Time Flies

Even when you're not having all that much fun. We have all been very busy here in our Crafty World. Unfortunately there's not been much craftiness going on. We've been consumed with what seems to be our usual summer buzz of home improvements and making endless trips to the hardware store. Sometimes I wonder will it ever end?! In short, I have been doing a lot of painting, priming, shutter removing, basement cleaning, etc.; nothing really worth documenting with pictures.

Amongst all these home improvements we have had a birthday party. Our Favourite Boy turned five a few weeks ago and I think this cake is my favorite yet. Probably because it was so easy! He loves construction vehicles, so it was super simple to put together. I think Bulk Barn is my new favourite store for all things to do with cake decorating.

I even squeezed a few hours in to cross stitch a simple card for him, simple being the key word! I made the crab card because he's a Cancer baby.

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I haven't been thrifting in a while, so the other day I dragged/bribed the kids to Value Village. I was not disappointed in what I found: lots of fabric and a lovely pink and white tablecloth. I had planned on cutting the tablecloth up and making oodles of dishtowels, but it coincidentally goes perfectly with a tea cloth I found in my trunk. As yet I have no recollection of where the tea cloth came from!

The tag for the fabric on the left said there were three meters all together. I thought that was a good deal for $4. When I got home and measured, there are actually just under six! I am thinking about using it for my spare room curtains. They look very pretty and vintage-y in there. It's newly painted a fresh cream, and really needs a pop of color in there.

The other fabric, about three meters, will be the perfect backing for my rainy day quilt. I have been looking for a sheet to use, but this is even better. I think it only cost $4 or $5, so it's a significant savings of the $35 or so I figured it would cost to buy new fabric. Pretty don't you think?

I picked up theses books today at Goodwill. I just love the cover of the Betty Crocker book. Inside are "secrets" to becoming a "famous hostess". Who wouldn't want to know those? I think I'll read the other book and brush up on my Canadian history.

Sunday brings the birthday of our Favourite Girl, so preparations are being made. We're having a tea party and there will be some fun crafts and activities. I'm sure the post about that will be quite picture heavy! I won't be posting about that for a while though, as the day after the tea party we are headed out on a much needed vacation. No hammers, paintbrushes or ladders to be seen for a week. I'm really looking forward to it!

Have a great week.

Colorful Summer Days

Despite the gloom and rain lately we have managed to bring some color into our Crafty World.

We've been to a party and made cakes:

We've had an undersea adventure making cupcakes:

We've created a host of butterflies to flutter on our fridge:

This picture just makes me laugh:

My Favorite Boy threw his stuffed kitty into the air in an effort to make his windchimes tinkle. The nylon string wrapped around the cat's paw, keeping him in the air.

We were supposed to go to the beach today, but it looks like the rain will come sooner than expected. I think we will be at our usual stations, around the kitchen or craft table, making more colorful days.

Have a colorful day!

Our Favorite Girl

I have a new project on the go. I am "re-doing" our spare room to become our Favorite Girl's room. We have removed old wallpaper, and now it's time to pick out paint colors.

My Favorite Girl has had a lot of bedrooms in her almost 7 year history. When she was born, the bedroom she moved into was sky blue with a glaze overcoat. It was really pretty, but not what you want for your baby girl. You want candyfloss pink and eyelet lace and fluttery butterflies. That's what she got after she turned a year old. I'll never forget the paint color: it was called Paris Pink by Martha Stewart, and we thought it was so perfect because she had already been to France by that time. It was also a very pretty room, but something was just not right.

We moved away and this way I was determined to capture the "essence" of our Favorite Girl. Her room was painted lavender and cream, with swirly green vines and colorful wooden (cute) bug cut outs around the ceiling line. She had a bug light from Ikea and a buggy curtain valance to go with it. I thought it was OK.

We moved again and this time her room was painted yellow, with pink and white accessories. It's nice too, but I still feel that it's not her. So I'm trying again.

If I had to describe her using a series of pictures, I would say jellybeans and candy popcorn; daffodils and tea roses. I would think of polka dots and rainbows; colored marshmallows and warm squirmy puppies. A box full of new crayons and a rollercoaster ride. This is a little girl who giggles in her sleep, yet cries at happy ending movies.

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There's a song, called Daddy's Little Girl, written by Bobby Burke and Horace Gerlach in 1949. When I read the book (and cried the whole time too ) I understood that this is universal, how people feel about their little girls. My favorite part is the chorus, and I'm repeating it here with a few modifications.

