13 July 2013

Introducing Elodie Boo

She was 12 days late and 24 hrs coming, the new addition to our family refuses to be hurried.

We are all so happy that she is finally here and enjoying getting to know her. My mum stayed with us for a few weeks leading up to, and following the birth and she was amazing. She did wonders with the garden and was no end of help. It is always good to have your mum around at times like these.


My sister also made a flying visit with her little 6 month old daughter. It was so good to see them, I wish we all lived a little closer. While she was here we made baby bottom salve. I have been using this not only on Elodie's bum but also on her dry skin. It has been great and it is lovely to know that it is all natural with no harmful chemicals. I also re-used her Papa's hair wax tins. They were just the perfect size.



Baby Salve Recipe
to make 2 tins
Beeswax - 30g
coconut oil - 200g
Calendula oil - 1 cap full (I didn't measure it properly sorry)
Tea-tree essential oil - 3 drops
Lavender essential oil - 8 drops

Method
Melt the hard oils in a double boiler, then add the rest of the ingredients stirring well to ensure they are well combined. Pour into tins or jars and leave to set. Easy peasy!

30 May 2013

Roald Dahl's Completely Revolting Recipies

Francisco received this great book for his birthday. He likes to read it over breakfast and decide which recipes he would most like to make. So far the Green Pea Soup has been a hit and so have the Mud Burgers. Today we made Butter Gum Balls.



They are sticky, tasty, and have no nutritional value. In hindsight, after our trip to the dentist we probably should have made something else, they are jaw breaking and could pull out the most secure of fillings.

They do taste really good though!

25 May 2013

Thank you parcels

So, not long left now until our baby joins us. We have slowly been getting ready and I think now we are almost there. 


I put together some thank you packages as we have been so grateful for all the things our generous friends and family have given us. They contained a card, some biscuits, and of course some soap

Thank you everyone x

19 May 2013

Tea & Biscuits

I made a batch of biscuits from this recipe that I found on pinterest and filled an old kilner jar full of them. They are so so delicious and perfect with a lovely cup of tea.


I find the American cup measurement system quite tricky so with a little on-line help I converted the recipe into grams. Here is the recipe in grams, for all of you who struggle a little like me.

Swiss Cinnamon Crisp Biscuits
Ingredients: 
For the biscuit dough 
225g Softened butter
88g Brown packed sugar
168g Granulated sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla essence
Zest of 1 lemon approx 1 tbsp
450g Plain white flour
1 tsp Kosher salt ( I used Cornish sea salt)
1 tbsp Cinnamon

For the top
1 Egg
2 tbsp milk
50g Sugar
1 tbsp Cinnamon

Beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, vanilla and zest and beat to combine.  Add the flour, salt and cinnamon and mix until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour.  Roll the dough out on a well-floured surface to about 1/4" thick. Cut out shapes with biscuit cutters or cut in to squares. Place the biscuits on a baking tray.  Beat the egg and milk together with a fork or whisk. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Use a pastry brush to coat the biscuits in the egg mixture, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top.  Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes.


We have had 3 whole days of sunshine in a row which has been a very rare occurrence of late so we sat in the garden soaked up some warmth and enjoyed our tea and biscuits. Lovely.



13 May 2013

Shades of green & white

With a dot of red thrown in. It's the first lady bird I have seen this year and such a beauty so many spots. My son was trying to count them but it kept moving before he could finish. Just sat still long enough for this picture.
 
 

The hedgerows and fields are now awash with the delicate lace like cow parsley flowers. It is just so lovely I had to get my camera out and get a few snaps
 



 
And when I got back home I thought I would have a go at a bit of sketching and sewing. It is such a long time since I have done any drawing I am a little rusty, and the same goes for my stitching but the more I practise the better I will get. I am quite pleased with my efforts.




I am not quite sure what I will do with the stitching yet. Maybe I'll put it on the front of a nappy basket or maybe the laundry bag I have been promising myself I will make for ages. Totally fed up with picking up dirty washing off the floor.



03 May 2013

Little Bird

This little bird was a project that I started over a year ago, put aside and had never finished, until now. I am really pleased with him. The pattern is based on one from this book but with quite a few modifications. Although the pictures don't show it he is tiny. I have also individually cut out and handstitched every feather which as you can imagine was really time consuming but worthwhile as I love the finished look.


Apart from this I have been collecting cashmere jumpers from the charity shop, I am planning on making a super soft baby blanket. There is something about having a baby which seems to bring out the maker in me and after several months of not really creating anything I am suddenly full of new ideas and inspirations.

30 April 2013

Finding it hard to see my feet


With 7/8 weeks to go before our baby is born my body has finally hit the go slow button. I am walking slower, doing less, and generally resting up a bit more, which for me I find very difficult, always so much to do. This slower pace does have its advantages. Spring has finally arrived after a long, cold, never ending winter, and I am happy to be able to appreciate everything I see without the usual rush.  Today the sun is shining, the ground is drying out and after a couple of hours at the allotment I can sit here and appreciate the flowers, the warmth, the colours, and the light that the last day of April has brought.