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Duck's Back
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24.01.2022 Raindrops keep falling on my rhubarb.
23.01.2022 My passions are in order of my business name. Movement. Growing food and we all need to eat so cooking is kinda essential (hello Thermomix). When I wake up, my first thoughts always include how I can create 'movement' activity for the day. Functional, intentional, sustainable fitness. ... I loved reading this article in today's Age "Your body loves exercise 'snacks' - even if they only last a minute". It's how I operate. Here's the article: https://bit.ly/3hMW1ob What do you prefer? Movement 'snacks' or smash out an hour at the gym and be sedentary for 23 hours? Moira x
23.01.2022 Cocktails & conversation. Happy Hour. I'm hosting a Virtual Cocktail Party for my Thermomix Customers tomorrow night. Would you like to join is? Class starts at 5pm.... And, it's a full moon....anything could happen. Hic! Please message me if you would like the zoom link.
21.01.2022 A Thermomix Consultant isn't just for Christmas... I contacted Alicia this morning to thank her for feedback on another facebook page (pic below). Her comments have led to many people connecting with me. Alicia's text reply; "I have really discovered that having an engaged consultant really does make you get the most out of the machine, I have used it so much more in the past year than I ever have ! Thank-you for all your hard work, it's a recommendation well deserved ".... I can't begin to express how appreciative I am, the positivity endorphins are flowing. Thank you. I do my best. You have made my day! Moira
21.01.2022 If at first you don't sucSEED then try again. Our local, Ashburton Community Centre has a seed bank. Members of the community can donate or take. The gift of reciprocity. I'm focusing on covid story positives and this is one of them.... Five libraries in Melbourne have started a food seed bank. It can only grow from here. Pun intended. Click below to read the full story. Moira x
21.01.2022 When I was spreading my compost a few days ago there were a quite a few egg shells (we go through A LOT of eggs). Worms don't have teeth so if they are left whole they take ages to decompose. Soil needs calcium.... Gardens love egg shells. I often simply crush them and sprinkle around seedlings. Think of them as being razor blades for snails. This batch I've washed, baked and blitzed. I'll scatter them around the chicken coup as my girls also need calcium for healthy eggs. The cycle continues. #TowardsZeroWaste
20.01.2022 You can almost taste it can't you? And I'm not talking about this passata, I am talking about summer. It's in the air. I love spring the most but summer, oh beautiful summer I adore you for tomato abundance. ... This week I was shopping at Organically Grown Malvern and I purchased a box of reduced organic tomatoes. Fresh passata coming right up. Oh, I love summer for basil also. I have some growing but I keep harvesting before it becomes established. Please share your favourite passata recipe! This one was from cookidoo. Moira x
20.01.2022 Years ago I had an article published. The title was "Let's talk about the 'c' word". I was referring to cleaning. Let's just say, I am never Naturally Inspired to dust, clean the shower or toilets.... We renovated a few years ago and over time a stain on my new toilet bowl appeared that just wouldn't budge. In hindsight the design of the toilet bowl is actually stupid making it very hard to clean. Over time, the stain just kept growing and no amount of scrubbing would remove it. A post and recipe on The Inspired Little Pot caught my attention. Guess what? Using ingredients from my pantry I have managed to lift the stain completely. Bam. Wholefood, back to basic food staples also make FANTASTIC cleaning products. The same mix is used to clean my showers. As per the recipe, I also added a few drops of Doterra Essential oils in the mix because they assist with the process and make you home smell heavenly. Let's face it, I will NEVER be inspired to dust, clean toilets or showers but when I do I very happy that I'm not using any toxic chemicals in my home. I have purchased bulk citric acid and bicarb so not completely zero waste but these two 5kg bags will last me years - saving heaps of landfill (with smaller quantities of commercially designed products). If you would like to purchase any Doterra Essential Oils please chat with my good friend Michelle from The Lost Lady: Essential Oils Community. Create your great Tuesday. Happy cleaning? Moira x #Winning
