Fresh Energy

This week the energy in the house has changed heaps.................. Last night DH did not sleep a jot, wide awake all night, reading and note taking.  We seem to be ploughing ahead in terms of plans, actions and inspirations.  For a while we were really glum and stuck in a rut regarding finances and work, housework, travel etc now everything seems smoother somehow.  I think the kittens have helped re-address the balance, reminding us of what is important to thrive in this life.  They need love, comfort, warmth, food, water, a happy home, playtime and fun.   This directly relates to us too we need the same things, yes we need to work to cover the costs, but work should not be on the top of the list.

Anyhow - we are buzzing, today I will complete a long overdue writing project, complete a brochure design for a client, prepare for work travel next week then shut the study door for the whole weekend!!!!
We have yet to make any Christmas things but have sorted through the craft cupboard and DH is fitting better shelves in it today (Pic to follow).

Memories - the kids are loving old photo albums this week, asking loads of questions and making us laugh when they can't tell which baby is which (they looked tstartingly the same).  Trawling through the pics rminded me of the the me I used to be and prompted a wardrobe sort out.  Nothing better than an evening with old pics and an open fire, those images that have no meaning anymore get tossed aside making space for new heartfelt pics.

Hormones - hideous period pains, but walking them out seems to be helping so rather than a duvet and water bottle I am trying the wellies and old dog method of distraction.

Pic take last Christmas..

Small steps big ideas

This autumn has been very stressful due to many work projects being shelved or put on hold until 2010 - this means that our income halved overnight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This has not been some warm cosy Waltonesque style battening down of hatches but a drastic and very noticeable change in our everyday lives. To cut down on what was already a tight budget has given many sleepless nights, worrying days and sad faces. Now, though I feel we are really getting somewhere, I am no longer focussed on money or lack of it but on freedom and happiness, at our current pace we will be debt free in three years and I am learning to look within myself for inspiration and strength rather than hoping someone will come and rescue me. We have learnt what we are so much more capable than we thought. From mechanics to plumbing, preserving food and making children's clothes, harvesting olives and growing veg, it is all beneficial to the soul. It has even awakened enthusiasm in others too for example: Grandma has been helping me learn to sew properly on her visits to Italy and we made a sundress from material she had bought 40 years ago but never used!!!!!!!!!! So it is a real vintage number. Also I have become much more experimental in making all things, a real recipe follower normally I have adapted many dishes to suit what we have in the store cupboards or is in season and had some great triumphs amongst the disasters.

 

Most importantly we have become a solid family, self reliant, self motivated and positive in our outlook. I am more joyful about simple things like the bowl of clementines sent over from a very special friend who had too many. The wood I collected on my walk for this weekend's fire, the cinnamon foccacia I discovered I could make in 10 minutes and the kids devoured, the happy rescued kittens playing in the kitchen, the christmas lights hanging in the medeival city streets, the purple and yellow landscapes lined with vines, and knowing that I have the energy to take my life in what ever direction I choose, I can choose how I react to situations, to people and to my own feelings. Right now I feel that having thrown myself into the flow of life that I am definately travelling in the right direction.

On the make to do and mend front......................... Raisin Bread is raising in the oven, shortbread is being eaten by TT, Risotto, for supper, homemade pasta on the cards and a book under a duvet is beconing.

Last years christmas bulbs - embarassingly I made the jar covers from TT's outgrown tights, just snipped the legs in sections and sewed up the underneaths x

List making mania and food

I have now accepted the fact that I am a crazy listmaker, my lists even include 'make a list of' lists and sometimes I feel quite uneasy without a pen in my hand.  This autumn my lists are ever more detailed, I have Christmas planning lists, recipe lists, planting lists, preserving lists and even a folder of lists!!!!!

OK so this might sound excessive but it is just how I am...........so to make my lists even more useful I thought I would share some so that maybe a few might just spark a few ideas for others.  So to start you off gently, below is my 'frugal' food recipe list.  I created this when I realised my income would be halfed this winter, we are living within our means almost and I will NOT ever spend what I do not have hence the very frugal list.  Don't be fooled given the chance we would indulge in blue steak, truffle sauce, pecorino, porcini, salmon or scallop feasts with glasses of very old chianti or gin and tonics poured in large measures.  But, for now it is treat enough to know that we get by and the view helps enormously - the steak can wait a little longer.

Autumn/Winter Meal ideas 2009 - Low budget but yummy all homemade using store-cupboard and seasonal stuff (these are cheaper ingredients here in Tuscany so may differ in the UK)


