Snow White & Rose Red

my new kenwood love

2012-05-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

i have been after a food mixer for ages but when we looked at the prices of the new kitchenaid mixers, and the new kenwood mixers we were horrified and decided that we would wait for a bit.

then we saw this retro beauty. i love it more than the new ones. it works great and i am amazed at how much it can do. so far i have the dough hook, balloon whisk and k beater (for cakes). if i wanted i could get a mincer, coffee grinder and liquidiser amongst many other things. not sure if i am going to save up for the sausage filler or pasta maker. anyway i just thought i would share its orange loveliness with you all.

ambika x

Rainy days

2012-05-10T09:35:00.001-07:00

There is a constant drizzle and hazy fog which has now been with us for a few days. So today we did a wet day after school art project. Wallpaper lining paper was spread across the full length of the table and every medium i could find in my cupboard was found. paint, glitter, glitter glue, magazines, scissors, pens, and crayons all went into creating this scene from our town. (it's the jubilee street party which has not yet happened)

this is francisco and sookie being lifted up by balloons

this is trematon castle

the only issue now is what do i do with it?

moments to savour

2012-05-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

these days seem to race by in a flurry of activity, especially since my sweet boy has started school. sometimes i feel as though i hardly have time to take a breath let alone remember and enjoy these moments with my little ones. and i so want to remember. a long bank holiday weekend was a good reminder to just slow down and relax. and that's just what we did. the pretty much constant rain didn't worry us one bit. we snuggled for a little longer in bed in the mornings, made it up as we went along and snuggled some more with lots of giggles thrown in for good measure.

ps the sunny pictures are from the week before, when we had one day without rain!

hope your weekend was relaxing too,

sarada xx

a new venture, and a new adventure

2012-04-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

my friend alison and i are both in more or less the same situation. we both have one child who is in school during the day, we both want to work, but neither of us are prepared to compromise with breakfast and after school clubs. basically we want to spend as much time with our young children as possible while still earning a little money. This over the last year has proved harder than i thought, so i am looking at our new venture as an exciting adventure, i can't wait to see where it goes.

we have started producing our own natural soaps. Below is a small selection of the soaps we have produced for our first stall at our local mayfair next weekend.

if you want to see more of our soaps have a look at our recently created facebook page and if you think it's good please "like" us. feels very odd saying this but we are trying to get the word out every which way we can. very soon we will be selling them online. thanks for looking

ambika x

making and waiting

2012-04-23T12:25:00.004-07:00

after a wonderful easter spent away with family we are adjusting to familiar routines and spending a lot of time indoors as it's been raining so much. the allotment will certainly appreciate it, and there is something lovely about coming indoors from heavy rain and getting all cosy. i made these two bears for recent birthdays and i keep checking out the windows to see if the ornamental cherry tree at the back of us is in bloom yet. it won't be long till its cheery pink blossom appears.

sarada xx

one walk

2012-03-29T09:39:00.008-07:00

every morning i do the school run and then take sookie up to the fields for her morning walk. i never grow tired of this place and feel so lucky that we have all of this on our door step.

she's good company our little pup. she trots along next to me, stopping when i stop and discovering all the wonders of the outside world.

i often look at her when we get home fast asleep in her basket and totally understand where the phrase it's a dogs life comes from.

ambika

a good start

2012-03-29T06:51:00.017-07:00

it's always good to start the day with a little drawing time outside, even if all you want to draw on is everything apart from the paper that mummy has laid out in front of you. and pulling the lids off and on is so much fun. stan had to wear an easter bonnet for a special parade and breakfast this morning before the start of school and we somehow managed to get there early even though we are usually late. i taped some daffodils from the allotment onto his sun hat. we decided against donating our hot cross buns for communal use as the baby had managed to chew them into crumbs through the plastic wrapping, so we sat there and ate them ourselves. and there wasn't a parade so we said goodbye to my school boy and back home we went to wait in for the electrician. and now i am so glad school is out. that means we can have a snuggle in bed tomorrow morning and get to the serious business of reading winnie the pooh. and we are away visiting family for a few days too, it will be lovely.

sarada xx

this week

2012-03-16T05:19:00.014-07:00

this little one decided that standing in the buggy on short journeys is far more fun

we've been busy planting pea, tomato sweetcorn and carrot seeds for the allotment as well as sweet pea plants on the balcony, to hopeful grow up the railings and look pretty

in-between hanging washing i made a macrame pot holder following this great tutorial. i do love a quick and simple project. by the way instead of inserting a ring at the top, i made a loop out of the string and carried on from there

and the poor babies have had coughs and high temperatures over the last few days, daddy cuddles are an integral part of the recovery process

how was your week?

