Easy like Sunday

 

Hello! Just popping in for a quick little chat on this fine, sunny day!  What a blessing it is when January affords us a few days like this - it makes you think, "Yep, I can make it to Spring - not long now!"

We've been making the most of it in the Welch household over the last couple of days and in keeping with my new found chilled out vibe at the weekend, we have had our first lunch around the fire outside. Yummy bacon and egg sandwiches.....mmmmmmmm

 

and a cup of tea.......there's something about that combination, isn't there?!  (Notice I am wearing my furry winter coat - it was still quite chilly outside - lovely though!)

I remember when Jonny was building this brilliant feature in our garden, it was such a struggle.  When you have a small baby in the house - everything seems like a colossal effort.  Just to find the time out from changing nappies and feeding is an achievement.  I once wrote to my best friend, who had a baby a few weeks old, that if all you had done all day was feed your baby - you'd done a whole day's work!  Squeezing in projects like building an outdoor fireplace - and at the time, a fort for our boys, was an extraordinary thing to be doing really.  It's such a prized corner of our tiny garden now though and many an opportunity to sit, cup of tea, or glass of wine in hand have been taken over the last couple of years.  We even spent last New Year's eve out there, watching the fireworks all around us and toasting the new year, snuggled up in blankets round a roaring fire.

I was contemplating this as we walked around Blackdown Hill this morning.   It was a scramble for the car as it always is with five boys, all of whom needed to be kitted out in wellies, hats, gloves and coats, but it was well worth the effort and I realised that recently, things have felt easier!  I'm telling you this, because I know it's something people have often said to me, "Oh, it does get easier!", as I stand with a child tucked under each arm, both screaming, the dinner ready to be served and the shopping still where it has been on the floor since it was delivered that morning.  This sort of chaotic scene is not uncommon in our house.  This IS our house most of the time.  Our house is chaos held together with threads of order.

However, They are right.  It does get easier and I am beginning, just beginning to see little chinks of light, where I catch myself thinking, "Why does this feel so easy?" and then I realise - it's because the older ones have got their own wellies on and are sitting in the car waiting.  Little by little it's getting easier to extend the moments of calm and enjoy.  This bit of parenting is physical hard work.  Every day is physical effort and it's no wonder we feel tired!  Gradually though there will be less of this and more of the harder bit of parenting;  the constant working out, pondering, ordering, second guessing and motivating you do!

It really is beautiful out there and we had a wonderful walk, watching the boys dodge oncoming walkers, bikes and numerous dogs and pretending to be on a great adventure.

 

I have also been working busily on etsy this week and have managed to list a few of my items over there, so do visit my little shop - won't you?

Well, for now I will love you and leave you - I'm off to find a pattern for a crochet ear warmer after our chilly walk on the highest place in Sussex (apparently).  Who knows, I may even get one finished in time for next Winter!

XXXXXXX

Happy Hour

 
What a lovely, sunny morning we've had here!  Truly a welcome change from the storms that have buffeted us over the last few days.  Days like this fill you with hope for the year ahead and certainly make my mind race with hundreds of ideas for projects I'd like to get done.  So, this morning I am ignoring the way the sunlight brings to life the dust and dirt of the winter months and just doing the cleaning I can - a new regime of "Friday Clean" for maximum weekend family time.  AND....the boys' sheets are drying on the line outside!  I know it's a small thing - but there is something so pleasurable about hanging washing outside for the first time this year - Spring is on her way and soon the house will not feel so much like a laundry and the washing will smell a little less like dinner!

Other than that, I have managed to balance The Clean with time with Noah.  I am determined to savour the days I have with him now his hours at Pre-school have increased.  So, this morning we played snap with his new Octonauts cards, animal dominoes, a Peppa Pig Floor puzzle and some Gruffalo colouring with his magic colour changing pens (How I loved these as a child - and the wonder has not gone with age - I enjoyed them as much as he did!)

