on the last day of Winter...

On this last day of Winter ...

~ I constantly scooped up my baby girl and squeezed her tightly. I'm hoping to imprint her baby hood on some part of my psyche as it whirs past with each new day. She is days off mastering crawling replacing her commando shuffle of the last few months with a jerky all foured movement. It is delicious to watch as it excites and frustrates her in equal measures.

~ sprigs of jasmine grace the table. Our back neighbours have a thriving vine that is sending fragrant tendrils over our fence. When the breeze is just right, the yard is flooded with that heady white scent of Summer; iced mint tea, barefoot gardening and days at the beach are not far off.

~ Christmas lists were started. With an intent to give mindfully for not only the recipients but the planet we're favouring handmade. And so we turn to our kitchen, our garden, our hands. There's jam to be made - perhaps a marmalade this year.  Will we need more jars?  And then there's a pile of dishcloths to knit. Easy to make they are always a welcome gift.   A mud kitchen is in the making for the babies as is a woodworking basket. A few knitted farm animals peaking out of our wee one's stocking will be sure to bring chubby handed claps of joy.

~ Strawberries were eaten with gusto. With so many around at this time of year we are savouring them fresh from the punnet or chopped with a tiny drizzle of good balsamic vinegar and runny cream. The surplus are being stockpiled in the freezer for smoothies. (be sure to freeze them on a tray first and then when frozen, tumble them into a large container).

~ there was much hope in the coming of Spring. The veggie garden will produce new flavours for our kitchen, and with any luck, the germs of Winter may leave for a time. Creativity seems to thrive like our seedlings in the warmer weather and I feel renewed and invigorated. So many possibilities.

As the sun lingers in the sky longer over the coming weeks what adventures do you have planned? Amidst the busyness of Spring cleaning I do hope you find time to walk barefoot on the grass and turn your face to the sun.

Steph x

how to improve your gut health after antibiotics

The jar of wildflowers on the dining room table is a sure sign that Spring is just around the corner. And frankly, it can't come soon enough.  Winter saw us succumb to more than our fair share of runny noses and general malaise and what with the extra strain that breastfeeding places on a Mumma's body, I unfortunately was hit the hardest. After battling a nasty cough for weeks as best as I could with natural remedies and rest, I finally had to wave the white flag and take a course of antibiotics. Although a necessary evil that soon worked wonders on my respiratory health, their potency all but wiped out my gut flora. So now begins the slow task of healing my digestive system. Here are the ways I go about restoring my inner balance after a course of antibiotics:

~  A large jug of homemade bone broth or chicken stock is made weekly and added to almost all meals (to deglaze the pan, to loosen a sauce, in soups and stews...the uses are endless). It makes for a quick lunch when heated with freshly grated garlic, ginger and turmeric, a few snips of shallots and soba noodles and a substantial dinner when served with a big salad or roasted root veggies.  I often sip a small cup in the late afternoon to avoid the sugar low. Easy to make it is both soothing and healing to the gut with the added benefit of immune boosting qualities.

~ I take a daily high quality pro-biotic to help repopulate gut flora. It's no secret that antibiotics kill bacteria and while that is a winner on the sickness front, they are indiscriminate assassins killing off the "good guys" on their warpath. I find this one of the easiest supplements to remember to take - its the first thing I take in the morning and the last thing before I go to bed. Digestive activity is usually low at these time so gives them a great chance to work their magic. A daily dose of cod liver oil is also a must have supplement to helps reduce inflammation.

~ Fermented foods such as sauerkraut and miso make an appearance at least once a day. As a potent source of probiotics I like to make a quick soup for lunch with this miso and love the fresh crunch of this sauerkraut on fresh sourdough toast. With the warmer weather coming I'm looking forward to experimenting with my own homemade water kefir. Tricia has a wonderful tutorial I've bookmarked to refer to.

~ Minimising my sugar intake. Now this one is a tricky one for me!  As a self confessed sweet tooth I will always prefer a sugary treat over a healthier alternative but with sugar aiding in the growth of bad bacteria I simply have to make better choices. A mid morning snack of a cup of  tea and a slice of cake is now swapped for a handful of blueberries, some almonds, perhaps some hummus with raw veggies or a coconut milk smoothie. There's still cake in my world but for now its a once a week indulgence.

~ Eating a diet rich in pre-biotics. Now with the risk of over jargonising, pre-biotics are the foods that fuel the pro-biotics, nourishing them and helping them grow. Garlic, leeks and onions are gently sauteed to begin most meals as well as adding legumes (lentils and chickpeas) and beans, barley and root vegetables. I chop up a selection of both orange and white sweet potato, carrots, parsnip and pumpkin most mornings and stash them in the fridge until dinner prep. A quick coating of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and  pepper and then roasted in the oven for an hour makes for effortless veggies and a daily supply of pre-biotics.

Has the cold and flu season been unkind to you?  Do you have any fail safe ways to protect your intestinal health?

Steph x

today

  

Lately the day's have  been a jumble of pilled nursing bras, an on the move baby with a fascination for pot plants and mouldy windows.  Life has been good but adjusting to a new rhythm involving a mobile and food loving baby has taken it's toll on this space. What with the constant "wash clothes, hang out, bring in, put away" dance and the endless tasks of keeping a family of five thriving the words simply weren't there. My pencil has sat idle at the end of a day and evenings revolve around a bath and a hot cup of tea, a row or two of knitting and bed. And on the days when the veil of tiredness parted for a time, the words were stuck behind a wall of  judgement. What did I have to say? 

But today, today I cast aside the expectations and let the words tumble out. It felt good to write. 

I'm noticing Winter's skyline is evolving and I can feel Spring in the air. A renewal we are all looking forward to after the hibernation of the cooler months. As we play in the morning sunshine, socks and shoes feel cloying and my feet are enjoying dewy grass beneath them. Time to pay a little attention to those palid, dry feet and prepare them for Summer sandals. On my potting bench paper packets of seeds are lined up ready for planting. Poppies, cornflowers and Queen Anne's lace to attract the bees and Spring veggies; tomatoes, cucumbers and salad leaves.

Some time ago I found a mosquito net at the local op shop and today I hung it from the roof. Armed with vintage sheets and books Remy has created an undersea grotto beneath its ethereal clock. If the weather is mild again tomorrow we might suspend it from the branches of the jacaranda tree and let the baby cloud watch from within the gauzy haze.

Our local apiarist (an elderly fellow with bee hives in his suburban backyard) sells honey from a little stand in his front yard. It has been empty for the last few months but on our way home from school today I was thrilled to see a collection of golden jars. Pure and raw it tastes of fresh air and eucalypt blossoms. I replaced my usual English Breakfast tea with peppermint and a generous dollop and marvelled at nature's bounty. This could become a new morning ritual.

Today may you cast your eyes to the changing blue sky and be inspired. Go gently.

Steph x