Going up!

These photos are more for my benefit than anyone else's. There's not much difference between these two shots, but I need to see the progress made. It's all about the height with the middle wall going up.

 Before

After

I stood back after a day's effort lugging rocks yesterday and realised these two walls didn't exist until this year. Strangely, it seems like they've always been there now. But it was really the flood earlier this year, which prompted a new design. A lack of funds meant we had to scavenge rocks to build a drystone retaining wall, instead of our usual prefab concrete blocks.

David has been dutifully collecting materials when he's off work, and with days like yesterday, when the sun is shining and too nice to stay inside, I found myself pottering around the wall - moving rocks and basically getting blisters.

I don't mind blisters when they're for a good cause, yet progress on our wall seems to take us forever. Sometimes it's in the stepping back and realising where you were (prior to this point) however, where any distinction is made.

Wall anatomy

When you look at the above perspective...day in and day out, it starts to look like a lot of work! There's quite a bit of rubble in there and each piece is moved strategically by hand. But when you step back and remember nothing existed until you collected your first rock, it seems amazing you've gotten this far!

I do want to have this finished before summer storm season arrives, but even if we don't, we took whatever time we had available to make progress.

Is there any projects in your life that seems to take forever, and what are your personal pep-talks to get yourself through it?

New recipe

3 Seed Sourdough Loaf

{This post has been updated for 2016...see note down the bottom for changes in how to treat the seeds.}

Fresh out of the oven

I've been meaning to write a post about the new recipe I make my sourdough bread with. It's still the same starter and process I used for the white loaf but I now add grains and a few other substitutions. Mainly, sugar has been replaced with natural honey. Besides the lovely flavour it adds, I've also noticed it keeps the bread longer before spoilage.

If you like expensive "Helga's" bread in the supermarket, this recipe is very similar in taste and texture.

All sourdough bread begins with the starter, which is a living yeast you feed at least once a week. If you're not familiar with how to make sourdough starter, click here, to make your very own.

I created another starter recently, as I threw out my old batch a few months ago. Nothing was wrong with it, I just decided to reduce my carbohydrates so I cut out bread entirely. It was a good exercise in realising how much I like sourdough bread, and that I can stop making it (or start making it) whenever it suits my situation.

So anyone who has managed to kill their starter from neglect, don't despair. It's not hard to make another batch. I like easy things and this was easy to do again. Actually, it was much easier to do over than continue feeding the old starter I wasn't using for a few months.

To quickly recap the process - you'll need to make the starter (this is your friend); secondly, make the sponge with half the starter (leave overnight, or a few hours) and finally, add the last ingredients to make your dough.

The new list of ingredients I add after the sponge stage is:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 heaped tablespoon natural honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup wholemeal spelt flour
2 cups white bakers flour (or whatever makes the correct tackiness)

I knead the dough for 10 minutes or thereabouts, then stretch out the dough like a fat pizza base, and in the middle place:

1/4 cup linseed
1/4 cup sunflower seed
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Fold the sides into the middle, and then knead. I like this part, because when I feel the loose seeds breaking through the dough, I turn the dough over to start kneading back into the thinnest point in the centre. Basically it's a game of keep the pocket of loose seeds into the middle of the dough, until they've been incorporated thoroughly.

You will inevitably get "escapees", but it's no drama to roll the dough back over them and keep kneading. Then it's onto the waiting game of the first rise. I've got a few tips for making the whole process seem a lot quicker than it actually is.

Firstly, make the sponge at about 4 in the afternoon. Let it sit on the bench until 8 at night, then knead up the dough. Place in a large, greased bowl with a lid and let it rise overnight. When I get out of bed first thing in the morning, I punch back the dough and roll it to shape. It then goes in the baking tin and only needs another hour to rise before it's cooked.

 Waiting to go in the oven

Breaking the process up so half is achieved in the late afternoon/evening, and then finished first thing the next morning, I generally have the bread baked before I drive our daughter to school. That's what I like so much about sourdough, it's a slow leaven. I've got time to break the process up without spoiling the dough, so I can fit in the regular stuff mum's have to do also.

Tastes as good as it looks

Now that winter has arrived, the toaster and oven have been working overtime.  I've been having my morning toast with Kumquat Marmalade. My Kumquat tree is a tiny powerhouse of baby fruit this time of year, and I love making Marmalade for my morning toast.

Update Note:  

Since writing this post in late 2012, I have since started soaking my seeds in their volume, of boiled water (eg: 3/4 seeds to 3/4 cup water). Cover vessel they are being soaked in, with a plate, and wait until the water has cooled (30-60 minutes) before adding to bread.

You can also add them at the end of the sponge stage, just before you start making the dough. This makes it easier to keep them in the bread, as you're kneading.

Soaking the seeds means they don't draw moisture from the bread, and you'll have a less dense loaf. It will also help keep the seeds plump and moist, instead of dried, when baking. I don't normally soak sunflower seeds, as they don't absorb too much moisture. But the linseeds are particularly thirsty, so will consume the water I've made available in this recipe.

Simple gestures

This is what greeted me after Sarah ate her morning toast this morning. She said this is how she feels after toast.

