meandering thoughts and farm kids

There is always something to do here, and every weekend Will can be found working alongside Grant.  Collecting and splitting firewood, helping with fencing, carting water and he even helps Grant with the woodroaches which is something I refuse to go near.  When Grant wants to take a rest, Will often hassles him to "Get back to work Dad!"  which always makes me chuckle.  He has always been a beautiful kid, but by golly, he is thriving here in ways I couldn't have imagined.  Grant is always inclusive and patient with the boys as they learn to work alongside him and I'll never tire of watching them all together. 

And then he was 11.

11.  How did that happen and where did the time go?

For 11 years I have been blessed to call this young man my son.

His kindness and empathy for others astounds me.  He has a wisdom often far beyond his years.  He has patiently stood by me as I fumble and bumble my way through this motherhood gig.  Always forgiving me quickly when I bugger it up, always a companion by my side when we are knocking about the place.  He is a lover of all animals, a warrior for justice and deeply generous.  A kind and loving big brother who is everybody and any bodies friend.  And if it involves being someones friend in the middle of a lesson he should be concentrating on?.....Well, he is up for that too. 

Its can be difficult to try to parent slowly and mindfully in today's modern world.  We live in a time where children are constantly bombarded with all the latest "must haves".  Branded clothing, ipads, gaming consoles....the list is extensive and endless.  Advertising specifically geared towards children is everywhere.  Whats more, branding and gaming companies use various psychology tactics in their advertising strategies to manipulate our kids so we as adults will cave in and purchase their goods.

But as much as modern media and the consumerist industry would like us to believe, we don't actually have to step into giving our children everything.  They don't "need" it at all.  It is so important for all of us to learn to be content and enjoy what we have, to learn to value the important things in life and this is a lesson that starts with childhood.  It's our job as parents to do our best teach our children this, as we our selves navigate our way through life.  It's OK if there are bumps in the road, consistency and continuing to put what we value in the center of our lives is key, even when we wander off our path and find ourselves walking to the beat of someone elses drum. 

The reality is that most of our life is made up of completely ordinary, everyday moments, with a few spectacular ones scattered throughout.  It's when we learn to appreciate and find deep contentment, even enjoyment in the ordinary that we can live a beautifully meaningful and fulfilling life.  From this point the extraordinary moments like celebrations, a new job, reaching a goal or what ever else it may be, are simply the cherry on top of a life that is already happy and well lived. 

Home made pizzas with friends and birthday cake.  

This year we wanted to acknowledge Will is in fact growing up, his tastes are changing we do parent a little differently.  This doesn't mean we do it better.  But each family has its own values, and goals its working towards which is what makes this world such an interesting place.

We simply walk to the beat of our own drum which means ipad time is heavily limited, as is what the boys are allowed to do on it.  Instead we favor things like bush walks, trips to the beach and camping.  I'm not remotely interested in motorbikes (I worked in ED.  Enough said.) I don't mind the kids having a few brand name clothes in the form of a cool cap and sneakers but our budget simply doesn't stretch that far, nor does my interest in spending mountains on children's clothing.  The boys do play Grant's old Atari occasionally (old school Mario Brothers all the way!) but we don't actually want them in front of screens any more then they are.  I don't see the benefit and instead see the fighting, the tears and the anxiety it causes as well as a general decline in attitude, which is backed up by extensive research. 

But I also recognize Will is in a bit of an awkward transition.  We wanted to give him something really special, that would allow him to tread his own path, acknowledged his maturity and which had the ability to grow with him.  The solution?  A beautiful entry point DSLR camera.  We hesitated on the price, I'm going to be honest.  But the camera is both his Christmas and birthday pressie from us and a joint gift from all the rellies who put money towards it.  After much discussion, this is what he decided he wanted and it was something Grant and I knew he could enjoy for years to come that tied into our values.  Nature?  Tick.  It will take him outside into nature and out exploring this amazing world we live in, challenging him to really "see" it.  Technology?  Tick.  Not only with the camera but when it comes to editing photos later.  Cool factor? Well, obviously.