20.01.2022 Flavour Enhancers, naturally. Rosemary is renown for strengthening the memory and has an interesting history. It was once used as a symbol of love and fidelity. At funerals, mourners are encouraged to toss sprigs into the grave as a symbol that the departed would not be forgotten. It is said that branches of rosemary were burnt in homes in the Middle Ages to protect people from the plague. It was hung around sick rooms and in hospitals as a healing incense. Sprigs can be plac...ed under pillows to prevent bad dreams. Over 20 constituents in rosemary have an antioxidant action, playing a rule in neutralising free radicals and toxins - relieving pain and slowing the ageing process. It can help to improve blood circulation. Other therapeutic uses include strengthening the heart and eyesight, it can promote healthy liver and kidney function, correct low blood pressure, stimulate appetitive, nervous tension....the list could go ON and ON and ON. Rosemary contains vitamins A, B, C & E and contains calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium. Are you growing rosemary? It's often a street plant which gives you some indication that it needs very little maintenance. Please don't purchase rosemary in plastic bags. Take a walk around your neighbourhood. You'll soon discover its abundance. I have lots of rosemary at the moment so I've just made quick batch of flavoured (rosemary) salt. I'll leave on the windowsill to dry naturally and use (sparingly) in recipes. A natural home grown way to increase the flavour of my food. Click 'like' if you are going to make some too! Create your great Friday, Moira x
19.01.2022 Emma Dean - Masterchef is the face of the City of Boroondara FOGO campaign. We met pre-covid at a Council function and have similar interests including foraging and spreading the 'zero waste' message. Food Organics Garden Organics - an initiative to collect food waste, kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, small branches etc. They are then transported to a facility and turned into compost. In just two months Boroondara residents have diverted more than 200 tonnes of food waste pe...r week into their lime-green FOGO bin. 'Waste' that would have otherwise gone to land'full'. That's impressive! Anyways, this week Emma shared her Rhubarb Cake recipe. I have rhubarb abundance at the moment so I thought I would 'Thermofy' her recipe. I was pretty happy with the final result. Anyone for afternoon tea? The cake is simply delicious! Moira x
19.01.2022 There are words that rarely escape my lips. Can’t Try Should... Motivate are the ones that immediately spring to mind. If you ever say to me Im not motivated to cook or exercise - my eyes glaze over immediately. If I repeated what I’m actually thinking we quite possibly wouldn’t meet again. It’s a work in progress but over the years I have learned to restrain myself and not think out loud. Some friendships are worth preserving! Anyways, a few weeks ago I called Melbourne Water and chatted with Huon Stephens, he is the Maintenance Coordinator for the company. The call was deflating. All positive suggestions were met with negative responses; We need to address source reduction. Rubbish is too expensive to remove. Litter traps are tricky to install and maintain We already have a number of spots where litter is collected. ~ You see, I’m a ‘can do’ person. I once was interviewed by (and worked with) a gentleman who held the position of Managing Director at Coca Cola. It was for a marketing role at a national radio syndication company. He fired questions at me for over an hour to see how I would respond, what if this happened, what would you do, if XYZ wasn’t up for sponsorship who else would you approach?. I got the job and we spent years working side-by-side - I was taught by the best. My boyfriend (husband now) once told me I couldn’t run a marathon. Five months later he crossed the line just 20 minutes before me. Yep, unable to run 100 metres to 42.195kms in 5 months (in a time of 4.11.06). ~ This is who you are dealing with. ~ When you tell me ‘YOU CAN'T my brain just goes ‘PING. I’ll then search for solutions and will go out of my way to prove otherwise. ~ This morning a couple of my neighbours and daughter collected over 5 heavy bags of ‘waste’ near the Food Forest in Ashburton. We are talking an area of about 100 metres (only) along Gardiners Creek. Melbourne Water (Huon) said it’s too expensive and impossible to fix because of the flashy - large rain events that we are experiencing. We can fly people to the moon so surely we have the human intelligence to create a WASTE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM to prevent this pollution from entering yOUR oceans? I cannot ‘fight’ this problem alone. It will take a community for change to occur and for someone who has a scientific brain to design a solution to the ‘unsolvable problem’ and to put an end to the horrific amount of rubbish entering Port Phillip Bay (and wherever the tides flow). If anyone knows of local members or and existing Facebook group specifically aimed at cleaning up yOUR waterways (specifically Gardiners Creek) can you please connect with me. Council and Melbourne please let's meet. Cleaning up yOUR community is a priority. Create your great Sunday. Please secure your rubbish. Moira x City of Boroondara Cr Garry Thompson 1 Million Women #WarOnWasteAU Take 3
18.01.2022 Playgrounds are closed in Melbourne but trees remain open from 5am-8pm (soon to be 9pm). Focusing on (some) covid positives. #NaturalMovement #GoOutside #BackToBasics #VitaminD
17.01.2022 Cash for cans in Victoria please. Not just for yOUR environment. Pocket money for children. And perhaps for others a purpose?
