More new additions and Introduction to TADCAM

As if our menagerie weren't large enough, our oldest daughter is always 'finding' new pets for us, Gerald Durrell style ( if you have read My Family and Other Animals you will know what I mean).

So last week we found ourselves to be the proud owners of an aquarium full of tadpoles. As she, thankfully, has been researching how to create an environment in which the little things are likely to survive, we were only subjected to 6. Also, before you ask! They are from our own pond, which is pretty deep so I'd rather they weren't hanging around it trying to observe the tadpoles in their natural habitat every 5 minutes. Particularly my accident prone 2 year old. 

I find them fascinating, but lets be realistic, any pet an 8 year old brings home is basically going to be looked after by the adults minimum 80% of the time. Also, she mysteriously has homework whenever it comes to cleaning tanks etc as I found out when we used to keep snails. Funny, she never mentions the homework at TV time, or when the weather is sunny, or at the weekend.

Now our wriggly little friends are living the high life in the kitchen, and I will keep you updated as they grow into tiny adorable, slimy, escapy (supress thought) froglets.

TADLOG 1

Tadpole Status: black blobs with "evil eyes" apparently. Long tails, little wiggly nubs where the legs will be

Food: boiled lettuce chopped fine and frozen daphnia which the man in the fish shop conned me into buying advised me to feed them

Where Cats and Children Intersect

I currently own two fur babies as well as three human ones, and the similarities between them astonish me. 

They all demand food from me as soon as the dawn has appeared with NO REGARD for the clock. I lock the furry children in the utility room at night because I became jaded at the sound of someone scratching up my bedroom carpet at 5.45am. But that only buys around 30 minutes extra sleep because at about 6.15am either someone will creep into bed blaming 'bird noises' for waking them or someone else will take out my eye with the corner of a book they NEED reading to them. No amount of ire has so far deterred them. 

They are all emotional wrecks. Most children have a sleepy time toy and mine are no exception, but even my cats have a security blanket! At the Rescue Centre we were provided with a fleece blanket that 'they were attached to'. For days we were telling the children off for moving the cats blanket until we caught one of the kitties dragging it through the house in her mouth, which it transpires they do whenever they can't find someone to stand next to. 

They all love a box. No matter what size or where it is, the cats will sit in it. Or the kids will sit in it. Or the cats and kids will try to gain supremacy over it. The children will write on it, and the cats will rub scent on it. The children will leave toys in it, the cats will leave their hideous blanket (see above) in it. Eventually, the children will move on, leaving the cats to enjoy the box. At which point, I will clear it into the recycling bin. I'm not a complete martyr.

They can't resist a toilet. What's that Mum? You want two minutes on your porcelain throne? Why thank you, we'd be delighted to join you. All of us. Why wouldn't there be space for two excited cats, a toddler holding a foam sword, a pre-school astronaut princess and an 8 year old reading aloud from Beast Quest in this little room?

I'm sure there are other similarities. So far, I can find few differences, apart from the fact that the cats always eat their food without complaining, and will happily spend all day outside in the garden without requiring a push on the swing. In fact they are the ideal companion. Remind me again why I have children? Only joking, I think.

Happy Bank Holidays x

How does your child name their toys?

IT's Half Term. My house is full of three screaming maniacs and their myriad sidekicks. Those eccentric characters who looked so respectable at first, yet now only ever appear naked, or dressed in borrowed finery, their hair sticking up in clumps. Most of the time when you look for them, they are either lying face down in the middle of the kitchen, or you just see their leg, sticking up at a crazy angle from behind the curtain. Other times they are all lying in a heap in your own bed. It's like being at a student party, all the time, none of the time. And the names - I can hardly keep track - they change them so often. I have often wondered what it says about the namer, this child who seems so adorable, yet insists the only possible name today for their elephant is Mr Cupboard. So I have compiled, as I see it, a guide to Toy Naming Types.

The Egotist

The earliest stage of Toy Naming begins as soon as they can talk. You'll say 'What's he called, your Rabbit?', and he'll answer with his own name. Go easy on him, he probably doesn't know any others. Besides, his is the best, in fact the only real name, right? right?

The Literalist

 Another common early name is the most obvious choice, Rabbit, Big Rabbit. Whatever. Say What You See, as the man on Catchphrase says, Say What You See.

The Lisper

Probably the cutest versions of early naming are the mispronounced ones. These often stick because enchanted adults insist on repeating them and perpetuating them. We know that our lisping darling will soon be back-chatting us or at the very least telling us we are wrong with nearly every word, so here's to retaining  that childhood magic one 'Babu' at a time.

