FOOD

Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving, identity.  

Anonymous

For most of us food isn't just a way of getting energy. It is a form of pleasure. The consumption of food is so often a social occasion, either within or outside the family. In Australia Christmas dinner is the big meal of the year.

Food has fashions. Of course in Australia avocados are very fashionable at the moment, as is coffee drinking (I am actually an almond latte drinker). Scientific research tells us what we should and shouldn't eat, and this changes over time as medical science improves.

The way I eat now is very different from the way I ate as a child. I ate biscuits and cakes (which were home cooked) three times a day. I had some at recess, some at lunch time and then after school. There was always dessert at night - always home made. Meat was always the main item on the plate for dinner, accompanied by individual vegetables which had been boiled until they were soft and mushy. By the time I had my own children, cakes and sweets were much more limited and dinners more varied.

One of the results of post-war immigration has been the changing nature of our diets. It has widened to include Asian foods such as stir fries and European foods such as spaghetti bolognaise. Both these dishes are now 'everyday' dishes on our dinner tables. These days the sky's the limit, as the range of ingredients available increases.

I have tended to follow general healthy food fashions, always choosing whole grain over white bread; cutting my red meat consumption and eventually becoming pescaterian (the only flesh I ate was fish); choosing low fat where possible; and at one stage virtually eliminating eggs.

During most of this time I have battled with my weight - losing weight and putting it on. Losing weight and putting it on. Over and over again. I always maintained a reasonable weight (In fact when I look back I was quite thin) until I was 40, when I started taking anti-depressants.

One of the problems was that I now started eating breakfast. Before that time, since my teens, I had always been too anxious to eat breakfast in the mornings (although I didn't realise this was the problem until I stopped feeling anxious)  and now this was extra calories. And the other problem is that unless you are careful it can be easy to put on weight when on some types of anti-depressants.  Before I knew it my weight had increased majorly. I just didn't seem to be able to lose a significant amount. In fact as I grew older I found that the 1500 calories (6000 kilojoules) I used to lose weight on didn't work any more and that I needed to stay around 1500 calories just not to put on weight. I was tired of dieting all the time to stay overweight and just not put any more weight on.

A few years ago I tried the Paleo or Primal diet. I found this didn't work for me. I wanted to keep my diet as a pescetarian,
and I probably didn't look into it enough so my diet was just too limited.

Now 7 years later I am trying the Plant Paradox diet.

Photo source

So far I have been on it for 7 weeks and it seems to be successful. It is all to do with gut bacteria and something called lectins which are found in foods. I gave myself a few weeks to organise foods and then began by substituting one meal at a time. There is no calorie counting.

I began with breakfast. Breakfast is now a cup of frozen blueberries; 3 tablespoons of coconut yogurt (not coconut flavoured yogurt); 2 teaspoons of hemp seeds and 2 teaspoons of flax seeds for Omega 3; 4 teaspoons of psyllium husks for fibre; and 2 teaspoons of stevia to sweeten it.

This keeps me satisfied for quite a few hours.

Virginia Woolf wrote,  One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” I have found this to be true. When you are hungry, it becomes all consuming. When I have dieted before, I just lived for my next meal and all I could think about was food. But on the Plant Paradox diet I don't find I am hungry and don't particularly miss the foods I can't eat. I have lost 5 kilos in 7 weeks and I don't count calories. Hurrah! I will write a little more about it next week.

 
The past week

Last Wednesday we went out on Lake Illawarra in Peter's boat. The water was very calm.

The pelicans were out in force.

It was a hazy day looking out across the lake to the mountains.

We motored down toward the lake's entrance.

Beautiful poem

In my reading I came across the poem below. It brought tears to my eyes. My father died when I was 10 years old - eleven years before I was married. This poem made me think of him and how wonderful it must be to have a father who felt like the father in this poem. It is a beautiful poem so I thought I would share it with you.

And I thought I would share a photo of my father as he is someone who deserves to be remembered.