 Maybe she should eat her crusts?

I love her art though

It must be winter, or the fact my new sourdough recipe tastes so nice. I have a post I'm working on about the new recipe. Will share soon.

On a lighter note

Before calls in the afternoon, of the fate of loved ones, I finished my shrug on Monday morning. I was very happy to finally have it off the needles and trying it on for the first time.

 Front

I did cheat a little, skipping the last 4 rounds in the project, only because Dave and I had a movie date planned for that morning too, and I wanted to wear it. Eliminating the extra rounds, only altered the thickness of the moss stitch band.

 Back

This could be why the bottom of my shrug tends to roll upwards at the back. Or maybe it would always do this no matter how thick the band was? I'm glad I skipped the extra rows, because it fitted nicely as it was. I do have to figure a way to get that back to stay down though. Ideas???

I was ready to move on to the next knitting project for myself, but my daughter loved my shrug so much, she asked me to knit her one! We went through my yarn collection, and she only liked the black colour. Unfortunately it was acrylic, which is way less fun to knit with.

Another shrug on the needles

Do you know how hard it is to knit in black? It's like knitting a giant ink splot. It's very difficult to see the stitches in natural light.

Nonetheless, I'm enjoying having something to knit again. As I did with my own shrug, I plan to tweak Sarah's a little too. Instead of the monotonous knit 1, purl 1 of the moss stitch, I have some fun fur yarn I will just plain knit (with larger needles) for the collar and the cuffs on her sleeves.

My daughter gets up every morning and checks my knitting needles, to see how far I've gotten, LOL. Thankfully, it's smaller, so hopefully won't take as long to finish.

Macy, come home

This is not how I imagined we'd bring you home, sweet girl of mine. When we left you with my mum all those years ago (she had a fence to keep you safe behind) I imagined we would keep our promise, and build you a fence at our new property one day, so you could come for a visit...

Dear Sweet Macy, home at last

I knew I couldn't take you from my mum permanently, because you two had become such close friends and she needed you. You kept her safe on her property, just as you had kept us safe as a family in suburbia - watching the back door, always protecting. But I always hoped too, one day, you could see what we were doing here at Gully Grove.

Before I got the call on Monday, that you weren't well, I was in the garden on Sunday, moving rocks. Something told me to start the second wall. I don't know why, as I didn't have the energy to start another rock wall. Yet I started to pull weeds to dig the trench nonetheless. By the end of that day on Sunday, I stood back and saw how close we were to the top. One more tier up, until we could start fencing the back of the house. I thought of you sweet Macy, we all did. But it was Sarah that mentioned your name first.

So how was it on Monday afternoon, we discovered you were so close to the end? Mum was upset over the phone, and I knew we had to come. David called work to let them know he wouldn't be in the next day, as we were going to collect you for your last visit to the vets. But Macy, your time had come. Within the hour we received another call. We were told you walked up to your favourite place in the world, your camp bed, and tried to get up. You didn't quite make it though. You fell asleep for the last time, beside it.

Mum lovingly placed you on your camp bed afterwards, wrapped you in your blanket, and we brought you home the next day.

Over an hour's drive away, when we made it down the last of our winding streets, I couldn't hold back the tears. I had imagined this day would come, the day you would see Gully Grove for the first time, but not like this...we tried girl, and I know you don't blame us.

Rest on, faithful friend

1999 - 2012

We buried you under the mulberry tree, with your camp bed. Your ear poking up in that way it always did. We cut off a lock of hair from each of us and buried it with you, along with some nasturtiums and mulberry leaves, which would be your companions at Gully Grove for ever more.

The sun that lit your grave at 2pm on Tuesday, the time we finally lay you to rest, came from the West. We had faced you to the east, so you could see the sun rise every morning, and hopefully touch some of the beauty we have seen here, every day. The sun passes through the tall gums in winter, and peppers the ground with light.

I visited your grave this morning, and saw the light had greeted you (as I'd hoped it would) because you always found the first patch of sun in the morning, to warm yourself with. How could we point you in any other direction?

Family

We did get to see you that one last time, on Mother's day recently. You pushed your whole body into me (as you always did for a pat) you licked Dave's hand (as you always did for a scratch) and you covered Sarah in dog kisses, to hear her squeal in delight, as you always loved to make her do.

How is it, five years passed by so fast, and you were twelve and a half? Not a bad innings, but still hard to believe the part we loved most about you (your infallible heart) is what finally gave up in the end. Now, every time the mulberry leaves fall in late Autumn, we will remember your last journey home.

You are finally here, girl, and we love you.

Kreativ Award

I was recommended for an award by LindaM, over at her blog "Hello, it's me!" I was really thrilled to receive it. What do awards really mean though - I wanted to know, because sometimes I look around my small part of the world and wonder why what I talk about, deserves any kind of mention? Especially the lovely things LindaM said. :)

When I got to thinking deeper about it though, blog awards are really about the relationships between different bloggers and how we each have a unique story to tell. We each speak something unique in our own way. We speak our voice to others, even if that sound seems all too familiar to ourselves, LOL. And I love listening to LindaM's voice over her side of the equator. Camalids, chickens, bees, plants - all my favourite things!

