We’re officially self-sufficient in terms of salad greens, cucumbers, broccoli, kale and herbs at the moment. The tomatoes aren’t ripe yet, & the plants are being besieged by little green caterpillars. I’m reluctant to spray as the birds are hovering around picking off bugs… Unless the problem gets really drastic, I think I’ll just use the old fashioned search & destroy method.
We have two little zucchini growing on the compact plant in the front yard, & the blackjack plants are growing well, as are the chilli & eggplant seedlings.
A friend came by this morning with a small box of about a dozen stone fruit… She’s moving house this week, and won’t be able to deal with all of them. I’m considering trying out my low-sugar pectin & making a small batch of juice-sweetened jam this weekend…. But I may just bake a good old nectarine crumble.
This will be my last ‘Anyway’ post for the year… I’m having surgery in early December, & my primary goal will be recovery 🙂 Again, I’ll bold anything we completed inOctober, then revise or add new goal.
Domestic Infrastructure: I started dealing with the boxes in my study, and spring cleaning…still plugging along with both. The main goal this month was purchase a water-efficient, energy-efficient front loader – done! We also got the pantry cupboard for the backroom AND the new rainwater tank. This month the plan is to purchase the dust & mould free (ie brand new) futon for the fold-out sofa bed, & an armchair/single folding bed combo for my study, for kid sleepovers.
Household Economy: We did a little more advance Christmas shopping in October, and transferred $5k onto the principle of the mortgage, as planned. This month’s goal is basically stay on budget – we have rates, home & contents insurance, a vet’s bill and my surgery to pay for before Christmas. I need to come up with a couple more homemade Xmas gift ideas, I think. I’m currently setting aside $50 from each pay, so MrB & I hae a bit of holiday playmoney.
Resource Consumption: We’re still keeping peak electricity use down to an absolute minimum. The new rainwater tank & front loader should help us cut down our water usage considerably this summer. Mr B is tracking our solar production and gas, electricity & water usuage daily, so we’ll have good records.
Cottage Industry and Subsistence: We planted out our herb hedge, which is growing well, as well as some summer veggies. The tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin, rocket & ruby chard are all firing along. This month I’ll start some zucchini, capsicum , beans & eggplant.
Family and Community: We had a lovely lunch at home with members of the urban family, and I took my niece to visit my Dad in the country. This month I’m planning to babysit my niece & nephew, hang out with my goddaughter & her new baby, & generally enjoy a social time.
Outside Work: October’s goal was complete all my paperwork, & get project number two moving again. Most of this is done. November will involve lots of organisation for the new year – most of it very enjoyable, so I’m looking forward to it.
Time and Happiness: I tried the local beauty college’s student clinic, and will go back this month. I also booked in for some long procrastinated surgery. This month’s goal is to maintain the better balance I have in my life at the moment by continuing regular exercise & reduced booze consumption, and getting plenty of sleep.
I have been doing a lot lately… ‘life’ is finally starting to balance out ‘work’. I’m still doing a lot, but some of the cashflow issues my dept was having this year are easing, and work in general is much more satisfying than it was in the first half of the year.
And in the better home and garden?
The big news is we have a new 3000 litre rainwater tank for our back garden. It’s tucked in under the patio, & gets no direct sun, so we’ve gone for plastic over stainless steel this time. MrB & a friend plumbed it in on Saturday, and included an ingenious pipeline that will take the tank overflow out & along the raised bed to the pumpkins once the tank is full.
After our old washing machine died at the beginning of the month, we bought a front loader that only uses 56 litres a load, so with two tanks and much less water used for laundry, our usage should be much reduced this summer.
On the planting front, I sowed some ruby chard & rocket at the new moon, and it’s all pretty frisky now. We put the black passion fruit in against the shed this weekend, and Mr B constructed a magnificent trellis for it. He also fashioned a sturdy ‘dog guard’ from a piece of scrap metal, to keep the pup at bay.
We harvested another bag of potatoes last week, and I’ve started pulling up the odd clove of early garlic I planted in winter. We’re also still harvesting broad beans, chickweed, nasturtium leaves, snow peas, Tuscan kale, coriander, and parsley.
We have some volunteer tomatoes, plus lots of cherry tomato seedlings doing well. Now we need some rain for the tanks, and I’ll be a happy girl indeed.
Filed under: home & hearth, love & relationships | Tags: home and hearth, love and relationships
We had friends over for lunch on Sunday… it was a lovely afternoon in our better home.
