While We Were Fasting

While my daughter and I have been on a juice fast, I've made sure that there were good wholesome meals available for the Machinist.  Preparation in advance has been such a help.  Mealtimes have been a breeze (not to mention - clean up).

Whatever I've served to the Machinist is exactly what I intend to carry on with now that my juice fast is complete.   And so - these healthy meals that I've prepared have been somewhat of a mini 'experiment'.

I've been making these salads in a jar. I didn't believe it, but they truly do last up to five days in the fridge.  And.... they remain as crisp and fresh as when they first went into those jars!

Firstly, the mis-en-plas:

Then, to assemble the jars.  Firstly, a squirt of the Ranch Dressing, topped with a teaspoon of Basil Pesto.  Then, the layering of the vegetables.

Carrots, corn, onions and peas (the harder vegetables), followed by mixed capsicum, tomatoes, avocados (the softer vegetables [fruits]).  On top of this - cheese (in this photo,-  fetta cheese) and protein (in this photo - boiled eggs).  Finally - the sliced lettuce.

When tipping the jar onto a plate, the contents forms a mound of salad, topped with the dressing(s).

On top of this, I sprinkled sunflower seeds and pepitas.

Somedays, I served it with smoked trout.

Sometimes - with steak or smoked salmon.  Sometimes - with canned tuna and olives.  (I like to wrap the protein in portions, for quick and easy assembly).

Sometimes, I added jalopenos, sundried tomatoes, Sauerkraut and my own home made cultured vegetables.

More on that later....

Juicing Fast

My daughter Emma and I have been on a juice fast for the past 30 days.  We've been juicing raw vegetables (and a few fruits) each day - which has been our only source of nutrition.  Apart from glorious weight loss, this has helped with restful and deeper sleep for longer periods of time.  It has also improved our general well being.

Our regular 'liquid gold' - (actually - green) daily juice has consisted of orange juice mid-morning and a combination of Silverbeet, rainbow chard, kale, parsley, carrot, celery, cucumber, fennel and lemon for subsequent 'meals'.

When we receive the fruit and vegetable delivery, we've separated, portioned it and wrapped it in BPA free Glad Wrap *tm.  The skill is finding appropriate spaces and packing it in the fridge:

At the same time, we've been harvesting abundant fruits and vegetables from our own garden, which we've hardly managed to even give away.

Some years ago, I read a book by Jackie French -"Backyard Self Sufficiency" and remember how she wrote that it wasn't the planting or nurturing of food that was the hard work, but the harvesting and processing of the 'fruits of labour'.  I never thought it would happen in my own yard.  I never thought it would happen to me.

But it did.

After many - MANY - gardening failures, persistence and time itself has given us great rewards.

The Watcher

The rear of our home garden sits between two metal workshops; - the Fabrication shop (or Fab shop) and the Machine shop.  The Machine shop has windows which look out onto the garden.  It also has a side door which leads out into the garden.

While weeding today, the side door opened and the Machinist, fighting through cobwebs hung between Bosc and Comice pear trees, advanced towards me....

"Babe, I just wanted you to know - if you get the feeling that someone is watching you, well - they are.  It's me.  Anyway...I just wanted you to know that...."

The Grands: On Aging - Part Two

There is a fine line when assisting the aged.  Their dignity must be retained, their independence supported and encouraged, but their frailties thoughtfully considered.

As the "Responsible Person" assisting in securing help for the Grands beyond what we can offer, many awkward (and unbelievably frustrating) situations arise, as I am also their cherished daughter.  If ever there was a period of time in life for humility towards parents, this is it. Not quite as the humbling situation happens, but very shortly after and it is a persistent haunting.  It preoccupies.


Heart:  You should do more for them!  You should see them more frequently!

Head:  You have done all you can!  You have assisted in making their lives as safe, secure and as peaceful as can be!


Some of the services in place for the Grands include:

Assisted showering
Ergonomic equipment
Meal delivery
House cleaning
Additional weekly transport to various venues
Hearing Impaired phone
Medical Alarm pendants

I am extremely grateful for the last item on the list. It was Grandpa who pressed the red button when Granny was coughing and choking, battling to get air and still stubbornly refusing to let him call us.    We were notified within five minutes by the Medical Alarm service.  We would have taken forty minutes to reach them. Paramedics were there within fifteen minutes.

