Today wasn't any sort of anniversary, birthday or cause to mark his birth. We just had a tricky day today, is all. But we hoped and wished and longed for him for so long - I feel like I should have been better prepared for this parenting gig. But, whew! It is hard work.
Tomorrow I'll be better, a kinder, more fun version of me.
Just look at how excited (and nervous) we were to be meeting him for the first time!
I'll be better tomorrow.
Chat soon xo
13 February, 2013
08 February, 2013
baking with kids: schiaccata
My boys love to bake. Who could blame them, especially when there are always treats at the end?
Today we outdid ourselves - we made dough, people! This takes time to rise, knead (read: waiting) - something I didn't think my boys would tolerate. But there you have it, they're full of surprises.
Determined to use the grapes slowly getting softer in the fridge, today we made Schiaccata, using Ian Parmenter's original recipe from his book L Plates. It's like a sweet grape sandwich pizza. But this doesn't sound very appetising, does it? Probably better to just look at the pictures, really.
This was pretty simple to make, but we would adjust some of the ingredients next time. Interestingly, Ian has since appeared on a number of ABC programs, radio and telly, and has altered the recipe . I think these changes (increasing ratio of grape to dough, increasing flour in the dough), are fairly much in line with our experience.
Our dough at first was more like goo, and required a LOT of extra flour to be added in the kneading stage. Thankfully my dad assured The Gherkin over the phone that all was not lost, or I may have just chalked this one up to a sensory experience for the boys, and an important life lesson about baking...
But in the end, our resulting schiaccata was a hit, scoring a five out of five on The Gherkin's scale (where 1 = this is terrible, and 5 = this is the best thing I have ever eaten). Little Pickle was also impressed, but just as happy with the honey mixed through natural yoghurt. Not sure if there was more in his mouth or on his clothes, bless him!
I feel like I may be slowly getting toward one of my new years resolutions - to bake bread without a breadmaker. One success with yeast under my belt, and the year only young, I may bake a loaf of bread yet...
Chat soon xx
07 February, 2013
addictions, collections and moral dilemmas
Well, hello!
My name is Hannah. Did you know that already?
I am coming clean today. You see, I have an addiction... ah, a collection. Well, let's be fair, a couple, but I'm not talking about the fabric stash kind. I'm talking about vintage books. Vintage childrens' picture books in particular. It's all about the illustrations, which I just love.
Illustrations like these:
I see these books, and I just can't stop myself. Perfect condition, drawn in, split spine, completely and utterly falling apart - if they have illustrations I find quirky, funny, really just so ugly I am amazed they ever got published, or beautiful, they're popped in my handmade tote, coin purse lightened and off I go. To the next op (thrift) shop.
[Sigh.]
So I was looking at some of these in less than fabulous condition the other night, and thought I might need to take out a page and frame it for my boys. But it does feel wrong to extract a page from a book. Particularly one that has had at least one previous owner - I almost feel as though the book is just on loan.
But this would look gorgeous on the boys' wall, wouldn't it?
What do you think? Is it criminal to tear pages from a book? Or ease pages from a split spine? Or slide out a page wedged between other loose pages? Is this why colour copying and printing were invented?
These are the dilemmas I ponder when everyone else (hubby included) is in bed. Perhaps I need something to do, like folding some washing. There is plenty of that.
Chat soon xx
ps. i'm playing along with a month of home - are you?
15 January, 2013
a month of moments - late (late)
Pregnant again (that is, last year, not again-again!), I wanted to make a place to welcome our newest family member. I knew he was going to be boy number three, but still wanted a space that was not too boyish, that was, well, lovely to be in. So, months of pinning images of other nurseries, lights, crochet works etc all resulted in this:
It's not a classic boy room but I love it for my wee pickle. Love the Helen Dardik print that ties all the colours in the room together and makes it fun. The other two prints we have in the room are also etsy finds, from seven star and nevertheless. Oh! and we also have a typography-style print designed by my very talented designy sis in law, with all of baby pickles' vital statistics.
[Oh, and of course my beautiful Billee the oobee by Leslie Keating - Billee has now been a very special companion for all three of our baby boys].
I was going to post this on the thirteenth for a month of - late, but I am, well, running late. You see, the mobile/lampshade is still incomplete - I still have to rethread the crochet motifs onto that magical invisible quilting thread, and have about another dozen that need threading. Oh, and the mat. Still unfinished - I have the binding half done... nearly there! Whilst searching for the binding I found some pre-cut baby short pieces on my wip pile for little pickle (now two) - if I sew these this week they may just fit baby pickle.
It seems that not only can I not complete my crafty projects on time, I also can't blog about them on time! Anyone else out there guilty of the same crime?
Perhaps an appropriate crime though for a post titled "late"... ;)
Chat soon xo
03 January, 2013
a month of moments - sweet
Hello again!
