2 wheelin'!

Faith rode her bike 2 wheeled for the first time this week! With much falling off and diving off and wobbling around we progressed around the edge of the park until that moment when with wild leaning from side to side she started moving forwards as well ...

ready...

set...

...go!

Stopping is a fling-the-bike-to-one-side-while-leaping-to-the-other manoeuvre but so far serious injury has been avoided!

Jo x 



recipe: chai concentrate

If you like chai, you must try this recipe it is sooo yummy and my new favourite winter drink. I was inspired by a recipie I found on 'A wooden nest' blog but I think she got it from elsewhere too. I haven't got such a sweet tooth as some so this recipe doesn't have as much sugar as most chai recipes. Also, chai is usually made with orange but when I first tried it I didn't have any oranges so I used a lemon, and I liked it!

- A saucepan of water I think its about 8 / 9 cups but this is not really crucial.

bring the water just up to the boil, this is just about the amount of time it takes me to grate and grind and squeeze the other ingredients.

- 2 or 3 pieces of cinnamon or a dessert spoonful of ground cinnamon.

- big hunk of ginger, this obviously depends on how much you like ginger but I usually use a whole piece about  or 6 inches. If your ginger is young and fresh with a light skin then leave it on but if it has gone a bit drier then its best to peel it as the skin can be bitter then. Grate the ginger.

- tablespoon of cardamom pods

- 4 star anise

- tablespoon of cloves

- teaspoon black pepper, just smashed to let the flavour out.

- teaspoon ground nutmeg

- 1 lemon, grate the zest off and then roughly chop and squeeze up the rest, the whole lot goes in we're just trying to release as much flavour as possible. This step can be done with an orange if you kike but I really like the lemony flavour.

- A couple of big handfuls of tea leaves. I have never measured this but just enough to make the water a good dark colour, remember this is a concentrate so you want it darker than you would drink normally. Its roughly a mug full I would guess?!

So, when your water is hot, turn off the heat and put everything you just prepared in. Don't put them into boiling water as it will taste bitter. Put the lid on your pan and leave to steep for about an hour.

Strain out your liquid and then add,

- 2 tbsp brown sugar (I have seen this recipe with up to a cup full of sugar so do it to your taste, you can always add a little to individual cups as you drink it).

- 1 tbsp honey

 - 1 tbsp vanilla

If your liquid is still warm enough to dissolve these then all well and good, if not then just dissolve them in a little hot water first and then pour in.

Enjoy this drink at a ratio of 1 part concentrate, 1 part milk heated up to just before boiling. I have also heard that it is a good summer drink cold over ice but have never tried it.

We store ours in a fancy decanter from the charity shop and leave it out on show where it looks very nice! Keeps for a few weeks but doesn't usually last that long.

Jo x 

yarn along

Joining in with the yarn along this week.

I haven't had much knitting time this week but I did manage to finish off a pair of socks which will be heading out in the post today.

I have been reading cottage economy by William Cobbett. It was written in 1821 as a book on budgeting, running house and home and smallholding. A lot of the views are definitely of that time and he goes off into a spout of ranting every now and then but still it is a fascinating read and a real slice of history.

Jo x 



at our place

This week has been, a full moon, spices, cooking, growing, (only on the windowsill as its still cold), learning to knit, first campfire of the year, visiting an art gallery, attempted vegetable burglary, finding beautiful reflections and admiring the view.

Jo x  

this moment

Inspired by Soulemama, a moment to pause and remember.



make: felted crochet bowl

To make this simple bowl:

(UK abbreviations) readers in the US can substitute sc every time I have written dc.

Using a 4.5mm hook and a dk weight yarn. 100% wool yarn that is handwash only will usually felt but check when you buy it.

Make 5 dc into a magic loop.

Working in a spiral make a flat circle up to 50dc, as follows,

round 1: dc 2 into each dc around (10dc)

round 2: *dc 1, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (15 dc)

round 3: *dc 2, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (20 dc)

round 4: *dc 3, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (25dc)

spotting a pattern yet...?

round 5: *dc 4, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (30dc)

round 6: *dc 5, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (35 dc)

round 7: *dc 6, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (40dc)

round 8: *dc7, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (45 dc)

round 9: *dc 8, dc 2 into next dc, rep from * around (50dc)

round 10: dc into back of loop only around (50dc). Going into the back of the loop only creates a natural fold point for the start of the sides.

dc around evenly in a spiral until desired height is reached, I did approximately 15cm, remember that the whole thing will shrink when washed.

Put it in the washing machine on a hot cycle with a little soap (not as much as you would use for a normal wash. Mould it into shape when it comes out of the wash and leave to dry, drying can take a couple of days.

To make a smaller bowl stop increasing before you get to round 9 ( I would do at least up to round 4 or it will be extremely small once felted), do round 10 and then the sides to a proportionate height. To make a larger bowl, continue with more rounds, following the pattern of 1 extra dc per round, before doing round 10. Again make your sides in proportion to your base.

As an extra note - always remember to properly shut the soap draw before switching your machine on!

make: valentines heart pillow

Make this squishy pillow for your loved one to snuggle up to.

I used old wool jumpers to make this pillow because it is soft and warm but any fabric is fine.

Sew some pieces together to make a pattern you like, I chose to do simple chunky stripes. No need to design this too much, so long as your colours look good together then it will come out looking great.

Lay on your heart template (for this size pillow I made my heart template out of a piece of A3 paper), and mark around it using pen, chalk, pins... whatever you like to use.

 Cut the heart out ...

... and give it to your helper to hold on to.

Cut out two of these hearts the same size.

Pin the hearts right sides together so that they line up and sew around the edge leaving a 2" gap.

Stuff the pillow through the gap and then hand sew the opening closed.

Happy crafting!

Jo x