Sunday happies

Some shadows I noticed at work one day.

The days and weeks just seem to slip by. We’ve been in a haze of illness (short lived but nasty and the horrible wondering of who might succumb next...) (the ABO), leaving nursery excitement (BigR), learning to jump and fearlessly bump downstairs (no stair gate can hold her back) (LittleR) and coping with all of these things (me). Here are (some of the things) that are my happies since the last time I posted. Joining in with Gillian.

:: Learning to crochet.

I had a fab day with my friend on the ‘learn to crochet’ workshop. Not only did we put the world to rights and have a very tasty lunch (even with many gluten free options for my friend) I even learnt a new skill.

OK...it’s a bit ‘loose’ and ‘rustic’ but coming along. Hopefully I’ll get the hang of tension!!!

I‘m a loooooooooong way off the skill level of many fellow bloggers, but you never know one day I might improve enough to be half as good as them. Practice makes perfect. If I’m able to find the time to practice. It’s a priority for me to make time to do this.

:: Actually making a quiche. I followed this recipe from Sue at the Quince Tree’s blog. I even made the pastry. It was quite simple (in the end) and very delicious. I’ll certainly be doing that again. I’ve been trying to cook a bit more so we have some freezer options. The other weekend I made a shepherd’s pie and put two in the freezer as homemade ready meals. Next up some dinners for the girls.

:: Seeing this bee (can you spot him? or her? I know nothing of bees. Do female bees get to leave the hive?) on some very random planting outside Tesco near the A&E dept of the Leeds General Infirmary. He looked very happy. I’ve seen a lot more bees this year.

:: Spending my birthday money on some books. I had a gift voucher from some review work I did ages ago too. I’m loving the Smitten Kitchen...so many delicious things to make.

::Attempting some (more) inspiration for Autumn cooking. I’m hoping the couple of hours (don’t get me started on all my leave disappearing for the 2 weeks of 2 hour days BigR has starting school!!) I have when BigR is (briefly) at school and LittleR naps (hahahahahaha) I can get some tasty things going on. Nigel Slater is my go to for this kind of cooking and Hugh’s everyday veg is a great book.

:: Planning for a 5^th birthday party....it’s Elsa-tastic.

:: Remembering that even after the most trying day (Is it only my child that moans and whines? Why do I let it get to me?) there is always gin.

Catching up - a list

Although it’s only early August there’s been more than a sniff of, dare I say it, Autumn in the air. I love this time of year. It always makes me want to start new things and get more creative. It’s also the ideal opportunity for a good list. I do love a good list (or even a bad list). Sarah wrote eloquently about her use of lists to help her manage things and here of her list of Autumn Loves.

Some time ago I wrote a list of things I would do creatively…

Shall we see how I’ve been progressing?

There’s been some flexibility in the list. I have actually completed some things, completely forgotten about others and added in some new ones.

The things I’ve completed….

:: I did embroider (and frame, twice after a small accident! Maybe I should rename myself Little Miss Whoops?) a panel of 3 owls for LittleRs room. They complement the Matryoshka dolls I did for BigR. Every time I change her nappy she shouts “owls”. It’s very satisfying.

:: I went on a Betty’s cookery course. I did this in November and loved it once again. I’ve made the recipes from that day a few times again since. We particularly enjoy the lamb meatballs and the sausage cassoulet. I’ve actually got another voucher (more birthday delights) to use so am busily looking at the website to see what I fancy doing!

:: Plan the 2014 garden. Well I planted some spring bulbs and even did some seeds. I’ve still got some bedding plants that could do with going in…rather than being left in pots but they’ve not magicked themselves out of said pots yet. The garden is a work in progress as some of our trellis fell down in high winds some months ago. It was used as a separator to divide areas in the garden. We quite like the way it’s opened up the garden but it means that some of the plants need better support in their bed. I bought a couple of stepping stones so the girls don’t trample on the flowers (too much) and the ABO dug them in the other day. So I’ll say I’ve done this but it’ll be on the list for next year too…

:: This wasn’t on the original list but added to it after a trip to the knitting and stitching show in November. I knitted and completed the dog of doom…actually, on reflection, it wasn’t that bad but next time I’ll sew it up as I go to give me encouragement. Little R actually loves it so even though it’s not perfect (I ‘forgot’ to add the tail. It was a bit stubby and short and once stuffed looked a bit rude) it was a job well done. Big R was going to get a similar dog but changed her mind for a ballet cardigan which my friend, S, knitted up for me so she might actually get to wear it before it was too small!!

