On my mind...I'm joining Hugh's Fish Fight

Hubby and I are off to Brisbane for a week or so...and I probably won't be blogging until I come back. While away I'll be supporting hubby in his new employment; which I will tell you about at a later date.
So until my return, I'm leaving you with something I think is a good fight.  

On my Mind.........I find myself glued to the television by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and his Fish Fight in European Waters.....Six months ago Hugh began the fight to stop the outlandish numbers of discarded fish being thrown overboard.......and while my blog is not usually of the demonstration variety...
I do think he is doing a wonderful job....and that's why I wanted to bring it to your attention.

Did you know that HALF OF THE FISH TRAWLED IN THE NORTH SEA WERE BEING DISCARDED? It was actually illegal for the fisherman who catch these 'discards' to keep the fish on-board their trawlers....No matter how upset they (The fishermen) were about it, the fish HAD be returned to the sea, in what ever condition they may be. 

In the footage you can see his passion for the vast waste of fish. When a grown man can proudly display his passion on International Television by shedding tears for the overwhelming numbers of dead loss....well; what else can you do, but support him. You can do this by becoming a fish fighter yourself here.

Hugh's Fish Fight battle continues....and you can read more here.
By supporting the Fish Fight Campaign, your name is added to a letter to be sent to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, members of the Common Fisheries Policy Reform Group, and all MEP's.

******************************

THANK YOU

FOR SIGNING UP TO

THE FISH FIGHT

CAMPAIGN, YOUR 

SUPPORT IS 

APPRECIATED. TOGETHER WE 

CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITTINGSTALL   

760,218.....    what number are you?

To Commissioner Damanaki, Members of the European Parliament and all member state governments, 

I have seen images of dead and dying fish discarded in European waters.

I understand that the current Common Fisheries Policy leads to discarding on a vast scale; for example, half of all fish caught in the North Sea are being discarded because of the current quota system imposed by the CFP.

I want this senseless waste of food to end. I want you to use your influence to  stop this unacceptable  and shameful practice.

I am supporting the Fish Fight campaign to help bring about this vital change in our seas.

******************************

While I make a list of things to pack for our trip...and wonder where I put the other hot water flask....

I also want to take special time to thank all my readers for their wonderful comments, emails, letters and thank-you's...I truly am blessed to have such lovely people supporting me. I will be back with more recipes, more gardening tips, more stories and even a give-away that I have mentioned in the past. So explore some of the older posts, look around, have a read....and try something new!

Here's hoping everyone has a lovely weekend!

On my mind...Knee's & Medicals

Many thanks to Rhonda at Down to Earth for this concept.

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you're part of "On my mind". Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment below, with  a link to your blog.  

I have another busy day ahead today....While driving DS19 to the train station (it's too far to ride his bike, and he doesn't have a licence atm)....I noticed the drops of rain falling on the windscreen of the car.....light enough that it will be good for all my newly planted seeds and cuttings. Upon returning home, I moved the three newest members of my garden out from beneath the porch, to catch the rain. They are a Black Currant, a White Currant and a dwarf Avocado. That reminds me, I need to protect the Currants, and the dwarf Shahtoot Mulberry....I don't want the birds picking off my first fruits....It gives me great joy to watch the Mulberry....truly a wise choice for my small garden..the mulberries grow up to be 10cm long...and they are already longer than a standard mulberry.


Here's a great hint...totally off topic, I know...but you'll see why.....
When buying tomato plants, choose your punnets wisely....I found this six pack of tomatoes....with  different varieties.....but instead of 6 plants....it has 16....all repotted now into the next sized pots...and all growing healthy.....

16 tomato plants for the price of 6
Brilliant!

On the agenda today, along with the daily tasks; is to check Mum into the hospital this morning, she is finally having her torn cartilage in her knee repaired....I'm sure once she recovers from the operation she will be able to move around a little better, and she won't need assistance in getting up out of a chair....Mum didn't cope well with physio on her back and sciatica yesterday, and she had a hard time getting back in the car....We got there in the end, and I took her for a drive to see some cows which she loves...(I had to pick up fat from my butcher friend, Colin)


Then its off to Bulli to support hubby while he goes for a Coal Board Medical. This will help improve his chances of getting a mining job...It's proving very hard to get into the mines, as it seems it's "not what you know, but who you know"....Yesterday hubby was told that a man he works with has just gotten employment at a local mine.....and this man has no qualifications, no underground mining certificate, no heavy machinery experience, no First Aid Certificate.... Nothing! But this man DOES have, a brother-in-law in the mining industry, who got him a job within two weeks of him asking for one.


