grey days and keeping warm...

Bit of a grey day today, it started off sunny so I hand-washed all the woollens, but now the sun has disappeared.  Oh well, it will dry eventually.

 This one is my current favourite.

We're going through lots of jerseys and cardigans as the days get cooler...essential playtime gear.

Hope you're going to enter the giveaway (and don't forget to make your blogger profile available or include an email - or I can't contact you if you win!)

Have a good weekend xx

for you!

Well for one of you at least!!  I have been busy getting a few bits and pieces together to do a wee giveaway, prompted by the fact that I have won two giveaways myself recently!!  Thought I'd better share the love around.  So here are the goodies:
One set of animal pegs.

I made these by cutting the designs from some scrapbooking paper, and attaching them to card and then onto mini pegs.  I think they look super cute and would be lovely in a little ones room or with photos hanging from them.

Along with the pegs you will also win either a girls or boys bib and card set. Girls get a flowery design bib and a card, envelope and gift tag with a matryoshka design.

Boys get a blue and white star bib, with robot design card, envelope and gift tag.

You can also find similar items to those in this giveaway in my felt shop.  Yup, that great big widget has been hanging around in my sidebar for weeks and now it finally goes somewhere good!  YAY!
The prize would make a lovely gift for someone you know who is having a new baby, or just keep it for you and your own little one.  To enter just leave a comment telling me whether you would like the girl or boy set, and tell me what your favourite crafty hobby is - just cause I'm curious!  I will draw and announce a winner on Thursday May 6th at noon (NZ time).  Good luck!!!

green smoothies....hmm?

What's that green stuff doing in my blender I hear you ask!?  I'm makin' a green smoothie!!!  And that green stuff is kale from my garden.

Now these green smoothies are all the rage in blog land don't you know.  Lately I've seen them mentioned all over the place, including here and here.  And you know just by looking at them that they've got to be good for you...so I decided to be brave and take the plunge.  I do love smoothies and I do love my greens...but together!?!  Lets just say I was very sceptical...

 Mmm?  Looks like a witches brew to me!  I made my smoothie with 1 banana, 1 pear, 1 apple, a couple of handfuls of kale (which I had steamed for 30 seconds in the microwave, as opinion seems quite divided as to whether such greens are better raw or lightly cooked...anyhoo) and I used a good splash of juice to get it all mixing.  I have quite a powerful blender, and I let it blend for a couple of minutes.

The verdict!?  It was yummy!  And I'm not just saying that.  The overwhelming taste was the sweetness of the apple and pear.  Couldn't taste the greens at all, though they do add a bit of texture. 
I'm thinking this could become a regular habit, its such an easy way for a busy mama to get some nutrition quickly.  Don't think I'll be able to convince the hubby anytime soon though...

I think I like you....

First saw this video here a few weeks ago, and can't get its catchy little tune outta my head.  So I thought I'd share it here too.

Back tomorrow with a real post xx

cooking again...

Don't get me wrong I like to cook.  Some days I even love to cook!  But there is a difference between cooking for fun, trying out a yummy new idea, and cooking - you know, that thing that has to be done day after day.  So I've told myself I MUST make better use of my freezer.  If I double only one dinner per week and freeze a portion for another day, then that means I don't have to cook from scratch one night a week.  Imagine if I doubled every recipe I made...I'd have a lot more time on my hands.
This mornings effort is a lentil loaf from this book which I use often.  I found a link to the recipe here. (When I'm in a hurry, I use canned lentils and mix it all in the food processor.)
This recipe is great, I've eaten and made it countless times and I have never met anyone who didn't like it.  It's one of those vegetarian recipes that even staunch meat-eaters like.

It is a great vege option if you are having a roast dinner and you have a vegetarian guest.  But it also works well with chutney and a salad.  And it's always on our Christmas table.  Can you tell I love this recipe!!

 So now into the freezer for another day.  Yay!

the best thing about autumn...

Is soup!  I love making and eating soup...mmm especially with toast and butter.
I made this vege soup this morning.  I've come to the reluctant realisation that the best way to use my time during baby's morning nap is to spend it cooking.  I'd far rather spend it crafting, but I rarely get any cooking done when she's awake, and if I do, the chances of it being burnt or overcooked are very high!!
So there I was in the kitchen making soup this morning.

So what is your favourite soup recipe?  I tend to make the same things over and over.  I could do with some new ideas!!

Right, I'm off to have lunch.

at week's end...

