Slow cooking - making yoghurt with the slow cooker.

Facebook is a source of great inspiration and practical tips, and I just love how I can stay in contact with friends from all over the world. I also celebrate the fact that it has introduced me to like minded people. (I have a bit of a love/ hate relationship with it, because I am so easily distracted on there, and I lose track of time. I suspect this is a common complaint.) 

I was thrilled to find a link recently on how to make yoghurt using the slow cooker. When our children were smaller and I was at home full time, I used to make it regularly, but never with the slow cooker. I would wrap it up in towels and place it in an eski with hot water bottles to keep it warm. I have to admit something started going wrong with the process and in the end I gave up. It just became so sloppy (or perhaps it was me who became sloppy as I lost my focus and started to take too many things on). My new recipe and method truly works a treat. I cheated and test tasted it this morning, while it was still a little warm. Yum.

With 8 cups of milk and just half a cup of Greek yoghurt I have managed to fill a pre-loved yoghurt container and an ice-cream container. They will sit in our fridge now for 24 hours. Tomorrow for breakfast we will have home-made yoghurt with mixed berries! I can't wait. It's moments like these that I feel so glad to be at home full time again. I feel like such an awesome provider. It is so much easier to focus on the things that are important to me, and my family, little though they may seem. And I am reminded again that it is indeed the simple things that make my heart sing. 

So here is the recipe (and below I will post the original link). 

Pour 8 cups of milk into the slow cooker. Set it on low and leave it for 2 and a half hours. 

Unplug the slow cooker. I wrapped it in towels, because the air temperature is fairly cold at the moment. I left it for 4 hours. 

Take out 1 cup of milk from the slow cooker and whip in half a cup of yoghurt, return to the slow cooker. I whisked the whole mixture. 

Wrap in a few towels and leave it. For me that was overnight. The idea is to leave it 8 to 12 hours. 

Then transfer the new yoghurt into containers and place in the fridge for 24 hours. 

Done!!! Now impress your family. :) 

Here is the link to the recipe - http://apartmentprepper.com/?p=3021

Maintaining the pace – or not, by Penny Reeve

It’s been over two months since I last contributed to Asta’s blog and since then I must admit I’ve felt predominantly like a failure.  L  I’ve groaned at the dishes. Moaned at the washing and sighed at the ever thickening dust under the coffee table. I’ve felt as if all the love and gifting I wrote about last time has fizzled up, wafted away on the breeze of inspiration and I’m left with plain old me and a house full of work.

I’m tempted to shut up (who am I to write about living simply when we had take away twice last week?!), give-up (why bother pretending to make things from scratch when in reality I keep forgetting to put the bread on!) and slip back into my old habits. But something stops me.  It’s a flickering memory that I didn’t enter this simple living journey to prove a point. I began simplifying because I had some basic goals in mind. And these goals haven’t shifted – no matter the mood or surrounding family circumstances.

One of my main goals of living simply is to take back time. I don’t mean turn back time (I know I am a little odd but I’m not that far gone – yet!), I mean reclaim it.  A while back I decided that ‘busy’ was a dirty word.  Busy-ness had no right to rule my life. “Busy-ness doesn’t rule lives” I can hear you mutter. Well, doesn’t it?

Listen to the conversations around you and you’ll hear the word dropped frequently, as if it’s an expected, anticipated and even normal part of life. I’m not so sure it should be. I’m not convinced we were designed with busy-ness in mind. Fruitfulness – yes. Productivity – yes. Creativity – yes. But busy-ness?

One of my favourite Bible verses is “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Being still does not sit kindly with being busy. In fact, being busy negates even the possibility of being still. So my striving for simplicity is a deliberate attempt to slow my life. If I can’t completely eradicate the busy, I aim to squeeze it into seasons, or sessions, rather than allowing it to be the norm.

