Green MeMe #1

Michelle from A Vision Splendid has (quite surprisingly) tagged me for this MeMe:

1. Name two motivations for being green?

I cannot think of two. I only have one: to repair the damage made to Mother Earth through over-indulgence, ignorance, and pure greed and selfishness. Quite simply, I dont want my actions to have devestating consequences for the special part of the planet in which I live.

2. Name two eco-UNfriendly items you refuse to give up?

First and foremost: my laptop computer. I cannot live without it.

Second: my clothes dryer. I cant say that it is something I will refuse to give up indefinitely, but for the time being I am hanging on to it, tooth and nail!

3. Are you at peace with or do you feel guilty about number two?

The laptop I'm at peace with: I need a computer and laptops produce less green-house gases (in their production and use) than a regular PC.

As for the clothes dryer, I always feel guilty when I have to use it, but I've come to to the conclusion that at this point in my life I actually need it. I dont always have the luxury of being able to do the laundry during the day, and at certain times of the year (most notably the peak of winter) my clothes simply will not air-dry at night.

4. What are you willing to change but feel unable to/stuck with/unsure how to go about it?

I believe that being green is more than simply using less, it's also about what we're using as well, especially when it comes to the products and the produce that we're purchasing from our local supermarkets and stores. I would love to be able to buy all my necessities (food, clothing, appliances etc) FAIR TRADE, ORGANIC, and ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. However, it is unfortunate that the supermarkets and stores where I live do not stock enough and then what they do stock tends to be unreasonably expensive. Clothes and shoes are the hardest purchases for me and I try to only buy when I am desperate. I often wish I knew how to make my own clothes (or had the time to learn), and could just go barefoot!

5. Do you know your carbon footprint for your home? If so, is it larger/smaller than your national average?

I dont know our carbon footprint and I dont know the national average, but now I am very curious to find out! I'd like to think it's not that much, but then again SJ loves his aircon, and I simply couldnt live without my computer!

6. What's eco-frustrating and/or eco-fantastic about where you live?

Eco-frustrating: The lack of choice! For example, we dont even have the option of natural gas as the pipeline doesnt run this way. There are also no local grocers, there are not enough fair trade and organic alternatives in the supermarkets and stores, and a lot of people are either ignorant or unwilling to recognise how their daily actions impact upon the planet.

Eco-fantastic: It's a great location for sourcing sun and wind power. You do not need to connect mains electricity if you are willing to spend the money and make the little effort to get solar panels and/or wind turbines (the small, backyard kind). Land size is bigger than that in the city, so there is room for a backyard with a chicken coop, vegie garden and some fruit trees if desired. Everything is only five minutes away from everything else, so there's little travelling time, or you could just walk or ride your bike. And just about everyone has a rain water tank.

7. Do you eat local/organic/vegetarian/forage/grow your own?

I am vegetarian. I eat eggs and dairy products, but not wheat or gluten products. We only buy "backyard" eggs - i.e. they are neither farm produced or shop bought. We buy organic dairy products.
SJ and the Noodle Spoodle are not vegetarian. Although there are no local grocers, there are butchers whose produce comes from the district.

We are forced to purchase most of our fruit and veg from the local supermarkets, however, we do get quite a bit of home-grown and home-made produce from my parents, SJ's parents, and my grandparents.

We are looking to buy our first home. We hope to find a place that can support a vegie garden, some fruit trees, combustion heating, and green electricity. It may not all happen straight away, but it is what we are hoping for the future.

8. What do you personally find the most challenging in being green?

Budgeting! The more we buy organic and fair trade the more we spend. It will be wonderful to be able to grow and harvest our own produce and not have to rely so much on money and the cost of things to achieve being green.

9. Do you have a green confession?

Oh, yes...I do not have a water-saver shower-head! I'm sorry, but I cannot stand them! I find it takes me longer to shower under one due to the lack of water pressure.

In my defence, however, I do try to shower quick, and when time allows I collect the water and put it on the garden.

