in the lunchbox

 I've had a few readers ask recently what I pack in the kid's school lunchboxes.

I will warn you now that I've never been one of those mothers that baked chicken wings or made little quiches just for the purpose of school lunches. Though my kids probably wished I did.

We don't have fancy lunchboxes here. I think I bought them when both started preschool, and we've been using them ever since.

I used to buy packets of things for their lunchboxes. Muesli bars, popcorn packets or little sesame bars. I have to say that they were incredibly convenient. Just throw them in and all you have to make is a sandwich. But when I examined the ingredient list, and mind you they are far better than some options, a few of those ingredients didn't quite sit right with me. Not exactly great on the budget either. So I stopped buying them.

Which was a little scary at first. How do you do lunch boxes from scratch? With nothing to fall back on?

Most of the time I bake our own bread here, so butter and a simple filling are usually for lunch. Recess, the realm of the packet food, is a little trickier. When I do make muffins or biscuits, I try to do a double batch to save time later in the week when I might be busier. And then there's fruit break. Now that's an easy one. Trickier, sometimes, to get them to actually eat it.



3 days of lunchboxes from the past week:

• muffins from here (flavoured with vanilla and quince jam)
• homemade bread roll with butter, grated carrot and grated cheese
• local apple

 

• muffins, again from here, plain sprinkled with cinnamon and rapadura sugar
• homemade bread with butter and peanut butter (freshly crushed at our local health food store)
• orange

• homemade bread with butter, cabbage slaw (sliced cabbage, dressed with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and touch of mustard and cream) and sliced tomato from the garden
• wholemeal crackers (I will post this recipe soon)
• slices of cheddar
• orange (again)

Being a small school there hasn't been an issue from their classmates with the kids eating slightly different food. Living some distance from town, there are quite a few other parents who bake from scratch, garden and make preserves. Not to mention the influence of the kitchen garden.


How about you? Any lunchbox ideas that you might like to share? 

ten

1. A thick blanket of white frost and a minus 3 this morning.
2. I think I need new ugg boots. Or patches? We've had a good four years together and your orange stripes tell me that you are really much older than that.
3. Morning sun. You would never guess at the temperature outside.
4. Wondering if I really could tackle an Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern. Could I?
5. My only window sill herb. Thinking that I'd like to add more.
6. The smell of vegetable stock made from scraps wafting through the house.
7. I love to see my kids read. Even sweeter to spy them reading to their little sister.
8. The last of the roses for now. Are they dormant over Winter? I really should read up.
9. Still climbing. Only one minor injury so far.
10. There is nothing warmer in Winter than wool handknits. My needles would never be able to keep up. Thank goodness for these (increasingly rare) op shop finds. It has taken several seasons to collect a nice stash of jumpers for home.

Wishing you all a pleasant day in your world.

..

Hello.


I've been away for a little bit. We got back at midnight on Saturday after spending time with family in the Southern Highlands and Kiama, and of course, Pop's funeral in Sydney.

I wanted to say a warm thank you to all those that left condolences last week. Each and every one was so very much appreciated.

We stayed in Pop's house. As neat, tidy and functional as it always was. Just as if he stepped out for a minute.

We survived the trip into Sydney, and I've decided I don't like tunnels, and where did all that non-peak hour traffic come from anyhow? I never remembered such traffic. My palms were sweating by the time we pulled into the quiet and peaceful suburb of La Perouse, and I wasn't even the one driving.

Things went as well as they could have though. My uncle talked about Pop's life. About him meeting my grandmother while she was backpacking around Europe and following her halfway across the world. About being rejected as a "ten pound pom" because his blood pressure was too high. About how his proudest career moment as a town planner was helping save the historic buildings of Windsor from the developers.

 At the last minute I was asked to recite a poem that was left with Pop's paperwork. Public speaking does not come easily to me, but I managed it, and felt that I had contributed in a small way.

We found my grandmothers plaque and the reserved space beside hers. They will be together again after half a lifetime apart.

During the next few days we visited family. We visited our old areas that were becoming run down, but still comfortingly familiar. Our old life and our current life felt like worlds apart.

