Rubyted

Happy I love you day

2012-02-14T16:14:00.002Z

We don't celebrate it here, but a certain Grandpa couldn't let his favourite little man go without a balloon! Little man was beyond excited!

Tiffin and a Thank you!

2012-01-29T16:30:00.001Z

I had a very simple request from the little man today. "Can we make some Tippin, pLeAaaaaaaSe Mummy?" Well, who am I to quash the desires of such a small, polite little person?! Nuh-uh! Not me!

So I ~~sighed~~ (Did I heck?!) leapt to my feet and practically ran to the cupboard to see if we had all the ingredients needed. We were in luck! (I could stay in my pyjamas a little while longer!)

I love, LOVE, LOVE chocolate tiffin. There are so many different recipes out there, but mine works for me. I'm not a big nutty fan, so we focus on the fruity side of things. It makes things feel healthier if it has fruit in it....not that it's exactly correct to carry any pretense that it's a healthy snack.

Little fingers crush, crushed the digestives...

We poured, melted and stirred

I left the final pour up to the little man, and we only got "a little" chocolate mixture all over the table! (What are little fingers for but to clean up the spillage though?!)

The worst part was waiting for it to set. Golly it felt like a long time! We had a deadline though. Uncle B was coming for tea and it simply HAD to be ready for taste testing by then.

Phew....when Uncle B came over we "tested" the tiffin and it was set, so the little man was able to show off his creation! It went down VERY well! Uncle B asked if he can have some to take to work, so the boy has PROmisED to make more for him!

So.....recipe!

*************

Chocolate Tiffin

250g digestive biscuits
300g good quality chocolate (we use 50% plain and 50% milk
200g unsalted butter
2tbsp golden syrup
100g raisins/currants
50g dried cranberries/or try another fruit you can think of. Some people like nuts.

You crush the digestives with a wooden spoon or a rolling pin. Don't crush them all to dust though, as it's nice to have some cruuuuunch in them.

Melt the chocolate, butter and golden syrup. (either in a bain marie or in the microwave)

Add the fruit to the biscuits and then pour in the chocolate mixture and mix, mix, mix!

Put the mixture into a lined tin and pop it in the fridge for....ooooooh.....ideally two hours...but ours was just about done at 1 hour.

Eat up! (They might not last very long!)

*************

Secondly I want to say a HAYOOGE thank you to gillyflower for saying such kind words on her blog. The fact that you took the time to mention me means so much! It's lovely to know that you enjoyed what I've written so far, and I hope I'll feel the need to continue for many years to come!

I wish I could send you a cup of tea and some tiffin, but think they might be cold/eaten by the time they reach you, so instead I'm going to send you my heartfelt gratitude. Possibly not as yummy, but hopefully just as welcomed!

Tea and Fabric

2012-01-28T11:34:00.000Z

I feel the need to apologise for my last post. It was a bit gloomy, but gloomy was how I was feeling. I'm not a fan of looking up and seeing a white sky. I want BLUE!

Well, my wish was answered and we had two glorious days of sunshine and blue sky!

Not only that, but my new project arrived on the back of a rather large truck. An ebay purchase that I couldn't be happier with.

Would you like to see?

....well...I'm afraid I won't post any pictures until the big reveal, as this particular, sofa shaped, purchase needs some TLC rather urgently!

As a sneak peak here it is draped in the fabric that will ultimately cover it!

Look at those flowers, all bright and pink and cheerful, next to the boring, dull, beige!! No, I think what this sofa needs is some colour. (Yes, I might be going slightly overboard with the pattern, but I'm sure if I have to reign myself in with all the pattern my lovely other half will let me know.)

So, with two covers already made, and the temperature having taken a plummet, the little man and I are sat snuggled on the sofa under a little patchwork blanket made to me by my mother when I was a baby. I've treasured this blanket my entire life and it now resides on my little man's bed until I get around to making him his very own. (The fabric is ready and waiting to be cut, but unfortunately I'm finding it hard to find the time to cut and piece them together.....bad mummy!!)

But at least I have my tea!

I'm a bit of a tea snob to be entirely honest with you. I was brought up on Earl Grey, and have never got the taste of regular English Breakfast. Thankfully my regular tea-going houses have picked up on this, and not only have they now got some of the lovely Earl in residence, I have converted a few, who now are now exclusive Earl Grey drinkers.