I hope I don't sound smug - because believe me, most days this sort of perfect calm activity is not achieved and that's why I celebrate the days it does!
I even made myself a proper lunch of a yummy salad - something I am hoping to do as often as I can this year - too often I settle for a slice of toast (if that!  Naughty, naughty....).

The lovely sunshine and my new resolution to Love My Home inspired me to take a few photos to share with you of some things I love.  For Christmas my younger brother made us a beautiful wooden chopping board, which now sits proudly underneath one of my Dad's Trug baskets and next to his little spice grinder - ready to whip up some Kashmir Garam Masala at some point soon.

Our little kitchen window sill houses the Flour Jar I found in a charity shop in Bath for my bread and pasta making hubby - and some ceramic bottles bought from two sweet girls who had a table outside the village church a few months ago, raising money for their trip to faraway lands....

A cheeky comic strip sign hangs on the dresser - a gift from my good friend, Esther, who knows me so well!  The beaded "Home" sign at the top of this post was another gift from my friend Sally - a beautiful reminder to me every time I see it that that is what this place is.

The dresser contains a few of my cake stands, gleaned like treasure from charity shops over the years.  The Paper Pom pom was created for our Make Space Christmas Craft Night - but I can't quite bring myself to put it away, so it may stay there!  

A pretty pink plate found on Cinnamon Kid's stall at Grittenham Barn Craft market - a tiny treat to myself and other precious cakey things including a bowl and cupcake stand given to me by my mum and Auntie, a cupcake timer from my sister in law and a little piggy, found in the mud at my childhood home the day we went to do a final clear out.  My Dad loved pigs and this was probably a little ornament we gave him for a birthday when we were kids - so he remains a precious smile prompter of my Dad.

A beautiful cake plate from my Auntie, A blue teacup and saucer left here when we moved in, My Granny's favourite teacup with a very Sussex scene and two funky teacups found whilst Christmas shopping!

Yes, you can see we are Jamie fans in this house - perhaps it's all the pasta recipes!  And you can't go wrong with a bit of Nigella.  The Hummingbird Bakery book, a present from my friend Bev has already become sticky with use - always a good sign for a baking book!

The inventive gift tags our presents came with from my brother Tim and his wife Jo - aren't they lovely?!

So, I hope you've enjoyed the little tour around my kitchen.  It has made me realise how much I am surrounded by evidence of the generosity of others and the love that has been described in the many, many gifts we hold dear.  It does the soul good to have a peek around your home and see what reminds you of the people you love and how much they love you too.  Thank you to all my lovely friends and family who make this house a home.
xxxxxxx

Playing Hooky

 The children have gone back to school after what was one of the loveliest Christmas Breaks we have had for a good few years.  It was full and busy, as it always is, but especially in the few days grace between Christmas and school beginning I think I managed the most amazing feat for many mums - I relaxed!  Things in the house ticked over - the washing piled up a little more than usual, meals still got cooked, the vast mountain of recycling was dealt with....but no mad dashing round the house in a constant round of clearing away.  Let them play.

Walks in the woods to visit "Wildcat camp" happened.  Jigsaws were made. Family films were delighted in.  Cosying on the sofa under blankets was indulged in.  And it was really lovely - for everyone.  Mental note to self - the more chilled out I am - the more everyone in the house can relax.

So, on that note, I am sitting at my dining table with the rain and sunshine battling for who will win the day outside and dreaming about what this year will hold. this is something I rarely afford myself - little window of time to wander through the pages of a magazine, have a cup of tea (and a few cheeky chocolates) and think about some things I'd like to make happen this year.  There are lots of "must achieve" lists for this year, including on line shops, craft fairs and other such business venture things, but this mental check list is of a different kind.

Recently I've realised that it has been 5 years since we moved in to this house and although we have decorated it, I have never really "fallen in love" with it.  To be frank - I've been too busy having three more babies and working out where to put beds!  So, this year is all about loving my home.  It has some lovely corners, that given the right touch of creativity could bring me so much pleasure.  I'm starting with the lounge and dreaming about recovering our two sofas in the huge stash of denim I have been collecting and then making flamboyant cushions from all these bright fabrics I have been saving. Then the crocheted blankets that are gradually finding their way downstairs to be snuggled into in the evenings will look more at home.  In my head it will be a joyful, cosy, welcoming and friendly room, in which the daily changing scene of toys will be enhanced - if you have to have lots of brightly coloured plastic objects strewn across the floor every day - go with it I think!