“Heirloom of Love” (Poem from the Father Of The Bride) by Angie

There she sits before her mirror,
Primping in excitement, her face flushed.
Today is her day; she will never know
How much I hurt, how scared I am
Of the void she will leave behind.
Will she forget me? I’ll be replaced
By someone new, someone who makes her heart
Dance in her chest, a drumbeat.
Will he, can he protect her as I’ve done?
I have no choice but to trust…
I seethe with an almost-rage,
An unfounded, illogical jealousy, an anger
For what he is taking from me.
I am selfish. She is my joy, my life
I would die for her.
Today I will. A thousand times.
Then she turns to look at me.
In her beautiful face I see worry.
For me? She sees the unspilled tears
She knows. Of course, she knows.
She comes to me.
And with the smallest kiss, the subtle smile
All is well. She is still mine.
She will always be mine
In a different and wonderful way.
She is a part of me.
She will move on, she will give others joy,
And I am comforted knowing her goodness
Will be shared by everyone she touches,
And I am okay and proud, and I take her hand
To give her to her love, her new life.
I swell with almost unbearable pride
To have created something so perfect!
She was never mine to keep, this supreme being
Perfect to me. Shining, golden, priceless…
My heirloom of love.
And there he goes, that handsome, kind man
With his new bride, my daughter, my soul.
Does he know what has been passed to him?
He could not know, not yet,
But time will show him; he will realize.
Someday it will be his turn.
He will have to pass her essence on,
In his daughter, my granddaughter,
Our heirloom of love.
Will he weep? With loss, with anger?
Will he sit alone in his daughter’s room
Filled with love and happiness…sadness?
No, content. A deep breath will help him stand
As I do now, and I walk with trembling lips
And chin held high. I leave this room.
I close the door.

I read this poem and it makes me sad as I think of how much I missed not having my father over the years.

Interesting sits




1. 2018 Wildlife Photographs of the Year

Photo source

 Beautiful photos from 2018 Wildlife Photographs of the year. Click here to see them.


2. Helping children with spelling

Photo source

This is an interesting article suggesting that we should teach children the origin of words to help them with sprlling. Click here to read more.


3. Japanese man who saved thousands of Jews

Photo source

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese man who saved 6,000 Jewsa dring the Holocaust through his handwriting. Click here to read more.

THE JOY IN MOTHERHOOD AND OTHER SNIPPETS(February 2017)

The joy in motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times, but amid the challenges there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.

M. Russell Ballard

I love quotes. Since I was a young teenager I have saved them and written them down. Now when I come across them in my reading, and I find they say something to me, I save them for my blog. I have a system of writing them up where I never know which quote I will come across on the next post I do, and now on my blogs, even though I consider it terribly self-indulgent, I have been commenting on them from a personal perspective.

This quote on motherhood made me really think about what it was like being the mother of two creative children, who just didn't fit comfortably into mainstream schooling or life.

While I love my children more than anything in the world, motherhood has not always been easy. It has been a long, long road. Dealing with childhood depression in both my daughters in their early years was very difficult. Seeking and fighting for professional psychiatric help for my children, in the early 1990's, when there was far less awareness, became a way of life. My husband and I home-schooled our younger daughter right through high-school. In year 9 my elder daughter was the only child in NSW to be enrolled in High School part time and home-schooled part time. We knew this because at the time my husband worked in head office for the Department of Education.

I don't remember ever falling out with my daughters, even in their teenage years, although we did have occasional disagreements. They are both artists and we fostered their creativity as much as we could. With depression raising its ugly head in both my daughters at an early age, I made the commitment never to give up on them.

Thanks to their genes, every day is a battle. I know because I share some of these genes.

Motherhood has held many moments of joy for me. There have been hard and frustrating times, and there still are. But now my daughters fight their own battles and I will always be their to support them.

For me, 'the shining moments of joy and satisfaction' come when I see the caring and compassionate individuals my daughters have become. I am very proud of them and I admire them greatly for not just giving up. I would like to think that their father and I have played at least some small part in them becoming such wonderful women.

Last Sunday Peter and I went to a 50th wedding anniversary. The beautiful cake below had a photo of the bride and groom 50 years ago. It was edible - made of icing.

Peter's elder sister and her husband have been married for 50 years and it was lovely to join other close family members and friends to help them celebrate.

A trip to Helensburgh on Wednesday to attend a medical appointment, saw us driving through quite a bit of fog on the top of the mountain.

January, in New South Wales,  Australia, has been a heat wave month, and it looks as if February is going to be the same. It is great to have some cooler weather for a few days.

On Friday morning I had coffee with my lovely friend J at Wollongong Harbour, or Belmore Basin as it is officially known.

Again, it was a grey day, but lovely sitting outside to sip coffee and catch up. We met at church a few years ago, and although J has moved on to a new church, we have a lot in common and keep in touch.

She brought me some resources for tutoring and some other bits and pieces which I really appreciated.

Tutoring has started again and I love working with my students. A year 11 student is beginning Ancient History and when I worked with him yesterday I was surprised how much I could remember from my teaching many years ago. I will enjoy studying this again to keep up with my student. 

Craft

I have begun crocheting this cardigan with some wool I have had for years.

The cardigan is growing slowly.

You can find the pattern for the cardigan here. 

It is an American pattern so double crochet actually means treble in English and Australian crochet.

In the Garden

Decorating and gardening have taken a back seat to some other things so far this year, but little by little things are taking shape.