If you haven't tried it then I highly recommend it! It's quite a soft flavour, but when overbrewed the bergamot can take over, so take it from me.....don't brew it too long!!

Dreaming of warmer times

2012-01-24T16:17:00.000Z

::Perhaps in Sunny South Africa, where my Sister lives in gorgeous weather and breathtaking views. ....Who knows if she'll ever have the heart to return to the UK for good?!

::Or even just in England, which can look so beautiful in the Sunshine. Especially this fantastic place, pictured, a place very dear in my heart, where I go to relax with good friends. A place where I'm always welcome and know I always will be.

::Unfortunately I have to wait a few more months for the Spring weather to take over, so shall just have to drink my tea in cheery mugs and look at warming pictures. Hopefully in the next few days we can at least have some sun...if not warmth. I'm getting a bit soggy with all this rain.

Of course the boy isn't fazed at all by the chilly weather and dreariness of outside, and just puts on his coat and a hat with a grin and tells me to hurry up with my gloves because we'll be late for the park!!

Oh how I love my little man.

Happy Weekend

2012-01-22T16:06:00.001Z

Happy Sunday to you all! I hope your weekend has been fabulous....and sunny. Ours has been particularly grey and drizzly. I can't help but feel sorry for our poor Rabbit outside......I know I called her River, but you'd have thought she'd seek out her shelter when it rains. I gave up yesterday when she'd been sitting in the drizzle for half an hour and had to carry her back to her Wendyhouse. The sooner I can get the house and run connected the better. She's not a big fan of her run shelter.

Friday was a very exciting day for me. Firstly....we have an impromptu addition to the family.

Meet Pusskin, who is, as of yet, nameless. Her owners were going to have her put to sleep for no reason other than the fact that the poor girl decided she wanted to be a house cat. They refused to give her a litter tray and when she wouldn't go outside they decided her time was up. A lovely lady I met online asked if anyone wanted an older housecat and we jumped at the chance to give her the retirement she deserves.

She's 10 years old and has never had a name, so we're waiting for her to settle in before giving her one. ....she's been without one for so long, so it had better be a good'un!!

::My second exciting thing was the arrival of my Cath Kidston package! I got 6m of this lovely CK fabric for £6/m.........yes....you read that right. There was no typo.....Six measly pounds for a meter!

This morning whilst doing the washing up I heard some very animated talking from the little man in the living room. I sneaked in and found these two naughty rabbits eating the roses on my fabric. ....It seems crochet carrots don't satisfy them.

::Little O informed me that it was alright as they'd promised to plant more, so I left them to it!

Also in my parcel was this spotty tray. Of course a spotty tray needs a spotty mug, so right now, in fact, I'm sitting here in my spotty dressing gown with my spotty tea cup and tray.......it's a lot of spots. (as you might have gathered....I love a good polkadot!)

Lastly in my package....a waste paper bin. How very boring, you might think....but I beg to differ when said waste paper bin is so bright and flowery! I didn't need an excuse to buy it!

::You might have thought that there is rather too much pink and florals for my poor suffering other half, but Tom has informed me that he is very happy with the purchases. .....I knew I chose him for some reason!

Anyhoo. Have a lovely rest of the weekend. I'm off to encourage the moggy out from behind the sofa and if I can change quick enough from my dressing gown to my coat Howard and I will be taking a brisk jaunt on the Heathland.

Dotty for dots

2012-01-18T10:14:00.000Z

Yesterday the boy and I went on a little shopping trip to the nearest "big town" where it just so happens my favourite fabric shop resides. Little O is well versed in fabric shopping and so was on his best behaviour. He was telling me which colours he liked best, and was quite taken with a neutral linen printed with chickens.

I was on a mission though, and sat on the middle of the floor with fabric "books" surrounding me. (The lovely ladies giggling at me.) We came away with nothing....nada...zilch.....but have seven and a half glorious meters of this Clarke and Clarke fabric coming all for ME!!

I decided that a:: The CK fabric we'd chosen wasn't bright enough, b:: It would look better if we went for a larger print and c::.......it was £5/m cheaper!!

