Carbon Footprint Update

Now that I am no longer a "worker" in the traditional sense of the word I have just updated my carbon footprint details.

I am now emitting approximatley half a tonne of carbon each year ... well a little bit over: 0.53 tonnes. Now I could be cocky and say it is waaaaaaay under the average for Australia but it would still take 2 planets to support everyone if they lived like me.

I do buy at least 5 trees each year and only need to buy one to offset my emissions, so I am 8 trees in credit that way but next weekend I will need to buy an additional 5 trees to specifically offset my American trip from earlier in the year. Yes I could use my exisiting credits but I want to offset the trip separately.

So, I am happy with the results but there is still room for improvement. I was contemplating saving my shower water for use on the garden but that isn't really practical with my back being as it is so my goal is to increase my percentage of food bought with consideration to Food Miles and to further cut down my meat consumption.

Just an update .....

PS: I used both the 1degree calculator and the WWF one to come up with my totals.

Photo Challenge Updates

The end of the year is drawing nigh - in fact in 43 days we will be popping champagne and shouting 'Happy New Year'. Okay I could have come up with the number of shopping days until Christmas but I thought that '43' was scary enough.

If you have a moment in amongst it all, why not join the Challenge.

This Friday (20 November): Body Part

Friday 27 November: Reflection

Friday 4 December: Food

PS: Welshcakes, you're a legend :-)

New Challenge

I began writing my next book last night. Not as part of the November challenge but just because I am ready. I am looing at publishing 10 copies (give or take).

I will let you know how I am going as things progress.




Photo: "the novel" by TanPen

Annabel's New Dress

I went to visit friend's and Sue has begun to make a range of dolls clothes. You should see them! While I was ooh-ing and aah-ing over them all (there is everything from beanies to ball-gowns and if you want layette style garments for a real baby then this is the woman to call) I casually mentioned that Annabel would fit into one of them. Before I knew it, the dress was mine.

Annabel is almost 40 years old and hasn't had a new outfit since I sewed her a dress when I was 10-ish (which she wears with her original blue 'fur' coat to this day).

She is perhaps showing her age, just a little (although I think there is some sort of rule about saying that about any woman) but her new dress made her smile.

And if anyone is looking for their perfect gift for their daughter/ grand-daughter/ niece/ Annabel/ themselves just let me know.

Many thanks Sue :-)

Kewl Kids Sunday

Cirrus cloud

Altostratus cloud

Stratus cloud

Cumulus cloud

How much do you know about clouds? According to Wikipedia, there are five main forms:

• High clouds (cirrocumulus, cirrus and cirrostratus),
• Middle clouds (altostratus and altocumulus),
• Low clouds (cumulus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus and stratus),
• Vertical clouds (cumulonimbus, cumulus, pyrocumulus) and
• everything else.

Well okay I may have bundled the last category together but you can look at the article here is you want more details on the "everything else" clouds or on the various sub-groups of each category. And this website is devoted to shots of rare and incredible clouds if you want to check it out.

Huh! Says Who?

I never realised until lately that women were meant to be inferior.

Katherine Hepburn

Art: "Unity" by Monica Stewart

Photo Challenge - Architecture

Purpose and Passion

The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.

Barbara Hall (Northern Exposure)

Art: "Summer Harvest" by Lowell Herrero

Photo Challenge Updates

I have taken so many photos this week -none relevant to the Challenge but it keeps me out of trouble lol. Well that and my latest assignment (Zen Buddhism). If nothing else, taking photos for Friday does get me thinking in other directions and out of the house :-)

This Friday (13 November): Architecture

Friday 20 November: Body part

Friday November 27: Reflection

Happy clicking :-)

Lentil Club Luncheon

It was over a week ago that I invited myself and Dad to Kylie's for the day - and once she agreed obviously the invitation to Abz went out too. And so we gathered on the veranda and chatted and talked and played. Dad and I brought lunch. I can't find the recipe for the top one but essentially it is a spinach and ricotta plait with the variation that grated lemon rind has been included in the mix in addition to the usual nutmeg etc. Dad made that one. I brought the salad with was pretty simple with some roasted beetroot, funky lettuce (mesclun), sprouts, tomato and boiled egg.

Many thanks to Josh for the photos :-)