Slow Living 2012 - October

Wow, really? The end of October already? Yikes!  Time really has flown by this month and to be honest, there hasn't been much going on on the Slow Living front. Still, let's see what has been happening here at The Hookery, shall we?

Nourish

There hasn't been much baking this month. None at all, in fact. This is probably a Good Thing as far as the waistline is concerned. I have still been cooking from scratch though, but I'm not sure whether this counts - I don't know any other way to cook...!

There has been a lot of slow cooker action though and a good number of elastic stews have been made ('elastic' because I dilute the last half portion of whatever it is with boiling water, give it a bit of attention with a potato masher and hey presto! Soup!). The food flask has also been pressed into service this month and it's been fab having a hot homemade lunch at the day job, especially as the office heating only just came on yesterday.

A bad photo of a good soup - slow roast lamb and Mediterranean veg, as I remember...

Prepare

Ain't done no stockpiling, sorry. Does making Christmas decorations for the shop count?

Reduce

I haven't been here much this month (more of that anon), so my bins have been delightfully empty. I ate up all the fridge contents before I left for my hols, which meant I didn't even food shop until the 23rd this month!

Green

Last month I swore I was going to make washing powder this month. I failed. I will make it in November. I will!

Grow

I haven't done anything new to the garden this month but I am *still* harvesting spinach, rocket, beetroot, carrots and salad onions.  I am pleased about this.  Alas, my basil and thyme plants have got a serious greenfly infestation. I am not pleased about this. Any suggestions for de-bugging them, or are they doomed?

Create

Well, the ripple blanket has grown a bit and some Christmas decorations have been made, but it's been a very quiet month for the crochet hooks, all things considered.

Enjoy

There's a lot to go under this heading. Or rather, one big thing to go under this heading: we went on holidaaaaaay!

The Beloved and I spent just over a week in Scotland and it was HEAVEN! Lots of good food, walking, sight-seeing, reindeer-feeding, castle-visiting and whisky-quaffing.

*ahem...*

I have really struggled to readjust to Normal Life since we got back, which is usually a sign that the holiday was somewhat overdue, but I think I've just about caught up and settled back in.

Fingers crossed for a more productive Slow Living post next month...

Don't forget, you can catch up with others doing the slow living thang over on the Slow Living Blog!