I think though, as we drove into a our gate that night, we were most grateful to be home. Home to the quiet. Home to the cold. Home to the comforting feel of flannel sheets and thick doonas.


And life goes on.

Despite flat feelings.

Despite deeper thoughts about life.

Despite endings.

.

I received the phone call yesterday morning that I had been expecting for the past few weeks. My grandfather, known as "Pop" to us, had passed away during the night. He was 89.

I used to stay with my Pop during the school holidays. He would take me to museums and on train rides into the city. I enjoyed those stays, and would spend my spare time reading from his library.

Pop was the most organized person I knew. He loved books, crosswords and the morning paper. In later years he connected to the internet. He never really stopped learning.

He saw and travelled so much over the course of his life.

My entire life I have received a birthday card in the mail, always a day or two early. In recent years, so have my kids.  He never missed a single birthday, even when he was in hospital last year. I'm going to miss those cards.


I'm going to miss him.

Rest in peace, Pop.

hibernating

Though the weekend weather started out pleasant enough, it soon deteriorated into some icy, windy and sleety weather. Just in time for my warm-weather loving brother and his family. It was nice to get together again and see the cousins play together. It brought back memories of that connection cousins share.

My own kiddies surprised me with a little assortment of presents on Sunday morning.  Though there was no breakfast in bed (I cooked pancakes for a crowd instead), it was still a special day of family and being together. Firstly extended family, and then just us. So while the icy wind howled outside and rain made the occasional appearance, we were all indoors together. Enjoying the fire, cheese platters, frittata  and hot drinks. Though I did have to brave that cold for two loads of washing.

I remember now why I love the cold.

How was your weekend? Was it cold where you are? Did you tend to hibernate too?

               

good things

Today promises to be a big day of (thorough) cleaning and bulk cooking with my brother and his family coming tomorrow to stay at the shed. Yesterday I went to the local butcher and bought plenty of mince, some rump steak and a huge amount of Italian sausages. So lots of crowd cooking today. I will cook up a basic lasagne and a few baked goods to see us through part of the weekend. Perhaps some homemade lemon cordial as a treat. A barbeque is also on the cards.

We have been scrumping apples (a new word to me, courtesy of last night's River Cottage, you can view it here). There is something very satisfying about picking free, unwanted apples. This lot have a crisp and juicy sweet, sour flavour (though I did have to peel most of them). Like rather unattractive Granny Smiths with a delicious inner personality.

Some new fabric from here. I'm not quite sure what to do with it yet, but I love the fresh colours and the simply drawn prints with a Scandinavian feel. Any ideas?

My knitting and Julia's knitting. Not much more to go on this project. Thank goodness I have the right amount of stitches this time.

Julia is making her first scarf.

A new little reading pile. Again, about food. And knitting. Perfect late night reading when my brain is too tired to read much else. Filing away in my mind lots of from scratch recipes to try one day.                  

The broadbeans have all emerged from the soil. This will be my first time growing them. But I am already a big fan of eating them. I used to buy big bag fulls at our old farmers market. I miss the farmers market.

May your weekend be filled with many good things.

rays of sunshine

I was quite surprised to learn from yesterdays post that so many of you could relate to being the introverted type. It seems I am not alone, though I've often felt like the square peg in a round hole. There are many of us out there that much prefer the life of being at home. It makes me feel very blessed that I do get to live this life. I feel that it is the career I was searching for. Despite the expectations of society. A few of you spoke about the tendency to become a hermit. I really do get this. When friends start working and are too busy for catch ups, I can feel myself becoming a little hermit like. Daniel is the complete opposite. An extrovert who thrives on company. So it can be a tricky balance at times.


I am off into town today for my one day out. There is grocery shopping to do, errands to run and hopefully a fancy coffee to drink. It can be quite a feat on these days to get all four of us dressed and out of the house before school starts. Off with the trackies and on with the town clothes (and I still haven't decided if it will be a dress or jeans day). It lifts my spirits to be nicely dressed occasionally.


Hasn't this local weather been unseasonably warm? I do hope you are enjoying some rays of sunshine wherever you are.