Update

I have ticked off 2 more of my tasks

52 - Make my Best friend a 3oth Birthday lucky dip. I have been collecting little gifts and wrapping them as I go along. Each is wrapped in different paper so they look very colourful and inviting in the gift bag. The gifts vary jewellerry, make up, silly toys, stationary, lots of fun little items. I am looking forward to giving it to her.

Also I bought my Mum a bunch of flowers on My Birthday last Tuesday. She was very surprised and liked them. She asked what were they for so i told her for having me!

I have been in the garden today pottering around and planting seeds to grow more veggies this year. I enjoyed having them last year.

4th March 2010

Outside my window... A lovely sunny evening
I am thinking...Of my shopping list for tomorrow
I am thankful for...Cuddles with my baby boy
From the kitchen...Lasagne, garlic bread and salad for friends coming round shortly
I am wearing...Jeans, white vest top, 3/4 length pink cardi
I am creating...Easter chicks
I am going...To enjoy my evening with friends
I am reading...Good Housekeeping magazine
I am hoping...My headache clears!
I am hearing...My sons nursery rhyme toy
Around the house...Is in need of a spring clean
One of my favorite things....Sunny Spring Days
A few plans for the rest of the week: Family time at the weekend
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

A lovely poem for Mums!

I Took His Hand and Followed
Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,

I didn't make the bed,

I took his hand and followed

Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,

My little son and I...

Exploring all the great outdoors

Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,

We wandered through a wood...

My kitchen wasn't swept today

But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade

And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest,

Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,

We climbed a sunlit hill...

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,

We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,

That I didn't brush the stairs,

In twenty years, no one on earth

Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy

To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years, the whole wide world

May look and see and know.

Baking

Here is my latest monthly baking task. These lovely Oaty, banana muffins are suitable for both my Diabetic Dad and my 13 month old as they have low sugar and no salt, they are also super healthy because of the fruit and oats!

Ingredients

• 250g plain flour
• 75g Porridge oats
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 100g caster sugar
• 250ml corn or sunflower oil
• 2 medium-ripe bananas, chopped small

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC, fan 160ºC, gas 4. Prepare a mini muffin tin with paper cases or butter and flour the holes.
• Sift the flour, oats and baking powder together. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, caster sugar and oil together until pale and fluffy. Fold this mixture, and bananas, into the flour.
• Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin, about a teaspoon per muffin. Sprinkle the extra oats over and bake for 15 minutes until the muffins have risen and are golden.
• When cooked through, transfer to a rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for three days or freeze individually.

Yummy!

Easter Chicks!

I have started knitting some homemade Easter gifts this week.

They are so easy to make and I have been using up odd balls of wool, although I have ordered some fluffy yellow eyelash yarn to make some more.

The pattern is knitted in one piece of garter stitch.

• Cast on 26 sts.

• Knit 28 rows in Garter stitch

• New Row – K2 tog, all across row.
  

• Break off yarn leaving an end long enough to thread through remaining stitches.

• Pull up remaining 13 stitches tightly and fasten off.

• Stitch with a back seam then thread a running stitch through at this point to form neck.

• Stuff head then pull up thread at neck and fasten off tightly.

• I have used stick on goggle eyes that I had but you could easily just stitch them on. I also used some leftover felt to make beaks.
  

Baking

Today I have been baking cute teddy biscuits for my little boys 1st Birthday on Saturday. The recipe is lovely and easy and I have never had a batch not turn out delicious.

350g plain flour
200g butter
1tsp bicarb
300g sugar
1 egg
1tsp vanilla essence

1. Cream together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla.
2. Add the flour and bicarb, mixing well until it has a doughy texture. You may need to add more flour, see how the mixture looks.
3. Flour your work surface and roll out the dough and use a cutter of your choice or form into little balls.
4. Place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper, allow a little space between each as they do expand a bit. If you made little balls push them onto the tray so they flatten.
5. Bake at 180c for around 10-15 minutes.

My latest batch looked like this:


Perfect for the Teddy Bears picnic!

Snow Day!

I thought I would take advantage of the snowy weather to complete number 59 on my list: Make a snowman.

So here he is!



He is called Simon.