This time last year

Seeing that we haven't done much today, i thought that i would post a video of what Willow was up to on this day last year.

Nap time

 Its not often that i see my kid asleep. She's normally up and out of bed shouting before i even get through the door to get her up after a nap, so i thought id take a shot of her having a peaceful moment.

 

 

Willow's saying cheese face. 

Tree Textile

I found this beautiful textile piece by Monique Horstmann. I just love this simple quilted tree effect. I may have to abandon my tree height chart and start again.

New project

I've finally got some materials to start a new project.

I've been thinking about making a height chart for Willow for a while and have been collecting bits and bobs of green patterned fabric not really knowing how i wanted it to look. But i found a really nice printed tree cotton fabric at Cool Cottons on Hawthorne http://www.coolcottons.biz/. So i thought i could make a start on it and see what happens.

I also managed to pick up some wool at Happy Knits http://happyknits.com/ for a kitty hat that i've been meaning to start for ages. I got the pattern about a year ago from http://www.loopknittingshop.com/ after i completed my first knitting project, a scarf (of course). But after looking at the pattern i realized that i have absolutley no idea what i'm doing and it may as well be in a different language. So i'm hoping to get a little help from ms Klein.

4 day weekend

Yippee. Malcolm gets a four day weekend off work for Thanksgiving. He cooked a great thanksgiving dinner that we shared with our friends Holly and Ollie. We opted for a more English version.A sunday roast chicken with Yorkshire puddings instead of the traditional turkey. It is always a little stressful trying to get everything ready at the best of times without having a 2 year old demanding the chief's attentions. Even so it was well worth it. Dinner was a triumph.
We spent friday and saturday just hanging out, going to the park and dressing up.

 

Off out for a walk and lunch

The last stop of the day, the park

I could get used to 4 days weekends!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday grandad's Wells and Lamont

Horse take 4

I've finally finished Willow's second HobbyHorse. I remade the pattern a little smaller and the handle shorter so its a bit more managable for her. Again it was made from old recycled clothes.
Making it was the easy part.Trying to get a photo of madam playing with it was another thing altogether.

New clothes

We got a much longed for package this afternoon from Marks and Spencers.

Strutting  around the living room in her new purple boots.

Willow LOVED the red boots and spent the rest of the day in them. She was pretty upset when i told her that it wasn't practical to wear them to bed. So unreasonable of me!

Of course the empty box was just as much fun as dressing up

A big thanks to Auntie Sam (especially for the red boots!)

The usual wednesday

I guess Willow thought it was just the usual wednesday too.

Willow managed to find the sharpie's and decorated her own balloon

and her face.

Woodland Stufflings

Love these little guys.You can get the patterns to make them from Gingermelon over at Etsy http://www.etsy.com/listing/85729368/woodland-stufflings-pdf-pattern So cute.

Banana Bread

This afternoon we made a banana loaf.
I always use a great muffin recipe from http://www.catcancook.com/. I'm not a great cook so this recipe is pretty foolproof as it only has 8 ingredients. Sometimes i make muffins but its usually a loaf. Somehow the word loaf doesn't seem as unhealthy as muffins, even though it has the exact same ingredients! I usually substitute the white flour for wholemeal and the white sugar for a dark brown sugar. I think the brown sugar with the banana gives the muffins/loaf a deeper flavour. And i try to use really ripe banana's.

Just checking to see if the mixing bowl fits

Getting ready to do some mashing.

Eating raw sugar.Yummy.

Adding the melted butter to the mashed banana and sugar

and mixing.

Mixing the wet and dry ingredients

and mixing.

All done and ready to bake. And then off for a bike ride until its done.

Banana Muffins (makes 12 muffins or 1 loaf)

3 or 4 Large ripe bananas, mashed (the more bananas the moister, so I use 4)
1/2 cup white sugar (original recipe calls for 1 cup, but I don’t like them too sweet.I use brown sugar)
1 slightly beaten egg
1/3 cup melted margarine or butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour (I use wholemeal flour)
Mix the mashed banana, sugar, egg and margarine together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix wet and dry ingredients all together! Pour into greased muffin tins, and bake in 350 degrees F oven for approximately 20 minutes. Easy!

Love that sneaky little hand, i guess she just couldn't wait!

 

Still warm from the oven.Yummy.