Three days in and still posting! How long is it that they say it takes to form a habit? Another day into the month of moments - I am starting to get out and about and read about your moments too - thanks for sharing!
Not sure if I have mentioned it here before, but The Gherkin has anaphylaxis for nuts. It's pretty common now, so I won't go into details about what it is etc (you can get some really good, reliable, Australian information here), but if he comes into physical contact with nuts he gets severe hives, and if he eats nuts his airways would close. Yes, we have an epipen. Thankfully, he has never eaten nuts. Partly due to very good luck, and partly due to overly conservative parenting - we have not only avoided food with nuts, but also those that may contain traces of nuts, and those manufactured in a plant that also processes nuts.
This means that our Gherkin has never eaten chocolate. Or icecream. Nor has Little Pickle. Imagine his/their delight then, when last week I found some completely nut-free chocolate, and took it home as a treat.
Suh-weeet!
Chat soon xx
Three days in and still posting! How long is it that they say it takes to form a habit? Another day into the month of moments - I am starting to get out and about and read about your moments too - thanks for sharing!
Not sure if I have mentioned it here before, but The Gherkin has anaphylaxis for nuts. It's pretty common now, so I won't go into details about what it is etc (you can get some really good, reliable, Australian information here), but if he comes into physical contact with nuts he gets severe hives, and if he eats nuts his airways would close. Yes, we have an epipen. Thankfully, he has never eaten nuts. Partly due to very good luck, and partly due to overly conservative parenting - we have not only avoided food with nuts, but also those that may contain traces of nuts, and those manufactured in a plant that also processes nuts.
This means that our Gherkin has never eaten chocolate. Or icecream. Nor has Little Pickle. Imagine his/their delight then, when last week I found some completely nut-free chocolate, and took it home as a treat.
Suh-weeet!
Chat soon xx
02 January, 2013
a month of moments - sleepy
Hi again!
Taking inspiration from the month of moments, here is my post for "sleepy".
This little stitchy thing was one of my very first, and I did it last year when I was spending a ridiculous amount of time commuting to work. Yep! Did this on the train. As my first attempt, I was determined not to buy any new threads, and just use what I had. I remember when one of my friend's husbands asked me why I was stitching a dead rabbit, to which I responded, if the rabbit was dead I would have done this for eyes X X. Now I look back on it, I would probably add eyelashes. Sadly, in a family jam-packed full of boys, there was no use for it after it was finished (too much pink), so it has been relegated to the "one day this might be good to use for something" box.
We have a terrible time with bedtime here. With a two and three quarters year old and four and a half year old sharing a room, nights can either be very lovely, with bedtime stories, lullabies, cuddles, and just so much sweetness, or completely chaotic with tantrums, screaming and, yes, poo jokes. We have a pretty standard routine, which involves my reading the same book last before lights out, and then followed by two songs. Sadly though, this is often not enough. Tonight though, was a Good Night.
Cowboys and cowgirls, sweet dreams in the hay, til you saddle the sun and ride into the day.
Goodnight.
(from Lasso the Moon - our favourite night time golden book - always read last).
Chat soon xx
Taking inspiration from the month of moments, here is my post for "sleepy".
This little stitchy thing was one of my very first, and I did it last year when I was spending a ridiculous amount of time commuting to work. Yep! Did this on the train. As my first attempt, I was determined not to buy any new threads, and just use what I had. I remember when one of my friend's husbands asked me why I was stitching a dead rabbit, to which I responded, if the rabbit was dead I would have done this for eyes X X. Now I look back on it, I would probably add eyelashes. Sadly, in a family jam-packed full of boys, there was no use for it after it was finished (too much pink), so it has been relegated to the "one day this might be good to use for something" box.
We have a terrible time with bedtime here. With a two and three quarters year old and four and a half year old sharing a room, nights can either be very lovely, with bedtime stories, lullabies, cuddles, and just so much sweetness, or completely chaotic with tantrums, screaming and, yes, poo jokes. We have a pretty standard routine, which involves my reading the same book last before lights out, and then followed by two songs. Sadly though, this is often not enough. Tonight though, was a Good Night.
Cowboys and cowgirls, sweet dreams in the hay, til you saddle the sun and ride into the day.
Goodnight.
(from Lasso the Moon - our favourite night time golden book - always read last).
Chat soon xx
01 January, 2013
a month of moments - brand new
Happy New Year! And here's wishing you only the best for 2013 - love, laughter and new adventures.
After way too much quiet, I have decided to try just one more time, to revive this blog. I miss summer pickles, and the crafty goodness and inspiration that I used to enjoy through this blog, and your company.
So, thanks to the gals at justb, I am going to join in on the month of moments. I am hoping it will get me into bloggy habits I can continue for the year. You can find out more about the month of moments here.
Very predictably, the photo above is my post for "brand new".
Chat soon xx
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