miahenry

My Birthday

Painting from Rick, Autumn in New York, Matte Stephens.

Flowers,

Cards,

Picnic, 

 

Thank you.

Cold Pack Covers from an Old Towel

For years I have been wrapping those cold pack things that go in the children's lunch boxes in tea towels to prevent condensation ruining their lunches. I've looked around briefly for a cheap alternative to purchase but to no avail, maybe I'm missing something, if anyone knows of anything I'd love to hear from you. Anyway I have been able to sew some very simple little covers myself and they are working very well, so here is a little how to for Cold Pack Covers from an Old Towel.

Get an old towel.

Put your cold pack on it to see how big you need to cut the rectangle that will make the cover. (Mine was 15 x 5 inches. That cold pack is the standard size (150ml) you buy at the supermarket for lunch boxes.

See I cut the rectangle out! I kept the bound edge of the towel as this will save me finishing that edge.

Now you overlock or zigzag the short unbound edge of your rectangle.

Fold the rectangle as shown above.

Overlock or just sew the sides. Remember there is three layers of towel to get through at one end and your overlocker may be a bit offended by this so maybe switch to the sewing machine (I didn't but I'm pretty sure my overlocker wished I had).

Turn out. See!

So cute!

unwanted visitor

Rick had to be very brave and shoo this hungry carpet snake away from our bunny this afternoon. I threw banana at the rabbit in an attempt to get it into it's hutch where it would be safe while Rick hooked the snake on the end of a broom and gently persuaded it into the garden. Kiki is now safe in the garage but the snake came back and has been perched on the wire enclosure for about 5 hours! Not quite sure what to do if it's still there in the morning, it didn't show any fear of us when we were near it. Last year at this time I was feeding Kiki at night and stepped on a very large snake - not nice I tell you! - I wonder if it's the same one?

Snake Situation Update - it's nowhere to be seen this morning...not sure how I feel about this...I'm keeping the screen doors closed and I hope it found something else to eat last night!

Rick

Happy birthday Rick! 

Then...

Now...

why?

Why would I see how many pikelets I can stack? I don't know but the answer is 14...keep in mind these are thick, have a small surface area and are motley in size and shape... I have searched but can't find a record for a pikelet stack, probably because I'm not sure how many people make pikelets outside Australia and New Zealand (and probbably the UK), or it could be that no-one really cares about pikelet stacks which is fair enough. However, pancake stacks (pikelets older and bossier big  brother) are big news...

Sean McGinlay and Natalie King of Glasgows Hilton Grosvenor hotel made this pancake stack containing 672 pancakes and measuring 75cm and that's the world record, apparently. Next time you are making pikelets please have a go at a stack and let me know how you go!

baby girl

We are planing a big trip for this September/October, 6 weeks in the US, husband Rick is from the US. Anyway I have been packing up some bits and pieces because we are having a house sitter come in so anyway I was in Mia's room and came across some old books, the first was my favourite when I was little and the second was hers, as I put them on the bed, next to each other, on her baby quilt that her Dad lovingly handstitched for her I just burst into tears, my baby turns 15 this year...it just hit me, I saw all that time, my childhood, her childhood, my motherhood, her birth, her future right there on the bed. What I love about her book, Meg and Mog, is how worn it is, very very well read and loved! And here's a photo of where we are at the moment... BUT, look who is still on her bed... This is "Brownie". I remember when I was about Mia's age I threw my childhood doll away, her name was Suzie, she was kind of ugly with short spikey hair and she made a gutterall cry when you turned her upside down but I wish I still had her around, so I won't let Mia throw Brownie away, I'm just relieved he's still on the bed! Having said that, having a teenager is not unlke having a baby again, they change and grow so quickly, they can be moody and throw tantrums, they sometimes want to do things they're not quite big enough to do yet and for parents it's an exhausting but amazing, beautiful time. Eventually, we have to let go... Has anyone else kept books from childhood I would love to photo's, it would be so cool to get a whole bunch of photo's of childhood books together!

Henrys ' photoshop

Here are Henrys' first attempts on Photoshop...what a sweetie. Today is a funny day, everyone in the house has been strangely anxious lately, maybe working too much and not resting, taking time. We have a few BIG things happening in the near future, planning an extended overseas trip and a big move to a new home when we get back. It's exciting but kind of exhausting if you now what I mean. So today I just want to look at these flowers Rick gave me recently.