Blue glass containers were ideal for some potted succulents at the front of my place. I plan a colour scheme of blue and grey out here.

My container gardening has been spurred on by an article I read here.

On Saturday night I plan to cook a vegan dinner for my family. It is to celebrate my daughter's birthday and she is vegan. Her birthday was actually about a month ago but she wanted to spread the family occasions out a bit, after Christmas and New Year.

I make sure there is plenty of vegan food at all our family get-togethers, but once a year, for Jade's birthday, I make the meal completely vegan. Jade has been vegan for over 20 years so I am quite skilled at vegan cooking, but this time I will try some new dishes - vegan lasagne, potato and rosemary pizza and Golden Rice Pudding with Turmeric, Ginger and Pink Peppercorns. I haven't quite decided on the rest except for a chocolate tart with an Oreo crust that is requested at every meal.

The plan is to have an evening playing a new version of Trivial Pursuit, but at the moment another heat wave is on the way and the forecast for Saturday is a maximum of 39 degrees and a minimum of 28 degrees, so I am not quite sure as to whether we will postpone the evening for another night when it is cooler, as I don't have air-conditioning.  We shall just have to wait and see.

Interesting sites

1.

How to choose plants for your home

 

 Click here to see a video with some useful information about how to choose plants for your home.

2.

 Ice in Northern Canada is breaking up

Photo source

 One of Canada’s most northerly communities reinvents its relationship with a thawing landscape. The ice around Nain is breaking up. Click here to read more.

3.

Sailing through garbage

Photo source

I sailed from LA to Honolulu with Danish nonprofit Plastic Change to finish a global survey on ocean plastic. Short answer: The Pacific plastic problem is probably worse than you thought.

Read to the end of the article to read the scary information about microplastics.Click here to read more

A MIXED BAG

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

Albert Schweitzer

The last couple of weeks I have been slowed down by a knee injury. After a week I visited the GP and started on some anti-inflammatory medication which has made all the difference.

I just came across this quote by Leo Babauta.

Once you’re back on track, you’ll feel great. Movement begets movement, and happiness as well.

It is certainly true that I feel a lot happier now I am can move again.

The powers that be have put new types of globes in the street lights. I have one at the front of my house. It is so light now that I could read a book by it I have my herbs planted nearby and it is really easy to go out at night and harvest the herbs.

 

My front footpath at night.

After undergoing the driest August for years we have had quite a damp September - the first month of Spring. This has meant the occasional rainbow. I couldn't resist a few photos of this one.

Rainbow from the front of my house

The ornamental plums on the footpath next door are in blossom.

P:-) has 2 rabbits living in his front yard. They are very cute - a brown one and a white one. They disappear for a couple of days and then they reappear. I hope they stay safe.

P:-)'s youngest son M had his birthday recently and his wife K made a beautiful cake. M loves Mustang cars ( and had one until his first baby was born) so K made him a Mustang cake with edible silver mustangs.

The cake was a delicious caramel mud cake.


And finally, I came across this bug on a tree in my front yard. I don't know what it is and it was quite small but quite impressive.

Maybe if you know it or can identify it you could leave the information in a comment. Thanks.



 Interesting sites

1.

 Island residence

Photo source

 Nestled in the richly wooded grounds of a narrow strip of land on the island of Chappaquiddick near Edgartown, Massachusetts, this single-family residence is part of a collection of environment- and landscape-centric interventions that blur the boundaries between structures and landscape, and between inside and outside. Comprised of four structures – a 6,300 SF main residence, a 630 SF garage, a 270 SF storage shed, and a 130 SF boat house – the site is bounded by the ocean to the west and by a well-protected, shallow bay to the east.
Click here to see more.


2.

Privacy during a flight

Photo source

The ‘b-tourist’ is made of an elastic fabric that fits many seats sizes. After assembling the piece, it offers one their own private space to quietly eat, read a book, watch a movie and to sleep without being disturbed. the side of the material has a pocket inserted into it where one can place small items they may wish to keep close by during the flight. Plastic rings are also applied along the edge, which enable the width to be easily adjusted.
I like the look of this. Click here to see more.



3.

 Migraines - what are they?

Photo source

No one knows for sure the exact mechanisms that cause migraines, but we do know it’s a neurobiological disorder. If you suffer from migraines or know somebody who does, you should find this article very interesting.Click here  to read more. 

NEW BEGINNINGS

Jervis Bay

Be the example of compassion for others around you.

Leo Babauta

Compassion isn't always easy. Sometimes it means loving the unlovable. Sometimes it means giving up something we would rather keep - that may be time or money.

Compassion isn't necessarily a pleasant feeling. It needs to be acted on in some way or it can leave you feeling very uncomfortable.