I am determined to use the lovely coasters my boys bought me for my birthday last year - cups of tea galore - hopefully shared with friends.

And what shall I do with these gorgeous beauties that keep appearing around the place?  I'm wondering about a collage of some sort.....

I am also going to learn to crochet properly this year - I can manage simple projects, but I would really like to be able to make a blanket or two of my own.  One of my favourite blogs is Attic 24.  Sliding over to Lucy's world is almost an automatic response to a dull moment in the day and it brings me so much joy to have a little colourful place I can escape to every now and then and glean some inspiration in the midst of a hectic day.  If anyone reading this is into crafting, especially crochet, I can't recommend her blog enough - and even if you're not, a quick read can't fail to cheer you up.  Anyway, she crochets beautiful blankets and I have my heart set on creating on of her wavy ripple ones.

 

Also on the list is to create an "office" space for Redeem.  Every inch of space in this house is used to it's full capacity and I often wander round pondering about how we could squeeze a little more use out of this corner or that.  It's become apparent that I need somewhere to organise a growing business, away form little hands and as I spend many days at the dining room table already, surrounded by piles of paperwork, orders, accounts and such like, it seems sensible to use the wall space in there to create a place to organise myself!  So, shelves, drawers, pin boards and hanging tidies are in the design process.  meanwhile - I am finding a few cheerful items to make this side of the business a little more appealing.  Can't miss out on the opportunity for some new stationary, eh?!

It feels a little like I am playing hooky today - there are a million things I guess I should be doing while R sleeps, but once in a while (as my lovely husband often tells me) it's important to do something just to feel like me again.  There's always a reason not to do this - as I'm sure many of you will understand.  But perhaps precisely because there is always a reason not to put it at the top of the list is why it should be there.  Every now and again.

When was the last time you cleared the decks for a bit of time for yourself, put that project you've been dreaming of at the top of the list, above the domestics.......and played hooky?

Something for our bedroom in these colours I think....

Feeling Christmas

He's on his way!

Ok, so I guess it's time for a few Christmassy photos on this here blog.  School finished today and the boys are tucked up on the sofa bed watching Polar Express, so I'm beginning to feel a little more festive!
The end of term kind of crept up on me this year, probably because of the business of shows, so I feel a bit like I'm catching up with myself!

It's funny how this time of year can get you all nostalgic and when you get to my ripe old age (!!!) you find yourself yearning for the simple treats you had as a child, or things you remember making or doing when you were tiny.  I remember there was always lots of food to be indulged in in our house - and by that I mainly mean making - of course we all loved eating too, but there was as much fun to be had in the concocting and squeezing into the same hot kitchen as everyone else trying to make their speciality dish!  Our family endeavoured to be creative in its festivities and we often had curry for Christmas - and are doing so this year.  I know that doesn't sound very Christmas like - but we have found that it gives everyone the chance to contribute (it's hard to get curry badly wrong!), you can make dishes beforehand and they actually improve with time, and its really good fun. Plus - it reminds us all of Dad - who was the best curry maker you could ever meet and gives us a chance to use some of the ingredients he left us from his shelf of tricks - jars of every variety of spice, paste and leaf you could imagine.  What a marvellous inheritance!

This year I have set my mind to making these sorts of memories with the children too.  I confess that I am usually whirling about the house at this time of year, hiding presents, ordering things, writing lists and covering myself in a mountain of half-made present projects.  I have often asked for exceeding patience from the children while I do all of this - and yes, it does all still have to be done.  BUT, this year I am going to try to find at least a few moments to share some fun with the littlies.  Last weekend, I found myself alone for the afternoon with all five, while hubby went off for a band practise and so we made a gingerbread house and gingerbread biscuits for the tree.

