Tuesday 27 August 2013

Wordless Wednesday : I can show you a Thing or 2

The Cat: Ah, yes of course. Thing 2 would like to clarify that just because he wears the number 2 does not imply in any way that he's inferior to Thing 1.

It can be done, it can be done, they can find anything, anything, anything under the sun, if your nerves are getting nervous and your house is topsy tervous they are always at your service, Thing 2 and Thing 1!
 

LOL I chickened out on Blue Hair.

Monday 26 August 2013

How to turn old Weber BBQ into a Herb Garden ~ season to taste !

A while back our herb 'garden' bit the dust - a combination of heat, lack of water, cows and woeful neglect since it was on the other side of the fence and couldn't be bothered to tell the truth.

I'd though about re-purposing an old sink or bathtub into a herb garden but life was busy.

Then last week as I was driving home from town I spotted an old Weber BBQ someone had placed out for council collection.

I coveted it and encouraged hubby to go and collect it (amongst a few other things at other stops).
It was in very good condition and clean.

I wonder how much use it had as iconic Australian BBQ experience !

Then he had a brilliant idea...Fill the Weber with soil and plant some of my favorite herbs to keep next to our barbecue...especially to grow some rosemary to season his lamb roast -

I googled for ideas - thanks to Life on the Balcony

This was a really easy project that you can complete in less than 30 minutes (including shopping time). Here is what you’ll need to get started :


Materials
  • 1 bag (or 2) of good quality herb potting soil (we needed 1 medium [and 2 small] ...luckily we had spare bags lying unopened in the shed because I didn't calculate for the depth)
  • 5-6 herb plants, depending on the size of the BBQ and how full you like your garden.
  • 1 re-purposed portable round BBQ.
  •  coffee filters (or I used ag pipe sock filter).
I didn't need the BBQ grate or the lid but I'll keep them anyway ! I can probably use the lid on my roast outdoors.

I also planted Mint in an old teapot (I think we found on the property and I like rustic things).

Directions

First clean your BBQ (or not) then place the ag /coffee filter over of the holes in the bottom of the BBQ . We also turned the grate thingy to make holes smaller.

The filter allows water to drain out but prevents the soil from falling through.

Fill your BBQ with soil , pinch out the seedlings or plants and pot them, as evenly or randomly as you please. I tamped down the potting soil gently around the plants , watered them in and was good to go...surf the internet for recipes.






Rosemary: Pair with lamb, chicken, and roast potatoes or in bread.
Oregano : Matches well with: beans, chicken, eggplant, fish, lamb, mushrooms, pasta, pizza, pork, potatoes,  tomatoes, veal, zucchini

Parsley: with mashed potatoes, pastas, salads, meatballs and as a garnish
Thyme: Try it with soups, chowders, marinades and meat dishes.
Corainder: Match as coriander pesto, carrot and coriander soup, chutney and chicken or in Thai soups.

Two I forgot ... 
Basil:  with salads, as pizza toppings, tomatoes, chicken dishes, spaghetti bolognaise or pesto.
Chives: in dips, atop baked and mashed potatoes, as a soup /salad garnish.

I just can't believe I forgot the Basil. I picked up a six cell herb pack and I didn't even think to look for Basil my favourite herb.

Grape tomatoes were planted in the middle ...just because.


Mint: mmm with peas, pies , mashed potatoes, mint jelly for roast lamb or cutlets ... Mint tea anyone.

Herbs need on average 6+ hours of sunlight a day,  regular watering (depending on the pot) and with well drained soil.
If you are placing it on a deck (like I will eventually) you may need a drip tray to catch any excess water .

Now, I'm on the lookout for another herb garden container and then I'll start to experiment with other herb and flavour combinations.

In other news - What's on my mind ?

It has been eight years, today, since my Dad left us and 4 weeks since my hub said a final goodbye to his Dad too.
Today, I am thinking Happy memories of our very special fathers who shaped our lives.
We are getting ready to plant trees in their memory ~ Father's Day Sunday and also 9yrs since we lost our tiny angel ~Charlotte~ . It's a big week .

By the way - it is Recycling or Up-cycling ?
What is the difference?

Thursday 22 August 2013

Zen Giveaway ~ Cadbury Marvellous Creations Banana Candy, Peanut Drops and Choc Biscuit

What can I say ?  just when I thought they couldn't create a more interesting and unexpected flavour combination. Cadbury surprised me . A few weeks ago I was sent the new Cadbury Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations Banana Candy, Peanut Drops and Choc Biscuit to sample !

