Tuesday 19 June 2018

Signs of spring?!

It's finished!  It's finished!  I finally completed my Posy Cardigan which Ravelry tells me I started on the 3rd of April.  I'm so happy to have it out of the basket.  And I'm (predictably) really happy with the result. 




Of course there is the odd mistake so that you know it's handmade.  And I know I shouldn't point them out but...

Grrrr
I had so much trouble with those diamonds you guys.  I had to rip back so many times.

How did I not notice that this was going awry??
Anyway.  It's done.  Raveled here.  Next!

The rest of the news today is perplexing and exciting all at once.  If we're friends on Instagram or Facebook you would already know: we have lambs!  Twin lambs!

The poor mother had been creeping around the paddock for a week with a huge belly and the fullest udder you've ever seen.  Every morning I looked out the window expecting to see a tiny bundle beside her.

Then one afternoon we were moving some fallen tree branches in the paddock and B said that she was lying down as he drove past and didn't get up.  Then he suddenly realised that she had a tiny lamb there with her - so new it wasn't even on its feet yet.

It was so magical and exciting watching her gently cleaning and nuzzling her baby and then nudging it onto its feet.  Her tummy was still pretty big but we didn't see any more babies before dark so we assumed she was done.


Then the next morning I looked out the window to check how they were doing and... is that... that looks like... TWINS!


They are SO CUTE.  I'm dying.  I look out the window about 40,000 times per day.  I'm trying to only go out there once or twice a day, and not get too close, but it's really hard.  They are adorable!!  We had about 36 hours of seriously wet and stormy weather straight after they were born which was almost more than my nerves could take.

But she is an excellent mother and very protective.  One of the lambs mistakenly wobbled over to the ram who gave it a bunt with his head and that mother was up and between the two of them in a flash.  She's also given me a warning when I've got a bit too close.  Ok fine.


So we have lambs and as I was walking back to the house I realised the daffodils in the paddocks are up.  Some have flowers on them already.


Yes chookies, you're very photogenic too.



And I see my jonquils are already flowering beside the house!  What month is this?

I must tell B that we need to paint the house a darker colour as the white is a disaster for photography. 
He'll totally understand
Last of all, something for the "things I want to remember" file, J has been coming out with the sweetest little comments.  In between the threenager attitude from hell that is.

Here are a few examples from the last couple of weeks:

  1. We were driving to the park on a sunny day and out of nowhere she piped up, "We're so lucky aren't we Mummy?".  I NEARLY DIED.  "Yes honey, we really are".
  2. Having breakfast together as a family on the weekend she was tucking into her food saying, "Oh, yum!  Delicious!" then looked over at my plate and said, "Your breakfast looks lovely too Mummy!"
  3. Then this morning I was getting A dressed and J says, "That's a nice top.  I love your top, A!"
See what I mean?!  Scrumptious.








Tuesday 12 June 2018

Frost, knitting, and headache-inducing things

Having just come back from a swimming lesson with A, I'm going to go right ahead here and say that the true sacrifice of parenting isn't loss of sleep, or body autonomy, or lifestyle, but getting out of the pool on an 11 degree day and dressing your child first.

Just saying.



In related news, we had our first frost on the last day of May.  It's definitely less of a novelty to me than it was last winter, but I still nipped outside in my jammies to take a couple of photos.



Seeing the sun rise on the mountain will always be a novelty and a thrill.


It's been a while since I updated you on my knitting!  If this is the most boring topic imaginable to you, you might want to skip the next little bit...

The project I was working on had ground to a complete halt waiting for the needles to be restocked at my local knitting shop.  Then finally I got the needles and promptly snapped one as soon as I went to wind it onto the cable.  But things are now ticking along and I'm only a couple of inches from the end.

I cast on this little cardigan thinking I needed a nice quick project but it's turned out to be one of my longest, and most challenging.  I had to learn to knit from a chart and had many, I'll say it again, many struggles with the lacework.  I got there in the end and I now feel very confident reading a chart but man.  Did I get furious with myself there for a while.


Then it came time to do the sleeves and I'd heard about this so-called "magic loop" method which meant no double-pointed needles.  So me being me of course I had to have a go at that.  I don't actually mind DPNs too much, but this pattern has lacework around the cuffs and lace on DPNs is definitely up there in the headache-inducing stakes, for me anyway.  Magic loop took some getting used to but it most certainly is easier than double points and especially easier to do lace on a magic loop.

