Tuesday 28 August 2007

"Helping Mother"


Well it didn't take too long - my thumb has started to recover, the sun started to shine and I wanted to make something! Fortunately, I had lots of fabric already cut, so not too much cutting involved and lots of colours to choose from. Talking about my chair last week and my favourite colours made me want to make a cosy in these colours, an attempt I think to prolong the sunshine and brightness of summer for a little longer. Anyway, bright and cheery it is and this little bit of summer is now sitting in my Etsy shop.


M has gone back to work this morning and we're all feeling a bit glum. Sorry that he's not with us to enjoy the end of the holidays and sorry that part of the holiday has come to an end. Although we were unable to get away this year, we enjoyed sharing each other's company, laughing and being silly as a family in a way that is hard to do even with your closest friends. M works long hours and is rarely home to eat dinner with the girls during the week so above all it was great to spend the day and evening with him, enjoying our meals together. The weather was awful though but we did have this weekend which was gorgeous and I think the weekend at the beach did us all good and lifted our spirits. There is nothing better than coming back from a day on the beach, faces tingling from the sun, tired from the fresh air and mucking around. (the downside being the queue for the shower, the sand all over the bathroom floor and the mountain of clothes waiting to be washed).


Just to show you what a wonderful weekend it was, here is a photo of the girls and I enjoying a few moments together in the kitchen, getting all those domestic chores done and loving every minute of it! Well, no, actually it is a print I bought at the car boot on Sunday morning. I thought I'd hang it in the kitchen - it's called "Helping Mother" - in the hope that the girls might take the hint, or failing that, add a touch of irony to the place, I think, however that I'm the only one who'll get the irony and the girls will just see it as another thing on the wall! Strangely enough they do like shelling peas, beans etc so perhaps all is not lost. Anyway the point of this ramble is that when I got back from the carboot and took the print out of its wrapper, I found that there were two of them. Well, there's only so much irony one kitchen can stand so I thought that if anyone wanted the print I'd give it to them. Please leave a comment and I'll give it away - if there's more than one we'll have a draw, name out of a hat (or mixing bowl perhaps) - that's one thing that the girls do like helping with!


I also got this lovely wicker hamper/basket at the car boot and a tray full of greengages which have been turned into pots of lovely jam. Has anyone realised yet just how addictive this jam/chutney making business is?

24 comments:

Louise said...

What a lovely post. We are getting Daddy at home for holidays in late September and we can't wait. Do you know for the very first time my two eldest daughters helped prepare their dinner tonight. One peeled and chopped carrots and the other chopped up beans - they were so pleased with themselves. So I would be thrilled to have that picture if no one else wants it!

AC said...

A lovely post Kim:-)
We are in much the same boat as my hubby goes back to work tomorrow and he to works very long hours:-(
I love the picture and you are right it would be totally lost on my three!!!
Fanatastic new colours in the new tea cosy.
The kids will soon be back at school...more time for crafting:-)
Take care,
Alison x
Take care

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

I love that print-such a fab old fashioned looking kitchen!!

Anonymous said...

Love the new tea cosy!
I got some great boot sale bargains over the weekend too - an armload of hand embroidered table cloths for 4 pounds, I grabbed them quickly!

Curlew Country said...

I'm so envious of your greengages, how wonderful to have these in your garden. I didn't even get a tomato glut this year. Lovely print too, sure it'll look great in your kitchen. My eldest helped to make tea tonight. He really enjoys it but he's only 4 so I'm guessing it'll wear off soon!
Lovely post btw.
Stephx

Samantha said...

Beautiful tea cosy - it's like a little patchwork house.

I think the irony would do unoticed in our house too!

Leanne said...

jam making is completely addictive. I am a victim too!

There should be a self-help group... "My name is..... and I make jam" :-)


Leanne x

dottycookie said...

Ooooh, greengages. I made greengage jam a couple of years back having never had them before and yummmmm. I eat them as they are now; in fact I had them for both lunch and dinner today. I had the jars and sugar ready to make more jam, but then decided to eat them so I shall just have to find some more.

The print is great, and I for one would love it in my kitchen too :-)

The Honourable Billy Blunt said...

We miss my husband when he's at work,He leaves at 4.30pm so it's always a treat to have him home in the evening.
I love the tea cosy,it looks like you have put a lot of work in to it.
The print is gorgeous,I'm sure it would look lovely in any kitchen,
Kat x

Blooming Felt said...

What gorgeous colours in the tea cosy - so summery ! Sounds like you've had a lovely summer holiday too. Sarah x

Anonymous said...

Greengages so scrummy! Your tea cosies are just the most orginal I have ever seen and your new one is simply stunning. Poor "Pops" he must be feeling sad being back at work while the hols are still in full swing.

blessings said...

I just can't even imagine all the work you put into that! It's just beautiful. Blessings... Polly

Thimbleanna said...

Love your new tea cosy -- very bright and pretty. You have the most interesting foods -- now, figs I've heard of, but what the heck is a greengage? That little picture is adorable -- pick me pick me LOL. Wouldn't it be fun to think that two women worlds apart had the same print hanging in their kitchen?

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely post! I love your raggedy tea cosies!! I don't think I've had a greenage before...Happy Day :o)

Seeb said...

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Ginny Gibson said...

Those plums look really tasty, my neigbour had loads of them off her tree. She gave us a carton.... I think we might grow them:)

Love the colourful tea cosy!
best wishes Ginny

Lallee said...

The tea cozy is adorable! Love the wicker basket. I'm not familiar with greengage. I think I'm missing something in my life now :P

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

What a cheery tea cosy!

Absolutely love the wicker hamper and the fruit inside. Nothing like home made jam!

Kitty

Betty said...

Am I the only one who doesn't know what greengages are? We must call them something else. That print is cute. No one helps me around here either. Maybe you should send it to me so my kids will get the hint. LOL

Heather ~ Pretty Petals said...

What a beautiful tea cozy you made Kim! I love the picture too and I hope it ispires long hours of bonding and great meals with your daughters... somehow I am thinking this is a Mothers wish only!! LOL

Heather

Heidijayhawk said...

love the new cozy and wish chutney was a bit more popular on this side of the pond.

Rowan said...

Glad your thumb is feeling better, the tea cosy looks just like a summer cottage covered in climbing plants.
The print is lovely, I remember both shelling peas and playing with leftover bits of pastry when my mum was baking, that's how I began to learn to cook. Don't include me in the draw though - wall space is at a premium in this house already:)
I love the wicker hamper, such a lovely colour, that was quite a find.

Amanda and Tim said...

oh man tell me about it - I made my first ever jam with the blackcurrants from my garden and loved it so much I keep pestering my dad to grow even more fruit in the garden hehe!! Glad your thumbs feeling better too!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

"only so much irony" that is hilarious! Cute picture :)