Another life will be present earthside next year.  We are expecting in February.

We are thrilled and over the moon to have created a little person!!!

Let the preparations begin

Peace  xoxo

Mothering Moments - Nappies

I do love cloth nappies :-) I do love seeing babies wearing a cloth nappy also :-)  Especially when they are walking :-)

It has been a struggle in my household to use cloth nappies full time mainly because I did not set myself up properly in the beginning.  I did a little bit of research in the form of lurking about forums- one particular forum actually..  have a look here .  I know that there is plenty of information available online but when I was pregnant with Eliza I came across the above mentioned website and forum.  I found it useful, welcoming and I found that I had similar values to those contributing.  I can often still be found lurking about :-) 

I have been using a combination of disposable and cloth nappies since Eliza's birth and my goal in what are her final years of nappywearing is to provide her with a comfortable and healthy nappy wearing experience along with any other little bambinos who come into this world via Dru and I.  There is an endless list of pros and cons for cloth vs disposable nappies.  This is one site which focuses mainly on the cost.  There are other factors including the environment and chemicals and nasties particularly Sodium Polyacrylate Crystals.  There are others .  I personally love cloth nappies as they are a healthier and more economical choice.    

Back to the nappies....  In recent times I have made a more serious commitment to using cloth nappies full time.  I believe there are far more pros then cons in using cloth nappies.  Currently our stash is a mixed bag. 

There are 2 Eenee Weenees.  I found these in a second hand store.  They are newborn size.  So they are kept in the stash for when we will need them again :-)  

We have 20 fitted terry towelling/flannelette nappies- these require an additional cover.  I guess you could say, these are a more modern version of the classic terry square.  They are the same shape as a disposeable with velcro fastenings.  I bought these from Ebay as seconds for a great price.  They require a waterproof cover.  I liked these nappies however I experienced issues with these as Eliza grew.  I will use them again for the early days of the next little one probably until crawling happens.  In the past I have used fleece covers and I was given a cute woolen soaker by a dear friend.  Woolen soakers are the driving force in me wanting to learn how to knit.  I have 2 polyurethane laminate (PUL) covers on the way.  I can't wait for them to arrive!! 

PUL is a fabric used in modern cloth nappies which allows for water proofing and it is breathable.  I must admit, I was apprehensive about this fabric when I began reading about nappies.  It's ok :-) it's a whole darn lot better than using those PVC numbers.  Which don't breathe and can cause all sorts of bottom troubles for little ones.     

We also have 13 functioning Pea pods.   I have 15 outers with no inserts but I'll soon fix that.  I managed to get a lot second had at a fraction of the price brand new.  The nappy itself is made up of a fleecy lining with a PUL waterproof outer with a pocket for a bamboo insert and booster for maximum absorption.  These nappies have little snappy clips for fastening which are a luxury and so easy to use.  Being two separate pieces they dry super quick.  So far we haven't had any issues with these however, I have a hunch that once Eliza grows a little more these nappies may not be able to hold as much liquid as the others even with a microfibre booster added.           

Our most recent purchase has been 6 Baby Beehinds All-In-Ones (AIO) and 6 Baby Beehinds Hemp Nappies.  I am very happy with these nappies and will be purchasing more once our budget permits.  Thwe AIO are great to use and super absorbent however, they take some time to dry.  The Hemp Nappies require a waterproof cover.  These nappies are absorbent, dry quickly and are a breeze to use.  They also have this lovely rainbow overlocked finish which finishes them perfectly.  

So, in having a mixed collection I have come to develop a routine which enables us to use cloth full time.  Storages is another issue- let's not talk about that ;-D  The nappies which are quick dying are used earlier in the week and those which take longer are used later in the week.  I wash every second day and have chosen to dry pail which works a charm.  Saves water and avoids the risk of the inquisitive toddler falling into a bucket of water.  Once a week I like to spray my nappy bucket with a mixture of vinegar and eucalyptus and wipe it clean and deodorise it at the same time.   

It has taken me a while to get myself this routine and I must say, I feel pretty good about it.  Chuffed actually!!!!  

Thank you for stopping by. 

Peace     

Our girls

I really love this photo!!!! 

Sisters :-)

I think about my own sisters when I look at this photo.  It takes me back to when we were all little and would play for hours together getting up to all sorts of mischief, adventuring and exploring our world together. 

Peace 



Meet Bonnie

I would like to introduce you to the newest addition to our family.  On my daily errands last Friday, whilst collecting the chicken feed from our local produce store, I noticed this lovely little bird still did not have a home.  I met her 2 weeks prior when collecting chicken feed.  She stood out to me then however I was apprehensive about purchasing her as we do not want another rooster.  I know that it is possible that she may not be a hen as Silkies cannot be sexed until 4-5 months when the signs of sex begin to become more apparent but my gut and her behavious have lead me to believe that she is a hen. 

She is the quietest chicken I have ever brought home.  I am tempted to keep her as my housepet.

Peace