Capri pants for Lj

Last Autumn I came across some lovely girls cotton summer tops in our local charity shop for age 2. I couldn't resist buying them at just 50p each for Lj. But as I sorted her summer clothes recently I was at a loss as to what she had that she could wear with them as they are lovely colourful prints, one yellows and greens, one pinks and yellows and the other navy and white. I decided she needed some plain capri pants and purchased Emma Hardy's book, Making Children's clothes.Thankfully, I decided to try making a trial pair to make sure I didn't ruin the sky blue cotton which I had chosen. I did not find the instructions easy to follow and had to play around with the pattern but finally I had a pair of yellow capri pants. The second pair in the sky blue fabric I made in a quarter of the time as the pattern was ready and I now understood the instructions! As yet she has not worn the blue ones with one of the tops, I'm keeping them for a warm day when we do something more special than play around in the garden! But hopefully I will remember to photograph her when she is wearing them to show you. I'm sure I will use this pattern again and again now that I have it cracked and my daughter so easily ruins clothes!

Jubilee cape for MJ

On Tuesday MJ arrived home and asked if I had his Jubilee superman cape ready. I said no, that I still had a couple of weeks before he had to dress up in red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee at school. He insisted that his teacher told him it was the following day and I needed to make it straight away. Last weekend, we had discussed whether he would prefer I made him a waistcoat or a super hero cape to dress up in and while at the fabric shop I had purchased some red gingham and royal blue cotton. He choose the super hero cape so I went into full sewing mode that afternoon.

The next morning a super hero cape was ready for first fitting and thankfully didn't need any amendments and could be put straight into his book bag.

His face was priceless as I picked him up from school and asked about whether it was the right day to bring his dressing up...he had been so adamant the night before that his teacher was ALWAYS right.

But no harm was done. We now have the cape ready for next Fridays Jubilee celebrations!

Pyjamas for Lj

Independent Lj no longer wants to wear an all-in-one sleep suit to bed since she discovered a pair of pyjamas in her wardrobe. I think she enjoys being able to pull the trousers and top on herself. However the pyjamas which she found are too large so I thought I would have a go at making her a pair to fit. I knew I had some cotton jersey knit in my stash from a trip to The cheap shop last summer and thought I could use a pattern from Clothes kids love by Nancy Langdon which I also purchased last summer.

I'm so pleased with the results for two reasons...
:: I have never sewn with a jersey before so was a little unsure of how it would hem etc
:: It was the first time I had used a pattern from 'Clothes kids love', as previously I have looked at and loved the clothes in this book but felt to daunted to try making them myself.

The turquoise sleeves were not in the original plan but I ran out of fabric and thankfully had an old top in the fabric bag which I could cut up and use.

Lj seems to like her new pj's too!

Cake a month:: Rhubarb Crumble Muffins

 May :: Rhubarb Crumble Muffins from bbc good food.

Somehow April slipped by me (I'm sure I didn't go a whole month without making cake...oh I did try date bars but have no photographic evidence...they were good too!) and I missed taking a cake to yesterday's Craft and Coffee meet but in the afternoon MJ and I decided to try using up our glut of rhubarb to make muffins. I had done some research as I lay in bed the night before and came up with this one from the bbc good food website. As we had no muffin cases but plenty of smaller ones we made twice the number and they didn't take so long to cook...therefore they were ready just in time for desert.

MJ was a great help. He chopped up the rhubarb and mixed it in sugar, made the crumble mixture and set out the bun cases.

It is a super recipe to do with the kids as it is quick and straight forward and doesn't take long to cook in the oven.

 

The results were just as good as we had hoped and I don't think they will hang around for long. I would like to try them in muffin size as they are so good you want a bigger one. Lj doesn't seem so keen on them but I am discovering that she is a little more picky than MJ with food. She also refused to get her rice at dinner time and even if one grain found its way in her mouth she was trying to pull it out. Mind you she did eat a little bowl of frozen peas before dinner so she can't be so fussy!

