summer holidays

First a huge apology for the lack of posts, and also any development of art work!  

Due to recent events (see previous post), it being the school holidays, rubbish weather, and little Elsa also finding her little walking feet, I haven't had a minute to do anything, other than look after them and the house!  (and not sure how well I have stayed on top of that!)  So as soon as George starts school (still can't believe he is going to be starting school in a couple of weeks!) I will be getting myself organised on the HUGE list of blog posts I want to do, and my artwork, which is developing no end, in my head, and in my sketchbook!  I did manage a tentative start, however I have not had the time to go back to it since!  So in some ways I am dreading my little boy starting school, in other ways I can't wait to be able to get on with my enormous to do list!  

We have got an exciting weekend planned, with a bullet point itinerary, dress codes for each activity, no children and therefore SLEEP!  Will report back next week :)  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

thank you cards

Well I FINALLY finished the thank you cards for Elsa's baptism!  I know it has taken me ages, but we have been ill and they are the most ambitious cards I have attempted - well that's my excuse any way! 

So I thought I would show you what I have been slaving over!

I wanted them to be a bit more than just a normal folded card.  I wanted them to be a bit of a record of the day with quite a few images and I wanted to include a little gift for everyone to say thank you for coming, and remind people of the day.

I made it a 3 fold card.  Each face has a faded background image of the day, such as the teacups, cakes or decorations.  Then on top of that image I placed smaller opaque images of Elsa and other important images.  With photoshop I added photo corners to these smaller images to give it a look like my Grand mother's photo albums. 

I decided to give everyone a packet of seeds they could sow and remember the day.  I created a doily pocket on the last face of the card by using half a doily folded in half.  I really like how these turned out and they link back to the decorations and feel of the day.

I really enjoy making cards, making them more personal, and making a bit more effort than just picking up a pack from Clintons, (although I have done that as well, as sometimes you just don't have the time!)  

Next card on the list is George's 4th birthday card, I have started a bit of a tradition with the children's birthday cards and I will show you after his birthday! 

(Not that I think he will read this blog, but you never know he is very computer literate already! ;-) ) 

happy fathers day!

Well today is fathers day.  Unfortunately Ian wasn't feeling very well so any exciting plans went out the window.  But to be honest I think he enjoyed lazing around as much as any outing!

This was a lovely moment I caught this morning, of Ian trying to teach George and Elsa the joys of Aussie Rules Football!  Ian fell in love with the game when we lived over in Australia for 6 months, and so he keeps up to date with games over there online.  He also plays a few games back here in the UK when work will allow, as there is a small but growing league based all over the country.  I don't think they totally got the hang of it, but I think George would really enjoy playing the game when he is a bit older. 

(If you don't know anything about Aussie Rules it's 18 a side game, a cross between football and rugby, they play it on a oval, and they wear teeny tiny shorts and jump all over each other to get the ball - probably not a very correct summary of the game, but I feel it is all the important points, especially the shorts ;-) ! )

Here is the picture George and Elsa did for daddy - I think from George's description it should be called, 'Spotty Dog Dalmatian in the Sun.'

Now as we were not going anywhere today I felt I had better make a nice dinner!  I had seen a lovely recipe for chicken in the slow cooker at A Beach Cottage Blog, a wonderful inspirational blog I have just discovered.  Too Easy Forty Garlic Chicken  - here is a link to Sarah's recipe and her WONDERFUL photographs!  I seriously couldn't compete with photos of my chicken but here is just one to show you how it turned out and a big thank you to Sarah as it was delicious!!

Now for pudding!!

Well the one pudding I can always rely on is crumble.  It's strange when I was younger I couldn't stand any kind of cooked fruit, I just thought it tasted all wrong!  But luckily my tastes have developed and now I couldn't get enough of it.  I am also relatively new to the world of baking. 

This is mainly due to my allergies.  I am allergic to eggs and all dairy, so when I was younger it was very difficult to get hold of dairy and egg free items let alone egg substitute.  However as it seems to be fashionable at the moment, for healthy eating, the supermarkets are embracing 'free from products' which of course I am loving!  I will probably write a whole different post on the joys of allergies, and maybe do a regular cooking experiment or something..... not sure watch this space! 

Anyway back to the crumble...

I actually discovered this recipe from, 'Annabel Karmel's New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner'  I have used this recipe so much whenever I open the book it naturally falls open at this page!

I follow the recipe for the crumble topping (and make lots of it as it is LOVELY!)  then tend to just use what fruit we have in.

For the topping ...

150g plain flour

a pinch of salt

100g cold butter ( I obviously use dairy free spread)

rub together till it resembles breadcrumbs

mix in 50g rolled oats and 75g of soft brown sugar

We get a veg box delivered once a week and there were some lovely raspberries that needed to be used, raspberries it was!

Now here it gets a bit naughty!  Normally I would add more fruit like some apples or more berries, but we didn't really have any spare as I need all the apples for snacks for George after nursery.  So I decided to drizzle over the raspberries a little of our home made plum wine/liquor! 

We have a plum tree in our back garden and it produced so many last year we were searching for things to do with them.  We made a lot of jam!  Then this wine which turned out to be pretty potent, although it is lovely mixed with lemonade!

cover with topping

and enjoy!!!! 

I love it with either custard, made with soya milk, or dairy free ice cream.

As you can probably suss from the daffodils this isn't the same crumble as the one I made today was eaten before I could take a photo!! 

Would just like to finish by saying happy fathers day again to my husband, who really is the most wonderful dad for George and Elsa.  Also to my own dad, who I love dearly. 

x

Stop and pause

As I sit here looking out at a very grey and dreary sky, I feel the need to remind myself that this is a British summer, and the sun DOES shine - occasionally!

These are a few shots I took quickly on my phone yesterday when we got back from nursery.

I love the shade of lavender against the red brick.

I'm not a very good gardener, and as we have inherited this garden I have even less chance of knowing what these flowers are, but they have just opened up and are so beautiful and delicate, swaying in the breeze.

They are hanging on for dear life really as they are right next to the children's sand pit!

These little white flowers are climbing up the wall next to the kitchen door.  They are a huge hit with the local bee and wasp population, which therefore I'm afraid does not make it a big hit with me!  I have a HUGE fear of bees and wasps, which I am trying to keep in check in front of the kids. 

The kids jumped at the chance to get out in the garden in the sunshine,and the sand pit is a big favourite, although Elsa is still learning it is NOT good to eat sand, and George needs constant reminders not to throw or kick sand in the air!

It makes me so happy though to see them playing together in the sun!

Its lovely just to stop, pause and appreciate what you can see and what you have. 

I am very lucky

Elsa's christening

It was our beautiful daughters christening on Sunday. It was such a wonderful and special day! I am now shattered though so I would thought I would quickly post some of my favourite images, from setting up for the lunch after the service. I totally went for a vintage girly theme, with lots and lots of flowers, tea cups, vintage, doilies and cakes!

Elsa looked so beautiful in her christening dress, she was an angel..........until the chocolate arrived! (see last image ;-) )

The pom pom flowers (my first attempt at making them) looked beautiful with the morning light coming through the window. If you look closely you can probably tell the order that they were made!

We went for a cup cake tower instead of a traditional cake, and lots and lots of cups of tea in these beautiful vintage tea cups! Some were my mums and some were my Mor Mors.

I made some garlands for the fireplaces with just some doilies, I think they turned out really well, simple but very pretty.

Assorted vintage plates on lace, ready for the mountain of cakes and sandwiches we were about to dish out!

I don't think many people could eat another thing at the end of it!

Note the very big chocolate stain!!!

x