The Good Old Country Life.

Food, not really a problem.

Today our village put on a lunchtime event, Fastensuppe, and I was fortunate enough to be able to lend a hand. Apart from the chores to be sorted out it was also a nice opportunity to catch up with fellow villagers and the odd bit of village news ( a.k.a gossip ). Three hours of serving soup for a worthy cause went as quick as could be.

The current topic dejour of that pesky little virus holding the world at ransom came up. No one even had an inkling of fear and everyone a healthy dose of common sense. The flu is more dangerous and still we don't stop life for it. I, who did a stint of panic grocery shopping on Wednesday, needed to hear that. Of course Le Bob informed me a moment ago that I can by no stretch of any imagination call my shop a panic one...he has been looking for quarantine treats all over the house to no avail!

Back to our village though. We had a great discussion about surviving without any panic shop. One local wine farmer mentioned that the stock in his cellar might last us a few years ( I hope he won't regret telling us that ), another gave up the secrets to her cellar...plenty of vegetables and fruit there and everyone else agreed that due to living in the country we all have at least a week's worth food in our larders.

Approaching this virus with common sense is much more important than going into panic mode. As long as we all keep washing our hands during the day and make sure we have enough books to read just in case, we should be fine.

Biggi

A Bit Of Humour On A Slightly Dreary Friday.

Love and laughter make everything better.

" Women and cats will do as they please,
and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. "
Robert A. Heinlein

" Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch. "
Orson Welles

" I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early. "
Charles Lamb

" I like men who have a future and women who have a past. "
Oscar Wilde

" A clear conscience is a sure sign of a bad memory. "
Mark Twain

" The trouble with being in the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. "
Lily Tomlin

" In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria. "
Benjamin Franklin

" If you cannot get rid of a family skeleton, you may as well make it dance. "
George Bernard Shaw

" As for Gussie Finknottle, many an experienced undertaker would have been deceived by his appearance and started embalming on sight. "
P. G. Wodehouse

Biggi

Freezing Bananas.

Less waste.

Bananas are wonderful to have around the kitchen because they are so versatile and a quick burst of energy. A perfect lunch box resident and a perfect addition to any smoothie, breakfast cereal or fruit salad. Yes, I love bananas.

Using them up in time is often a bit difficult. Even judging how many of them to buy is often not so easy. At times the bunch bought is more than enough and at other's too little even though with a vegan lifestyle, bananas are a vital part of eating healthy.

I never appreciated how local bananas were whilst living in South Africa because now any bananas bought have traveled halfway across the world and it feels sinful to not use them up. It was normal to see banana trees, just like having an avocado tree in our backyard or for that matter an orange one in South Africa. Oh, I do miss that!

Yesterday I was watching a chap make smoothies and he surprised me with his genius way of storing bananas. He freezes them just as they are. Skin and all. No plastic wasted and no effort needed. He simply pops a bunch of them into the freezer and when he needs them for his smoothies, he takes them out of the freezer, puts them into a large pot which he fills with warm water from the tap.

After letting them soak for a few minutes the peels almost slip off the fruit which is ready to be blended. Isn't it great to find a new way of storing something that doesn't involve a lot of plastic? Next time I am in town I am going to buy two bunches of bananas and freeze the one.

Going plastic free is as difficult as can be but discovering new ways of ditching plastic along the way is nice and gives me hope that I more is to follow.

Biggi

The Versatility Of Apple Sauce.

Learning something new every day.

It's raining the proverbial cats & dogs and doesn't look as though it will let up any time soon. We need the rain and a bit of nesting indoors can't go amiss as long as a bit of comfort food is at hand.

Truth be told I have just returned from a trip to Kohfidisch's Spar to stock up on canned goods, pastas, dried beans and coffee. I know it has the hints of panic buying but on the other hand, should we be cordoned off ( due to corona virus ) and have food drops, vegan staples might not be on the list of goodies available. So there, I panic shopped but in my defense, all of what I bought is going to be eaten eventually. So no waste.

After making myself a cup of Earl Grey tea ( my current favourite ) with Maus on my lap and looking out the window being mesmerized by the rain, I felt like a biscuit of sorts. As we don't buy the packaged type there was only one way to have one...make one myself.

Throwing together oats, crushed almonds, coconut, flour and oat bran ( a few extra healthy ingredients take the guilt out of eating biscuits ), and a spoonful of sugar I realized that I needed some liquid to bind it together. I try not to cook or bake with oil or butter and so I remembered an open container of apple sauce in the fridge. In it went and amazingly it provided the glue needed.

After putting little spoonfuls of the mixture onto the oven tray I baked them for about 15 minutes until the aroma of baking was circulating the kitchen and then tried one. Ah, very nice indeed. Not too sweet and not too dense. In fact a perfect accomplishment for either a rainy afternoon or a strong cup of coffee early in the morning.

