A day in my life

I haven't written a day in my life post for a long time so today is the perfect day for it. This was yesterday, it was a busy day because I'm doing a few extra things each day to prepare for Christmas. The worst thing about Christmas for me is the rushing to get things done but if I start early, it gets done and enjoy it too.

This all happened on Sunday ...

I got up around 4am (it's a long-time habit that I can't stop) had a cup of tea and read The Guardian online. Then I spent some time on Ancestry.com piecing my family tree together. Genealogy is an important part of family life for me. Family support helps us live well and a family tree shows everyone in the family where they fit in and how they help make the family strong. I've been doing it since my sons were born in the 1980s but I must admit, nowadays it's much easier than back then. I have a lot of convict ancestors including William "Lumpy" Dean who was 16 when he was transported from London for stealing and arrived here in 1799. He eventually made a name for himself, ran the government toll road from Sydney to Parramatta which was then a seven hour journey. He built a hotel at the toll gate and was a generous advocate for education of the poor. The Sydney suburb of Dean Park and a school have been named after him. He died at 78 a wealthy man and hundreds of people came to his funeral. BTW,  the US used to take the UK convicts who were transported but after the War of Independence, closed itself off from dealings with the UK. The first convicts arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788. The First Fleet consisted of 11 ships, including two Royal Navy escort ships, six convict transports, and three store ships. It was certainly a tough life for those transported but the majority of them made a good life for themselves here and were much better off than they would have been had they remained in the UK.

Made my bed and did a quick clean of the bathrooms.

Did two loads of washing and put them in the drier.

After breakfast of a croissant and black tea, Gracie and I went outside and I pressure washed the verandah, front door, screen doors and windows. Then I made another cup of tea and Gracie and I sat together watching the neighbourhood wake up.

Inside again, I made Gracie's food for the following 10 days. I used to make a huge pot of soup/stew for her which contained beef, barley, and as assortment of vegetables. She got to the stage where she wouldn't eat it as soon as it hit her bowl so I thought she needed something lighter because she was getting older.  This is the new recipe:

• One large whole chicken - I use the Steggles family roast chicken which is a large chicken costing around $14; although I did buy two recently for $8 each on special. You could also buy chicken pieces with the bones in. You need bones to make the stock that gives extra nutrition to the meals. Put it in a pot of water and boil for two hours depending on how big it is. It might need a little longer. 
• When it's cooked, remove it from the pot - keep the stock - and let the chicken cool down so you can strip it from the bones. 
• I limit the number of vegetables I use - generally it's two carrots and cabbage OR cauliflower OR broccoli. Cut them into small chunks and add to the stock.
• Clean 150 grams of rice under running water before adding it to the stock.
• Add tablespoon Vegemite or stock powder and stir it in. This is purely for flavour and to add a bit of saltiness.

While the vegetables and rice are cooking in the stock, strip the chicken meat from the bones and add it to the stock. Check that the rice and vegetables are cooked after about 30 minutes. Allow to cool and add to containers for storage. I have two containers, one in the fridge and one in the freezer. This recipe will make 5 - 6 litres. To bulk it out a bit you could add a little more rice and water.

I spoke to my sister on the phone.

Folded laundry from the drier.

Lunch was a fried chicken tenderloin coated in cornflour mixed with salt, pepper, chilli powder and flakes. I had that on a homemade bread roll with lettuce, tomato, onion, beetroot and cucumber with malt vinegar dressing.

After lunch I did some of my pre-Christmas preparations - cleaned and rearranged fridge shelves and then cleaned the dishwasher filter. I also cleaned and reorganised the kitchen benches and the herbs and spices I use near the stove.

Harvested chillies, cucumbers and green onions.  I still have a small vegetable garden which is mostly herbs, a few green leaves, chillies, tomatoes and apple cucumbers (above). Hanno would pass out if he knew this - I'm growing pumpkins! I love pumpkin but Hanno thought they were too untidy and refused to plant any.   

🙄

When I took a break, I worked on Christmas gifts. I’m embroidering “EVE” on a fabric bag I’m making for my granddaughter which will hold a range of pens, markers, paint brushes and drawing pads. And, of course, I’m knitting organic cotton dishcloths. 

BTW, if you're looking for inexpensive Christmas gifts, I hope you'll consider one of my books. They're all currently available on amazon.com.au and the American Amazon and all at a reduced price.  I read ebooks now. I was dead against them at one point but I tried one, realised I could do a lot more with it than a "normal" book and have preferred them ever since.  Authors get more from their ebooks, which is another bonus. I usually make 10 percent on a regular book and 25 percent on an ebook.

My last job of the day outside was to organise the rubbish bins. I only had to take out the red bin because the recycling bin and the green waste take me at least a month to fill up.

I usually serve homemade ginger beer at my Christmas table but this year I'm making ginger cordial. It has the same taste as ginger beer but it's easier to make. There is my recipe for it   Instead of using mineral water in a plastic bottle, I'll be using my soda stream.

I know some of you will think it's a lot of work to do in one day but I work like this every day. If I want to live the way I live, I have to do the work that supports it. It only works if I do the work.

When are you putting up your Christmas decorations? Have a wonderful week and thanks for being here today.

ADDITIONAL READING and VIEWING

Australia and much of the world is on the cusp of profound change. What happens next is up to us

Can you safely compost clothing?

This mulch I know: it’s good for your garden any time of year, but particularly in winter

Forgotten Fibre - if you're a knitter or living sustainably, you'll want to see this.  What he says about labels is what I do too. 😊

Joys of the flesh: eight delightful recipes to make the most of cheap mangoes

Winter is coming … but don’t panic! 54 expert tips on getting through the cold, dark months ahead

Pavarotti and Tracy Chapman