snapshots

we've had a digital camera for such a long time now and somehow it's just become a habit to save any pictures straight to the hard drive. we do have good intentions of printing them out at a later date of course. unfortunately so far we've never managed to get round to doing that. and then as the photos mount up the task becomes, well, a bit overwhelming. but finally action has been taken and we have at last started to print out a few to simply dot around the house. on the fridge and cupboard in the kitchen and in stanley's room. and it is great having these favourite scenes so close by. i often find myself remembering past moments or thinking of a loved one as i walk by a particular image. it's a nice feeling.

sarada x

tregantle in february

we have all been feeling a little under the weather lately, so have not really been up to much. all this lying around feeling sorry for myself got me thinking about a lovely day we had on the beach a few weeks ago. steph went surfing and my boy and i explored in the beautiful sunshine until our hearts were content. it really did not feel like february, it felt like a magical warm early summers day.









i have spent a lot of time dreaming up new projects for this year so now i really need to get a wiggle on and get some of them done.

ambika x

enjoying

my new issue of country living arrived a few days ago. just as we all came down with a tummy bug. we're on the mend now though. i was lucky enough to be given a subscription as a birthday present and i just love dipping in and out of the inspiring pages and day dreaming about my perfect cottage and garden in the countryside. i was very pleased to find a copy of the country diary of an edwardian lady in a charity shop a while ago. so i thought it would be nice to read about each month as it comes along. the illustrations are just so beautiful and make me feel excited about spring.

sarada x

snow fun

Steph just downloaded these lovely pictures form his phone, i just had to share them it was such a great time. the other day i smelt spring in the air but now it is so cold i think we may have more snow.






ambika xx

adventures in bread making

j had the day off today so i had a lovely lie in and was awoken to the smell of freshly baked bread. what a treat. we've both been getting into bread making lately, partly as it is such a great activity for little stan to take part in especially the kneading bit! and of course because the bread tastes so good. so yesterday little stan and his dad mixed and prodded and waited and prodded some more and filled two tins to rise in the fridge overnight following delia's advice in this book. this is such a great thing to do as it means you can just pop the risen loaves in the oven first thing in the morning. so we sat down for breakfast, with our warm bread spread thickly with butter and jam. the crust had just the right crunch and the bread itself was light and slightly chewy. just delicious. this is the first white loaf we've made and it was a real success. i've been experimenting with wholemeal bread using a variety of recipes and adding sunflower seeds and walnuts (my favourite). but they usually end up too dense and heavy, so i'll just have to keep on practising until i find the perfect recipe. that'll keep us in bread for a while at least!

sarada x

a few things from the start of 2010 (and before)

hello again. it's been so long i don't really know where to begin. we had a truly lovely family christmas, i made this print for my mum as her secret santa.


and i received some really beautiful amazing handmade gifts myself, this hand turned bowl and rolling pin, and a lovely hand crafted wooden spoon. i felt incredibly lucky.


christmas was followed by a barrage of fancy dress parties, an 80's new year, a movie star 30th birthday, and another 1920's 30th birthday party. i decided to make a dress for the 1920's party, in hindsight it was a little ambitious but somehow i managed to pull it off, and the dress actually managed to stay together for the whole evening! i forgot to take a photograph which is a shame but i'm sure someone has out there.

we also had some snow which has now gone, and managed to get a little bit of sledging in, our chickens were very bemused by it all.









this is cattyfly (a cat who can fly) he landed on francisco's pillow one night causing much surprise and many tears. after a lengthy discussion, cattyfly has now become a friend and we have been awaiting another visit with much anticipation. i have copied franc's picture and made a toy one for his birthday. This is very organised for me as his birthday is not for a couple of months.

and lastly, check out the size of my parsnip. i dug up this beauty just before christmas. i cant wait to get the garden planted up this year.



ambika x

thank you's

hello again. i/we really didn't mean to take such a long break from blogging. i just can't believe january has been and gone already! after the excitement of christmas and being snowed in for two weeks, we're only just emerging from our hibernation and getting into a routine. tentatively venturing out into the cold world to meet up with old friends. it's nice to be back to some sort of normal.

a month after the event, we only just managed to send out thank you cards for all the presents that my little one got for christmas! he was a lucky boy. we chose a photo from the snowy holidays and then got them printed into postcards. stanley was aware of the whole process and i hope that gradually his input into giving thanks for this kind of occasion will increase.

talking of thanks, my sister and i would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has stopped by here in the last year. we really do appreciate all your comments and hope that you will continue to enjoy visiting us and perhaps get a little bit inspired too.

best wishes to all of you for a great 2010.

sarada x