Indian summer - baking in our skins

I have never been very good in hot weather. The last few days have been amazingly hot in west London. I am melting!

Last weekend was my 30th birthday. My wonderful husband organised a surprise party. There was Japanese food, friends, presents cocktails and much fun had. He also gave me a voucher for a five day paragliding course at the devils dyke as my gift. I am beyond excited about this. Paragliding must be the closest you can ever get to flying like a bird. The setting will make it even more perfect. The south downs being one of my favourite places in the world.

This weekend will be more relaxing than the last partly due to the fact that it is so hot. In the morning we intend to rise early to descend enmass to our local to watch the rugby at 8am. There will be a fry up and beer. A strange start to a Saturday morning but I am sure we will have fun.
I am hoping also to spend some time pottering along the river near Richmond soaking up the loveliness of this Indian summer.

Planning things to do and things to plan

There is something about september that makes me want to start making plans. The urge to write lists is very strong. I am a great list maker.

So I have started planning. Planning to crochet these beautiful bowls from bunny mummys blog. They look wonderful and I am already wondering if it would be possible to scale up the pattern so that i can make some larger storage bowls/tubs. They would be perfect to store moomoos toys in which are multiplying at am alarming rate.

Other things on my todo list include having a go at making some chutney. I have the jars, I have the recipes but will I ever get round to it?

In other news I have signed up for a six week print making course. We will be covering lino, mono and silk screen printing before embarking on individual projects. More than excited about this and hoping to produce something I can hang in the hall.

Yesterday we spent an afternoon doing what I like doing best. We set off after the pooks swimming lesson to Gunnersbury Park where they were having an open day. The park contains two mansions and was once the home of some of the Rothschilds. At the bottom of the park is a fishing lake where they had activities for children including pond dipping and fishing lessons. The pook had a wonderful afternoon investigating the mini beasts contained within the lake.

I love events like this and wish there were more locally. We are somewhat restricted as we don't have a car and have to rely on public transport. I am waiting for our new Kew Gardens members passes to arrive so we can go and explore the autumnal colour. I love the gardens at this time of year. My mother now buys us a family season ticket each year as our christmas gift. We take full advantage of the passes and try to visit atleast once a month.

Well I suppose thats all I have to say for today...

Filling the day when you are waiting for a parcel

On wednesday I missed the parcel delivery man who was delivering a parcel for the husband. Instead of waiting in the house the moomoos and I were have a wonderful time at baby sensory. This weeks theme was colours and we played with coloured scarfs and playdoh whilst singing along to nursery rhymes.

We missed the parcel as we were having fun. This meant that we had to spend the whole of today waiting. Waiting in for a parcel. This would not have been so bad if like last week it had been a parcel for us but it was not. It was a boring parcel for the husband.

So today was an exercise in finding things to do to waste the time waiting for the parcel. Moomoos and I played with her stacking cups. We had fun with food. We (well I ) tidied the flat.

As the the day turned into afternoon a desperation set in. I began to run out of things to entertain the Moomoos. Luckily at this point she decided she would have a nice long afternoon nap. As she napped i crocheted. Adding a bit to my blanket project and thinking that tomorrow I must buy some more yarn. I also popped chicken sweet potato and carrots in the oven the roast for supper.

Although not the day i had orginally hoped for it was not that bad in the end.... staying in all day... waiting for a parcel.

Birthdays, babies and sleep or lack of it!

Friday was the 30th birthday of one of my oldest friends. To mark this speical occasion She had asked me to bake her a birthday cake. Her one requirement was that it contain chocolate to keep her boychild happy.

So I began cake planning. I scoured the internet for interesting recipes that involved chocolate and cake. During my research I discovered Sweetpolita a fabulous blog containing the most wonderful cakes. I settled on a chocolate cake with raspberry meringue frosting and topped with a dark chocolate ganache. I also added some frosted raspberries to the top for prettiness. Diverted somewhat from the recipe I also went for a round cake as I am not much skilled with the icing of sharp angles.

The cake was a massive sucess and well worth the hours spent baking it. I think it went down pretty well with the other guests as well.



This weeks tasks are many. I seem to have signed up to be doing something with the moomoos nearly every day. Also with the pook back at school everything is very busy with new afterschool activities and homework. I am hoping that we will quickly fall back into a pleasant routine that suits all.

I have made some progress on the blanket. It is slow going though and I need to buy some more yarn.

Back to school and baking

Today was the pooks first day back at school. He was up with the larks racing around the house to get ready excited about the start of a new school year. I have really enjoyed having him at home with me and the moomoos over the summer so it will be sad not to be spending all day everyday with him.

Having him at school does mean that i have more time to do other things. I will be getting my silk paints back out of the cupboard and hopefully completing my crochet blanket project.

Bonfires, jacket tatties and crocheting

Well september is here. On the 23rd of this month i turn thirty! I am not altogether sure how I feel about this or if I feel anything about this at all.

The last few weeks of August were filled with trips away and fun fun fun. We ten days in west Wales visiting friends and family. This included wonderful trips to the seaside and walks around the greenness.

Highlights of the trip included introducing the Moomoo to the sea at secret beach. The husband and I dangled her tiny toes into the sand and sea as the pook quickly stripped off to his pants and went for a swim.
                                          Moomoo's enjoying the great outdoors

We also visited Cenarth Falls which after some rain was beautiful. Cillgaren castle was also a treat as was a wonder around Nevern. Exploring the grave yard with the mightily Celtic cross and bleeding yew.
                                           Cenarth Falls

                                                     Celtic Cross Nevern Church Yard

The trip to Wales was followed by a weekend visint dear friends in Bradwell-on-Sea. The purpose of the trip was the attend the christening of my Godson Ciaran. It was a beautiful day and much fun was had by all.

Now safely returned to London the pook is soon to start back at school. He will be starting in year 6 and is very excited about it all. It is so nice to a have child that enjoys school so much. It will be strange after the six weeks of summer to return to spending my days alone with Moomoo.

Now for the crocheting. I am currently working on a Giant project crocheting tiny hexagons from a pattern on Bunny Mummy that will eventually for a wonderful soft cotton blanket of teal and the lightest of lemon yellows. I will post some pictures of my progress when I have a moment.

now with the change of weather i look forward to having some sofa time to listen to radio 4 and crochet away in the evenings. I am most definitely becoming old before my time.