World Book Day

...is on Wednesday 6th March this year. Those of you with children will know this already! What have you got planned this year? Books are a lovely way of sharing precious time with kids and I definitely enjoy reading and sharing stories with my girls either through books, made up stories, or via the big goggle box! They have so many books but tend to have their favourites that we read over and over again.

This year at nursery Caoimhe is dressing up as the witch from Room on the Broom, one of her favourite stories, and one that her sister loves too. We have recorded the animation which was on telly at Christmas and they both often ask to watch it. I love watching it with them, as well as reading it, as there is always something new about it to notice.

She spent Friday afternoon making a wand with Grandma to go with her costume. She had lots of fun and you can see the result of her efforts in the picture. I am still picking glitter out of her hair - how do they manage to do that without fail?! She loves messy play, and making things, as do most children I should imagine. Although at my recent parent meeting with her teacher she did especially point out how excited Caoimhe gets when they do messing play or crafts. Not surprising really as she has always been encouraged to do it.

Not much from me other than the usual Herman cake (just a normal apple raisin and oat one this week) so just sharing my daughter's handiwork with you :) Not that there will be much chance for crafting much in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I will have a special 'handmade' something to share with you soon!

Don't forget to go and visit Wendy at  Handmade Harbour for this week's contributions to Handmade Monday.

Til next time!

Half term fun!

I hope you all enjoyed your week with the little ones, if you have little ones that is! We had a hectic, packed week and I am secretly a bit pleased it's back to nursery today and we can start getting back to normal. I am amazed at how badly being out of their routine can affect my girls so I am happy that things can now start to get back on track.

So what did you do with your kids? We had a lovely few days in the beautiful York visiting friends and enjoying a break from home. I would say relaxing, but there wasn't much if that! We spent an afternoon and early evening at Creepy Crawlies (I'm blogging from my phone so please forgive the lack of links) which is just outside York. It's more expensive than most soft play centres but it is worth it, much bigger and with more facilities. Definitely one to visit again. And of course there was the mandatory trip to the National Railway Museum. It's a must see if you are ever in York. With it being half term there were lots of activities being held there, Caoimhe enjoyed building a lego train with her daddy. And they have introduced an indoor picnic area too, complete with extra little tea/coffee stall so you don't have to sit outside now (or buy from the ludicrously priced restaurant) I hope that is one thing they keep open.

I was also the recipient of a special present. I'd asked for Paul Hollywood's Bread book for mother's day, but was surprised with it after a trip to the supermarket. I have only had chance for a quick flick through so far but I have already planned my first makes - crumpets! I've also been told I have to make the malt loaf as Himself wants to taste the malt loaf bread and butter pud recipe from the book too! So as soon as I get chance it will be a trip to then for crumpet rings and extract of malt!

On the making front this week we've experimented with purple potatoes - we made mash which is not the best use for them, as although they were tasty they were a bit dry and needed lots of butter. My betting is that they would make excellent roasters. We have also had breakfast Herman muffins, oat and apple, baked at 7am and enjoyed as soon as they were cool enough not to burn mouths. I have been a bit slack on experimenting with Herman recently but hope to remedy that! I once came across a recipe for carrot cake make with Herman and would be interested to try it out.

I have made a slow start on crocheting small squares with left over wool to make a throw. Very slow progress and will no doubt take me a long time to complete, as I have so many other things to do at the moment!

One thing I hope to do, if I get five minutes, is to pop over to see Wendy at Handmade Harbour to look in on the weekly blog hop. The link is in my sidebar if you fancy a wander over!

Til next time!

Baking day.

I know I know, hardly keeping up with blogging at the moment. And I had promised to, as well! I seem to have such little time spare these days, to blog or otherwise, and I am really doing very little making at all. My only actual making seems to be in the kitchen just now. Something I hope to change! Not that I mind cooking and baking, not at all. It gives me a lot of satisfaction making food from scratch for my family (even if it ends up on the floor or in the dog thanks to two small children...you know how that goes!) and as we continue down the recession road, it's also very necessary. Like most families we are looking at where we can cut corners and save money.

So with that in mind I'm always trying to find things to do with the veg that's getting past it's best or the leftovers from previous meals.