And the pup enjoyed herself, too (all 32 kgs of puppyhood that she is).
(gorgeous pics courtesy of our dear friend, Fluffy).
October already! Again, I’ll bold anything we completed in September, then revise or add new goal.
Domestic Infrastructure: I started dealing with the boxes in my study, and spring cleaning. That goal carries forward though. The washing machine has breathed (spun?) its last, so main goal this month is purchase a water-efficient, energy-efficient front loader. We’re also planning to buy a pantry cupboard for the backroom, a dust & mould free (ie brand new) futon for the fold-out sofa bed, and eventually a new rainwater tank for the backyard & an armchair/single folding bed combo for my study, for kid sleepovers.
Household Economy: We’re going to do a little more advance Christmas shopping this month – puzzles for the two one-year olds in our lives. Last month the goal is to keep building up our next lump sum to the point that we can move another 10k over to the actual mortgage account in October. We did save the money, but due to all the planned purchases I listed above, we’ll just transfer $5k at this stage.
Resource Consumption: We’re still keeping peak electricity use down to an absolute minimum. The new rainwater tank & front loader should help us cut down our water usage considerably this summer.
Cottage Industry and Subsistence: We bottled the Christmas Pudding Vodka, cleared out the front garden beds, and start some spring planting. This month we’ll plant out our herb hedge, put in new sweet potatoes, and keep starting seeds for summer veggies.
Family and Community: We continued the family visits & a bit of gentle socialising with friends – including a wedding, a christening and the welcome of a new baby to the extended family. This month we’re planning a lunch at home ith members of the urban family, and I’ll be visiting my Dad in the country.
Outside Work: I did my coaching homework, and successfully completed my course. I was hoping to get 2 final project reports signed off, and get a new contract signed, and I’ll be running some training for another organisation. All but one is done (one of my project partners is dragging the chain). So this months goal is complete all my paperwork, & get project number two moving again!
Time and Happiness: I did finally get to the Factory Outlet Store to get a new juicer, but was slack with the Spring Fitness challenge. I started swimming twice a week, though, which has been great for my back, and kept up the monthly massage & monthly pedi & wax, too. I’ve found a local beauty college, and will try their student clinic this month. I am also booking in for some long procrastinated surgery, that I hope will give me much easier periods, & more happiness/energy as a result.
Filed under: Anyway Project, gardening, home & hearth, learning | Tags: Anyway Project
And it’s time to review August, & set goals for September. Again, I’ll bold anything we completed in August, then revise or add new goal.
Domestic Infrastructure: I did a pretty good job of getting the bedroom tidied up (if not exactly organised). And the dining room & back room are gorgeous.This moth it’s time to declutter the boxes in the study, & do a good Spring clean.
Household Economy: Our offset account is back in credit, and the next goal is to get saving. And we’re doing ok there. We also started Christmas shopping & gift prep to minimise the trauma in December. This month the goal is to keep building up our next lump sum to the point that we can move another 10k over to the actual mortgage account in October.
Resource Consumption: We were planning to go to a friend’s farm for firewood. Instead, MrB spotted some local fencers with a huge trailer full of old hardwood fences. We unloaded the whole trailerload into our garage, & there’s no storage space left. We’re still being careful re using minimal electricity in ‘peak’ hours ie 2pm-8pm weekdays. We’re also using the microwave or toaster oven to heat things like pies & taco shells. We ‘re looking at getting another rainwater tank for the back garden, but aren’t convinced yet that we want to spend the extra money. So right now, the main goal is just keep up the good work.
Cottage Industry and Subsistence: I now have a Permaculture Design Certificate. We also started some rosemary & lavender cuttings & tomato seedlings in the mini-greenhouse , and I bottled the limoncello for Xmas gifts, and did some weeding, feeding & planting in the front garden. This month I’ll bottle the Christmas Pudding Vodka, clear out the front garden beds, and start some spring planting.
Family and Community: We hosted lunch for my sis & her family, had a big weekend of socialising with MrB’s family, and sourced & planted a free baby banana tree for a friend. This month we’ll have more family visits & a bit of gentle socialising with friends – no grand plans.
Outside Work: I started my coaching through work, and started my short coaching course. This month I need to do my homework (for my coach, and my homework with my mentee). I’m hoping to get 2 final project reports signed off, and get a new contract signed, and I’ll be running some training for another organisation. It should be busy, but very rewarding.
