Scrap Weekly 2010: Challenge #9

Rinda has set this week's challenge over on the Scrap Weekly 2010 blog, and she wants us to use more ... more photos or even create a DLO instead of your usual SLO ... you get the idea.

Poorly DS

My poor wee mite was struck down with a sickness bug at tea-time yesterday. Suddenly. Out of the blue. From nowhere. At 3-years-old, he is still too young to understand what is happening to him, and it breaks my heart to see him so distressed. Happily, almost 24 hours later, I can report that the bug seems to have 'bugged off', although DS is very subdued and off his food.

Today I am thankful for: a washing machine & tumble dryer, a plentiful supply of towels and bedding and a husband who doesn't bat an eye lid when his son throws up all over him.

(These hearts were inspired by Deb at the brilliant Paper Turtle blog; check her out, as she has plenty of great crafty stuff to share.)

Shot Of The Month: February

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~ A partially flooded Common ~

An indication of just how much rain we have had in the last 24 hours. Roll on Spring.

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~ A quick-no-one-is-looking shot ~

I didn't push my luck and chance taking any more poolside photos this morning. Instead, I am collecting shots of the lockers, the outside of the complex and anything else that catches my eye so that I will have enough photos for a DLO of DS's swimming adventures.

Overheard: The Subject Of Embossing

~ Come and stroke my leaves, she said ... ~

Photo: ScrapaGoGo Retreat, June 2009. So said MC, after a class on embossing technique.

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~ Percy Thrower ~

For my non-British readers, and British readers under the age of 35, you can read all about Percy here. He is well known to all British children who watched the BBC's programme Blue Peter between the years 1974~1987.

Quote: Dancing

~ Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music ~

William Stafford

Photo: DS the Disco Diva, November 2009.

Quote: Going Places

~ Wherever you go, go with all your heart ~

Confucius

Photo: DS doing his best to escape from the park, July 2009.

Quotations & Conversations

Those of you who follow Julie's brilliantly quirky blog, Notes On Paper, will know that she has begun a series of posts relating to snippets of conversations she has overheard or quotations that cause her to stop and think. Julie has a clever eye for photo composition and a witty way with descriptions; the scrappers among you will know of her from the late Scrapbook Inspirations magazine. Now that I've set the scene, you've probably realised that I'm 'borrowing' her idea for my own blog, having mentioned this to Julie first ...

Photo: West London sky, August 2008

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~ Yet more commercialism ~

I had a Grumpy-Old-Woman moment this morning, when trying to cut through Marks & Spencer. The source of my irritation was the overnight explosion of free-standing card racks full of cards for Mother's Day (which is in 2 weeks, here in the UK), now blocking the aisles. Do we really need 56 different choices of card (purely a random number there, but that's what it looked like) in order to tell our mums that we love them? No, I think not. And while I'm on the subject, what is with the plethora of Easter goodies on sale ....?

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~ The queue at the Post Office at 09:10 this morning ~

Mel, your PS parcel is on its merry way to you.

And The Winner Is ...

The winner of my Pink Saturday GiveAway this week is Mel from I Speak Melsh ~ congratulations! I'll drop by with the good news shortly.

I am taking a week off from participating in Pink Saturday this coming weekend; I love doing my GiveAways, but, of late, they seem to be taking up all my scrapping time and other projects are being neglected. I'll be back with all things pink in March.

Walnut Brownie Bites

These are delicious, and best served warm.

50g walnuts, finely chopped

80g butter

150g dark eating chocolate, chopped (I use milk chocolate, as I find the dark too rich)

150g firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

50g plain flour

60g sour cream

Preheat oven to 180C, 350-375F, Gas 4-5. Lightly grease two non-stick 12 hole mini muffin tins; divide walnuts among holes.

Melt the butter and chocolate in a saucepan; stir over low heat, without boiling, until mixture is smooth. Cool to just warm.

Stir sugar and egg into mixture, then sifted flour and cream; spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake for about 15 minutes. Using a sharp-pointed knife, loosen side of brownies from pan; stand 10 minutes. Remove brownies gently from pan.

Makes 24.

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~ A trip to our local DIY superstore ~

Should you be interested, we bought paint for DS's bedroom & spare room, 6 new cupboard door handles and a toilet seat!

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~ Remember to kill them off! ~

A common mistake by family historians is forgetting to kill their ancestors off. I have just killed off one of my great-great-grandfathers ... otherwise he would be approximately 209 years old!

Scrap Weekly 2010: Challenge 8

This week's challenge from Jo over on the Scrap Weekly 2010 blog is to scrap with plenty of 'white' space. Here's what I originally came up with, a most untypical kind of LO for me.

