15.01.10

Amidst the chaos of domesticity I choose to ignore
and the weather that is decidedly dreich
and the fact that fairly shortly I have to set off for work...
And there is at least 101 things to do on my to-do-list...
And I haven't really started any of them - yet.

I find the best way to cope with a day like today is to do
something completely opposite.
and this is the result................

I find it so therapeutic to snip little bits of felt and search out beads that tone/match/contrast - it gives me a wonderful excuse not to be the domestic goddess that I will never be!

*********************

Still on the quest of the '52 new things to cook' as inspired by Colouritgreen,

I made paneer for the first time ever. I took courage from Thursday's Child and tried it last night.

Once the curds had set, I tossed them in garlicky olive oil with loads of black pepper - scrumptious!

They got eaten so quickly that I never managed to take a picture, but Thursday's pictures show how delicious they are.

3 recipes down, only 49 to go!

13.01.11

Today? well today didn't quite go to plan.

Brief synopses.......

Roads icy.
Snowing.
Then fine rain.
More snow.

Himself sets off to work. (first attempt)
I start to take boys to school. (first attempt)
Himself returns - deeming roads too icy for me.
I am ok with that.
Himself takes both boys to school.  (second attempt)
I walk into the house - realise the dog is
in the back of the landrover,
on her way....
to school ....
with himself.....

Text himself to let him know.
I start chipping and chiseling away the ice,
so I can reach the chickens without slipping (again).

I slip.

Later - much later, himself returns with the dog.

Himself sets off to work (second attempt)
School rings - they are going to close.

'Can youngest be collected please'

Text himself (who has only just got to work)
Himself sets off to school (third attempt).
Later much later himself returns with one son.
Himself sets off to work (third attempt)


....keep up... keep up - are you with me on this one?

I temporarily re-home one son
with a friend who is forcibly off work
due to car sliding then crashing into back of another.

I set off to work.

I slip.

Himself finishes work (has he been there much today?)
collects eldest boy from school.
collects youngest boy from car-less friend.

My work shuts early unexpectedly - blaming the weather.
I come home.
I slip.

Find all three chiseling their way through the ice.

SO! as an antidote to all the excess of ice and slipping and trips to school and to work
I made home made falafal with a green salad and a good dollop of 'Lindsay's garlic dressing'.


Aaaaah - bliss.
Now - as I sit and crochet and slurp from a mug of tea,
this day seems just another story woven into the fabric of my life.

I smile.
And himself ? - well he's ok now he's eaten.

Snow slump and frozen melt water looking more beautiful than any Swarovski crystal

12.01.10

I have been inspired by Colouritgreen's goal to cook 52 new things this year. 

When I first read it I was horrified at the thought of having to find 52 new recipes!! 

Then I realised that it really meant only one new recipe a week. I think I can manage that.

So, after being asked what the unnamed fruit loaf is - which now has a name.

I thought I'd post the recipe for :-

The McLoaf 

I have used an American sized 8oz mug for measurements.

1 mug dried fruit

1/2 mug rolled oats

1/2 mug bran flakes

1/2 mug brown sugar

1 mug of milk

Mix together and leave to soak for 1/2 - 1 hour

Then add:

1 mug of brown flour or wholewheat flour

3 level tsp baking powder

Stir well and pour into a well greased or lined and greased 1lb loaf tin.

Cook in a pre-heated oven at about 180 deg C.

It usually takes about an hour to cook and less than an hour with 3rd degree burns to eat......

Ask himself - he is living proof......

This fruit loaf was as a result of two recipes and a lack of correct ingredients and it worked (she said with a surprised note in her voice).

If you try it - let me know how it went.


PS - My computer is back - and I am happy!

11.01.10

New project.
Over the weekend, eldest was eyeing up his blankie that I had made him nearly 18 months ago whilst I was learning how to crochet.
Each mistake is lovingly left in, because I either didn't see it in the first place or wasn't adept enough to fix it.
But eldest has used it on his bed, on long winter car journeys, camping and on weekends when it comes down with him and they snuggle up on the settee together.
I asked him what was bothering him.‘
Nothing Mummy....but.…’

‘Go on - but?’

‘I love my blankie but....it's a ......... ‘

Oh dear, my boy is growing up, he's going to say it's a bit 'baby' for him. Sigh.‘

...It's a bit umm, small..…’

He held it up against his body - and yes, he was right, it was a bit small.

‘Can you add some more to it? I don't want to get rid of it.’

I should have known that this big softy wouldn't get rid of anything, he hangs onto childhood things fiercely.

‘Can I make you a new one? One like our Heritage Blankie ?’
 

His face lit up,‘Yes please, but can it be a green one?’

