Clean, Green Eating

Well as I said Will and I are working on including more raw foods in our diet with the goal, certainly in my case (and I do the cooking!) to eating almost entirely raw. The benefits of a raw vegan diet seem endless from improved energy level, hormonal function, circulation and properly functioning metabolism, as well as added superficial bonuses like clearer skin, shiner hair, and optimum weight. Sounds good to me! What I am concerned about it finding the right combination of foods to ensure that not only are we eating enough, and enough of the right things, but that we aren't relying on loads of imported food that are inappropriate for people living in our climate, for example high sugar, high carb raw food diets that feature heavily tropical fruits like bananas and papayas.
So, as I said in a previous post I am planning on growing as much veg as I practically can with the time, space and resources I have available to me. I have also done a little bit of research into what the best, greenest kind of vegetables to eat would be, and here is a list of my stars:

Potatoes - Now, obviously you don't eat potatoes raw. I suppose you could, but nobody would really enjoy that. However, when we are not eating completely raw meals potatoes seem a good vegetable to introduce. Will and I haven't eaten potatoes now for at least a year because we have avoided nightshades, however they are hard to ignore as an eco friendly option because despite being a tropical food they grow very very well here. They require a relatively small amount of water and fertiliser to grow and they are efficient at warding off pests themselves. So, while we are not 100% raw - and we may never be - potatoes are making a big comeback.
Apples and pears - Okay, not all year 'round, but apples and pears grow in the UK! Again compared to a lot of tropical fruits they take a very moderate amount of water to grow and they are easy enough to find organic in most supermarkets. Even better, we have our own mature apple tree, and have planted a pear this year as well - how's that for local?
Onions - It seems to me that if it tastes horrible it's generally relatively safe from pests. Onions are another one that require relatively little in the way of pest maintenance because they have their own defenses. Again, for a lot of the year it is easy to find onions that are both organic and grown in the UK, and for the rest of the year grown in western Europe.
Broccoli - Hurrah! Not only is broccoli good at fighting off the nasties, including cancers, in your body, it is also efficient at defending itself. Add that to the myriad of health benefits from eating broccoli and you're onto a winner. Another veg that is frequently available in supermarkets grown in the UK, and western Europe when not.
Beans - Another hurrah! Ditch the meat and eat more beans and you're already doing good. If you stick to beans that grow well in our climate, even better in your own garden, then they'e another nutritional star. And if anyone tried to convince you that bean eating vegans are more damaging to the environment than cows because of all of the methane they produce, feel free to catapult dried chickpeas at them.

Ivy is awake so that's my cue to call it a day - potatoes for dinner I think!

Weird weather & clearing clutter (Video blog #1)

Something new today - It's been a few years since I've edited a video & I've never had to film with a wriggly baby in one arm so bear with me! This is what I've been up to today (very little, actually, doing this made me realise I've pretty much been sat on my bum all day!)

I can't work out how to make the video big at the minute, so if anyone can let me know...!

Error messages and good karma

Well in a very sad turn of events something has gone wrong with my camera. I have had it for about 7 years and it was the first (and only to date really) properly expensive thing I ever bought. I may be able to repair it or send it for repair, we'll see. So for now anyway, no photos!
It's been a busy few days with one thing and another which is why I  have been absent. We had family visiting last week with their small baby which was hectic and stressful to be honest - next time we will sleep in the tent I think! There were also a number of quiet conflicts which arose because of differences in the way we live our lives and are bringing up our babies. Anyway it's by the by now. Everything is finally returning to normal, though I still have Mount Laundry to scale.
I have been out in the garden a little, not a lot. A little tidying up yesterday, and a couple more areas dug for planting. The greenhouse is being delivered a week wednesday so we also needed to prepare the base for that which almost turned into a palaver. We intended to use slabs on top of gravel for the base, but naturally didn't want to buy new concrete slabs, so for the past few weeks have been scouring Gumtree for second hand slabs. Some finally came up on the other side of Llandeilo, so not exactly close, but the seller reckoned it would only take two journeys. Well Will got there, loaded twenty slabs into the car and decided that definitely wasn't a good idea and it would need to be at least 3 or 4 trips (40 minutes each way!) Fortunately a young man with a van came to the rescue and offered his help out of the blue, and drove the slabs all the way back to our house and unloaded them! It was very kind and selfless, and very much appreciated. The base is now all laid and ready for the greenhouse.
I have been trying to plant a few more edible bits and bobs, although it had been my intention not to really do that until next year, because Will and I are going to begin eating a lot more raw foods, and a lot more fruit and veg in general. Yesterday a little spinach and chard went in and I am going to try to turn over another area for some more when I get the chance Basil will be going in pots on the windowsill today.
On Saturday I went to a craft club at the local library. The craft they did this week wasn't really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the company and will go again when I have the chance. I can't make it this week, but the week after next they are going to show me macrame, which I have always wanted to learn. I also found out that beginning today will be knit and knatter, and on Thursday an art class. I'm intending to be a regular at both, Ivy allowing, although I will not make it today because not only does Ivy have a rotten cold - again - but I cut my thumb quite badly cooking yesterday and will be out of action on the knitting front for a little while - which reminds me, I must ring Pam about tomorrow's knit and knatter!
That's about all for now, Ivy is sleeping and I want to take the chance to look after myself a little if I can. Hwyl!

