I recently did an afternoon workshop to learn a bit about fermented and cultured foods. Hopefully this is just the start of a new interest for me. Here is the information as printed on the invitation for the afternoon.

"Partake in an afternoon of culinary learning and gastronomic inspiration.
Learn the simplicity of making foods like lacto fermented veggies, pickles,
chutneys, salsas, cortido, sauerkraut, kvass, & kefir. Enjoyed all winter, without refrigeration, and with tremendous health benefits you can easily make them a part of your lifestyle! Across the globe for centuries these brilliant & nutritionally prolific foods have been the sustenance of traditional cultures. Cultured foods are literally alive, both with flavour & nutritional abundance.

Think of tangy sauerkraut, spicy kim chee, rich earthy
miso, creamy kefir, cultured cream, smooth velvety yogurts, aged cheeses. Fermentation unlocks a cornucopia of hidden health giving properties.

Cultured food buttresses our natural defense systems.
They provide probiotics (or beneficial bacteria) that form a powerful front line defense for vibrant immunity. You will leave with your own jar of sauerkraut, recipes and a heap of effervescent resources. Enjoy samples of local ferments to taste, savour and delight in!"

Hedgehog

Such funny little creatures. We were lucky to see this little guy in our backyard recently as they are usually nocturnal.

Saskias BD 2008

My baby is five! Luckily we had a great day for her birthday party as the main event was the bouncy castle.

We had a backyard full of kids including Saskia, Joshua, Ethan, Neo, Jordan, Dylan, Alice, Rayhana, Heath, Liam and Morgana who went to Abacus with Saskia last year.

Gebes Pass

We were so fortunate to be invited to an open day at Gebes Pass recently. It is the only major wind turbine in Christchurch and is even more special as there are links back to Richards family via one of the original designers, Neil, who has sadly sinced passed away.

What an amazing experience. We got to stand right under the turbine as it wooshed around as well as look inside the tower.

First day of school 2008

Both the kids are now at the same school which really will make life easier this year. Saskia has started in the 3-6 classroom and is thriving. The first week was quite a difficult one as she had a hard time settling in and me leaving her there.

I was quite surprised as she has been at childcare and kinder since 12mths. She also knows so many people at Nova, Josh has been there for 4 years so Saskia knows a lot of the other kids and staff.

All is good now though and we are off for our first class excursion this week.