tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:18:22 +0000simple living, frugal living, back to basics, recipes, cooking from scratch, preserving, canning, worm farms, compost, vegetable gardening, organic vegetables, living well on less.http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/rhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)Blogger1031125blogspot/BiVBhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8335151460137983919Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:47:00 +00002009-11-08T06:54:31.424+10:00Community lifeSteel Kitten is having a wonderful giveaway to celebrate her 300th post. But that is not the only reason to visit her. Her blog is full of interesting posts and great photos and you have to see the fingerless gloves she knitted! Click here to visit.Also, we are having a competition at the Down to Earth Forum. To be eligible to win, simply write a post and tell us about your simple life - whathttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/H0zXb2NGAIg/sunday-reading.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/H0zXb2NGAIg" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/11/sunday-reading.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-610202756103738362Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:27:00 +00002009-11-06T05:51:14.207+10:00Home CookingBackyardOrganic GardeningTwo girls fighting over one baby, an enemy is identified and killed on sight, a mutant lurking in the shadows! Am I on the set of a Hollywood movie? No, it's more exciting than that - it's my backyard where life and death meet on a daily basis and all the strangeness is real. Come with me, I'll show you ...Click on each photo to enlarge.I've been spending some time in the garden in the early http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/Et4Jw5N_Jso/its-jungle-out-there.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)26<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/Et4Jw5N_Jso" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-jungle-out-there.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2865575794860994926Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:44:00 +00002009-11-04T09:44:24.321+10:00IndividualitySimple LivingHomemakingAfter two hectic days of work at the Centre, I'm working at home today. Gone are the days when I would have looked forward to relaxing, shopping and going out to visit friends. Now, settling back into the routine of washing up, sweeping, making beds and baking brings me back to myself and reminds me that my home is the place where I am put right again.I work in the welfare sector and it's a very http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/vcu1D-tvYR8/homemaker-speaks-nation-listens.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)43<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/vcu1D-tvYR8" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/11/homemaker-speaks-nation-listens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3098039277498597808Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:23:00 +00002009-11-03T05:07:59.587+10:00Home CookingknittingI'm sure you all know by now that I love knitting - dishcloths being a favourite subject of my affection. Well, I was reading a knitting book last week and came across a new (to me) pattern that I thought would make up a very nice dishcloth. I worked it over the weekend and have just taken a photo for you.It has got a fair bit of texture so it will scrub well but the holes make it lighter thanhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/hTTwID1O6V8/ridged-ribbon-dishcloth-and-biscuit.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)33<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/hTTwID1O6V8" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/11/ridged-ribbon-dishcloth-and-biscuit.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8305418446731585463Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:28:00 +00002009-11-02T13:05:22.620+10:00Home CookingI love finding a recipe that I know I'll use in the years to come. I found such a recipe a couple of weeks ago and was delighted with the results. It came from the Down to Earth forum, submitted by Paula Hewitt and she calls them Easy and Cheap Biscuits (cookies).The great thing abut this recipe is that it uses only four ingredients. Paula says the recipe makes 70 - 80 biscuits. I made up one http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/NSM1K7xjnL8/cheap-and-easy-biscuits.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)27<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/NSM1K7xjnL8" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/11/cheap-and-easy-biscuits.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4905318424245146860Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:50:00 +00002009-10-30T06:06:00.342+10:00IndividualitySimple LivingI'm happy to report that it all went very well with Hanno's surgery yesterday. He went in at 1pm, I popped down to Spotlight to check out a sale then spent a couple of hours in the waiting room, knitting, and he hobbled out at 5.30pm. We got home around 6pm. He had no pain, didn't need crutches and he slept fairly well last night. Today and tomorrow will be the test, the doctor said he must http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/NXqggrwbyls/not-every-day-will-be-perfect.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)31<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/NXqggrwbyls" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/not-every-day-will-be-perfect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-777734182149514643Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:02:00 +00002009-10-29T08:23:03.459+10:00IndividualityFamilySimple LivingHomemakingknittingIt doesn't take much, just one good night's sleep and I'm ready to take on the world again. Thank you for your good wishes and prayers for Hanno, we both appreciate them. We'll go in later this morning and be home late this afternoon; no doubt there will be news to write about tomorrow.A recent shared lunch at the Centre I work at.But today I want to talk about perfection. I don't talk about http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/xwMbYDlc2eY/less-than-perfect-day.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)49<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/xwMbYDlc2eY" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/less-than-perfect-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-1984284503788306320Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:19:00 +00002009-10-28T15:55:00.981+10:00After a busy day at work yesterday, I'm worn out. I over-slept this morning and as I have to do a few things before going to work soon, this will be a short post. There are times in my past when I worked much harder and longer than I did yesterday but now it does me in. I have another work day today and tomorrow Hanno goes in for his knee operation and I want to be in top form for that. I'm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/cAJJ6v6UUng/worn-out-and-recovering.