But how do I do this when I have an active family (including one amazing husband, and three adorable children - one of whom is a toddler)? I find busy-ness creeps up on me when I’m not looking and the symptoms pervade my life. I feel tired, harried, worried, stretched, exhausted, frantic – anything but still. I focus on the symptoms rather than the cause. And if I am honest enough to look at the cause (‘You’ve booked too much in your week again, PJ!’) I stall in that place of ‘failure’.

But remembering my goal to take back time isn’t about beating myself up. It’s about this little pocket of time that I have now. It’s more a mindset than a punishment. It’s deciding to plan the coming weeks aware of my own limitations. It’s choosing small and beautiful things to do with my spare time rather than filling it with nothingness. It’s being honest with my body: am I healthy? Am I eating right? Am I getting enough rest (busy-ness tends to sap strength even if what we’re involved in is positive)? I need to be careful about my motives, not begrudging time spent playing puzzles with my toddler but choosing to enjoy his growth and development. It’s about living out Micah 6:8 (“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”) instead of judging myself on other people’s expectations.

Every little decision I make in my attempt to avoid the ‘b’ word and live with more time impacts my family. Sometimes it’s a hard call: “No, you cannot do Tap as well as Ballet”. Sometimes it’s an easier one: “Lets wander up to the park now and we’ll just eat scraps for tea”. I haven’t reached my goal yet. I think we are still living in a time deficit, but we’re making tracks in the right direction.

So I’ll lift my chin up, dust the word ‘failure’ from my shoulders (the coffee table can wait till Monday) and keep going on my journey towards simplicity. The goals haven’t changed even if the month has. Plain old me is still in love with her family and eager to celebrate the beautiful with them. In fact, I think I might go and make some banana bread – the kind that takes about an hour to bake. And then we’ll eat it warm, outside, and watch the sun go down. 

What about you? Once you’ve finished reading this blog? What will you do today to take back some time into your family’s life? I’d like to hear about it. J

Penny Reeve is the author of 11 children’s books. She is passionate about children, faith and social justice. She can be contacted via her websitewww.pennyreeve.com or via her Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-Reeve-The-Penny-Drops.

Thank you Penny. Oh my goodness I was nodding in agreement all the way through. I used to buy into the busyness is next to Godliness stuff, but I am no longer impressed by busyness. 

Asta x

Asta's fashion fast update

(365 days of not shopping for clothes, accessories, shoes and even socks)

This is my fourth day. I am wearing one of the outfits I bought on my last shopping spree at the Salvos. I haven't written an inventory of my clothes yet - but I will, when I feel brave. I worry I don't have enough for 365 days, but I know deep down that I have an obscene amount of clothes, even after my big clean out recently. I also know that  there is much in there that I never wear. I think I will learn that it is true that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. What a waste - and we are targeting waste this month on The Simply Living Challenge. 

A x

Fashion fasting.

This is my new stash from the op shop, I bought them this morning. You may be impressed that I walked there and back. I am!

 1 x red cardigan, 5 x jumpers, 1 x drawstring comfy pants, 1 x brown velvet bag and 1 x black beanie hat (I'm wearing it as I write because as you know I have declared war on waste and I am holding off putting on the fire. I'm pretty toasty actually. It's true that a hat and socks keep you warm.)

A new friend was op shopping and as I tried on my bits and pieces it became a real communal shop as she and her friend agreed or disagreed on the choices. It's something I love about op shopping and something I will miss, because today was my last op shop clothes shopping spree for a year. (Maybe) I am signing up with the Free Fashion Challenge. http://freefashionchallenge.com/

I don't sound too convinced, do I? Well my mind is willing but my spirit it freaking out!!!

I wonder if I am mad considering this (because I am seriously addicted to op shopping) but we have had two women over at our FB page - The Simply Living Challenge - who have reassured me that I will not regret this. They have done it and they continue to be 'extreme' conscious consumers. I am impressed, and encouraged.