17.01.2022 Gotta be honest, I am feeling a bit flat today. With Thermomix we have a yearly challenge and we were meant to be celebrating those achievements together in March. ThermoFest - location Shanghai. In December 2019, a tiny little article in The Age newspaper caught my attention about an unknown virus in China. Naturally I started following the story. There was much discussion amongst consultants. Are you going? What do you think? Will it be safe? By the end of January I had alr...eady made the decision that I would not be attending ThermoFest 2020. By February it was becoming obvious that the event in Shanghai would need to be pulled. Thermomix in Australia rescheduled for September in Uluru. To be honest, I was even more excited. I hiked Larapinta a few years agothe chance of returning with some of my favourite people was a dream come true. My boots were given a dust off! Of course our trip to the NT was also cancelled. I don’t think anyone could have predicted the challenges that 2020 was about to bring. Today we are celebrating the achievements online via Zoom. It’s not quite the same. Anyways, I’m not feeling sad about the lack of travelI have been saying for a very long time that travel is too cheap (like water). We have lost respect for the privilege and the damage tourism is causing to yOUR environment is irreversible. When I look back to my mother’s generation (and how I grew up), we never travelled. My mother went to Lorne for her honeymoon and only went to Queensland once - because I won a holiday there with radio station 3DB. I entered the competition to win a bike! Our annual holiday was to Queenscliff. Campsite 108. The Hopper family (there were 6 kids) were very well known around the townshipwe were hard to miss! The difference between growing up in the 60s, 70s and 80s is the lack of human touch that COVID has forced upon us. The isolation. Today we should be celebrating surrounded by friends. But instead I am celebrating with a glass of kombucha in my kitchen. On my own. Thank you to my friend and Team Leader Amanda Cook - Mrs Thermo - Thermomix Consultant & Team Leader for my special delivery from The Big Platter Company and for recognising my contribution to Team Shine with 91 Thermomix sales in 2019 - placing third in our team. Very happy for the podium finish! I have my very loyal customers to thank for that. Cannot wait for the day that we can all see each other face to face, in the same room. I’ll save the champagne for then. Thank you Moira x
17.01.2022 This offer ends in an hour. I'm surprised they have not sold out already. Click on the link to order and don't forget to nominate your favourite consultant! Moira x
15.01.2022 I'm just dehydrating another batch of home grown oregano. The more you harvest the more it thrives. I'm a little obsessed. Once it has dried I simply pop into my Thermomix and blitz for a few seconds. Fresh, preservative free 100% home grown oregano.... Years ago the ACCC fined Hoyts for selling oregano when they discovered that it actually contained approximately 50% dried and crushed olive leaf. No mention of this on their packaging though. I will let some of my oregano go to seed so I can propagate and share with friends and family. It's simple to grow. Moira x #knowwhatyoueat #TowardsZeroWaste
15.01.2022 Coriander for breakfast? Yes or no #covidsilver yes or no
14.01.2022 Proving a point and my pizza bases. Turmeric stains everything but it is unstable in sunlight. After a one hour sunbake the stains on my Thermomix lid and measuring cup have magically disappeared.... Plastic can become brittle if left in the sunshine for too long so please be sun smart! Moira x PS Anyone for goat balls ?? Whoopsie
