Thimbleina

There are those days when things just don't go right

 

Today was one of those days. These were meant to be chocolate chip cookies but something somewhere went wrong and I don't know quite why when I came to take them out the oven they were a lacy mass on the baking tray - must have put too much of something in or missed something out??? But as you can see from the top right that did not deter them from snaffling them immediately.

We also had one nose bleed and cut lip and several bruises when one little man decided to shoot out the door with his sister's brand new welly perched on top of a bean cane that he had purloined out of the veg patch, but said sister was just coming past the door on her bike at speed and he toppled over the back wheel pulling the bike to the ground.

The new bell bought for Master T's bike in the excitement of having a new bell got broken before we even got it on the bike, but I managed to salvage an old bell off of an old trike and take the picture off of the new one and voila a bell that works and he is pleased with. Well perhaps he can now warn people that a 3 year old driving a bike like a drunk on his way home is coming their way and that perhaps it might be wise to evacuate the error of about several hundred yards of where he is cycling especially in case he wants to stop and talk as he is liable to throw the bike to the ground to get off it as he hasn't yet mastered the fine art of stopping and getting off yet!!

Also that same little man thought he would investigate the plumbing in the downstairs toilet, luckily for us it was the waste pipe of the sink and not the toilet ( there is a silver lining in every tale). This though now appears after flooding to be fixed.

Ahhh nearly time for bed to obtain more energy for tomorrow

A camping we have been!

 

We are back from camping and what a great time was had by all. We had lovely weather, we had a lovely campsite with lots of friendly people to talk to and lots of kids for the kids to play with. We also got good recommendations for a lovely little non commercialised beach

 

We saw seals, a windmill, a 16th century thatched barn, saw lots of constellations in the sky and a shooting star, boats, ate local food and nobody wanted to leave at the end of it. I would say that was a good holiday and not much was spent having that fun and having all those memories to take home with us.

Going without

 

Not the best photo, but it was the best shot I could get of my hair. Last year I decided to go without shampoo, but I went cold turkey and it went very lank and greasy and I couldn't go out the house feeling very confident in myself, so after about 3 weeks I think it was I gave it up as a bad job.

This summer I thought I would try again as I appear to be getting a very itchy patch at the back in my hairline (no I don't have nits!!) So after re-readind Angry Chicken's no poo posts I got out the bicarb and the Apple Cider vinegar and started again. To start with I wasn't using the bicarb correctly and needed to use it as a paste rather than totally liquid and comb in through and sometimes I need to miss out the vinegar, but after 3 weeks I think I have the hang of it and my head is much less scratchy and my hair feels lovely and soft.  So if I can do it anyone can. 

Windy Miller

 

It is amazing what you can find on your doorstep if you look. I new of one windmill in the area but it is quite near a big city and not easy to get to. But today while we were out visiting a local ice cream maker Thaymar Ice Cream (There were so many flavours it took ages for the kids to decide what they were going to have - I think they based their decisions on the colour of the ice cream rather than the description and I didn't like to further complicate matters and tell them there were quite a few different cones that they could have chosen from as well or a tub!) we discovered on our travels a windmill in the countryside that is a working mill and you can see them grind the grain right there. We went up the windmill while the sails were turning and the stones were grinding and you could feel the movement of the sails I can tell you in a very mild wind - I'd hate to be there when they are at full pelt! So as this was so local we brought some flour home to try, I think we may be buying more in the future as it is made alot closer to home than most flours and the tearoom had a lovely aroma of oats and freshly baked bread, what a find and a good day out for the kids as they had ice cream and a ginger bread man made from the flour. 

The Harley Gallery

 

I found a new art gallery which I might be visiting often as it is so peaceful and child friendly. The Harley Gallery if you are ever in the area is worth a visit. It is in the grounds of the Welbeck Estate in North Nottinghamshire and not only is there ever changing modern exhibits and local artists wares for sale, but also a museum which again changes its contents regularly which houses  objects from the Portland collection which was built up over centuries by members of the Cavendish, Bentinck and Harley Families who have lived at Welbeck since 1606.

