My new Yoga bag

Look at this lovely bag I made yesterday, to carry my yoga mat in. Isn't it pretty? I bought the fabrics from Etsy[ http://www.etsy.com/] on line. I buy it from a lovely little etsy shop called "fabricworm".It's a mixture of Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks fabric and Amy Butler fabric. I got the pattern from Amy Butler's site - it was free - and so easy to make.I added a drawstring to the top. [http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/free_patterns.php] Amy Butler's patterns and fabrics are beautiful.Very addictive!

I just ordered some more fabric from them to add to my scrap quilt(more on that another day).I can't wait for the parcel to arrive!

It's got me fired up to do more sewing.

Tasty Tomatoes

Oh my goodness, the hard work and netting has paid off! We have had a great harvest of tomatoes, and are still picking them every couple of days. We've had enough to eat them fresh whenever we want, and I was able to roast a tray of them, with garlic cloves to make a wonderful Spanish rice for dinner a couple of days ago.

I started by frying a chopped red onion, along with a small red capsicum and green capsicum(also chopped).I also added a teaspoon of sweet paprika and chopped basil. Then I added 2 cups of long grain rice, stirred that in to coat with oil. Then I put the beautiful roasted tomatoes in (or you can use 2 cups of pasta sauce or tinned tomatoes), I also added the roasted garlic (I roasted a whole head of garlic, in the skin, then squeezed out the lovely soft flesh into the rice). Add 2 cups of hot chicken stock and stir. Let it cook on the stove, stirring occasionally, and adding more stock if necessary. I did this til the rice was cooked, then I added some cooked chicken (but chorizo,prawns or other meat would be fine) and the corn kernels from 2 cobs. Heat through and "ta-dah", yummy dinner. The whole family loved it, even the wee one.

I think those fresh roasted tomatoes made all the difference.

We also had an amazing crop of beans, picked them daily, but they are finished now and I have collected seed for next year.

The little self sown broccoli plants have come up, but I am not sure if they'll survive. We are having dry day after dry day, and I'm still not very good at regular watering! Hopefully some will survive.

Yoga Bliss

Last night I went to my second yoga class for the year.I am so glad I have made the commitment to go to the class, as I found it so hard to go regularly last year. I made it a resolution for this year, and it is one I want to continue. I come out of the class feeling inches taller, feeling totally relaxed and energised.

My teacher, Tarsha, is amazing. She is gentle and gives very clear explanations about the poses, the health benefits, and the alternative poses. I learn so much from her, and I love the slow pace of the class. Other classes I have attended didn't feel as gentle and healing.

She has been teaching us about the "chakras". Here is a brief description:

The spine and the human energy field contain chakras, or energy centers, that vibrate at different frequencies. Each chakra presents us with the opportunity to establish a root relationship and to satisfy a deep soul desire. Each frequency holds the gift of a certain power, which enhances our human experience on Planet Earth. As we tune into this power, we are internally empowered to deal with the specific life challenges of that energy center or chakra and as a consequence to live more whole, meaningful and fulfilling lives.(from http://www.kundaliniyoga.org/chakramain.html)

So far we have concentrated on the Root Chakra and the Sacral Chakra.
The Base or Root Chakra located at the very bottom of the spine, the Root Chakra governs issues around physical self-preservation. These issues include survival, security and safety, as well as primal erotic and procreational urges.

This chakra is the grounding force that allows us to connect to the earth energies and empower our being.

The tasks of the second chakra include allowing for emotional and sensual movement in our life, opening to pleasure, and learning how to "go with the flow." Associated with the hips, sacrum, lower back, genitals, womb, bladder, and kidneys, this chakra is involved with sensuality, sexuality, emotions, intimacy, and desire. All watery things about us have to do with this chakra: circulation, urination, menstruation, orgasm, tears. Water flows, moves, and changes, and a healthy second chakra allows us to do so too.

I find it all very interesting and I loved doing the colour visualisations during the meditation. We had a whole 20 minutes of relaxation/meditation. Bliss!

I cannot tell you how wonderful yoga is.Honestly, it really is that good! So if you want to relax,strengthen your body, feel bliss, give it a go....

On Small Change, Month 2:Febuary

I know it is past February! It's been busy - school started back on the 1st of February, and then we had Lily's thirteenth birthday and a little trip to the seaside to celebrate it( another part of the seaside, not where we live.)


So, alas, I've not been blogging. I'm struggling with "routines". I mean I should have one so that I write in the blog more often. Trouble is, it is on the computer, and I cannot get a run at it with Charlie around. He is hell bent on touching all things electronic, which means downloading photos and typing on the computer are downright impossible with him around. Which brings us to the next problematic "routine" - his! We just can't seem to get a consistant nap time happening in the afternoons, and now as I type, he has just awoken...How frustrating!

I was going to talk about my 2nd small change, which is proving to be a bit of a challenge( the change, not the talking!). I wanted to have a month of solid use of cloth nappies ("diapers" in America). I have always used them, since Charlie was about 6 weeks old, but never totally.I've always had the disposables environmentally friendly brand, "Nature Babycare" from Sweden{http://www.naty.com/au/Home/tabid/91/Default.aspx}, however, when I consider the cost, the footprint from having to ship them to Australia, and the fact that although they break down, they are often wrapped in plastic to be disposed of (there's no way that I'd have space to compost them, although I have put some in the compost and they do breakdown beautifully.I know it isn't recommended that you compost due to bacteria that can be spread, but the ones I have thrown in the compost have only been wet ones and that compost bin is for the flower garden, not the vegetable patch.

So, I have used cloth in the past, but if anyone else in the family changes Charlie, they reach for a disposable.I'm not sure why, as the cloth nappies I have are shaped and fitted like a disposable.So I've asked everyone to put cloth on Charlie. They are all cooperating, but Charlie isn't cooperating as well! He rips his nappy off at first chance and I think that may be because he doesn't like the feeling of wetness, and finds the Velcro fastener very easy to undo...well, I'm onto it...I've ordered a few sample nappies with pop studs, I'll test drive them and continue to plug away with the cloth ones we have.

Luckily it is summer so going naked is fine!