First - my Zen Chocolate Thoughts

  1. “There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
    Linda Grayson
  2. “Without pain, how could we know joy?' This is an old argument in the field of thinking about suffering and its stupidity and lack of sophistication could be plumbed for centuries but suffice it to say that the existence of broccoli does not, in any way, affect the taste of chocolate.” {I still love broccoli}
    John Green, The Fault in Our Stars  
  3. “Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.” {Tried - too weak}
    Judith Viorst, Love & Guilt & The Meaning Of Life, Etc  
  4. “Can I come back and see you sometime?"
    "Long as you bring me some chocolate," Gramma said, and smiled. "I'm partial to chocolate."
    "Gramma, you're diabetic."
    "I'm old, girl. Gonna die of something. Might as well be chocolate.”
    Rachel Caine, The Dead Girls' Dance  
  5. “May your life be filled, as mine has been, with love and laughter; and remember, when things are rough all you need is ... Chocolate.”
    Geraldine Solon, Chocolicious 


Once we broke open the block , we devoured it ...[seriously a resealable package ]- within , thickly wrapped in smooth and creamy Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, were velvety - melt in your mouth peanut drops- to get tastebuds tingling, as delightfully as the retro and oh-so-scrumptious banana candy pieces , colliding with a hearty crunch of choc biscuit.

We shared it with family and friends. Some liked it and some commented on the strong banana flavour. It is apparently peanut butter in the drops and the biscuit crunch though not new is still delicious too.

 I wasn't so much a fan of Peanut, Toffee Crisp and Biscuit variation myself , none the less  I enjoyed the Banana Candy, Peanut Drops and Choc Biscuit but not as much with the Jelly Popping Candy Beanies !!!

I love all types of Cadbury chocolate. My favourite is still the recently added variation Marvellous Creations Clinkers, Raspberry Chips & Marshmallows. I was sent a bag of actual raspberry chips in June and they are like jaw breaking toffee mmm so good.

For more information head to www.joyville.com.au 

To celebrate that the new Marvellous Creation Banana Candy, Peanut Drops and Choc Biscuit is here to stay I have a marvelous giveaway !


FIVE prize packs each with 4 x 290g blocks of Cadbury Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations Banana Candy, Peanut Drops and Choc Biscuit !





What do you think ? 
What is your favourite - to enter tell me who you would share your Cadbury with ? 

Terms and Conditions.
1. Only Australian Residents are eligible to enter.
2. Entries not answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, not by chance. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
3.There are 5 packs of 4 chocolate blocks as above. (5 winners in total)
4. Entries open 22/8/13 - close 3/9/13. The winner will be notified by email, and posted to mylittledrummerboys.blogspot.com.au after they reply - Winners have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
5. The Prize is not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash.
6. Prizes sent out by PR firm directly will not be replaced in the event that they are stolen, lost or damaged or delayed in transit.
 
7. Subscribe to my blog  to receive MLDB updates.
8. Follow via Facebook or Bloglovin on the sidebar .

Disclaimer:  I was provided with Cadbury Marvellous Creations Banana Candy, Peanut Drops and Choc Biscuit. to review & for the purpose of hosting this giveaway and adding to my post running fuel. 
No financial payment was received.All opinions are my own.



 

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Wordless Wednesday ~ Spirograph

Rachel's little project created with a toy; Spirograph World map.

Credit - With permission from Rachel - check her other designs


Sharing freely because I'm so impressed with Rachel's talent and creativity . I loved my spirograph as a child. The toy is a year older than me ...do your maths. OMG Spirograph operates on very complicated Mathematical basis - don't ask me !



 

Tuesday 20 August 2013

I got lost , running for my life !


Life has been stressful and super frenetic. A fancy word for fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way: "a frenetic pace of activity".

Synonyms ~ frenzied - wild - frantic - mad - rabid - all of them fit.

On Saturday, I woke up early {6.30am} and decided to go for a run on the farm...like a bizarre craving. < We have 20+ km of tracks and more old tracks criss crossing 1000+ acres.

My son hugged me goodbye good-morning and said can I have play your iPad.  By the time I downloaded a running app on my phone both sons were up. As I waved them goodbye - at about 7am - I said "If I am not back at 8 o clock send DADDY to find me". They didn't seem to care or hear - once connected to minecraft ...

Off I ran for my life and as the warmish gentle breeze blew - I got lost . I knew I would eventually find my way back to a more familiar track or landmark , I could see recent car tyres tracks and I passed a neighbouring fenceline. I had to bush bash at one point because I was at a dead end. I was okay and still ran nearly all the way like the zombies were chasing me. I eventually found my way clear of the bush.

The app said I did 8km in just over an hour, I think I'd paused the app at some point but I was very happy about it.