It's sooooo frustrating!! I know that hubby will pass with flying colours today in his medical.....and I am proud of him for taking all the necessary steps to get closer into the mining industry. 


I'm not bothering with housework today, I'm not even putting it on my list..If I get to it, I get to it.....I have a list of things I need to make or bake over the weekend.....and that's what I will concentrate on for now...I know I will have my hands full again, once I pick mum up from day surgery this afternoon..........


Here's my weekend list of things I would like to make.....

• Make washing powder
• Make yoghurt
• Make a baked fruit swirl using the two ingredient dough recipe...Brilliant!
• Make sour cream
• Make pancakes for lunch on Saturday.

Here's a picture of the yoghurt maker I recently found at a second-hand store...for $5.00....It makes the best yoghurt and sets in the jar...It comes with little jars, which I used once, but now I use the larger recycled jars that I have on hand.

It certainly takes the guess work out of it all.

Because of the larger jars, the lid doesn't fit correctly
But easily rectified ....after putting the ill-fitting lid on
Wrap a foil 'cummerbund' around the whole machine.
then cover with a towel, turn it on and leave to set overnight. 

Here's wishing that everyone has a lovely weekend, or a productive one if you want it to be....

What's on your list of things to make or bake this weekend?


UPDATE: Mum's knee operation has been cancelled by the hospital.

On my mind...Community Gardens and Freecycle

Many thanks to Rhonda at Down to Earth for this concept.

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you're part of "On my mind". Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When you've done that, come back here and add a comment below, with  a link to your blog.   

Community gardens are popping up all over the place. I encourage you to search for one in your local area, or even start one up. .......I have visited a few around here....and one I have recently become more involved in is rather close to where I live...

It is called the Barrack Heights Community Garden. I became interested a while back, and met some lovely ladies while I was there; But on returning to my car (Up the hill) I became very cautious of my steps in the longer grass; after stepping into an unseen divot........ If you know me, you will know that I have a few health issues involving my hips, a recently badly broken ankle and leg, and now Osteoporosis.  With all this, I need to be careful of my footing and had decided to make my visits to the community garden on intermittent occasions, just making the occasional visit........

Aileen rang me the other day, telling me that another workshop was scheduled...The last meeting that I was to attend had to be cancelled, so; as I was to attend that meeting....Aileen rang wondering if I was still interested. She made me most welcome and I was told that no-one expects anyone to do tasks that they can't handle. So I thought I would give it another go...and go along to meet the rest of the gang. 

I stayed almost until stumps...I was enjoying the company of others who had the same interests so much....and that's never a bad thing. I came home with plants of Comfrey, Banna Grass & Yarrow....

On my suggestion after seeing they were down to their last bag of fertiliser...I offered my services as a driver to go gather some bags of Horse Manure from the stables close by.....so I will be meeting up with Cliff today and off to the stables we will go....I have the trailer, and he has the muscle.....the Community Garden will have plenty of free horse manure....and I will feel good knowing I have helped them...after being gifted all those plants, how could I not offer? That's just the way I think.

Community Garden

Community Garden 

I went along; bearing gifts of a bag of lemons to share out....

which I was recently gifted from Illawarra Freecycle Group. 

Freecycle is a world wide organisation that allows everyday people like myself to share and recycle unwanted goods to other people who are looking for listed goods. No money must change hands and no alcohol or animals can be listed.....I'm sure there are other rules. I have offered to freecycle many Aloe Vera plants, along with unwanted kitchen items, linen, a bike, and other items which I cannot remember right now...

I have also been gifted many items through friendly freecyclers like...... 

Bay Leaves and Besser Blocks for the front garden.

Lovely large glass coffee jars, which are now food cannisters

and even linen and now lemons and cumquats.

Like I said; No money changes hands...but I can't help but want to give an offering of thanks in some way, usually in preserves or baking of some kind....Of-course the freecycler doesn't know in advance that I am offering them something in return, as that would be against the rules.....It sure is a nice surprise for them though when I turn up with something little to say Thanks. "Thanks for picking my request for your item that you are wanting to recycle, I appreciate your generosity".

Do you know about Freecycle? ......Have you used it before? 

Would it be something you would use in the future?

