Red Things

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again

I expect to pass through this life but once.
If, therefore, there be
any kindness I can show,
or any good thing I can do
to any fellow being,
let me do it now,
for I shall not pass
this way again.

William Penn

Image from Artist with Camera

Grey Butcherbird

Thanks Anony and Wendi - mystery solved :-)

Thought for Today

Live as if everything you do will eventually be known.

Hugh Prather

Another New Bird

Yes another bird has landed in my window tree - and no I don't know what it is yet. My website of choice wasn't able to help me this time.

It was of medium size - bigger than a pigeon but smaller than a crow. It was shaped somewhere between a crow and a kookaburra. It had a glossy black hood that went down to the neck. The rest of it was a shimmering grey/silver.

Anybody have any ideas?

Yes I know I am becoming a bird watcher (and a not very good one) :-). I use the excuse (if I need one) that there are lots of 'new' birds on the east coast lol.

To My Love on This Special Day

This says it all :-)

My Garden Terrorist

On Ya

The force, the mass of character, mind, heart or soul that a man can put into any work, is the most important factor of that work.

A P Peabody

The Full Apology

"I give notice that, at the next sitting, I will move:

That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."

Real Fast Food

I won't make my cooking group today (sigh) cos the back is giving me grief again, but this was the menu (which will be ably cooked by my colleagues)

Menu:
Pumpkin and Broccoli Risotto
Corn Fritters and a Garden Salad
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Mini Meat Pasties
Pasta with Tomato and Basil Sauce

All of these recipes are for 4 people

Pumpkin and Broccoli Risotto
400g butternut pumpkin, peeled, deseeded, chopped into 1 cm squares
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups vegetable stock
1 brown onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed or 2 t minced garlic
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
300g broccoli, trimmed, cut into florets
1/4 cup thickened cream
50g parmesan cheese, grated
Parsley

Microwave pumpkin until tender.
Meanwhile, bring stock and 3 cups cold water to the boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer.
Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion is soft.
Add rice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add simmering stock, 1 cup at a time. Stir with a wooden spoon until all liquid is absorbed. Repeat with remaining stock, adding broccoli and pumpkin with last cupful. Rice should be tender and creamy.
Cook, stirring, until broccoli is tender. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in cream, parmesan and parsley. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spoon risotto into bowls.

Corn Fritters and a Garden Salad
2/3 C self raising flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 C water
4 C corn
1/2 onion, finely diced or minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil spray

Mix the flour, egg and water to form a batter. Whisk thoroughly and set aside for 10 minutes.
Add corn, onions and season to taste. Cook about 1/3 C patties on medium heat for about 5 minutes each side or until golden brown.
Serve with a garden salad (using whatever we have on hand).

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
8 chicken thighs, bone in
1 medium onions, finely diced
1 t minced garlic
1 T oil
2 C mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 C cream

Place chicken pieces on baking tray and place in preheated over at 180 C. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until done, turning periodically.
Meanwhile, in a fry pan, saute onions for 3 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook until onion is translucent. Add mushrooms and cook for about 4 minutes. Add cream and heat through.
Pour over chicken just before serving, or, for a lighter option, serve it in a jug with the chicken so people can add their own :-)

Mini Meat Pasties
1 kg beef mince
1 sachet tomato paste
1 grated medium onion, or 1 medium onion very finely diced
2 carrots, very finely diced, or grated
1 1/2 C peas
Short crust pastry sheets

Mix ingredients together. Cut softened pastry into 4 even squares. Place about 1 - 2 T of the mixture in the centre of the squares. Fold over into a triangle shape. Seal edges. Place on a lined baking sheet. Repeat for the rest of the ingredients.Brush the tops with a little milk. Cook in a 200 C oven for 20 minutes or until golden.

Pasta with Tomato and Basil Sauce
1 bag pasta or spagetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 t crushed garlic
1 kg chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon caster sugar
3/4 cup fresh basil leaves (from the garden, down the side)
Cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions, until tender. Drain. Return to saucepan.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes, or until tender. Add tomatoes, sugar, and salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Shred 1/2 cup of basil leaves. Stir into sauce. Add sauce to pasta. Cook, stirring, over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through. Spoon into bowls. Top with remaining basil leaves and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

Tomato Soup

It is raining and cooler than other days so I have been making soup again (have you figured out I am a soup fan?). Actually that decision was also influenced by finding some local, organic tomatoes for $3 a kg.

I cooked and pureed the tomatoes. Added some freshly ground black pepper and a little Tabasco. Then part swirled/part mixed through a little sour cream.

Served with my wood-fired sourdough bread I found on the weekend and this Mountaingirl is in heaven :-)

Sorry

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

Full text to be posted as soon as it is on the net

Countdown

It's late notice, and I should have blogged it days ago, but Reconciliation Australia has a countdown clock as well as information on where you can listen/watch live and a countdown screensaver.

Right now there is 17 hours, 5 minutes and 28 seconds, I mean 27, 26, 25

It's Raining

Another Secret

The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.

