lives of quiet desparation

Hey internets. Its only 8:00am and already I have been moved to tears by three lovely things. How cool is life! How lovely is it to be ALIVE?!

Some of you may not be aware that earlier this year I did a very cool thing. (just as cool as green smoothies)

I gave up STRESS.

Yup. Just gave it up. Don't need it any more.

Since then, I have noticed (from my serene sea of calm) that people I LOVE LOVE LOVE catch and hold on to stress so so much and this makes my heart so sad. I notice the bad habits that I used to be very GOOD AT and COMMITTED TO being played out in my lovelies.....something happens at work, our staff do something stupid/dumb/mean/silly/REALLY STUPID, and somehow that becomes OUR problem, and we get STRESSED and distressed about things that really have nothing to do with us, and really, while we may be able to influence them/it/the situation, it really isnt something that we can change or fix (we can not actually stop stupid people from being stupid) and it doesn't actually need to affect US PERSONALLY and cause us distress......and headaches, and tight necks and force us to eat timtams and all the rest.

We CHOOSE to take things personally and get stressed about things.

Anyhoo, I choose LIFE!

My dear friend Sherdie who I suspect is also on the verge of giving up stress blogged about this:

Have you seen the Should I Quit Test? A free 5-min test to see if you should leave your job.

I scored 28 on a scale of 130 where 130 means you REALLY NEED TO QUIT YOUR JOB NOW. So I think this is a good sign I am kinda on the right track.


Other lovely things that happened today is that I became a kickstarter backer. I backed this film which means I am now a movie investor!

You might like to watch the short. It made me weep in a nice way. I think it is an important message.


Now what was the other lovely thing....


Oh, thats right....I am a big fan of the whole hungryforchange phenomenon, and this morning in my inbox there was this nice link to a clip about John Gabriel's book about weightloss. 




Now I know I am someone who does not struggle with weighty issues, but I have friends that do and I think the whole hungry for change and john gabriel stuff is really really important.

Somehow, giving up stress, choosing LIFE, drinking green smoothies every day, spreading the word that its OK not to live a life of quiet desperation, giving yourself permission to quit your stupid job and start following your hearts desires and growing the things you want more of in your life, and loving your body and finding what it needs to feel safe and not be porky and being kind to our selves and each other and backing a project financially that I think deserves to happen which is also rewarding the project team for following THEIR dreams all on a Saturday morning before my greensmoothie points to a lovely Saturday methinks.


big love everyone

and another thing

Two posts in one day. Who woulda thought.......

I grew some fat arse pumpkins down at the community garden this year. Slyly offered the Couragnaut one........then he had to carry it.

Another made it to the St John Vianney Primary School fete for a "guess how much this crazy pumpkin weighs" fund raising competition. That one took two humans to carry.

Another one is basking resplendent and on display in our front garden.  I noticed some little animal has been gnawing on it.....keep going buddy!

The other night over some drinks and a fire the gauntlet was laid down, the challenge was put out there......the Holder Community Garden is having a pumpkin growing competition next year.

Of course I intend to win.


So tell me, is $10 for a single super sized champion blood line pumpkin seed from parents who both topped 500kg too much to pay? 

I didn't think so.

Apron Swap

We return now to regular broadcasting.........

Remember the apron swap? Well, in the end, I was super happy with my sewing achievements. This gorgeous thing safely made its way to Eileen in California. HOW COOL IS THAT!

I found the most beautiful 1920's reproduction apron pattern. Fellow ONCians, if you are interested, I am happy for you to trace your own version from mine, It is so lovely lovely lovely.

Looking at these photos taken by Mr Duck just before I posted it off, I realize how much linear time has slipped by....that would be a T-SHIRT I am wearing, and those would be bright green leaves on the Kiwi Vine....which are still green, but with crunchy frosted bits on top and masses of ripening kiwis.......

So. I declare I can SEW. kinda. If you don't look too closely.......

AND, no photos yet, but I did receive the most gorgeous lovely apron from Eileen in return.

I love a good global swapping project!

Namaste.

