Going with the Flow

Another day at work in it's new location and the day passed by pleasantly, I felt a bit reluctant as I left for work yesterday in a different school and I thought this must be how supply teachers feel all the time never knowing what to expect or where anything is! For us of course this is only temporary while the children of key workers are cared for in specific School sites, I needn't have worried as it was completely fine.  Today I was completely fascinated by  pair of twins who kept changing the rules to a game we were playing outside. Now it was a made up game so of course they made the rules but it was just so interesting to hear them bouncing ideas off each other, agreeing then disagreeing but all the while keeping up! Children are so fascinating when you have time to listen and be part of their worlds, plus they were having such fun with this bean bag game of theirs it was a joy to observe and play along.

Todays me made May day 5 is another self drafted skater dress same as my red one ( there are a few of these!)  fabulous fabric on this one that washes like a dream, very bright after lots of wear and I have other items in the same fabric so watch out for it again this month.  My colleague loved it so much I took her to the fabric store and she bought some, I then made her a t shirt out of it.

 Here we are lucky enough for another outdoor picture, still in tights you will note but I have hope for tomorrow as it is supposed to warm up.  Things are looking leafy and green and quite a few of my seedlings in the greenhouse need potting on now so that is a job for tomorrow.  I have planted some straight into large tins that can go straight out as soon as they are large and sturdy enough.  The cook at out School last year saved me the large catering tins for tomatoes.  They make excellent planters some are still silver, quite a few are rust.  They only have flowers in them so the ones that are rusty looking won't affect the flowers will they? I wouldn't plant food in a rusty tin though, time will tell with the flowers.  I'm sure some gardening expert out there will let me know if this was a dreadful idea, I had intended on just recycling them when they lost their sheen but I quite like the rusty shade.

My exercise for the day was just dance with the children this morning in the hall, once again I feel the staff enjoyed it more than the children did.  We are all just clearly happy to be out in the world! I may in fact find some of these routines myself now and carry with at home for the rest of the week, it's not a bad way to start the day.

I've shopped my own bookcase and decided to revisit another title, this time The Four Loves  by C.S Lewis.  I do like his style of taking about life and getting you to think, he is not always easy to follow but definitely worth it.

Tomorrow I am home so I will have time for some making, I'm going to have a think now before I cut into my new fabric.  Stay safe everyone.

A Cool Day for a Paris Skirt

Feeling the chill a bit this morning when I got up and decided I would opt for an outfit where I could definitely wear thick tights, opaque ones my favourite.  I was back at work today and knew I would likely be outside for part of the day with children so this had to be considered.  It was nice to be up with a purpose and I enjoyed seeing a few  people I haven't seen for weeks but he rest were new faces as I was in a different school.  The skirt I am wearing is another self drafted one from my sew what skirts book, it is a very eye catching print that mimics French newspaper print from long ago and I love the quirkiness of it.  I have had it a long time and  is a favourite of mine, it is lined so extra warmth there. (timeless treasures fabric if I remember correctly.)

The top I made from a pattern, the pattern is for McCalls dress M7313 and I just used the bodice pieces but made them longer to make a t-shirt as I know the fit is good.  The sleeves are elbow length and then I have added a broidery anglaise panel front and back at the top.  The fabric is ponte roma so this is quite a thick top too.

After speaking to a few children today it seems they are ready for a return to normal school days, there are only so many attending and the days are very different  for them. This must feel like a very long time for them indeed in their young lives.

After getting in from work I drank two cups of tea in quick succession, at home you can have a drink whenever you want so the one cup I had at lunch time just didn't cover my needs.

Last night we watched the last episode of Homeland and we have followed that for the last few years, I don't know if any of you have watched the series but I have really enjoyed it and I was also quite happy with the ending, I feel that is where these things usually fall apart but it was fitting with the character I thought.

Yesterday I managed to get my hands on a packet of spinach seeds so I will be planting more of that the only problem is where?  They really need to go straight into the ground but I know as soon as they have leaves the dogs will eat them, they are very good at finding and eating any veg I plant so it is difficult.  I had some  purple kale last year that was completely destroyed  by the dogs they left nothing but stumps!  My lettuce plants are on a frame so up off the floor but there is no more room on there, I will have to have a good think.

On my way home today I posted one of my bags that has just sold and it was one that I only made and shared with you last week, it is for a gift with a message so I have added a handmade card that matches the bag I hope she likes it.  This is another area where  the odd  little bits of fabric can come in handy.

Right off to cook the dinner now, homemade spaghetti sauce and vegan no-meatballs, back soon.

McCalls Dress

Well I've been out to do the weekly shop and it was quite a quick moving queue again, day 3 of Me Made May and I'm remembering to nip outside and grab a quick pic too.  I might become more forgetful of doing this as the month wears on but I will try my best.  So todays dress I made last year in April as a Minerva  make, I also have a long sleeve t shirt in the same fabric that I wear a lot (with jeans that I am vowing to stay out of for a month!).  For this dress I did use a pattern McCalls M7533, but I did add darts and taper it a bit as I found it a bit too loose originally.

This fabric has quite a silky feel to it so it is really comfortable to wear, I think clothes that are like that will obviously get more wear.  Shirts can look really smart and I have a few but they are never as easy on so they languish more in the back of the wardrobe, they will be coming out this month at some point.
Here below is the pattern I used if anyone wants to give it a try but be aware that  I added darts front and back to mine to get the fitted look.

Yesterday I made a carrot cake that was a bit of an experiment it turned out rather well, it is a little crumbly as all gf baking can be but not dry and very tasty. As we cannot be trusted to have a cake in the house in one piece here is an image of it with slices already missing!  It has also been cut a bit wonky but never mind that as long as everyone is enjoying it.  I will put the recipe below for fellow GF  bakers.   I made it in a loaf tin but I may do it in cake cases next time just for ease when serving.

Vegan GF Carrot Cake

100g GFv plain flour

50g gram flour

50g buckwheat flour

80g coconut

130g brown sugar

3 small carrots grated

grated rind of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lemon

1tbsp apple sauce (from a jar)

handful of raisins (your preference or flaked almonds)

4 tsp baking powder

100ml rapeseed oil

225ml soya milk 

1/2 tsp mixed spice

Method

Line a 2lb loaf tin and pre heat oven to 180, sieve flour and baking powder into the mixing bowl and grate carrots and lemon.  Mix in other dry ingredients, combine oil and soya in a jug. Add remaining ingredients to bowl and combine, quickly fold in the wet ingredients  and pour into the tin.  The mixture is quite wet, tap the tin on the side to bring air to the surface then bake for 35-40 minutes. 

You could also add xanthan gum if you wish and it may well hold better but I don't think that agrees with me so I have stopped using it.   Apples sauce is good or banana if you have a ripe one for getting things to hold.

I really must try and take better food images if I am going to post recipes ha, ha you will have to trust me it tastes better than it looks.  Cooking is usually taking place here as we are hungry or in need of cake, the pictures are always very much an after thought but the cooking and baking I do  enjoy. 

We are having a bit of a change to the usual Yorkshire Sunday dinner here today and I am making Chinese food. If nothing else that at least means less washing up as I do tend to create a mountain of it on Sundays!  Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.