Time and Happiness: I continued to walk the pup a lot, make time for massages & general girlie maintenance. I’ve been getting adequate protein for breakfast, and making sure I stay off sweets as much as possible during the day. I didn’t get to the Factory Outlet Store to get a new juicer, so that’s a goal for this month. I’m also doing the Spring Fitness challenge through the Black Dog Institute – a 30 minute workout everyday for 30 days, with a mood diary entry to map the way exercise effects my mood. It should be good for my health, & my mind.
July was busy (as demonstrated by the dearth of posts). However, I’m getting in early to set goals for August. Again, I’ll bold anything we completed in July, then revise or add new goal.
Domestic Infrastructure: This month my goal was to finish setting up my area of the bedroom; and get my study set up properly. And I got about half way there – an overseas trip & my last month of my permaculture course slowed me down. So bedroom & study are carry over goals – with added dining room!
Household Economy: Last month’s goal is to get some big bills paid, and still get our offset account into credit again. This month we’ll get the rates paid (after the bill was delayed). This will add the final piece to the ‘fixed expenses’ budget, so we can work out how much we’re spending per month. And now we’re back in credit, the next goal is to get saving.
Resource Consumption: We’re still being very mindful with our electricity use, and are continuing to collect freebie firewood at every opportunity. This month we’re off to a friend’s farm for firewood. We’re also being careful re using minimal electricity in ‘peak’ hours ie 2pm-8pm weekdays. We’re also using the microwave or toaster oven to heat things like pies & taco shells, rather than turning on the electric oven.
Cottage Industry and Subsistence: I completed my individual PDC project, a design of our backyard. This weekend we’ll present our group project, and get our certificates! We’re still eating tons of salad and root veg from our garden (huzzah for homegrown turnip & daikon). I planted extra beetroot, but will be looking at getting some new plants going in the mini-greehouse this month, AND I need to bottle the limoncello I made for Xmas gifts (it will have lots of time to mellow). I’ll also look at implementing some of my design plans, now MrB has heroically cleared all the cacti & pricklies from our side beds.
Family and Community: Our social life has revived slightly… we had lots of Saturday outings over the last couple of weeks, with more planned this month. We’ll host a lunch for my sis & her family this month (we need my BIL’s help to get our new/2nd hand table in the house, now Mr B has polished it up).
Outside Work: Last month I’m went to an international conference, hosting an international guest speaker, and got a new project started… this month I’m getting some coaching through work, and hopefully hooking up with *my* mentor in our formal mentoring program. I’ll also start a short coaching course, to improve my own skills.
Time and Happiness: July’s goal was to walk the pup a lot, make time for massages & general girlie maintenance. I did ok there, but due to a nasty post-travel cold, was not great on the exercise. Time to get back into it. I have also started to focus on getting adequate protein for breakfast, and making sure I stay off sweets as much as possible during the day – much better for my overall wellbeing & energy levels. This month’s goal is to get a juicer, so I can start daily juices to help stave off creeping arthritis (damn you middle age!).
And it’s July – time to review & set goals. As with last month, I’ll bold anything we completed in June, then revise or add new goal.
Domestic Infrastructure: The front rooms are finished! We’ve moved back into the bedroom, and I’ve started into my study. The pictures for the two rooms are framed and I can pick them up tomorrow. I’ve been pretty good at keeping up with bathroom, cooking & laundry, and we are seeing great progress after 6 weeks of dog club. AND we found a beautiful 2 metre parquetry timber table and eight chairs on ebay for $350, so the dining room will come together soon, too. This month my goal is to keep up with all these habits, to finish setting up my area of the bedroom; and get my study set up properly.
Household Economy: June’s goal was to sit down a couple of times, and sort the spreadsheet out. Didn’t happen! But we did put another 10k on the principle of the loan. We also chased up our water tank rebate & solar credits, and submitted all the paperwork to get our refund cheque from our old electricity providers (which should cover all but $20 of our bill). This month’s goal is to get some big bills paid, and still get our offset account into credit again.
Resource Consumption: We’re still being very mindful with our electricity use, and are continuing to collect freebie firewood at every opportunity. We’ll keep this up, & continue the search for small rainwater tanks for the back yard.
Cottage Industry and Subsistence: I’m starting the last month of my permaculture design certificate. This month I’ll finish my individual & group projects, and graduate. Garden-wise, I’ve had a steady harvest of beans, rocket, parsley, tatsoi, lettuces, lemons and the occasional turnip. Missed my root veg planting in June, will put more in this month.