One of our birthday traditions is going to the zoo, a perfect place for Will to use his camera.  

Photography is something he has always loved and he has well out grown the simple cameras he had handed down to him.  I love its a hobby that can grow and change with him.  Its one present, which means it wont add clutter and its a good quality item meaning it will last until he wants to upgrade.  (If that time comes.)

And it has been a total hit!  He is SO proud of his new camera and it is constantly in his hands.  In fact most of the photos in this post are ones he has taken, the exception being the three he is actually in.  I think I have found a new photographer for my blog!  I'm looking forward to learning about how to use it with him, and to the places we will go while he develops this hobby of his.

It is so important to stop and acknowledge these milestones.  Even if they do fall in amidst end of term-itis, sniffles and school concerts!  

Much love, 

Emma

xx

Minimalism......?

Since getting sick late last year with my heart problems, and the long and slow recovery that has followed I have had a lot of time to think....to nap...and to think some more.  I have had little energy to do much about all the said thinking but it occurred extensively none the less.

Since beginning our families journey into the realm of simplicity (what ever that is) I have been slowly and steadily decluttering and trying to consume mindfully and purposefully.  So far to say that as a family of 5, we do not have an excessive amount of “stuff”.  Our house is a nice size, though not huge by today's standards.  All my clothes fit in 1 standard size wardrobe, my kitchen cupboards are a little full but also my kitchen is not particularly big.  Anyway, you get the picture.

But in the last 12 months the urge to declutter more deeply has been a recurring thought in my mind.  I think primarily because the physical work I have been able to undertake has been so drastically reduced.  Now I don't think I’ll ever be able to call myself a true minimalist because I love cushions, books AND house plants - clearly I’m doomed from the get go!  BUT, I’m decluttering, donating, binning and passing items on with a new found vengeance.  Motivated by the possibility of an interstate move and by the brutal reality of how much time, effort and energy it takes to keep a home clean whilst renovating with three small boys underfoot.  (Dusting is SIGNIFICANTLY quicker if I have less stuff to actually dust.....farewell knick-knacks!)  I'm enjoying the ever increasing white spaces that are present in my home, I find it really peaceful.  There are so many wonderful blogs and pod casts out there to provide guidance and motivation in this area.  Some of my favorites are Rhonda Hetzel from Down to Earth and Brooke McAlary The slow home podcast which I'm sure if you are here you have most certainly heard of!

It's a glorious day today and the doors and windows are open.  Henry has been painting and if you look to the left you can see my washing drying inside from yesterday - in the aim of keeping it real!

And whilst I have been tackling this deep decluttering exercise I have decided I don't have the energy to declutter AND sell much at all.  So unless its worth the time to sell, like a piece of furniture for instance I have taken to putting a little makeshift table on the side of the road.  I then put an advertisement on my local Facebook buy/swap/sell page with a sign and a donation jar of “pay what its worth to YOU, all donations will be going to the local church and if your unable to make a small donation - please take anyway and enjoy!”  Win-win!  I don't “need” the money as it was stuff that was simply sitting there anyway, so the church gets some much needed cash which they pass on to the community through giving support and people get a bargain.  Everyone is happy!

You know I mean business when I'm decluttering BOOKS!

Between minimizing, and cleaning up after endless reno’s I have re-discovered my sewing mojo, much to my delight.  I have been slowly hand stitching a little Waldorf doll for a dear friends baby who is somehow already 6 months old! I’m really thrilled with how he is coming along and he is patiently awaiting his clothes, a little cape, felt mask and a little felt dog.  I will be reverting to the sewing machine to make his clothes however as I’d like to complete him before we see them next.  I have remembered how much I love sewing and doll making.  The act of creating something unique out of beautiful natural fibers brings me a kind of deep joy.

A sneak peak of the little fellow I'm working on.  

Anyway, I had best be off.  I'm eyeing off the kitchen utensil draw - you know the one that is so full of stuff that it never actually closes?  That one.

