d.i.y. anaerobic fermenting jar

So... I have been fermenting at home for a while. Making saurerkraut and kefir, etc. 

I have also wanted to buy the anaerobic Pickl-it jars for a while too. But they are so expensive here in Austrailia and only one distributor... so I decided to make my own. 

I found a tutorial online and had a friend who had made some too, so with that knowledge and a few cheap materials I (or that is my Mr. ) made my own.

Here is a quick guide incase you want to do the same....

First I found some glass 'Fido' jars... I found mine at a local flea market but you can also buy them at 'House' kitchen shops and op-shops.

Then I bought a 12mm Diamond glass drill bit from Bunnings... for about $19.

You will also need a grommet (per jar) and an airlock..... I found mine in Big W in the home brew section. Grommets were $2 for a two pack and airlocks $3.50.

So, the original tutorial that I found said you needed a drill press to drill the glass lids, but my friend had done hers with a hand held drill. It is possible to use a hand held, but you need to have a steady hand and you will get some chipping around the hole. Ideally, I think you would get a much better result using a drill press, but hand held can be done.

So, unclip your lid from your jar and remove the wire. 

Mark your spot for drilling.

Lay lid on a cloth and clamp to your work bench.

Add a bit of water and get drilling. Start drilling on a 45 degree angle then drill straight down... low and slow.

Clean the lid.... add your grommet and airlock and your done!

Happy fermenting!

four

To my darling little Z,

 I really can't believe it has been four years..... Four seasons of rains and screeching black cockatoos that always remind me of the stormy night you were born....  Four whole cycles around the sun.  A BIG four. Instead of being a toddler with babyish ways, you are becoming a young girl. It is frightening, but so delicious.... Watching you unfurl, and grow, all the while challenging me and stretching me in all the ways I need it! You are my wee wild woman. And I love you. Thank you for making my life a wild and exciting adventure... full of EVERYTHING! Good and sometimes not so good. You are my teacher and my greatest love. I love growing beside you and learning with you everyday.

Sweet one....  the adventure is just beginning.

Big soggy hearted love,

Mama x

wintermoon

Well folks..... it has been a while. It seems to be the flow for me. The ebb and flow of life and time.... the doing and not doing of things.
Anyway.... A bit of a catch up on where we have been and what has been filling our days. These photo's are from the Wintermoon festival, held up in the beautiful hinterlands of Mackay. A gorgeous three days of music, markets, food and festivities. It had such a lovely family friendly vibe, lots of kids running around.... We had such a great time. And the little one painted her own parasol! It was such a wonderful and magical experience that really helped to 'top us up' during our mundane four week Mackay visit. So refreshing! Thank you Wintermoon. x

home life

A little bit of what has going on at home these days. We have been having such lovely autumn days with crisp and misty mornings. The little one and I have found a really lovely rhythm together and it seems like all most overnight she has transformed from my little babe into a young girl. It is really so magical to witness and I am so thankful. x

A little bit of wedding research....... excited!

 

Brewing water keffir. It is a great, probiotic rich, fermented drink. I am really getting into to it and have got the hang of it now. I have been adding in some organic grape juice into the second ferment which has made it so much easier to feed to the little one! Getting some good bubbles happening too...... It is so good, you should try it.

Just purchased my first gluten and grain free bread mix. How cool is that! We are so lucky to have a great grain free cafe in our neighbouring town... 'Husk and Honey' it is called, for the local folks who want to check it out..... it really is awesome. I am looking forward to trying out the bread mix, since I haven't had any kind of bread for a few months now. I will let y'all now how it turns out.

And this cute face is our beloved dog, Binda. The little one and her are best friends. It is really so entertaining to watch them together. Binda has just turned one, so she is very playful. Her and little Z will play and chase each other for ages..... they are the best playmates. We spend most afternoons outside in the garden with the dog, the chooks and the guinea fowl. 

A lovely way to end the day.

a new chapter

I have a little announcement folks..... Papa Appleseed and I are engaged! Yay! It has been a long and sometimes rocky road for us but we have come through with a solid love and understanding of each other. We are taking this opportunity to start a fresh chapter in our lives for us and our family.... with lots of love and celebration! It is a special time...... and I am soaking it up!

the colours of time....

Forgive me for I have sinned. It has been over 2 months since my last blog post. Wow. I hadn't really realised it had been so long! Life has been full... of ups and downs and the in betweens. My initial absence from this space was the result of a two week lurgy that left me quite weak, depleted and feeling sorry for myself. I had a lot of time for introspection..... And a lot of change has occurred around here, both physically and mentally. We have adopted a new and healthier grain-free, sugar-free diet. It was a little daunting at first but once we got the hand of it, it was pretty easy and I am really feeling good for it now.  I have been meaning to come back to this space many times.... update and all the rest, and many nights I actually planned it..... Alas, I have eventually come back, much clearer and in good health. I don't know, but it feels like there has been a lot of planetary shifts, or something going on with the universe lately.... 'cause life has been really full for us here. Maybe it is the quickening .... but whatever it is, this illumination... it's working for me. Life is good and I am happy.

The sun rises. The sun sets, and the leaves change their colours. 

these days....

The wet season has most definitely arrived. We have had almost 2 weeks now of continuous rain. And it's great! Our rainwater tanks are overflowing, we have been having long showers and big baths, and doing tons of laundry. But there is only so much you can do with a 3 year old cramped up in a 4m x 8m cabin! 

Naturally there is a lot of getting out amongst it, as we still have the guinea fowl and chickens to attend to and there always seem to be so many more jobs to do when preparing for a lot of rain.  Plenty of drain digging in the rain and rigging up last minute tarp coverage over the fowls, trying to keep everyone dry.

So trying to keep the little ones hands busy has been a real creative motivator. Here is a little of what has been filling our days.

::  We finally made our first batch of homemade and home grown organic grape jam (full post and recipe to come).

::  Shared said jam with friends over some hot buckwheat pancakes. Yum!

::  Played lots of music and put on many impromptu performances (the little one that is).

::  Read many, many books.

::  Built cities in the living room.

::  Made a cardboard robot (complete with genitals).

::  Built forts in the bedroom.... for hiding in.

::  Wrestled with the dog and played chase around the house. A lot!

::  Ventured into the rain to swim in the creek... while it is full of water.

::  Lots of drawing.

::  And lots of tea drinking.