In progress

:: BigRs applique blanket. I have all the necessary materials including the elusive (in Leeds anyway) bondaweb and a very inexpensive fleece blanket from Ikea in purple (the current colour of choice, unless it suddenly becomes blue to go with the Elsa from Frozen adoration). Now I just need a clear evening and some good TV for the hand sewing!

:: Take BigR to paint pottery. Well we did this on our holidays and we’ll being doing it again (at a local pottery studio that’s opened) at the start of September when BigR has her first birthday party (for those other than family!). I’m a little nervous actually as I’m hoping the invitees will come! BigR is taking it in her stride!

Still to start

:: Embroidered tea towels – once again I have the tea towels and the thread so it’s a case of some inspiration for designs and some motivation to make a start. Sometimes with projects they just need to be considered for a little bit before starting…

:: Photobooks – the photos are there but there’s been no start to these yet. Maybe we’ll do it in time for Christmas presents for Grandparents?

:: Knitting the tea cosy kit S gave to me…this hasn’t even come out of the packet yet…oops…

Added to the list

:: Socks. I learnt to knit in the round earlier this year. Then promptly forgot how to join the circle. Then practiced and remembered. Thanks to YouTube. I’ve taken Christina’s most simple pattern and will be attempting this very soon.

:: Embroidery nameplates for the girls’ bedroom doors. We thought it might be nice for the girls to have their names on their doors. I can’t find any ones I think suit both girls well and aren’t ridiculously expensive anywhere so I’m going for the DIY option. I’m trying to decide on fonts but might just go with my handwriting and some decoration pertinent to them.

:: Skirts for both of the girls. I’ve seen this pattern via Jennifer’s blog. I’ve got new bobbins for my machine. I’ve new needles for my machine. I’ve material, cotton and elastic. I’ve even measured the girls for sizing. Now all I need is to stop procrastinating. Maybe a job for when the ABO is on the late shift.

:: Knitting the hat S bought for me for Christmas! It’s lovely blue and green Aran wool. It’s a very simple pattern and should be fairly quick to do once I get started!! I might even get it finished in time to wear his winter. Maybe I've spoken too soon?

:: Learning to crochet. This was a birthday present. I’d hinted that I’d like to learn but wasn’t sure if I’d be lucky enough to get this as a present or if the day would be free. Anyway my friend S and I are off to learn how to at Baa Ram Ewe at the weekend. I’m excited to learn (another) new skill (I hope I can do it!!) and have a day out with my lovely friend. Then I’ll just have to keep the yarn buying in check and find some time to practice!

Sooooo…plenty to keep me busy there! Wonder if I’ll have anything finished anytime soon? Of course I’m going to have so much extra time when BigR starts school and LittleR naps eh? I know it will be at this point that LittleR decides to stop napping!

Why I write

I was nominated to participate in this blog hop by Christina at A Colourful Life. I was really flattered to be considered as my blog is fairly new.

I’m writing this after being on the go all day...this is not unusual...I should really think about time management some more! I wanted to post before I became busy with work this week and then a short break. So I may edit in some more when I’ve thought a little more...I’m sure there’ll be something I think of the minute I press publish!


What am I working on? At this precise moment, nothing in particular. I don’t really plan these posts in advance (can’t you tell?) They come about organically. Sometimes I have an idea and think...’ooh I’ll blog about that’ but generally I post what’s in my head at that moment.


How does my writing differ from others in my genre?
I’m not really sure what genre I fit into. I guess it’s the ‘working mum of two young children who likes books, gardens, crafty stuff, tv and wine’. I’m a little bit secretive here about who I am, mainly for professional reasons. I don’t really want random students finding my private space – it’s like when they want to ‘friend’ you on facebook...er, no. I want to be able to write here about anything I like and not feel constrained.


Why do I write what I do? In a previous life I kept a written journal. Snippets of the day to day and how I felt about things. Some days I would write lots and navel gaze in great detail. Other days were just the odd line or two to remind me what I was up to at that time. My blog is a more public version of that, just me, documenting aspects of my life and allowing me to have a record of this time. This time where my children are young and where I’m balancing life as a mummy, an academic, a friend, a partner, a daughter, a woman. Seeing where my life fits in to the world and generating friendships through this.