J D Rockerfeller

Art by Canadian artist Bernadette McCormack

Sorry

Recipe Posts

Yes I continue to (slowly) get these recipes posted - hopefully just in time before I have a heap more for lunch this week :-).

Anyway, on Yummy Tucker, you will now find:

• Steamed Broccoli with Macadamia and Burnt Butter Sauce
• Madras Beef Curry
• Raita
• Carrots with a Tasmania Leatherwood Honey Glaze
• Pumpkin Soup
• Peas with Native River Mint

Will someone remind me not to let them bank up again lol :-)

Just Watch It

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Painting by Australian Artist Lisa Hill

Food Miles Update

First of all, this takes work - lots of work. And time, I think it will get easier as time goes on, but for now I must confess that sometimes I can't be bothered and just take the easy way out.

Fruit and Veg: I can pretty much buy it all locally and conforming to my 100 km from home policy. The big change is that I no longer go to the store to buy (say) potatoes, celery and carrots. I need to go and see what is available on the day and change my food plans accordingly. The organic food from the markets is a bit expensive but I will buy what I can afford and know I am supporting my local farmers and the planet. At this stage I am about 20% organic. I have also planted some lettuce, more herbs and an eggplant so I will be harvesting them in due course.

Eggs: No problem buying free range eggs locally - I have quite a few options.

Meat: One butcher sells beef from farms 10 km away so that gets the big tick. I haven't had confirmation on lamb, pork or chicken but the research is continuing. Haven't looked at sandwich meat because I don't usually eat a lot but I will need to do that at some point.

Flour: I have found a source of locally grown, organic wheatbut haven't had a chance to find somewhere to get it milled yet. I am sure the local health store will know but I just haven't got around to asking them. This also means that I haven't started making my own bread yet (although I did buy some locally made wood-fired sourdough - not that the flour would have been local) but that will come in due course. I will get a sourdough starter going at some point so I can eliminate the need for yeast. I am using up my existing flour supply to make pasta.

Cheese: I have found a local feta but am struggling to source a local cheddar (or other 'everyday' cheese). Haven't given up yet. Also contemplating the other delicious varieties I love so much as to whether they become (say) a once a year treat or whether they get the flick ....

Milk and Other Dairy: I would buy about 1 litre of milk a year so I might have to suck that one up. Butter, well it would be worth looking around to see if someone makes it locally but haven't got to it yet. Actually, thinking about milk, I will need to buy more when I start making my own yogurt so I will need to follow that up.

Bubbly water: Having a hard time not buying this - love it so much - but it is getting better. I always make sure I have plenty of ice on hand and I am keeping cold water in the fridge so that is helping the switch. (such a silly thing to get stuck on).

Herbs and Spices: There is one local source for pepper but otherwise I will have to just live this one. Okay I can buy some Bush foods but most of the spices come from overseas and I can't think of a way around that.

Coffee: I have found a local-ish coffee producer but I notice that while their beans are all Australian, they aren't single source. Last night I lashed out and had three cups of coffee - that would be my normal weekly consumption so, again, I might just have to make do here.

Other items: Rice is not grown locally but, from memory, it is grown in the Ord River region. I have decided to buy that (once I find it) simply because there is an ocean of available water there so it is not placing stress on the environment as it would if I bought it from land irrigated by the Murray River system.

Wonton wrappers, spring roll wrappers and noodles - no idea yet. Yes I could make my own wrappers easy enough although I am trying to work out whether I could really be bothered. I haven't found any noodle source and that isn't something that is as easily home-made. Will I need to consider this as an exception and significantly reduce my consumption?

My other consideration is storage space. For example I can source some great corn at the moment - and I do love my corn - but I only have a very small freezer. So do I buy a new freezer to store the corn (considering the footprint that that will have) or do I just eat corn seasonally? I can't do without tomatoes but I can bottle them when the season rocks around. But I don't really want to bottle corn and pickled cauliflower doesn't have the same versatility as regular cauliflower. Hmmm, more thought needed here.

As I look through here, I realize that a lot of my "little exceptions" actually make up a really long list. Will have to put some serious thought into that too.

Digital Archives Connect Indigenous Communities to Their Past

Most of us take the family photo album for granted - a record, sometimes going back for generations, of births and weddings and the memorable events in between.

Not for most impoverished Aboriginal communities.

For them, either there were no photos, or they were taken by missionaries or white bureaucrats who took any photos with them when they left.

Now a project in Tennant Creek is helping to return a lifetime of photographs, movies and songs that the local Warumungu people thought they had lost forever.

It is all the brainchild of American researcher Kimberly Christen, a researcher into Indigenous issues at Washington State University.

"The Warumungu community there has done so much outreach themselves just to find these people who have boxes underneath their beds of old photos that really belong to the community, because it's their personal history, but know it's just been taken away," she said.

All Warumungu people can use the computer archive, but there are cultural protocols to protect sensitive or sacred information.

The Warumungu people have contacted missionaries, museums, individuals - even cattle stations - for copies of any photos or recordings that document their history.

By Anne Barker. Full story on the ABC here.