I'm not sure what happened when I compressed the 1st LO photo for uploading onto here, because IRL the journaling in the photo of the LO is not blurred. The journaling reads: All Boy; Make Believe; Imagination; Explore.

I didn't set out to complete a second LO for this challenge, but I wanted to know whether I would like a LO that used a small-patterned paper for the 'white' space element and very little else. And I do!

The Kindness Of Strangers

The bloggers who are in my Blog World are wonderful and generous people, without a doubt! And I say that because I received a parcel today from the lovely Sherry at Country Wings in Phoenix. Inside was a really funky and brilliantly original domino necklace, plus a beautiful note from Sherry. (I love that she drew a sun inside the card, next to the phrase 'Sunshine from Phoenix'; I have obviously been blogging too much about the sad state of affairs that is a British winter!)

Thank you so much, Sherry! x

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~ Hooray for blue skies ~

Pink Saturday

Good morning and welcome to the eight Pink Saturday post of 2010! As ever, we have been organised by the fabulous Beverly over at How Sweet The Sound; do check out her blog for a complete list of participants. Beverly is recovering from surgery, so warm wishes are sent from across the pond.
This week's post is also my GiveAway ~ it's been so grey and dull this last week in London, I thought we could do with some cheerful spring-like papers to feast our eyes on! From a scrapping perspective, please be aware that the patterned paper is actually stationary and, therefore, most likely not acid-free. There are 9 pages (double sided) and 6 envelope pockets. (There should have been 8 double-sided pages and 7 envelope pockets, but I put an envelope in the binding wire the wrong way round ~ doh!) If you would like a chance to win this mini-book, please leave a comment to show that you dropped by; become a follower of this ordinary, run-of-the-mill blog if you'd like a 2nd chance of winning. The random number selector thingy will choose the winner at 12 Noon (GMT) on Tuesday, 24th February.
If you fancy checking out a blog with a difference today, then head over to Mary at One Perfect Bite ~ I bet you drool!

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~ Like father, like son ~

Pink Saturday Teaser

You'll have to pop back on Saturday, if you'd like to know what I've done with these sheets of gorgeously patterned paper. My thanks to Rhona for inspiring my lightbulb moment.

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~ A bright spot in an otherwise horribly dull and wet day ~

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~ Post swimming session ~

DH took the morning off work today, so we headed to the pool for 9am, what with it being half term and all. We were actually the first people in the pool and DS absolutely loved it! He went in right up to his neck (armbands worn, naturally) and even smiled after an unexpected dunking under the water, when he stepped out of his depth. We even coaxed him to step off the side into Daddy's waiting arms (nothing more safe and comforting than Daddy's arms). I've worked out that the easiest thing to do, while I'm attempting to get dry and dressed, is to feed DS his favourite rice cakes and raisins, hence the hamster cheeks in the photo!

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~ On-line family history is addictive ~

Apologies for the rubbish light, it has rained here all day.

And The Winner Is ...

The winner of this week's Pink Saturday GiveAway is Rhona over at Life In General ~ congratulations! I'll be by your blog shortly with the news.

Do pop back on Saturday for another Pink Saturday GiveAway!

New Shoes

~ Startrite, size 8.5, £32! ~

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~ Offer of an afternoon place at Nursery School for DS in September ~

Scrap Weekly 2010: Challenge #7

The new challenge is up on the Scrap Weekly 2010 blog, and it's a good one ~ Heather wants us to scrap about the lighter side of life.

There just has to be so much scope with this one, doesn't there?

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Happy Valentine's Day

~ With love from me to you ~

Something To Sleep On ...

Have you ever caught sight of yourself in a mirror unexpectedly and thought, "What the hell am I wearing?" No? Aren't you the lucky one! Yes? It happened to me today and you can see why ...

There are a few mitigating factors:

It's February, in London;

I'm just back from the park with a 3-year-old;

There is no other adult in the house, no one to ask,"is this okay?" (DH is away)

Oh, okay, they're excuses, not mitigating factors.

This is what I am wearing today:

Blue jeans (pretty much standard uniform these days). On the top half, a blue t-shirt, which is somehow now too short in the body. So I layered it by wearing and silver & white striped t-shirt underneath. On top of that I added a chocolate cardi (but points awarded for cashmere) and my Marrakech Muffler. What was I thinking this morning? Obviously, not very much! So, now I'm off to sleep on it and hope to do better tomorrow!

Mr Heron: He's Still There ...

Any Guesses?