How does my writing process work? I don’t really have a planned process but I fall into when the mood strikes me. I blog from my sofa and during breaks at work. Usually, the latter is when someone is having a loud phone conversation and I can barely concentrate. - the joys of academia in an open plan office. Sometimes I make notes on my phone if I want to blog about something specific. My photos all come from my phone - I have much to learn about light and making these much better. I think one of the reasons I don’t plan to much is I’d then think I’d need to revise and refine my writing (as I do at work) and I like this being straight from the heart.

Part of this blog hop is to nominate others to join in. It’s so hard to choose! I’m still waiting to hear from a couple of people and wanted to post before time ran away...

So I nominate Sarah from Mitenska – this was one of the first blogs I plucked up the courage  to comment on. I love Sarah’s beautiful photography and writing. Her blog is so full of inspiration and positivity. She writes beautifully about her life, home and the world around her. I love seeing snippets of her notebooks and her drawings.

 

Sunshine with occasional showers :: days 30 - 56

Although I've been making a note of the little incidences in my life in my notebook, I've not really shared them here. I’m not sure if a whole list of things is that exciting for anyone else to read but, then I guess I’m writing this for me, not anyone so here goes with 3 weeks of happy moments.

Day 30 – Another midweek dinner of pork chops. I did the mash in the food mixer and my goodness was it smooth. Goodbye masher and potato ricer. Hello Kitchen Aid – you truly are amazing!!!!

Day 31 - A solitary snail on the path in the garden. This was soon in the garden recycling bin. Safely chomping on my weeds not my plants!!!

Day 32 – A random accident in the kitchen resulting in a comedy child’s plaster. It’s all we had. Plasters are a form of currency here. We had a range of Peppa Pig, Hello Kitty and Princess ones that the ABO brought home from Italy. Now we’re down to monkeys and butterflies. I must remember some more practical (and plain) ones.

Day 33 – I gave a presentation for my day job and it went really well. It was one of those days where you’re on the top of your game and the audience appreciates what you’re saying. This was followed up with really delicious fish and chips for tea…yum!

Day 34 – Participating in my first rainbow flash mob. Green…chosen for me by Gillian.  Not particularly good pic but I did enjoy looking round for the things…and of course spotting loads more when I’d taken all the pictures!!

Day 35 – The doggy ears are almost finished…I can really see the dog coming together now…

Day 36 – Out for a meal with the ABO…alone and no children. Fantastic. Afterwards, we’re so full and as it’s a nice evening we walk home holding hands (unheard of as usually one of us buggy pushing and the other holding BigRs hand)

Day 37 – A joint effort lasagne – I made the meat ragu and the ABO made the cheese sauce. Delicious.

Day 38 – We both often try to get the girls to put their toys away but I love looking at the remnants of their games.

Day 39 – Taking the girls swimming to the University pool. Changing rooms clean and tidy with space for a baby change making life much easier. LittleR was much more confident in the water.

Day 40 – The ABO at work and it’s a bank holiday…hmmmm….what to do? Make a cottage pie, make an apple and strawberry crumble. Take small children to Hobbycraft and along with ‘necessities’ being talked into buying pipe cleaners and a pair of purple glasses!

Day 41 – Appreciating the frilly tulips that have appeared in the garden. Tulips really are one of my favourite flowers.

Enjoying the end of my book (although it made me cry!! In public!! Shhh no one noticed…I hope!!), a coffee and the plate a piece of shortbread came on.

Day 42 – The anticipation of starting a new book and realising a few pages in it’s going to be a good one!

Day 43 – It’s not nice when your children are poorly. It can be stressful and exhausting but the snuggles you get are unbelievable.

Day 44 – The ABO is on standby and I am working at home. He takes great pleasure in washing the car. I take pleasure in not washing the car.

Day 45 –  Today is a day of completion. I finish a superb book in 4 days (Apple Tree Yard – Louise Doughty coming soon with a Year in Books). I finish the knitting part of LittleR’s dog. I finish watching all of Eurovision.

Day 46 – we all enjoy the last football match of the Premier League season. Where has another year gone?!!

Day 47 – A coffee on the way to work and enjoying listening to the radio. TalkSport and Radio 4.

