remembering

Not a single day has passed in the last six years that I haven't thought of him, spoken of him, remembered him, missed him
...

my Daddy.

x

sweets for my sweets

Super simple Lemon Cake - sweety, tarty, syrupy, citrusy yumminess!

No beating, no creaming, one bowl, works every time, all store cupboard items - except for the thrifty lemons from the oppe shoppe on Friday morning.

Greg says it tastes just like his 'Babcia's' lemon cake - I'm quite sure it doesn't taste as nice as hers, but it was kind of him to say so.

P.s. There is only one piece left.

lemon

who knew there was such fun to be had with a thrifty lemon

ooh baby baby

A little pile of goodies for a new baby boy who will shortly meet the world.

Bibs - check
Taggie - check
Teether rattle - check
All ready for 'delivery'.

E

guest post

Project Runway here we come...

"I made this for Flossy - because I think she'll adore it!"

Tigs has asked me to do the typing because he was too 'mbarrassed to do it himself.
"Mummy teached me how to use her sewing macheem on the weekend.  I made a pic-cha for Flossy.  I didn't do fabric for the grass because the waves on the fabric were too wavy and not really like grass.  It was fun to do the sewing.  I think Flossy will like it. Thank you, from T"

Following Tiggy's request to learn to sew I had to rapidly come up with an activity that would be interesting, manageable and incorporate a number of skills he already has as well as introducing this new and very complex one!

He's super good at drawing, pasting & cutting. He's imaginative and he's great at following instructions (massive disclaimer here - when he wants to!). That in mind I asked him to grab some card stock and a pencil and create a drawing of anything he liked. In the meantime I got out my scrap bag, a pair of small, sharp scissors and a glue stick. When Tigs was happy with his drawing he spent a long time sifting through the scraps, carefully selecting the pieces, trimming them to size and sticking them in place.

When he's finished this he was ready to embark on his first machine made piece.

I had to elevate the foot on a little chair under the table and showed him how to rest his heel on the seat and the sole of his foot lightly placed on the pedal ready to sew.

I sat behind him on the chair and assisted, as much as he'd allow.

We ended up with some confusion over the pedal and the presser foot as I kept telling him to lift or lower the foot (meaning the presser foot) and he'd blast off on the other foot ( the pedal!). I stayed very calm and pushed aside the visions of little fingers slipping under the needle ...

I told Tigs, that Flossy would probably love it so much she'd want to frame it. Within a few seconds of her gasping with pleasure she told Tiggy she would indeed like to frame it to keep it safe forever. If you could have seen his dear little face light up with pleasure and humble pride your heart would have swelled almost to bursting, just like mine did, I think Flossy's did too.

If you'd like to leave a message for Tigs, which would thrill him to bits,  I'll be sure to pass it on.  He's waiting for your feedback ...  :)

serenity

Inhale deeply - Mmmmmmm ...

Exhale - Hmmmmmmmm...

Repeat.

Allow yourself to think of a place where you are comfortable and relaxed.

Good.

Now, let your mind find a place that is warm in the sun, with crisp, fresh morning to fill your lungs.

"Hows the serenity? So much serenity!"

This was my 'serenity' today.  Yours?

Back soon with a guest post...

E x

old + new

We had a day off school yesterday - and today! Both Tigs and I are revelling in it. He only swapped jim-jams for clothes because Jess came over. I suspect he'll not bother at all today. We love jammie days.

The perfect chance to sloth around and sew, the sewing being a completely luxurious activity on a lazy day! I made the covers on the left quite some time ago. Maybe a couple of years now. They were always a little baggy, which was fine and gave the very structured sofa a more worn in and relaxed feel, or so I told myself anyway.

At the beginning of summer I bought this beautiful creamy white wool/rayon (I think) at an end of winter sale. I knew it would have to sit out the summer until it became something other than fabric! It feels so soft and snugly and I just loved the selvedge too much to hide it away as a hem so it forms the hem and has now become the front of the cushion! I don't think you can see the super gentle herringbone pattern that is woven into the fabric. The fabric could prove to be a complete disaster with the children and it may even pill - perish the thought - so they could change again quite soon, but in the meantime I'm loving their calm, crisp, cosy wintry feel. There are 4 other cushions around here that are about to receive the same treatment...

The perfect accompaniment to a happy, no-school jammie day. Tigs is their biggest fan!