On my mind...Sour Cream 4 ways

I've been experimenting again....isn't that what the kitchen is for....It's like one big laboratory in here sometimes...actually I've even moved some of my cultures into the lounge-room on top of the TV cabinet...as it is most often warmer in there......hubby is not real pleased, and when mum comes in, she enjoys seeing what is up there....

Christine over at Slowlivingessentials recently made sour cream, and it got me thinking.......

So here is my new experiment, making sour cream 4 ways......if you know of another way, please let me know in the comments below.

Sour Cream #1

2 cups fresh milk
1 cup fresh cream
1/4 cup freshly strained Kefir Milk
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the milk and cream together well, add Kefir Milk and combine. Stand for 12 to 24 hours (I did mine for 30 hours as I was busy doing other things).
Strain through cotton cloth for 24 hours
Then refrigerate in sealed container for up to 1 month.
If intending to keep for the month, stir occasionally.

After 30 hours, stir contents

then strain through cotton cloth,
(muslin would not be fine enough)

Immediately you can see the whey separating
the following morning there is about 1 cup of whey.

After straining overnight

This is by far the best way to make sour cream
(This worked well, with a lovely flavour)And the yield is better too.

Sour Cream #2

1 cup of fresh cream
2 tablespoons of freshly strained Kefir Milk

Add Kefir milk to fresh cream, cover with muslin and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours.....

(This worked well, with a lovely flavour)

Sour Cream # 3

1 cup of fresh cream

1 tablespoon of store bought or established sour cream. (I used store bought)

Stir the sour cream into the fresh cream, and leave at room temperature to sit and mature.....

This one is still sitting on the bench, after 35 hours; it is beginning to have a sour aroma.

Sour Cream # 4
I also made sour cream using buttermilk not so long ago...and you can check that out here....

This was a nice flavour, but not immediately...It was lovely after keeping in the fridge for a few extra days, and it thickened up nicely once chilled. There is a bit of mucking around heating the cream...and because I now know quicker ways to make sour cream, I won't be using this method again.

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Now I just need some good recipes for using up some of this lovely sour cream.....

for flavour, they all rated well

for time, I would use #2

for yield though, I am using #1.

So after doing this experiment....I think I will be using #1 to make my sour cream in the future....

Do you know of any other ways to make sour cream? 

If so, please let me know via the comments below.

Thanks to Rhonda for the idea of On my mind......

On my mind......Nan's Apple Pies

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

On my mind...is my Nan's apple pies.....Nan used to make Apple Pies for the Red Cross stalls, which she was a lifetime member....Not only were pies donated to the stall, but any crocheted jug covers, hand-sewn aprons, pot holders, jams, pickles, and other things, what ever she had a surplus of at the time.....

I've recently had a go at making Nan's pastry...and it worked perfectly....she is right you know...4 tops and 4 bottoms....that's how many pies can be made with the pastry recipe...as far as I can recall; Nan got this recipe from her mother...so it's a good one for many more reasons....

I halved the pastry recipe for this amount of apples.

Old apples from Mum's fridge

added 1/2 cup water, and teaspoon of sugar

2 tops and 2 bottoms

They didn't make it to the freezer...

I'm going to have to stop making all this yummy food...Oh but wait...I'm about to go and pick up 2L of fresh local cream from South Coast Dairy.

Please join in on the On my mind.......

leave a link back to your blog here in my comments.....

On my mind...steamed puddings I am making today

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

Yesterday I posted a lot of information on how to make my Nan's steamed puddings...they are called Fruit & Nut Rolls, you may even know them as Date Loaves or Fruit & Nut logs. We even know them as KB Rolls in the family..because Nan once had the old steel cans from KB Beer...Now that is going back a while...lol

Many years ago..they were baked in those old Willow Log tins...they are very pricey though...so click on here to see my hints and suggestions on how to make these lovely steamed puddings. Come back later in the day to see the step by step photos.

Gathering the tins to make Steamed Puddings in bulk.

On my mind... connecting to the grid

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

On my mind today, is the solar panels on my roof....I had them installed on the roof back in January.. Until a few weeks ago, I had been waiting patiently for the next stage of having the meter installed and being connected to the grid.....

I thought today when the tradesmen came and connected the meter....which they have done.....I would finally be on the grid.....

Nope...there is an error reading showing on the solar box....so now I need to wait again....for the original installer to come back and reset the box......

