Make, Bake, Sew, Grow

We are fully back in the swing of work and school now and, as the days and evenings race by, I once again find myself juggling many things and neglecting this space. Truthfully, I don't want to turn on my laptop after a day looking at a computer screen, I just want to sew or crochet and listen to podcasts, and that is what I do. But I want to be here too, and so I need to remember to balance things better, to do little and often. I am picking up my Make, Bake, Sew, Grow posts again as they are a lifesaver when I am working. They are fun to write, but it's more than that - they give me somewhere to record and celebrate all things creative and domestic when life gets very busy. Home is my comfort, and I find comfort in these posts.

{ Make }

There's not a lot going on on the house front but I did buy some more of that t-shirt/rag yarn to make another rug, and thank you for your lovely comments about the ones I made the kids.

I'm really pleased with these colours, especially the soft peach and the deep blue, and I'm looking forward to starting this project. I find Boodles yarn colours can be a bit hit and miss (what's with all the neon?!) but I had a good rummage and found some nice shades. 

{ Bake }

Apple cake with honey icing, from A Modern Way to Eat. Moist and spicy, it keeps well and is delicious with and without the frosting. A really good autumn cake.

I've baked it three times in the last two weeks, mostly recently at 8am this morning with Angus, while we were both still in our pyjamas. I like a bit of weekend early-morning baking, before the day gets busy.

Also being eaten in vast quantities: bramble jelly, on toast or stirred into yogurt. 

{ Sew }

I'm making steady progress with this throw, which I started on holiday, and have completed fourteen of the twenty four squares needed in total. It's what's called "corner to corner" crochet, as you start and end in the corner of each square, and the pattern and yarn are from here.

I like the yarn (Deramores Studio DK) - it's nice to work with and the colours are gorgeous - but I am concerned that this throw will be a bit too small for me. I think I might have to buy more yarn and add to it. It will look amazing draped over the back of a chair regardless, but I want it big enough to cover me when I'm feeling chilly.

And I am still - still - working on my Midsummer Sprigs cross stitch sampler. I didn't do too much over the holidays but since I went back to work I've been picking it up every evening and stitching an inch or two.

It's the sudoku-like process, the counting and filling in of squares.

It's soothing.

{ Grow }

Oh yeah, the garden. Hmm. It's a bit of a mess to be honest. This is what the back of our house looks like at the moment:

It's like a builders yard, with piles of logs everywhere and general chaos. See that black planter? That's supposed to be a herb garden, but it's just where I throw the toys and balls. John and my dad are going to build a wood store soon to, well, store all that wood. It will look a lot better when that is built. And yes I know that's a lot of UPVc but if you live in a house built in 1968 with big windows you have to make your peace with it. 

Last weekend John and I spent a few hours wrestling with a huge bramble which grows in the hedge between our house and our neighbours, attacking everyone as they get out of the car. Brambles in the countryside are lovely. Brambles in your garden are a total nightmare. We were scratched to pieces but managed to tame the beast, and I also discovered some roses hiding in there at the same time. 

That was a nice surprise.

Enjoy your weekends everyone! I'm off to get my haircut and coloured while my sister kindly looks after Bella and Angus. I'm already looking forward to the bit where I sit there for half an hour with bits of foil on my head, and don't have to talk to anyone or think about anything, and can just read a magazine and drink a cup of tea in peace...ah, bliss...

{ Make } Something for the home.

{ Bake } Something from the kitchen.

{ Sew } Something crafty.

{ Grow } Something in the garden.