Day 48 – Getting a lift to and from work and having impromptu coffee and cake on the way home

Day 49 – The sunshine! Especially after a disturbed night with a poorly child.

Day 50 - Finally, after 5 years, sending off my work as a book chapter. I’ve grown 2 children  since I started the work.

Enjoying the clouds today, so white and fluffy against the beautiful blue sky.

Day 51 – Sewing up the dog – nearly there….

Enjoying a spot of gardening – after a trip to the garden centre…

Day 52 – More gardening…

Seeing BigR in her first ballet show. In spite of being in a dark room on the hottest afternoon of the year so far and LittleR struggling to sit still on my lap….it was fab. BigR took it so seriously, you could see her concentration as she danced remembering her steps and playing the tambourine or shaking her scarf at the appropriate point. Then her joy when she spotted us in the audience.

Day 53 – We have a ghost hoover. The girls’ toy hoover switches on by itself. Spooky. I’m quite comforted by this – if it is an apparition maybe it’ll start on the proper vacuuming?

Day 54 – My flexible working application has been approved and I start part time working in July. The relief is unbelievable.

Day 55 - The girls have a Daddy day as the ABO is on days off…BigR ends up running through the sprinkler in the garden as it’s so hot!

Day 56 – Making weekend plans with a friend over coffee…it’s not only a bank holiday here this weekend but the University is closed on Tuesday too. The ABO is working earlies over this long weekend so I need to have things planned for our days

Enjoying time in together in the garden when the girls are in bed. Admittedly we were trying to sort out a blocked water butt tap which in turn led to repositioning guttering and then admitting defeat but it was still good to be out at 9pm and not freezing cold!

Reading lists

I have a confession. I love books. Any sort at all. And bookshops. And libraries. As a child I was a voracious reader. There were weekly trips to the local library and to the library where my grandparents lived. One of my favourite games was playing libraries, making the tickets to go in the books (none of this computerised stuff back then!!), organising the book shelves and fining people when they were late with their books.

In recent years I’ve been more ruthless donated lots of my books to the charity shop or friends. Novels I read once and didn’t enjoy,books that I don’t need anymore (7000 baby names) and things that I just won’t look at again. These have been replaced with numerous cookery and craft books, replacing the fictional world with factual things.

When bigR was born something amazing happened. I stopped reading. Gone was the 2 books a week rapacious reader and in its place? Nothing. I don’t even know what I did with the time (apart from looking after a baby but you know what I mean). After a year, I started reading again, slowly, maybe a book every other month if I was lucky. 

Then, suddenly, there was a change and I can only attribute it to one thing. I received a kindle as a birthday gift. Now I never thought I would like an e-reader. I like the feel of the novel in your hand, the smell of the pages, searching out the book in a book shop but the kindle has been a revelation to me. I can have a huge number of books with me at any time and since Christmas when I received a kindle with an inbuilt light I can read in the dark – (that would’ve been amazing during night feeds!!)  My only bugbear is that you can only get books via amazon but there are plenty of self-publishing authors that way so maybe it balances out?

Initially, via Leanne, and then Christina and Sarah, I found the reading link up at Circle of Pines.

So this month I’m going against my usual trait and becoming a joiner. I’ll be reading The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion and The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt. (When I’ve worked out how to add myself to the links I will!!) I’m looking forward to finding lots of new books to enjoy.

Pottering and a surprise

We have been home for a week now. There’s a familiar pattern to the days, partially driven by LittleR’s routine and partially by BigR’s time at nursery.

I’ve spent the last couple of days pottering around; searching out some frames for some photos I will get printed, gathering the necessary supplies for my embroidery project, starting a ‘quick’ knitting project which wasn’t on my list, clearing out magazines and papers clipped from magazines/newspapers/other bits (yes, I quite enjoy this, but not the tidying of official paperwork). This has been interspersed with the more necessary domestic duties – a supermarket shop, picking up countless toys and washing sandy/muddy nursery clothing, I’m sure it’s only my child that gets this filthy. I do like a bit of pottering. The ABO went into the loft and retrieved some of BigR's old toys and books for LittleR. He also put up some pictures for LittleRs room that have been sat waiting for a hook for too many months. It felt good to do those small jobs.

