Monday 30 January 2012

52 Week Challenge - Week 4 & Other Bits and Bobs

Last weeks challenge was week 4 - The Fridge and Freezer. I will say off the bat that I did not do the freezer because A. it was thoroughly done (defrosted and cleaned) 4 months ago when we moved here and B. it has been pretty empty lately (mostly due to a giant turkey and a frozen cake the size of a football pitch residing in there for most of December). What I did do, is ask Duncan to bring the freezer into the kitchen from the garage. Its not that going to the garage is a big problem, and Oscar loves to run to garage and back in the dark when I am cooking dinner. Its just that my memory is awful and I am always standing in the kitchen trying to remember if I bought frozen peas or not. Anyway, I  think it will be much more convenient to have the freezer in the kitchen again, especially for cooking batches and saving leftovers.


The fridge I did do though, and once again I am fairly annoyed by the amount of things which had to be thrown away (past their date or gone wrinkly). I am trying very hard to reduce kitchen waste right now so it is a poor show. I am partly blaming this on the fact that the fridge is a single fridge and was on the floor and fairly difficult to see into. It is now sitting on top of the freezer and is much easier to look around. Evidence..........


 


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This week the Challenge is to organise your recipes and cook books.


You can find the details on the challenge site HERE


And in other news, some cute play with sand and buttons.


 


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And some experiments with WALDORF WATERCOLOUR PAINTING


 


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I was pretty sceptical about this, because I felt that Oscar may find it dull after being let loose with 'garish' poster paints. I rounded the corners of medium weight watercolour paper and chose one colour, red. I chose red because Steiner theorised that lively loud children will go for red and be affected (relaxed) by the complimentary colour, blue. If you are thinking the wet on wet effect doesn't look all that exciting you are probably right, but surprisingly Oscar really enjoyed the process.......food for thought. Maybe I will try blue the next time and see if it holds his interest.


After the painting we started candle making for Candlemass on the 2nd of Feb. We used up old (saved) candle ends and the 'seen better days' walnuts from the Winter/Nature table. It was tricky, but we spooned the wax in with a teaspoon and Oscar managed to help with no hot wax accidents.


 


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And finally, I did a little bit of household management today too.


 


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I am not sure if I will use it every day, but I would probably benefit greatly if I did.


Valerie


xxx


 


 


 



Thursday 26 January 2012

Our Burns Supper

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An origami Loch Ness Monster


 


I have not done much paper folding and I have to say, its not my natural forte. Even with instructions I was scratching my head. But Nessie stayed mostly upright during dinner so it ended well.


 


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Tissue Paper Bunches Of Heather


 


I cut out the green paper, but Oscar was able to stick the tissue balls on. I expect to be finding them for weeks to come all over the house, lol


 


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The Scottish Flag On The Piano


 


For this craft I had intended to use white paper and using masking tape to block out a white cross, have Oscar paint them blue. Unfortunately the making tape was no place to be seen, so we glued white strips onto blue paper instead (a lot less messy, but not so much fun).


 


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Tartan Bunting Last Seen At New Year


 


Vegetarians look away now**


 


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Haggis Tatties And Neeps


 


And for desert


 


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Home Made Butter Shortbread


 


Served with......


 


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Nom Nom


Valerie


xxx


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Wednesday 25 January 2012

Tuesday

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Yesterday became the new Monday, with nothing much to do except shopping and laundry (always with the laundry). This probably illustrates my point that life is more interesting if it has a bit more structure (activities) planned. The problem is of course, the old hippie residing within me doesn't like to be pinned down too much, so there is a conflict of interest going on.


We went into town and bought some bits and bobs (including a haggis for Burns Supper which is today by the way). As per usual Oscar fell asleep in the pushchair, but on the way home this time at least. It took quite a bit of coaxing to get him to waken.


 


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Eventually I did manage though, and after some snack (banana, plum, cheese cubes, crackers, and a strange Chinese watermelon pudding), I introduced Oscar to a great British creation


 


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photo from the TV


GO GO GO JOSEPH!


Oscar enjoyed the music and dancing a lot, but he was curious as to why Mrs Potiphar took Joseph's clothes off....... erm.


What do you mean you thought I would show you a photo of a semi naked Osmond? As if I....


 


Joseph


 


Which reminded me of the time I went with the playgroup Mama's to see Joseph in 1993, it was Philip Schofield playing Joseph then. ANY DREAM WILL DO.


After Joseph we moved swiftly on to Oscar's favorite pastime. Playing with Goo.


 


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Dinner was less exciting than last night (rice stuffed tomatoes), and the play afterwards was not quite as wild as last nights either.


 


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But still good play though.


We have some Scottish crafts planned for today for Burns Night, and we are all set for our burns supper (even whiskey for Daddy, and Scottish pipe band music).


I hope you have a lovely day whatever you are doing today.


Valerie


xxx


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Tuesday 24 January 2012

Chinese New Year

Yesterday was Chinese New Year, and we decided that celebrating this day would liven up a dull end of the month. I am looking to add a bit more structure to our weeks/months and celebrating national, international and certain religious festival and feast days certainly seems to be a good way to do it. We will be able to do crafting, prepare food, learn about other cultures or societies and come together as a family on what would otherwise be regular days. I have been reading a fair bit about Waldorf Montesorri recently and I have a few posts about it in my head.


Anyway, here is what we did yesterday.


First we (and really I mean me), cleaned, cleaned, cleaned. Then we hung our decorations.


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These lanterns we bought from our local Chinese market


 


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Lucky fish


 


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I cut these out from red paper and Oscar glittered them with gold glitter


 


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I had to make these lanterns myself because they would be too tricky for Oscar, but he threaded them onto the string for me


 


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This is our egg carton table dragon


 


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Its a bit snake like, but you can blame me for that, I think each section should have had red feet attached


 


For dinner we had vegi chow mien, beef in oyster sauce, chili seafood noodles, egg noodles, rice and prawn crackers.


 


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It was all home made (not ordered in), and Oscar even managed to eat a little bit of it with his chop sticks


 


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Desert was a strange watermelon pudding jelly from the Chinese market. It was not as bad as it sounds, and Oscar liked it which is just as well because it was buy one tray, get one free lol


 


It is Chinese custom to give red envelopes with money inside at New Year, so taking a leaf from Sarah I made some envelopes from red satin napkins (£1 for 4 from Poundland), and inside I put some chocolate coins. Which I think means more to Oscar at this age than real money anyway.


 


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After dinner we played some traditional Chinese music and Oscar and Daddy danced around.............em oh no, make that, Daddy was the dragon and Oscar was the little child trying to run away.


 


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We have been reading a couple of lovely books over the last week, in preparation for the day.


 


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This book is not really a story, its more of a descriptive of what happens at Chinese New Year. The language is very clear and simple and the illustrations are lovely. I can highly recommend it.


 


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This book, Oscar loves and is a female take on the traditional Chinese story, The Seven Chinese Brothers. This has been Oscars choice at bedtime all week. This was an excellent choice.


 


And that's us. We had a lovely time, and as I said, it would have otherwise been a rather dull Monday.


Valerie


xxx


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