Domesticali

Al fresco cooking

Is it shameful to be constantly tapping my children for blog fodder? Thankfully, someone in the household still has time to be creative. It isn't me, that's for sure. But I would miss the act of blogging sorely, so you'll have to indulge me. And today, it is worth it. Because there was something very special happening in the garden.

Mark's friend Chloe came to play after school, bringing with her this gem of a book. And what marvels it contains.

No supermarket is as well-stocked as a forest, a sand dune, or your own backyard, and everyone knows that dolls dote on mud, when properly prepared. Invite everyone, for Pencil Sharpener Pudding, Dandelion Souffle, Wood Chip Dip, and, of course, Mud Pies.

I knew as soon as I saw it, that we needed a copy. It is utterly charming and funny for the way in which all the recipes are presented so seriously.

FRIED WATER
Melt one ice cube in a skillet by placing it in the sun. When melted, add 1 cup water and sauté slowly until water is transparent. Serve small portions, because this dish is rich as well as mouth-watering.

Unfortunately, it is out of print and has proved a bit tricky to track down. But  for something so enchanting, it was worth the effort.

Hors d'oeuvre anyone?

The Good Life

Being a woman of mystery isn't my usual style. Time to come clean about my much anticipated day yesterday. I went to London to meet up with Alice of The Magpie Files. Which would have been enough excitement in its own right (especially as she had promised a visit to the Champagne Bar in the new St Pancras - the woman has style). But she had other plans up her sleeve too. After a quick stop at Liberty, we jumped on a bus and arrived here:

Any guesses yet? Perhaps this will help:



Persephone + fairy buns - it could only mean Jane Brocket of Yarnstorm. She was speaking at a Persephone Lunch about the domestic arts (knitting, crocheting, baking, quilting, a great deal of reading) as practised by her. And she made cupcakes (to match the books of course) for afternoon tea.

Jane is an amazingly gifted speaker and I was totally engaged (well, apart from the part of my brain that was busy wondering who the other people in the room were, because I had already spotted Julie Arkell and Janet Bolton in the audience). She brought along a load of her quilts, tea cosies and embroidery for us to see.

Perhaps it's only me, but it is so weird seeing in real life, something you've seen on a blog. New, yet familiar. Much the same as meeting bloggers in the flesh, which, in my experience, has never been anything other than delightful.

Alice and I made a new friend too (Hi Kristina!). She SO needs a blog, she knits, she sews, she bakes, she's charming. I've spoken before about my personal crusade to indoctrinate all crafty folk into the wonderful world that is blogging. Come on Kristina, dive in, the water's lovely.

And as we sat in the Champagne Bar of St Pancras, sipping our bubbly and nattering yarn, sewing, life and the universe. I had a moment of blinding clarity. Life is good, very good.

Sometimes I wonder if I bore my real life friends rigid when I 'talk crafty', but I think they have been listening (with their eyes closed), because one of them returned from holiday with this. Hooray!


I have fallen in love with the appliqued dahlias on this apron.

Although I'm not sure why she is in the kitchen with her wellies on. Perhaps she's been in the garden harvesting her tomatoes. If she was in our house, the rattle of hand on doorknob would have triggered a bellow of 'Have you taken your shoes off?'.

I found the gas man, who had come to service the boiler, padding around in his socks once. I had shouted at him from another room, thinking he was one of the kids.

P is for… Pippi Longstocking

As a child I never read Pippi Longstocking, but I think I would have loved it if I had. I saw this wonderful edition, illustrated by Lauren Child, while we were glamping and I had to buy it there and then.

It saved our bacon as we got stuck in a major traffic jam shortly afterwards. Thankfully the boys were totally enthralled by Pippi's shenanigans. Well, if you don't count several billion interruptions from Johnny demanding to be shown the pictures.

I know the Ragged Roses household are loving their copy too.

O is for… Old photos

Pictures from other people's childhoods are a source of great fascination to me. Pouring over them to see if there are any signs of the adult they are to become. So I thought I'd share a few of mine.

My little friend Kirsten and I, in Fiji on my second birthday. She's got the balloon (and some fabby rick rack trim going on) and I've got reading matter - bookworm then, bookworm now.

My brother and I at some petting zoo in Holland. He is the same age in that picture as his eldest son is now and they are so similar - it's their expressions, right Tess?

And with my folks aged 6. We were living in the Cayman Islands at the time and my Dad was playing in the band for a production of South Pacific. This was opening night, all dressed up in our best south sea islander finery. I still remember the words to most of the songs from the production. Check out my Mum rocking that halter top look too!