sarada xx

one boy and his dog

2012-03-04T07:26:00.008-08:00

Francisco is fast approaching his 6th birthday, a fact that i find so hard to believe. the last 6 years have been so full of life and love and living that i am not quite sure where they have gone.
so what to get a 6 year old boy for his birthday? the answer: a lifelong companion who is filled with as much energy and cheekiness as the boy himself.

meet our new puppy sookie. we had been toying with the idea of getting a dog for as long as i can remember. now we have finally taken the plunge i cant imagine ever going back. she adds a crazy dynamic to our household. she get us up and motivated when we might otherwise just be lazy. and she is just a little bundle of love.

having a puppy is harder than i thought it would be, but i am enjoying the challenge and the new learning experiences which come with her. francisco is mad about her and so happy, what more can we ask for. the only residents at the cottage who don't seem too pleased are the chickens but i am sure they will all reach some kind of harmonious middle ground soon.

ambika x

beautiful connections

2012-03-01T02:59:00.021-08:00

hello march. i can't believe you're here already! i didn't mean to be away for so long. but after the slow month of january which is generally only eased by the ambitions for the new year, plotting great plans and a full of hope feeling that brightens even the gloomiest of winter days. by the time march comes around i am always surprised that it is already, well, march! and here i am hoping that i will catch up with this year before it races off and i am left chasing behind wondering where all the months have gone. is it only me, do you ever get this feeling?

definitely a highlight so far this year and a happy distraction from our woes was when my mother and i, along with my little ones visited my lovely sister in cornwall for a few days. we had a great time catching up and seeing her life close up rather than on the end of a telephone. it was wonderful. and as we said farewell she handed us each a jar filled with some of her sourdough starter to take home and nurture. from start to finish the whole process is quite a labour of love. after feeding it for a bit (you can see how to make the starter here) and making the sponge, and all that rising time here is my first loaf. it is delicious and fresh bread and honey is so simple and wholesome. but what i like most is that we are all making bread to feed our families from the same sourdough starter. the three of us, in our homes that are not as close to each other as we'd like. i enjoy thinking about my sister and my mother every time i feed my starter or eat this delicious bread. and yes, it makes me feel connected to these amazing women who also happen to be in my family. and i love that, it's a special feeling and one that makes me feel very happy indeed.

sarada xx

red, white, blue and a new cardigan

2012-01-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

hello. today's post is a little bit of a mix bag. i just downloaded the photos from my camera and realised i have actually been up to quite a lot. it was one of those moments when for the last few weeks i have been wondering what i can blog about and there right in front of me were the answers.

we strung up the garden chillies before christmas. they were dark green as they were planted late and didn't have time to ripen before the colder weather set in. now look at them, and all the rather embarrassing cobwebs.

these beautiful tulips were given to me by one of my lovely friends. i was very touched they are so pretty i had to mention them.

i just loved the colour in this picture, it is so vivid. i don't know who took it probably franc which makes me love it more.

so onto my new cardigan. i bought this cashmere jumper from a charity shop for £1.50
and didn't really like it but the fabric felt soooo good i had to buy it.

i turned it into this cardigan. the picture is a little ropey but you get the idea.

ambika x

oh christmas tree

2012-01-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

today the tree came down, the decorations are all neatly packed up ready for christmas 2012.

i just love my tree, it's magical. christmas would be nothing without it. the tree goes up on christmas eve and comes down today, as family tradition has, and always has dictated. who knows who starts these traditions but carrying them on is important, as well as starting new ones that is.

happy new year to all you lovely people

ambika x

beetroot brownies

2011-12-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

if like me you have still have beetroots growing in your garden, allotment or window box, and are not sure what to do with them, try these little beauties. they are deliciously moreish and contain one of your five a day so they must be good for you, right??

ingredients
250g raw beetroot, boiled, peeled and pureed
200g plain chocolate
250g butter
250g golden caster sugar
3 large free range eggs
150g self raising flour

step 1
heat the oven to gas mark 4 180C
melt the chocolate and butter together in a pan

step 2
whisk together the sugar and eggs, then pour in the melted chocolate and butter

step 3
fold in the flour and then mix in the beetroot.

step 4
pour mixture into a lined tin and bake for about 30 mins, or until a skewer comes out just a little bit sticky (they are brownies after all)

ready to eat. yumm sooo good!

i also just wanted to share with you some christmas presents i wrapped using paper and tags made at the handmade christmas event which was held recently by saltash environmental action group.

ambika x

perspective

2011-12-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

this is where we live.

i love it. the chicken run is bigger than our house, the shed is also bigger than our house and taller than the workshop. the living roof which we created about 3 years ago, has amazingly big flowers growing on it, and the birds in the sky above our garden have smiles and beaks. nothing amuses me quite like a 5 year olds perspective.

we have been baking a lot lately, getting prepared for christmas.

i took my wedding ring off when we were making these mince pies and forgot to put it back on. i remembered when we were out shopping in town. francisco said, "don't worry mummy, everyone will know that you're married by your happy face"

4 days till christmas, i get the count down daily, there is a lot of excitement here.

ambika x

my little chimney sweep

2011-12-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

our towns christmas light switch on was celebrated by a dickensian themed day and evening lantern parade and carols. franc and i knocked up a very quick chimney sweep outfit for the occasion, complete with black net chimney brush.

