Slow living June 2012

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SLOW LIVING - Month by Month June 2012

NOURISH:
 I have been harvesting leafy greens for stir fries, and lettuce leaves and cucumbers for salads.  Also lots of herbs, whenever I need them.  Snow peas and tomatoes should be on the menu soon.  Eggplant are in continual supply.

I also have rosella ready for harvest and don't want to make jam - I understand you can also dry them for tea - has anyone does this?  I just put a few on the counter to dry - do they need to be dried in an oven?

  
PREPARE: 
 I saw a recipe a while back for homemade vegetable bouillon and when I opened the vegetable drawer and saw half a wilting fennel bulb and more than half a bunch of celery languishing in the depths I thought I better give it a try.  We try to limit our salt intake so I did not put much salt into it (1TBS instead of 1 cup) and I certainly did not put as much variety in, (onion, garlic, celery, fennel, parsley and sundried tomato) but have found it very useful to have those ingredients already chopped and waiting to be added to soups or stews.  I froze it in flat containers, about one cup, which is perfect for starting soups, but it will break in half quite easily for smaller amounts.  I am thinking of doing the same thing for asian recipes I often do (garlic, ginger, lemongrass, shallots, chillies)  It is really convenient to have these ingredients all chopped and ready to go. 


REDUCE:  
After getting rid of the extra fridge we are down to one little fridge and a tiny freezer.  Our weekly shop now is much more carefully thought out, and we are spending less. 

GREEN: 
That old fridge was using lots of electricity.


GROW: 
I have been trialling some seeds for MrFothergills, and since I have more variety than normal I have little pockets of different varieties and then continually sowing more seeds in the gaps.   I am liking this way of gardening. 

CREATE:
I made two more silk scarves and when I wore one of them it made me feel really special.  It was actually a scarf I made before and didnt like how it turned out, and I added more colour and pattern to it, and now it is one of my favorites, so I suppose it could also go under re-use and re-cycle.. 


DISCOVER:  
I was awarded a "one lovely blog" award by Kara at practical frog, and this led me to some more wonderful blogs to follow. 


ENHANCE: 
We have had lots of time babysitting the grand-kids this month and it makes us feel younger.  My daughter in law gave me a one hour spa coupon so I will be doubly enhanced.


ENJOY: 
thank you so much Christine for organizing this - I am really enjoying this bit of reflection every month!