Substituting apple sauce for oil ( or for the butter ) worked perfectly and again shows that even the traditional methods of baking can be tweaked the vegan way and still do the trick.

Biggi

Some More About Books.

The comfort of reading.

" I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. "
Jorge Luis Borges

" If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. "
Haruki Murakami

" When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes. "
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus

" If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. "
Cicero

" ...but for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short. "
Jane Austen

" There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love. "
Christopher Morley

" A house without books is like a room without windows. "
Horace Mann

" A childhood without books - that would be no childhood.
That would be like being shut out from the enchanted place
where you can go and find the rarest kind of joy. "
Astrid Lindgren

" Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you. "
Louis L'Amour

" To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. "
W. Somerset Maugham

" If you don't like to read, you haven't found the right book. "
J.K.Rowling

Biggi

Soap And Water, Still The Best!

Never forget to wash your hands...

It seems that the whole world is in the grips of Corona-virus or as one Austrian commentator succinctly put it; Media-virus. Yes, headlines have to be grim and catchy for newspapers and advertising to be sold. Not to say that it isn't a serious situation because it is but of course horror predictions get more attention.

Austria being such a close neighbour of Italy has responded amazingly well and quickly. A few moments ago the prime minister and some of his cabinet members held a press conference in order to inform the public of what is, could and might happen in regard to the spread of this virus. Fast action from the government. Well done.

What a lot of experts have mentioned repeatedly is the fact that good old soap and water are a good way to keep the viruses at bay. Not the anti-bacterial one but plain old soap. Washing one's hands often is paramount. We all touch door handles, ATM machine buttons, hand rails, supermarket trolleys and of course, money.

Face masks, which have sold out in lots of places appear to not be effective in keeping the virus out but better at keeping it in when one is infected so as not to spread the virus about.

The concept of plain old soap & water stems from our grandparent's generation and like most other advice from them and their era, it does the trick. Makes me wonder what else we should have listened to instead of laughing it off as old fashioned advice?

Let's hope that the corona epidemic gets resolved quickly but we must also keep it in perspective...many more people are killed by car accidents, smoking or unhealthy eating yet, cars, cigarettes or unhealthy food aren't kept from the public at large...

Biggi

Where's The Snow?

A sign of things to come...?

As you know I am an avid fan of alpine skiing. Just the best and also a comfortable few hours each weekend during winter to while the morning away. Watching the Alpine World Cup on television of course. Lovely sport and nail-biting competitions along with seeing parts of the northern hemisphere's prime skiing spots.

Well, not so much anymore. The warming temperatures are causing havoc with the snow. It can only take so much warmth before melting away. A few events had to be changed either in date or location. Finding snow is the hardest part of the races. The correct snow that is. Skiers at that level have to have icy pistes to perform at peak levels. Naturally they can ski on wetter snow, but not as well.

Currently the ski circuit flies all over the world to hold events but they might have to reconsider and choose those countries where snow is guaranteed during winter. Well, sort of. But Russia comes to mind or perhaps Canada and the odd mountain in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

They do obviously use artificial snow now and again, but that is not the same. Even the ambiance is out of kilter when one sees only a strip of snowy piste surrounded by green grass and fields. Sort of lessens the allure of watching it on television and let's face it, like any professional sport alpine skiing also relies on successful viewership for survival.

The only good side to this problem is that we can now see what our actions are doing to our planet in real time and hopefully it will make us change some questionable habits.

Biggi

A Saturday In Paradise.

A gentle day to warm the soul.

Saturdays do have a way to steal one's heart. What's not to like? Time to do absolutely nothing or everything. Today though, I had a plan. A leisurely trip to Güssing with my parents.

For some time now I have been wanting to introduce them to the delights of yet another Chinese Restaurant-this one in Güssing. We set of at half past twelve and got back home just after four.

The Chinese buffet was a success as I think they liked it. A nice change to Buschenschanks. It isn't often we go back to childhood dynamics...going out for lunch with the folks! Great fun though.

For me there is nothing more relaxing than meandering through the aisles of a supermarket deciding what to buy. I read labels, I feel the produce and I contemplate what I could cook with what's in store. Sheer bliss for me, but not so much for my folks. They could be termed ' speed shoppers ' and it must have been rather trying to witness my slow pace while shopping. Never mind that I put foot compared to normal.

But I have to say, they were as good as gold and never complained about having to wait around for me. Spending an afternoon like today was very special, familiar and nice. Just a perfect way to morph into a casual Saturday evening with the appropriate household chores of feeding our three cats. Of course they were all lined up and waiting to be fed before I could even park the car in our garage. They even had the audacity to look irritated at being fed later than normal but were happy enough once they were fed...