To our great surprise and pleasure he won the kids fancy dress competition and was awarded with this beautiful engraved bauble. Francisco is the cheeky chap in the middle with the brown scarf.

the lantern parade was magical, it has been such a long time since something in my town has sent such a warm feeling through me. the streets where packed and the mood was so happy. it really was a beautiful way to get into the christmas spirit. after the parade carols were sung in the street, accompanied by the town band. we finished off the evening with a drink and a bite to eat in the local pub with crazy kids hiding under the table demanding ice cream.

ambika x

wedstock

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

i've been away from this space for a while, and i've missed it. it wasn't a conscious decision to stop blogging. life just somehow got in the way as it often does when things get busy, creative, emotional, and just a touch romantic. i got married.

after being in a happy monogamous relationship for nearly 14 years we finally decided to tie the knot. i'm not really sure what bought about this decision but i think being asked helped to move things along.

in very typical us style we bought begged, borrowed, stole*, created and laboured to make the day really special, and despite our obvious exhaustion it really was magical. it could never have happened as spectacularly as it did without the help of all our amazing friends and family. we feel really lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people.

we made each others wedding bands, it what a fabulous experience, it has really given me the urge to try some more metal work. ebay became our best friend as we began buying everything from candle wax, to wedding suits and marquees.

we dug and built our own composting loos, and constructed a stage where our friends and family performed all night long and into the next day. that is after they had eaten a sumptuous feast prepared by my lovely brother and his sister in law. i cant say anything more to describe the enormity of the occasion and pictures speak louder than words.

ambika x

* thank you maurice huggins tea room for supplying the lace doily which made the sleeves of my dress, which was also handmade by chloe

counting down the days

2011-12-02T11:38:00.001-08:00

this year i thought we'd do something a bit different to count down the days until christmas. i think i saw the idea in mollie makes. i bought the local shop out of small match boxes. then used a book of coloured paper that has lasted us for years it seems, to cover them. i got number stickers from the local craft shop, and finally filled them with sweets, little messages and gifts. oh and i got the jar from a charity shop for £6.25 in a half price sale. i thought i could use it again and i do love the shape. when i showed it to him on thursday night, well, i didn't manage to get it together for the morning, it produced the biggest smile. today he got a jelly bear and tomorrow is a message saying 'let's get out some of the christmas books'. I haven't quite finished all the matchboxes, but i figure i only have to be a couple of days ahead! we have a traditional advent calendar too (you can see it in the background). sent to us every year by grandma along with an advent candle. that parcel is always exciting to open. yesterday, after arranging all the matchboxes in the jar, ages later he kept saying 'i just need to check that the number 2 is still on top'. as he had placed it there ready to open this morning. he is so excited about the advent calendars and just christmas in general. 4 is such a sweet age. it's going to be fun watching it all through his eyes.

happy weekend,

sarada xx

3 things

2011-11-28T10:50:00.001-08:00

i was in town with my 4 year old the other day and he noticed the christmas lights. i think they went up at the end of october, can that be true? after seeing them he asked me why we hadn't got our decorations up. hmm, well to keep him happy we got working on something as soon as we got home. some simple decorations made out of cardboard, inspired by these found via pinterest. i think the point is to let some of the card show at the end but we got rather carried away with the painting. we found the twig in the woods on the way to the allotment and i hung them up with odd bits of ribbon that i had in my stash. finishing off with some bright cards and handmade christmas cards on the wall behind. oh and our lovely stacking christmas dolls, thanks katy - we still have them.

i also made these neck warmers for my boys. well, i say made but really i just snipped off the polo necks from a couple of those cosy woollen jumpers i have been collecting lately. the orange one is cashmere and the green one is felted wool. even though it's still beautiful outside these days, there is a slight chill in the air. so these are perfect for keeping my little ones a tiny bit warmer.

and last but not least, i am really excited to say that my sister ambika will be returning to join me in this space once again. i'm really pleased as that's the reason we started this blog in the first place, as another way of connecting with each others lives. i can't wait, it will be so nice.