I can't wait to get it home...to stroke it...to sniff it. (Yes, I'm a crazy person.)

When that rather extravagant purchase had been made we met up with Tom for his lunch break. Poor O was very confused and was adamant that Tom should be at work.

Refueled we had to have a "quick look" in the Laura Ashley sale.

It's a good thing I'm pregnant as there were so many clothes I had a major case of the wanties for. ::Good behaviour can't last forever though, and whilst reprimanding the little man for trying to play hide and seek amongst the clothes I grabbed two mugs (50% off, I'll have you know) and made our way to the till....snatching a spotty dressing gown, also the sale, from the hangers on my way.

Tom and I used them this morning. ::Coffee for him in the red spotty mug and Earl Grey for me in the green.

::A close up of the spottiness! It was a very good mug of tea!

::Howard has taken a huge liking to the dressing gown and thinks it's his new bed. (Then again, my lap has always been.)

::Spots and dots....Dots and spots!

Tomorrow I hope to be able to show you a parcel filled with another fabric bundle that's winging it's way to me. My Christmas money might all be gone, but I'm a happy bunny!

Baking days

2012-01-14T21:04:00.003Z

Today I was feeling rather "bleurgh". In my mind I can do everything I could do pre-pregnancy, but in reality pushing myself ends in exhaustion and collapsing. ::Not very fun really. I've had a few very busy days and so this morning I just wasn't feeling right.

The boy, of course, wasn't to understand this so instead of walking to the park in the freezing cold I suggested we did some baking.

I love my baking bowls. So colourful and bright! ::....and to top it off.......THEY STACK! I was utterly giddy when I was given them last Christmas from my wonderful Step-mum, and still find some excitement when I stack and unstack them.

Little O is rather well versed in baking. By the age of three he could crack an egg perfectly. I'm rather proud of this little achievement as I distinctly remember it took me far longer to learn. If ever I feel unwell he wants to bake a cake for me, because that's what I do when he's off colour.

His favourite cupcakes are surprisingly simple. No chocolate for little O. No special icing ::Nope...ask him and everytime he'll tell you that raisin cupcakes are his ultimate FAVouRite! They're scrummy!

Now he's FOUR entire years old he wants to do everything himself....so there were a few spillages. Funny little man wanted to save the dotty cupcake cases for when he goes to see Grandpa so I had to fish these out from the depths of beyond. (....*ahem*....my baking cupboard.)

"Can we put them in the cake stand, Mummy?" ::Why yes, little man, what a fantastic idea!

Plain and simple...raisin cupcakes!

They didn't stay in the stand for long, however as little fingers couldn't wait to taste his creation!

I also managed to indulge in some sewing today. We moved here on the 30th October and what with bump and Christmas we haven't made it "home" yet. The cupboard in the living room was a dark wood laminate and was so oppressive. I decided to give it a stripey makeover, and have to say it improves the room so much.....just that one piece of stripy fabric!

A certain someone wanted to help me with my sewing and had to be reminded many....many.....many... times that pins/needles/scissors/sewing machines are SHARPITY SHARP! Eventually he got the picture and sat very quietly in awe of the sewing machine.

I wonder what age I can teach him to use a needle and thread......probably not yet!

I forgot to take before pictures as I was so excited to get rid of that fake wood, but can show you the colour of the "wood" from the inside of the cupboard door.

"Bleurgh".....Stripey goodness is far better, and far more "me"!

Happy weekend to everyone in Blogland.

Wednesday Walkies

2012-01-11T22:14:00.002Z

When we had Mia I'd walk miles a day. A big Rhodesian Ridgeback x Labrador needs a lot of exercise. Sometimes we'd walk locally and sometimes we'd go further afield. When Tom and I moved in together chose our house partly on the appealing rent, but also because we had this right on our doorstop.

Acres upon acres of heathland. The home to nightingales, deer, rabbits, foxes (and many a tabby cat looking for lunch.) Mia adored the endless number of twists and turns she could take. A new, exciting walk each day, meeting the occasional excitable pup to play with.

When Mia died I stopped walking here. There seemed no point...No reason. My walking buddy was gone, so I didn't walk.

But then we got this little man, and I planned on revisiting the heathland, but no...we didn't.