The Copy Cat

The older children get, especially once they are at nursery and having play-dates, the more the influence of other children creeps in. At least now they begin to know and remember that many possible names exist. I have seen many toys renamed at this stage either because the little friend has a favourite toy with a cool name or because the little friend needs worshipping and Bingo! Big Rabbit is now Lucy. I also know a lady whose younger child named his special friend with the same name as his older brothers toy. Imitiation is the sincerest form of flattery?

The Clever Clogs

This naming trait lasts until adulthood. You know that guy with a cat called 'Chairman Miaow'? He has this. It's the classic 'class-clown' desire to have everyone think you are clever and funny, and toy naming is a first attempt to exert this. Usually there's an element of parent baiting in it, but go easy, after all, playing with words and language is great for literacy! Unfortunately pre-school humour being what it is, Mr Cupboard may well be replaced with Mr Poo Poo, and they'll be crying with laughter as they tell you. Literally.

Gradually the toys will all settle into time-worn names that seem to work. A name sticks, be it Rosemary, Bappa or Croc Croc, but one thing is for sure. You will keep finding them under the refridgerator, wearing Barbies swimsuit as a glove, no matter what their name.

Busy Birthday Weeks

Just wrapping up (ha ha) on the craziest two weeks. Why does everyone share January as their birthday month? It would only be fair if February was Mum's Holiday. But it isn't, so here's a quick run down of why I am tired.

WHAT I ACHIEVED

WHAT WE WORE

plus some adorable but sadly undocumented costumes, including Merida (plus ginger wig) Baby Knight etc If I can raid my husbands camera I will see if he captured the Merida one because she even had a bow and arrow, it was brilliant.

WHAT WE DID

Did I mention, eat?

Hope you all are looking forward to a happy week ahead....... My plans are to be as unproductive as possible!

Lx

Preparing for another baby... this time with fur

It has been a running joke amongst my friends that I will never stop having children or overcommitting myself because I can't resist a new project.

So imagine the elbow nudges and smirks when I announced we had seen some adorable kittens at the Blue Cross.

Actually I had been planning to get a cat but that had to be put on hold twice due to pregnancy and baby giving me too much dependence for the time being. Now, I finally feel it's the right time.

And just when I was feeling like that, a great combination of events resulted in my husband also admitting he wouldn't hate a pet after all, and me seeing this pair of cuties at the rescue centre. Boom. We Own Cats.

Sometimes things seem to happen as if they were always meant to.

So tomorrow,  we pick up our darlings from the place they're staying, after they've been fixed etc The kids and I have tried to make our previous unloved glory hole of a boot room into a shy cat haven.

I even sewed them a few little bits which I can't show you now because for some reason I am unable to download the picture.

A la prochaine

Foodie Friday: Delicious Sweetcorn and Blackberries!

But not eaten at the same time, no.... Now we are back from our holidays I am having fun times wrangling all three of the kids all day all week. Which as much as we love, is very tiring! Also sooo easy to slip into a kind of a rut eating-wise.

Beans
Soup
Cake
Fishfingers
'Red Pasta' (ie penne with tomato puree squeezed on, ultimate laze meal)

When kids and I are in the kitchen we usually make cake, cake and MORE cake, which although delicious is naughty. So in order to celebrate the wonderfulness of fresh English things, I forced them to make a savoury food this time and we cooked Sweetcorn and Cheddar Scones. If I could have these for lunch OFTEN that would improve life. I think they are going on my Items for a Better Lunchbox list, which is something I will blog more about during term time, methinks. I got the recipe from Abel & Cole, who also supplied the sweetcorn.

Also, the first blackberries of the season are here, so we have been scouring our garden and local hedges. Yum! I love free food. We did not get around to cooking ours, because they are so difficult not to eat starightway, but my friend invited us for lunch last week and served a delicious Blackberry Almond Cake, which I would recommend as a taste combo that just hums happily 'Late Summer'. I think she found her recipe here at Confessions of a Bright Eyed Baker, it looks about right, and lovely photos too.

Defeating the Holiday Boredom Demon

Warning this is long - but there is a useful free download near the bottom so persevere!

Almost as soon as the Summer Holiday begins, I start hearing a terrifying moan; 'I'm Bored!'. 

Without the strict and predicatable routine of school, my children, suddenly oppressed by the choices available to them, do NOT know what to do with themselves. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and spending time with them, but all three of them, all day? For 6 weeks?! Some days they don't get on with each other, and some days they don't get on with me, but then, some days we all love each other and rainbows come out. Also, on those days, bluebirds do my dishes.