So, if like us your rhubarb has enjoyed all the rain of late and you can't face another rhubarb crumble...try these...they get 10/10 from us!

May bank holiday weekend

 We had been looking forward to this weekend for a few months. The first bank holiday weekend in May is normally sunny and warm but not this one! We considered cancelling our camping plans and stay at home but as it was a special birthday weekend for our friend we felt we should make an effort and give it a go. As a family we love camping so there would have been much disappointment had we not made it.

On Saturday we met up with our friends and spent the day at Thetford forest. It was a fun day and warm enough to enjoy a picnic, although we were dressed in multi layers and coats. Some of the adults tried having a go on Segways while the kids played in the park. There was also a sculpture trail which we followed and 'Go Ape' which we viewed from ground level. (M is already planning a return visit so he can try out 'Go Ape' for himself).

As the rain came on we decided to make a move towards our campsite to set up camp.

Dressed in 13 items of clothing I went to bed but unfortunately didn't sleep much and got up every hour to move around and warm up. Although I felt comfortable I was anxious that the kids were feeling the cold and therefore I could not relax to sleep. It was a disturbed night for us all as temperatures went as low as 1oC. Interestingly our friends in the tent beside us slept soundly all night and one was dressed in just pj's!

On Sunday morning we decided that one night was enough and packed up camp, happy to try again in warmer weather. We visited a local RSPB reserve at Lakenheath, followed by coffee and cake before returning home, happy but tired!

We ate out a lot this weekend so did lots of 'waiting for food to arrive' entertaining. Picture of boats, rain, umbrellas and sharks!

Today, Monday we spent the morning at the allotment and pulled the largest rhubarb I have ever seen...perhaps they have enjoyed all the rain we have been having! Next we did lunch and a walk along the canal. Mj's obsession with boats continues so he enjoyed watching the canal boats. When the rain came on we helped a couple through the lock gates before heading home for some stewed rhubarb.

All in all, it was not the weekend we had planned but was a very enjoyable and fun one, none the less!

London with little ones #3- V&A

As the masses of children and parents headed to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in London on their Easter holidays we thought we would try a quieter route and go to the V and A Museum. It was still fairly busy but no queuing involved, which was good.

M is studying the Medieaval period in his free time at the moment so he was keen to see the section relating to that. As with all the London museums we knew there would be plenty to interest the kids and again the V and A did not disappoint. MJ and Lj were able to make coin rubbings, learn about casts and moulds in period buildings, understand perspective and dress up.

What surprised me was the exhibit on Marketry. My Grandfather in Law (Opa to us) gave me two beginner Marketry kits for Christmas. Until now I have been feeling a bit daunted by starting them as I know I will have to follow the instructions to do it correctly and well. But seeing the marketry on the furniture in the museum has inspired me to getting going on mine.

Afterwards, we stood out of the shower of rain and had a quiet coffee in the nearby V&A reading room before heading home on the train.

Right here, right now.

Hmm...where are we...I seem to have lost my way in blog land.

This is where I am right now...

considering:: how I can take MJ's passion for building boats, castles, sledges etc etc to the next level without him sawing his finger off.

wondering:: how April seems to have past me by in a haze of every dayness.

hoping:: that our house sale and purchase comes to a positive end soon...before our patience can bear it no longer.

praying:: that M's health improves so he can get doing what he loves to do.

knitting:: a new born cardy for baby Anna.

sewing:: some little dresses for LJ and her little friends.

cadding:: but that is too boring to blog about.

praising:: God, for some wonderful friends who support and encourage me.

enjoying:: my hot chocolate and home made cookie.

planning:: the menu for our camping trip next weekend.

smiling:: as I think of my beautiful red head who is learning a new word and skill every day as she desperately tries to keep up with MJ.

slumping:: as I think of another friend who is moving to a far away land.

singing:: 'rain rain go away'

grinning:: as I have regained my joy in running at 6.30am

yawning:: as my body is tried after a fun day of visiting friends and having friends over to play

thinking:: I have got to get to the bluebell woods before the bluebells have passed for another year.

sleeping:: goodnight all