So those are two new knitting skills I can tick off - charts and magic loop.  And the best part is that I will not have to sew up a single seam on this garment.  Insert muppet arms here.

Next up, because I do still need a quick and easy project, I'm making a beanie for J.  But because once again I am still me it'll also be my first Fair Isle/stranded colour work project.

Will report back with photos if all goes to plan.  And only if I ever finish the cardigan.  I've made a very strict rule that I am NOT to start the beanie until the cardi is blocked, buttoned and handed over to the recipient.


Big news this week is that J had her first ever sleepover away from both me and B.  She slept at B's mum's place on Saturday night and by all accounts had a ball.  Fish and chips for dinner, big splashy bath, then snuggled up for the night in her very own big girl's bed.

I, however, was totally bereft, looking into her dark little room here at home and even hoping a bit that B's mum would ring to say J was upset and needed to come home.  I know.  What is my DEAL.  This is entirely not the mother I expected to be.



Other, more annoying, news is that apparently we are going to do toilet training again.  Yes, you're right, we did do it six months ago.  It did go really smoothly.  I might have even been a bit smug.  But at some point that I can't remember exactly she put a nappy on, and ended up back in nappies full time.  That has been the case for months now.  I've let it go on so long because I was - WAS - a believer in going with the flow, letting her set the pace, etc etc.  

But... this is pretty rubbish you guys.  We really have to do it all again??  Does this stuff happen to anyone else?  Why does no one tell you these stories?  So I am telling you: go with the flow, but not too much.  Let them set the pace, unless the pace is so slow that it is in fact backwards.  Unless you enjoy the process of toilet training so much that you want to do it more than once.

The sticker chart is back up on the fridge.  The undies are on the bum.  We're on day three.  Wish me luck.

I'll leave you now with some peaceful autumn/winter scenes around the farm.  



There's not many things cuter than a fat little lamb.  The knock-knees get me every time.














Wednesday 6 June 2018

Mrs Woog's Potato Bake

I don't know about you, but generally speaking I'm a sharer.

Admire my ring?  Here, try it on!
Compliment me on my jeans?  Here's where I got them!
Enjoy my cooking?  Let me give you the recipe!



I've never really understood the point of guarding your best recipes, and keeping them a secret.  Why can't we just know all the herbs and spices, KFC?  Share and share alike I say!

As you might have guessed, this is actually leading somewhere which is to tell you that I have the best and only potato bake recipe you will ever need.

I found it years ago from the ever-reliable Mrs Woog (funny name, very funny woman).  And just to be clear, yes, I did get her permission to share it.

Prior to this my potato bakes were pretty unreliable.  Hard uncooked potato, bland, too runny, too dry, too fiddly to make.

So many recipes tried and failed the test.  I just wanted a good simple potato bake.  Finally I gave this one a go and instantly it became the only potato bake recipe I use.  It gets a rave review every single time.  It's basically impossible to stuff it up.

Got your pen ready?



Ingredients
8 large potatoes
600ml cream
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp chicken stock powder
1 cup tasty cheese, grated

Method
Preheat oven to 200C.

Grease a large casserole dish.  Slice the potatoes to approx 0.5cm thick rounds, and arrange in dish in layers, seasoning with salt and pepper every couple of layers.  I don't bother to peel the potatoes because I like the skin and am also lazy, but you do whatever you prefer.

Add the crushed garlic and the stock powder into the tub of cream and shake to combine.  Pour over potatoes.  Season the top with salt and pepper, and dot with butter.  Honestly I often forget to do the butter.  Let's say it's optional.

Cover potato bake with foil - I usually add a layer of baking paper underneath to prevent sticking - and bake covered for one hour.  Remove foil and baking paper, sprinkle with grated cheese and bake for a further 10 minutes.

You're welcome!

Oh, and I also recommend putting the casserole dish onto a baking tray before putting it in the oven.  I've had overflow issues before and no amount of potato bake can compensate you for having to scrub molten cheese off the bottom of the oven.



Are you a recipe sharer or do you prefer to keep the goodness to yourself?  Didn't your parents teach you to share?  Just kidding!