Drifting through life

You know how "they" say exercise is good for you? Hah! and Hah! again. I know, I've been saying it too, for years, to anyone who'll listen, but really, have I the right? I've been slothing around at home here for a month now, and it's incredible how quickly I've become used to doing nothing. Well, almost nothing. I get up at a leisurely pace, eat breakfast, read a book. Glance at the clock, keep reading. After all, work is off limits, I don't have any appointments that need to be rushed to, turn the page, read some more. Turn on the TV and dvd player. I'm currently watching seasons 1-4 of Criminal Minds. Eventually I'll get my fat bum off the chair, make my bed, maybe even take a walk around the yard. But it's a tiny yard, so that's only 5 minutes. Well, yesterday I tossed my jeans in the wash, (I'd been wearing them forever, they could have probably walked themselves to the basket), and pulled a fresh pair out of my drawer. Uh-Oh...

Many years ago, too many years, in the days before I had a digital camera, I went to the zoo. I had my grandchildren with me and we wandered around for a couple of hours taking photos. They really enjoyed the children's zoo section, where they were able to hold baby chickens and pat the baby deer. They loved the monkeys and the seals the most I think. Well, it was 12 years ago, so my memory isn't that sharp. I do remember the baboons. Every time I aimed the camera, the big one would turn and show us his bum instead of his face. So, no photo. We watched the polar bears for a while, but they were sleepy and not moving at all. I was surprised to see they aren't as snowy white as I thought they'd be. I'd only ever seen them on TV and in magazines. I'm totally in love with this Dragon Tree. Draecena something-or-other. It's huge, the canopy is dense and shady and if I had enough space and time I would grow one in my yard. They're very slow growing so I...

After my lovely big shadehouse was unceremoniously destroyed, I still wanted to grow some of my own food. I was given/allocated/allowed to use, a narrow strip along the length of the back lawn. The cement path behind it was filled with potted succulents belonging to prince-not-so-charming. I planted a hedge of parsley. As you do. Because parsley goes in everything. Well, maybe not icecream. I always let one plant flower and set seed to gather for planting the next year. The next summer, I added lazy housewife beans, the seeds of which I'd ordered from the Diggers Club. These plants are so prolific three or four plants can feed a small family for an entire season. I planted two, so had plenty for the freezer. I also put in Red Fig tomatoes from the Diggers Club. These tiny little tomatoes are great to pick and eat while removing weeds from the bed, also nice in salads, sliced in half or left whole. This carrot foliage belongs to....... .....these heirloom carrots. Again, from t...

7.15pm. I've just realised it's fully dark outside and I haven't yet put the bins out to the kerb. Where did the time go? What have I done with today? Let's see; woke up at 4am, couldn't sleep, so made a cup of coffee and took it back to bed with the book I'm currently reading. (The Diggers Rest Hotel, by Geoffrey McGeachin.) Got right down to the last couple of chapters and realised I was sleepy, so snuggled back down under the doona and slept until 8am. Then it was get up now or wet the bed. I got up. Decided against breakfast, I wasn't hungry yet. Unusual for me, normally I get up and eat either porridge or weetbix almost immediately, but I'd had that early morning coffee. Got the washing started since it was a beautiful sunny and windy day outside, perfect drying weather. Finished hanging things out, gosh that was hard, pull the line down so I can hold an item with my unstretched right arm, then attach the peg with my left hand. Luckily I didn't ...

Our regular Sunday columnist, Peter Goers, has written this week about how we consumers are "constantly assailed with contradictory information about health and diet." He goes on to say, "almost everything you buy now is 97% fat free, yet we all put on weight." "butter will kill you faster than margarine, but isn't butter better?" "dark chocolate is good for you." Except now someone has decided that it isn't. (Probably because we're scarfing it down by the block instead of the recommended two squares a day.......) But this is what got my attention; Here's what Peter says about vegetables:- "I have long maintained that it may be ideal but it is actually impossible for anyone to eat two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetable every day. Not even vegetarians can do that. Are there five vegetables?" Are there five vegetables? ARE THERE FIVE VEGETABLES? Dear oh dear. Peter, this is for you. Oh, there's artichokes,...

......and this is what I saw: these magnificent tulips standing almost 45cm tall, interesting texture on this palm trunk, wattle, the very last bloom on the bush, a little fancy lacework, grevillea, one of many varieties in the neighbourhood, storm damage, in my very own driveway, these cheerful little polyanthus, only 4 inches tall, here's a close up. It was raining, so I worried a little about the camera getting wet, but the heavy rain stopped while I was out and all I got was sprinkled. Yay me. As soon as I was home and inside, the heavens opened. How was your day?

We all know that I love to bake. You didn't know? Well, now you do. I'm in the mood for a Lemon Chiffon Cake . Recipe follows the pictures. For this cake, you'll need an Angel Food cake tin. They're not cheap, but if you do a lot of baking, they're worth the investment. Get a non-stick one. These come in two parts, as seen here:- Here, I've got everything I need assembled; see how little bench space I have in my kitchen? The same amount of space is on the other side of the stove. Cake tin, check, mixing bowls, check, measuring cups, check, eggs, lemons, flour, sugar, check, check, check. Light the oven and start measuring ingredients. These tupperware measuring cups are over thirty years old. See the orange measuring spoons hanging on the wall? They were bought at the same tupperware party. They've lasted well. Here's the meringue being gently folded into the batter. And here's the mix ready to pour into the prepared tin and bake. Once baked, th...