Biggi

A Weekend Of Excess?

Carnival is here.

One can't escape it. No matter which channel one watches, a slew of colourful yet silly outfits are beamed into our living rooms. Programs populated with cowboys, witches, Lords and intergalactic figures. Often these shows are coupled with comedians and I must say, the Germans do know who to roast their politicians. Great fun to watch. Yes, it seems dressing up for carnival or as we call it here, Fasching, is the thing to do. On Monday, Rosen Montag, most major cities will host huge carnival processions, televised of course.

Our own little village is also going to stage a carnival float procession, meandering one house and one schnapps at a time through the various streets of our neighbourhood. Ah well, what can I say except that this year I will emulate Houdini once again.

Fasching in a way is the last frivolity before the start of lent. The more outrageous the costume the better to let one's hair down! Yes, Wednesday lent is here again and along with somber times. For a start half the village will swear of alcohol for the foreseeable future which is a good bet as often the length of lent leads to many a promise's undoing. Sweets and sugar might join the ranks of things to forgo but hopefully so too will anger, guilt and negativity.

A few might be so brave as to swear off their smartphone until Easter and good for them. Reclaiming alone time with oneself far from being necessary, is actually priceless as it gives one back several hours a day.

Fasching is another date on the yearly calendar and just as vital as Christmas, Easter, Lent and New Year's Eve. It takes the fear out of time galloping away and at least for those few events throughout each year we can jump up onto the saddle and grab a hold of the bridle to slow time down...

Biggi

The Price Of Leather.

A sad state of affairs.

Funny how it took me so long to actualize what it means to buy leather. Leather shoes, leather bag or good forbid, leather pants. Where it came from hardly anyone batted an eyelid except when it involved exotic animals such as crocodile or snake. The whole world ( well almost ) was up in arms about crocodile leather goods even though no one had ever cuddled a crocodile and lived to tell the tale. What about the hide we take from those animals we do hug and cuddle?

At the moment there are a few documentaries doing the rounds online and in the news. The sheer horror and terror that cows and pigs go through just to be skinned so that we can put them on our feet. I for one can't watch any of it without bursting into tears. Since becoming vegan the perpetuated illusion that animals don't mind being served on our plates or on our feet has evaporated. Animals have feelings and are intelligent beings. A pig is even more intelligent than a dog or a cat.

A lot of people are outraged about the documentary, posting and sharing comments yet, sadly, they will keep on buying leather, keep on eating meat and keep on drinking milk. All they are upset about is that the killing of these animals is so barbaric and somehow they want the killing just to be a bit more humane! How has humanity ended up like this?

A slew of celebrities are coming out as new vegans ( hurrah ) and cementing the fact that apart from being cruel, eating meat, dairy, eggs and fish is a driving factor in destroying our planet. Let's hope that they will sway some of their fans to do the same. Each and every one of us can make a difference to an animals life...

Biggi

A Walking Stick, Owl And More...

Thank goodness for neighbours.

Yesterday I bumped into my young neighbour whilst waiting at the doctor's. We chatted as one does and inadvertently she dropped a tidbit of information that had me all agog this morning.

Another fox had been seen meandering out of a garden down the road from us and in the morning too. She was quite right to have asked me whether I wasn't scared walking whilst this wild animal was prowling the street! At first when she told me yesterday I laughed at the idea of being scared but this morning, I couldn't resist and took Bob's wooden walking stick along for protection. As if that would deter a wily fox!

Wouldn't you know it... today I ran into just about everyone and everyone asked me why I was taking a stick along. I fessed up my qualm of walking whilst a fox was astir which they clearly thought was stupid ( fox or me with stick? ) but gave me nods and chuckles nonetheless.

Naturally I encountered no one but a few deer and dogs. Anyway, for the next few days I might take it along or until the thought of foxes are mere distant memories on my mind.

It wasn't long after I got back from my walk that my phone rang. It was my neighbour, she of the news about the fox, who asked me if I could investigate a commotion outside our back bathroom window. She couldn't go outside because of her young baby but had noticed a whole flock of birds flying about in great agitation, crying out in fearful tones.

I equipped myself with phone, dish towel and courage and walked outside. It was bizarre to see crows and others circling whilst making a noise as if someone had died. I stepped closer and saw on the verge next to our barn, stuck between bare twigs and thorns, two birds fighting. Well, it was really one big bird ( I think it was an owl ) holding down a smaller bird ( a pretty jaybird ) with the weight of its claw on the birds head. They were screeching like crazy but stopped when they saw me.

