Friday 28 May 2010

"I can do it myself"

This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.
To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.

Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Wash Wednesday - 1


Even Peter Rabbit and Pat need a spin in the washer sometimes.
Gardenmama http://gardenmama.typepad.com/my_weblog/ hosts Wash Wednesday.

Monday 24 May 2010

Book Sharing Monday - Thomas and the Prize Pig


O is our first Thomas the Tank Engine fan, L & K were never keen.It never ceases to amaze me how he knows all the engines and their names, matching numbers with names and colours of engines despite supposedly not knowing either.
This little board book is a favourite, a simple tale of taking a pig to show at the Country Fair.


Yesterday, as we headed to a local Country Fair, O knew exactly what to expect and happily told us all the animals he'd see there.His list came from his little book, right down to Dora the runaway pig !
We saw 4 lovely little pigs , which I forgot to photograph ! I blame the heat, it was 37 degrees, we are more use to dodging showers at these events.

This handsome fella was my favourite, O's was an alpaca who shared his name.
O had a fantastic day seeing all the animals from his book and more, hubby won a whole ewe's cheese after correctly guessing how much milk 3 sheep would give at their morning milking ( 4.1l spot on guess ! ) we had a wonderful picnic and all caught alittle sun.
Heres to more Summer Days.
Take a look at more people taking part in BSM

Friday 21 May 2010

Concentration


This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.

Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Rainbow Sewing

I have very kindly been allowed to join a crafting swap group based in America.
Themes are posted and when one takes your fancy, you sign up to make 5 items ( all the same ) plus an extra as a Thank You to the person organising the swap.In return you receive 5 different items, all hand made with love.
The theme that inspired me was "Rainbows"

I made 6 tissue/cloth holders, using this wonderful, easy pattern

I popped 2 cloths ( my trial pieces ) into the holders.
I hope they see passed my wonky lines and feel the fun I had creating them.
Another May "to do" crossed off.
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I have added a "Blogging Week" list in the sidebar, am missing inspiration for Tuesday and Thursday, any suggestions ?

Monday 17 May 2010

In the Dye-Pot

Dying with Kool-Aid was fun http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-day-to-dye.html
but my real goal was natural dying, arming myself with tons of wise words from blogs and forums, I finally gave it a try.

I soaked my wool, then added it to a pot of water with alum & cream of tartar, this is your mordant, helping the dye fix to the wool, gently heating.
The dye was made using Brazilnut wood chips, heated and soaked for a day.
When the wool was ready, I added it into the dye pot and cooked again gently.
Left to cool and then hung out to dry.

Great info on natural dying here -

http://simmy.typepad.com/echoesofadream/ sadly Simmy, no longer blogs but has left some great advice and gorgeous pictures of her projects.

http://www.sewanee.edu/Chem/Chem&Art/Detail_Pages/Projects_2003/Lawrence/html/Lawrence.html

http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-dye-yarn-with-sun-dye.html this looks like great fun and excellent for involving children.

This was so much easier than I thought and there is really so much help and advice available.

And now, I am knitting it up, into a Pebble Vest for my boy.
Having knitted so many of these for friends new babes, I was delighted to find a sized up pattern on Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/railyuh/pebble-henrys-manly-cobblestone-inspired-baby-vest

I am nocton4 there, please feel free to "friend" me, I'd love to see your projects.





Thanks so much for all the wonderful yoghurt help, what a great community.
I am working my way through the links and will be giving it another go later in the week, will report back.

Saturday 15 May 2010

Trying to make Yoghurt


Fulfilling this May plan is not as easy as I thought it was going to be !
I have brought 1l of milk to the boil ( twice now ! ) and then let it cool to around 50c, added a generous spoonful of yoghurt - shop or from previous batch ( I wish ) and mixed with alittle of the milk, slowly adding in the rest of the milk and stirring.
Then lid on my 1970's yoghurt maker, it was a 50p car boot bargain ( although with the organic milk and yoghurt I'm wasting, not looking so much of a good deal right now ) and left.
I did have a peek at it and all was looking well.
However, both attempts have resulted in a curdled mess, swimming in a yellow, straw coloured liquid !
Help ... please.What am I doing wrong ? any tips would be much appreciated.
How are your May plans coming on ?
Happy weekend to all x

Friday 14 May 2010

" I like driving in my car "

This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.
To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.

Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Along the Riverbank

After lusting over blue skies, sandy beaches and hot sun, it's good to stop and take a fresh look at what is on your doorstep.


Lush, green beauty, not 15 minutes from home, so easily missed as we rush passed on the way to somewhere else.



I could have watched this little beauty and his siblings for hours, dashing up and down the river.


And then home, right outside my front door, my view, fields of gold, glowing in the sun.
Which made me think of this beautiful poem.

Oh, to be in England
Now that April's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England - now!
And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows
Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent spray's edge
That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children's dower, -
Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!
Robert Browning (1812-1889)

Monday 10 May 2010

Colouring our Days

When post arrives, covered in such gorgeous stamps ( from South Africa ) you know the day is going to be good and when the parcel is full of merino wool from http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/ this talented lady, you've hit jackpot.


One of my favourite blogs, is this sweet Mamas http://childhoodmagic.blogspot.com/ the wonderful colours can't fail to lift the spirits, even on a cold, wet UK day.
So today, as the drizzle keeps us inside, we have been looking for our own colours,

Pots of sweet potato soup, perfect for bringing sunshine into our day.


Mama-Made pizza with a splash of sunshine across it.


Spring-Time is Nettle Soup Time, the gathering of Spring's bounty to feed the Soul.




Hungry Caterpillars perfect for little boy's hands, a treasure found as we dash outside to find that splash of sun.


Friday 7 May 2010

Play Trays

Our play tray ( actually a cat litter tray, bought very cheaply ) has provided endless fun, we have used it to grow cress, for indoor mud play, cooking fun with dried beans, rice etc and beach play with coloured sand, shells, nets and rakes.
A lovely treat on a rainy afternoon, to find the tray set up and covered over with a cloth ... what fun is hiding underneath.




Tuesday 4 May 2010

May Plans


I'm taking stock, pinning this month down, rather than clinging onto its coat-tails, as it rushes by with the rest of the year.

This is a big year for us as a family, in so many different ways, not least of all for L, exams are looming with college or sixth form in September, trips to Leeds Festival, a possible holiday in Morocco with a friend ( lucky thing ) concerts and a family trip to America in the Autumn.

With his wings beginning to take flight, I feel the need to slow down, to make home a safe and special place, full of good things, a place to come back to when the World is feeling just a bit too big, a comfort for him ( and me )

So, this month I feel the need for afew plans.

1. Make yoghurt.

2. Butter making.

3. Some more sewing.

4. A raw meal each day.

5. A trip to the sea-side on the train.

Fancy joining me ? Leave a link to your plans for the month.

Sunday 2 May 2010

Blessings at Beltane to All




Beltane

Fresh blossoms,
Bouquets of intoxicating confetti
Strewn extravagantly around
In their season
To celebrate the May.
A sky of pale velvet lined with fleece,
Sun-warmed to ecstasy;
Dewdrops still glistening, wet
Upon a tapestry of greens
Today is the betrothal.
Ripe and fertile,
Lush with longing
The awakened imagination
Quickens to the vital pulse
Of promised fulfillment
round and round the pole they go
entwine their ribbons to and fro
As the white hawthorn blossoms
Scatter in the gaiety and laughter,
Once-virgin furrows, fecund,
Fill with new life germinating afresh
In the womb of our Mother.
As joy is the fulfillment of innocence,
So the berry is the joy of the bud.
And the silent starry wheel
Slowly turns full circle round
As it was in the Beginning.
* * *Beltane © Domino 2005