Much love,
Emma
Xx

And then....repeat.

Here I sit, nestled in a cafe in the heart of the Barossa.  The cups clattering in the kitchen, the coffee machine letting out an occasional hiss of steam as a fresh coffee is carefully brewed.  The man next to me reads his newspaper, occasionally licking his thumb to grip the pages which rustle as they are turned.

The ladies a table down are deep in conversation, listening carefully to each other.  I can tell their friendship is rich and deep.  We should all be so blessed to know such a relationship.

The sky outside is dull, grey and drizzly.  But it is warm and comforting here, all is well in my little corner of the world.

My mind is so full....I must have tried to type a post for a couple of weeks now but ideas just wouldn’t form.  My mind is jumbled, thoughts fractured with “ifs, buts and maybes”.

We have put and offer on a property which has been accepted, currently contracts are being written up.  265acres near a big centre with everything we could possibly need and more, 45 mins to the coast.  High rainfall, sub tropical.  Truly a beautiful piece of land in an equally beautiful corner of the world.

But suddenly my sense of adventure has gone walk about.  I have lost someone oh so dear to me, and all I want is “home”.  To be near those I know and love.  To sit in comfortable silence.  To sit in a familiar cafe, to be in my community surrounded by my “people”.  To have the warmth of familiarity and security wrap itself around me.

Instead we find ourselves preparing to embark on a move 16 hours away and interstate.  We are navigating legal documents, council approval, house designs, bushfire ratings with the added joy of a super tight cash budget.  

Compromise.

The only solution.

To remember we don’t have to do it all, all at once.  That our life doesn’t have to look like others, for it to be ok, beautiful even.

To breathe slowly and to remember to deal with each single task at hand mindfully.  To take time to breathe, to mourn, to look ahead and to take a little step......and repeat.

Again and again until we have worked through each challenge as we approach it.  For we can really only work on one thing at a time, despite our minds all to often trying to solve allll the problems all at once - which never actually achieves anything apart from stress and a headache.

And just like that, we will be ok.  Yes, there will be hiccups and bumps on the road ahead.  For thats what makes an adventure so!

There will be feelings of sadness and loss to sit with as we leave our lives we know filled with people we love and familiar routines.  There will be feelings of overwhelm as solutions to the challenges we face will seem out of reach.  There will be feelings of joy and excitement about the new in our lives. There will be celebrations as we find a solution to a problem which has been weighing on us.

And then repeat.

A wonderful farm visit!

Well school is well and truly back, and already I ache for the free unstructured days of the holidays! 

This post has been a little while coming.  I have been so enjoying our time off and I have been making a far more conscious effort about being fully present in each beautiful moment that comes our way.  So much so my photography, which has never been my strongest point has slipped!  I completly forgot my good camera so excuse the phone photos.   

In the last week of the school holidays we were so lucky to be able to catch up with Sally from Jembella Farm.  It was one of those mornings I just wanted to saviour.  The boys were in their elemant.  They loved every second, so did I.  As I walked around I dreamed of our "one day" farm.  I may have said a silent prayer or three that our shop would hurry up and sell so we could get on and DO it.

Watering the pigs.  Good looking happy animals, completly able to carry out their natural behaviours. 

When we arrived, Sally has left a few little jobs so the boys were able to help with a few simple morning chores.  There was cows to feed, pigs to water, chickens to check on, bees to examine and the most beautiful mulberries to pick, much to Grant's delight when he came home that night! 

Checking on the geese.

It was a truly beautiful morning.  Wonderful company, and so special for the boys.  A morning they have talked about so much since.  I do believe this is going to be one of those things they remember in life.

Who needs a cup when your thirsty?

They were facinated by the old farm house.  William especially loved it, that kid is going to be a picker I reckon!  He adored Sally's old farmhouse, and all the intereting things on display.  He loves a story that kid, and old things that have a story behind them.   

Meg the farm dog was on patrol, it was a warm morning and so she took a dip in the trough, much to the boys complete delight! 

