Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Slowing Down

Whenever we are away from home, daily life seems to slow down. Although we may be checking out all of the local sights we don't have a timetable to follow or appointments to make. 

The job of organising and preparing an evening meal becomes a lot more thought-out rather than trying to work out who will be home when and how much time do we have. 

My days here start with a cuppa and a look through recipes knowing I will be heading to the local markets mid morning. Market shopping is a great way to practice my very basic French.

One of my first purchases (I did the same in Berlin) was a stick blender. Soups are such a great way to fill the kiddoes with vegetable and with all of the gorgeous breads, who wouldn't want to wipe up the last bits at the bottom of a bowl. 

The first soup was a delicious Potato and Leek number. The recipe says cream but there was no way I was letting the créme fraise go to waste. 


Another meal that didn't need just 5 minutes to prepare, but could take all day if I wanted, was a variation of Spanikopita. I had some puff pastry in the fridge so just used this recipes filling. I must say it was even better the next day.   


Better head off and get dinner sorted. It's only five hours away. 

Take care and slow down. 

PS I will add links to the recipes when I can get computer access. I am writing this using the app only phone. 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Adventure in Angoulême

The end on 2013 was pretty quiet on the blogging front with family and work all getting pretty busy before our adventure in France. 

Mr Mouse left Perth a little earlier than the rest of us and will stay a little longer when we head back for the start of a new school year, but we are happy to spend 6 weeks together exploring this part of the world. 

Not many words to accompany today but letting you know that there are some photos over at Instagram.  There is a button in the right side bar. You might like to head over and have a look. 

Take care and more posts soon. 

Keeping warm with freshly cooked churros and Nutella. Yum. 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Walkability

Hello

I know it has been a very long time but I think of here often. Life just seems to speed by and all too often I am climbing into bed at the end of a day getting ready for a new one to materialise.

I just wanted to leave you with a video that I saw a little while ago but has really stuck with me. Being car-free was so freeing when we lived in Berlin.




Try it out. Leave a comment as I would love to know.

My suburb's score is 58.

Take care.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Another Great Day at the Show

The heavens opened as the train pulled into Showgrounds station. I had thought I would get there half an hour early to have a bit of a look around, but after about ten minutes of jostling with umbrellas and showbag filled prams in the rain I decided to head straight back to the Earth Carers tent.

A fabulous permaculture display, including a hen with four 7 day old chicks.

Beautifully painted tins displayed on an old step ladder.


Salvaged teapots are a great way to show off plants.

I hope you manage to get to the display and have a look at all of the information. 

Take care

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Earth Caring at the Royal Show

It's that time of year again. Third term is over and the Perth Royal Show is here.  

The weather was perfect for the opening of the 8 day agricultural show. 

In the Mouse House, one kiddo loves the Show while the other shudders at the thought of it. So after organising for him to go to a mate's place, the rest of us headed off. 

I was rostered on for a three hour stint at the Earth Carers tent so made the most of the spare 20 minutes before my 2pm start time. I knew what I wanted to see so we headed straight there. 


The cakes, jams and preserved are something that I get more and more excited about the older I get. 

You know the Show is keeping with the times when dukkah has a category. 






It was great to see the pavilion was full of interested people admiring the skill involved in each of these. 

I left Mr Mouse and Baby Mouse and headed over to where I needed to be. Another great display had been prepared by the Earth Carers groups (MRC, WMRC, EMRC) with lots to see and do. 

The garden bed and planting containers have all been made from materials found in rubbish pickups. 

The very popular worm information display. 

(I am planning to make one of these. I just need to get some pipe to put in it. Bulk rubbish happening around here very soon.)

Pallet gardens are great for small areas.

It was a gorgeous afternoon spent speaking to amazing people. So many are interested in the message of less waste and are either already doing fabulous things or need that little bit if information to get started. 

I also managed to sneak a peak at the sheep dog trails opposite. 


I'm off again this afternoon so will hopefully be able to get a few more photos. 

Hopefully if you are in Perth and are going to the Royal Show you are able to wander up to the tent and have a look around. 

Take care. 

This post has all been done on my phone. Fingers crossed it works. Later today I will get a chance to come back and include some links. 

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Becoming Bike-Friendly

My local shopping centre isn't one of those large department store/chain store hubs where everyone in a 10 kilometre radius spends hours wandering aimlessly looking at stuff they really don't need. It consists of an IGA and half a dozen or so small independent (mainly family run) businesses. Only the locals would know it exists as it isn't on any main roads. It always surprised me that the carparks were full when most of the customers probably live within a kilometre or two.

I mentioned to one of the store-owners about a year ago that I was amazed there were no bike racks. His main argument was that you weren't supposed to bring bikes into the centre. I figured that you weren't supposed to bring cars into the centre either but there was still somewhere to park.

Imagine my excitement at walking around the corner and seeing new bike racks.


No more locking my bike to the main gates or one of the lamp poles.

Is your local centre walkable or ridable? Is you local centre bike friendly?

Take care
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