Compassion requires empathy.

Some people see being compassionate as being weakness.

I would like to be remembered as being compassionate - both in my work and in my personal life.

And perhaps my greatest legacies are my daughters. I am extremely proud of the way they have grown into compassionate and caring young women.

Callistemon in my garden

I have just turned 60. I am beginning a new decade. Where have the years gone? When am I going to grow up and become a neat and tidy person?

Turning 50 was a jolt but turning 60! I can hardly believe it.

The start of each new decade in my life has brought  something new for me - a change - new beginning 

0-10 years - the best years

For the first 10 years of my life I had an idyllic childhood. Our family of 4 lived by the beach and I had wonderful parents. Then when I was 10 my father died. Things went down hill decidedly.

Me aged 4

My teens - the unhappy time

My teens was probably the most unhappy decade of my life.  Much of the time I suffered from depression and was very unhappy and lonely. My whole personality changed. I went from being very popular and outgoing, to quiet and completely lacking in confidence. We had to leave our wonderful house at the beach. When I was 18 I started university and remade my personality, but I was still very lacking in confidence

My twenties - a time of promise

My twenties was probably my happiest time. I  began them by marrying my soul-mate. I graduated from university and became a secondary school teacher. Our two babies were born. We moved into our current house. Life held so much promise.


My thirties - things begin to fall apart

In  my thirties  I resumed working and I worked on and off full time and casually. I didn't really enjoy it but as long as my husband and daughters were happy I didn't really care about myself. But as I approached 40 things began to fall apart. After much heartache both my daughters at the age of 12 and 15 were diagnosed with clinical major depression and we have all battled this ever since. I was very down. My daughter's psychiatrist suggested doing something for myself - a whole new revelation to me - and so I began a Master's Degree in Psychology.


 My forties - a new life

My forties began with me studying again. Being back at university and studying was like beginning a new life. I was much happier. My confidence increased and it was as if I had a new life.  I completed my Masters  Degree and began work at The Annexe, a school for teenagers with behavior problems. I loved my work.   J and R still suffered with depression but they were managing TAFE okay. They had nice partners. My husband was my best friend and the love of my life. I was very content - probably more content and settled than I had ever been.


My fifties - the tough years

Then as I  approached my 50th birthday the bomb dropped. My husband - my soul-mate, the person I loved most in this world - was having an affair with a secretary at work. He left me for her. My world fell apart. My fifties consisted of me doing the best I could to make a new life. I felt I had to do this for my children. They were my number one priority and I didn't want them to have to worry about me. They were grown up by this time. I am so pleased that decade is over. It was hard work and I stepped out of my comfort zone on many occasions. I met P:-) half way through this time, when I was 54, which was a wonderful blessing. I was also made redundant a year ago which really threw a spanner in the works.

My sixties - the years to come

 And now I am 60. What will this decade bring? 
 I still live on my own but luckily I still have my house which I thought I might have to sell because I had lost my job. I am on pension, for which I am very grateful, although if the right job came along with the right working conditions I would happily take it. 
I am very positive about the next decade. 

How did I celebrate my 60th birthday? I kept it very low key.

I had a night out with my family at the Hellenic Club in Figtree. They have a delicious buffet where there is plenty of food or my elder daughter J who is vegan and her partner F who is vegetarian.

P:-)'s family had a lunch get together for my birthday. P:-)'s lovely daughter-in-law K made a beautiful chocolate mud cake layered with chocolate ganache.

My beautiful cake

The cake was delicious.

For dinner that night I only wanted something light so I had salad and wholemeal macaroni cheese, something I would not normally allow myself. The wholemeal noodles were a concession to being a bit healthy but I would just used normal pasta next time - when my next birthday comes along.

Chia seeds on my salad

And so a new decade begins.

Interesting sites

1.

 Old lady refuses to sell house for commercial complex

Photo source

Surrounded by towering concrete walls on three sides, this hundred-year-old house belonged to late Edith Macefield, a stubborn old woman, who famously turned down $1 million in 2006 refusing to sell her home to make way for a commercial complex. Click here to see more.


2.

 Tallest vertical garden in world in Sydney

Photo source

Across the towns and cities of Australia, stick-to-the-wall gardens are gaining popularity, and a new development in Sydney has the world’s tallest example. Ann Jones joins the men and women whose job it is to potter around the garden, 32 floors up. Click here  to read more and see a video.


3.

 Crooked Forest

Photo source

In a tiny corner in north-west Poland near Gryfino, is a forest of about 400 pine trees that grow with a 90 degree bend at the base of their trunks, before rising vertically again. This collection of curved trees has been named the "Crooked Forest". Click here to read more.