"You're the end of the rainbow, our pot o' gold. You're our Favorite Girl to have and hold; A precious gem is what you are, You're our bright and shiningstar; You're the spirit of Christmas, our star on the tree, You're the Easter bunny to daddy and me; You're sugar, you're spice, you're everything nice, and you're our Favorite Girl. You're the treasure we cherish, so sparkling and bright, You were touched by holy and beautiful light; Like angels that sing, a heavenly thing, And you're our Favorite Girl."

Now, given all that, how do I pick the perfect color?

Catching Up

I feel like we've been really busy this last week and a half, and in looking over my photos I guess we have. So, lets get started:

I have done a bit of fixing up and sewing. Our neighbor had a garage sale and I picked up this incredibly ugly table top ironing board for $2.

Not one to let bad fabric choices deter me, I removed the old fabric and wool, and replaced it with clean felt and a pretty cotton print. I love that it's made of wood so it matches the large wooden ironing board I got from my Grammie. It needs a new cover too, so I might just use more of this print to have a matching set.

It has been raining a lot lately, making it hard to play outside. What have we been doing?

Funny enough, the kids are really enjoying doing this job, and I am grateful for the help.

It stopped raining long enough for us to enjoy our local Canada Day celebrations. After watching the parade we headed to the park for birdhouse building, pony rides, crafts and balloons. We came home just as the rain started again and enjoyed our Canada Day treats:

With a possible break in the weather we decided it was time for a road trip, and we packed up the car and headed south. We drove to Cultus to put flowers on my grandparents grave, then on to Tillsonburg and Port Burwell. The kids loved the sandy beach at Port Burwell:

At our hotel I discovered what our Favorite Boy had packed for our trip. I believe he considered all this absolutely essential.

I was just happy he packed his bathing suit! There's nothing in the tin by the way. I'm not sure if he was planning on filling it up with souvenirs.

The following day we headed for Port Bruce, and the kids enjoyed playing on a rock beach this time. There was a stiff breeze which made the waves come in a bit quicker than the day before, and not so gently. A little support was required:

I collected these rocks to take home. I think they are about the loveliest rocks I have ever seen.

You didn't think I could go without a little shopping now did you? What made it even better was thrift shopping! These are my souvenirs:

I also bought these two botanical prints. I love that they're done in blues and have linen mats around them.

They were very dusty, and oh so vintage-y, right down to the dirty frames. The backing paper on the frame looks like old blue and white wallpaper. What is really intriguing though, and something I didn't see until later, is a small bit of writing on the framers sticker on the print on the left. Someone wrote that the print was dated 1849. Hmmmm, we thought. I didn't want to take the frame apart just yet, so I did a bit of poking around on line, and it looks like I may have at least one antique botanical print done by a woman named Jane Webb Loudon, in or around 1849. Kind of cool huh? I haven't found any information for the print on the right just yet.

Have a great day!

A Good Start

Well so far chicken pox has made our days blissfully restful. We have been staying home to play in the kiddie pool; try out some crochet; eat homemade popsicles and watermelon. Quarantine has been rather nice actually!

I ordered two new books with some birthday money and the money I made from the cake. They came yesterday and I spent a lovely time outside going through them. I ordered The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket and Pretty Little Cozies from Lark Books.

Doesn't this photo look like the perfect summer day? My perfect day anyway! I am really enjoying the one by Jane Brocket.

The cozies book is looking promising. I think my first project will be a cozy for my Bodum coffee maker. I have a few delicious fat quarters just waiting to be used.

I also started a project long lanquishing in my "In-box". I have a baby quilt that is in dire need of repair before it can be brought out and loved by another little one.

I painted my cedar planter to match the doors on my house. My lovely geranium looks so much brighter in it. I love doing little things that make a big impact.

Today we are able to go out in public again. Because my shopping day was cut short by the phone call from the school we are going thrifting. Not the kids favorite thing to do, but I have bribed them with some spending money. I'm hoping to find more treasures like these from past thrifting adventures. I can't wait to get them cleaned up and into the spare room.

This weekend promises to be a good one. There is a red and white Strawberries and Cream festival going on at the farmers market, and a huge used book sale in the industrial park. Sounds like another great day I think.

Have a lovely weekend!

A Pox on Our House

Chicken pox! Can you believe it?! I thought getting my kids vaccinated for this meant they weren't supposed to get it. Apparently not. I have been told the symptoms will be much less severe than if they didn't get the vaccine, so I guess that's something to be grateful for. Still...

Anyway it made us start our summer vacation two days early. It meant I didn't have to cut up pounds and pounds of fruit for the kindergarten picnic, or sit, frying in the sun at said picnic. It also means My Favorite Girl misses her award ceremony, and both kids miss their year-end parties. We also can't have playdates for at least a week, and are pretty much confined to the house. In one way a bummer; in another way, more relaxing. It all balances out I guess.

