A Week Off

I am not quite sure where April got to - got away that's for sure. I've just had a week off work, being a mum at home and although we've been busy, it has been bliss to have some 'brain' space, time to think, have time with my little boy and do the school run everyday. Not having the pull of work vs home even just for a few days was a very welcome break.

The bank holiday was lovely and warm and really got the garden springing back to life. The roses are all budding and the first bloom on my Getrude Jekyll smells so deeply gorgeous - you could almost drink it. Ignore the black spots! The perfume is so strong it is worth drying the petals.

Since my last post I have been getting on with my Granny Squares. It is taking a while and sewing in all the ends will take a time. I originally was only going to do the three rounds, but have now decided to finish them off with a further three taken from another pattern. Having scoured books and You Tube, I have found this blog, Little Tin Bird and the tutorials are a god-send. It's shaping up and I'll see where we are when I have 40 finished squares.

The pink is much more muted in reality - looks a bit too pink here. 

Go Slow Weekend

With the onset of half term starting last Friday for Isobel, a tired toddler, knackered me and vile weather I decided to install the Go Slow motto this weekend - I think we all were in need of a bit of time just to enjoy being at home and on Friday we didn't have to be anywhere at a certain time - yippee!  The Butcher, the baker, the greengrocer and candlestick maker online shop all came to us - it was bliss as we watched the wind and rain outside - or as Isobel exclaimed: "It's chucking it down - let's stay inside today".

In an attempt to try and reduce our cake intake in this miserable weather I found a recipe for choc chip cookies (my though process being we might eat less of the cookies...?!>). My cookies have always been disasters - flat and spread out with ooze to then become brittle and tasteless. This time however they worked!! Mary Berry came to the rescue and perhaps in combination with my wonderful Kitchen Aid.  Gorgeously chewy it was hard not to gobble them up as they were warm. A big hit!

Hard to keep little hands away from the dough

Yum!

On Sunday our local bookshop was holding a reading by a local poet, Chrissie Grittin, to launch her new book, Stars in Jars. I wondered if it might be too old for Isobel but she LOVED it and seems to have made quite an impression. And most importantly her own signed book!

Wall Art

Some months ago I mentioned Isobel had been to a party held at a wonderful paintshop in SE22 with the most fantastic paint wheel which resulted in some stunning and unusual artwork. During the Christmas break we decided to frame Isobel's and here is the result  - now hanging in the kitchen:

Each child had three cups of different colours and were instructed to throw the paint into the wheel. Isobel of course then threw the cups into the wheel hence the blodges....

It has hardly stopped raining this year so when I see a hint of Spring in the shops it is very tempting to buy a little cheer and a sense that the winter will be over before too long.....

Until then it's time to enjoy those open fires, catch up on the knitting and perhaps learn to crochet (again!)

A Decade

Last month our 10th wedding anniversary crept upon us. The lead up to the big day, dress fittings, flowers, decorations, guest lists and the various things we were doing in our lives (far more travel) and renovating flat/house (ugh!) all seem a million miles away. Fast forward to 2008 and the last five years have flashed by - we seem to live in 6th gear. I know I am getting older (Mirror Mirror on the wall does't lie), but how do children do it? Time to grab an hour and put my feet up!

It's that time again.....

Yes it's fair time....and we always get two as part of the Dulwich Festival. This one is the most popular with Miss I - it is small but plenty to do for four year old and the excitement as the day approaches excels now she remembers what is usually in store.

We arrived as it opened (otherwise the queues are horrendous) and we decided to see the donkeys from Essex first. I thought Elis might like a ride, but no way - not today. Maybe next year. The lucky donkey this year was called Charlie:

 

Then it was off to be painted as a pirate....

After some serious bouncy castles and HUGE slides having bumped into a nursery friend (Isobel seems to be always bumping into friends - I need to get used to it), we decided to go and see what we might find for lunch. The paella was still cooking and going to take an hour.....so we decided to plump for oven cooked pizza. It was made out of this little van with a roaring hot fire:

 

And we found a sunny patch by a tree and ate our pizza listening to the live music, before ice-cream (bribery seems to be my parenting tool.....)

And then it was time to meet up with another friend and go for a spin:

 

 Until next weekend...

Autumnal Tones

Isobel seems quite taken with Autumn this year - the changing colours, falling leaves - even started singing a song this evening about Snow White in the Autumn Mist!

We can forgive the dropping temperatures with the vistas of gorgeous colours which are surrounding us at the moment. These trees with their russet red leaves line our street:

 

How big is this leaf?

Although I do wonder if the garden has become slightly confused - Summer cosmos are towering - after such a disaster year (second wettest Summer on record incase you are interested) and the yellow courgettes are now producing:

 

 

And my gaudy chrysanthemum 'Jewel Collection' are adding a splash of colour:

And a certain little person loves to hang outside whatever the weather:

Bedtime Routine

Getting ready for bathtime:

When did she grow up?......

Bath time is always a giggle:

Calming Storytime:

Promptly followed by a glass of wine.......

Rainy Sunday Afternoon

Yesterday it poured cats and dogs for a chunk of the day. After a delicious roast chicken lunch, Isobel and I had some quiet time - initially intended for a nap, but we had a play with the photo booth. Isobel got rather handy with the record button:

Weekend

Isobel and I had the week at home which led into a relaxing weekend. Our cousin Nicholas came to visit from Melbourne which was lovely having not seen him for 5 or 6 years! On Sunday we went to one of the Dulwich Festival Fairs. Perfect size bouncy castle for a 2.5 year old. When I asked if she would like have a go she said "Yes please and need to take off our shoes!" (How does she remember these things from a year ago??). The big slide with Daddy was too scary, but she liked the car:

And a cupcake always goes down well:

In the afternoon we headed for Greenwich Park:

Jumping on the bandstand was highly exciting:

Weeeee!

Christmas 2010

We spent this year at home and had a lovely and relaxing day - even with an excitable toddler. We all woke up to stockings at the end of our bed and quite honestly this might have been enough for Isobel. She loved sitting in bed, pulling out little wrapped goodies and ripping them opening. And especially discovering the chocolate money in the toe of the stocking!!! We couldn't get her down for breakfast - not even tempted with an egg (well eventually we did):

Having got the Turkey in the oven, and dressed:

we then started the grand opening. Isobel's face when she saw the presents under the tree was priceless and she was very keen to hand them all out and help open them...

First present -from Auntie Judes

Isobel open this one?

Wow....what a noise!

Ready for Christmas lunch

Do you like my hat?

Some quiet time watching Pingu- her favourite at the moment

Watching Cinderella Ballet in new fairy outfit

No room for cake on Christmas Day!