And I have Ellen walking beside me, and Georgina (Nans Common Sense) and her husband. We are taking the challenge together, with a few variations. (Georgina is thinking of doing it in chunks - as in she and her husband will do it until New Year and then consider another few months. Sounds like a good idea to me, though I am aiming for the year. And I think she might accept gifts. I haven't decided whether I will or not. What if someone offers me a pair of lightly used rainbow, red or purple or floral Doc Martens - or SoleRebels? How could I turn them down?Ah but I am allowed to swap. A marvellous loop hole.)

And why am I doing it? Because I am concerned about sweat shop workers. I am concerned that so many of us don't think about where our clothes come from, why they might be only a few dollars in a chain store.  Fast fashion. Disposable fashion.I don't like that most clothes are made cheaply and fall apart. I don't like the whole idea of the latest fashion. I am always amazed by how many  last season, rarely used clothes I find in the Salvos. I don't like that people turn their noses up at secondhand but believe it is okay to buy  new and throw away. I can't believe how many people (me too once) have bought into all that wonderful, persuasive advertising.

Sustainable fashion interests me. I just googled one of the founders of this challenge and she has recently co-authored a book on this subject. Here is a link: http://katefletcher.com/

In my case I'm not too pleased with myself that I can't walk past the clothes in the Salvos when I could just 'treasure' hunt through my own. I know I would have loads of fun altering my outfits, trying different combinations together, making something, re-discovering something or wearing it in a new way... it will release the creative in me. I want to have swap parties.

I also remember Oprah saying that we can dollar and dime ourselves into poverty. I think if I spend less at the op shop I could save up for that eco outfit I have my eye on. In fact - that thought could be a great carrot for me. If I put that weekly amount away I will definitely have enough to buy that outfit (or two) at the end of the challenge, and by then I am quite sure I will know what I do want and what I don't.

Wish me luck.

Asta x

ps - Do you want to join us? Perhaps you are already doing something similar. I would love to hear from you.

Counter cultural mums unite!

 ( Not the most flattering photo of me, but a special photo none the less.)

This week I return to our home as a full time, stay at home mum of two teenagers. I feel blessed that I have a family who welcome me home. I feel blessed that I know we will make ends meet because the simple life allows us to. I feel blessed that I have no confusion about the path I am on. I am free. I am living my values. I feel closer to God, and at peace.

In my mind's eye our house is clapping its hands and smiling. Every now and then it does a bit of a leap in the air and a heel click. Mum's home! (I'm thinking it's a good thing this is only happening in my imagination!)

Tomorrow I will sit on the verandah and eat with my son during his lunch hour. How many times will I be able to do this? Our other son had left home at his age. I feel a sense of urgency - a deep desire to drink in these precious moments.

And in the afternoon I will welcome our daughter home with 'high tea', she'll study or maybe read while I'll prepare dinner, and then we will walk our much loved Jasper (the rescued greyhound) through the bush. We'll talk and talk.

Later I will sit with my husband around the fire, the cats at our feet, while we drink tea or wine. The kids will have been 'heard' by me, the dog will be doing his greyhound thing (sleeping... well as long as he doesn't get too excited about seeing his 'dad' home), and so he and I will be able to give each other some focused attention.

Tomorrow I may clean, I may not. I know I will cook.

Punctuated throughout the day will be intentional times of prayerful silence and stillness. I'll write in my journal. I'll drink cuppas.

Tomorrow will be lovely.

I know the best made plans can come unstuck, but even if they do, it has been wonderful dreaming of them tonight.

Below is a link to a quick 'Thank you mum' video. Makes me wonder what my kids would say, especially when they have left home. Not sure if I want them to say some of the things these guys say ... covering for that guy when he burnt down a forest?! What I do know is that all kids are grateful when we are engaged in their lives. And it works two ways - mums love being loved. It is certainly the case for us.

http://vimeo.com/41857465

My love to all the mums reading this.

To all the mums whose children have left home, and who don't live close by.

My love to all those women who long to be a mum and aren't yet, and may never be.

My love to the mothers who have lost a child. I weep with you.

My love to the mums who struggle to care for their children, to those who may not have access to their children. My love especially to drug addicts and prisoners.