All my energy right now goes into just breathing, running, cleaning and de-cluttering, refereeing my fighting monsters cherubs who I adore more than anything but can't wait to put on the bus to school. My husband has been away more than half of the month (on & off).

I wake up determined to get everything under control and organised but I fail because I try to do it all at once or not at all when the chair beckons me to sit a while and start click , click ,tap, tap tapping.

Oops.

It drains me completely placing my last bit of strength into getting to the point of being satisfied I made some difference before crawling into bed at midnight. I don't sleep well when he is away and I don't relax...though running is kind of relaxing.

I am struggling with anxiety about lots of things. I am well enough at the moment but I worry too much.

Last Thursday was National Relaxation Day, 15th August. My schedule ran around the activities of your kids, I had literacy groups in their classroom - which I do enjoy . Then I had shopping and to come back home to have everything in shape for Hub's return.

Life is insanely busy and there isn’t often a chance to relax (except when I run - yes I sound crazy). I think the idea behind National Relaxation Day reminded me it's so important to slow down sometimes.



I didn't get much chance to put my feet up and unwind but I did the enjoy the pamper package I was sent !    
 
I know seriously who does laundry on National Relaxation day ?


If nothing else always take 10 mins to pamper yourself. 

I wasn't under any obligation to blog about the gift but I do love the strawberry body butter.

The shampoo/conditoner was perfect choice for my coloured hair too...sadly my hairdresser isn't keen to bleach my hair so soon after it re-growing (and a recent colour) so I can't go the vibrant purple I want.



I confess I'm hooked on running to ease my anxieties, for my fitness and to stay abreast [pun intended] of other runners because I don't want to run last.

What is your favourite time or way to relax ?

 

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Wordless Wednesday ~ Just Do it - Did it !




They put me in wrong age group for results ....Not so happy !
Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first.  ~Author Unknown




Thank you Big or Small lets save them all !

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Hey Let's (not) Start Unpacking and other junk.

'Waves'
I did it.

City to Surf done and dusted - and I ran almost all of the 14kms- only walking through the sodden drink stations and paper cup (thank goodness) debris.

Thanks to Sarah, my random running buddy from just before Heartbreak hill, who spurred me on.
We met on the road and paced each other.

Sarah told me she was running to fund raise for an Indigenous group - IMP is a health promotion charity that annually selects, trains and takes a group of Indigenous athletes to compete in the New York Marathon Running to America.
 {Like them on FB here}

She was also very encouraging and told me her Mum was a 7yr Breast cancer survivor. Awesome news to hear anytime.

I also reached my $1000 target thanks to many kind and generous supporters.

I am back in the bush now , digging deep into the tetris of boxes that sums up 23yrs of marriage.
I lied.
That isn't quite true because we still have boxes in Sydney from our move in 2000.
Yes, well, right , moving along.

I have no idea what is in those boxes , I just hope it wasn't edible because there were mice in the garage we had the boxes stored in.
I think it is re-gifted wedding gifts crystal glasses, vases, an array of salad bowls , Tupperware with no lids and junk.
Junk indeed.

I am slowly making my way through some of what is here.
I found three pair of low heeled shoes I haven't worn in maybe 2 yrs. I forgot I had them. I live in my ECCO Boots, Slippers or Runners.
I also found my husband's unworn brand new, 2yr old, 'expensive' shoes , he hasn't worn in forever.


It's a mammoth task and I am trying to stay calm as I sort stuff for the charity stores or school fete.
I am a hoarder , not exactly OCD with rubbish but I still struggle to throw out perfectly good things or wonky heat melted candles, my collection of corks ...I have been saving them for the Guides or a bushman's hat or something.
Wine corks are rare these days. I rarely drink alcohol and not many bottles have real corks.
I digress.
Life has been crazy full on, the last 2 weeks since my FIL passed away. There is so much I want to tell you but either haven't the time (unpacking and de-cluttering sucks all my time and energy and I still need time to run) and some of it isn't my story to tell.



In time.
What have you been up to ?

Linking up with Essentially Jess #IBOT

I reached my target in the City to Surf 14km run  as Gold Charity Runner , raising funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia too, fundraising is still open  - here
 

Thursday 8 August 2013

Seat Kids Safe ~ {Giveaway} child car restraints

Giveaway brought to you by NRMA Insurance & Kidsafe Australia -Safety Campaign  -

This is NOT a Child Car restraint review !

Baby Car seats / child car restraints haven’t changed too much since we brought our eldest, adopted son, home as a 13 month old in 1994. We bought the best money could buy for our precious son and the baby shop fitted it.



The laws were not so strict about toddlers and preschoolers, but I was. I think our son was still in the same 5 point harness car seat till he started school at 5 yrs , then he went into a booster. I would not let friends take him for play dates unless they had a child restraint. When I worked we had a child restraint seat for each car.