hope you are having a good week so far,

sarada xx

reflecting

2011-11-23T14:12:00.001-08:00

i always find myself reflecting at this time of year. as autumn turns to winter and the year comes to a close, i like to mull over how it has all turned out. the good and the difficult times, the happiness and frustrating moments. these days i am quiet and thoughtful as the nights draw in, wondering what the coming year will bring and if there are any changes we need to make on our path through this life. it's hard not having all the answers and worrying at each decision if we are doing all the right things for our little family. i'm doing a lot of digging up at the allotment at the moment and finding it a great task to clarify my thoughts or just clear my head as i breathe in that crisp autumn air. as i carry on digging of course.

sarada xx

lovely company

2011-11-11T10:58:00.001-08:00

my mums come to stay for a few days and it's lovely. she brought some homemade quince jelly with her. it was sweet, aromatic and jewel like, just look at that beautiful colour. so delicious. we had it on croissants whilst browsing through cook books from the library and drinking lots of tea. and of course, chatting, we always have so much to chat about. it's so nice to have her here for the weekend. such lovely company, it's going to be fun. and she's kindly looking after the babies tomorrow night (thanks mum), while we go out to see gillian welch. i can't wait.

i hope your weekend is lovely too,

sarada xx

thoughts on a grey day

2011-11-08T03:38:00.001-08:00

i finally got round to having some breakfast this morning. cornflakes with blueberries. this got me thinking about alys fowler, she loves them too with ice cold milk. she's a gardener and writer of the edible garden. it's a lovely book and oh, i want a garden like hers. still, i love it for allotment inspiration. although the allotment has been a bit of a disaster this year, but grey rainy days like today are great for planning what to do with it next year. if i could only plant some shallots and garlic before the end of the month then i think that would get me off to a good start. now i'm almost over my cold i need to start going up there and sorting it out. basically, everything we planted got eaten before it even got a chance to grow, plus the soil is terrible. chalky and too tough for any plant to push roots down into. remember the teepee? i had such high hopes but every single plant got chomped on by snails and slugs i'm guessing. i tried putting down sand but need to revise my approach. and the pink fur apples potatoes. from 10 plants, i think i got one tiny handful. the rest, you guessed it. there's a photo of a few tomatoes and raspberries gathered from a couple of months ago. the other photo's are of the surrounding allotments. i must admit i did get a bit of allotment envy this summer, when nothing was growing on our plot. i think the best harvest we got were from the blackberries on the hedge that borders the allotment. oh well, i think we need a good dose of manure and then take it from there.

sarada xx

a walk with my baby

2011-11-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

hope you have a lovely weekend,

sarada xx

looking forward

2011-11-03T12:10:00.001-07:00

this morning we ventured out to a singing group, the baby and me, and on the way back i stumbled onto a really great charity shop. as you know i do love a good charity shop or boot fair or jumble sale for that matter. well, i came across these books and thought they would be great for christmas. we have a collection of books, that we only get out at christmas time. they're just random ones that i've picked up here and there, with a christmas theme. i think only bringing them out in december, adds to the excitement of the season and the build up to christmas day and it's nice reading them over and over during that special time. these ones look good. do you have any favourite christmas stories? we'll look forward to getting ours out next month.

and this was the view from our balcony when we got back this afternoon, just before a huge thunderstorm erupted. we huddled together watching and listening from our cosy spot up here.

sarada xx

sunday boot fair finds

2011-11-01T04:16:00.000-07:00

we had a lovely weekend, my parents came down and on sunday, we went to the marina and had fun watching the sea. it was really choppy and the waves crashed so high that we had to run to avoid getting too wet. and at the local boot fair this is what i found...

basket 20p
white jumper 50p
brown jumper £1.50
two stripy baby jumpers 20p each
hat 20p
large noticeboard 20p
two vests 20p each
etch-a-sketch £1
turquoise jumper and stripey tank top £1.50 for both
(the jumpers are 80- 100 percent wool)
the pumpkins we already had! granny helped carve one for halloween.
i also found the river cottage year (not photographed) for £1

good bargains, don't you think?! i left feeling quite pleased and full of ideas of what to do with my treasures.

sarada xx

a bag for collecting things

2011-10-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

yesterday was one of those days. you know, when you get tired of hearing your own voice and really no one is listening anyway. it was raining all day so that didn't help either. amidst the chaos i decided to get out the sewing machine and make this bag for my big boy to put all the things he asks me to fill my pockets with, when we're out and about. he always runs to me with a small object and announces that it's for his 'collection'. so the sewing machine whirred and amazingly peace ensued. it's funny how a change of activity can get everyone out of a rut. and we did attempt to get dressed at one point but pyjamas seems to be the preferred mode of dress around here on these dark rainy days. even changing back into them after being out, as we did today. made out of one of the blankets i got a few weeks ago, i think he was pleased. sometimes it's nice to see a physical achievement for a day, and i felt on top of it all once again and able to keep us happy and busy for the rest of the afternoon. although popcorn and hot chocolate might have been involved.

sarada xx