My love to the women who are mums because they foster children with great love or because they look out for the children in their sphere of influence.

My love to the mums who are heart broken when they have no choice but to leave their children in care while they work.

My love to the mothers who don't know where their children are, or who have to stand by as they watch their children in pain.

My love to new mothers, to school mothers, to older mothers. To mothers of all races and religions, and all nations.

My love to the women who have taken me under their wing. My love to my mum!
..... and my love to Riva, Elliot and Tim

Be blessed all.

Asta x

(I should have written this for Mothers Day!)

June's Simply Living Challenge: Waste not, want not

This month's challenge is one I have been considering for some time. Now that television is switching over to digital I have wondered what will happen to all those analogue TVs. When I flush the toilet I wonder why we use precious drinking water to get rid of our waste. And what about all that toilet paper? Oh the trees, the trees! And if it is recycled - what about the resources it took to recycle it?  As I take yet another plastic bag full of rubbish out to our green bin, I wonder how we can cut back. Hah - it has just occurred to me that it is funny that the bin is 'green' - because our town isn't. We don't have recycling bins. Is this the only town that doesn't?

And the word travesty comes to mind. A child who lives on a tip in a developing world would be horrified to see the waste I generate. I throw my kitchen 'scraps' in the bin for goodness sake. And why do I have so many scraps anyway?  I am ashamed by my total lack of respect for what my waste could have been, other than landfill.  I waste time. I waste money. I waste the world's resources. I waste my energy focusing on things that are trivial or not life giving. I waste, waste, waste.

Well I am declaring war on waste. I'm starting small, with baby steps, but I know those steps will mature into bigger steps as I grow more and more intentional in this area. So here are my first tentative steps today -

 Step one: I am going to use the car less. Now that one is easy. I have just left my job so I don't need to get to work any more AND my car has conveniently died. It has been stranded down the road for the last few days, where it gave up the ghost. We are unsure about whether or not my 20-year-old plus car will be able to be resurrected. Either way I am going to use transport more wisely. We don't have public transport here so I will be walking, riding (perhaps - I have to confess I am scared to death of bike riding down a hill), catching a lift or sharing my husband's car, inviting people to my home and making good use of each trip to town.

Step two: I am a big tea drinker. When I boil the kettle I will use it immediately (instead of re-boiling) and I will cover it with a towel to keep the water warm, so I don't need to boil it so frequently. Maybe I will get myself a flask. I may even use a pot or kettle on my wood burner!

Step three: I will turn everything off at the wall.

Step four: I love this one - one candle lit night a week, when we try to do without electricity as much as possible and we focus more on one another. We have already started this. Dinner looks better (lucky thing as I am not a great cook). I am sure I look better to my husband too - that lovely soft glow! We congregate together in front of the fire and  sleep comes easier. I can't help pretend that we are living inside Pride and Prejudice! My daughter and I think it's a lot of fun. I'm not so sure about the men.

Step five: Until I have a better solution I will cut down on my generation of scraps, and I will take what I do have to my friends who have hens.

Step six: I'm going to educate myself about this topic of waste. I have so much to learn. I will also read as much inspirational 'stuff' as I can. Today I started with writings from Wendell Berry and I have jumped right into Jen Hatmaker's book '7: an experimental mutiny against excess' starting half way in, at the month on 'waste'.

Step seven: I will waste less time on Facebook, and mindless trawling through the Internet. (I just noticed I have chosen seven steps - perhaps Jen Hatmaker is rubbing off on me already.)