Picking mulberries, sooo good!  Eating them warm and juicy straight off the tree.

We really did have the most marvelous morning.  This morning gave me hope, and reminded me of all we are working for.  The warmth and contentedness that crept upon my heart, seeing the boys on a farm similar to what we want to do, will sit with me along time.  A beautiful morning. 

Thankyou dear Sally.  I am so very glad this strange blogging world has brought us togeather and we can be come friends through it. 

Much love,
Emma
xx

Christmas stage 2.

Thankyou everyone who took the time to leave such encouraging, understanding, helpful and thoughtful comments on my last post.  I was very touched by the desire to help and so I thank you all with all my heart. 

It was very re-assuring to see I'm not actually the Chrismas Grinch and that many of us simple living folk have the similar feelings we are either working to overcome, or have had to overcome in the past.

A little fence and repair to this little garden again!! The cheeky dogs, this recycled fencing wire from the front ought to fix it....hopefully! 

I'm sorry I didnt reply to them all.  I have read them and re-read them and have been pondering many elements.  They have been marinating in my mind but I saw them, and was very greatful for them. 

So, where am I now? 

Well firstly I should have clarified *we* dont have trouble with the gift giving to our children.  We tend to go with "something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need." 

So the boys are getting from us:
Wear:  PJ's
Read: (still deciding)
Want: childrens Opinel pocket knife, Henry I'm not quite decided upon, a marble run?
Need: Cotton Sleeping bags

Stockings will include marbels, chocolate, socks, jocks, and something special for each child - William will get a few polished stones for his collection, Henry a little owl finger puppet, Gus I havent decided yet.  The PJ's and the books are usually in the stocking too. 

Its the excess that comes in which we have no control that concerns me.  But I do believe we have started a new tradition with one set of Grandparents happy about giving zoo passes!  Woo hoo!

As far as Christmas day goes.....Well we have been having many discussions about this.  Its not just up to me to say "no".  We are a family and the decision of how we celebrate christmas must be a united one between Grant and I.  We have however now decided that every couple of years we will have start to have Christmas at our own home.  This is a huge change for us and one I am greatly relieved about.    People are welcome to join us if they like, but we wont be doing all the travelling, and we will get to start new traditions with our children.

Apparently "Jimmy" needs a ninja outfit...hmm....

This year we are going to hold our own "Pre- Chistmas day"  at home.  Just our family.  Buy beautiful seafood, light candles, go to church Sunday morning, maybe go to the beach, and give the boys a small hand made gift each, just to make it a little "magic"  William needs a new libray bag and I have the material sitting there, Angus would love a Ninja outfit for his waldorf doll, and I will either applique a cat on a tee-shirt for Henry or make his Waldorf doll an Ninja outfit too.  This special day will be a week or two before Christmas, nothing too fancy, But Im really looking forward to it.  I feel more "at peace".

There is a Christmas pagent on this Friday in a town not far from us they will enjoy, and I think taking the time to simply "be" is perhaps going to be the most important thing.  I tend to get tied up in the "do-ing" of everything around here that has to be done, that I forget to just "be" at the moment. 

I listened to "Matilda" by Roahl Dahl today in full by audiable, I love a good kids book.  and it got me thinking how little reading I have been doing latly. Gosh I miss it.  It dawned on me I have not been caring for myself as well as usual.  Which means I was going into the Christmas season with an emty tank, after a long hard year no wonder I was feeling tired and flat and dis-heartened.

One of our favorite things are Audible - audio books.  The first month is free and awesome for road trips or quiet nights. 

The Christmas tree will go up this weekend, which will be nice.  So we need to do a light toy de-clutter and a bit of a spring clean in the lounge. 

Much love,
Emma
xx

  

My newest baby!

So after two years of thinking about it, this happened....

(Here Im making home made vegetable stock concentrate from fresh veggies, fresh picked herbs from the garden, salt and olive oil.  It's an awesome base to soups/casseroles/risotto, you name it.)

Yep, I joined the dark side and bought a thermomix.  It is a SERIOUS piece of kitchen equipment.