At first I didn't know what to do but then I tried to get close to shew the big owl away from its prey. Good grief, did it give me a dirty look yet still it didn't budge from the other bird's head. Eventually I picked up a stick and as I was trying to prod it away, it flew off and thus released its captive. We were all stunned. The eagle held position a few meters off, the hopefully only shocked jaybird flew atop a shrub and I stood there contemplating what I should do, eventually going back inside whilst phoning my neighbour to tell what had happened.

Nature being nature, it must have been the way of this jungle but somehow I at least saved one bird from early death, although I have a sneaky suspicion that once I had gone back inside, the fight would have continued...

Biggi

Wonderful Bits About Nature.

How marvelous it is...

" Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare,
and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit. "
Anton Chekhov

" My soul can find no staircase to heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness. "
Michelangelo

" Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. "
Albert Einstein

" Nature does nothing in vain. "
Aristotle

" I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars. "
Walt Whitman

" He that will enjoy the brightness of the sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade. "
Samuel Johnson

" Unless a tree has borne blossoms in spring, you will vainly look for fruit on it in autumn. "
Walter Scott

" My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing. "
Aldous Huxley

" I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. "
Claude Monet

" There are always flowers for those who want to see them. "
Henri Matisse

Biggi

Easter Not Too Far Away.

Celebrating the seasons with special events.

Easter is making itself know, at least in the stores, now that Valentine's is out of the way. Can't sell Easter stuff before the heart-brigade has been seen to. Chocolates will change into bunny shapes or over-sized eggs. Heaven for kids of all ages.

Bob and I have grown up with a different trigger when it comes to Easter....Hot Cross Buns & Chocolate covered Marshmallow Eggs are what shows us that another celebration is in store. I was reminded about these hot cross buns when I read that one of the British supermarket chains will make vegan hot cross buns. Yummy, what I wouldn't give to taste one!

As for those infamous chocolate covered marshmallow eggs, they are tres dangerous. Buying just the one is nigh on impossible as the manufactures conveniently sell them in either a string of a few or cunningly in a big box of many. Hard to resist that temptation.

Easter has turned into a commercial bonanza as hardly anyone takes the time to make their own Easter eggs ( hard boiled and covered in food colouring ) as it is so much easier to just buy the chocolate versions or even the mass produced ' real ' Easter eggs.

Apart from all the pigging out on chocolates, marshmallow and co., it is nice that families get together yet again and spend at least one meal around a table, talking and exchanging bits and bobs about their lives in a way that let's us remember how nice it is to have a conversation with full words, sentences and real life emoticons...

Biggi

A Lazy Sunday Afternoon.

The sheer joy of not doing much of anything.

Is there anything nicer than to laze on the couch, watching a nice movie and drinking a hot cup of tea? The only stress being whether to perhaps finish reading a book or stitch together squares to make a new blanket. All relaxing and far from hectic. Sheer bliss in our family and even our cat has slotted into our routine with surprising ease. Doesn't take her long to find a place on my lap and snooze in tandem with either me or Bob. In fact, she gets rather cranky when we don't take it easy on a Sunday afternoon!

Sundays are also marvelous for creating new food sensations. Tonight has been designated as a Burger-Nite. Yes, I am as we speak planing a new creation of a vegan burger. Celery, sweet-potato and broccoli being the main ingredients. Ah, can't wait to taste it.

There is a comfort in cooking that is hard to describe. It must have something to do with being in one's own kitchen, actually using it apart from dishing up take-a-ways and finding out what tastes good and what doesn't. Being at home is special and I for one can't understand those that find ways of not being at home when they aren't at work.

In this upcoming lent it might be a good idea for folks to learn to stay in more. Learn to love their home, appreciate their families more and find that inner peace that is needed to navigate our modern world and stay happy and centered...

Biggi

A Village On The Move.

Our social club's excursion through the woods.

Once a year our village's social club organizes a long walk through our various vineyards and or forests. Usually around this time of the year and as this is the third one we've been able to walk with it was rather shocking to see the change in weather. Two years ago we slugged it through snow and cold rain and only were kept warm by Schnapps and Glühwein, last year it was kind of nice but still cold in contrast to today, where it was sunny and warm all the way through. Middle of February no less!

The nice weather must have played a factor in the amount of people who showed up. Almost 70 or so our mayor told us, came along. Part of the walk was new to both Bob and I. A long stretch through the forest proved to be magical although rather difficult trying to evade broken branches, puddles and pine cones. Stunning and magical to walk among such tall trees with the sun bearing down upon us through the bare branches.

There were pit-stops along the way and in true Burgenland style they served beer, spritzers or water. Coffee and tea are so not thought of here. At the third stop we had vittles and beer and another chance to mingle with people we would normally not meet. That is one of the great aspects about these organized walks. An opportunity to get to know our neighbours a bit better. I love talking to people and finding out more about themselves, their work or their family. Brings a bit of depth to them.

