Guess what????? We found a RC (Residential Commitee) ran vegetable patch at our estate! How cool is that when we have been longing for more green since we got back?

It’s not exactly a patch anymore. It used to be a patch where some old guys hung around and grow plants but it’s grown! It’s about the size of a playground. There is now an enclosure and the residents can apply for an area to grow whatever they like!

It was such a treat for Sophie and I. We met Uncle Yip who showed us around. He even carried Sophie to see the taller plants. She was thrilled to see baby pumpkins, lady’s fingers, chillies, bittergourds and so much more. Apparently they are going to make a little fish pond too for the kids to catch fish and play.

Woo hoo! Rural right at my doorstep.

There is really no more space to stack any more baby clothes or toys. I like it when my friend told us in her kids’ birthday invite not to buy anything because there’s simply no more space. I can totally identify.

A few friends and I have started a toy exchange program (not so serious). Our kids are the same age so we’ve been going to each other’s place to check out the toys and exchanging them. It’s been really great coz Sophie saw the newly borrowed toys and went "wah!" really loudly. I was so pleased coz I didn’t need to pay a single cent for it.

On a more serious note, it’s really time to simplify and live differently. By creating less demand and wastage, hopefully we can help save a tiny bit of the world’s resources. I had a little chat over MSN with our beloved Pastor Dan recently and we talked about how the world is potentially heading towards anarchy. There is no way we can continue to maintain our current lifestyle in the near future. With resources running out and world population increasing, the prices are going to increase (as already predicted for next year) and people are going to feel the lack and fight over the little that is left. By the way, our fav mutton kway teow soup increased from $3 to $3.50!! Our weekly indulgence has just gone up by $1! This is just a small indication of what’s going to happen in the near future.

As Christmas approaches and as the year comes to an end, maybe it’s time to reflect on what is truly important. Maybe, just maybe by reducing the things in our lives, we create more space in our hearts for God, ourselves and the people around us.

Did i mention that we changed our gate?

This was just before we left for Aus. It’s a nice gate. BLACK w bits of green to represent mould. ?!? Ya. It’s quite nice. We decided against the bronzy one coz everyone else has it and it was just too predictable. It was really instant decision. Like the guy came by to ask if we wanted a new gate and we said yes. Just like that. It’s really not like me to pay a large amount of money without thinking much. But I just thot it’ll be nice to have a new gate.

It’s amazing how a new gate makes everything looks nicer. I really like my new gate.

…. those are our little neighbours that always pop by. Their mum just gave birth today! Sophie has a new playmate.

Since I’ve been cooking for the family, I’ve been so much more aware of nutritional values. Everytime i’m at the supermarket, you’ll see me scrutinising at the Nutrition Fact section of every product i pick up. How much Sodium? Trans Fat? Sugar? Coz No Added Sugar doesn’t mean no sugar. Preservatives? I take a really really long time to pick up stuff, esp for Sophie.

I’m learning A LOT about food. It’s really scary what goes into our diet nowadays. Everything is loaded with salt and preservatives.

If I’m cooking, I try to cook without salt as much as possible. Just a bit for taste. Recently I’ve taken to making my own stock. It’s so yummy. I use it for Sophie’s porridge and dishes BUT i always steal her food coz it’s just SO YUMMY! I’ve also taken to VEGGIES! Yes Ai Ling eats veggies now! With joy! It’s all because of Sophie. When she started eating solids, we are to introduce each veggie one by one so I got to taste each veggie for its original taste – without butter/salt/oil etc. So yummy! I started experimenting with different veggies cooked different styles using stock/herbs instead of the idiot proof oyster sauce or salt.

My aim is to ultimately prepare/cook all the stuff we eat including snacks and drinks SO THAT i can to some extend control the nutritional value of our diet. I hope lah… in my ideal world. Maybe in 10 years. Heh heh… I keep looking at the Amabel Karmel cookbooks and wish it’ll come alive. Hahaha…. Slowly but surely….