Getting Stuff Done

Well, a lovely few days with not much news. Saturday was blistering and we spent most of the day out in the garden. I dug the pumpkin patch, about a 1.5 x 4m area halfway down the garden. I can't wait to get it planted now - the pumpkins on the windowsill have just poked pale shoulders through the compost. I think there will also be space to plant a couple of courgettes.
I did a very exciting but also very costly thing on Saturday afternoon - I finally ordered my greenhouse! It is due to arrive at the start of May, and once that's in I shall be unstoppable. We went with a wooden greenhouse and I am hoping to also be able to use it as a workspace on less sunny days.
I seemed to spend a lot of Sunday in the house cleaning. With little Ivy it feels like an uphill struggle sometimes and I am desperate to get this house properly clean and organised so that all I have to do is maintain that. It's gone well, though I am feeling the urge to go through my books and wardrobe again and see what else I can do without. While I did this Will worked outside and has finished his workbench, made with wood reclaimed from the garden. I am sure he will post about that at some point so will say no more.

We went shopping at the supermarket at the weekend as we had a few cupboard things to stock up on. While we were there I bought 4 cauliflowers as they were organic and reduced to half price. I used 3 of them to make a big curry. Cauliflower is Ivy's favourite food so we are buying a lot of it at the moment. Actually I bought a couple of raw cookbooks a couple of days ago and it is something we are going to experiment with. Neither of us really eat fruit and we're not interested in starting though, so it's whether or not a more raw diet is something that will work for us. I would be interested in trying a raw-before-4 approach if possible though having heard friends singing the praises of a raw diet. Will keep you posted.
Not much on apart from that - Ivy and I went to playgroup in the next village yesterday, and instead of knit and knatter today we had a friend visit who is on holiday with her family in Pembrokeshire at the minute. Tomorrow we have craft playgroup in the afternoon, and then we are off visiting Will's family in Sussex for Easter. Phew, so much for living slow.
I have finished the garland for Ivy's room but she is asleep in there at the moment, so pictures will have to wait. That's all for now, I'm sure Ivy will wake soon and I'm desperate for a teeny tiny rest.

Daily treats

As well as tracking my various financial meanderings I have also started writing down a list of treats I have had throughout each day. I guess I decided to do this because as they say, the best things in life are free, and it's good to be reminded of that. Well after a day like today (and a night like last night) as Ivy's cold rages on I've been in need of a few little treats. These are todays:
Going to Neath with Pam in the morning
Lying on new quilt from Pam in the garden in the warm sun, playing with Ivy
Marmalade & butter on scones for dinner
Hot chocolate & a telly show by myself in the evening
Really nice goodnight cuddle with Ivy
Tried hemp milk again after hating it for years, and liked it!
I also saved a pound yesterday as was going to pop out to buy bread rolls to go with soup, but made some quick scones instead. & they had wheatgerm in them, double bonus!

Too long  my possessions have possessed me

Pumpkins, Presents and Proper budgeting!

Well yesterday turned out to be a bit of a shut-in day as Ivy came down with a stonking cold and was too miserable to take anywhere, even knit and knatter, so the wool for my jumper shall have to wait another week. It was a nice day all the same, playing and cuddling with a couple of little naps, when I rushed outside to plant seeds in the sunshine.
My pumpkins are in their pots and on the windowsill - I am trying giants this year which I've not grown before and am very excited. I am going to buy a wooden greenhouse but will wait until Will is back home as I need a bit of moral support to spend so much money at once!