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/cAJJ6v6UUng" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/worn-out-and-recovering.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8330769019317644563Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:56:00 +00002009-10-27T06:25:37.828+10:00knittingI love knitting. I'm not particularly good at it, but I get by. There is something about winding a long piece of wool or cotton around sticks that is very appealing. I relax when I knit and I feel connected to all my grandmas who would have sat by a fire knitting clothes for the family. Knitting is a gift I give myself. As well as the relaxation, it exercises my brain, makes me feel http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/sYF2z-YpWmk/wool-cotton-and-sticks.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)43<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/sYF2z-YpWmk" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/wool-cotton-and-sticks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-195231915730755730Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:27:00 +00002009-10-26T06:03:17.022+10:00BackyardChickens are creatures of habit, they are practical and they like climbing, so it should not have been a great surprise when I looked out the window from where I am sitting right now to find this looking back.Quentin wanted to be close to someone and she wanted to rest while watching her friend, the half blind Quince. I think she'll make this one of her permanent perching places unless we move http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/F2jyauDxHtw/q-sisters.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)19<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/F2jyauDxHtw" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/q-sisters.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8831854074705036999Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:36:00 +00002009-10-23T05:34:39.515+10:00IndividualitySimple LivingSustainabilityThere are certain areas in every home where clusters of chemicals sit. The laundry is one such place and is a great place to start walking the green path. There are many recipes for laundry powder and liquid on the net. I have my own here, but it doesn't matter which you use, just start using one of them, it's a very good way to start simplifying. You can also throw out that softener. Get usedhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/RR5mChPjYnM/just-hanging-out.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)84<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/RR5mChPjYnM" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-hanging-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8090508284903103134Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:39:00 +00002009-10-22T06:21:54.650+10:00Home CookingThere have been quite a few questions over the past two dairy days so I'll use this post to answer them. I hope you try making these dairy products. They are very tasty, they're cheaper than the store bought products and you'll help keep old skills alive, particularly if you pass on what you know.Sueellen wrote: Will have a go at the yoghurt but am curious to know if you have posted a recipie http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/_FtmGdKoAL4/yoghurt-q.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)14<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/_FtmGdKoAL4" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/yoghurt-q.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2182404718928912844Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:26:00 +00002009-10-22T06:11:42.341+10:00Home CookingSustainabilityYesterday we had a 500gram/16oz tub of yoghurt that cost $3.50 and turned it into two litres/quarts of yoghurt that cost about $4. One litre/quart of that was eaten as yoghurt - with one cup reserved to make the next batch, the other litre/quart was made into quark cheese. Quark is a simple fresh cheese that doesn't require any special equipment and will be ready for eating as soon a you finishhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/pWf0JwEC2BM/yesterday-we-had-500gram16oz-tub-of.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)18<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/pWf0JwEC2BM" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/yesterday-we-had-500gram16oz-tub-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7861858198547930617Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:51:00 +00002009-10-20T10:53:16.820+10:00Home CookingCutting backHomemakingThere are many little cost cutting measures you can take in a frugal home. Most of them, when you see them as an isolated unit, look too insignificant to bother about, but add them all up and you'll make good savings. Saving grocery money is an important goal for most homemakers; it means paying off more debt and all the good things that come from that. So being able to make two cups of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/Gej0SzsQeO0/homemade-yoghurt.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)29<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/Gej0SzsQeO0" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/homemade-yoghurt.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-236178073142365107Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:13:00 +00002009-10-19T05:23:38.909+10:00Home CookingSimple LivingOrganic GardeningWe had a peaceful weekend, didn't do much but potter around the house, I worked on the forum quite a bit, tweaking and reading the manual, while Hanno did some gardening and tidying up outside. There are always tasks waiting to be done in a simplified home and here it's no different.Hanno pulled out the last of the winter kale and planted up dwarf bean seedlings in their place. They're nicely http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/mGYNmumxeTo/weekend-roundup.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)21<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/mGYNmumxeTo" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/weekend-roundup.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4773367839602933994Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:00:00 +00002009-10-17T16:53:06.960+10:00Community lifeI want to say a special thank you to Leigh at Blog Chicks who helped me set up the new forum last week. She basically did the whole installation and advised me what to do along the way. It was a complicated process and without her help I would either have had to pay someone to do it or struggled with it for a long time.I have never met Leigh. I came across her site when I was added to the top http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/zCbgxzCbviA/special-thank-you.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/zCbgxzCbviA" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/special-thank-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-778039675175778150Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:19:00 +00002009-10-16T08:57:58.017+10:00IndividualitySimple LivingI had a question from a reader the other day regarding cleaning soap making utensils and equipment. She wanted to know if it was okay to wash the soap making equipment and use it for other kitchen tasks that involve food. If you thoroughly wash all your utensils and equipment it is fine to use it all for other food making tasks. However, if you use a wooden spoon for soap making, you should http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/ia-A4SznEYM/soap-making-question.