I'm in the middle of reading Tokyo Cancelled by Rana Dasgupta - thirteen passengers stranded overnight in an airport amuse one another by telling stories. One tale deals with a 'memory editor' whose job it is to sift through the memories of strangers, cleansing them of painful experiences to create a DVD. It is marketed under the name 'MyPast' to individuals of a generation forgetting their own history. Something about it reminded me of the experience of blogging. Perhaps I need to take my role as 'memory editor' more seriously.

Charlie and Lola 3 giveaway

Our favourite chums are visiting Space and playing musical instruments this month. To get your pink milk loving mitts on a giveaway copy of this kids craft magazine, leave me a comment and tell me what you're doing to preserve your sanity while the munchkins are on holiday.

This pre-supposes you have munchkins, because if you don't, shame on you for trying to get your paws on a kids comic!

And blogger is not e-mailing me your comments - so if I haven't replied to yours, don't think I'm ignoring you. Is anyone else having the same problem?

Sarah Raven’s Garden Cookbook

I've been a big fan of Sarah Raven ever since I began gardening - I own her book 'The Cutting Garden' which sets out to help you plan a space which provides you with plenty of cut flowers (and greenery) for your house, without your borders looking pillaged.

In my personal fantasy future, I spend a great deal of time wafting around my walled garden, collecting blooms in a suitably vintage trug and arranging them with casual elegance. Reality involves more yelling of 'Keep your truck out of my flowerbed', but hey, I can dream.

I've noticed that a lot of gardeners are foodies. It makes me trust them more. Personally, I can't see the point in growing a swede as big as a boulder if it's inedible. I feel the same about growing onions - why? When they are dirt cheap at the greengrocers and don't taste any better for being freshly harvested.

So I was very intrigued to see this offering on the bookshop shelves.



Now, I've only had a twenty second flip through this, but it's already it's on my wish list. The recipes are arranged according to a central ingredient that you've harvested from your garden (or at least bought in season from the supermarket!). That struck me as hugely sensible - 20 things to do with rhubarb, because it's coming out of your ears at the moment, but you want to make the most of it being in season.

Now all I need to do is make some space on my overloaded cookbook shelf. I find parting with cookbooks difficult. There's something about the patina of food splashes which makes them very personal. No draconian uncluttering advice for me!

The Surprise

Take one sheep, one special friend and a top secret project.

This beautiful book, by Sylvia van Ommen, a Dutch author/illustrator tells the story without words. It's a theme played out over and over again here in crafty blogland and when I saw the book, it made me want to cry. If you see it on a shelf near you, pick it up. You won't be sorry.

Lotta fun

So many times, I buy great craft books - read and love them and then utterly fail to make any projects from them. I was in danger of doing that with Amy Butler's In Stitches, when along came the In Stitches sew along group at Flickr.

Every month Finny and Africankelli choose a pattern from the book and folks post their examples of it to the pool. I really like seeing everyone's versions of the same item and there are usually lots of helpful tips on the pattern flying around too. It also motivated me to finish my Lounge Pants.

But look what I've gone and purchased now, and I'm not the only one.

So now I need to justify it, and what better way, than with a Flickr group of it's own.
And sewing a project to put in said Flickr Group.



A picnic placemat, made using an Ikea heavy cotton print. The reverse is the opposite colourway of the same print. But I think using twill tape for the ties may have been a mistake because it creases like crazy.

So if you fancy joining in the Lotta fun, please pop over to Flickr and join. I've never set up or moderated a group before - it's fly by the seat of your pants stuff!

When Johnny and I went to Mostly Books for our weekly story time fix, Anu pointed me towards a real gem - "The incredible book eating boy" by Oliver Jeffers. My boys are intrigued by the tale of Henry, a boy who develops a taste for eating books and nearly comes to a sticky end before he realizes that reading them is just as good.





The tale is a good one, but the illustrations - they are truly wonderful. If you take a look through this sketch book you'll get an idea of his style. Then run out and buy the book.

I'm not sure why I am buying any more children's books, because after hearing about my plea for 6 year old reading recommendations, Tess, my lovely sister-in-law sent Mark this pile of goodies. Should keep him busy for a while!




And thanks so much to Bethany for this parcel of vintage style lovelies - I find it impossible to believe that Bitter Betty Blogs is only a year old, but I enjoyed sharing in the celebrations.

Change the world

My car is in the garage and has been since Friday. You have no idea how many favours I have had to call in to cope with 2 kids who have schools in opposite directions, neither of which are walkable.

Sometimes village life isn't all roses round the door.

Still, looking on the bright side, my personal carbon footprint is looking so much better.

I've been reading this book - it's all about small personal steps we could take to change our world. And when I read Amy's post, I cheered. As they say at Tesco, every little helps.

Sorry, no photos, blogger really hates me. Perhaps it is because I'm a Slytherin...

