bumgenius!

I try to abide by the ethos that we have a responsibility to consume and live sustainably. I could list many things we could do better, but we try to make informed choices, buy locally produced green groceries and free range meat and recycle and compost as much waste as we can. Before our son was born, we decided we wanted to extend our belief in the importance of living sustainably into our lives as parents and one of the big decisions we made was whether to use reusable nappies or disposable ones. 

The pros and cons are straight forward (but can vary depending on which side of the fence you sit on!): Disposable nappies offer convenience, arguably better performance and there are no environmental impacts associated with nappy laundry, a big factor in Australia where water shortage continues to be a problem. Reusable nappies are more economical, don’t end up in landfill and enable you to control how the waste is disposed of.

The decision was easy: I read that Australians put over one billion nappies into landfill each year and even those marketed as environmentally friendly or degradable take years to decompose due to the nature of our landfill sites. I believe the environmental and financial costs of disposable nappies far outweigh the costs associated with manufacturing and laundering reusable nappies, particularly if you have an energy and water efficient washing machine and air dry your laundry (not to mention the savings if the nappies are used for more than one baby).

I couldn’t be happier with the decision we made to use reusable nappies. There was a high initial cost but since then, we’ve saved money, energy and Ollie’s rarely had nappy rash. And the laundry is hardly a burden; we use a garden-friendly detergent and we don’t have a tumble drier but even in the winter the nappies dry quickly on a clothes stand indoors. The whole process now feels like second nature and I find it therapeutic rather than a chore... there’s something very settling about seeing the washed nappies billowing in the wind on our washing line...

hobz biz zejt

For a long time now we have been planning our meals weekly.  It minimises the amount of waste we produce to only buy exactly what we need and it makes for quicker and easier grocery shopping (which I used to enjoy more when I had the luxury of being able to meander around speciality shops and grocers rather than now reluctantly relying on the convenience of the supermarket for almost everything except meat and fish). 

Planning our meals also makes deciding what we are having for dinner much easier - after a long day it's something I don't like to ponder and our simple rule of only including what we like to eat on the menu means that most nights, the outcome is delicious.  (Of course there are nights when the list is devoid of inspiration and we succumb to the local takeaway.) 

Lately, it seems we have been cooking some great meals, some simple, some requiring a bit more effort, and some which have warranted a few photographs.  Dishes that spring to mind are Pollo alla Cacciatora (something I'd never tried before) and Rabbit Stew with Tarragon Dumplings (an old favourite from Cook with Jamie).

Something I like to prepare is chicken stock.  It's such a handy thing to have in the freezer but moreso, I feel virtuous when I make it, using up the bits of the chicken that would otherwise end up in the bin.  I try to buy whole free range, organic chickens, jointed and ask our butcher to give me the carcasses too, which I throw into a stock pot with whatever vegetables and herbs I have before simmering in plenty of water.




















Our latest discovery is hobz biz zejt, a Maltese dish of dense white bread, tomato paste, white anchovies, capers, parsley and olive oil.  A delicious lunch and so easy to make.  I am particularly partial to salty, strong flavours (especially at the moment), and this really fits the bill.  Really summery, I'm looking forward to enjoying it with an icy cold glass of crisp, white wine.

encouraging an artist

I loved art and craft as a child and often wonder what I would be doing today had I pursued a more creative path in life.  I'm looking forward to encouraging Ollie to do what he enjoys most but secretly hope that he's inherited my love of all things crafty and his father's creative talent. 

Over the last couple of weeks we've been encouraging Ollie to play with crayons and scrap paper.  So far it's involved taping butchers paper to the coffee table and letting Ollie watch us scribble while he clambers over the table and plays with the crayons.  The last couple of times we've done this, he's avoided trying to eat the crayons (at least to begin with).  He can be easily frustrated by tasks that he doesn't pick up immediately but he's getting the hang of holding onto the chunky crayons and seems to understand that he's the one in control.  It's so endearing watching him learn new skills and I'm really looking forward to seeing his little masterpieces...

difficult days

The last few days have been difficult. It’s been hot, and Ollie’s not been his normal happy-go-lucky self. Ollie’s never been a particularly patient baby, but lately the slightest incident seems to upset him inordinately, and he seems to want to test every boundary that he can.

My once adventurous eater now refuses to eat, playing instead with his cutlery and wriggling around in his high chair. Even our weekly meal out, which is usually something Ollie really enjoys was hard work this week, although he did seem to enjoy the food. Bed time, which was for many months a forgone conclusion that Ollie would be sound asleep within moments is now a teary battle, with Ollie’s beloved companion Tigger being thrown out of the cot again and again.

I can’t think of anything in his routine that has changed. Both of us spend lots of time with Ollie during the day, reading stories, building towers, racing cars... and we try to include him in whatever we’re doing. I think he gets a good variety of play and doesn’t watch any television. Bed time still involves bath, stories, milk and cuddles.

