¡Project Project!

days long lost

I have been going through some old photos on the computer and thought I would stick a few of my faves up here.  Hope you southern hemisphere folk are surviving this weather.  It has been yucky out.  My chillblains are back on my fingers and persistent this time.  My index finger on my right hand looks like a sausage. 

Teo at 5 hours old.

Me 6 months pregnant on the ferry to Vancouver.

Holga camera shot of me by Matt not long after we met.

Matt not long after we met.  Fun day at the lake in summer.

I miss this haircut.

The only time Teo has ever had chubby anything.

Hmmmm...

Is there anyone out there still reading this?  HA oh well... I thought I would do my notorious bi-monthly posting.  This break has proved to be challenging.  But alas I have accomplished much and feel content to head back to school next week.  I have been sewing up a storm and I still need to take photos and upload them, so shall we try that for next post?  Ok then. 

Teo has been sick the last week, which makes for a busy week for me.  But it is nice to see my child again, especially before I head back to full-time study.  I made him three pairs of trousers over the break.  They are photo-worthy for sure.  I should make a little bullet point list of all that I have created and mended over the past week and a half.

MADE:

• wool trousers for Matt
• designed and made an orange wool hooded cardigan for Matt... stunning
• 2 cotton smock shirts for a friend
• 3 pairs trousers for Teo
• 1 t-shirt dress por moi
• 5 pairs of leggings (2 for me and three to give away)
• 2 womens hoodies
• 2 L/S merino tops for me...again
• 2 wool jerseys for friends
• 4 magenta and black hoodies for dolls at creche
• 3 electric blue cushion covers for creche, complete with squirrel, snail and bear images

MAKING:

• brown dress shirt for Matt... half finished
• duvet and pillow case set... I will take photos of this, as it is lovely!
• wow, I am so impressed that I am nearly done my pile of to-do's!

I did alter a few things and I completed about 10 other garments (ie: buttons and button holes, my least favourite part.)  I am so slack at completing things immediately.  I like to let them be for a while before doing the finishing touches.  That is really all for now.  I did just list my last hot pink hoodie in  my Esty Shop on SALE for $45 US dollars so if anyone really wants one then there it is.  I have one myself and I do love it!  I will be listing a few more women's pieces here and there. 

That's it for now.  Will try for a photo post before I start school!

Date & Oat Bars

I thought I would put this recipe on here before I forget.  It is by no means a healthy date bar, in that it contains a hefty portion of butter.  However, they are delicious, especially when fresh out of the oven!

125 grms butter
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
3/4 c flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup chopped dates

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, then dry ingredients. Place in a greased cake tin or bar tray (I only own a round cake tin so I end up with oaty wedges). Bake for 18-20 minutes at 180 Celsius and cut into bars while still warm.

You can feel free to use spelt flour instead of wheat flour.  I am sure there are other flours you can mix and vary.  Also, a nice twist is to zest an orange and add the zest during the creaming stage.  You can also omit the dates and add poppy seeds along with the orange zest.  Play around and have fun with it.  It is also yummy with sesame and sunflower seeds.  The sky is the limit.

Getting ready for exams!

The first semester is nearly complete.  I only have four exams to go YIKES!  I have just finished (quite literally) my last school day of the semester and now have plans to study my wee arse off.  I am sitting in the uni library and am waiting for Matt to come by with the car.  It is cold and wet out there, as it has been for the past week or more, and I don't plan on freezing to death prior to going home to our even colder flat.  It is a dry flat at the very least. 

We are having Matt's famous chili tonight.  It is actually his Mum's famous chili, and includes, black beans, kidney beans, chick peas and a whopping can of baked beans.  There is also a ridiculous amount of mushrooms in it.  I love it.  I am going to make MY Mum's gorgeous corn bread to accompany.

I have just been making a few yummy foods over the past while, as it seems that is the only creative activity I have time to do.  And it serves a significant purpose too!  I will add my recipe for date & oat bars on here if there are any takers.  I also have an awesome few dinner recipes that are quick and great for the cold weather.  I am not at home, otherwise I would put them on here now.

Hope you are all well and managing to keep warm!

Procrastination is my strong point.

I am yet again procrastination on another joyous paper.  I had earlier threatened to burn my psychology lab report and then stomp on the burnt little bits and then scream while pulling out my hair and finally proceeding to bawl my eyes out.  Irrational?  Perhaps, just a smidgeon.  Nevertheless I wanted to do it all the same.  Never mind what I would like to do with my mid-semester tests and quizzes. 

I think I am a tad hormonal at the moment.  But surprisingly content all the same.  Maybe I am confused.  In all seriousness though, I am loving the majority of it and I only have one more month to go with this semester.  It is only 5 more to go after this one...quite surprising.  The clinical experience is so much fun and incredibly rewarding.  I really adore my ladies and am enjoying getting to know them so well through lengthy antenatal visits (the visits the midwife does before the baby makes its way through to the outside world).  Next semester I will be working in the hospital and getting heaps of experience in the postnatal ward.  They sure know how to keep us busy.

Teo is still cute and witty.  I can't believe how much personality a little person develops in toddlerhood.  I can't stop tickling him and smooching him.  He tells me every morning that my t-shirt looks nice.  And he also compliments me on my slippers and pj pants.  Such a charmer. 

I will see if I can dig up any photos.  A blog needs some photos every once in a while. 

I told you he was charming.

This is his car.

Off to study now... really.