All in all we must have walked about 12 or so kilometers amid our beautiful bit of Burgenland but in the end, when Bob and I attempted to walk the last stretch home we threw in the towel and phoned my parents if they wouldn't mind to pick us up and take us the last bit in the comfort of a car. Thankfully they were happy to fetch us and thus we were saved from the last 4 kilometers...not such fun after sitting down for lunch.

A nice day indeed. Sun, exercise, friends and Bob...

Biggi

The Mothering Kind.

Miss Mausi meets her match!

It has been said that I might be a tad bit too lenient with our princess, in fact it sounded more as though I or rather we had spoiled her rotten. Ah, mum, I think you might have a point but regardless, last night I showed some parental muscle and put down some ground rules for our little one.

I of course can only base my parental experience on dealing with our cat but gosh, golly darn it, sometimes she takes the cake! Naughty and cheeky. Clever little minx has realized that mummy and daddy won't be too cross at night time ( more a case of being too lazy to get out of bed! ) and gives us a royal round around. Into wardrobes, onto the bed, bouncing of a sleeping Bob's stomach and then standing over me chirping to get my attention. God forbid I open an eye!

A trial indeed. Often she gets her way and me out of bed to migrate to our lounge by the mere fact that I don't want Bob to wake up. He needs his sleep much more than I. Last night I had just settled onto the couch with the lounge door shut when Miss Naughty decided to go into the hall. A shut door? No problem for her, she clawed and meaowed like mad. Me trying to shush her from the comfy couch didn't work. No, I had to get up, pick her off the door frame and scold her.

At least she had the grace to wait until I had settled in again before repeating her door stunt. There was nothing she needed on the other side of it and again I got up, and sternly told her off. Must have worked because she sat very demure and docile on the window sill watching me from the corner of her eye. What on earth was mummy up to?

Once I had settled back on the couch, I called out to her to join me ( which she normally does ) and I swear, just like a scolded child she gave out a few short and sad meaows before skulking onto my lap. A place she didn't move until morning and even then she has been on her best behaviour even going so far as to sulk the day away snoozing on the couch.

Got a love that little kitten and yes, I have bared my parental teeth but perhaps a few years too late...

Biggi

Valentine's Eve!

Words, more powerful than flower or gifts.

" Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey. "
Lord Byron ( 1788-1824 )

" Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move.
Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love. "
William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616 )

" The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They are in each other all along. "
Rumi ( 1207-1273 )

" A friendship that like love is warm; A love like friendship, steady. "
Thomas Moore ( 1779-1852 )

" Now a soft kiss - Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss. "
John Keats ( 1795-1821 )

" If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you. "
A. A. Milne ( 1882-1956 )

" Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine,
love, thou art every day my Valentine. "
Thomas Hood ( 1799-1845 )

" Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it together. "
Thomas Merton ( 1915-1968 )

Biggi

Dancing, A Democratic Pastime.

Who doesn't enjoy a good song and dance?

There is something so refreshing about going to visit someone elderly. Each person has nuggets of mischief, wisdom and kindness that once you get to see them, it makes a day worthwhile. The outer signs of age are but that, a cover up of the young person underneath. And let's face it, don't we all still see ourselves as a youthful twenty something?

Anyway, I went to visit an older bachelor in Deutsch Schützen and had a nice conversation. I love going to visit people because I never know what interesting bits and pieces will get woven into our conversation. Like today, we were talking about this and that and I must say that he also can jump mental corners with much more ease than some others. The topic of dancing came up. And just like that, a whole new side of him was revealed.

Each country seems to have its own Dancing with the Stars and Austria's is starting a new season at the beginning of March. I had been aware of it on the peripheral but he is a fan through and through. He told me about the various judges, the announcers and about the new crop going in for dance training.

" Oh, so you watch it often? "

" I wouldn't miss it for anything, even soccer. "

Why shouldn't he enjoy watching an entertaining show most Friday nights. Doesn't always have to be soccer or tennis. Well, he made this Dancing with the Stars seem so amazing that I can't wait to watch the first episode and even though he doesn't know it yet, Bob will have to watch it too...

Biggi

A Bit Of Plant Based Wisdom.

Try it for a few weeks and be surprised...

