The other man in my life...

Since July last year there has been another man in my life.............(but Mr Locket doesn't mind)

A very influential one who has made big changes to the three eldest members of the Locket household.....

Mr Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and this book in particular that we bought quite innocently, never imagining the changes it would cause.

Mr Locket, Dot and I took it in turns to have a look through the book and mark recipes we fancied........

It ended up with so many tabs there was barely a recipe that wasn't marked and we decided to start cooking straightaway, selecting half a dozen recipes to have over the coming week.

From the first meal "North African Squash and Chickpea Stew" (page 30) we were hooked and since that day the three of us have hardly eaten any meat at all.

Basically the recipes are just SO good, so interesting and exciting and tasty that we haven't wanted to eat boring meat-based meals any more.

Mr Locket has never been a huge meat eater so he is delighted but Daisy and Fred haven't joined us in this food revolution so we are tending to cook two meals most nights but that's not a problem.

We haven't gone completely vegetarian and still occasionally eat ham and bacon and a bit of chicken or tuna but 95% of our meals are vegetable based - unless we are visiting family where we will happily tuck into a roast - we just don't really cook meat anymore.

I never really took to Hugh F-W in his early River Cottage days - probably because he has always been very upfront about where our food comes from - literally butchering his own livestock and using every spare scrap of meat.  I've never been particularly keen on thinking about the fact that I'm actually eating an animal's leg for example and prefer my meat neatly and anonymously cellophaned in a packet.  Seeing a pig's carcass arriving at the local butchers always put me off so really I shouldn't be eating meat at all.  Hugh's philosophy is that meat and fish are very precious resources that should be sustainably sourced and humanely treated (and therefore expensive) and should only be eaten as a luxury rather than an everyday right.  In principle I would like to follow his example and only buy free-range produce but unfortunately my tight budget is a rather more influential  pressure although it is something I want to try to improve.

A few weekly meal rituals have started to develop.  On Friday's Dot makes a batch of Hugh's "Magic Bread Dough" and we make flatbreads to stuff with roasted butternut squash, chilli, raw red onion, cheese and rocket ("Hot Squash Foldover" - so delicious) then on Saturday the bread dough is rolled out very thin and turned into pizzas and everyone gets to choose their toppings.  Daisy and Fred will usually just have ham and cheese but the rest of us pile our pizzas with fried kale, mushrooms, courgettes, loads of fried onions, capers, sultanas, olives, pine nuts - whatever we can gather, and I find I'm absolutely loving this Saturday night ritual - rolling the next pizza as the first is cooking, finding out what people want, making sure each pizza gets its 6 minutes in the hottest oven but doesn't burn, sipping my wine as I cook, then finally sitting down with my own scrumptious concoction long after everyone else has finished eating.

The really great thing is that I am able to eat totally delicious food and still lose weight with weightwatchers.  Because I'm not having "points" from meat it means I can have a bit of cheese or some olive oil, or nuts and seeds instead - and I still have enough points left for chocolate and wine!  A win-win situation!

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last post -  I think it is hard when you are presented with other people's "perfect" lives - I know I always feel frustrated and disappointed with myself when I read housey magazines because my home will never look that good! It's just magazine- or blog-envy and I need to recognise it as such and therefore ignore those negative feelings!

Reflecting

You were all right - it's an exercise bike - a digital one, and I couldn't let it go at £2.42 could I? 

The children were delighted and my colleague who dropped it off said they were acting like he had a van load of puppies rather than an exercise bike! It is definitely an eyesore in the sitting room but while it is being actively used by the whole family it can stay there.

I've been reading Soulemama's blog again over the last few days.  I haven't read her for years because I stopped when I just got overwhelmed by how lovely and perfect her life appeared to be.  Reading it again has reminded me of how inadequate I feel about my parenting skills - while I find myself loving what she is doing and wishing I could recreate it in some small way.  It even made me long to buy wholesome handspun wool in shades of brown to knit something homely!