If you have a teenager, or small someone with very keen ideas about what they what to do, that is GREAT. Pour a Pimms and watch them go about their business. Mine, on the other hand, hang around in my peripheral vision making weeping noises, waiting for me to switch on an interactive whiteboard. Of course, this summer, you hopefully will manage to leave the house on a few days out, and if you are very lucky, relatives will take the children for some of the time (!). Then there's the possible week/fortnight family holiday. That still leaves a looooong time to occupy them. 

It isn't going to be pretty, unless you roll up those sleeves and tackle the issue head on. They do need some guidance about what to do, and some freedom to play like children are meant to. You know your own child. I have both the lovely 'reads all day' kind, and the less lovely 'take your eye off me I want to unleash hell' kind, so I have been playing about with some ideas that enable me to suggest and support activities that also encourage creativity and free play.  

I have found that a small amount of preparation and planning at the beginning of the holiday can go a long way. Make sure that the games, play equitment and toys get a good sort out so you all know what there is. My favoured early holiday activity is a trawl for the charity shop box and ritual throwing out of broken toys and old drawings/work. Our problem is we like to keep all our old pictures! If you do this clear out the kids are bound to have a better idea of what there actually is to do.

Sign Up for to your local library. This year The Reading Agency is offering a great reading challenge called Spooky House for all school kids via the library service. It is free and the artwork is all done by the excellent Chris Riddell. Check out the website, there's also a writing competition and lots more.

But! There will still be plenty of dull moments where you are trying to pull washing out of the machine whilst being gnawed by a toddler when your hollow eyed tweenager appears in the door way and you hear the wail 'I am bored Mum!'. Don't PANIC.  Just whip out the Emergency Toolkit bag and (breathe) suggest an activity.

My Emergency Tool kit is: 

A small bag of preprepared cards, which you are welcome to download if you want

Any supplies I will need to fulfill the promises on the cards I have made. If you use my cards you will need playdough, a bag of collected junk such as you might be planning to recycle (boxes etc), a few extra baking supplies, paints, glue, blankets, a ball, dressing up stuff, plastic dinosaurs. 

AND a 'bonus' box with a small item in it. You can replace the item each time the box is opened. I might alternate between unexpected snack foods, drinks, vouchers for 'read a story/play a game' with mummy, or little toys like a bouncy ball etc. Doesn't need to be something you spend money on. 

I hope you find my attempts of use, or at least, consolation. I hope you have a fantastico summer. Don't be surprised if I hardly blog over the next few weeks, but I will be back!

Bon Voyage!

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In case of problems: Here's the link to my Boredom Cards again on Google Docs. Sorry about the duff formatting I am NOT a whizz at Publishing! 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1tRFCeVuuQ1eFhmd0JvQXJpTFE/edit?usp=sharing

Making Curtains

 Although it was task 1278899 on my list of things I want to sew, making curtains for our coldest room (because it has no curtains....) has become number 1 on my list of things I have to sew. My husband is virtually pleading with me to get on with it, I have bought all the stuff (in fact, two years ago) and I seem to have some time. On NO!!

Why I don't like making curtains is, the seams. I am not a big fan of anything with long seams and unmanageable bulk, which is why I have not made a quilt for any of the beds larger than Toddler size. Also, all the interlining and lining and whatnot seems like a terrible faff. But then, I tried some curtains without any lining for the nursery (there's already a blind there) and they are really thin and pointless. 

These curtains let in waaaaay too much light!

However, I then discovered a useful product which seems to have cut down my grief somewhat, a type of curtain lining with interlining pre-bonded to it. At this point in the project this seems like a life saver, and it gives the whole project a more luxurious drape, but the stuff I had could have been a teensy bit wider. Here, I admit,  I was rather a cheapskate and refused to buy 5m extra just so I could have more fulsome curtains. They close, I just would have preferred an extra 5cm or so each side. 

Anyway - here are my curtains - NOT HEMMED! I thought I would let them hang a while before I did that last job. Well, it wouldn't be right if I ever actually completely completed the project yet, would it?!

The fabric is Frederika from IKEA.

What have you made for your house this year?

Making bread

What more pleasant way of making you feel like a total domestic godess is there than making bread?! I have to admit that I did not have any ambitions towards becoming a bread maker until after Great British Bake Off, but like many people have had my inner stonebaked fire kindled by watching all those other amateur cooks struggling with their proving, kneading etc. I nearly almost bought Paul Hollywoods book 'How to Bake', but then my inner scrooge kicked in. For now I will satisfy myself with the advice on the side of the flour packet.