13.01.2022 On the 1st of January, 2017 I started a private group called Walk This Year. I made my personal goal of walking 2017kms public. That year many people committed and completed the distance also. It was a very active group. Since then I've walked 2018kms in 2018 and 2019kms in 2019.... Today I walked 6.5kms on my own along the beach. My goal of walking 2020kms in 2020 achieved! The plan was to have a contemplative / meditative walk to reflect on the year but I got SOOOOOO FN ANNOYED with the amount of rubbish on yOUR foreshore! My thoughts were distracted and often frazzled. We all need to do more. Anyhoo, achieving this goal (in November) is such a nice and rewarding feeling. I'm going to celebrate with a bath later. These days I don't always use Strava. Social Dilemma anyone? I'm choosing to disconnect (even more) from apps and social media in 2021 but I won't ever stop walking the year. In 2021 the plan is more hiking. I'm currently researching tents (recommendations welcome). I have hooked up with a friend and intend to walk and Australian equivalent of the Camino. When it happens we will be off grid for 6-8 weeks. The distance we hope to cover in that time is 1,000kms. I might not have any skin on my feet but I'll share that journey with you. After educating four children it's my turn to have a GAP YEAR! A huge thank you to those who have encouraged me along the way. A huge thanks to those who have joined me on these walks (and runs). For your companionship, support and conversation. For challenging me. Your unwavering commitment when it's been cold, dark and raining. You know who you are. Finally a huge boost of encouragement to those who are attempting to walk 2020kms in 2020! You still have time. We will all be cheering you on from the sidelines. I'm so glad I decided to 'Walk This Year'. It has certainly helped me to maintain some level of sanity. Will you commit to walking 2021kms in 2021 with me? Moira x
13.01.2022 I received a little parcel in my letterbox during the week, inside was a hand knitted square. It’s possibly the most gorgeous marketing/promotional campaign I’ve seen. It’s certainly the most personal. I first met Karen at a networking group. This year her business, Think Bespoke, celebrates turning 10.... We were unable to celebrate with champagne so Karen commissioned her father (Paul) to create hand knitted treasures. They were then sent to people who have helped, inspired or encouraged Karen to look at her business differently. I’m not sure which category I fit into but I’m feeling truly blessed to be a recipient! Attached to Karen’s letter was information about her father Paul Penman (who is an accomplished author) along with the history of knitting. During the Middle Ages knitting was a craft that only men were allowed to perfect? It was also used as occupational therapy for men who had returned ‘shell shocked’ from the First and Second World Wars (today this is know as PTST or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Who knew? Karen has asked people to showcase how they are going to use this hand knitted treasure. It only seems like yesterday that Karen was celebrating her decision to purchase a Thermomix and I was celebrating a recognised milestone with my 50th sale! Karen is an accomplished gardener with an incredible veggie patch so I thought it appropriate to harvest produce from my garden, display them in one of my mum’s old vases and use my hand knitted treasure as a doily. Thank you Karen, as a knitter I truly appreciate this beautiful gift. Congratulations on reaching double digits. Here’s to celebrating face to face with bubbly soon. Moira x
12.01.2022 I was a little distracted when exercising this morning. My attention was focused on the camellias in my garden.... Just so pretty at this time of year. Moira x PS Not sure if we have any camellia specialists in the group? I would love to identify all the different varieties.