The Kreativ Award has also introduced me to other blogs, such as Rubye Jack, who originally nominated LindaM for hers. I guess, even though I got nominated by Linda in return, I think the real fun is in passing it around - so we get to discover other unique voices we may not have come across otherwise. In this way, I really do feel honoured to receive LindaM's gesture.

So onto the seven things you absolutely cannot leave this world, without knowing about me...

1. I'm naturally cautious around others, but don't let that put you off. I'm really quietly in love with the world and all it's unique beings I haven't gotten to know yet.

2. I'm still discovering my voice and I'm learning new things about myself every day. Two years from my forties, and I'm just starting to accept it's okay to be wrong, to change and be someone you told yourself in your 30's you'd never be!

3. I really admire my husband. He's everything I shouldn't have picked in a partner (LOL) and that's what makes him absolutely perfect. He opened my eyes to the beauty of others I don't inherently understand. So for that, I really admire his stamina and unashamed confidence in being himself. :)

4. It may surprise others to learn I'm a Christian with no subscription to any particular version of Christianity. I just read my bible and listen to the spirit within. It's often what gets me through those times I cannot handle reality. I figure if God can have trust in people, knowing what we're capable of, then there must be something very important about learning to trust others.

5. I'm an artist, even though my biggest works to date, are found in the garden. It's my 3D living sculpture that will constantly be a work in progress, LOL. I also believe dirt has healing properties we are yet to discover. 

6. Most of my family (both sides) have direct connections to the United Kingdom. 

7. My great, great, great grandfather was a Missionary to Australia, and wrote a lot about the social needs of minority groups of his time. He often made a lot of recommendations about the benefit of keeping family connections in-tact, even though the religious norm was to separate and assimilate back into white society. I'm proud to know this voice of mine, which instinctively questions "norms", came from such a legacy. And I was doing it before I even knew what the family tree branches extended back to. Way to go, Triple G!

Now to the blogs I nominate. It probably won't surprise you, most will have a gardening or building theme of some variety! But all very creative blogs in my humble opinion.

Happy Earth, to me is a wonderful blog about change in your own backyard. They didn't move away from the suburbs to live the way they wanted to. I love their info about edible plants and how they've gone about designing their garden. Happy Earth, is a happy place to visit.

Abdallah House, takes others on the journey of building a house (and subsequently living a life) centred around the permaculture principles. I love how they've fashioned their own niche of Victoria, according to what they believe in. They also want to help shape the perception about their community, with other community builders.

Our Old Miners Cottage, is another home building adventure which I really want to nominate. I know how hard they are working and probably wonder if their blog is of interest to anyone. I just wanted to recognise them as very creative people, at a time in their lives with so much work to be done! What they cannot achieve with lime plaster, I honestly don't know. Keep up the good work guys. :)

Life in the Dome, just has to be my absolutely favourite chicken themed blog in the entire universe! Jacqui, you're one of a kind!

Joyfulhomemaker, is a busy (former Queensland) family that upped stumps and moved to Country Victoria. They are making a new home for their family, while home schooling all their children. MaShelley (I hope I can call her that, as it's from a discussion forum we are familiar with) is a unique person, extremely creative in all that she does and someone I'd bake a cake for and invite around for coffee! If only she lived closer. I will have to settle for reading her blog instead. I know you will love their renovation pictures. :)

Plain and Joyful Living, really says it all! They are another home schooling family, living in the US. I love how their home business centres around making things from wood, with no preservative treatments. They try to live lightly, on less, which isn't always easy. But Tonya is faithful and honest about the process as she can be.

Eight acres of eden, brings me back to Australia again. It's one of my favourite reads. Ann doesn't always have the time to write on her blog, after all, raising a large family, home schooling and renovating a home (snap!  I've got a lot of those in my list!) takes up a lot of time. When she does write though, it's worth sitting down and reading.

Phew! I wasn't sure if I had enough in my blog list to nominate, as seven is such a large number to come up with. But I'm surprised how many quality blogs I would nominate for such an award. They really are quality reads and I'm glad I took the time to share them with you all.

Thank you LindaM for nominating me - I love visiting your blog and pondering new ways of looking at the world. :)

Hit by a loogie

It was bound to happen, sooner or later, but I have caught the change of season loogie. Only it's not what I'd consider a classic flu. It started with a blocked nose, then a runny nose, small headaches arrived, and then all my strength suddenly left me. Consequently I haven't been at the computer beyond paying bills. 

I think I caught the loogie from Sarah, who I think caught it from school. I honestly believed she was putting on a sickie at first, to get out of school, because she didn't have what I consider classic flu symptoms.

Now it's hit me, I realise the insidious nature of it's deceptive infection. It leaves a trail of very minor ailments which culminates in feeling as weak as a baby. I've been sipping lemon balm tea on a regular basis, to help with the sore throat. It seems to clear up my sinus too.

The good news is, I think Sarah is nearly all better and I'm finally seeing light at the end of this tunnel. I still feel like I met a steamroller during my sleep, LOL, but the fog in my head is finally lifting. Sorry for being out of the loop a bit.