The Genial Hearth
I’ve just put the kettle on, join me for a cuppa and a chat.
Archive for November, 2009
November 27, 2009 at 3:39 pm · Filed under Craft, Domestic Life, Woodwork
I’ve been missing teaching (in a manner of speaking!) over the last couple of weeks… (So, you know, not so much of the teaching 
)
In preparation for Christmas, and attempting to have a largely home-made one, I’ve spent a couple of hours over the last few weekends, in my Dad’s workshop. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it:-)
I’ve been working on my Brown Stairs and Pink Tower (almost done, bar painting), and I was using a thicknesser. It made a huge mess (which Puggle really enjoyed vaccuuming up!), but it was so aromatic, I was really struck with a pull to do more:-)
I’d already been meaning to do a number of other wooden projects, but wasn’t sure if I’d actually get around to them. But now, I’m all inspired, so I’m just back from getting a whole bunch of pine with the kids, for some more projects of mine (and also a couple of Puggle’s:-) ). More updates to come as we actually finish some stuff:-)
November 27, 2009 at 10:24 am · Filed under Domestic Life, Food, Menu
Friday: Home made Pizza
Saturday: Out to dinner with the siblings
Sunday: Lamb and Spinach Curry
Monday: Dinner with Granny and Grandpa
Tuesday: Sushi, probably Tamago and Spinach, and California Roll
Wednesday: Vegetarian Lasagna
Thursday: Vegetable Kebabs with Pesto
Meat: 2 (probably 4), Vegetarian: 2 1/2, Fish: 1/2
November 24, 2009 at 5:42 pm · Filed under Cygnet, Domestic Life, Family
I was feeding Cygnet and taking the opportunity to look closely at him. I realised that he no longer has the curled up, soft (clean!) feet of a baby:-( His toes have spread and now stretch out to grip the ground, his feet have flattened out as the regularly contact the ground, and they’re suitably grubby on all sides, not just the tops.
I don’t remember really noticing this with the other two, but even though he’s not reliably walking, his feet show the truth of the matter, he is Baby no more, but rather, Toddler.
November 20, 2009 at 10:39 am · Filed under Domestic Life, Food, Menu
Friday: Freezer (Potato Curry), Banana Split
Saturday: Birthday dinner for Grandad
Sunday: Roast Chicken with Roast vegies
Monday: Chicken Spaghetti, Syllabub with Raspberries
Tuesday: Broccoli and Anchovy Pasta
Wednesday: BBQ—Sausages and Potato Salad
Thursday: TFC
Meat: 4, Vegetarian: 1+1 ish, Fish: 1 and a bit
November 13, 2009 at 10:25 am · Filed under Domestic Life, Food, Menu
Friday: Poached Eggs and Asparagus
Saturday: Parmesan Chicken Breasts with Crispy Posh Ham, mashed potato/sweet potato and Spinach
Sunday: Indian with friends
Monday: Something from the freezer, Red Beans and Rice?
Tuesday: Pasta with Pesto (and I’ll bake something for dessert and coffee… we’ll see what inspires me closer to the time)
Wednesday: Chickpea Tagine With Figs
Thursday: BBQ Ribs with Beans, and Peas with Marjoram Dressing (that’s right, I haven’t blogged that! Maybe this will be the week:-)
Tally: 2 meat, 3 vegetarian, 0 fish (2 to be decided later… makes me lean towards the Green Curry in the freezer, it has fish)
November 9, 2009 at 3:17 pm · Filed under Bilby, For the Future, French, Home Education, Language, Puggle
I’ve been doing a lot of sheets lately, for which I’ve wanted outline images (we’re doing fruits and vegetables for French at the moment). This site has been really great! Most things have had multiple images, so I can choose based on which is most appealling:-)
I like to use outline shapes partly because we have a black and white printer, so colours are a bit of a waste (and the print in greys, which can be a bit distracting), but also Puggle (and to a lesser extent, Bilby) has hit a stage of wanting to colour, so it’s useful for that.
November 8, 2009 at 2:57 pm · Filed under Craft, Domestic Life, Sewing, Virtually BeQuilted
I had other ideas, but finally decided that the front runner was a particular one I’ve had my eye on. I delayed starting it though, because at the size it would end up, it would either be really plain, or excessively fiddly. Then, other people started posting theirs, and there was a definite theme:-) (Unsurprisingly, there were a couple with Japanese motifs… given the inspiration information referenced ‘The Wave’:-) ) I went searching, but still hadn’t found anything else, so I went and bought the third material I’d need for my design.
Then inspiration struck:-) I decided to do a Zen Rock Garden:-) Half an hour to find some specific images to set me going, and I had it plotted out and cut out. It took very little time to appliqé the rocks on (and oh my goodness! How much easier appliqué is when you use Vliesofix!) and probably an evening to blanket stitch the edges of the rocks.
Then, I just had the ‘rake’ lines to embroider.
In my original searching I’d discovered Sashiko embroidery. I thought this would be a good idea for the rake lines. I think I was right… but it did take a while! I finally finished the block a week into November!
November 7, 2009 at 11:53 am · Filed under Craft, Domestic Life, Sewing, Virtually BeQuilted
And here’s a sneak peek:-)
(More once B has seen it:-) )
November 6, 2009 at 10:20 am · Filed under Domestic Life, Food, Menu
Friday: Quiche (bottomless quiche… I chop up some vegies, stick it in a dish, beat up some egg, pour it over and cook it)
Saturday: Beef Stifado (this lives again… I think we might actually cook it this week!)
Sunday: Roast Lamb with Roast Vegies
Monday: Tasty Fish Bake (from Jamie’s Dinners) with Granny and Grandpa
Tuesday: Pasta with Eggplant
Wednesday: Dinner with Grandma and Grandad
Thursday: Kebabs with Greek Salad
November 1, 2009 at 10:56 pm · Filed under Bilby, Domestic Life, Family
Bilby is pretty keen on all her stuffed animals (and some of Puggle’s too), and her (Puggle’s) baby doll. Lately, she’s been wanting them all in bed with her—to the point where she’s pretty hard to spot in amongst them all:-)
I’d post a picture, but the flash would wake her (and we don’t show recognisable photos of the kids for all to see…)