07.01.2022 Pre and post run observations. Before bed last night I checked BOM and said to my husband "I don't think I'll be running in the morning, there’s lots of rain on the horizon". I still set my alarm.... When I woke, the first thing I did was check BOM. There was (still) lots of rain on the horizon. I sent a text to my running partner, "Yes or no? Too wet?". It had been raining but I crawled out of bed. There was a break in the clouds. She responded It's up to you? It's raining here?". Without thinking I replied, Let's go, see you in 30". Whilst on the trail I spotted a walking buddy and I shouted "see you tomorrow!". She replied "it depends on the weather". And this comment has me thinking. Does walking or running really depend on the weather? Some of my happiest and favourite memories (the ones that will flash before my eyes as I take my last breath) will be when I’ve been ‘stuck’ in the rain laughing with friends. The world is a much greener place after the heavens have opened. Why do we let water determine our behaviour? We did run our standard 8kms this morning, it wasn’t at a fast pace and we didn’t rust rust. We didn't rust because it didn't rain. I could easily have stayed in bed but instead my/our mindset for the day is positive. Happy endorphins are flowing. Oh, if you are wondering, the early duck catches the snails. Post run I visited yOUR local Food Forest. This high protein breakfast is for my hungry chickens. Today’s pests will be tomorrow’s fresh eggs. Create your great Friday, Moira x
07.01.2022 Me: "Hello, I'm just wondering what you are spraying please". Him: "Poison" Me: Do you know what exactly?... Him: "No, I do not know". I have phoned to clarify with Stonnington City Council about the products and ingredients being sprayed on yOUR pavements. I have yet to receive a reply. This photo was taken today, 8 September at 10.21am. Today's weather forecast predicts GALE FORCE WINDS. Dan Andrews quoted at his briefing this morning that 400 calls have been received TODAY by the SES for fallen trees and damaged homes. Before that fact he was talking about covid. How many people are in critical care SUFFERING FROM A CHRONIC LUNG CONDITION. There are NO WARNING SIGNS that weed spraying is in progress. Residents (who pay your wages) ARE NOT BEING CONSULTED. Isn't yOUR health compromised enough? Have you noticed how many children are using chalk to decorate our footpaths with messages of positivity this year? How many parents would be aware that they are allowing their children to sit on POISON whilst drawing? SPRAYING POISON IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT CONSULTATION MUST STOP!! Oh, it's now 12.20pm on Tuesday 8 September. Go outside. It's raining. I'm POSITIVE that if anyone took the time to read the fine print on this 'POISONOUS PRODUCT' it would say "DO NOT SPRAY WHEN WINDY. DO NOT SPRAY WHEN RAINING. DO NOT SPRAY NEAR WATERWAYS?" City of Boroondarau are guilty of this crime also. You share the border which is metres of this site. Bayer have just paid $15.9 BILLION to settle litigation over weedkiller. WAKE UP GUYS - the wind of change is heading your way. Moira.
07.01.2022 Years ago I made the pledge to never drink coffee in a take-away cup. I made a simple decision and stuck to it. In the first lockdown I simply gave up coffee. However, on Easter Sunday I gave in. That glorious hit of caffeine set me back $5.15 and it was terrible. It's just not the same sipping from a wax coated cup.... Over the past few weeks I have met with a couple of girlfriends for a brief walk. We are allowed out of our homes for an hour a day. It's our time to connect and have a brief sanity chat. These days there is simply no option but take-away. I refuse the lids. To help overcome my guilt I have kept our cups, filled with soil and sprinkled with seeds. They will be free to a good home when established. Moira x
06.01.2022 LOVING ... Daily walking observations - in keeping with my earlier "trees are open" post. Covid has highlighted EVEN MORE how we can learn to live with less. I am LOVING this scrap timber and a milk crate basketball ring. Choosing to focus on the positives. Moira x #refuse #reuse #repurpose Walk This Year #walk2020kmsin2020
05.01.2022 The Aldi ThetmoCooker offer is back this week. Just reposting to help you with your research (if needed). Moira x
04.01.2022 I'm really 'happy' that my personally signed copy of Turia Pitt’s book arrived today! Last week I was even happier when Head Office announced that Turia Pitt is going to be a special guest presenter at the 2021 ThermoFest convention. Squeeeeel!!! I've qualified for the event but it's not over till the fat lady sings, two months to go. Hopefully I'll be belting out a few tunes . I will be happiest though if the covid cases in Melbourne continue to drop, when our lockdown rest...rictions are lifted because too many people are hurting, and when we can drive more than 5kms from our home to visit family members. Travelling to Queensland for a large convention still seems like an impossible dream but sometimes dreams do come true. Moira x
04.01.2022 Start spreading the news.... Consultants have woken to this news....we found out the same time as you. Freeing up your Thermomix to continue making the basics.... What are your thoughts? Moira X PS I've updated my post and will share news with you ASAP.