Baked Polenta and Tom Sauce
Beans in garlic and Tomato Sauce & veg
Falafels and salad/stirfry
Orzotto with mushrooms
Veg Curry & flatbreads
Stuffed Peppers & pot wedges
Pizza
Onion Bhajis and veg
Veg & chickpea stir fry
Minestrone
Pasta with chickpeas and tuna
Pici with Ragu
Tuna meatballs
Turkey leg in red wine casserole
Egg Plant parmesan
Omelette and potato wedges
Mashed Pot and Spinach bake
Pasta with pesto
Spinach Gnocchi with bacon
Macaroni Cheese & veg
Potato Daphne and sausages
Lentil Lasagne
Risotto
Shepherds Pie
Egg & Pasta Salad
Pork Stroganoff and Rice
Lentil Bolognaise
Kedgeree
Fish Pie
Egg fried Rice
Pasta and veg bake
Spaghetti and garlic/herbs
Rice Fritters with wedges
Carbonara with pasta
Tomato Rice with garlic
Baked meatballs
Fishcakes and salad
Gnocchi with butter and sage
Cauliflower cheese and sausages
Vegetable Quiche and Salad
Ham Egg and Chips – what the hell
Poached Eggs on toast – w/e lunch
Jacket Pots and cheese / Salad


Snacks – chestnuts, cheese straws, crackers, hummus, raisins, popcorn


Sweet things
Cut-out cookies
Chestnut Biscotti
Apple Crumble
Apple Fluff & Custard
Flapjacks
Muffins – Chestnut, Pumpkin, Zucca
Shortbread Chestnut flour/Rice flour
Trifle
Meringue
Choc Brownies
Danish pastries with cinnamon
Baked Apples
Chestnut pancakes with ice-cream


Soups – pea, mushroom, tomato, pumpkin, pappa a pomodoro, Ribolita, Leek Soup, Chestnut
Breads – Italian loaves, Flatbreads, Sesame Rolls, Chestnut bread, cinnamon focaccia
Store – Rosehip Syrup, marmalade
Make - Smoothies

If you want my basic recipes leave a comment and I will post them, the ones highlighted are pretty yummy xx

Two little boys

Well the new kittens are making themselves truly at home and enjoying playing crazy wrestling games and climbing over chairs and being cuddled and picked up and doing all the other things a happy kitten does.  One is much chubbier and laid back (Romulus) and the other more skitty and energetic (Remus).  The kids adore them, last night DS was in awe of their athletics and DD kept carrying them everywhere.  The kittens have leopard spot tummies and very fluffy chest hair, tiny pin teeth and loud miews.  Baking bread and cakes this morning with sleeping kittens in the chair next to me was really lovely.  Now to the hiedous task of cleaning the whole house as I am taking a day off work, mental overload and can't string 2 words together - no good for a PR/writer really.  Hope you like the pics..

New Kittens - R & R

Romulus and Remus arrive at their new home!!  Sorry that the pic is so dark, we need a new camera again..

Warm winter days

Just got back from a work trip to the UK and was distressed at how grey and gloomy it was. Loads of really agressive people in the towns screaming at kids in buggies, chain smoking teenagers with pregnant bumps in school uniform. I don't want to generalise about age or methods of bringing up kids but where is the love, the passion, the tranquillity, the harmony, the togetherness? I read a blog of a teenage Mum and she shows perfectly that you can be a loving mother whatever your age but why are there so many women in the UK who seem to treat their own health so badly. Queues outside Mc........, overloads of salt, dirty streets and shouting families. OK so I am not a realist and happily live in a little countryside bubble, but surely your average family must care about what they eat and how they behave or maybe there is simply no hope. Maybe I was having a negative week and all these people that I saw behaving in such outwardly awful ways are truly good inside and just need a break..... I am not so sure. I don't want to be judgemental but I really feel that some people have simply lost track on simple happiness and caring for each other.

Anyhow after the culture shock of real life in Devon and Somerset I am back to Tuscany and working hard but must make time to do some Christmassy things. Cakes, cookies, tags, papers and make some gifts, thought I would have a bash at candles this year.

Olive Picking & Winter Sun

It is here, the Olive picking season, but oh the rain, constant and relentless bloody rain..aagghh. DH should be picking th Olives but can't and I am off to Blighty tomorrow and cant help then, we need to help G get them in before the frost or no oil! We had about 6 months supply from last year but could do with 3 times that amount and that means getting more time in the olive groves in between working. The rosehip syrup is going down a treat and the kids are having it on toast and an extra spoonful a day to boost the vitamin levels. I know I said I wouln't blog this week but wanted to share some lovely seasonal pics including the countryside around my house and some other random shots. I feel the year is running away with me, all I want to do is prepare christmas things and be homey but we need to focus on work projects and finances too - darn the real world stuff.

Anyway, we have extra boys tonight which is always nice to have a house full of noise so am cooking Shepherds pie and crumble - not v. Italian but it is cold and rainy and Nov!

Rosehips and Chestnuts

Here in Italy it is the season of chestnuts, truffles and porcini. All of which I love but have really only had the chance to indulge in chestnuts this year courtesy of a generous friend. Have boiled them, baked some, frozen more and included in bread, pasta sauce and cakes. Also made my first batch of Rosehip syrup, from 350g Rosehips ended up with two wee bottles of sweetness. Warning, these are scratchy buggers and my hands look like I have had a catfight, worth it though if the Rosehips keep the colds at bay.

Had a lovely halloweeen supper in full spooky dress, the living room looked lovely, amazing what a few candles can do. Then football on Sunday and a gloomy son! Sadly I have a full week of 'day-job and evening work' so will not blog until the weekend xx