This week...

• A trifle of sorts.  Chocolate and banana.  The bottom layer is some chocolate banana muffins that no-one in the house was particularly keen on (Nigella proves not to be infallible after all, who knew?). The fruit layer is some spotty bananas, the custard is Birds.  I wasn't keen but I am not a lover of bananas unless they are the foam sweetie variety.  Everyone else seemed to like it. Like all trifles it tasted better the next day.

• Zumba.  I am a convert.  I have been a member of my gym for 8 years and have probably averaged one class per year in that time.  I prefer to sweat it out on the gym floor but I got talked into going to Zumba class a few weeks ago and now I'm a regular.  Try it if you get the chance - it is so much fun.

• Finally chosen a colour to paint the hall.  Which is a relief as the patchwork of test colours was threatening to take over.

• We have discovered the delights of 'Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs'.  I am particularly loving the story where the Mummy T-Rex turns up and gives the pirate dinosaur captain what for.  

• Once again been inspired by Allison and made my own 'Julie' Cuff with grey mohair.  Mohair is not fun to crochet with a 3mm hook.

• Today I am attempting to clean the mess created over half-term.  There seems to be hama beads and sequins everywhere.  Whilst I've been vacuuming the children appear to have been having a sword fight with butter knives. It'll all end in tears, as my Mother used to say!

Off the hook: A Garland for Spring

For quite some time now I have been coveting one of Emma Lamb's 'Forever Flower' garlands, but I am always reluctant to buy something I know I could easily crochet myself.  

Over the last week I have been experimenting with little 3 round motifs and made my own garland to brighten the place up and, hopefully, invoke Spring.  I've used Spring like colours - lilac, orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, blue.  They make me think of crocuses (croci?), daffodils, new leaves and blue skies.

I made 12 motifs in total, 3 each of 4 different shapes...

I am very pleased with it, when strung together it really seemed to become more than the sum of its parts...

Yarn: Rowan Handknit Cotton, 12 shades, some of which are now discontinued.  Rowan, if you're reading this, please reinstate 'Flame' and 'Lupin'!

Hook: 4mm

Pattern: I didn't use any published patterns but because the motifs I've made are so obviously influenced by Emma's garland I don't think it would be fair to share the patterns I came up with. Sorry.

Yet more doilies

But I think these may be the last for a while.  

First the 'Winter's First Snow' doily...

And second, a doily made from a vintage pattern that Dawn at 'Life on the East Coast' was kind enough to send me.

There is one more doily on the hook that I'm going to use for another cushion and then I think I fancy a change from all this thread work.  I've enjoyed it though and will make more as and when I feel like it.   I'll be keeping an eye out for vintage doilies in the charity shops too and when I have enough I think I'll make some sort of table runner from them.

My thoughts exactly...

http://www.kissher.co.uk/product/punk-doily-decorative-tile

Doily cushion

I've prettied up a boring silk cushion cover with the petite pineapple doily that I crocheted a while back...

I blocked it first and whilst blocking learned a valuable lesson - be sure to block the doily right-side down, especially if you're going to iron it with an iron that is, ahem, less clean than it should be.  Or I guess you could just clean your iron first.  

So the doily is sewn on with what is usually considered to be the 'wrong side' of the crochet uppermost.  But that's ok because I quite like the wrong side of crochet.

In addition to Flickr I must credit Allison over at Field Wonderful for doily pillow inspiration.

Dragons and Lanterns

I'm ashamed to say that despite living in Manchester for the last 12 years, this is the first time I've been into town to see the celebrations for the Chinese new Year.

In my defense, I am very short so struggle to see much apart from the back of other people.

The children seemed to enjoy it.  One of these dragons was later seen marauding through the  town centre roaring at random passers by.  My apologies if you were one of them.

Saturday night...

a cup of tea, some experimenting with crochet motifs, 'Sleepless in Seattle' is on in the background...

*sigh* 

How did my life get to be so rock and roll?   

I am suddenly very motivated about ringing the babysitter.

More marmalade and apple flapjack

Orange and lime marmalade this time.  I used the same recipe I always do but substituted half the oranges for limes.   I've never made it before but wanted to try it because one of my favourite marmalades is Tiptree's Orange and Lime (which used to be known as 'Double Two' - I wonder why they changed it?).   I had no idea whether this proportion of oranges to lime would work, but I think it has.  It's very tangy as the lime comes through quite strongly.   I also really like the look of it with all those shards of green peel...

We ran out of apple flapjack this week too.  This is one of our staples for the freezer and a great way to deal with wizen or less-crunchy-than-you'd-like apples.  Fabulous for lunch boxes as it defrosts quickly. 

Fruit Flapjack

125g unsalted butter

75g soft brown sugar

2 tbsp golden syrup

350g porridge oats

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 apples, grated (I don't bother to peel them)

50g ground almonds

Oven 180⁰C/gas 4. Grease and line a 20x30cm baking tin.

Melt butter, sugar and golden syrup in a large pan over a low heat.

Combine the oats, baking powder, grated apple and ground almonds in a large bowl.

Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix well.

Tip into the tin and flatten the surface.  

Bake for 20 minutes.

Mark into squares while still warm, but leave to cool in the tin.

The fruit and ground almonds mean that these flapjacks are soft rather than hard and chewy - I think the original recipe was meant for young children - but they are still rather good.  Today I have contaminated the flapjack with dried fruit, having substituted 50g of the oats for sultanas, thus ensuring that they make their way into the children rather than me.

Thank you, those of you who commented on my last post, for your words of support.  #2 and I are still battling on and off but I'm sure the 'terrible twos' will soon be over and I'll get my funny, adorable little boy back.