I know every parent has times of feeling inadequate - I know I have ALWAYS felt that way but looking back on when the children were little I think they probably did have a lot of fun and creative play.  Dorothy is still very creative and spends most of her time reading, sewing or knitting when she is not doing GCSE work but Daisy and Fred seem to have got into a rut of watching telly and playing on the computer and they admit they are bored by it!  The other day I was delighted when they broke out the Playmobil again but I know those days have really passed.  Daisy has picked up knitting and finished her cowl and is now tackling purl stitches and rib before moving on to a pair of legwarmers.  She even came to Knit Group with me and Dot on Saturday :o)

I just really feel like I need to make some particular effort to re-engage with the children - play games with them more often, encourage reading and crafting - all things they love - and switch the telly and the computer off at least sometimes.  But it is so easy to get into the habit of letting things slide and it can be hard to find the right balance of "chill out time" and activity. I'm probably being a bit hard on myself really - but I do need to do more.

One good thing is that Fred has joined the Scouts.  He used to be a Cub years ago but got bored with it (and we were struggling to pay for all three to attend) so he stopped and I wasn't really sure how positive he would be about joining again - he really does love the telly and the computer and something that would take him away from them for a couple of hours in the evening wasn't necessarily going to be welcome especially as it would be almost straight after coming home from his childminder.  But he seems to be really engaging with it and enjoying it.  So far this month he has made "junk" musical instruments, been rock climbing and is having a visit from the Police tonight then next week he is going scuba diving!  He has even agreed to go on a two day camping trip in March which will involve quite a lot of  that horrible activity - walking!  (He and Daisy have been fairly allergic to the idea of walking for a good couple of years and will never come with us when we go - it has been rather liberating now that we are able to leave them at home in Dot's care and go out by ourselves!)

How do other parents with children over 10+ keep them occupied and engaged?  What can I do to do things better?

And the only photograph?  Evidence of one big improvement I've been making lately - getting up early enough to have a family breakfast together rather than the usual morning chaos - fried eggs from our lovely hens.

Mystery purchase.....

Will you play a game with me?

I bought something at the auction at work last week and I want you to try to guess what it is...........

Here are some clues:

1. It is ugly
2. It is white
3. It is made of plastic and metal
4. People often have them in their bedroom, their sitting room, their garage or their loft
5. Ours is in our sitting room
6. It is very heavy
7. It cost the grand sum of £2.42 (but that is a real red herring)
8. People often use it to hang clothes on - but that's not what it is for
9. I'm going to try to hide mine under a quilt - there, it looks much better

So what is it?

Is anyone still out there?

I'm a  bad blogger!  I used to be really good but now I am failing terribly.  But I love reading people's blogs about everyday life and really like looking back over the early years of my blog as it is really a precious diary of things that were important to me.  So, I am going to try again!  I don't think I'll be blogging several times a week but I will try to post more often than once every month or two.

I can't catch up on all that has happened since my last post - so I'm just going to start afresh from today........

Monkeys

 I'm always impressed when people tell me they are going to tackle their WIPs instead of casting on something new and exciting and I invariably tell them to forget about it and indulge in the new treat!  But lately I have actually been catching up on some of my own abandoned projects - although I can hear new temptations calling me at the same time (so it's a good job it is too cold for me to venture out to the sewing room and start this project that seems to be sweeping across blogland!)

Round House Socks

So, armed with a new desire to finish a few things off coupled with a renewed enthusiasm for knitting after all the crochet flowers I'd made to sell,  I picked up a pair of Monkeys that had been lurking on the needles and completed them on New Year's Eve.  Then I moved on to a very neglected pair of socks - ones that I had actually started in July 2010 on our family history trip to an Iron Age hillfort (hence their name of "Round House socks").  I had really enjoyed the pattern and the yarn (a lovely soft merino blend from Loop) but for some reason I'd only  knitted one sock - which had duly been worn for a couple of years along with other odd socks.  But this year I started - and finished - its partner, and I love them so I'm very happy.

No Purl  Monkey

When I was looking for some more dpns I found another half started pair of No Purl Monkeys but I can't remember when I started them.  Sock one is now finished and sock two has been cast on then set aside - you can't have too much of a good thing now can you?

Not very mysterious mystery cowl

Another project I found on my needle hunt/tidy up was a mystery cowl - no ravelry project page for it so once again I have no idea when I started it but fortunately it is totally simple and easy to see the rough pattern so I'm just going to do a bit at a time (it is very boring) until I run out of wool.