These are some of the teacher gifts I put together this year. I was struggling with what to give. After a very trying day last week I ended up at the plant nursery, and saw these beautiful double impatiens. I thought "perfect!" and they came home with us.

They really look like miniature roses, and have a sweet little scent. I'm happy with how they potted up, and am even happier each pot cost around $5. I had to make five in total, so I was able to give something that looks good to everyone and didn't break my bank account. One of these days I'll get a better camera and my pictures will be much better!

It's so hot today I filled up the kids inflatable pool. They have already had a good go-round in it; now they're "resting" in front of the TV for a bit. When they're ready to go back outside I plan on parking myself in the new lounger and catching up on some reading. Maybe being under quarantine won't be so bad!

Fathers Day

I made two good recipes yesterday I want to share with you. We had a French inspired dinner for Mr. Crafty World, consisting of a smoked Gouda and asparagus soup; bistro salad with dijon vinaigrette and breaded goat cheese; chicken breasts with rosemary/dijon cream sauce and cherry chocolate clafoutis (cla-foo-tee). It was all really good; a bit too much work for such a sunny day, but it was worth it. The recipes I want to pass on are for the soup and dessert.

I only made half a batch of this soup, but this is the full recipe. Due to the high cost of the cheese, I didn't want to make a full batch and not like it. Next time I would make a full batch though: it's really good.

Asparagus and Smoked Gouda Soup

2 Tbsp butter

1 leek, white and tender green parts only, sliced*

6 large shallots, chopped*

2 Tbsp all purpose flour

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup milk

2 cups chicken broth (I used homemade)

2 lbs asparagus; trimmed of woody ends and chopped

1 cup grated smoked gouda

salt and freshly ground pepper

1 cup whipping cream

*I didn't have a leek or shallots, so I substituted a bundle of green onions (white and tender green parts) and half a of a mild onion

Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek and shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until softened.

Add flour adn cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Gradually stir in wine, milk and broth. Bring to a simmer and add the aspargus and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, uncovered, for about 15 minutes or until aspargus is softened. Add cheese and cream.

Put mixture in a blender in batches and blend until smooth and frothy. Return mixture to same pan over medium heat until hot. Serve hot.

This recipe came from here. There are some really yummy looking salads over there I want to try this week too.

Now for the clafoutis. I have never made one before, nor have I ever had a fresh one. My only experience with clafoutis is with the kind that comes in a tin I have eaten in France. It's my go-to when I'm up in the middle of the night and don't want to wake everyone up getting something to eat. Mmmmmm....canned clafoutis and chocolate pudding in the middle of the night. That's a good memory for me.

Anyway, I found this recipe in one of those glossy, supermarket foodie-type magazines they put out. I usually don't try those recipes out because they just seem too complicated and/or expensive to execute. I do like this one, and plan on making it again.

Cherry-chocolate Clafoutis

1 pound sweet fresh cherries

3 Tbsp butter, divided

1 cup all purpose flour

1 package (100 grams) ground almonds. Or grind your own like I did.

1 cup milk

1/2 cup half and half cream

4 large eggs

1/3 cup, plus 2Tbsp sugar, divided

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup chopped, dark chocolate. I used milk chocolate because that's all I had. Next time I'll try the dark.

2 Tbsp icing sugar.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash cherries and remove stems and stones.

Melt 2Tbsp butter.

In a food processor, combine flour, almonds, milk, cream, eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, melted butter, vanilla and salt. Mix until batter is completely smooth, about 1 minute. Let batter rest.

Butter a 10 inch quiche/pie pan with remaining 1 Tbsp butter. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the dish and bake until very lightly set, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and scatter cherries, remaining 2Tbsp sugar and chocolate over batter. Pour remaining batter evenly over all.

Bake until puffed, set and golden brown around the edges, 45-50 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; dust with icing sugar and serve.

It says this is best eaten warm on the day it's made. I'll leave that up to you. I actually prefer it cold....

We did a lot of planting this weekend. Mr. Crafty World and I put some new shrubs out front and the kids planted their own little flower gardens:

Notice the cute gardening gloves?

This week is the last for the kids to go to school, so I'm trying to cram lots of stuff in. I have painted the garage door and all the exterior doors, and have gotten most of my flowers planted. I just want to go back and get one more David Austen rose I saw the other day. Talk about gorgeous! I'm also making up little pots for the kids to give to their teachers and bus driver. Then I'm done - I think.

Have a great week!