We've had Howard two months now and have only been onto the heathland twice.
::Why? ::I told myself that he didn't need it. To socialise a pup you need to see people, and dogs, and cars, so we stuck to the roads. ::Tiny puppies don't need much walking. They don't need three hour romps in the fields.

But today the sun shined. I looked at the little puppy on my lap and decided. ::We were going on a walk. ....and not just around the block. ::We were going to to on a Mia walk.

::So we did!

::We said hello to Mr Robin, and we ambled along the very walk I did most days with Moo-bag. ::Yes, it was emotional, but having such a willing companion makes everything better.

::I'm not a big fan of this gap between Winter and Spring. I'm ready for Spring to be sprung. The sunshine was uplifting though, and we saw signs that the brown will soon be replaced with GREEN!!

::The gorse bushes were the only flowering plants, and even with their spiky branches they still lifted an otherwise drab area.

::And the sun shone....yes...so much sun!! I got a trifle warm, all snuggled in my coat and scarf...but boy was it worth it!

::Another Mr Robin, singing to his hearts content. ::Just look at that sky.....!!!

::I was just...content.

Getting Hooky

2012-01-11T09:57:00.002Z

After my rather disastrous attempt at a granny square last year I decided to try again. So last night the wool came out, I tipped out my knitting needle bag so I could find my hook.

With a little ~~help~~ hindrance from Howard I managed to get into a rhythm with double crochet. I didn't want to go to bed, I was so excited that it was working

Of course, my tension leaves a lot to be desired. I "cast on" tighter than I was crocheting, so it's not quite even, but I'm just telling myself that it adds character.

This morning I started up again straight away...hooky, hooky, hooky! Yes...I think you'll see that I added another colour!

I am officially a hooky convert! It grows so quickly so, unlike knitting, you don't feel like you're getting nowhere.

If anyone has any tips on keeping tension even (other than the obvious...practice!) then I'd love an insight. Also, how do you hold your hooks? I'm putting far too much pressure on my poor fingers, and really don't want to end up blistering.

My hooky helper is rather sleepy today. ::Probably after all that wool snatching last night.

Things making me happy

2012-01-07T16:45:00.000Z

::The blue, blue sky coming through the window. Morning is when we get the most sun through the living room window, and today the sky was so blue!

::The shadow on my wall! I have a love affair with hearts! Can't get enough of them! The heart was a Christmas present from my Step-mother. She found it at the Farmer's market where she has a stall (more on that later) and knew I'd love it. She wasn't wrong!

::Bed! We bought a new duck down duvet in the John Lewis sale with my wonderful Grandmother's Christmas money. (She approves muchly with this purchace!) I'm oh so looking forwards to bed time.

(On a side note, John Lewis are ethical with all their feather duvets and only use feathers that are a by-product of the meat industry. They don't advocate live plucking of birds! Just another reason why I love them!)

::The (growing) pup. I've had many a fun moment today watching Howard and the boy running around like loons. They are both flat out now. Puppy on my lap, the boy snuggled on the sofa eating cake.

I'm off to have a well needed cup of tea and then start on a spot of baking for my mum, who has asked for some "Happy New Year" cupcakes for her pupils. ....any excuse to bake!

Curtain Talks

2012-01-05T11:04:00.002Z

Tom and I have very similar tastes...thank goodness. This morning, over tea, we had a curtain talk. I won't hurt your eyes with our temporary curtains but needless to say they're just not us! Some kind of thin, gold, polyester silk.....just not us at all!

We looked through various swatches, and this was our decision. I can imagine it now and am quite giddy about the prospect of making them!

This morning's cup of tea was, quite accidentally, in honour of Mia. I just L.O.V.E the little painted Lab one! Beautiful! It was a very enjoyable cup of tea indeed, if rather nostalgic.

Additions to our little family

2012-01-03T23:23:00.001Z

Meet Howard Moon, named by Tom.

He is (at the moment) the latest member of our family which is set to get even larger. Earlier in the year Tom and I moved in together and rehomed a beautiful dog, Mia. We had six glorious months with her until our world started crashing around us when she went into kidney failure and we had to make the heart wrenching decision to put her to sleep. We were left with a big gaping hole and the house was just too empty so we got little Howard to try to fill that void.

