Slow living for the month of March

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SLOW LIVING - Month by Month March 2012

NOURISH: Really work on selecting a few favourite recipes from the piles and piles of recipes I have accumulated. Share favourites on my recipe blog . recipe blog
 I have perfected an Indian curry recipe base, and this can be used for so many different curries.  We get a seafood mix called marinara and I have never really found any good recipes for it.  Check out seafood parcels at the above site - definitely a keeper. I have also joined -the-urban-farm-handbook-challenge.  Last month was building the soil.  This month has been home dairy.  I already make yoghurt, but this month I made cheese, both ricotta and paneer. 

PREPARE:  make my lunches in advance. 
 Every weekend when I have just done a grocery shop I take out the older vegetables, mix with some lentils and stock and leave it bubbling away in the stock pot for the afternoon.  This is then dished out into containers and popped into the fridge.  I take these to work for lunch every day, and since I normally make more than five containers, they overlap and so I get a bit of variety. 

REDUCE: re-use.
 My roof at work was replaced, and I managed to be able to use some of the old roofing in my veggie garden. I am not so sure if it is an improvement or if it just looks tacky corrugated iron fence


 GREEN: 
This site is really worth checking out   http://www.care2.com  A lot of causes have been brought to my attention through this site.  I also love, love love their e-cards.  it is sooo refreshing to send an e-card knowing that you are not sending off a virus and also in a small way helping whatever organisation you chose to support.  I also made up some more orange cleaner.

GROW: 
 I began planting out my dry season veggie seeds, hoping that we would not suddenly get a deluge, but the rain continued on relentlessly through March.  Lately there has been a bit more sunshine, so I am hoping the little struggling seedlings will be happier.    Harvesting tropical fruits like pawpaw and passionfruit, and even a few limes from my lime tree! The loofas are drying and I peeled and cleaned a few, and I am harvesting lots of lovely winged beans - my new favorite veggie, although that has got some sort of bug or fungus.  I sprayed with milky, chili, garlic water. 

CREATE:   I did a bit of a cleanout and organize in our study/guest room. I moved the sewing closet into our bedroom.   It is now quite inviting for our guests coming to stay in April.  I made a duvet cover from gifted fabric and in fact have a whole roll of it so if anyone has any ideas to use up more of it I would welcome them..  It is a plain grey and quite heavy - I think it may have  a bit of linen in it.  

 Many years ago when the girls were little I acquired a whole roll of lovely cotton fabric - black with little red roses, and I used it for everything.  I looked back on a photo showing both girls in little red and black dresses, sitting on a bunk in the cabin of the boat.  The bunk was covered with a  sheet made made of - you guess it!  the same fabric!   I must make a note not to -over-use this fabric! :)  

DISCOVER:  Share titles/authors of what has been read this month.
 I love to be able to go online and peruse the new items at the library website - I put them onto my reserve list, so I always have something new and exciting coming up. This month I read  "The language of flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  I don't remember who recommended it - This is no ordinary book - prepare to forsake everything while reading this book.  It is about foster care, family and the meaning of flowers.....
I have also discovered lists of bloggers that makes it easy to find other like minded bloggers out there
Sustainable suburbia  



ENHANCE: community.
  I am volunteering at the local markets on the 4th Saturday of the month.  Our church has a large op shop and it is wonderful to be a part of the socializing that goes on. I also like having a place to take things when I have de-cluttered.  We also provide space for local growers and crafts persons to sell their ware.  It is also a great social outing for lonely people to meet and enjoy a cuppa and biscuit for 1.00.   I am so glad I started doing this!


ENJOY: life
March 19th was my birthday and we had my daughter in law and the grands around for a birthday brekkie.   It was raining so there was lots of reading and puzzle time afterwards which I always enjoy.   I got an e-reader so am figuring out some new (to me) technology. 


Thank you Christine for starting this idea - I thoroughly enjoyed doing the challenge this month and will be back for more next month.