I don’t know whether Ollie’s anticipating the change that’s coming with his little brother or sister, whether he’s reaching a developmental milestone or whether it’s just a phase he’s going through. It could be the heat – it’s difficult to eat and sleep when it’s hot and humid - but I miss the little boy that only a week ago was content to eat, nap, play and enjoy bath time before cuddles with mama, papa and Tigger and a good long rest.

a sweet valentine

By Kate Wilson for Marc for Marc Jacobs.  Pretty!

polaroid pictures

I love the polaroid photography of Nicolle Null.  She captures colour and light in her nature/vintage inspired photos beautifully, resulting in just the right amount of whimsy.  One of the things I'd really like to do this year is to learn how to better use my camera and develop an eye for pictures that inspire a little imagination.

a labour of love

Finally, I have finished documenting the amazing first year of my son's life in a simple photograph album.  I've had the album for a few years and have been wondering what I'd use it for.  It feels nice to have finally found a purpose for it.  

The images I've chosen mark the milestones and memories of Ollie's first year.  I looked through thousands of images to pick only a few hundred and printed and trimmed them all at home, different sizes and shapes, and lovingly put them into an album that I hope my son will treasure.  I created labels to caption moments that were special to us, from the moment he was born to his first smiles to spending his first summer at North Stradbroke Island, surrounded by sea air, sun and sand. 

Even though I've only just finished the album and have seen the images countless times, I love to flick through it and see how the little guy has changed and relive cute memories of the past year.  I can only imagine how great it will be to do the same in ten years time!  

Photography is such a powerful medium.  It takes only a second to capture a moment forever; it's inspired me to continue to be as enthusiastic but perhaps a bit more discerning with the camera when our next baby arrives... and more than ever it's made me appreciate how much I have to look forward to.

on my nightstand...

I've just started reading Barbara Kingsolver's 'Prodigal Summer'.  I'm only a few chapters into it but so far I'm engrossed.  Having a good book to read is a treat.  I really look forward to my train journey to and from work, and the few moments before I fall asleep when I can escape into the literary world. 

Barbara Kingsolver's beautiful writing is often politically charged with themes varying from economic injustice to the place of community in modern society (not to everyone's taste).  I first discovered her when I read the non-fiction 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' in late 2007, which is now one of my favourite books.  Then last year I read 'The Poisonwood Bible', an epic work of fiction, beautifully written to provide a real sense of place and time and character.  I find both her fiction and non-fiction highly opinionated and thought provoking and with a whole bibliography that I've hardly touched, I'm looking forward to reading more.

splash!

It can be a difficult day when we are stuck indoors.  Ollie appreciates getting out of the house and he loves water play, whether it's his swim class, a frolic in the surf or splashing in (and eventually tipping over) the dogs' water bowl (always amusing for him).

Rocks Riverside Park in Brisbane is a good little escape, with plenty of different pools and wading areas and shade near the water for heavily pregnant mums to sit under.  Really cute (if a little scary) to watch Ollie captivated by the older, bolder kids.

lists...

I am a list maker.  Every day I make a list, whether it's for work, for groceries, for things I need to do or things I need to make.  I don't think I could function without pen and paper, nor without the satisfaction of achieving what is on my lists.

Generally I have three lists.  The first deals with what I have to do today; grocery shopping, bills, housekeeping etc.  The second deals with what I need to do in the next month or so; make birthday cards and gifts, fix things around the house and the last is one which lists everything else... the big stuff, the stuff that probably won't happen for months, even years, but it helps me organise my mind of the seemingly millions of things that I want to achieve.  (If I don't put 'build chicken coop' on a list, I'll never own chickens.)

Now I have a new list.  Next month I will be going on maternity leave and will be eagerly anticipating the birth of my second baby.  I have about seven weeks until baby's due date and during that time there are things I want to achieve, things that I know will be harder to accomplish when I'm looking after a newborn and energetic toddler.  The list gets longer and longer everytime I revisit it and since I have less than two months (assuming no early surprises) and a toddler to look after, I've restricted it to no more than 12 items:

1. Take my son and pups out for a walk every day that I am on maternity leave;
2. Teach my son the joy that is crayons and scrap paper;
3. Organise and clean the nursery (this is a work in progress);
4. Download the hours and hours of video of our little boy's first year;
5. Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator;
6. Make birthday cards for 2010;
7. Start a new quilt;
8. Figure out how to keep my little boy Oliver out of the kitchen;
9. Cook at least 8 different nutritious but delicious meals to freeze for after the baby's arrival;
10. Plan an autumn garden party for my 34th birthday;
11. Read a Barbara Kingsolver novel;
12. Go out to dinner with my husband.

I could go on, and who knows, maybe I will achieve all this and more.  Here's hoping.