{ life }

back in action!

OK, I know it has been a while since my last post, but quite seriously it has had nothing to do with me. For some reason my blog has been experiencing 'technical difficulties', but I have been assured that all is well now and the problems are behind me. And, I certainly hope it is true because it was incredibly frustrating...

Frustration behind me, I can focus on the fact that school is finished for the term and I feel as though I can relax a little and just enjoy the everyday moments that come my way. Between the stress of final exams and assignments, and the inconvenience of getting just sick enough to be uncomfortable with a long drawn out cold, my only sanity has been the fact that this year I have no full year subjects, which means the semester break is truly stress free.

coming out from under my rock

I can't believe that the school holidays are far behind me and everyday life is back in full swing! I had such hopes of accomplishing much during the break, but the reality of life with kids prevailed and nothing of any great significance was really achieved (yes I know quality time with the kids is significant, but you know what I mean). This week is flying by at lightening speed too. Being a new term with new timetables and a changing climate we have all struggled to find our way a little. It is so hard to get up early when the weather is cold and the body is still in holiday mode, but slowly yet surely we have been finding our routines again.

We had the normal first day dramas on Tuesday morning as we all prepared to leave the house. Without fail each first day of term begins in tantrums or tears! Even though I always spend time with each child during the break to ensure they have a weeks worth of clean and ironed uniform, and tracksuit pants without holes in them for P.E., there will still be that one single item that someone needs that can't be found. It is usually a hat or a library book, or my personal favourite - a permission slip that was due back at the end of the previous term. Yep, no matter how organised I think I am, my children like to bring a little perspective to my reality (or is that a little reality to my perspective, lol).

I'm looking forward to my school term overall. There is lots to do, but for the most part it is all stuff I like getting stuck into. Right now I am designing a high-end guest bedroom in a gorgeous palette of lavender and olive. I deliberately chose a colour scheme outside my comfort zone to challenge myself a little, and so far I am liking the possibilities. School can be a little disenchanting at times because I often feel as though individual style and creativity are dissuaded, so it is my goal to make a real effort to stay positive as much as is humanly possible. I must continue to remind myself of a quote by Joseph Campbell, "It takes courage to do what you want. Other people have a lot of plans for you."

2 days down...

I have felt as though I have been buried under a rock these last few weeks! As the end of term grew closer I realised just how much school work I needed to complete and really had to concentrate on getting it all done. It was a little strange really, because for most of the term I was simply coasting through, not having to think too hard or do too much, and then suddenly it felt as though it was a race to the finish line. It sounds as though I am just utterly disorganised, which is exactly how it felt, but this whole term has been a little chaotic from the school's point of view with new teachers taking over and new programmes being implemented, which unintentionally became the source of the disorder.

Well, needless to say I survived with my mind in tact and completed the assignments that were due, and even gave a reasonable oral presentation that I was dreading. Then the next wave of assignments rolled in and I promised myself that this first week of school holidays I would make as big a dent as possible. Naturally that was optimistic considering it is also school holidays for the kids. We are only officially on day three of the holiday period and I have either been referee, nurse, instructor or general all-round boredom breaker approximately once every 15 minutes.

Only mothers in the midst of it all can truly appreciate the significance of the motherhood 'cap' - it takes precedence over all other areas of life, pretty much no matter what! Wayne will come home and sweetly ask me how my day was and enquire how much school work I have gotten through (because he knows that this week is meant to be dedicated to school, so next week we can do fun stuff when he is on holiday), and I reply 'some', because it sounds so much better than 'not too much at all'. What I think is truly amazing is that it will all get done - somehow, although I'm not too sure how, it will. It always does!

life as I know it

I am still struggling to find that ever elusive balance that I chose to prize above all else this year. It has been weighing on my mind that things have not been going to plan and then today I suddenly realised something I should have known all along - for me it is simply not possible to be in a constant state of balance, but rather my life is the result of constant ebb and flow that needs to occasionally be reigned in to ensure my overall existence is one of balance.

I know, it sounds as though I am being overly philosophical, but it is a simple truth I am only just now fully comprehending. Life is busy, demanding, quiet and rewarding all at the same time. I guess my only regret is that I am racing towards the quiet moments in life in order to embrace them rather than just stumbling into a moment of downtime that requires nothing of me whatsoever. I am in a constant state of movement, but for now I have to appreciate and embrace the fact that this is who I am right now.

a zucchini summer

This year Wayne nurtured an abundant crop of zucchini.  It has surprisingly become a way of life for us this summer, and even though it is rather a unique vegetable I have come to depend on it for a couple of family favourites...

Zucchini Slice

400g Zucchini

1 lge Onion

3 Rashers of Bacon

1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese

1 cup S/R Flour

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

5 Eggs

Salt & Pepper

Grate zucchini. Saute chopped onion and bacon with small amount of oil. Combine onion, bacon, zucchini, cheese, sifted flour, oil and lightly beaten eggs. Season. Pour into well greased lamington tin lined with baking paper. Bake in moderate oven for 30-40 minutes or until brown. Release from tin after slightly cooled. Cut into slices once completely cooled. (The kids love this in their lunch boxes)

Zucchini Quesadillas

4 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Onion, chopped

Salt

4 cloves Garlic, minced

2 medium Zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

1 cup Frozen Corn Kernels

4 lge Flour Tortillas

2 cups Grated Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Heat 3 Tbsp oil over medium heat. Add onion and 1 tsp salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft. Stir in garlic; cook for 1 minute more.

Add zucchini and frozen corn; cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is soft and corn is tender.

Brush one side of all the tortillas with remaining oil; lay 2 tortillas, oiled side down, on a baking sheet. Place half of the filling on each, and sprinkle with half the cheese. Place remaining 2 tortillas on top, oiled side up; press down gently with a spatula to seal.

Bake until cheese has melted and tortillas are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and cut into wedges to serve. Serves 4

I usually increase the filling quantity just slightly and double the tortillas to effectively serve 8. We eat these with shredded cooked chicken, salsa, lettuce and sour cream.