Now I need green yarn  - lots of it!

If you can hear a strange sound - it's me grinding my back teeth at the laptop - it just does not like me.
The feeling is mutual.

10.01.10

Whilst my computer is still laid low, I am using the laptop - we are maintaining a cool relationship out of necessity.

Once upon a time it was quite different,
It was like all new and tempestuous relationships,
We were inseparable.
Joined at the hip, or in our case at the keyboard and fingertip.
I would go glassy eyed at the thought of him.
There was no other, no one else.
Then it started…
The freezing….
The late night crashes….
The lost information….
The frustration, the disappointment and finally the separation.
I had been burnt….
Now we have a polite but frosty association.

*********************

On a completely different note, we went walking yesterday.

We drove to a favourite haunt, a wild and ancient track that rambles over the hills.

A cheek crackingly cold wind tore at our faces.

The boys - all three, and the dog set off cheerfully

and I followed on already frozen feet.

I took photographs - looking at the icy beauty through the lens

somehow helps me feel less cold.

As the sun went down, so did the temperature,

but the colours of the sky were warm and glowing.

As the peach painted sun slipped behind the horizon,

the underside of the clouds briefly fired up a brilliant orange.

Then just as abruptly, the snow turned blue then purple

then a deadly cold grey.

Time to go.

**********************

I have been inspired by/shamed into/encouraged by himself’s baking recently.
So made this…………….

It doesn’t have a name, coz it’s a result of an amalgamation of a couple of recipes and a lack of the correct ingredients and it turned out splendidly. Yummmmm.

PS: This is my second third attempt, the laptop noticed what I had been writing and lost it then denied all knowledge of my waffling - see what I have to put up with!

08.01.10

This is attempt part 2 - my computer has died and I have had to resort to the old laptop who is as temperamental as an aging diva.....

Himself has always been a pie-eater.

Rhubarb pie - tooth curlingly acidic, with custard or cream or ice cream, preferably with all three.
Gooseberry pie - tart and razor-sharp.
Blackcurrant and apple - deep blood red staining juice and slightly firm chunks of fruit
Cornish pasties - crumbling flaky pastry, potatoes, carrots and beef all wrapped up in a thick gravy
Steak and Ale pie - deep rich and slow baked

So, as I said before - he is a pie-eater.

When I came home from work - after what felt like a very long day,
a double order of work with plenty of grafting on the side,
I walked into the kitchen which was perfumed with a lovely warm scent of pie cooking.
He opened the oven door and a heavenly fruity steam billowed out, 
making the room a very tasty sauna.

He had been baking!
He was very proud of his first attempt at a pie, and rightly so,
and I of him.

He is not the only male in my home that has been creative,

eldest is away on a sleep over,

so youngest has been busy keeping himself busy, very busy

.....busy making these......

I'd better stop now, the lap top is complaining.

06.01.10

One of the blogs I read belongs to Jan of Bobbypinsboardwalk and she hosts on a Wednesday - a boardwalk brag fest.

Although I have read all the entries from other bloggers with their often very inspirational 'brags',

 I have held back from doing 'show and tell' to be honest.

But today - Jan has bragged about something I can associate with and that is... Crochet!

Fav sis-in-law very patiently, whilst on holiday, taught me how to crochet.

We sat on a beach in Northumberland

and while our boys and dogs did holiday type things,

she helped me learn the all important stitches and rhythms.

It was by no mean feat on her part as I am very left handed, can't knit or comprehend a pattern

and didn't know my yarn from my wool from my acrylics from my elbow - mind you, I still don't....

Any way, where this is all leading to, is that since that holiday nearly 18 months ago,

I have crocheted like a demon possessed -

and I love it!

One of the many crochet things I have made is a double bed 'blankie'

which was given the wonderful title of  Heritage blankie

by an elderly lady who was manning the charity shop

where I bought a bag load of reclaimed wools for just 50 pence.

I think this blankie is one of my personal favourite items,

as it has many memories attached to it.

• Driving rain
• incredible winds
• collapsed tents
• leaking yurts
• frighteningly large rolling waves on the return ferry
• Scottish highlands and beaches
• seal watching
• whale spotting
• walking at a strange angle to prevent falling over in the howling gales
• Icy cold showers (I soon learn't which tap was which!)
• the mud
• the beaches
• the beautiful pebbles
• the far far horizons
• the big sky (when you could see it)
• a holiday which more akin to a survival course than a family vacation..... 

And despite all the above "hardship" it turned out to be a rather good holiday

especially now that I

have recovered, forgotten,

reminisce.

And the best reminder?

My heritage blankie :)

The inspirational colours of Orkney

hopefully, I have done it justice.