Just popping by to let you know I've got a wee giveaway going over here at facebook.  For those of you not on facebook, I'll be running one here next week too!!  Happy weekend x

the heart of my home

These images I took this morning surprised me.  When I opened them up on the computer screen I really felt like they captured me and my life today.  They show the heart of my home, my kitchen and dining room.

You can see the dishes on the bench, and the washing hanging outside on the porch.  My sewing machine and my cup of tea.  I'm really happy here.

 Its not perfectly clean and tidy, its not fancy and flash, but I love it.
As for today - I'll be spending it with my babe, and at my sewing machine too, when I get a chance.
Hope you have a lovely day x

WIP wednesday...

I'm tired...

And having one of THOSE days.  So all you get is a song today.

What do I mean "all you get" - these guys are AWESOME!   I'm feeling better already.

today

Today I'm feeling sore, and very proud of myself for completing this yesterday.  It was a great event with a very supportive atmosphere for beginners like me.
I picked the pears this morning, just a modest harvest off our two year old tree.  I think baby will be the recipient of most of these.  I will puree them up for her this afternoon.

And here's a couple of wee snaps of what I am working on at the moment...hopefully I will have more to share (and perhaps a giveaway!) in a week or so.  If baby co-operates and has nice long naps!!

beautiful hydrangea

Eeepppp!  Lookie what arrived in the mail this morning!

I won Jessicah's beautiful tussah silk sliver that was being given away over at blendy!  The colour is hydrangea and oh my it is even more beautiful than it looks in the picture...and SO soft.  Oh the possibilities!!

In other news I now have a facebook page for Green Valley Crafts!!  Check it out here.  Enjoy your weekend xx

pondering

I got to have my lunch in peace today as my girl had her nap.

I sat out on our deck in the sun, looking at the hill across the road.  It is very dry here and we could do with some rain.

And I pondered the following...
...how I am going to manage to do this on Sunday, when I am getting over a cold and currently battling my 4th bout of mastitis...
....whether it is worth opening this Felt shop or whether I'll end up spending more than I'll ever make...
...how I am going to stop baking!  Not good for loosing this baby weight....
...whether or not I'll ever have the patience to learn to crochet...
...hhhmmm...

projects

This is what I've been up to today. 
Sewing on buttons to finish up this wee baby vest.  It will be a gift for a friends new baby.  It isn't my favourite pink, but I think it will look nice with a different colour underneath.

I've also been stuffing and sewing up some balls for toys, and making some pretty bibs. 

 I'm hoping to get my felt shop open soon, but I'm very nervous...

a song

More from those amazing, young Swedish sisters I talked about here.

baking again...

Who am I kidding?  I should just call this blog Green Valley Baking and be done with it.  I promise I'll try to get some more craftiness on here soon...but until then how about some gingernuts with vanilla icing!

 

Yum-o.  Enjoyed at an autumn picnic at the beach.

Yoyo!

Yum yum yoyo biscuits!  Recipe from this old favourite.

 Only problem with baking, is that I eat it all....hmmm.

frustration

I'm stuck in the land of dial-up internet.  Not a place I like to hang out :(
I'll be back in a couple of days when our account ticks over and we're back to broadband!
Until then...

super excited

It's just giveaway madness here in bloggy land at the moment!!
Have you seen the treats that are on offer!!?? 
Take a peek at these...

• Megan is celebrating the opening of her new felt shop with an awesome giveaway package of goodies.

•  Jessicah has a beautiful Tussah Silk Sliver up for grabs over at Blendy (next sample box on sale this weekend!!  I'm hoping to snaffle one up) I want to win the Spinning A Yarn Tussah Silk! Thanks to http://spinayarn.felt.co.nz & www.blendy.co.nz. @blendy

• Kristin is giving away a SQUIDGYUMS sleeveless hoodies as a random act of kindness!  Woohoo!

Right.  Enough chit chat, I'm gonna put down that cuppa and get entering!  Good luck xx

my easter

My Easter was spent at Ligar Bay with family.  The weather was sunny, but the air had a chill in the mornings.  It was a fantastic way to spend some of the last days of this summer...

We walked on the beach, read books, took the baby to her first visit at an animal farm, ate fresh local salmon and LOTS of chocolate, played cards, looked in the crafts shops, had hot cross buns, collected seashells, went for a drive across to the westcoast beaches, had many cups of tea and a few glasses of wine.  It was lovely and very relaxing.  Would have been even better if bubs had slept through the nights, but you can't have everything!!

This is the view from the place we stayed!  Beautiful...

Brooches

I love brooches and have a large collection.  These are some I have made for gifts and perhaps (hopefully!) for sale one day.