#Gratitude.

Two days after her 87th birthday, Granny spent an eventful afternoon / evening tended to by Ambulance and ER staff.  After he was told that his wife would not be admitted to the hospital that evening, Grandpa assured us that he would let us know when she was home safe and sound.

He didn't.

When we called him, he sounded somewhat irritated.

"Yes, she is home, and is still full of nonsense"

"How so?"

"She's grumbling about the fact that I put her evening meal vegetables back in the fridge just after the Paramedics took her away.  How was I to know she would be back so soon...."

The Grands: On Aging - Part One

My dad - "Grandpa" - had spent quite a few weeks in his local hospital.  He hadn't meant to spend such a long time there; it just turned out that way.  Not necessarily because of on-going ill health, but rather - hospital regulations.

He had been admitted with gout, and he could hardly walk.  His feet and ankles were angry-red and swollen.  He would often wince.  Within a few days, his pain subsided, with great thanks to the reassessment of his Webster pack contents, and the addition of new (temporary) medications.   He perked up and blessed many staff members with his gentlemanly ways, wit and charm.

It wasn't enough, though - it wasn't enough to gain his hospital discharge.  His marching orders.

Hospitals require the aged to be as well as they can be - and in particular - stable and mobile before they are considered to return home. Furthermore, a "Services Package" had to be secured and put into place, courtesy of the Australian Government and currently available to our country's aged population.

Grandpa was fairly stable and he was mobile (with the help from a walker), but he wasn't mobile enough.  He was transferred to Rehab, where he spent a further two weeks before leaving - just in time for his 90th birthday celebrations at our house.

Sarah - hanging the 'Happy Birthday' banner

Starting to set the table with snackage.  

Grandpa has visited his local hospital a couple of times since this particular stay, - for gout, chest pain and dehydration and despite long family communal waits in the ER all visits were short lived.  Needless to say, the staff know him by both of his names.  They even shorten his first.  They call him "Bert". 

Bert! 

It makes me smile every time I hear it. 

The Grands have accepted the Service Package available to them.  We suspect that they are well pleased.  But shhhh.....

We haven't suggested this to them.  We haven't even hinted at it.   

To be Continued......

New Year's Eve. New Year's Day.

Life is ever changing.

This eve - this new year's eve - is the first that the Machinist and I have spent ALONE together in 33 years.

It feels weird.

It is weird.

We see our children, their spouses and grandchildren every day.  It's not as if we have special occasion get togethers, because we always have get togethers in the course of regular, every day life.

Like earlier on the last day of last year.  We all went out to celebrate my mam's birthday.  It was a "given" that we should see the Grands anyway.  A regular weekly visit.  It so happened to be her birthday, and cause for eating out at one of her preferred restaurants.

It's not as if we feel lonely or out of the celebrations, either, because even as I type, our local  Hotel is hosting their New Year's Eve party, and the music is pounding out, equalled only by the vocal chorus of villagers, as they recognise and reminisce with the lyrics of familiar songs.

And yet .... somehow... new year's is different.  There are (sort of) expectations of being with loved ones.  Family or friends.  Or both.

This change is probably going to be the first of many to come.

A(nother) new beginning.

Peace and happiness to you, Blogreaders!

Happy New Year!!

My Vocation

I was reading through the description of my blog the other day.  While it is as accurate today as it was when I first wrote it, I feel that there is so much more I could add.  As the months and years go by and people and circumstances change, so do our roles.  And priorities.  More and more, I see definition...

"....I can see clearly now, the rain has gone...."

(Yep, there's always a song that relates to life).

My vocation as wife, mother (mamma) and homemaker has never been clearer than it is at this point of time.  I am besotted.  I am obsessed.

I suspect my blog will reflect this in the coming days and months.  How can it not?  Especially from something that brings such joy and fulfilment.

Yes.....

A vocation indeed.