I have to day, I truly loved sharing baking with them. The heat of the gooey gingerbread mix when you first tumble it out of the bowl, rolling it out and teaching them how to get the most cuts out of each roll, making tiny piping bags for each of them to decorate with.  The teachers each got a bag.....

the tree is decorated.....

and the gingerbread house is due to be covered in sweets this weekend and will be the centrepiece of the children's table on Christmas day.

Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?!  Well, I can assure you, the pay off for an afternoon of baking with the children is a messy house and no uniforms ready for school the next day- and let no blogger tell you otherwise.  But, it felt good and I know they will remember it and anyway - as I've said before......
So, tonight I am doing more baking for grown up presents.  I have a lovely recipe for Florentines, scribbled on a scrap of paper years ago which I usually use - but alas, the piece of paper which usually pops up whenever I need it, is no-where to be found, so I may have to try Nigella, courtesy of this blog over here.

Whilst looking for it though, I did come across these...

A real memory from childhood.  I remember making these sweets for my family when I was a girl, marvelling at the exotic ingredients....cream of tartar....gelatin....and all types of fruit and nuts.  I remember the taste of the marzipan for the first time and shaping it into little delicacies.  I remember thinking that I was making something really special.  Something that would be appreciated by its grown up recipients.  Something that would be enjoyed.  That's a precious thing to give a child - the opportunity to bless an adult.  And, yes, now that I'm a parent, I am fully aware of what goes into the peppermint creams we are occasionally treated to; remembering how I squidged and rolled mine when I was a child!  But, I guess the important and oh, so lovely thing is that they properly feel that they have given you something they are proud of.

It seems like there isn't enough time to fit it all in - I have so many things I want to make for the children...Abney and Teal Dolls for Noah and Reuben and pencil cases for each of them.  Ah, well, I will do what I can and remember that the time is the most precious thing.  It's probably a twee thing to say, but as they are growing older and babies become little men, it's ever more precious.  And if they get some late surprise presents later in January...or February when I have time to do them,  then does it really matter?

In the meantime I'm making the house as cosy and festive as possible - tree up,

 
advent calender and basket of books unfolding the wonder of the Christmas story,

 
sweety bowls glistening in the fairy lights,

lots of snugly blankets on the sofa and Radio Times heavily circled by Eldest Child........aaaaah!

Well, I can hear The Polar Express is pulling into the station, so time to get tired boys to bed!

Enjoy your Christmas preparations!

My favourite Christmas book by Jane Ray

xxxxxxx

Phew!!!

 I'm sitting here tonight, with my long awaited glass of wine and a rather lovely jar of homemade marshmallows (courtesy of the neighbouring stall at Monday night's show) and feeling very chuffed with myself.  It is the first evening in a looOOOong while that I haven't had stacks of sewing to do and stock to replenish for the next show.  BOY does it feel Goooooood!  Sorry about all the oooooing!

The monsters were inspired by my 7 year old, Ben, who is constantly drawing monsters - all friendly, of course and all with super powers.  They went down really well at all the shows and I have a growing soft spot for them.  I think there may be a new range in these....

It's been a hectic month, but one which has been most fulfilling.  There have truly been things that have meant the housework could not happen - which is a blessing in some ways, but not in others!  I am actually strangely looking forward to sorting the house out before Christmas decorations go up.   I have learnt an awful lot and I have a long list of things I want to achieve in the new year - not least of which, sorting out an on line shop and posting some tutorials here, so that I can share my love of craftiness.

So, a theme is emerging and I'd better be careful if I'm going to make selling at shows a habit - CAKES!  Saturday did not disappoint, with a beautiful selection of homemade goodies provided by Emma, from Newton's bakery.  I'm partial to carrot cake, as good friends will know and a lovely big slice kept me going through the mammoth 10 hour show!  I will admit to having a brownie mid afternoon too - but in my defence, I was on my feet for nearly 12 hours straight! Anyway, the cakes were lovely and Emma and her mum were good company too!  If you want to order Emma's  delicious cakes, you can contact her at hello@newtonsbakery.co.uk.