He's nothing like our Mia-Moo-bag, but is perfect in his own way! He's helped us through such a hard time and I couldn't ask for more! He's such a well behaved little pup.

You might notice that Howard is lying on a rather large tummy.....! Yes, that is my tummy and no I haven't over indulged over the festive period. Tom and I are expecting a baby in May this year! Little O is very excited about being a big brother, but I'm sure he won't be as excited when he finds out that his little brother won't be able to play "trains" with him straight off.

My little man turned four yesterday.....FOUR! He was in his first Nativity play last month and it was wonderful watching him. He sung his heart out and did all the actions. He also mastered comedic timing and had all the parents laughing at his "fake trip". My little Woops-a-daisy Angel......butter wouldn't melt!

So yes....this year has been busy and so much has changed! Life is going better than I could have hoped for and we're a very happy family. This year (before bump comes along) I'll be cosying up our new house, which, whilst a great size, lacks character. .......John Lewis, Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley watch out... here I come!

Happy New Year to you all! I wish you all well this coming year!

Happy "I love you" day!

2011-02-16T20:00:00.003Z

My best Valentines day present came in she shape of a little blonde child in red suede shoes.

Yes...I had my little man home after a weekend with his dad and grandparents. He had a wonderful time, and has been busy recounting everything he did non stop since he came home. He oh so loves seeing them, and it's a shame he doesn't get to see daddy as much as he wants.

He came home with some very yummy looking chocolates for mummy.....but then decided that they were his and ate them all himself!! ....the cheek!

::My wonderful dad, got me some beautiful tulips.

::A rose from the lovely T.

The little man made me a card at nursery that I got to open when he got home. ....Isn't he a crafty little bean!! He loves glitter and never passes the chance to use it (as was reiterated to me today when I caught him pouring some in his porridge. ....Thanks O!)

::My Valentines day card from the little man. (L)Front and (R)back.

Whether you believe in Valentine's day....or "I love you" day, I hope you had a wonderful day with your loved ones!

Ruby

p.s...I had some interest in my bunny mug from the last post. Just to let you know you can get it (and some other FANTASTIC mugs... Here. The designer is Anita Jeram. Her bunny ones are "squee" worthy!!

A wonderful weekend

2011-02-13T16:28:00.000Z

This weekend has been wonderfully relaxing, spent with some of my wonderful family. The lovely T and I trundled on up to North Norfolk, leaving the little man to have a ~~rather rare~~ visit from his father.

My mother and her partner (S) hosted a black tie dinner/wine tasting/concert. My mum is a clarinetist, and is pretty darn good. She played with an equally amazing string quartet. The music was absolutely divine...I wish you all could have heard it! They played four movements from the Brahms clarinet quintet.

It was a rather grand affair, with DJ's, pretty dresses. Caviar and salmon (the latter two I did not partake in, being a vegetarian.) The wine was.....interesting....! I am very much a white wine drinker if I have any, and some of the reds weren't quite to my taste (read....disgusting!!)

So now we are home....a cup of tea, CL magazine and a hastily made chocolate cupcake! *bliss*

Hope your weekend was as good as mine!

A first time crocheter

2011-02-09T15:48:00.000Z

::My wonky granny square

This is the very first granny square I've ever made. ....not to mention the first time I've crocheted!! It's a tad wonky, and the tension is oh so very off, but I love it muchly!

::Mmmmm...a nice cup of the Earl, in my new CK cup and saucer. (It's brilliant...the size of a mug, but in cup form!!)

As you can see, my lonely little square leaves a lot to be desired and I am in no way an expert with a hook, but it was go number one! (Well...actually, it was attempt number two....but attempt number one was even more malformed than attempt two.

::Poor unhappy attempt 1

Ruby

Staying in

2011-02-07T20:54:00.000Z

Today was the first day potty training the little man. I've decided that for the whole of this week (other than nursery days) we're staying in the house, so he can get the hang of it all.

Turns out I needn't have worried. I waited a long time to potty train him. He's just three now, and I had a few relatives breathing down my neck, about getting it done....but I stuck by my guns. "It'll happen when he's ready!"

There's a very good saying about potty training...."Do it at two and they'll be potty trained by three. Do it at three and they'll be trained by three."