Anyway, I was doing this with kids so an hour of rising in the airing cupboard was all the patience they could muster. Satisfied that the dough would rise, although dissapointed it did not rise as much as the dough in Henry Hugglemonster (?!sigh) the kids were happy to prod, pummel and finally eat our slightly yeasty tasting 'delicious' homemade bread (dough balls - I made tiny ones! I am into miniature food at the mo' to the horror of Mr D).

NB: If that picture confuses you you need to realise they decided to make rabbit shaped bread.

New Year Resolutions: what's the word?

Everyone, bloggerati included, have been busy using and abusing the idea of New Year Resolutions over the past fortnight. But too many of us just glibly, and vaguely, trot out some hope to eat less/more, lose/gain weight, be 'better', but with hardly any idea of how to start. Even worse, there is usually so much in that resolution, that to succeed involves a super human effort. I am certainly not capable of such an effort. Are you?

Yet our lives can positively and productively be changed and turned towards achieving many goals if we just take a few minutes reflecting on what we really want and what we can realistically manage to change. 

I have so much that I want to do in 2013. My vague 'bad' list of resolutions includes:

Improve my business
Be a better mother
Make the house nicer

I mean, where to start?

My approach to these knotty and apparently insurmountable tasks has been radically changed by finding The Design Trust. If you have or are thinking of having a craft/design based business, you want to have a look at this anyway - very pertinant to my first resolution, I began to read their 2013 challenge. This so far encourages the idea that you should choose a keyword on which to base your plan for the year forward, giving 5 concrete examples of how you should do this. 

I have found this immensely helpful as finding your meaningful word really helps you theme and develop your plans. It can be about life as well, so it's a really flexible concept. The 5 concrete examples are key really, to making you engage with the reality of your resolutions. Also, they form a handy To Do list.

My word is going to be NURTURE - I have started so many new things in the past six years, a family of 3 lovely children, a family home, a business. Now it is time to focus on what is in place.

1) I will nurture my business, by developing my products. Those I want to place for sale in outlets need to get CE certification so that is what I can do asap to achieve my goal. I also need to improve packaging and chose which items to continue with/discontinue.

2)I will nurture my professional development by improving my skills. I would like to take some sewing and embroidery masterclasses, and experiment with different techniques.

3)I will nurture my children (!I do already do this BTW). In fact I have added this to remind myself that all the times I spend with them chosing to prioritise fun and play over housework is probably beneficial to us as a family. In fact over the year I will make more time to play and dedicate time each day to spend with them. Why else be a SAHM - it's not for the salary!

4)I will nurture my home. For years I have been fighting a battle between my dire need for some help around the house versus my strongly held belief in the wrongness of paying someone to clear up your mess. I was brought up to believe no feminist worth her salt would ever hire a cleaner. This is the year I break my mothers heart. 

I will also finish the dining room curtains which have been incomplete for 2 years. I will do that this month.

5)I willl nurture myself. I will return to Zumba (no chickening out allowed?!) and I will organise at least one Date Night every month as I really miss spending time with the man I married. Plus I will continue on my spiritual journey, but that really is private ;-)

Actually I hate writing all this down, but as a good friend of mine pointed  out to me "if you write it down then you're accountable". So as blog is my witness (and you too, big guy) these are my resolutions for 2013.

How about you?

Motto Monday - Quit your jibber jabber

Turns out that Mothers Day was lovely, I got so many cute handmade cards and declarations of love, plus a box of chocolates, that I totally unwound and (falsely) imagined that at last my day off had arrived. Of course, Monday arrived and I got downstairs to the kitchen to gaze upon the unmitigated carnage of one roast dinner and a lot of breakfasts with out any washing up. Hence the above message to self  for my hastily reignited Motto Monday. Bleurg. You can get this from Tee and Toast at Folksy

Busy doing nothing

There's not much been going on lately although I don't feel that way! How blissfully a baby sleeps through the sisterly chaos happening around him. I may be up and dressed by 8am every morning but! I need a maid, and a laundry woman, and a cook. Three is hard work! Still, half term over in a few days!

Plums Again

So here I am checking in after another mammoth session of plane trips with small children (madness - never attempt a flight with an 18m old - they do not do sitting still). And of course as soon as I return home and peek into my garden what do I see but a plum tree that is still trying to break itself under the sheer weight of plums. 