Then this weekend Julie blogged about her new crochet blanket project which reminded me that I really should be getting on with my very old blanket so I have been trebling away happily playing with colours again.

Meanwhile the younger Lockets are doing their best to improve on their mother's standards.  Dot is becoming a really accomplished knitter and made scarves for me, Mr Locket, Grandpa Dog and Fred for Christmas and birthdays, followed by a fabulous cabled cowl for me (just because she loves me) and these wonderful cabled mittens that she made for Daisy for Christmas (she was knitting them in bed at 6am on Christmas morning after we had opened our stockings!).

Dot's cabled mitts for Daisy

I wear my cowl all day, everyday and I'm far prouder of it than anything I have ever made myself.  She has now embarked on a project to knit a blanket using different techniques for the squares using this book and has so far tackled lace, cables, intarsia and other textural knits - she is way ahead of me at her age.

Dot's gorgeous cowl for me

Daisy has also started knitting and is working on a really long cowl in Big Softie - I just love seeing my girls sitting knitting on the sofa - I would show you a photo but I don't think they would appreciate it now!

Daisy's cowl

Like most of the country we have had quite a bit of snow and more was forecast for the North East but as we are on the coast it seems to be falling as sleet rather than heavy snow so the children were very disappointed not to be getting a day off school.  I'd quite like a bit more snow too - it's better than the slushy mess we have at the moment - but hopefully it will all go away before too long so I can get back to my running.

Fortunately the cold weather hasn't put the chickens off (although they spend the entire day sitting on their perch) and one of the lovely ladies has started laying eggs!  We lost a couple when she laid them on the concrete patio and they must have cracked so the hens ended up eating them but finally we have five and I plan on frying them for the Lockets this evening.

Hopefully now I have written this post I will be inspired to blog more often - if anyone is still out there reading??

Until next time! Lucy xxx

Dipping my toe in the water again.....

Once again I've left it for ages between posting - it's just hard to get back into the habit of photographing and documenting life when you haven't done it for a while.

Exciting news on the craft front was the extension of my sewing room in the garage so that it is now twice the size with two more large tables and a sofa so many happy hours have been spent out there lately with room for the whole family to craft, study or read - I love it!

And with this extended crafting space there has been a dramatic increase in my crafting output - so much so that I have decided to dip my toe back in the water of craft fairs and selling - something I haven't done for quite a few years.

I can't say it has gone tremendously well!  The first sale was ok - I had a few patchwork wallets, some crochet corsages and a couple of cushions but most of the visitors were elderly and either said "Ooh Betty could make those!" or "They're a bit young for me dear!" ;o)  But I did sell about £60 worth of stock which was good and then my lovely boss bought a lot of corsages for Christmas presents too.  Yesterday's sale was less good and I only made £12.50 on top of my stall fee (which was only £10 - so yes, I only took £22.50!)  But it was a nice day and I was there with one of my closest friends who had a stall next to me.  It wasn't really a craft fair - we were the only two actual "crafters" there and the focus of the day was more on winter family fun - but it was good to try laying out my increasing stock on the stall.  Afterwards we went to stay with mum and dad so the children could help with the Christmas cooking and when I showed mum my things she fell in love with one of the cushions and a corsage and wouldn't let me give them to her but insisted on buying them which was so kind.

I have a stall at the girls' school this Thursday evening and one at our village infant school on the following Thursday, then a local coffee shop have said they will sell my things for me. I'm going to make a few more pencil rolls for the infant school sale but unless I have some dramatic sales I don't think I will be increasing my stock much further.  It has been fun trying to sell again but I don't think I have the drive that I used to have and as I'm not making commissioned personalised items anymore I don't think I have the appeal that I used to have.

One good thing about yesterday's sale was that I had plenty of time to start knitting Grandpa Biscuit's Christmas present socks - I'm up to the heel already (they're dk thickness so I haven't done all that much knitting really but I'm pleased to have started!)