Happy World Book Day!

Although I gather the rest of the world isn't celebrating it today, but hey, eccentricity is meant to be a British characteristic.

Reading is a really important part of life in our house. When Mark was tiny, snuggling up with a book was always his favourite thing. It guarantees one-to-one adult attention, gives ample scope for cuddles, educates and entertains - the perfect blend really. He lugged around a series of books as a security blanket, the most beloved being "Kennst du Das? On the farm" - unhelpfully in German, but when you can't read I guess it doesn't matter.

The not reading stage didn't last long in his case, as he was reading at 3. I thought he had just memorised lots of his books, but one day we were on the Motorway and he read the side of a truck. I very nearly crashed. And just in case you're thinking it, I swear I wasn't a pushy mummy, busy with the flash cards. Life's too short.

Mark's been devouring books ever since. Current favourite - Charlotte's Web. I loved it as a child and it looks like the magic still works. When he was told that his class were dressing up as book characters today, he had to be Templeton.

Johnny is very jealous of the furry costume and refused to put on his shirt in protest. He also refused to stay out of the picture. I think I may need to make a second. The fake fur is incredibly good quality, with a suede-ish backing. So much nicer than scratchy acrylic. I quite fancy a furry suit of my own...

So, what are your book recommendations for reading matter for a 6 year old boy? Because when he comes home with his book token, we're going to need a spending plan.

Kate tagged me with this weird things meme.

RULES: People who get tagged need to write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. I am normal - it's everyone else that is weird really. Let's just get that straight.
2. I often wave at people I don't know - sometimes because I think I know them and I don't, but sometimes just because I find the expression on their faces (trying-to-look-friendly-when-I-can't-remember-who-you-are) really really funny. The thought that they then spend the next few hours racking their brains to remember me makes me laugh even more.
3. I can't bear people drinking from my milk - I'll happily share a sip of anything else, but if you touch my milk, I can't drink it.
4. I have to clean my ears with a cotton bud every morning - not doing so would be worse than failing to brush my teeth (which I need to do twice in the morning, once first thing and then again just before I leave the house).
5. I have saved the baby teeth Mark has lost. I don't know why or what I am going to do with them. By the time he and Johnny have lost them all maybe I'll have enough for a necklace (kidding!)
6. I own 46 pairs of knickers (not counting the pair I have on) - but I am not so weird that I knew that without going to the drawer and counting them.

Tagging the following possible weirdos - Soo, Kirsten, Joanna, Megan, Monica, and Sarah.

Thanks for all the pottery good wishes yesterday - I had a great time - made a pot (unfinished) and a handful of buttons. Marie, the potter, has a huge old dog which snores - listening to him breathe is better than meditation.

And you know that Judith Levine book we were all interested in? Beware of how you get your hands on it - look at the controversy it's stirring up. Judith herself has been compelled to comment...

Not Buying It

Painting dilemma - I have some wooden storage units for my new craft room cum office walls. They are sitting in the garage all primed and ready for paint. If only I could decide which colour.

I spent a fruitless hour on Sunday in Homebase trying to pick one out and instead found myself back home with a fistful of paint chips, no further forward.

Then I find myself wondering how much it really matters - can't I just use some leftover paint from the garage and save myself all this angst. Because I'm sure that would be the option Judith Levine would choose.

Her book Not Buying It is out in paperback in a week or two. I'm waiting impatiently to read it since I read this review from The Independent:
"Many of us are unhappy, not because we don't have enough, but because we have too much. The usual answer to this problem? Just consume more stuff. We have a vast market in storage (things in which we put other things in order to make it seem as if we have no things)"

Oh yes, this struck a chord. The book is a memoir detailing the author's experiment in not buying anything but the essentials for a year. I need to read it.

When I told my hubby I planned to buy it, he laughed at the irony of that statement. So I did try to reserve it at the library, but there is a long waiting list (guess I'm not the first to have that idea) so in my impatience I've ordered it. Hey, at least I did it from my local independent bookshop...

Who ate all the shortbread?

I made another batch of macadamia and mandarin shortbread tonight intending to take it along to my book group Christmas get-together, but hubby has requisitioned it for work. Those colleagues had better be grateful...

We are discussing Fear and Trembling by Amelie Nothomb. It is the story of a Belgian girl who spends a year working for a Japanese corporation in Tokyo and I absolutely loved it. But then, I don't know how much of that is because I have worked in Tokyo and found it hugely familiar to read about. I'm looking forward to seeing what the others thought.

It may be tempting fate to say so, but I think I am finished with Christmas shopping (at least on the present procurement front). Now I just need to attend to a couple of wrapping dilemmas (rugby ball ideas anyone?) then it's food food food! My favourite bit.