Knitted Cardigan

I just love this cute look and last night I finished my latest knitting project.   Unfortunately Mimi is funny about her clothes and flatly refused to even try it on so I doubt she will ever wear it!  Now the question is what to do with it now it is finished.

Yay Christmas Holiday's

 Yay Christmas Holiday's are finally here.  It has been a tough term.  

Last weekend we finally got around to buying a Christmas tree.  This year our Christmas tree search proved much more difficult than normal.  I am sure that last year we paid about £17.00 from B&Q.  We originally thought we would go there again this year, however they ranged in price from about £16.00 (although these were brown twigs with a few needles left) to £49.99.  Now I am not a scrooge however £50.00 for a tree for 3 weeks seems a little excessive especially based on my recent resignation. So after some trips to some local nursery's we found a beautiful locally grown tree with plenty of needles for half the price of B&Q.

Mummy's little fairy!!!

I have as always got a few projects on the go.  Here are a couple of my latest projects:

A fabric Birthday card for my friend D

I decided to design and make some Christmas Cards.

First of all I made a quick sketch of a Robin.

Then using various fabric scraps I appliquéd my
Robin on to the front of my card.

Also this week we have picked up a bargain on ebay.  We got a whole heap of Brio train track.  One lot cost £4.19 and the other £15.00.  One evening I spent about 3 hours putting together this great track design only for it to be trashed the following morning in about 3mins.

Tonight we are off out to Pizza Express and then a Carol Concert at the Cathedral which I am sure Mimi will just love.  

An action packed week.

This week has seen:

• Mimi's first week at pre-school
• My first full week back to work after the summer holidays
• The completion of our blackboard wall in the kitchen
• A trip to London on the train with Mimi
• Me spend WAY too much money on various things such as makeup, shoes, boots.  All necessary items.

This week Mimi started at the little pre-school in the village. She is going to go Monday and Friday mornings.  When I got home from work on Monday I asked her how playschool went and all she could say was "I cried, big tears, in my eyes".  Mike had to hang around for a while.  Each time he went towards the door she would apparently grab him.  However by Friday she seemed happier and came home with some pictures.

The lovely ladies from the group rang me to tell me that Mimi was ok and was playing with the playdoh.  However as a teacher at a secondary school where mobile phones are banned I found it difficult to speak to the nice lady on the end of the  phones as the kids were all shouting "Miss your'e not supposed to have phones in lessons".  

I was a little upset that I missed Mimi's first day at playschool. 

My first week back at work has already provided me with shed loads of marking, performance management, tracking and endless meetings.  Somewhere I am supposed to find time to plan my lessons!  Why is it when you work part time you end up working almost as hard as a full time member of staff but on less money?

My days have changed from Tues, Weds, Thurs to Mon, Tues, Fri.  I was a little bit unsure about these new days as I now no longer have a 4 day weekend, however I think I prefer the changes as I feel like I have a midweek weekend. 

We popped over for tea to Mikes parents in the week and Mimi was allowed to go up into their folly.  Don't you all just wish you grew up in a house with a folly.  I would have been in my element. 

Then on Friday evening we had my Mum, Dad and youngest brother up for dinner which was very pleasant and highly amusing.  Sometimes I wonder if a comedy should be made about some of the conversations that go on in my family. 

Amazingly the blackberries are still going so we popped out to collect some more and had blackberry and apple crumble with extra thick cream for desert. Yum!

A couple of weeks ago I was walking though our kitchen when I decided to do something about the wall of photos that were really starting to bug me.  Over time we have accumulated a large selection of photos which had been put upon the wall using Blue-Tack.  As most people know Blue-Tack either sticks forever and leaves a blue grease mark or it continuously looses it's stick.  This is what had happened with my photos, I was constantly re-sticking them and they were annoying me as all the edges had curved and looked generally messy.

BEFORE

I remembered that ages ago I had brought some magnetic black board paint for a project I was planning on doing at school.  A project that never materialised - hence the paint was still sitting on the shelf in the garage.

I carefully removed all of the photos and cleaned the wall, I then masking taped off the area and got to work with the paint.  It took 3 coats and several days to complete as I had to fit it in when Mimi was sleeping.

OUR LOVELY NEW BLACKBOARD WALL.

I am really pleased with the outcome, it has given us a great place to keep our shopping list which we can all add to as I was always writing one and loosing it and Mimi can draw on it.

So that we were able to add some of our favourite pictures and letters/notes I then made some groovy magnets using buttons.  Only problem is that the magnetics need to be quite strong as the magnetic strips I tried to make using washi tape wouldn't hold.  I got the idea for the Washi tape from How about an Orange. 

This weekend we decided to take Mimi on the train into London for the day.  

