Sunday 7 July 2013

A Blanket for Child #1

Child #1 had requested a blanket a few times, especially when I did any work on the knitted blanket for child #2. Felling a bit guilty that I hadn't done anything towards it yet I loaded up the blog of a great blanket maker and told Child #1 to have a look for one she liked but remember that we use whatever colours she wanted. After about 3 or 4 minutes (! it takes me hours to decide) she showed me this one: Pink Dasies

Whilst I don't love it, I was still happy to make it for her. I asked her about colours and she said 'make it with baby pinks and blues and things'. I was even less impressed now. Tentatively, last Sunday I decided to find some scraps in the 'right colours' and make a couple of sample squares for her to pick from. I made one that was yellow and white in the centre, and then baby pink, and then pale blue. Then I made another but switched the pink and blue around. They were awful. So I made another. just like the blanket she picked but just with shades of blue instead of the pink. I loved it. I hoped so much that she would too. True to my word I presented the ones with pink and blue in. Then I held up the ones with only blue. She smiled, and said 'yeah, that's way nicer' PHEW!!!

So before she could change her mind, I made another 3 and joined them all together!... 


She loves it too. 

So, I had a quick go at guessing how big I should make it and I was thinking that 9 by 9 would be a good size. So that's 81 squares. Not too bad really. A little later I was sat in the kitchen while she was sorting washing (!) and casually asked 'So how big do you want this blanket then?' 

'Not too big" she said. 

Hmmm....I just love subjective answers don't you?? "Ok, but how big is 'not too big' then?" I fetched the sofa ripple blanket that I finished last year. "This big?"

She looked, head tilted, "About 2 squares bigger."

I measured against the squares I had already done. 12 x 12 then. 144 SQUARES then!!! Wow.

I got going a bit faster!


I'm still going now. For some time.

Thursday 4 July 2013

More food...

Despite what you may think, I have not given up on the whole cooking project. Last weekend I made this...


That's Green Bean and Beetroot Cous Cous for those that can't tell by looking (!). I made LOADS and consequently it was in the fridge for AGES! We had it for lunch on Saturday, and sunday with some boiled eggs, and at work on monday with some more eggs and also at work on Tuesday because it was still in the fridge and it just needed using up!

That wasn't the best cooking I cooked at the weekend though. I also made these....!!!


Yep. Proper American pancakes, with real maple syrup (and Onken Vanilla yoghurt). Those were quite early ones hence the shape. I got better at them...


Ha! Loads of 'em. Obviously we didn't eat them all. 10 of them have been placed carefully in the freezer for another American Breakfast day. They were delicious!

Hungry now? :-)

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Manley Mere

Finally got around to writing a post. It's been on the list since the weekend. I have a couple of posts to write but today I am starting with Manley Mere. This is where we went on Saturday. I'd never heard of the place until a friend invited us to a joint birthday party there last weekend. Manley mere is a mixture of things, all of which you can read about on their website. The birthday party was starting at 7pm but all guests were invited to arrive before 4pm if they wanted, and experience the adventure trail. I googled this and it looked a little like the 'Crocky Trail' (I will take you there another day) but the pictures suggested is wasn't quite as good. Never to miss a free opportunity we thought that, as it was free, we may as well.

Now both Manley Mere and the Crocky Trail are essentially woodland based walks, along which contain obstacles made from disused agricultural apparatus. They both come with warnings that you are to use them with caution and 'at your own risk'. Yeah yeah. Well...Manley Mere is certainly not a lesser version of the Crocky Trail. It turned out to be something way more fun. Unfortunately, owing to the fact that we had to attend a 'do' almost straight after the trail, we had to limit how far we took things on the trail. We have, however, planned to return in the summer holidays when we can do it all 'properly'. These are the pictures...






















































We sooooo can't wait to go back!!