The mash and sweetcorn from yesterday's tea are currently in the fridge for tea tomorrow in the shape of potato cakes to go with sausage and beans. Tonight we are having pasties made from potato and the bargain bag of leeks I bought last week at the supermarket, half of which will go into soup midweek when they will no doubt be getting a bit sad and floppy and would normally end up in the bin. To the leek and potato mix I added garlic, herbs and a generous sprinkling of cheese before wrapping them in pastry and baking for half an hour.

Pasties really are a great way of using up leftovers. I have often used Sunday roast leftovers to make them, though ut does get fiddly when I don't eat meat and the rest if the family do. But I get round this by adding the chicken (it's generally chicken I use as the family are not big red meat eaters really) after the filling is made and when I have split it for half veggie half meat pasties . I then just add a decoration to the pasties that are 'mine' though they tend to go first! We are on veggie pasties today so there's no problem this time!

(I never can understand why people feel they must gave meat at every course or they don't feel satisfied. Meat free food can be just as filling and tasty if you ask me)

While I'm on the subject of free from food, a friend has set up a Facebook page for people who have dairy intolerances/allergies. You can find it here:

 Diary of a Dairy Free Mummy 

I'd like to link up with Wendy over on  Handmade Harbour for the 102nd Handmade Monday. I am hoping to catch up with everyone and see what's been happening in the craft world. I think you would enjoy doing the same. There are some lovely bloggers out there, all very talented with its to show off do go and have a look!

Til next time!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy New Year!

I've been a bit of a slacker with blogging lately. Life has been quite busy and I've really lacked much motivation to be honest. But it's a New Year so what better time to try and find some get up and go! (not that I have much today thanks to endless fireworks at midnight but I digress)

So first of all I hope that Christmas and New Year was kind, happy and full of all you wanted, and that 2013 brings everything you want!

I am not really one for resolutions. I am not the best at keeping them! But this year I am hoping to be a bit better at all the things I want to be: better with budgetting, better with home cooking, more productive on the making front.

I'd also like to be better at sharing things. I take lots of pictures (where would I be without my FB SII phone??) so I intend to share these more often. I can also easily blog from my phone and I'm not sure why I don't!  Initially I wanted to share a picture a day with you all, but I know that won't happen. Life gets in the way. So instead I will just share more often and I'm happy with that.

On the home front I am lucky to possess lots of cook books which I often sit and flick through but rarely cook from. I need to change that, otherwise why do I have them? This morning reading through a Nigella book I came across this recipe for Sunshine Soup. It is basically a simple pepper and sweetcorn soup but it looks filling and comforting especially when you look out of the window and see all the grey skies and rain we've had recently. I don't have any peppers in my fridge but I do have sweetcorn and a bag full if spuds. So I am inspired to make sweetcorn and potato soup for tea, with a hint of chilli to spice it up.

I hope you have a lovely day with your families and for those who are working I hope its a peaceful one.

Til next time.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas is coming!

Now that Caoimhe is at school nursery I'm looking forward to all the Christmassy things she'll be doing. They are currently practising for the nativity play (it's top secret and she won't tell me anything about it other than that she will be singing something!) and I can't wait to watch her with her friends from nursery and reception..... Surely one of the nicest things about being a parent is watching your kids take part in a school event. And yes, I am definitely going to cry!

The children have also been preparing for the school fair later this week, and we were asked to make some things for the school to sell, namely a cracker with a small gift inside and a 'jumble jar'. Of course the children are supposed to make them themselves but obviously 4yr olds will need some help. Caoimhe helped me to collect the things together for the jumble jar, some bobbles, key rings, sweets and obviously there had to be some crafty things in there too, so I added some glitter and some gold and silver pens. I decorated the top with some Christmas wrapping paper and ribbon. We will make the cracker this week and I'm sure Caoimhe will enjoy helping me to decorate it.

The Christmassy prep didn't end there. There has been an afternoon baking with grandma, making Christmas cakes, and Violet the elf has come to stay too... I'm sure there will be more about her visit in future posts.

I'm linking up with Wendy for  Handmade Monday as usual so don't forget to go and have a look at all the other blogs linked up there.

Til next time!