A Different Kind Of Therapy

Cheese and Pineapple Pizza Rolls

This actually beats shopping! Homemade grainy pizza rolls with cheese and pineapple topping. A friend messaged me today to ask how I would make these, because who doesn't love dropping into the bakery for one of these? I had never thought to make my own, but loved the idea, so I gave it a go tonight.
Thanks, Amy, hope yours turn out too!

Ingredients:
3 cups multigrain bread mix
330ml water
1 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast
1 cup cheese
2 tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
fresh pineapple, cut into pieces

• Add bread mix, yeast and water to breadmaker in the order suggested by your machine's manual
• Set to dough setting
• When complete, break into eight portions and shape into round flat rolls
• Blend tomatoes and worcestershire sauce into a paste
• Spread onto tops of rolls
• Sprinkle with fresh pineapple pieces and cheese
• Bake in oven at 180-200 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and a skewer comes out clean.

The Sound That Dreams Make When They Shatter....

A few months ago, we put an offer in on a beautiful little house in a little village community 13km out of our rural WA town. The house was on a quarter acre block, and seemed perfect for the kind of responsible living we are working towards, with rain water tanks, vegetable gardens and room for our chickens and ducks.
Today we heard that our loan application was rejected, not because we couldn't afford it (we had chosen a very little house with a corresponding little mortgage) but because of a bill paid late over two years ago.

We are shattered. We feel as though all our plans for the future have been pulled out from under us, and are not sure where to go from here. Renting is expensive and doesn't seem to complement Earth-friendly living, as we can't install things like water tanks, solar systems or rip out the lawn to plant extensive vegetable gardens.

Two months ago, I would likely have responded to news like this by withdrawing some of our house deposit and going on a shopping spree. Right now, I know that I don't want to do this, but I have to say, I'm not sure what therapy looks like for me anymore!

Our beautiful valley

Once again, we feel at a crossroads, and have some big thinking to do. Please send us your prayers, positive thoughts and well wishes.... many thanks.

Big Changes, Little Steps

Some big changes have happened in our household over the last few weeks. Big changes that become the little steps our family is taking to reduce the impact we are having on the Earth. While they are undoubtedly the smallest of steps a family could take, they are exciting to us, because they are evidence of a shift in our thinking, and a commitment to the journey.

So, here they are:

• Making the switch to cloth nappies. Our oldest child, Miya, is toilet training and only wears nappies at night. Our youngest child, Eden, is two next month and only has about a year of full time nappy-wearing to go. We wondered if it was worth us switching to cloth at this late stage, but our hesitation was only financial, and Modern Cloth Nappies seem to only 'devalue' a few dollars when they are secondhand, so we have decided to go for it. We are buying mostly secondhand, and a few new ones from a local supplier (WAHM), and Eden loves picking which pretty nappy she will be wearing.
• Reducing our additive intake: This has involved learning to make a lot of the things we buy, at home. We now buy local, and where possible, organic fruit and veg, and have learned to make our own yoghurt, bread, tortillas, bacon, dried fruit, snacks, pasta sauces, pasta, self raising flour... next on the list are cheeses, beer and rum!!
• Collecting water from the sink, shower and laundry basin to use on the garden: we clearly have a long way to go in reducing our water usage. We fill a large watering can twice a day with 'wasted' water, which goes to show how much we use! I have invested in an 'Every Drop Shower Saver' which will significantly reduce our water wastage in the shower, but we need to work on the rest of the house!
• Reducing our landfill garbage: by buying bulk items, choosing products carefully based on the amount and type of packaging they use, purchasing sandwich wraps so we don't need to buy gladwrap, using cloth wipes on the girls' bums, making things at home, learning to sew (this is a work in progress!)

There are other little things we have done along the way also, but I guess these are the main ones. Every step we take, it does feel like our 'destination' is further away, but I keep telling myself that if I live each day more responsibly than the last, I'm heading in the right direction.

A Dawning Awareness

A few weeks ago, I embarked on a journey, dragging my beautiful family along behind me. Faced with the impact that I, as the major 'purchaser' in our family, have on this Earth, I no longer feel as if I can bury my (consuming addicted) head in the (plastic-ridden) sand.

In addition to this, it has become apparent that my children are sensitive to food additives. In researching healthier alternatives and strategies to reduce chemical consumption in our diets, I was struck by how many of our purchasing and consuming decisions have a negative effect, not only on our own health, but on the health of our Earth.

I am beginning to see that the closer to the source our food is, the better for our bodies and the planet. I am also beginning to see that as purchasers, we have the power to make a significant difference - individually, locally and globally.


This blog will be a record as I continue down this path of environmental awareness. I am new to this, I will fumble, I will learn things that are second nature to others who have gone before me. I have a long way to go, but I am going.