Primarily because of this oven.  I fell in love with her sturdy, vintage, solid charm but I just don't want to be tied to her all day while I cook everything I need from scratch....and well, she is a little bit of a moody thing compared to modern ovens.  (I have to type that quietly or I SWEAR she will hear and burn my porridge, the second I turn my back....)

Also the reality is my microwave died a year ago, my stick blender is on the verge of death, my ken-wood food processor/blender is sparking at me when I turn the dial, and my blender is lagging in power, also dying a slow death.  Essentially the bulk of my appliances are either finished, or on their way out.  It bugs me that things are only build to last a few years these days.

So instead of cluttering up my kitchen with several new appliances, I decided to buy just one.  And make it the BEST I possibly could.  These are built amazingly well, and whats more actually built to be repaired, rather then thrown out.  Which appeals to me on so many levels.  I simply cant afford to buy crap that breaks at the first sign of serious work, which seems to be a common place in retail today. 

And I must say its a little bit of love.  I was concerned I would not use it enough to warrant the hefty price tag, but I can see I'm reaching for it constantly.  Its going to mean I have to change the way I cook a bit, but its a change for the better.  Which came as a surprise, I must be honest.  Its going to help me to really lean into cooking from scratch to a deeper level then I have ever been able to, or had time to do before, in a more relaxed manner. 

It is a luxury, a lifestyle choice if you will.  You see I love to eat, I love to eat fresh, home made food.  But I'm NOT in love with being tied to the kitchen.  I don't mind cooking, at all.  If fact I quite enjoy it.  But you know what I like more?  Hanging out, reading and being with my boys.  I'm happy to include them in cooking, this certainly wont replace all the prep work we do.  But it will HELP.  The other day we had a simple risotto with home made broth, and custard for dessert for lunch.  For LUNCH people!  Hot meals for lunch a a real treat here, and this was virtually effortless!  Soo many less dishes too.  William helped me weigh/pop the veggies in,  and then while it cooked, stirred and did its thing, we all sat and I could give them 100% of my attention.  It was just lovely.  That machine is just so smart.  Those German designers really know their stuff.

When we bought this house, we intended to replace the oven, but now as we are keeping it, we bought the thermomix with the money we had budgeted for the oven.  The reality is the old stove is gorgeous, but it is a two burner, and I use more then two burners at once often.  I have ZERO desire to crank up the wood oven in our 40+degree summers!  LOL!

I thought I would share the recipe for the vegetable stock concentrate.  You don't need a thermomix to make it.  You could finely dice the veggies, then simmer gently until cooked through and whiz with a kitchen whizzy stick thingo also.  But no matter how you make it, its awesome, fresh, and lasts for about 3 months in the fridge.

If you ever cook with stock cubes and are looking to get that base flavor quickly, while cutting out colors/flavors/preservatives this is the perfect recipe.  Its all fresh, healthy and incredibly simple to make.

Note: The recipe is high in salt but when you use 1-2tblsp in a dish it balances out, I promise.  The salt is a preservative also as your dealing with fresh veggies.  It allows the paste to keep for 3 months in the fridge in a well sealed jar.  This recipe is also not mine, but grabbed from the "Thermomix Basic cookbook"

vegetable stock concentrate.

200g celery stalks
2 carrots
1 onion
1zuccini
1 tomato
2 garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
1-2 sprigs basil
1-2 sprigs sage
1-2 sprigs rosemary (leaves only)
8 sprigs fresh parsley
150g rock salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Dice/grate all veggies, cook well on gentle heart with olive oil, add salt, whiz up.  Store in clean containers, will keep for approx 3 months.

This recipe can easily be altered.  Basically you need 850g fresh veggies to 150g salt.  This ratio must be kept but add mushrooms, whatever herbs you have on hand.  What ever takes your fancy pretty much and is looking dodgy in your fridge.  (That's how everyone else meal plans, no?)

Anyway, I'm off to make salted caramel sauce and vanilla sugar as a little Christmas gift for our extended family! 