10. Do you have the support of family and/or friends?

I suppose so. My parents try hard to be green, and SJ's parents have been growing their own fruit and veg, as well as buying locally for around twenty years. My grandparents are frugal (life spent as farmers has taught them to be), and I cannot think of any of my friends who dont try to be environmentally aware in the process of going about their daily lives. They're not always happy with the fact that I moved nearly 400km away from them to "the middle of nowhere", but they understand why I did it, and that is all that matters.

I tag Out Back, Hacek, and Tea Time.

The Guidelines are:
1) Link to Green Meme Bloggers
2) Link back to whoever tagged you
3) Include meme number
4) Include these guidelines in your post
5) Answer questions
6) Tag 3 other green bloggers

My First Award!

I finally stopped by to collect it -

Thanks to my mum over at Out Back!

I may have bribed her in order to get this award, but I'm still awfully chuffed!

I'm supposed to select six other blogs I think are "hot", but most of my favourites already have this award, so I'm only doing three. They are:

Tea Time

Hacek

Quirky Knit Girl

Congratulations, ladies!

Perfect Summer Salad.

You will need:

Fresh baby spinach
Cherry tomatoes
Avocado
Traditional boccocini
Sprinkle with balsamic and garlic dressing
Best made fresh and served with a glass of chilled lemon juice

The avocado and boccocini make this salad quite filling, so you wont need a large serve to quell an appetite!

Finding Practical Hobbies.

As I was sitting around last night, unable to decide if I wanted to watch television, a DVD, read a book or write, I decided it was time I got a new hobby. Something creative that I can fit into a busy schedule - something I can multi-task, or do when I have only an hour or two to spare.

I considered improving my knitting "skills". I already know the basics. I could probably knit a scarfe or a blanket if I really wanted to, but I often find knitting a little too repetitive and I get bored with it quickly. Other times (i.e. often) I make mistakes and I dont realise until countless rows later, and it's just too hard to go back and fix (or I'm too lazy. You decide). I would love to be able to knit wonderful things like jumpers, cardigans, beanies and socks, but I cant read knitting pattern instructions - it's a whole other language and I cannot make heads or tails of it!

So, I decided last night that I am going to learn how to sew. It's a practical hobby that could prove to be incredibly useful. Probably moreso than knitting ever could. My mum doesnt know it yet, but she's going to teach me (Thanks, Ma)!

I did learn (if you'd like to call it that) a bit of sewing from Home Economics class when I was in highschool. But I wasnt very good at it. We made an apron and a pencil case. I actually finished the apron: It was made from calico and I made it for my mum. I even put her initials on it. It was so proud! I think she may even still have it...?

The pencil case, however, was a bit of a disaster. I sewed it all wrong and couldnt get the zipper attached. I got frustrated and gave up. I was so disappointed that I didnt even bring the poor thing home; it was abandoned in the Home Ec room.

I'd like to think that being older, and with a steadier hand, I'll have more patience for it. I was thinking of starting simple: perhaps a tablecloth. I figure if I can sew a straight hemline then I am off to a good start!

Once I have finished some (wonderful?) creations I can share them!
[All tips welcome!]

In the meantime, I'll share two of my latest ATC creations. Both are themed "Cancelled Postage", and are via Swap-Bot.

No internet makes Sorcha something-something.

Having no internet on at home means that there are few blog updates but plenty of time for ATC-making! And I have been keeping myself busy with ATC swaps via ATC_Connection, Swap-Bot, private swaps and gifts. I've also received some beautiful cards in return, which I plan to take pictures of to share at some point in the very near future.

In the meantime I'm sharing the cards I've made over the past two months or so. Please try and ignore the poor photography: they would have been scanned if I'd been able to find the computer connection (no doubt still packed away in a box somewhere).

4x Dark Inspired via ATC_Connection

3x Pick-a-Country (Ireland) via ATC_Connection

2x Parents' Names via Swap-Bot

3x Custom "Chaapaai Kitty" for JP in Germany (gift)

1x Vintage for RG in USA (private swap)

Glittery Goddess ATCs

Another swap ready to be sent off via ATC_Connection!