" The longest-lived people eat a plant-based diet. They eat meat but only as a condiment or a celebration. Nothing they eat has a plastic wrapper. "
Dan Buettner

" Whether the patient has a cardiac condition, hypertension, autoimmune disease, fibroids, or asthma, he or she must be informed that fasting and natural, plant-based diets are a viable alternative to conventional therapy, and an effective one. "
Joel Fuhrman

" Eat a plant-based diet which acts like a prebiotic and probiotic in the gut. "
Deepak Chopra

" If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. "
Paul and Linda McCartney

" Medicine is not healthcare. Food is health care. Medicine is sick care.
It's time we see it for what it is. "
Anonomous

" When I was 88 years old, I gave up meat entirely and switched to a plant foods diet following a slight stroke. During the following months I not only lost 50 pounds, but gained strength in my legs and picked up stamina. Now at age 93, I'm on the same plant-based diet and still don't eat meat or dairy products. I either swim, walk, or paddle a canoe daily and feel the best I've felt since my heart problems began.
Benjamin Spock

" So, what is my prescription for good health? In short, it is about the multiple health benefits of consuming plant-based foods. "
T. Colin Campbell

Biggi

Feeding Our Birds.

A lark a minute...

Bob usually throws a few handfuls of bird food onto our driveway early on in the day. Even before the sun is up our birds sup. The bird food isn't anything special and mostly consists of sunflower seeds still in their pods and a few kernels of wheat intermixed. It must do the trick as more and more birds of a feather flock together in front of our house and more importantly, in front of our lounge window.

Vital indeed as it provides oodles of entertainment for our princess and showing good form these birds do lovely dives just for her. They are clever enough to realize that she is merely dressing our window and no threat to them. Often when we are lying on the couch we can see various birds do their precise dive for food.

Most of the day a whole gang of avian pals congregate atop the shrub on our garden wall, shooting the breeze whilst keeping an eye out for more yummy morsels sailing across the driveway. It is hard to distinguish from eaten and non-eaten sunflower seeds and to err on the side of caution I throw more.

Lately it seems as if buildings are sprouting up everywhere and sadly, with them the mistaken need for a perfectly styled garden which as we all know is poison to our birds. Feeding birds is the least we can do and this year, I again live in hope that less and less people are succumbing to their lawn mowing addiction. Let's take the time to let our lawns do their thing and eh, push up daisies, dandelions and other weeds. Holding thumbs and most certainly holding back the urge to mow our lawn in May.

Biggi

Quotes From The Past.

Always inspiring, interesting and noteworthy.

" Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. "
Voltaire ( 1694-1778 )

" No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of its members are poor and miserable. "
Adam Smith ( 1723-1790 )

" The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant. "
Maximilien Robespierre ( 1758-1794 )

" He that loves reading has everything within his reach. "
William Godwin ( 1756-1836 )

" Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. "
Jane Austen ( 1775-1817 ), Pride and Prejudice

" Drive out prejudices through the door, and they will return through the window. "
Frederick the Great ( 1712-1786 )

" Hegel says somewhere that all great events and personalities in world history reappear in one fashion or another. He forgot to add: the first time as a tragedy, the second as a farce. "
Karl Marx ( 1818-1883 )

" The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel. "
Horace Walpole ( 1717-1797 )

" Since the masses are always eager to believe something, for their benefit nothing is so easy to arrange as facts. "
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand ( 1754-1838 )

" False opinions are like false money, struck first of all by guilty men and thereafter circulated by honest people who perpetuate the crime without knowing what they are doing. "
Joseph de Maistre ( 1753-1821 )

Biggi

Hanging Out With The Cool People.

Interesting times ahead...

Today being Saturday the shops were full of people wielding their trolleys, baskets or bags about the various aisles and food hot spots. Bob was whiling the time away in the car outside and I had ventured into Merkur on such a busy day purely to buy our favourite vegan ' butter '. Made in Denmark and loved here in Eisenberg. Please don't let them ever run out as it is the best spread and costs the same as normal ones.

Bob knows that when I enter a store to get one item the chances are that it will swallow me up for a good twenty minutes and spit me out with a whole back full of tricks. Hard to be disciplined when they have this and that on special and when the supermarket layout does its trick of luring me inside!

Our infamous vegan butter is at the back of the shop, next to the vegan department. And that is my favourite. Not that I buy all those interesting new creations ( despite what some think, we mostly make everything from scratch as it tastes much better ) apart from picking up a few of their tofu and vegan cheese.

So there I was mentally dithering between which tofu to take when I noticed a very cool couple standing next to me. They sported the cosmopolitan look that could be from Vienna, New York or London. They wore beanies and dark clothes. The new cool peeps who obviously are vegan. Without seeming to be too quizzy, I studied their shopping basket and also took note of the type of tofu they bought. And just to be precise, they didn't look at all like the proverbial tree huggers we vegans are made out to be.

Nice to be on the cool side of life but more importantly, I hope that legions of young folks will try and emulate these cool role models and switch over to the vegan side... Yeah, good times ahead.

Biggi

The Keen Observations Of The Twitchy Curtain Brigade.

Also known as the neighbourhood watch!

For the want of a roadside kitchen window seat I would be part of this neighbourhood set without a doubt. Curiousity is a spice of life...