The ABO is away  at the moment so I could fall into a spell of eating badly, of ‘not looking after myself in the way I should’. Sometimes this is good. Just to have some toast for tea with the children and then feasting on chocolate later...we all need that sometimes...Generally I am good at preparing food for myself. I like to think of this as a creative activity and I know it's important to look after myself so i can look after the girls. It's fortunate my children will eat a wide variety of things so we often all eat the same meals. What I craved this week has been something hearty and something that perhaps the girls' wouldn't eat. I took inspiration from Sarah’s blog and made chickpea and chorizo stew. I had all the things I needed in the house (onion, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, and paprika) so it was a winning situation. It was even better a day later...

 

After a day which included a ginormous supermarket shop with a slightly snuffly child I came home to a beautiful surprise.

 

I love gerberas!

The long time no blog 10 things

:: Well, it's been a while. Too long really. I've not been writing my own blog but loving the blogs of others. Some favourites will appear in my blogroll eventually. New to me blogs and old blogs have been in my feed. I still love the list writer's blog and found myself looking through her archives the other evening. This simple activity reminded me of the fact that I indeed did once write my own 10 things post and that maybe I should again.

:: My major creative project of 2012 turned out to be growing baby no.2 (from here on known as LittleR). She made her appearance in mid January 10 days after her Daddy (the ABO) had broken his ankle playing 5-a-side football and 24 hours before a major dumping of snow making crutches, taxis and general getting about difficult.

:: BigR took to her immediately and LittleR reciprocated...although now even I am bored of the phrases "leave her alone" and "you're being too rough".

:: We've all spent a lot of my maternity leave in Italy as the ABO has been based there since summer 2012. It hasn't been the easiest time as he's not happy in his work there. At least this summer we've had the flexibility of being able to spend some months there as a family making his commute less arduous.

:: There is an upside. I've been here and seen this. I've also enjoyed copious amounts of gelato, the best pizza in the universe, coffee and sunshine.

:: We go again for our last trip this Friday. We'll be there for 3 weeks. when we return home I'm expecting Autumn to be in full swing. I really love this time of year. For me it is the time of freshly sharpened pencils, the time when I make resolutions, shake myself up and try out new things. So I'm trying my hand at blogging again. I'm making embroidery plans. I'm cooking and planning. All to be realised later in October.

:: I've cleared out cupboards and drawers and given a ridiculous amount of hoarded things that "I might just need that one day" to the RSPCA shop. This brings me a great sense of wellbeing and smugness. Next is to go through the loft and decide if the baby things are to go.

:: We went for a day out here. I love coming here, there's always something new to see and you can really appreciate the changing seasons. I always wish I'd brought a better camera with me than just using my phone camera. Maybe 2014 is where I should work on the photography?

:: When will I have time for photography? I'm due to return to work in January 2014. With annual leave I will have had over a year away from academia. I'm a bit nervous. One of my closest colleagues will be on maternity leave and there have been other big changes in the office which I've been (so far) able to ignore. I'm also thinking that September is too soon to be thinking about this.

:: Along side this realisation, comes the fact that the paper I was writing before BigR was born in 2009 has been rejected and is due to be worked in 2014. So, I joked that I would have 2 children before it's published and now it's a truth!!

Ten things

One of my favourite blogs ever is by The List Writer.I love this element of her blog and so will attempt my own clumsy yet earnest version.

:: In the fridge is another first - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's pizza dough for tomorrow's dinner.

:: And also The Quince Tree's tomato sauce. Very simple: tomatoes, onion, garlic and butter. An hour on the hob. Yum!

:: The beautiful heady scent of the lillies first thing in the morning.

:: Am loving David Nicholl's "The Understudy". Yes I was one of those who could not stop talking about One Day.

:: I am finally looking forward to finishing the paper I am writing. it's been a true labour of love since before R was born (2009). At least I can forget about it. Until it is critiqued by the reviewers. Read this as slated by the reviewers. It's OK. Academics develop thick skins.

:: And a razor sharp disregard for other people's opinions.

:: Ooh ooh ooh. I may have found "The.Dress"...or maybe I haven't...we'll see if it fits.

:: Am looking forward to catching up with old friends at the weekend. It's been ages since we got together. I shall be donning my Santa outfit. Yes it's been that long.

:: An email from another friend letting my know she's ok. I was worried. At least she's managing.

:: Am loving the washi tape on papermash. I want them all!!