This time the theme is "Glittery Goddess".
I had a bit of difficulting finding enough glittery supplies, as it would turn out that the stores in town dont stock as much craft suppies as I thought they would. But with a little help from my mum and her daycare supplies, I was able to scrounge together enough that could be considered glittery to make my ATCs.

Sepia ATCs

Today I completed my first bunch of ATCs for a swap I'm doing over at ATC_Connection.
ATC stands for "Artist(ic) Trading Card". It's a 2.5"x3.5" handmade trading card that can be created using any artistic format you like.
I do mine in Scrapbooking style, since I cannot paint or draw.

The theme for this particular swap is "Sepia", and I had to make 4 cards. I then send those cards to the swap host, who distributes 3 cards each to everyone that has participated, and keeps 1 card from each person for herself.

On the cards I used print outs of old sepia photographs (one of my great-grandparents on their wedding day, and the other a Victorian photo I found online), a sepia coloured picture of the Houses of Parliament in London, and the last one (which kind of came out more orange than sepia) was a forest photo I also found online.

The embellishments I used included brads, old buttons, chinese coins, raised stickers and felt stickers, and die-cuts.

Tag-a-lot.

Well, I've been tagged by my mum over at Out Back!

Here goes...

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

Each player answers the questions about themselves.

At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

a) What was I doing 10 years ago?

In 1998 I was completing my final year of highschool, taking subjects in English, Biology, Accounting, Math and Computer Studies. I failed accounting.

I was living at home (obviously), with my mum, stepdad, two younger sisters, and my brother. Our pets included two dogs, and some chickens.

I had some goldfish called Hamish and SPG, but they ate too much and died.

b) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today:

I dont even think I had 5 things on my to-do list today.

I had to go to the bank for work, and that was it. I went into work today and spent most of my time online, there really wasnt much for me to do.

And this evening my plans were to update my blog, lj and read some Emma by Jane Austen.

I think that only makes 4 items...?

c) Snacks I enjoy:

Chocolate, raw cashews, dried apricots, and lemon slice.

d) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Buy a house, spoil my family, give to charity, and travel.

e) Places I have lived:

I was born in Ceduna, on the far-west coast of South Australia. When I was 12 the family moved to Port Augusta, also in South Australia. When I finished highschool in 1998 I then moved to Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, and was there for ten years.

And who am I tagging?

Well, I only know two people who may take part, and they are Jess and Jenny.

Book Review: THE CUSTODIANS

"We're the innocence they have lost. Historyless is how they imagine us and happy for being that way. If only they knew. The only reason we exist is because of fucking history!"


Nicholas Jose's The Custodians is an interesting novel about the development and discovery of a national identity.

Through this novel Jose asks the question: Is there one Australian national identity, or are there many?
The reader is introduced to a number of characters from a variety of backgrounds: the indigenous, the stolen generation, the refugee immigrant, the colonialist decendent, the politician, the revolutionist, the religious.
Through his characters, who consistently cross each others' life paths, Jose is saying that despite racial, religious or political difference, in being Australian their identity is one and the same. That identity is tied to the Australian continent itself, forty thousand years of it and beyond.

Despite the novel being well-written and relatively easy to read, I found at times that Jose cut to and from characters and settings a little too often, which made it difficult to predict where the story was going. However, although frustrating at time, this inability to predict just made me more determined to find out how the story would end.
I also found some characters to be underdeveloped and a little hollow - that the reader is only learning their outer-shell and their deeper meaning is kept secret. This could have been deliberate, or simply a consequence of having too many characters.

However, overall an enjoyable and interesting read that I would recommend, to Australians and non-Australians alike.

Keeping it simple.

Birthday Card for LC in England.

Picture: Adare Castle (Ireland).

Embellishments: Vellum paper, card and brads.

Birthday Card for KC in Canada.
Picture: Hadrian's Wall (UK).
Embellishments: Card and stickers.

Happy Birthday, little sister

It will be my sister's 24th birthday this coming Wednesday, so last night I took some time out to make her a birthday card.

