Vertbaudet for my boy

Vertbaudet clothes for children are so lovely. Becky from Baby Budgeting is running a competition for bloggers to put together a lovely outfit for our little ones to wear on Mother's Day. This is what I chose for my 4 year old boy:

I found a fab long sleeved t-shirt with a viking on it to go with some brilliant trendy, grey checked pants that look very comfy as well as being smart.

Picking out the orange on the t-shirt, I then saw an orange striped snood to keep him warm. He's had a lot of colds this year so needs to be snug whilst it is still a bit chilly.

I love Little Bird in yellow so I would definitely choose this bright parka with a detachable extra lining. I would love this myself!

If the weather was fair, these grey pumps would look very cute with the outfit and in case of rain, some amazing viking wellies - squeal at how amazing these are and he could help get them on himself using the handles. 

I love picking out clothes for Little Bird, my cute little trendy boy, so fingers crossed.

Spring breezes through the house

Come into my house spring.

You are very welcome to shine some sunlight into cobwebbed corners and chase out the dust bunnies lurking under the sofa.

I'm enticing spring into the house with trumpeting daffodils in every room.

Such an inexpensive flower.

Dotted around the garden too and in containers.

Yellow everywhere.

 A new calendar for Little Bird.

To learn the seasons and the weather.

We try and remember to change this every day.

I love these bright pops around the house. 

I have been baking a lot again.

Perhaps spurred on by Easter cakes and chocolate chicks.

Chocolate speckles and vanilla. 

My simple sponge where I weigh 3 eggs and match the sugar, self-raising flour and butter.

Works well every time.

 Time to dust all the decorative bits and bobs.

Change things around and start some Spring decorating.

Polka dots and flowers.

I feel a charity shop trip a coming for some vintage crockery.

 Boots at the ready to quickly get into the garden.

Everyday a new bloom, new shoots and surprises.

A breezy week so far, nicely drying all the washing.

That's what I like, saving money - no tumble drier days.

 More yellow. Mustard yellow is allowed too.

A new book for a new interest of mine, learning about church architecture.

So many beautiful churches.

Curious nooks and crannies.

I love a bit of history I do and identifying things appeals to my inner geek.

It's by Matthew Rice who is Emma Bridgewater's hubby and does a lot of the designs for the mugs and other lovely things.

 The bunnies are starting to appear.

The owl doesn't look pleased about this.

Easter excitement already in this house.

I'm on the look out for decorative eggs to hang from the blossom trees in my garden.

Must order a vintage egg mould too so I can make my own choccy eggs this year. 

I like a challenge, can't be too difficult can it? 

Are you getting giddy over Spring too?

Forest Lessons

Delamere Forest meaning Forest of the Lakes (due to its lakes formed by glacial kettle holes) used to be the Medieval forests of Mara and Mondrem. A vast hunting forest back in the 11th Century of 60 square miles. As we walked around our 1.7 mile loop through woodland it is not hard to imagine the wild boar and wolves that would have ran with the red, fallow and red deer through the dense trees and bracken. Historical records show that James I hunted here in 1617 but it was a hunting ground from way back in Norman England. Makes it feel a little spooky as to who is watching you?Of course the forest is much, much smaller these days and was gradually cleared until the current size of 2400 acres. The Mid-Cheshire railway line runs through the forest and the Delamere train station is lovely with a quaint cafe. In fact we must take Little Bird on the train to the forest one day and hopefully he will love it. There is even a music train that runs every so often and you can listen to a band playing in the carriages and then takes you to a country pub where the band then continues to play. Sounds good doesn't it? LB has a great time walking this trail. We find forest items for the nature table at home and stop off halfway at the picnic benches for a snack and a drink. There are some horses that we wave hello to every time. We would love to know their names.  Hello Cyril and Cuthbert. Nice coats gents. Very coordinated with your scenery.

I found this funny fungus on our walk. If I have identified it correctly, it is the Common Puffball and the hole you see is where - !poof!- the spores are released.Two very happy waggy tails, although one is a little stumpy looking. It tries to wag anyway but perhaps it is more of a waft.
The best thing about the forest is that we can learn so much, from the history to the geography of the land. I studied the forest here when I worked in conservation and look forward to revisiting all that again. I can bore you all plenty with types of moss and the art of catching damselflies (just to identify). I'll save you this time as now it is time for home and some home made pie....

hello hello spring

I know it hasn't officially but the garden is telling me different and the fact that I've hung the washing out to dry on the clear, bright days we have been having. As far as I'm concerned spring is here. I can see it in the purple crocus, open for the sun's rays.
 I can hear it in the neighbourhood with people out of their houses more, with my neighbour starting to tinker in his garage again and the cats teasing my two dogs by basking on our sunny window sill. Beautiful blue skies with little wispy clouds. Breezing spring into every nook and cranny.The promise of flowers to come. Here are tulips mixed in with forget-me-nots I planted in a old kitchen cooking pot from a car boot sale - and how I am longing to start going to them again. I spy the weeds too mingling in this planter! The first daffodils are the dainty Narcissus 'Tête-à-tête' which look such a gorgeous colour combination with the purple swathes of crocus and their bright orange centres. The start of spring and the start of pottering around. A daily ritual of seeing what changes there have been and making a mental note of what needs doing. Pulling the odd weed here and there along with last years old plant material. I used a large bunch of collected twigs as kindling and started weeding here and there.  Bursting buds on the cherry tree that I won. Looking forward to seeing the pink blossoms in a few weeks. I have a few small blossom trees in the garden from shocking bright pinks to delicate frothy whites. I love them all and they all have slightly different flowering times so from week to week I gaze out of the windows and take it all in.
 My boar is now securely up and has already received a comment from the neighbour. I found a little bee in his mouth the other day taking shelter so he is good for wildlife too. Hooray Mr Boar.The fences have been fixed, just about! But they will do for now until the next storm. I did enjoy seeing my neighbours pretty garden but at least the dogs can't escape now. Over the next month we are going to sort the garden pathway out and set the stepping stones into gravel so it is not a muddy mess. A trip to the plant nursery is on the cards for some cottage garden plants and some primroses for the window boxes. it will be exciting to get all the outdoor toys out again and  to sit on the decking in some sunshine. 

Egg Tatties

Another egg recipe to use all my dad's eggs that he gives us. I love searching through old recipe books and this gave me an idea for a filling weekday meal for all the family using eggs - Egg Tatties. 

You will need - 2 large potatoes, 3 free range eggs, 1tbsp milk, 1tbsp butter, seasoning, cheese.

Bake the potatoes. I do this by cooking in the microwave first for about 8 minutes and then transfer to an oven at about 200 C/ Gas Mark 6 to crisp up for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile whisk the eggs in a bowl, add the milk and seasoning. Pop in the microwave to cook - takes a few minutes to firm up into scrambled eggs.
 Take the potatoes out of the oven and cut in half length ways. Scoop out the potato and add to the bowl of scrambled egg. Add the butter and mash up together.

Place the mixture back into the potatoes and top with grated cheese. Place back into the oven until the cheese melts and goes all lovely and golden. Seriously yummy and filled everyone up.


This post is an entry for the #ShortcutEggsperts Linky Challenge sponsored by British Lion Eggs. Learn more and find recipes at www.eggrecipes.co.ukhttp://www.eggrecipes.co.uk/