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)33<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/ia-A4SznEYM" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/soap-making-question.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4828063041327968549Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:04:00 +00002009-10-16T05:17:38.228+10:00StockpilingHome CookingChances are you've come across recipes for meatballs in tomato sauce but I'm going to recommend mine to you because it's one of those that is perfect for us stockpilers - it uses items from the freezer, garden, pantry and stockpile cupboard.The trick to this dish, and most other meat dishes, is to develop flavour in the meat by caramelising the sugars when you fry it. Caramelising is the processhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/KJaWj5RfoP8/meatballs-in-tomato-sauce.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)21<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/KJaWj5RfoP8" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/meatballs-in-tomato-sauce.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2747595417704791573Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:11:00 +00002009-10-14T04:14:40.636+10:00The ForumThere will be no post today. If you want to know what I'm doing, check this out. I'm rebuilding the forum, along side a whole lot of friends. So if you want to help raise the barn, come on over, I'd love to see you there. When I finish at the forum, I'm off to work for the day. I'll be back tomorrow!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/b_vyL1Q78uI/new-forum.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)12<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/b_vyL1Q78uI" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-forum.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2086806905226937117Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:23:00 +00002009-10-13T06:14:34.328+10:00Organic GardeningWe are waiting for rain to fall. Our tanks are empty. There was thunder and lightening last night but only about five minutes of rain. We are using town water on the vegetables to keep them growing and each time I do that I think that we should get another tank. I thought 15,000 litres/4,000 gallons would be enough for us, our annual rainfall is 1200mm/47 inches, but it is apparent that if wehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/lUb-nI723M4/what-are-you-growing-this-season.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)37<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/lUb-nI723M4" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-are-you-growing-this-season.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7874466676860024485Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:22:00 +00002009-10-12T09:12:33.918+10:00IndividualitySimple LivingI used to think housekeeping and the mindset that supported it was demeaning and dependence-driven. In those days of high-flying Rhonda, power and independence were demonstrated by having enough money to get others to look after my home for me. I knew a home was a necessity but I didn't realise its significance. I didn't take the time to get to know my own home until I gave up work - there was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/X-wjG5mmiaQ/my-true-potential.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)39<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/X-wjG5mmiaQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-true-potential.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2201969135521120495Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:42:00 +00002009-10-10T05:45:08.655+10:00HomemadeOne of my long time blog friends, Little Jenny Wren, has done a tutorial on the most delightful little pinwheel hair clips. I want to add it to the projects we can make for Christmas. If you've never visited Jenny's site, pop over there today and be prepared for a treat.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/pm-YD5DR6ZI/jennys-pinwheel-bobby-pin-tutorial.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/pm-YD5DR6ZI" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/jennys-pinwheel-bobby-pin-tutorial.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-450167041705496345Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:34:00 +00002009-10-09T06:19:13.953+10:00Home CookingSimple LivingCommunity lifeWhen I stopped eating meat for all those years, the one thing I missed was meatloaf. Ha! Meatloaf is a frugal favourite for a lot of people. I like it because it's a tasty, cheap meal and I can cook one meatloaf and it will do us for dinners and sandwiches for quite a few days. On the first day I always bake vegetables in the oven alongside the meatloaf, the second day I slice a few pieces off http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/v6oVH6ppqw4/meat-loaf-nourishing-traditions-way.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)25<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/v6oVH6ppqw4" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/meat-loaf-nourishing-traditions-way.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-943431736377936452Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:02:00 +00002009-10-08T06:08:02.401+10:00Good morning everyone. I don't have time for my normal post today but I'll be answering a few questions in the comments later. In the meantime, the voting in the Nuffnang blog awards finishes this Sunday and I would really love you to vote for me until the voting finishes. Just click here for the voting page. You can vote more than once but only every two hours. Thank you! I'll see you http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/yZBkh1GkFxI/blog-awards.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/yZBkh1GkFxI" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-awards.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-6345701015804471495Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:27:00 +00002009-10-07T06:02:03.359+10:00It's that time of year again when I start thinking about Christmas gifts. I live in a tourist region and I was taught this lesson early - if I don't think about my gifts well before the school summer holidays start, forget all about going to the shops because it will be bedlam. Now I don't give nearly as much as I used to at Christmas time. I gave up on cards years ago and send an email full of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~3/FYGUCmciKI4/christmas-gifts-what-are-you-making_07.htmlrhonda_hetzel@yahoo.com.au (Rhonda Jean)56<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/BiVB/~4/FYGUCmciKI4" height="1" width="1"/>http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/10/christmas-gifts-what-are-you-making_07.html