Worshiping at the Altar of Green Smoothies

Well, it has been almost a month since I started worshiping at the altar of green smoothies. This was breakfast yesterday; banana, pear, apple,ginger and fresh from the garden: lettuce, baby beet leaves, parsley, carrot tops, black kale, and mint.

 And this is what it looks like all mushed up. DELICIOUS.

Today was chia seeds, cinnamon, apple, banana and a WHOLE LETTUCE.


I think these things have changes my life. I feel zingy and I have more energy and the fog is lifting from my brain and I have lost 2 kg without even trying. Other weird things, I have LOST my cravings for naughty sweet cakes and deserts and bread and biscuits. They have just gorn......


Crazy stuff.

Lacuna Sabbath

 Hooray. Today was a slothful devotional to the Lacuna Sabbath. I did manage to get out of my jammies by noon, but only barely. I did manage to finish a new crocheted beanie in delicious Noro Silk Garden yarn, a scrumptious indulgence.

Anyhoo, I know I have been tardy dear interwebs.........

So now for a quick update. Behold the first Austrian Oil Seed Pumpkin. Now, I am a FAN of the pepita......it is true and I was especially looking forward to seeing inside of this magical beast..........

On the PLUS side, these pepitas are HUGE and DELICIOUS. On the down side, many of them have already germinated........which is a bit weird. Any ideas? I did have the pumpkin showy-offily displayed on the warmth of the kitchen bench for a week or so....perhaps too much warmth?

 Another downer is that this is one TASTELESS pumpkin......but with really tough and bitter skin......the flesh is OK in an insipid overgrown squash hide it in a casserole or curry kind of way, but even me who is a signed up lover of pumpkin skin was pretty keen to steer clear of that yucki bitter stuff..........

Would I grow them again? That depends on whether the other pumpkins from this vine have better pepitas......fingers crossed.

I have discovered the delights and wonderfulness of GREEN SMOOTHIES.  Behold my breakfast, just before it gets whizzed........organic apple, pear and an assortment of greens from the garden. I love this stuff.

I am on the hunt for purslane......I am sure I have seen it growing in the garden and around the traps..... I am on a mission to identify and EAT as much as I can before the first frost........and have purchased some seeds from greenharvest so that if I grow it from scratch, I might better identify the stuff in the wild!

And I am thinking about chemicals. Dieldren to be exact, because I have a sneaky suspicion it is everywhere........Dieldren used to be sprayed around all over the place with gay abandon and strong government endorsement......just like DDT........anyhoo, Dieldren is something I regularly test compost for (mine and others) and let me tell you, even it you didn't put it in, it is there in the finished product, even if it is just a tiny whisper........it turns up in the most unlikely places..........

And if it was sprayed on your farm, or your garden, or your house, it is probably still there. In the soil. 


sheesh. Sometimes its better not to know these things!

Hungry for Change

First I watched this. It is Jamie Oliver's TED award speech from 2010. Pretty powerful stuff.





This is also pretty powerful stuff. But in a really really good uplifting empowering exciting way. I watched the full film this afternoon on the 'puter. You can watch it for free for the next few days.........

God Help my Swap Partner

OK, so the duck has not sewn for over, um, lets see, 41 minus 18, that's 23 years. Now, my beloved sister moved to the dark dank cold isle (Tasmania) about a year ago and left me her beloved dutiful Elna sewing machine.

Anyhoo I signed up for Down to Earth's Apron swap seems 1) I got so much joy out of the dishcloth swap and 2) I would really like to learn how to sew seems I have enough lovely pink chair fabric left over to make a spiffy skirt and 3) I now have in my possession a much loved functional basic but dependable sewing machine with a proven track record.

I mane REALLY, how hard could it be?

  Harder than we might think.

My poor swap buddy. I apologize in advance.
Lucky I decided to do some practice.

I mean, I got HALF the bias binding on OK. That is DUCK binding don't you know. The other half I put on the wrong side....then I was having problems with the tension.....and lets face it, I am a gumby.

I then found this gorgeous tutorial. This is about the cutest.



Thank you angry chicken.

So, dear Swap Buddy, let me ASSURE you this is a PRACTICE, and I will KEEP PRACTICING until I create something worthy of sending you!