03.01.2022 Yesterday there was a knock a the front door. It's like "WHO IS THERE??". I'm based in Melbourne. The sound is unfamiliar. A visitor. Another human. Why are you at my front door? It was a delivery person from Flowers for Jane. This gorgeous posy was delivered in a repurposed glass jar (loving the company even more for the zero waste touch). ... The note read "Thank you for all the little things you do. Hugs." Well, blow me over with a feather. I can't recall the last time I received a bunch of flowers. These flowers were from a Thermomix customer of mine. I'm the one that should be sending her flowers - she is always spruiking the Thermomix to her family (they all own one) and friends. Random Acts Of Kindness in a global pandemic. Jeepers it made my day, possibly my week, maybe my month. Thank you Moira x PS You know I'll pay it forward x
03.01.2022 MAAAAGNIFICIENT!! That's what I said to myself when I removed the compost bin from this pile. Food scraps, newspaper, horse manure, chicken pooh, ground coffee, grass clippings, leaves, vacuum cleaner contents, wood chips and anything that is free that would otherwise end up in landfill.... A few months later, voilà. Heavenly compost. I moved the empty bin next to this pile and shovelled the top third (approximately) back into it. Starting the process again. Adding new layers. The bottom two thirds of compost was scattered around my garden. Thousands of worms. Minus a few hundred. I have five very happy chickens with full tummies. Tomorrow's eggs. In the next few weeks the scattered compost will provide me with free food. My 2019 compost tomatoes fed my family of six for six months. I don't have a green thumb, my secret is beautiful organic FREE COMPOST. Does anyone else get excited by this or is it just me? Hoping you had a lovely weekend, Moira x
02.01.2022 I simply have to share this post.... If you have been following my page for a long time you will be familiar with my rants about local council (I'm looking at you City of Boroondara) spraying glyphosate in yOUR community - despite Bayer have just forked out $15.9 BILLION dollars to settle lawsuits in the US. It's beyond barbaric that whilst a pandemic is happening (affecting LUNGS) that this behaviour is allowed to continue. Anyways, back to 'weeds' (most are edible) and alte...rnative methods for 'control' (what about education on what can be harvested for food)... what a ducking great idea hey! I could watch this video for hours. This method might not be possible locally but there are alternative weed management strategies and we need to address them as a matter of urgency. Moira #KeepBoroondaraGlyphosateFree
01.01.2022 CLICK FRENZY TIME This is a Thermomix 'click frenzy' equivalent. 12 Days of Christmas Flash Sale.... I have signed up for the emails as I'm a customer. Consultants participate in these offers also. We are equal. Thermomix will offer promote these daily. The discounts are huge. Every item offered will sell out. If you'd like to be in the know please sign up for the daily emails. The promotions will also be shared on their social media platforms. Don't forget to choose your favourite consultant BEFORE you checkout. The link to do this isn't obvious...many of my customers miss it, even when instructed. If you'd like to participate, here's the link to sign up: https://bit.ly/3njseoi Please connect if you have any questions. Moira x