~ Anyone up for telling me what this is? ~

HSMSHS: Wisdom For The Weekend

It's been a while since I've participated in HSHSMS: Wisdom For The Weekend over on Facebook, but for this prompt I have the perfect photo ...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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~ A boy + 'Pilot' magazine = Contentment ~

Pink Saturday

Good morning and welcome to the seventh Pink Saturday post of 2010! As ever, we have been organised by the fabulous Beverly over at How Sweet The Sound; do check out her blog for a complete list of participants. Poor Beverly has been in hospital this week, so warm wishes are sent from across the pond.

As I'm sure you are all aware, tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I thought it would be nice if my Pink Saturday post reflected that. My post this week is a LO I put together when I was still fairly new to scrapping. Basic in design and composition it may be, but I love it because it shows everyone I love, all together.

This week's GiveAway can be seen here: if you would like a chance to win it, please leave a comment to show that you dropped by; become a follower of this ordinary, run-of-the-mill blog if you'd like a 2nd chance of winning. The random number selector thingy will choose the winner at 12 Noon (GMT) on Tuesday, 16th February.

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~ Registration ~

Hidden-Vegetable Tomato Sauce

This Annabel Karmel recipe is one I have used a lot, since DS was weaned. He's none too keen on eating veg when they look like veg, but he scoffs this down with alacrity. I serve it with pasta or fish cakes/fingers.

Makes 4 adult portions or 8 little person portions.

2 tablespoons light olive oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped

100g/4oz carrots, peeled and grated

50g/2oz courgette, grated

50g/2oz button mushrooms, sliced

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

400g/14oz passata (ready-sieved tomatoes)

1 teaspoon soft brown sugar

1 vegetable stock cube, dissolved in 400ml (2/3 pint) boiling water

handful fresh basil leaves

salt & pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the crushed garlic and saute for a few seconds, then add the onion and saute for a further 2 minutes. Add the carrots, courgettes and mushrooms and saute for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the balsamic vinegar and cook for one minute. Stir in the passata and sugar, cover and simmer for 8 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the basil and season to taste. Transfer to a blender and blitz until smooth.

The added advantage of this recipe is that it seems to work out okay on approximate timings, if you forget to set a timer (that would be me who constantly forgets to set the timer ...). Also, I should think it would work the same on any other combination of veg.

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~ A quick visit to Argos for a new door mat ~

Scrap Weekly 2010: Challenge #6 ~ Make A Card

Over on the Scrap Weekly 2010 blog, this week Francine wanted us to make a card. It didn't have to be for Valentine's Day, it could be for any reason at all. I settled on Valentine's Day because DH has requested a homemade card ~ don't worry, he never looks at my blog, so there's no danger of him seeing it before Sunday!
The patterned hearts are cut to 1.5 inches and the cardstock is cut to 2 inches. I used foam pads to stick the smaller hearts to the larger ones and the hearts to the card. The placement was deliberate ~ 2 identical hearts for me and DH, and the inverted heart with a different pattern for DS. A small stamp in the corner and inking around the edges and I was done. And, rather surprisingly for me, I actually like the end result!

Pink Saturday: Sneak Peek

Here's a wee look-see at this coming Saturday's Pink Saturday GiveAway. I used the lovely range 'Blush Blooms' range by Creative Memories again and, as it's Valentine's Day on Sunday, I've added a heart shaped photo frame (old romantic that I am). If you'd like the chance to win them, just stop by again on Saturday.

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~ Open air European market in the shopping centre ~

"Furry Boots" LO

I've managed to squeeze enough me-time into my day to be able to finish this LO of DS wearing my friend's pink slippers. It's actually the 2nd LO I've completed, because the 1st one was too pink, if there is such a thing! (I'm loving this herringbone design ...) I showed it to DH who grunted, and I showed it to DS who very kindly said, "pretty flower"! The title is self-explanatory, but it's also a wee joke for my sister. I did consider trying to explain our joke, but decided it would be too difficult and probably not funny to anyone else.

What Are You Reading?

I thought I'd carry this question over from last month, as it will provide a list in December of books read and books still waiting to be read. I was at my book group last Thursday (first Thursday of the month; I'd been full of good intentions of taking some arty-farty shots of books and shelving in the library, but I forgot!) and I've traded in The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold for The Other Hand by Chris Cleave. As you can see, I still have my 2 Christmas books from last month's pile appearing in this month's pile, and I've also added that well known classic, Potty Training Boys (I'm making DH read this as well!)
In case you were wondering, my book group agreed that TLB was an okay read, but we won't be recommending it. Not sure I'll be seeing the film, either.

And The Winner Is ...

This week's Pink Saturday GiveAway winner is a lady who goes by the name Furrypig; you can see her blog here. Congratulations! I'll be by your blog shortly with the news.

There will be another GiveAway this coming Saturday, with a little something extra thrown in for good measure, as Valentine's Day is on Sunday. So do pop back then if you'd like the chance to win.