So that's my news - oh, and I forgot to tell you, you know that lovely metal cabinet that I blogged about in the last post?  It turned out that it didn't fit in my sewing room after all so I ended up selling it in the next auction!  It was far too stylish for me anyway! ;o)

P.S - yet more news!  I've lost 3 stone and have celebrated by having all my hair chopped off so I no longer look like a scarecrow

I've finally managed to upload a few photos but this is all I'm allowed - apparently I've used up my free quota of space for blogging pictures - has anyone else had this happen?

An occupational hazard...

Working at an auctioneers can lead to all sorts of temptation - I even bought something at my interview!

But Mr Locket quickly made it clear that he was not keen on me bringing home lots of rubbish goodies after each sale so for the last 2+ years that I've worked there I've actually been very good and can only think of my blue sundae dishes and a sewing box that actually came home with me.

However, this week I had a bit of an abberation and found myself buying a gorgeous painted metal kitchen cupboard (scrap metal to Mr L), 2 Ercol dining tables and an old tea trolley that I plan to paint.

My colleague gave me a lift home in his van and I piled all my new treasures up in the hall - blocking it completely.  Mr Locket's reaction when he got home was stunned silence followed by "What's all this @*£%?" I was hiding behind the kitchen door giggling like a maniac.  Then he found out that I had actually paid good money for it all too!

Once he realised that I was planning on using everything in my sewing room in the garage - rather than cluttering up the house - he was greatly relieved!  In all honesty he's such a sweetheart that he never complains whatever I do and tolerates an awful lot.

We are actually going to be extending the sewing room to take up the whole garage rather than just half so we had spent the weekend before clearing out lots of junk - so you can see why he was rather dismayed to find more arriving!

I'm really excited about the new plans for the sewing room as it has become rather cramped and untidy with far too much stored out there. 

Also, I never seem to craft on my own these days as the girls and sometimes Fred are keen to be sewing too.  The existing room is big enough for 1-2 people but extending it will make it so much better.  It also proved to be a great place for Dot to do her revision as it can be made relatively tidy (unlike the rest of the house) and it is quiet and away from the hustle and bustle.

Other news in Locketland - the chickens are settling in well and we have started letting them out to explore the garden at the weekend so they've been having a great time pecking around and making dust baths.

Also, more of my birthday fabric arrived - charm squares of Lucie Summers' Summerville.

I can't decide if I like them best with or without the black and white fabrics - what do you think? And should I just make a very simple quilt by sewing them together in squares and let the fabric do the talking or should I make pinwheels as I've found an amazing tutorial here that I really want to try?

My other birthday fabric came few days later.....

 

Six fat quarters of Sarah Jane's Children at Play.

I know I'm a bit late to the party with both of these fabric ranges but I think I will have great fun playing with them - so that's what I'm off to do now! 

Lucy xx

My mojo is back with a vengeance! Hurrah!

I know I'm meant to be blogging about Dot's birthday and our fabulous holiday in Italy but I just had to tell you that my long-lost crafting mojo has finally returned and I'm delighted!

It only happened towards the end of last week when I picked up my crochet blanket and joined a few more squares together while watching a film, then I was blog-hopping and saw something a friend had made that I knew I wanted to sew for a birthday present (so I can't show you what it is yet) so I started that, then I was on Ravelry and saw Michaela's Leftie that her mother had knitted for her and I knew I had to do that too - so I really didn't want to go to work on Friday - I had far too much to do!!

On Saturday it was my birthday and Mr Locket and the children had ordered me some craft books including this one and this one, then I went to my local(ish) patchwork shop and bought some fabric then drove on to lovely Katie's workshop Make at the Whitfield Village Pantry.  It was great to see Katie again and she was so inspiring (as always) and I left with my head crammed full of ideas of things I wanted to make including these "studio boxes" from this tutorial.

The little Lockets were also inspired (although Mr Locket was so relaxed on Katie's sofa that he fell asleep) so on Sunday afternoon we set to work and I made Daisy and Fred simple patch cushions using their fabrics (I totally love the Ed Emberley on Fred's cushion) while Dot was busy sewing crazy patches in practice for her GCSE textiles project.  I then made myself a denim box and then on Monday made Daisy's friend the cream one - Daisy designed it and did all the buttons while I did the rest of the sewing.

So lots of happy crafting! And even more fabric is going to be arriving in the post tomorrow hopefully :o) it's a great way to spend your birthday money!!