We had a fairly good day although I think that because we forget how busy it will be Mimi was confined to the buggy for most of the day so obviously she was getting fretful about it.  We also didn't really have a plan of action.  As adults it's not too traumatic wandering about but I hadn't really thought about the consequences of having a toddler in tow.  I have realised that London is not very child friendly.  I also had never realised how loud the tube is.  We wanted to go to Big Ben as Mimi is obsessed with clocks and the Big Ben at 6, but the weather didn't hold out and now I think about it I am not too sure why we didn't go and take a look.  We did however go to Harrods somewhere I have been meaning to go to for ages. 

On our way up to Picaddily Circus Mimi was excited to see the horses at Marble Arch

We then met my brother and his girlfriend for lunch and an afternoon of wandering around Covent Garden mainly taking in the sights of all the shoe shops much to Mikes annoyance although he wasn't going to say so.  

I brought some cool boots from Duo Boots who measure your calf so that the fit you.  This I find really exciting as I have seriously skinny legs (sorry) and I have never found pair to fit before.  They then post them out within 7 days.  Which is even better as I didn't have to carry them around town for the rest of the day.

When we got home Mimi did her first wee wee on the toilet.  Yippee!!!  Additionally when we were out yesterday I think Mimi is finally getting over the toilet phobia.  Yay I think we have sorted the potty training!!!  

  

Mummy & Mimi Day

Check out my lovely new Liberty Print sketchbook my husband brought me today.

With Mike in London today we just had a Mummy & Mimi day.  I demonstrated my double standards and put Mimi in front of the TV on whilst I was in the shower.  If you are a regular reader of my blog you may remember that we had banned TV in the week as Mimi was developing square eyes.  I have however come down off my pedestal slightly.  When I am in the shower the little monkey has a tendency to run off; (we live in a bungalow).  By putting her on our bed in front of the TV I can see her from the shower.  Whilst writing this I am going to remind Mike about putting the baby gate up on our bedroom door.

With the weather being so good I decided we would go for a walk.  We quickly popped into town and then round to see Pa & J via the great flower lady where we brought some stunning flowers which Mimi insisted carrying and some beetroot.

We then walked home via the sheep in the field at the bottom of the road.

We have managed our first day of potty training without an accident.  Wow!!!!!  I think we may have finally got it!  Yippeeeeee.  I am so pleased we brought the potette fold away potty.


                                                         


I originally thought it was a bit expensive at £15.00 the bags are even more expensive.  However if you have a child who has a serious phobia of public toilets (she has always had it ever since she was little, I think its something to do with the lighting and the hand dryers) it is great.  The bags have little frogs in the bottom and an absorbent pad.  Mimi will now happily use it out and about so I think we are well on our way.

Whilst Mimi was asleep this afternoon I managed to complete the first (of many) panel for Mimi's new quilt.

Just before tea I said that Mimi could play with the play-doh.  I could hear her chatting away to herself.  When I looked to see what she was up to under the table she had a massive mouth of play-doh.  This is not unusual.  She loves licking it and eating it to the point where I think she isn't going to be allowed to play with it.  When I was a child play-doh was always really tough and cold, the new stuff is really squidgy and when wet becomes really sticky.  Does anyone else have the same problem? I know that its not a major issue as it is fairly edible, but even so.

Tomorrow we have my friend from Uni coming to stay with her little girl who is seriously cute.  However she has a serious allergy to all dairy products and eggs.  Has anyone got any good recipes I could make for the girls?

Not enough time in the day!

We are nearing the end of the summer holidays and I have been busy trying to cram in as many things as possible as I know that once I go back to work I just wont find the time.

So to save on having to upload endless photos I have decided to upload a mood board of some of the "little" projects I have started this week and some of the things that have inspired me.

My new book Material Obsession has arrived and I have decided which quilt I am going to set as part of my winter project. I am very excited about making it and I am determined to finish it.  I often start projects and loose interest in them and they sit untouched sometimes for years.  We have been out and brought the material and last night I finally managed to find some spare time to start cutting out some of the pieces.

Mike has very kindly taken Mimi out for a couple of hours so that I can get some things done.  The constant whining is really starting to get through to me and I am very grateful for the peace and quiet.

My desk and a cup of tea - ahh the peace!

I should really be sorting out my folders ready to go back to work, but instead I find myself sitting here updating my blog and avoiding my school work.

Since my last post we have been fairly busy.
We finished our stone project and I am quite pleased with the outcome.  Mimi did however manage to cover herself in permanent pens including a pair of her trousers!

We have been to see D&H again for more HTC CPD, and Mimi seems to have grasped the whole potty thing.  Yipppeeee.

Everyone down at my Mum & Dads has finally got over their stomach bug so we have eventually managed to catch up with my Dad.  Mimi loves her Pa and they spent a lovely afternoon messing about.  Its really great to see them playing together.  I am sure that my Dad was never like that with us.

Messing around with Pa

Oh no who is this with uncle J?

