Domesticali

Hubby in the North

My first ever guest post...

I've had a difficult time with cars in the last week. Mine died, which in is not necessarily a bad thing as I now have a new Mini on order and a big smile on my face. Ali is in New York as a result of this mechanical misfortune, I suspect happily abusing the credit card. So all was good until with impeccable timing Ali's car sprang a leak a couple of days ago. Actually that turned out to be OK too - you can imagine the suspense/adventure of us boys making a long journey checking a new radiator for water leaks. We also found out our local mechanic's approved way of telling if a leak's from the radiator (the coolant tastes bitter). Hope you never need to know that! Anyway, Johnny talked for 5 hours without once pausing for breath, but fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow so I can't complain.

We went rowing this morning - as you can see Mark took it very seriously.

 

Start spreading the news...

I'm leaving the country. No, really. I've booked the ticket.

The planets have aligned in a strange, but fortuitous way. See, the boys and their Daddy are off on a pilgrimage up north next week. I was going to be left behind to decorate Mark's bedroom and sew and generally have some alone time. But this week, Hubby's car gave up the ghost. Which left me with the prospect of being stranded in a small village, carless and a bit sad.

I have to admit, I was feeling a bit glum about my fun grown up plans being scuppered. But hubby had an alternative plan. Involving his air miles. So I'm off to New York on Wednesday. Yaaaaaay! My credit card is very afraid.

But I haven't given myself too much planning time. So I need help. Advice on where to stay and what to do. And something to hold me down, because I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement.

Picnic parcels

In a contest between food outdoors and food requiring inconveniences such as cutlery and table manners, there is only ever going to be one winner.  Summer equals a lot of picnic lunches for our household. And though these little beauties were sampled at the table, they're going to make it into the next hamper for sure.

They are filo pastry parcels, filled with a pork and apricot stuffing. I've never used filo pastry before, but it was really very simple.

 

I never quite know what the etiquette is for sharing recipes on blogs. If I can find it on-line, I prefer to use a link. But this was from a Sainsbury's freebie magazine and I can't find it on-line. If I am making some giant recipe stealing faux pas, do tell me please.

Basically, you finely chop and sweat an onion in olive oil until soft. Then toss in a grated carrot and cook for a minuite longer. Then allow to cool and add 250g pork mince, a teaspoon of chopped fresh rosemary and about 5 dried apricots (chopped finely).

Lay out a sheet of filo pastry. Brush with melted butter and fold in half to make a long strip. Put about a tablespoon of pork mix at one end and fold pastry and pork over at right angles to form a neat triangular parcel. Repeat until filling is used up. Brush parcels with more melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds and/or poppy seeds. Bake at 180 for 20 - 25 mins until golden. Serve warm, so put them in foil and transport to your picnic site of choice.

The taste testers say we can eat these again any time. Preferably soon. I feel another picnic coming on...

 

Gone fishing

You should have seen the size of the one that got away. Really. It was huge.

The water was absolutely freezing. But somehow, the boys didn't seem to care.

Why would you when there are rope swings to play on? Thank goodness the stream is only a 10 minute walk away from our house and a hot bath.

I earned my 'Good Mother' badge today. And it arrived in the post, from Gina.

Okay, so she didn't exactly award it to me with that in mind. But hey, as a parent, sometimes you just need to give yourself a pat on the back. Did I mention how cold the water was?

Summer's here

And so it begins. Summer. Season of lazy mornings and muddy children.

We have written a long long long list of things we would like to do over the next six weeks. But underlying all of our entries is one simple sentiment. To take pleasure in each other's company.

The boys are of an age now to really appreciate the absence of obligations and the unfettered access to free time that the long holiday brings. That's not to say they never get fed up, or that they don't squabble, or want to watch more TV than is good for them. That some chivying of the 'Have you brushed your teeth?' variety isn't called for.

But somehow, those things are balanced out by the golden moments when everyone is happily occupied doing something of their own choosing and you look up and wish summer would just go on forever.

Goose Nuts

Picture the scene. It's suppertimetime in our kitchen. The boys have polished off their main course.

Me: What do you guys want for pudding?

Johnny: Goose nuts!

Me: What?

Johnny: Goose nuts.

Me: Do you mean gooseberries?

Johnny: No, goose nuts.

Me: Goose eggs? (Not that we have any.)

Johnny: No, goose nuts.

He points across the room and suddenly, the penny drops.

Ah. These will, for evermore, be known in our household as Goose Nuts.

And did you spy them? My felted pebbles? Very therapeutic. Not sure if they are any practical use, however.

Guess who's coming to tea?

Just one more book related post (indulge me please). One of the best things about working in a bookshop is opening the deliveries each morning - even though they're not all for me, I just get a little shiver of excitement as I unwrap the goodies.

A big box-load of Jane Brocket's Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer arrived in the shop on Friday. Yes, a very big box, because we have something special planned.

Mostly Books are hosting an afternoon tea in the company of Jane Brocket. She'll be introducing some of her favourite passages from children's literature and the recipes inspired by them, as well as doing an iced bun demonstration. And I dare say she might be persuaded to sign a few copies of both her books.

