17/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013."

 

 

A - A graze from play fighting with his brother.
Look Mummy, I can see the tower. I feel blessed everyday to be bringing my boys up in such a beautiful place

J - After dropping his strawberry ice cream he happily ate my rhubarb Winestones.

I am joining in with Jodi's project, there are many others to see, go and have a look

Take care, Natalie xx

Childrens art

I was given this by Jasper's kindergarten teachers when I collected him on Wednesday afternoon. How children sea the world amazes me

I will let you decide what it looks like

Take care, Natalie xx

16/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013."

 

 

 

 

A - I had a very excited boy on my hands on Saturday morning, he absolutely loved the dragon making workshop held in the town hall

 

J - All the other boys were making their knights costumes but all Jasper wanted to be was a dragon, he got his wish

 

I am joining in with Jodi's project, there are many others to see, go and have a look

Take care, Natalie xx

Primroses and Sunshine

The name primrose actually derives from the Latin prima rosa meaning 'first rose' of the year. They are one of the first signs that spring is here. 

We are lucky enough to have many primroses growing on our garden, I think because we are very close to a woodland and a meadow we seem to get more every year. No matter how long I look at them I never tire of the soft yellow hues and soft bumpy leaves. 

On the 19th April which is in England is Primrose day I spent a little time photographing these beauties. I did sneak in an extra daff photo, how could I not they are so pretty too

Take care, Natalie xx 

Bristol Blueberry Muffins - Recipe corner

When Asa was around one years old I enrolled us both in sing and sign classes. There, every Thursday morning we would learn signs for "more" "milk" "dog" "please" and so many more, all learned through songs. Looking back I am so proud of us both, meeting lots of new mums was a bit daunting but I had my little man there looking after me. He loved these sessions and I remember about 3 weeks after we started we were sat in our garden, I could hear a dog barking, Asa looked at me and signed "dog" out first every communication through a shared understanding of what we had learned. Amazing

In Southville where we went for our sessions there is an amazing community centre, always busy and always something going on. They have a lovely cafe there where we used to sit and just be for a few hours. They sell the best blueberry muffins ever, fact

I persuaded the owner to tell me her recipe and here it is for you to try and enjoy, so easy but so good. Asa now calls these squashed fly muffins, fine by me if it means he gets some of those super fruits inside him

125g melted unsalted butter, cooled
2 organic large eggs
125ml milk
225g plain flour
175g golden caster sugar
2 tea spoons baking powder
300g fresh blueberries

Preheat your oven to 190c. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases.
Whisk the butter, eggs and milk together in a bowl. In another bowl mix together the flour, sugar and baking powder. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then fold in the blueberries. Divide the mixture between the cases and cook until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Best to eat these warm

Take care, Natalie xx

15/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013."

J - Whenever we go to the woods you always are on the lookout for a den. Today we found a wee pine covered one, perfect  

A - A monster game in the woods would not be complete without a monster capture, today is was mummy's turn to be taken to the dungeon

I am joining in with Jodi's project, there are many others to see, go and have a look

Take care, Natalie xx

Edge Veg - Nature in the home

When a friend mentioned Edge Veg to me I thought the idea was wonderful, a community project where anyone can have a vegetable box delivered every week with local and seasonal produce. Run by Lara and Kay the scheme is just starting out but they already have more than 30 boxes to deliver every week. 

If you would like to sign up you can do so through their website. There are schemes just like this one all over the country. Visit twitter and follow @organicvegbox

This is also my contribution to this weeks Nature in the home series from Lou of Little Green Shed blog 

Take care, Natalie xx

Chewy monkey bars - Recipe corner

First day back to school from the Easter holidays today, Jasper and I both missed Ace all day.
 
As a nice after school snack we made these, a great recipe from The Hummingbird Cake Days book my sister bought me. They were a hit for my little monkeys
 
Recipe
Makes 12 bars

Ingredients:
120g (4oz) runny honey
60g (2oz) unsalted butter
60g (2oz) crunchy peanut butter
160g (5.5oz) white mini marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla essence
100g (3.5oz) rolled oats
175g (6oz) puffed rice cereal
175g (6oz) desiccated coconut
40g (1.5oz) roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped
40g (1.5oz) glace cherries, roughly chopped
100g (3.5oz) dark chocolate chips
50g (13/4oz) chopped mixed nuts
One 22 x 31cm (9 x 12.5in) baking tray
Method:

Line the tray with baking parchment. Place the honey in a saucepan with the butter, peanut butter, marshmallows and vanilla essence and melt together over a low heat.
 
In a bowl, mix together the oats, rice cereal, coconut peanuts, cherries and 70g (2.5oz) of the chocolate chips. Pour the warm, melted ingredients over this dry mixture, stirring together thoroughly to make sure all of the dry ingredients are evenly coated. Press the mixture into the prepared baking tray.
 
Melt the remaining chocolate chips in the microwave or in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the top of the monkey bar mixture and sprinkle with the chopped mixed nuts, then leave in the fridge for about 1 hour to set. Once the mixture has set, it can be turned out on to a chopping board and sliced into 12 bars

Take care, Natalie xx

14/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013."

 

 

A - You kept this sword in your jumper for over a year when you were 3, I even found you asleep with it tucked in your pyjamas, it seems the sword may be making a come back

 

J - You are so like me it scares me a little sometimes, trying to enforce consequence is tough but Daddy and I believe it is for the best. We are always best friends though, even when we are unhappy with you

I am joining in with Jodi's project, there are many others to see, go and have a look

 

Take care, Natalie x

Aching bones

I woke this morning with aching bones, I have been doing lots of waitressing over the past couple of evenings.

After a steaming hot bath this morning my little men and I headed to the woods, sunshine, laughter and our little dog running through the leafs.

I have just put the beef stew on the hob to heat while we watch Brave

Hoping you all have a lovely weekend, back to school on Monday :(

Take care, Natalie xx

Cotswold Wildlife Park

For as long as I can remember my family and I have been visiting Cotswold Wildlife Park, the weather never stops us and so I have vivid memories of the cold wind biting at my face walking with my Nan and having picnics in the car. Tuesday was not one of those days, the sun was shining and the first signs of spring were showing all round the park

My Dad taking the mickey out of my Instagram feet photos 

Take care, Natalie xx 

March 2013 - Instagram

 

If you want to come and say Hello I am @nataliejtc on Instagram

Take care, Natalie xx