So far I have made: 

Plum Chutney

Plum Jam (shall make more - it's nearly already gone as visitors seem to fall upon homemade jam like starving hoardes)

Plums in Syrup - a gamble? Looks nice in the jar currently

Stewed Plums

Plum Crumble

The children are also doing their best to eat as many plums as possible although I worry what this is doing to their insides. 

Next month: apples

    

Motto Monday - Washing in the Rain

Look at this completely charming brooch from Natalie Hayes on Folksy. And to say that it sums up my rather haphazard approach to housewifery hardly needs adding!? As I am not particularly partial to the strong smell of detergent on my linens I think I like it better when they have a garden-y tang about them! (I hope I don't get any comments now saying 'That's because you're a slattern'). Anyway, once we come into the spring proper now there is a good chance that the laundry is safe from the worst side effect of being out all night: I will not have to smash any frozen socks against the washing pole to get them folded for a good few months, I imagine.

Happy Monday xx

Happy Mothers Day

What do Mothers Do? They mother, of course. Which in my house usually means a number of things: cake and homemade jumpers readily available, cuddles at bedtime, almost regular fresh clothes and a lot of giggling. Oh, and a few visits to the naughty step but we won't go into detail ;-).


Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Birthday Week

Both my children have birthdays this week. Arg! What I have mostly been doing is making cake. A lot of cake!

But the best thing about being busy baking is that you get to eat them afterwards!

November!

Where does the time go? I have been completely wrapped up in the Folksy October Listings Club, which seems to have eaten a whole month and now I turn round to find the world deep into Autumn. Clocks have gone back, making every evening seem so long, but the children seem to be sleeping better which has to do with it being properly dark at bedtime. Hooray!

I have so many things planned for this month! Specifically:
1) Spray paint some old picture frames I've hoarded white to create a display of family photos
2) Make up cushions for the lounge, I bought some Brompton Road fabric which is so cool.
3) Spray paint loads of fir cones for Christmas (I can leave this but I figured I'd have a massive spray painting sesh!!)
4) Craft Fairs? I am supposed to be booked into some, but childcare is proving an issue.
5) Make a Christmas Pudding/Cake (When is Stir-Up Sunday, exactly?)
6) Knit daughters new jumpers  - again I have the materials, but the flesh is weak.
7) Make a dinosaur toy out of Pirate fabric (it's a commission, I'm getting paid for this I guess it is theoretically No 1 but I only just remembered it)

Ahhh must stop I am scaring me.

Here for soothing purposes is a photo of the fabric I mentioned above.

See the subtle background detail? It's a bit less subtle in real life! 

Eggstremely Busy Hands

Queen Eggwina and Prince Eggward

Just recovering from dashing hither and thither at the weekend, ballet lessons, buying beds, all the usual things spare time is taken up with! What a good idea we had on Saturday morning to fortify ourselves with a delicious egg. And then spent a little family time decorating them with faces. I would recommend this as an eggsellent (geddit) thing to do to entertain the smalls during relaxing weekend breakfasts. Because children don't do reading the newspaper over a slow coffee!

My week needs to get going now as I have a few days worth of listings to catch up on for Folksy as well as the usual housework (whistles - what is that?). I have a few more of my black scotty brooches that need a home, including this lovely fellow with a red collar as seen below. Anyhoo the sun is shining and I could always just go out and knit in the beautiful autumn sunshine!!!

New Day new dinosaur

Actually had a functional day today and got a whole lot of things done. I put it down to the tiring but oddly rejuvenating effect of having been to two parties in one weekend. This happens rarely and I must point out that they were the sum total of all my social engagements for quite some time! Anyway I soothed my post-hangover hangover (too old) with a batch of spiced apple chutney. Now have three jars in the larder. Yum!

Another sunny cold day today, we've really had to root around and get out the coats from their various hiding places. To my happiness this baby beret that I knitted last year when I was pregnant is actually getting an outing even if I was told it makes the baby look like a gypsy (is that a bad thing? I can't really work out why!).

Have finished a fun new dinosaur friend, inspired by the baby and her love of toys that have a handle on them. We have lost her toucan; she used to love hurling it from the pushchair then watching us all race after it like greyhounds. Now I bequeath the same 'joy' to others by creating this strange big tailed dude, Rex. He's waiting for you in my shop!

Vintage Patterns continued

Still ploughing through the stack of vintage patterns and clippings. There are some classic examples from the fashion of the1940's to the 1980's. Here is a 1970's magazine knitting pattern for a little cardi, with the clothes and lovely styling giving it such a touch of Victoriana.