Motherhood: The Hardest Work

"It's the hardest work on God's earth - being a mother" - My mam would often say.  She said it a lot when I became a mom for the first time.  And later - as my children grew, and the workload increased, she would add "... you have to have eyes in the back of your head..." to her repertoire.  Meaning; you have to be ever diligent in watching your children.  You have to always have an "eye" on them for the benefit of their health, safety, attitude and moral character.  It didn't matter where you rustled up that "eye" You had to have it ready as a beacon (or alarm); a call for necessary appropriate action.

These are the people she needed eyes in the back of her head for:

Child Number One, Two and Three

Child Number Four

Child Number Five

I've found my Mam's words to be all truth.  Mothering is never ending, and yes - it is exhausting.  It is hard and sacrificial.   And yet... it is the most blessed and life changing of all careers.  

Content Little Girls

Sitting in the mall - enjoying coffee with the Machinist, it so happened that we were right next to a child's indoor playground.  Neighbouring tables and chairs were strewn with handbags, bottles, snack boxes, nappy bags, coffee cups and tea pots, plates and napkins, little ones' clothing and shoes.  There was shrieking, squealing, crying and moaning.  Then, there was laughter and chuckling even.

"You know, Babe", began the Machinist. "You can tell the good parents.  You can tell who puts great effort into their children, and those that don't.  I'm not saying they don't love their children - ..."

"I know what you are saying.  I know what you mean.."

"See that mother over there, with the two girls?  I saw her give both of them the 'nod'.  It was the 'time to go' nod.  The girls made their way to the table, and mother directed them to put their shoes on.  They got up, and started to run towards the exit.  She told them not to run, and they immediately slowed down, waiting for her to catch up.  And the best thing about it, they didn't complain or whine, and they seemed content.  They obviously felt secure".  

As the Machinist was telling me this, there was shrieking and shouting in the background.  We were on our last dregs of coffee, and about to leave.   

Father passed by, slouching over a full shopping cart.  At least twenty steps behind him was Mother, struggling with a wriggling, shrieking toddler under her arm.  An older child was walking next to her whining at pitch.  Yet another child was running - ahead of Father and the trolley.  Then back to Mother, banging into tables and chairs (and other patrons) as he ran.  When this happened, the mother would give that 'kids.  What can you do?' look. 

And all the time, neither parent communicated with each other, or the children. 

Learning to be Highly Effective - Ha!

We have just returned from town and baby is now sleeping snugly in her "mamma's cot" - still in our bedroom from her sleepover - more than a fortnight ago.  The Machinist has to shimmy around the cot to get to his side of the bed.  Most nights he says "we'll have to move the cot back to the other room, Babe".  We both agree on this, but still - it remains.  Because our room is closest to the living rooms, it is warmer and more convenient, I tell myself.  Others smile knowingly.

In other news - I am a flirt.  I flirt most days, in all areas of life.  I can't help myself. 

I confessed this to the Machinist the other day as we were sorting out his office.  He was / is so grateful to me for setting up systems within his space.  He thinks I'm fab, but he didn't know that I had / have my own struggles -  being able to focus on only ONE THING AT A TIME.  Most of my undertakings stretch on because of this fact.  I'm told that mom's (and business people) have to learn (unless they're that way inclined anyway) to multi-task.  I still have not mastered this as yet.  I don't hold much hope to do so, either.

And so - what happens is - I focus on one endeavour with such intensity, with such passion and then suddenly realise that other tasks are building up.  Tasks which can't wait. 

I am currently listening to an Audibles book by Stephen Covey entitled "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".  I would gladly get rid of all my other 'self help' type of books for this one only (even though I am tempted to buy the next book in the series; "The Eighth Habit").  I'm only on Habit Three, and already I am much 'enlightened'.

I've even recognised the Machinist to be in Quadrant One: the Important and Urgent quadrant, while I am a Quadrant Three type of girl - the Urgent (to me.  I think.  I'm sure), but not Important on the scheme of things.  (The business.  The Family.  The World).  

We both need to acquire balance and find ourselves in Quadrant Two: Important, not Urgent. 

This, apparently, is the key to Effectiveness.  

And so - I am learning....It won't happen overnight, but....it will happen!

Keiralea Ann

So much life, growth and change between posts!  She is my love, my blessed life vocation.  And she knows it.  

Love from Mamma x