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Maisie is a dab hand in the kitchen but has recently been finding other teenage things more alluring. Last week I decided to rectify the situation and have her cook our evening meal.
I told her she could make anything she wanted. I just bought what she told me to and left her to it.
Mascarpone chicken with roasted vine tomatoes on a bed of red pesto potatoes.
Like I said the girl can cook!
Her presentation is pretty good too.
Of course she'll be cooking more often. It was delicious!
Nearly 40 years ago a very cute little boy was born.
His name was Patrick (Paddy to those who know him well)
17 years later he met me.
17 years ago he married me.
What a lucky girl I am that he chose me.
On Sunday I was pottering in the garden and noticed that the potato plants growing in my compost were in flower. A beautiful little pink flower with a yellow centre.I remember thinking I should take my camera and get a photo.They really prettied the compost bin up even if they shouldn't have been there.
Roll on a few hours and Lily and her Grandad were taking the kitchen waste to the compost.They came back to tell me they had sorted the plants out growing in the compost bin!
Apparently my face said I wasn't exactly pleased with their efficiency and Lily disappeared. Half and hour or so later she came into the kitchen with this lovely bouquet of 'weeds' but seriously who could call these weeds? Beautiful potato flowers, clover, buttercups, wild poppies, rosebay willow herb, daisies, chives and grass with a winter pansy thrown in for good measure. Beautiful I tell you.
Today has been a sad day. Maisie has a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award expedition today which meant setting off at 6.30am for an hours drive to Flagg. As we pulled off the drive I noticed our cat Stanley laying on the pavement. At first I thought he was asleep in the morning sun but soon realised that he must have been run over and died. Of course the girls are heartbroken. Pets become such a part of the family that when they go their loss is so noticeable.
So a sad start to the day and then at midday I was reminded of the date. 19th June. The day 25 years ago that my dad died. This year is particularly poignant as Lily is 15 the age I was when he died. The thought of her losing her father now would break my heart. To be fair I think it broke mine way back then. The pieces are all stuck back together again and the pain mostly gone. Except for some days like today where is a dull feeling of losing something important. Something very special. Life's lessons can be cruel sometimes.
Everytime I have been to my favourite charity shop for the last 5yrs or so there has been a big box of vintage Puffin and Penguin books.All glorious in beautiful colours their spines looking like a colourful barcode.I have enjoyed browsing through them and picking a few now and then.Ones with unusual titles or familiar favourites.I thought I had the luxury of time to build my collection because they have always been there.Would always be there.
Now they are gone.I cannot believe it and do not know where they have gone to.The lovely volunteer in charge of the books was not there to ask. I am hoping that they have been temporarily mis-placed and will be returned for my next visit.
I wonder though whether Debbie has been and bought them all.I know she has a penchant for old Puffins and Penguins.
Did you know I had a birthday whilst we were 'stuck' in Florida back in April? Well I did and it was a big birthday apparently. I was 40. Unfortunately I never got to experience the lovely day my sisters and friends had planned for me but I did get to spend the day with my favourite 5 people in the world.
We visited Homosassa Wildlife Park we got to see Manatees. Great big,graceful,ugly,beautiful Manatees who munch on lettuce all day and exude a sense of calm like no other animal I've ever seen.
I had cake and champagne and had happy birthday sung to me.
I didn't make a wish as I blew those candles out because I didn't need to.I have everything I could possibly wish for right here in this less than perfect life of mine. I just need to remember that sometimes when days are hard.
So it was a perfect day even if I was miles away from my family,even though I missed out on the celebrations,even when number 2 child sulked on my birthday photo because I wouldn't let her keep her sunglasses on.Yes even then.In fact especially then because now I have a memory to hold tight.A memory that in my later years will bring a smile to my face. Now that's some birthday present.
Yesterday's post got me thinking of other childhood toys I remember.One of them was a Fisher Price dog that you could pull along and as you did it made a noise. I remember getting into trouble by an old gentlemen who mistakenly thought I was dragging a real dog along and not very gently. As a timid little soul I was mortified but luckily my dad thought it was hilarious and made me smile.
via Vintage Goodness
I'm going to add him to my thrifty wish list.
Is there any toy you vividly remember from your childhood?
Whilst scanning some old photos I came across this one of me aged about 7 months. Got to say I love that cot bumper...Mum why didn't you keep it?!
It got me thinking about childhood toys and the memories they conjure up. See that white bear on the right with the polka dot bow? My Auntie Kath bought me that along with a white rabbit. We were inseparable back then and still are today really.
They might not sleep with me every night anymore but I do see them every bedtime. They are displayed in IKEA box frames at the top of the attic stairs,just outside the little girls bedroom.
I treated them to a little vintage wallpaper because they deserve it. I smile everytime I see them and they hold such sweet memories.
I wonder which toys will hold the same charm for my girls when they are my age?
You guys sure know how make a girl feel good. Don't worry I don't intend to stop blogging. I just intend to blog about want I want to without worry about whether people will be interested.
As a little thank you here is some of my favourite Flickr eye candy at the minute. Enjoy. Don't forget if you like the image go tell the owner and make their day.
1. Kitchenwindow., 2. Turner Pocock Wallpaper, 3. House Doctor, 4. Bookshelf, 5. Die Küche. Danach., 6. Bohemian, Folk, Ethnique..., 7. Desperately Seeking Songbird, 8. Untitled, 9. Untitled, 10. Untitled, 11. Untitled, 12. from the garden, 13. grab an apron, 14. Untitled, 15. My new table, 16. new pillow
I eventually got around to connecting Lily's scanner to my laptop yesterday. So I thought it might be fun to upload some pre-digital photos of my girls from my pre-blogging days.
I love looking back through old photos as they remind you of all the good things in life.
This is Josie age 1 in our backyard.That summer was our first in this house.Being the 4th child I had no issues with her chubby little knees crawling all over those dirty flagstones.In fact the house was such a building site inside that it was probably safer that way.
Obviously as soon as the camera comes out someone else always wants to get on on the act. Kitty would have been almost three here. No shoes of course. I think my kids have Teflon coated feet sometimes as they almost always choose to go barefoot whenever they can.
I must admit that I've kind of lost my way on the blogging front. To be honest I am finding it very difficult.I started this blog as a record for us as a family but then other people started enjoying it too.I began to love the comments and interaction that led to but recently comments on blogs seem to be dwindling.I don't think it's just mine but across blogland in general. Much more people are 'talking' through Twitter and Facebook etc.I suppose that makes me feel less 'popular' which shouldn't matter but it does. I think I need to get back to blogging for me and my girls just like when I started. So that's what I'm going to do.