Well, my clever little moose has gone a whole day without an accident. ...on his first day out of nappies. *glows with pride* He even took himself to the potty when I was upstairs searching for glue. What a clever little man!

Being cooped up all day could have been a rather boring affair, but I refused to just sit and have him watch tv all day, so housework took a backseat and I focused solely on my little man.

I asked him if he wanted to do some crafting, and after much excited jumping about I managed to get him to sit at the table, awaiting the crafty goodness.

So we got tissue paper out and went rip, rip, rip.
Glue stick...check!
Glitter....check!
Sequins...check!!
It was then that I realised....*Darn*...I have no idea where the glue has gotten to. Bearing in mind that this is an epicly sized pva bottle, it's pretty impressive that I managed to lose it.

After much frantic looking, and no success I took the boy...and the potty...over to my friend (and neighbour's) house, and pleaded for just a teenie bit of her glue. Of course, being wonderful, L handed it over and we went back for our crafting. (after arranging to go over for a cup of tea and a chit chat later.so much for staying in all week...let alone all day!)

We ran back to the table and got our pot of glue ready.

Lots of careful gluing and sticking

The favourite method was carefully drizzling the glue into patterns before flattening each little puddle of glue with some tissue paper

Then....GLITTER!!

The end result was oh so sparkley and oh so fun to make.

Whilst he was doing this I had a little craft of my own...as nursery has given me homework to do!

Ruby

Very much a "B" day

2011-02-04T21:02:00.002Z

I don't know about you, but I've had enough of the Winter now. I want springtime snowdrops, and sunshine.

But alas...today was not a day of "S's" but was, in fact, a day of "B's"

The first "B" was a very obvious one! Today has been a blustery, blustery day! I almost got bowled off my feet.

::A far more welcome "B"...my lovely blooms in the front room.

::The boy, who's getting bigger by the day.

::Lots and LOTS of buns!!

::Blue bunny ::Beautiful bunny ::Begging bunny

::The Boy's Bunnies

::And last, but definitely not least, the very bestest kind of bun, waiting for little fingers to come and ice them tomorrow morning...and these buns are very healthy buns indeed...*nods head*. They are raisiny buns. And everybody knows that if they count towards your five a day then they must be healthy...yes indeedy!

And now...here I am...blogging!!

Have a wonderful weekend

Ruby

My Best friend

2011-02-01T09:00:00.000Z

::And, deary me, how disapproving does he look?!

Yes...he leaves fur absolutely everywhere
Yes...he has an appetite of an elephant
Yes...I have found more than a few holes in my cashmere jumpers
Yes...he jumps onto the table, upsetting mugs of tea
Yes...the wires in my house are NEVER safe
Yes...this morning I found out he's *ahem*...dead headed... my daffs.
Yes...he has taken to jumping over the stair gate from the kitchen, in order to scrump a cupcake.

But oh how I love him!

New Beginnings

2011-01-31T14:15:00.004Z

Last year, about the same time of year, I started this blog. ...I think I managed about four posts before giving up on it.

Over the past few years I've been through a lot. Maybe one day I'll post about it, but for now I'll start at the end. September 09 I found myself a single mother to my little man.
I've loved every moment of motherhood, and never doubted that I should have gone down this path, although won't lie that doing it alone hasn't been tough.

So...where are we now?!...The end of January 2011. Wow...over two years has gone by, and I've only just started to feel normal within myself. ::Sheesh!! Me and the little man are living in a lovely little house, with our three rabbits. I spend my life pottering about, baking, crafting, and park going...(the latter is for the little man)

I love all types of sewing, knitting and have even dabbled in embroidery. Maybe someday I'll get the hang of crochet....
I'm a big fan of CK, Emma Bridgewater, Greengate....but even more than that, I adore finding something pretty and homemade or vintage. I'm an avid reader of Country Living.

I'm in a happy place, with a lovely man, T. I'm going to give blogging another go. I love reading them, and hope that maybe in time I can brighten someone's day, in the same way you do for me!

So for my first post, I thought I'd give you three things....

::some yummy train cake

::A colourful project

::and some beautiful flowers that are adding some prettyness to my table, as I type this.

Ruby xx