They also have a section for children to draw a picture and create a mask and as with the above section at the moment they have a section set up as a victorian photo studio, they have a dress up box and the idea is that you dress up and then someone takes a photo of you on the chair witha digital camera and you send it in to them and they then put it up on the projector that they have running in the same room on a continual loop.

Back refreshed!

 

It has been a bit busy around here so I needed to take a blogging break to get it all done.

Lady A turned 6 and had a circus party

 

Juggling balls needed to be finished and toffee apples made for the pary bags. The toffee apples seemed to go down very well as did the coconut shy and the novelty of winning coconuts.

 

The Elderflower champagne was ready to uncork and enjoy and give to teachers at the end of the term.

 

A camping trip was organised to Brighton on the Blackberry wood campsite and a great time was had despite the constant rainfall on one of the days (at least we now know how water tight our tent is). 

I'll leave you with one more holiday photo and will be back hopefully tomorrow with a recycling activity for the summer break.

 

Lost in life

 

No this is not a picture of me. We have been quite busy with life this week so I haven't had chance to post. The photo is Lady A's experiment with a grape and how it changes into a sultana or it could be how you might luck if you have too much exposure to the sun?!

 

We have bottled the Elderflower champagne and now I have to wait for 8 days for it to ferment before I can have a little sip and let you know how it has turned out. The aroma eminating from it as we bottled it was beautiful.

 

Master T and I made this quick and easy Lemon fork biscuits with some of the leftover lemons from the Elderflower:

150g butter

75g Caster Sugar

Grated zest of one lemon

200g self raising flour

Cream together sugar, butter and lemon zest then mix in the flour. Form to a soft dough with hands

Place walnut sizes pieces of the dough onto well-greased baking trays allowing room for spreading. dip a fork in a little cold water and flatten the biscuits

Bake at 180c/355F/Gas mark 4/Fan oven 160c for 15-20 mins until pale golden. Put on cooling rack

You can also use orange if you haven't a lemon lying around

 

Lady A fancied making rose petal perfume as the roses are just blooming in the garden. So the large bottle of water is steeping the petals in the hope that we will get some perfume, though she is not convinced. If anyone has any tips on this other than pour water over petals and leave them a few days I would love to hear them.

Have a great weekend.

Tee Hee Hee!

 

Thy father's pride and hope!

(He'll break the mirror with that skipping rope!)

with pure heart newly stamped from Nature's mint -

(Where did learn that squint?)

Thou young domestic dove!

(He'll have that jug off, with another shove!)

Dear nursling of the hymeneal nest!

(Are those torn clothes his best?)

Little epitome of man!

(He'll climb upon the table, that's his plan!)

Touch'd with the beauteous tints of dawning life -

(He's got a knife!) ...

Thomas Hood (1799-1845), 'Parental Ode to my son, Aged 3 years and 5 months'

 

 

Running away with it

 

I thought I'd show you a pair of my faithful running trainers. I know they look yuk but I have had them 20 odd years and I have run alot in these. I have periods where I feel I need to run and others where I don't. I started back with the running again this week as it makes me feel good when I have been. I don't go far and I don't like some people feel great while doing it, but I do feel I have achieved something when I have done it and I feel my head is clearer and I can see the light, so it does help me to sort out things in my head.

 

I tried out a new recipe for us from the Bill Granger recipe book 'Morrocan fish stew' which was very filling.

 

Today a visit to two of my favourite shops. I found some great fabric for some of the juggling balls and some great 'Woodland Mushrooms' cupcake cases for a special bank holiday breakfast treat from the Bill Granger recipe book 'Berry Yoghurt Muffins'. Lets hope there is lots of sunshine this weekend for lots of gardening and fun in the sandpit and possibly even a barbecue!!

Have a great weekend

Missing...

 

in action, one formerly creative person. The sewing machine is dusty and unused.

 

The knitting bag is quite bare

The pots are piling up

 

The clean washing has yet to be ironed.

The blog is lacking a little something - attention??

Where oh where can she be?

Today I am pulling myself up, dusting myself off and getting back on with it. I hope very much to be back with something a little bit more interesting a little more regularly - HOPEFULLY!!