I was hoping to show you some very festive photos of the Christingle service we love to go to at a neighbouring church in this blog post - but without going into too many details (so as to spoil your lingering thoughts of cake!) Noah was a bit ill (let's say!) at the crucial moment and so, although the older boys were able to parade round the church with their lit Christingles, I was outside with a rather soggy 3 year old and Jonny was inside with lots of kitchen roll!  There's no delicate way to write about it, suffice to say, children choose their moments.  I choose to laugh at these moments.  We're getting quite seasoned in them now.  So, no lovely photos.

I did want to show you this lovely thing though - a charity shop find from my lovely friend Esther - who knows me so well!  I love it when people bring me things like this - or bags of random scraps of fabric, usually with the words "I'm not sure what you'll do with this!"... but, oooh - something wonderful!  This particular piece of delicate net was surely part of a little girl's dressing up box, or perhaps once adorned an tea party table.  Who knows?!  That's the delicious thing about vintage and reclaimed fabric - it had history.

I hope I will be able to bring you some pictures as the week goes on though - now that the hectic rush of shows is over and the festivities can begin in earnest in the Welch household.  There is greenery to be brought in, lights to hang and a tree to decorate, so watch this space!

For now though, I am off to do a it of Kirstie watching and Christmas present planning - more making!  (I do love it!)

XXXXXXX

The Joys of Noise - a little encouragement for weary mums.

Sometimes I get to the end of a day and my ears are ringing.  Actually, that's most days in the Welch household.  I don't know about the whole Nature/nurture debate - but I do know that five boys (the plural for boys in our house is a Bundle), makes for a LOT of physicality and a LOT of noise!  Most of the time that's fine and good, but sometimes (like in the middle of a church service or school assembly) that's a bit tricky!

Nothing has stretched my patience and determination the way bringing up children has (and is!).  It's a long haul and I'm only a small part of the way in.

 

 Motherhood can be a very lonely thing - even when you are surrounded by friends and family.  Somehow, you can believe that no-one else knows or is interested in what you are going through.  You believe, perhaps, that you should just get on with it, because that's what everyone else has to do. I guess because it is something so commonplace it has become almost invisible.  I'm rambling with a purpose.....

Each family is different and has its different pressures.  For me, it's that we have five full of life, noisy, raucous, energetic boys and a home that reflects that!  For others it will be something different entirely.  Nothing tests your reserves, stretches your love, checks your reality, grounds your dreams, challenges your intellect, expands your creativity, tickles your funny bone, jangles your nerves and disturbs your sleep more than bringing up children.  Nothing makes you question yourself, raise your game, find that extra mile of energy, love without conditions, see beyond what others see and keep on trying like parenthood.  There is nothing commonplace about it.

Hats off to you if you've just suffered your umpteenth night in a row of no sleep.  May  your moments of rest be refreshing.
Hats off to you if you've just sacrificed something you really wanted to do, because it just didn't fit in with the kids.  May there be some moments soon, just for you.
Hats off to you if you have made yourself sick with worry and you hold on by a thread most days.  You're not alone.
Hats off to you if you have done nothing today but clean a house, cook a meal, pick up numerous toys, played farms with a 2 year old.....your time has been well invested.  May you reap what you have sown.
Hats off to you if you've just got it wrong - forgotten something ever so important (dropped a child off to a fancy dress party at the end time rather than the beginning by mistake....oh, yes), you're human and that twang of sadness when you think of it probably won't go away, but it does confirm how deeply you love your child.
Hats off to you if you are just about holding it together.  May you find the listening ear and warm hug you need.

 I know this is a bit of a strange blog post - and if you were hoping for pretty things, I apologise.  I hope every now and again, you don't mind a little wandering off the beaten track of crafting to my other passion in life - letting people know they are doing well and they are great.  So, if you've read this and you feel even a little better about your day, then it was worth the risk!

And now for a cup of tea.

XXXXXXX