If you are within reach of Abingdon and would like to join us for tea (Saturday August 23rd - 4pm), booking details are in the newsletter here (scroll down a bit). It's worth a bit of a trek, not only for Jane herself, but Abingdon is a little crafter's paradise with a great fabric shop, a wool shop, a lovely stationers/art shop and a scrapbooking/embroidery shop, all of them independent and charming and well worth a visit.

I'm so sorry if you live on another continent - don't be sad. I promise to raise a marmalade bun in your honour.

Thank you so so much for all your wonderful reading suggestions on the last post (especially you shy commenters, who I don't hear from so often). I'll be re-visiting them frequently as I browse the shelves this summer. For a long while, the book in the lead for me was Nicole Krauss' The History of Love, but then 'm' gave a summary of Tove Jansson's The Summer Book, that totally won me over. So 'm', please e-mail me your details and I'll pop a little something in the post to you.

I'd rather just stay home and read

Thankfully there are some activities the rain cannot spoil.

Like last night's talk at Mostly Books, from Nicola Beauman (of Persephone) and dinner afterwards with Monica (who'd driven all the way over for the event).

My lasting impression of the event is the (entirely unoriginal) thought - so many books, so little time. 

What have you enjoyed reading of late? Sell it to me in a comment and I'll pick one and send you a little book parcel giveaway in return.

An Index Card Summer

Johnny went on his 'big school' visit morning today. He seemed fine, but has pronounced it "too noisy". Spoiled by the Zen-like calm of his current Montessori setting, evidently. He only has 6 days remaining at his pre-school and I'll be so sad to see this phase pass. Leaving him there never felt gut-wrenching in the way that I feel about the bear pit that is Primary School.

Not that the boys' school is big, or bad. To the contrary. But it does mark the start of their entry into a dog-eat-dog kind of existence. Competition for scarce resources. Asserting yourself, or being lost in the crowd. Being popular or exiled to the sidelines. And that's just the mothers in the playground!

Anyway, we have a whole summer to wallow in just being, before we need to face reality and the boys are very enthusiastic about this project:

I fell in love, a while back, with an index card based project (the blog of which is now inactive and I can't find a link to it), and have decided to do my own this summer. The boys want in on the idea too. Mark has always been a scrapbook fan (I think it appeals to his pack-rat tendencies) and Johnny just wants to play with us big kids. It should also scratch the 'make something' itch, which tends to emerge in the school holidays when I have much less child-free time.

So a summer of documentation and creativity on little 6x4 cards. Can't wait for it to begin. Would you care to join us?

**Just after I hit post, I went off to charge myself up with blogging goodness and came across this via Alicia. Never mind joining us, I think we are going to join them!**

Sunday feeling

There's something different about the atmosphere in the house on a Sunday with no engagements.

 A quietness.

And on a wet day, a willingness to hunker down and enjoy the domestic.

A little bit of Grand Prix watching and new sock wearing (well, one new sock anyway). I think I'll go and cast on the other one. Click clack, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Resistance is futile

It called me. What was I to do? It's late, my resistance is low. I succumbed

New skirts have appeared over at Clothkits.

I am holding Monica and Katy wholly responsible. They made me press the button.

Fern printing

As soon as I saw the beautiful fern printed tote over at Painted Fish Studio, I knew we would be giving the idea a go. A vest, though slightly unseasonal, seemed the ideal trial item - my boys constantly put theirs on backwards, so a little motif is always helpful.

Like all the greatest ideas, it is so simple, and needs the bare minimum of materials. Jen's tutorial is here. And here's the finished article.

(I made the mistake of asking Mark to pose for me and he took the request very seriously.)

The boys don't wear their vests in the summer generally, unlike my Dad. He favours one of those holey numbers and swears they keep you cool in hot weather by preventing your shirt from sticking to your skin. Luckily, he seems to get his the right way round all by himself, because I don't think fern printing would work so well on a holey vest.

Biscuit

We were visiting Granny a while back. I had put Johnny to bed when my Mum emerged saying he was asking for a biscuit. What??! At bedtime? (Guess who's the snack police in our household?) But when I went to investigate, he had actually been trying to tell her that he was a bit scared (bi-sked).

I'm feeling a touch 'biscuit' myself (though it's taken me a week or so of feeling blue to admit it). We're due for Mark's annual follow up hospital appointment and I am dreading it.

Not because he's not doing well. In fact, in many ways, the child I am mother to this year is a totally different character from the little boy of this time last year. A year of a more understanding and accomodating teacher, a family who are unapologetic about what is and isn't best for him, enough fish oil to float a boat and a dairy free diet have all played their part. But in the main, I think he has just grown into his own skin.

I should be happy to go back then and trumpet his successes, but I am filled with dread. It just takes me straight back to the emotional turmoil of last year. And I resent that. And it makes me scrutinize him all over again, and question my own parenting. And nobody ever comes out well when you do that do they?