The laws governing child car restraint have changed a few times over the last few years . While 90% people are aware of the current National laws for keeping 0-7 yr old restrained , their child car restraint seat may be, unintentionally, incorrectly fitted (Yes, some ignore it anyway) .


Last year , 70% of child car restraints inspected by Kidsafe needed an adjustment. I find it hard to believe and shocking that figure is so high. Four months ago we attended a professional check of car seats organised by our local council . We were surprised that we needed to remove the car seat retainer/locking clip. A Locking Clip normally helps ensure proper and effective car seat retention but wasn’t required in our case.

Making sure child restraints are exactly right can be tricky for parents to determine, so why not let Kidsafe do this for you, for free.

Dec 2007

One guy (a local car restraint professional) also said we didn’t need to bother with the restraints after they turned seven (a month ago). I am keeping them restrained as my twins are at only at 10%  (115cm) & 25% (118cm) height percentiles for their age - no where near the recommended 145cm. It is far safer and no trouble to keep them in correctly fitted child restraints, in my opinion.

I have had friends begrudge the money paying for car seat safety checks , even when it is for the safety of their kids. As well as grumbling about paying for new seats after a minor accident. 

A good friend works as a nurse in a busy Sydney Children’s hospital, Accident and Emergency, she was very vocal speaking OUT to our playgroup mums when she heard people talking about putting siblings 'out' of child restraints for a new baby and into booster seats or a seat belt. Tragically, she had seen children lose their lives due to incorrectly fitted seats or an absence of car safety restraints.

Fortunately, we rarely changed vehicles and still own the same car we bought the twins home in. Every time you remove seats or change cars you are advised to have them checked. When the twins were born we also purchased the best available at the time for 0-4 yrs (Given we also wanted them to last as long as safely possible). 

Sept 2011

We've had their child restraint seats professionally checked a few times over the years .The local hospital provided a free service 2-3 times a year to have a professional check car restraints. It was reassuring to drive away with the certainty that my children were seated safe. It took less than 10 mins a seat, for peace of mind for parents or carers .

Simple mistakes such as having the restraint at the incorrect height or a twisted harness may lead to a child being injured. When I was asked Tuesday for my assistance, in the form of a post, to help promote child safety when traveling in cars I was keen to participate.

A team working with NRMA Insurance and Kidsafe Australia have offered free restraint checking days in QLD and NSW . Encourage your friends and get the word out. Their goal is to educate parents and carers through these free restraint checking days.

They need your help in spreading the word to help keep children safe on our roads. Tell your family and friends to help spread the message about these important events to other parents and carers.

Parents can have their child restraints professionally checked and adjusted to make sure their children are seated safely – in just minutes and for free. 

GIVEAWAY

As part of the campaign I have Two child car restraints (rated three stars and above on the Australian Standards Restraint rating site: crep.com.au), as prizes to give away to my readership base:



• 1x 6 months – 4 years rearward/forward facing restraint (Safety 1st) 
• 1x 4 years – 7 years forward facing restraint (Infa-Secure) 

The seats will be delivered to the competition winners (one prize/one seat per winner)

Enter by leaving a comment telling me  ...

How do you keep children happy in the car ?


Terms and Conditions.
1. Only Australian Residents are eligible to enter.
2. Entries not answering the question will be deemed invalid. The winner will be chosen by originality and creative merit, not by chance. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
3.There will be two winners - one seat per winner , please indicate in comments which seat you would prefer.

4. Entries - Open 8/8/2013 - Close 11.59pm 22/8/2013 AEST. The winners will be notified by email, and posted to mylittledrummerboys.blogspot.com.au after they reply - Winners have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
5. The Prize is not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash.
6. Prizes sent out by PR firm directly will not be replaced in the event that they are stolen, lost or damaged or delayed in transit.
 
7. Subscribe to my blog  to receive MLDB updates.
8. Follow via Facebook or Bloglovin on the sidebar .

All opinions are my own.


The more parents who get their restraints professionally checked, the safer our children will be.

Winners : Katie P -  4 years – 7 years forward facing restraint (Infa-Secure)
Jody - Six Little Hearts  - 6 months – 4 years rearward/forward facing restraint (Safety 1st) 

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Wordless Wednesday ~ Love Binds us Forever






A grandfather  is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.  ~Author Unknown



Sorry I missed visiting WW last week, we went to Sydney for Grandpa's (my FIL) funeral.

I'm taking part in the City to Surf 14km run  as Gold Charity Runner , raising funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia too. I've pledged to raise $1000 ,and I need sponsors - every $ 10 counts ;) -
 sponsor me here