Yesterday I was spending a few hours with one of the older Eisenbergers down the road and as most seasoned villagers she has her kitchen table placed right next to a huge window, one that faces the road. Nothing and I mean nothing escapes her eagle eyes. Not in a mean sort of way but more as a means to keep abreast of our neighbourhood's going ons. You would be surprised what one can glean from a couple going for a walk, a car returning at odd times and a tractor idling past.

For her it is second nature to look out of her window when she hears anyone or anything passing ( her window is permanently open ) even going so far as to stop conversation. I am well used to it and also to rekindling the thread of conversation where we had left off. Of course at times it gets circumvented by a new thread...

" Oh, do you know who this was? "

even if I did, I plead ignorance as I am well aware of the in-depth questioning about that person's life, lifestyle and family I would be in for. Look, for those of a certain age, little tidbits about people are what makes their life more enjoyable, but have you ever been on the receiving end of an elderly person's questioning? They don't stop until the last bit of info has been shared and as I have found out, any knowledge shared is keenly questioned about how I came to know it and that is why its easier to at times keep quiet!

The plus side to her gathering all those interesting tidbits and sightings is that she is a font of local information going back have a century. I love it when she sees someone walk past her window and she dives into her immense store of local knowledge, telling me about that person's parents or grandparents and who lived in their house before they did. Ah, don't you just love conversation...

Biggi

The Calm After The Storm.

An interesting start to February.

Granted, February is already a week old but nonetheless, the last few days of weather are noteworthy. Only this last weekend we had glorious sunshine, warmth and scenery with temperatures climbing into the teens. Unheard of during winter, but have it we did. Monday was a bridge day and one sort of knew the writing on the wall.

Okay, it was more the writing of the text messages from our insurer that gave us an inkling of what was to come. Stormy weather leaning towards a touch of hurricane. Winds of change or winds of horror. Tuesday and Wednesday the winds were howling and the walls were shaking. Never mind the ' gnirshing ' of the various trees being banded about like twigs from the force of the winds. Rather frightening.

Today the cold and voracious winds have dyed down completely and have made room for a picture book sort of day. More of a ' May ' type of day with birds tweeting the joys of eh, spring, blue skies and sunshine. Absolutely gorgeous!

Folks were also in a better mood and one man even held open the door for me at the local bank. That was a nice start to my day and just goes to show how vital sunshine and warmth are for people's frame of mind. It is quite nice knowing that winter is on its way out the yearly revolving door and in a few weeks we can consider packing our winter clothes away for another year...

Biggi

Mad About Oats & Co.

The goodness of plain old oats.

One tends to forget about oats. Breakfasts often entail toast and spread or in my case, toast and cucumber, red pepper or avocado. At least that is what I have been breakfasting on for quite a while. But the other day I saw someone create a breakfast bowl of oats and co and that made me change my mind and my breakfasts.

Oats aren't new to me as I used to eat them religiously for years in either porridge form or plain with milk and sugar. About a week ago I decided to emulate said breakfast bowl and in true fashion of improvisation used a big soup plate. Actually wanted to buy breakfast bowl yesterday but they were a tad bit too much and in any case, soup plate does just fine.

My first attempt consisted of oats, flaxseed, sunflower seeds and a banana topped with rice milk and even though it was a yummy way to start my day, as luck would have it I was headed for town and picked up some cereal bowl extras. Would you believe it that they sell puffed wheat? Of course I had to have some especially since it looks and strangely enough tastes like Honey Puffs of yore.

The rice milk is slightly sweet and combined with all my bits and pieces it creates a most divine meal. In fact I can't get enough of it and have once or twice considered a bowl for lunch. The most amazing part of it is that I don't get hungry as quickly as when I ate toast for breakfast.

Now the only problem is where to store all my various breakfast ingredients. There are never enough storage containers even though we eat pickled gherkins most days and thus have plenty of empty glass containers. They of course aren't big enough and when we were in town yesterday I was sorely tempted to purchase a few cereal containers, but couldn't get myself to buy anything made from plastic.

I stood in front of the shelf for at least ten minutes listening to the various arguments going on on my shoulder...the good angel on my left shoulder advising strongly against plastics and the bad old devil on my right shoulder whispering that ' one or two won't matter, everyone else buys them and those on the shelf have already been made so what's my problem? ' The left voice eventually prevailed and now my puffed bits of wheat are still in their original package with a laundry peg to keep it sealed. Staying away from extra plastic is jolly hard but when one puts ones mind to it, doing the right thing is not so hard after all...

Biggi

Healthy Is Truly Wealthy.

Without health wealth is useless...

" Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it. "
Josh Billings

" Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. "
Jim Rohn

" Today be thankful and think how rich you are. Your family is priceless,
your time is gold and your health is wealth. "
Zig Ziglar

" Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth,
faithfulness the best relationship. "
Gautama Buddha

" Poor health is not caused by something you don't have; it's caused by disturbing something that you already have. Health is not something you need to get, it's something you already have if you don't disturb it. "
Dean Ornish

" The first wealth is health. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

" So many people send their health gaining wealth,
and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health. "
A.J. Materi

" Keep your vitality. A life without health is like a river without water. "
Maxime Lagace

" What is called genius is the abundance of life and health. "
Henry David Thoreau

" Our bodies are our gardens - our wills are our gardeners. "
William Shakespeare

Biggi

Hot Mango Pickle.

Bob and I have rediscovered an old taste sensation.

A few weeks ago I had stumbled upon a new spice shop. New to me that is. Asian spices and the name says it all. Too fabulous. Beans, curry spices, kimchis and a whole slew of chutneys and pickles. Well, knowing how much Bob loves his chutney, I got a whole selection of them. They were not that expensive and a brand I had seen about in South African supermarkets.

The lone jar of real chutney lasted about a day and a half and in true wifely manner I didn't have any leaving it all for Bob. We usually make a lentil curry at least twice a week and it didn't take long for the jar of hot lemon pickle to be opened. Not that much of a taste success judging from it still languishing half full on our refrigerator shelf.

Last night while searching for a jar of chutney ( none left ), Bob found a jar the jar of hot mango pickles and was in heaven the minute he tasted a spoonful of it. I was still making the curry and didn't want to taste it but nonetheless I got a whiff of its intense aroma and was transported back to the days of eating lunch at the Pietermartizburg Imperial Hotel. They made the best curries and accompanied them by a round tray filled with sambals, yoghurt, chutney and pickles . And that was the aroma I had picked up. Divine.

Bob must have noticed my joy in this new discovery because as quick as a whip he said:

" Oh, this is extremely hot. You won't like it because it burns like crazy. "

Who am I to argue with the voice of reason...or so I thought. Today while I was making my lunch I espied the pickle jar and thought that I should at least try it once. Plenty of water to be had should it really be so spicy hot. With trepidation I took a tiny spoonful of it and tasted it while at the same time awaiting its spicy kick to set in. And wait I did as it actually wasn't that spicy at all. Just plain nice!

What a cunning husband I have! He almost had the whole jar to himself but not anymore...

Biggi

Fire & Wine @ Eisenberg.

Another successful wine festival in Eisenberg.

First off, my camera's battery has given up its ghost and thus I can only regale you with words and not with pictures. Typical though, yesterday would have made a picture perfect kind of day.

It was the second Feuer & Wein in Eisenberg and it involved eight of our wine estates opening their doors for five hours in order for us to get a taste of their wines, some vittles and another view of life in Eisenberg. The distance between them wasn't that far perhaps a kilometer or so of walking involved for those of us wanting to taste each wine farmer's vintages. Bob and I being veterans of the wine tasting events (!) knew how to whittle it down to about four.

The weather couldn't have been more tailor made if they had tried. It was sunny alongside 16 or so degrees-don't forget it is the middle of winter- and in the afternoon many wine tasters turned into lizards trying to soak up the warming sunshine.

There were hoards of people about slowly meandering through our little bit of Eisenberg, happily coiffing on good wine and eating flame grilled bits of meat. Veganism might still take a bit of time to be thought of at events! But, not their fault that we are vegan and you know, nibbling on a few nice slices of freshly baked bread is a much better way to honour and taste their wines. Personally I never liked how wine tasted whilst eating a smoked piece of ham or a hot dog of sorts.

Bob and I went home just after six but even though it was early, the sun had gone to other parts of the earth and darkness had taken its place. Rather romantic as all along various wine farms and roads they had put up big logs of wood, split down the middle and lit for fire and warmth. A perfect way to end the day because the image of those burning logs lighting the darkness was memorable and has left a nice impression on most of us. Well done to Eisenberg and the organizers of this year's Feuer & Wein.

Biggi

A Bit More Saturday.

A much longed for day of the week and more.

" I told myself that I was going to live the rest of my life as if it were Saturday. "
Chip Gaines The Magnolia Story

" Without Saturday, Sunday would just be another day of the week. "
Anthony T. Hinks

" Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night
and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you. "
Ogden Nash

" I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. "
Barack Obama

" What can be better than to get out a book on Saturday afternoon and thrust all mundane considerations away till next week. "
C.S. Lewis

" Happy Saturday! When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. "
Tecumseh

" I've only got a Saturday job so my weekdays are pretty free. "
Gary Lineker

" I'm from the disco era where everybody thought they were John Travolta...
What song is going to get me on the dance floor?
Anything from ' Saturday Night Fever ' and you're up there like a demon. "
Ian McShane

Biggi