I will finish with some words from Wendell Berry on waste. Mediate on them with me and let's see what we can do to make a difference.
...all of us, have become a kind of human trash, living our lives in the midst of a ubiquitous damned mess of which we are at once the victims and the perpe­trators. We are all unwilling victims, perhaps; and some of us even are unwilling perpetrators, but we must count ourselves among the guilty nonetheless. In my household we produce much of our own food and try to do without as many frivolous “necessities” as possible — and yet, like everyone else, we must shop, and when we shop we must bring home a load of plastic, aluminum, and glass containers designed to be thrown away, and “appliances” designed to wear out quickly and be thrown away.
http://www.swaraj.org/shikshantar/nowact_wendellwaste.htm

REUSE, REPURPOSE, RECYCLE – MORE THAN YOUR MONEY’S WORTH by Georgina Kalwak from Nans Common Sense

If you read the above title, you would think that this is about reusing and recycling our day-to-day items; well, that would be partially correct. There are a lot of us out here who diligently repurpose our belongings, so that we can save money, time, sanity or stretch the life cycle of the things we buy.  Why? Because we want to feel like we are “good” consumers. What we don’t sometime challenge ourselves to do in the quest of consumerism is think of how it can change us for the better and make us more caring and empathetic towards each other.

When we are young adults, most of us learn to balance our checkbooks; we learn rudimentary book keeping skills. But in the middle of those rudimentary moments, occasionally we realize that these skills do carry over to other areas of our lives. For example, my grandmothers used to talk sentimentally of their years as younger adults and how wonderful it was that neighbors helped each other out, especially during the Depression Era.  Home made soups, hand-me-downs, and garden surpluses were shared with love for those around them who were in true need.  It was more than just basic good deeds; it involved math. As times grew tougher, creativity needed to stretch to new depths to meet the demands of a sinking economy.  The necessity of learning to budget in these ways in the simplest of terms was translated by my Nan as, “It builds character, gal.” Those math skills were tested time and time again over those desperate years.  Trial and error does prove to build character.

Character then translated to me as values, not only just skills. Things I learned that also built character were the value of working for your money and not being handed something for nothing.  When applied, I learned a sense of accomplishment and ownership; something I now try to pass on to my sons.  Learning to savor the moments of wanting something by not giving in to immediate gratification is another wonderful character trait.  At times it’s a sweet anticipation and at others it’s agony. Price comparison and waiting for deals have helped me better negotiate situations as an adult.  This breeds generosity, which equals even more character.

As I travel over the years, my world has expanded and it’s been a blessing to have been able to see beyond my family’s needs and myself and realize others were sometimes in much greater want.  To say I felt wealthy at times, even if it was only a few dollars saved for a rainy day, is an understatement. I have come to find out, a sense of security is worth more than a momentary impulse to buy something that really is unnecessary. Another lesson learned has been discipline. That skill has carried over to so many other areas that there’s too many to list.  Last but certainly not least; I’ve learned to give. As life has taken funny twists and turns, I quickly realized that God has provided for me no matter what and that it’s okay to let things go.  You can never out give God. His love in any shape or form is always returned tenfold.

So, it is an often-quick review of all these things that make me continually miss my grandmothers (Nans). But I can say one thing is for sure - if they had not taught our families the important lessons of reusing, repurposing and recycling, maybe there would be little character in our family. Lord knows there is certainly plenty of that! And those lessons would not be getting anyone’s money’s worth!

The Grace Tree

Kneeling at the altar, waiting for communion, I asked God - "When did it become about 'so and so', instead of you?" Moments before I had been sitting with a very difficult visitor, our guest. Why on earth had he offered to come, when all he wanted to do was criticize? Usually I find our church a sanctuary of peace, but not that morning. I was on edge. I had lost my focus. I was getting angry.

As the chalice made its way to me I believe God gave me this picture. I drew it as soon as I got home and painted it a few days later. I am the tree. The roots symbolise being grounded in Christ. The trunk and branches are strong. Healthy, life giving fruit grows abundantly. The fruit bursts open and the most fragrant and delicate blossoms gently land on the people beneath. This is grace. Only through Christ could I extend grace to this difficult person.

I returned to my seat. Our guest continued to try to explain what was wrong with our theology to my daughter beside me. I sat with my eyes closed, still and focused while others received the Eucharist, and through Christ I extended grace prayerfully. The peace I felt was profound.