I have also been trying to work out our finances in the dribs and drabs of free time I have. Will is considering a career change in the next couple of years and it is likely that that will put us in a different financial position, so I need to work out exactly how much we need to live, and how much more than that we currently spend. I have decided for the mean time to track everything that we spend and divide that into essentials and non-essentials to see what we can cut out. For fun I will also write down everything that I almost bought and its value - at the end of the month I can add that up and see how much I 'saved' with a little self-restraint. Anything that we can save will help us with the transition, especially if Will re-trains.

A month or so ago I also started up little pots of money for the month but haven't used them properly - the idea is that at the start of the month I put the allotted budget into each pot and we exclusively use that cash. Anything that is leftover can go into saving (I need a fourth pot!). Loose change goes into the bus fare pot for me to get out and about.

I had wonderful surprise this morning - There was a knock on the door and I opened it to see Pam bearing a wonderful quilt that she made for Ivy to use in the garden. It feels almost too beautiful to take outdoors, but Pam says we are promised warm and sunny weather this weekend so it will definitely be making an appearance. I am feeling  very blessed to have made such a thoughtful and generous friend in our new home. Ivy is chuffed!

Now, I think it is time for Ivy's nap as she is trying to climb me right now. There is very little housework to do today so I think I shall save it for the afternoon and go and spend a little time in my sunny garden. Hwyl!

Spring morning

This isn't really a post about buying less, or living slow. Or it is sort of, it's about life and the life that we have chosen to live. Or not we actually, I.
I have been thinking a lot lately about the choices I've made, and the things I used to want and the way I used to feel when I was a teenager and in my early twenties. It seems odd to me to think of it because so much of what I wanted I have come by. Life isn't perfect and there are still things that we are wanting, or working towards, but generally I am very very happy.
When I was younger I used to love watching films (still would given the chance!) and my favourite types of films were slow wistful films that weren't about too much, especially films set in the past (but not too far in the past). It's a hard genre to describe! But I used to imagine myself one day as a grown up in that world, living a slow life surrounded by nature and sharing my happiness with someone I loved. I had always imagined living in either Wales or the West Country and I had always dreamed of being an artist and a gardener.
I have been out in my garden this morning in the sunshine, Ivy on a rug playing with the dewy grass, me taking down the laundry and squatting beside my seedlings to see how much taller they are today than yesterday, birds singing and the breeze in the trees that our garden backs onto. I planted some seeds this morning and as I put each tiny speck in the ground I imagined the plant it would become, and felt how precious that tiny speck was.
A lot of people we know comment on our lifestyle and out happiness. Life can be and often is challenging and painful, and unfortunately decisions aren't always ours to make. But when there is something to enjoy we must do just that.
I just felt like sharing, with the sun on my garden and my baby daughter asleep above me, it feels that all is as it should be. I wish this peace on everyone.

This and that - a little check-in

I've had a better week this week - on Tuesday I went to Cardiff with Will as he had training for work again. I bimbled around the bay and enjoyed half a cider in the sun. On Wednesday I did something but I have no idea what! And on Thursday I met our new health visitor in the morning, who I did like better than our last one, and who tipped me off about baby groups in the area, and in the afternoon Ivy and I had a lovely and energising visit to see Pam from A New Life in Wales. We chatted and drank tea and enjoyed our spread of cakes and biscuits (Pam made banana cake and chewy seedy cookies - fab!), and Pam sent me away with a bag of crocheted goodies to make a garland for Ivy's room, which I have started and will post pictures of when I have finished it. Pam also printed off a knitting pattern for a jumper for myself, and I am looking forward to choosing the wool on Tuesday from Deb's wool shop. I think Friday was mostly spent trying to get the house in order ready for the weekend, then yesterday we went to Carmarthen to go to our first Carmarthen Vegans lunch meet up, which was very nice. We were very welcomed and met some nice people. In the afternoon we worked out in the garden a little planting shrubs that have been sitting in their pots too long, though I still have a couple of fruit bushes to go in. My beans seem to have failed for the first time ever which is disheartening - I will replant in a week or two and hope they get on better. Perhaps it was just a freak slug attack or rogue frost that got in their way. And finally today we have been busy busy once more sorting the house out ready for my week without Will, followed by friends visiting for lunch (which we had in the garden - it's a beautiful day!). Now everyone has gone and all is quiet, and after a couple of wakeful nights I am ready for my bed - wishful thinking!
Anyway, there's nothing really new here I just wanted to catch myself back up to date. Be back when I've done something!