Much Love,
Emma
xx 

Exploring the old cottage.....

We are slowly moving our lives to the little old cottage.  As we do we get an opportunity to explore, and sit in her quiet.  Gosh it is peaceful here.

We have no radio or tv here yet.  The old door hinges squeak and the old wooden doors bang shut cheerfully as the boys run in and out.  

It's been interesting to spend time in the garden exploring. My goodness my heart filled with peace, as I stood under the hot sun and smelled the fresh lemons as I picked my very first batch.  A simple, ordinary but special moment. 

There are beautiful holly hocks about in full show. 

Busy bees.  I'm excited about exploring beekeeping in the future.  

Aggies about to burst into full bloom.

Grapes growing....

Tiny oranges

Raspberries I think? 

An old nectarine I think - despite the fact it has clearly done through some difficult times, it's a tenacious thing and has plenty of fruit on it despite having no middle. 

I cannot wait to pull off this timber and see what the fireplace is like behind. 

The old laundry trough will double as a bath for little Henry.  This room smells like my grandmothers old laundry.  Comforting and familiar.  This old trough will be staying - what a workhorse! 

We picked up this old wardrobe from hard rubbish, and a little solid set of draws which will come in handy.  There is no storage in this place anywhere.  The old owners gifted us various wardrobes also and an old timberframed chair I will recover for my sewing room.  

I cannot wait to fire up this old stove! Once her chimney has been cleared mind you.  

So we are still moving, and slowly getting there.  It is an exciting, tiring time, wonderful, challenging time for our family of 5.  

Much love, 

Emma

Xx

Cloth nappies - the story of a converted Mama!

Simple living is a journey we are on.  We did not start where we are today and odds are in 5 years we will not be in the same place either.  Cloth nappies have been a part of this journey and I thought I would share my thoughts and experience.

When we had our first baby 7 years ago I disliked the idea of using cloth nappies.  I didn't want to deal with scraping the poo off, I didn't want poo through my washing machine.  I thought it was all too hard and too messy.  It had been sold to me by older parents, who had to cloth nappy due to disposables not being an option, how wonderful disposables were.  Quick, easy, clean!  How amazing! 

I had seen some mothers persist for a while and then throw in cloth nappying.  They had spent huge amounts on various kinds of nappies and ended up forking out for cloth and then back to using disposables in the end.  This also was a turn-off.
  
But as time went on the reality of disposable nappying sank in, it was extra money we were literally throwing in the bin, with NOTHING to show for it.  We hoped to have several children 3-4, crunching the numbers for wipes/nappies over that period was phenomenal.  Little did I know at that stage, my now my 7-year-old is still in night nappies.  The reality of how long my boys would be in nappies began to sink in.

Then one day I read a statistic which was a light bulb moment for me.  If we swapped just ONE disposable nappy/day for a cloth, we would save 300kg of landfill/year.  That's just ONE NAPPY!  Mind = blown.

From that point on it triggered me to begin the move to cloth nappies.  I say begin because for me it did not happen overnight.  It was a process of trial and error.  I started cloth nappies with my middle son, he was a few months old I guess?  I can't remember now.  I bought up on one big brand but I hated them.  I won't name them as many people love them, but they didn't work for us. They leaked constantly, they took forever to dry.  It really turned me off.  So I sold them all second hand and re-couped most of my costs.

I then thought about what I wanted in a nappy.  I wanted to support an Australian brand, I wanted a higher waisted nappy for practicalities, my boys wet high out the front.  I needed a nappy that would grow with my child.  I needed a nappy that the layers separated out so the sun could get to them and that would dry fast in winter.  I wanted to have a nappy stash of only one brand so all the bits and pieces went together.  I'm a little lazy, I didn't want to be stuck trying to play "match them up" with 500 different nappy parts.  We have since been given various nappies from people finishing their cloth time but I always reach for my Bambooties.  They are by far my favourite nappy out of the many I have tried.    