Family and Community: I found the 6 day a week intensity of full time work plus permaculture class 9-5 on Saturday to be very full-on, so didn’t make it to the local permie meeting. We did have some good visits with frinds and family though, and will celebrate the aquisition of our new table and chairs with a dinner for friends in July.
Outside Work: I continued my relationship with my mentee, asked a senior colleague for some mentoring myself,and attend some training at work. This month I’m off to an international conference, hosting an international guest speaker, and getting a new project started… I think that’s goals enough.
Time and Happiness: June’s goal was to walk the pup a lot, make time for massages & general girlie maintenance. I will keep at all that this month, and try and do some yoga & pilates (using DVDs) at least once a week, too.
The front two rooms are finished, thanks to the hard & meticulous work of the lovely MrB (he checks this blog sometimes).
I assisted with moving the bed & bedside tables in last night. I have 2 surprise days at home (I applied for leave in order to do some sideline work, but the job was postponed) so today will be spent getting the bedroom sorted, and tomorrow will be devoted to organising my study. Both the bedroom and study are beautiful, & I am SO looking forward to knowing where all my clothes & books are again.
Once the front rooms are organized, the next major house tasks (in no particular order) will be:
Wipe down futon/sofa bed frame with eucalyptus oil, & buy a new, mould-free futon so we will have a guest bed that doesn’t trigger anyone’s allergies.
Get an armchair sofa bed from ikea, so we have a single kid sleepover bed (and a comfy chair for my study).
Find a second hand dining table & chair setting that we both like. I ‘d like it to seat 8-10, so we can easily feed visitors ( probably using leaves to extend).
Setup the little room off the kitchen so MrB can put a desk in, perhaps with shelving for bulk storage (we’re currently using the laundry, but it is the worst inulated room in the house.
Install doggie door.
Get leak in roof fixed.
Most of these jobs involve spending $$ to a greater or lesser degree, but we are doing ok with our budget – we have been consistently ahead $500 a month, and we have just put an extra 10k on the mortgage principle. The sleepover chair & futon need to be new due to our guests assorted dust & mould allergies, but we’re more than happy to buy second-hand dining table & chairs.
Ok, time to review & set goals. I’ll bold anything we completed in May, then revise or add new goals for June.
Domestic Infrastructure: Painting the bedroom was the May goal … the weather has turned nasty, but MrB thinks he’ll have finished by mid-June. My goal then will be to move into my study.. and hang the pictures we’ve chosen for both rooms. This means I need to pull my finger out & get them framed. My other goal is to keep up a regular swish & swipe of the bathroom, and stay ahead on laundry & cook-ahead meals over winter. And keep up with the pup’s training now we’ve found a dog club to take her to!
Household Economy: We didn’t do any work on our spreadsheet, nor did we put another $10k on the principle of the loan. In fact, we spent a lot of $$! June’s goal is to sit down a couple of times, and sort the spreadsheet out.
Resource Consumption: The May goal was – minimise electricity usage during this period, especially with the real guzzlers like the dryer (which we only use as a last resort anyway) & the oven. Remember to hit the switch that turns off all the ‘standby’ gear (we use a switch from Multi-powered products). We did well on this, and scored lots of firewood for this winter, and next. June goal is continue to be careful with electricity, and continue the search for small rainwater tanks for the back yard.
Cottage Industry and Subsistence: May’s goal was – plant more snowpeas and chinese greens (which are going really well) … and start a part-time permaculture design certificate course with Milkwood. I’m 3 weeks into the course, so that carries over! Will plant more root veg this month, too.
Family and Community: Our goal for May was to go to a meeting of the local permaculture group, to get to know some of the like-minded people in the area, and host another meal for friends. We didn’t manage all of this, but spent lots of time with our families in May. There is a local permie meeting next Friday, so will make that (plus at least 2 visits with friends) a June goal.
Outside Work: May’s goal was to continue building that relationship, and attend some networking and training events, as I begin to think about what my goals are for the next few years, and whether or not I really want to go for promotion. I achieved a lot there, so my goal for this month is to keep at it!
Time and Happiness: My goal for May was celebrate my birthday, get some pampering time in my diary, and walk the pup everyday. I did walk the pup a lot… though not everyday, and will continue that. June’s goal is make time for massages & general girlie maintenance.
Ms Betterhome 