Cards are the only craft item I have time for these days, and even then I'm struggling to keep up and may have to give in and buy a pack of pre-made cards just so I'm getting them out on time. I miss the fun of crafting!

The photo on this card is of myself and my sister, when I was about 4 and my sister about 1 (my mum could no doubt correct me on this if I'm wrong). It incorporates chequered backing card, handmade cotton paper, ribbon, brads, cotton stitching, and a heart clip.

Cards, Cards, Cards

Birthday Card for PP in Iceland: Faerie artwork, cards, vellum and brads.

Birthday Card for CC in Holland: Amy Brown artwork, handmade paper, card & brads.

Birthday Creations

Birthday Card for FA in Brazil

Picture: Big Ben, London, England

Embellishments: Printed scrapbooking paper, printed Vellum paper, paper flowers, flower-brads, stampers, & cotton thread for border.

Birthday card for AS in USA

Picture: Outback South Australia

Embellishments: Printed scrapbooking paper and card, handmade cotton paper, stickers, and flower-brads.

Palace Deco

Picture: Buckingham Palace, London, England (this picture was taken in 2006 when SJ and I visited the UK).

Embellishments: Plain scrapbooking card used for backing, cotton thread used to add a slight border, and a silver flower brad.

Recipe Sunday

Thought I'd do something different this week and share a recipe.

This particular recipe I stole from a friend and modified to suit my own tastes.

Enjoy!

ZUCCHINI & TOMATO BAKE

INGREDIENTS:

1 large Zucchini

2 large tomatoes

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried mixed herbs

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

8 ounces mozarella cheese, shredded

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

PREPARATION:

Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish.Cut ends from zucchini and cut in 1/2-inch rounds. Cut cores from tomatoes and slice about 1/2-inch thick. Cut each slice into quarters.Combine the zucchini and tomatoes; sprinkle with the onion, garlic, salt, basil, and pepper. Toss to blend; drizzle with the olive oil and toss again to coat the vegetables. Turn the vegetables into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Top with cheese and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer.

Bookmarks

Today, when I perhaps should have been cleaning, I was in a creative mood so I made a couple bookmarks.

One is for a lady named Lucy in the USA, which was made as part of an online group swap, and the other I made for fun to include with a bookcrossing bookring that I am hosting for the novel True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey.

Birthday Cards

Since I have no scrapbooking projects on the go, and no mail art that needs to be signed, I decided to spend this afternoon making Birthday cards for some friends who are celebrating this month.

On my cards I utilize patterned colour card, homemade paper, vellum paper, embellishments such as brads and stickers, tags and cotton. The pictures I use are either downloaded from the internet, or are photos I've taken myself.

I use acid-free and photo-safe glue to hold everything together.

It takes approximately 45 minutes to design and make each card.

The first card features a Summer Sunset in Port Augusta, Sth Australia, which I took on Xmas Eve 2007.

The second is a picture I took of the ruins of an abbey at Adare in Ireland, August 2006, one of my favourite places in the world.

The picture on the third is of my friends Beccie, Claire & myself at Westminster Abbey, London, in August 2006. I made it for my friend Claire who will celebrate her 21st birthday in England on 26 Jan.

The last card features a picture of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, which I took in September 2007 on a wine tour to the region.

Time to be creative!

I needed a place where I could share my creativity. I've online photo albums, but unfortunately not everyone can see them, so I thought I'd start a blog to share my work.

The main creative outlet for me is Scrapbooking. I took it up in November 2007 and absolutely love it. I have not taken any classes, and only read up on a few interesting techniques I was previously unaware of. Years of participating in mail-art has made it an easy transition.

I still continue with the occasional mail-art booklet when I've no scrapbooking projects in the works. The above picture is a signing I completed in a "SNAIL" themed deco booklet on 05/01/08.

Other creative past-times I enjoy include baking, knitting, making cards and bookmarks, and mixed CDs.

This year I'd like to learn to sew so that I can start making myself a patchwork quilt.