After much research, I settled the company Bambooty.  The nappies are manufactured in China these days but the company is Australian, started by some Aussie Mama's.  And from there my cloth nappy journey has gone from strength to strength.  I have now cloth nappied two of my three children and these babies are still full of life if we decide to go for a fourth baby.  ;)

I used hand-me-down Bambooty newborn sized nappies then the baby was tiny.  I loved them.  They were more absorbent than disposables and I had far fewer leaks.

I still do disposable nappy the boys at night time once they start sleeping through or start wetting through the cloth.  Whichever happens first.  But it has been niggling at me to find a better option.  I have one night time Bambooty nappy and it is more absorbent and chunkier.     

As with many baby products, there is a certain lingo that goes along with it.  But don't be daunted, it's not complicated!

MCN - Modern Cloth Nappy

Its a nappy with a layer of waterproof  PULL then layers of soakers.  They have elasticized legs, are done up with Velcro or snaps and a great option for cloth nappies.  These are the style of cloth I'm going to talk about as its what we use.  There are other options of the old pre-folds with covers and terry squares and so forth which many people still love and use! 
 

OSFM - One Size Fits Most

This nappy has lots of snaps on the outside and it folds down to very small to medium to large.  Personally, I was not in love with this nappy on its smallest setting but LOVED it on its medium to large setting and has been the most used nappy we own.  You snap-in or slide in extra soak pads depending on your child's needs.  I think these are the most economical nappy.  As you only have to buy your stash once and they snap to change size as your baby grows. I cannot rate these nappies highly enough.  They have been amazing quality, durable, reliable, comfortable and are cute to boot as an added bonus.

This nappy folds out so the layers can dry quickly, which is a necessity lets be real!

AIO - All In One

An all in one is exactly as it sounds.  Usually, a sized nappy where all the padding is sewn in.  These babies are easy.  No folding, no bits but golly they take a LONG time to dry in winter especially.  I'm talking days.  I just don't have time for that.  But if you are somewhere hot or your happy to have a big stash then give them a whirl.

Pocket Nappies.

These are pretty much as they sound.  They are a PULL cover with a pocket in which you slide soak pads into.  These are easy to pull apart for washing/drying and quick drying due to this feature.  You can boost them with extra soak pads also.  Pocket nappies are a touch more fiddly.

Cloth wipes

And now wipes.  You can buy expensive specially made baby wipes but the concept of them baffle me.  Instead, I just stocked up on bulk white cotton flannels.  I made them all white so that they are colour-coded.  White = bum wipes.  They are easy to nappy-san if I need also.  Then I fill a spray bottle with water and whatever I use in babies bath, perhaps a couple of drops of lavender oil if I have some on hand and spray each wipe as I use it.  I keep it all on hand at the nappy table, just like you would with anything else.    

I keep a big plastic nappy bucket with a tight lid in the loo and pop the lot in there after flushing anything that needs flushing.  I don't rinse the nappies, I dry pail.  Every second/third day I whack them through the wash on the longest wash with a soak in there somewhere and then hang them out to try.  It really does only take a few extra minutes.

Every month or so I pop my machine on a "clean" cycle.  My machine has a special cycle in which it does this itself but if yours doesn't I would put it on the longest hottest cycle with a scoop of your usual washing detergent and a cup of white vinegar to give it a good soak and deep clean. 

So I'm well and truly converted to the benefits of cloth nappies.  To me, I don't even think about it now.  It's just what we do.  Grant often comments how much money we save when we have to pick up a box of nappies for night time, and it's true.  It has saved us many thousands of dollars.  Money we can instead spend on actually living our life, building experiences and memories as a young family.  It may seem expensive to set up for cloth nappies - but don't let it put you off.  Bambooty often has huge clearance sales of their end of prints, around tax time and so forth.  You can save by buying in bulk also.  It saves to keep your eye open.  And it is in the long run, a far cheaper option, greener option.

Here is a link Bambooty online shop

There is various second-hand buy/swap/sell Facebook pages especially dedicated to MCN nappies.  Well worth checking out also. 

xx