{ life }

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.

it seems to be happening again

Time is just slipping away at such a quick speed, and weeks seem to pass without any truly significant events. I have no great expectations of an extraordinary life (unless of course you count the extraordinary in the ordinary), but there are times when life is so routine that it simply fades into the past without much recognition.

I am spending four days a week at school this term which leaves little time for much else even though the work load is relatively low at this stage. The car has become my constant companion, and traveling is just a routine part of most of my days. Generally I don't mind the time I spend in transit, but it feels as though I am always rushing from A to Z.

My health was playing up a little last week which resulted in a quick trip to the GP. Of course I only went to see him to get a new prescription, but he insisted on running a few tests, blood work and x-rays since it has been so long since I have had it all done. As much as I appreciate his need to be thorough and professional it becomes such an inconvenience when you are feeling less than yourself, and you are having difficulty walking because your joints are irritated AND you know what the outcome will be anyway. When I went back to collect the results I just smiled graciously as he declared me to be 'in perfect health' - it wasn't a surprise, it is what they always say! The fact that there are days when I can't walk because my sacroiliac is so tender doesn't seem to be a significant factor in my overall health; I can only assume that there is still much for scientists to learn about what it means to be HLA-B27+, and all the effects (especially for women).

We celebrated Caleb's 7th birthday on Monday. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a child grows, but I still feel the need to hold onto him as my 'baby' (which naturally he is not complaining about since he is smart enough to see the benefits this positioning gives him). We spent the day at a friends pool, and later had a BBQ with the family that sit behind us each Sunday at Church. Caleb loved all the attention he received from everyone, but keeps reminding me that he hasn't had his family party yet. Now the countdown is on until Jacob's birthday next week!

So all in all my life is as it always is. - too many things on my 'to-do' list and not enough hours in the day, yet somehow all the necessary things get done and my family still have smiles on their faces. Maybe this is the extraordinary after all :)