We spent some time in the garden enjoying an ice cream in the sun.  I don't know where the sun has gone this morning as it was distincly chilly when I went out earlier to hang the washing out.  A definite autumnal nip to the air!

And finally my new bracelet arrived from Etsy.  I think I may have to order some more of these for Christmas presents.  Anyone who has not taken a look at Etsy really should.  There are some great original gift ideas.

Only this morning I brought something on there.  I was checking out How about an Orange blog which had this fab article by twirling betty on using making tape to make magnets.  Following the links I have brought some masking tape with grey spots from Pretty Tape.

Happy Days

Wow what a lovely day.  Living so close to the beach we are just so lucky to be able to take full advantage of it.



Sunday

After waving goodbye to A we went to the beach to watch Daddy sailing.

We had a great morning romping all over the beach collecting pebbles and beach treasure.  However in the short space of time we were out Mimi managed to do a wee in the car seat, a wee on me and another wee just as we were about to get into the car (although most of this was caught in the potty!)  

Mimi left the house lovely and clean and in the space of a couple of hours look at the state of her. 

Mike then took Mimi down to the swings & slides on his bike.  

Today

I had already thought about painting some pebbles with Mimi, then last night when I was on the internet I came across a great article on Red Ted Art's Blog.  I had never thought of painting them and then drawing on them with Sharpie pens.  (The kids at school love Sharpie's for some bizarre reason).  So with today's project in mind we set out to collect all of the necessary resources.  First up we went up to Tesco to get the pens; which were half price!  Bargain!

Then having sent Mrs R a text message we went down to the beach again to collect pebbles and have a lovely picnic lunch.  Mrs R has two of the most beautiful girls, who are just great with Mimi.

Some of them were a either a little mad or brave depending on which way you want to look at it and went swimming.  However they weren't in too long as the tide was a bit too strong today.

Then whilst we were eating the chickens started clucking because they had laid some eggs.  The girls took Mimi off to have a look and this is what she came back with.  

A very proud Mimi with her freshly laid egg.

After an extended trip to the beach and a late lunch we finally got round to painting our stones ready for the Sharpie pens tomorrow.

Project 4 - Fair Isle cardigan for Mimi

Yay I have just completed the Fair Isle Cardigan for Mimi.  I am really pleased with the outcome.

I am pleased I knitted it one size bigger than needed as the sizes come up on the small side.

Yippee a Child Free Morning.

I feel like a terrible mother but boy was I pleased to wave Mike and Mimi off yesterday morning.  Mike was going to London on business and Mimi was going to Granny's & Grampy's.  As they drove down the road I felt like leaping around for Joy with the thought of all the things I could do with a few hours peace and quiet.  I did seriously consider going back to bed for a few hours but decided that would be a waste of valuable time.

So what did I get up to with my time?  After a few loads of washing and some tidying up I decided to work on some of my embroidered cards.  I was quite pleased with the results and even made my first sale (admittedly to my sister, but a sale is a sale!)

Then I popped over to Granny & Grampy's for lunch and to collect little Miss.

When we got home Mimi didn't want a sleep so we decided to go blackberry picking in the field.  I really like my blackberry compote and thought we would pick some more to put in the freezer so that I can make some more later in the year.  

I also thought that I might try this recipe I found in a magazine for blackberry & pinot noir jam.

1 small apple peeled cored & chopped into small cubes

1kg of blackberries (I need to pick more!)

700g sugar with pectin in it.

350ml (12fl oz) pinot noir

Basically heat the apple in a saucepan with about 4tbsp of water then add it to a preserving pan with all the other ingredients - reserve 1fl oz of the pinot noir.  Bring to the boil, then boil hard until the setting point.  When the Jam sets on a cool plate you know that it is ready.  Add the remaining wine and put into sterilised jam jars.

My brother popped up about 3ish for a cup of tea.  My sister was going to come to but decided not to as her little boy has got a tummy bug.  I have got everything crossed that we don't catch it too.

Mimi & Uncle J

Then I cooked Mimi's tea which was really yummy and I almost wished we had the same.

Double baked jacket potatoes.  I think they are an adaptation of a recipe I once got from Nigella.

Pre-heat the potato in the microwave for about 2-3 min.  Then pop it in a pre-heated oven at about 200c and bake for about 20mins.

Cut the potato in half and wait for it to cool slightly before scooping out the insides into a bowl. Put the  skins to one side.  Don't throw them away as you will need them again in a bit.  

Cook 1 rasher of bacon.  When cooked remove the fat and chop into small bits.  

Add the bacon 1 tbsp of sour cream some chives and a handful of grated cheese to the potato.  Mix it well together and then spoon the mixture back into the potato skin.  Sprinkle a bit more cheese on the top of the potato mixture and place it back in the oven for about 15 mins.

These are a hit and she always asks for more.

Mimi's Tea.