Weekly Update - What a great week!

Hello dear friends,

This week I decided to switch off the computer for a few days and concentrate on getting back to my simple life. I find that I am spending way too much time looking at things I would like to do on my laptop instead of actually doing them. And as for facebook, I will say no more! 

While the internet is a great resource it is also a consumer of precious time. So for the majority of this week I have been doing some gentle living and enjoying the slower life. 

And I did notice that time. went. slower. 

No hustle or bustle, just going about my day without pressure...

I enjoyed getting out in the garden on the sunny cooler days. 

I mulched the plants and watered the barrels.   

The last time I watered the barrels I didn't have to water again for nine days!

The soil was still just damp when I topped them up again.

In the nine day period, there were quite a few very warm to hot days. 

As the plants get bigger I guess the water wont last as long. We will have to wait and see.

Tomatoes

Zucchini

Rhubarb

The lettuce and baby spinach are still doing well.  I must plant some more of these to have a supply all through summer.

The baby spinach is not so much baby...

They are huge!

The Tayberry had one flower appear. Not sure if this means anything... 

Sorry I couldn't get a better photo of the flower but the plant was moving around in the breeze ha ha!

I am picking mulberries.  

These are being put away in the freezer until I have enough for a crumble.  Yum, yum!

 

While out driving, we saw an opportunity to collect {free} more rocks to use in the  wicking barrels. We sought permission to be able to get some of the leftover rocks from a pile that had been dumped. After we were given the okay, we took the trailer and loaded the rocks up and brought them home. This will save us quite a bit of money as buying these can be expensive.

The heap.

What a workout! 

Of course us girls had to do all the work!?! Nudge, nudge, wink, wink! 

{Ha ha as for the hubby...He was just standing around taking photos!}

It was such dangerous work! We had to battle big spiders and a snake! Oh, and the strong wind that was blowing...

So now all we have to do is unload it...groan!

I spent time in the kitchen. 

Nothing new about this except I enjoyed my time cooking and baking this week. I didn't feel rushed because I had organised myself (not wasted time on the computer)by writing out a menu plan for a month and sticking to it for the week. 

I made Mexican Chicken Casserole using leftover roast chicken. It does not look very appetising but it was definitely enjoyed by those who ate it.  

I even received compliments! 

You can find the recipe here. 

Thanks Cath.

 This made enough for leftovers and a meal for hubby's work. I added fried rice to accompany it.

 I also cooked Beef Cannelloni for the first time.  This also went down a treat with the family, so will definitely make it again.

I baked a chocolate cake.

And 

Peanut butter and chocolate chip biscuits using Wendy's recipe.

I baked some and froze some for later.

My grandson stays over on Wednesday's so he can go to Scouts. I needed something for his school lunch so made some toasties.

Savoury Fingers 

{adapted from CWA Fingers and Forks cookery book}

Five or six slices of bread {also nice with a french stick}

Mix together

1 1/2 cup grated cheese

3 tspns Worcestershire sauce

3 tspns tomato sauce or relish

some chopped bacon

one beaten egg

Spread onto bread and grill until done.

I cut them up into fingers and put into the freezer for when my grandson needs them.

I made an old favourite

 

Banana Caramel Pie.

I dried breadcrumbs outside. 

And mushrooms and zucchini...

Here are the quandongs I dried a few weeks ago. 

These will be put into jars shortly. 

3.3kgs all up!

 A very pretty cactus flower.

 I was gifted a compost bin.

I do believe this sleepy lizard could soon be a mama...

 For those interested in the progress of the shed.

 It now has a cement floor!

They laid the concrete inside the shed the first day, and outside the next.

The work was started at 5.30am Monday and finished Tuesday afternoon.

This is the spot where the car hoist will go.

  I just had to include this photo of cuteness!

Our friend came around and she brought her "kids" for a ride.  These two are such characters. They had been naughty on this day, can you tell?

 Some gorgeous roses the same friend gave to me. 

So pretty...

I made time every day to sit outside with a cuppa and my favourite magazine.  I used to sit outside and read these books from cover to cover.  

How I have missed doing this...

Will I continue cutting my screen time down?  I think I will most of the time, there is too much living to do!

 What about you? Do you think you spend too much time on the internet and not living your life to the fullest?

Take care,