I have had nothing but trouble when I decided to connect to the grid and use Solar energy for my home.....I don't wish to label companies....as there are many involved ...I don't want to give anyone a bad name, as I am sure they are all doing the best they can...Unfortunately; I'm wrapped up in the whole 'supply and demand' delay....

I'm sure it will be well worth it, once it all gets going though....so it's just another set-back which will soon be resolved......

I do hope sooner rather than later though....

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Also on my mind today; is the first stage of my Christmas Cake, that I will be making for this Christmas.....Today is the day that I join in on the 'Christmas Cake Bake Along'...at the Down to Earth Forum......The recipe is on the forum in 3 steps....

Step 1: the fruit soak......

Step 2: make the cake.....

Step 3: feeding the cake.....

This is the first time I will be baking a Christmas Cake....Until my Nan passed away, family members were all given a steamed Christmas Pudding from her....I can remember her having them hanging everywhere...even in the old laundry...If you know Nan, you will know where I mean...

As this is the first time I have baked a Christmas Cake; I really have no expectations, but looking at the recipe, I'm sure it will be lovely and moist.....

Until now, I only really have experiences of Christmas Cakes being dry.....

So next year I will be starting a new tradition within the family....I will either be making a Christmas Cake or I will be making Steamed Puddings.....the way Nan used to make them....hanging in the cloth for a few weeks leading up to Christmas......Either way, I wan't to be able to make individual ones to share out to family members...It's what I do!

So.........What's on your mind today?

On my mind...

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the  door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

On my mind today, is the lovely doily's I saved from an op-shop yesterday....I plan to make these into jug covers by attaching beads to the edges...I can do a crochet chain...but I'm still not sure exactly how to attach the beads....I'll probably have a go over the weekend...

My favourite would have to be either the table runner on the side....or the one in front with the pink violets around the edges....this one doesn't need anything doing to it....I'ts lovely just as it is.

Why don't you join in...What's on your mind?

On my mind....my Mum's health

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

I have many things on my mind today, including my mum's health, making a loaf of bread from my Kefir, the front veranda which I haven't been able to get to....and lots of other things.

Beginning with my Mum's health....she seems to be puffing and panting a lot when walking around...and she is also collecting fluid in her face while she sleeps....Yesterday her eye was almost closed due to a fluid build-up. In the last 12 months she has had her eyes checked and had a cataract removed....while under the eye specialist, Mum asked about how her eye swells overnight....upon examination, the eye specialist suggested it may be oedema (fluid build up with swelling)..and that she should get her heart checked out.

Due to a massive in-operable hernia (which looks like a big belly, which she has had as long as I can remember) she can only lay on one side while sleeping. I am taking mum back to the GP today to find out if she has fluid around her heart...having the GP push her x-ray results she had done yesterday morning.

On top of that my 77 year old Mum has a chest infection. 

taken 18 months ago

What's on your mind today?  

On my mind...is the state of my veranda

On my mind.....is my front veranda and 2 litres of cream..
Earlier I have set myself a challenge....to clean up the veranda....make it more friendly..more welcoming..
I have already displayed mum's Zygo cacti in one corner and put some wall plugs in....to hang
some items....
Now I have the rest of the veranda to clean up.....

I want to be able to use the seat again...but it needs some repairs.

I'm also thinking about what to make with the cream I got yesterday....

Home made butter is definitely on this weekend's agenda...
What do you think I should make from the cream? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated....
I hope everyone has a great weekend....

On my mind...

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. It opens the door to us sharing our lives through these photos and gives us all a new way to discover each other, and maybe form new friendships. Your photo should show something at home that you're thinking about TODAY. If you're in another country you should join in when you read this, even if it's still Thursday.

To take part, all you have to do is post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here. Please write a new post, don't link to an older one. When your photo is published, come back and add a comment below, with a link to your blog photo so we can all find you. Please visit all the blogs that appeal to you and leave a comment. Slow down, take the time to cruise around and enjoy your cyber visits.

On my mind is the reading material I put up yesterday. I put in place some signs with instructions on how to use the new recycling station I have set up....my MM's have been having trouble adjusting...so I thought it would be a good idea to put some reading material in a good place, somewhere where there is time to read it....No-one wants to stand around all day reading a heap of new rules.....so I put it in the one place they can't get away from it.....The loo....Yep, some light reading for the MM's...while they are sitting on the toilet can't hurt.

I know it's only supposed to be one photo, but for the sake of being able to read what I put there....I broke the rules just this once...lol

What's on your mind today? .....................