The Baby’s Catalogue by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

This is one of my daughter’s favourite books to flick through in the mornings when she is waiting for me to prepare her porridge. I usually give her about 4 books to flick through whilst she waits in her bed for me to come and fetch her and this is the one she always seems to be reading when I come in the room.

There’s a lot of detailand variation in the pictures and the illustrations leave so much scope for making up stories and asking questions. The colours and bright and cheerful and the illustrations are quite funny too.

I think this will be one of those books that is a favourite for a long time.

The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss and Helen Oxenbury

I came accross this book in our local library amd fell in love with the illustrations straight away so it had to be bought! I often struggle to find books in the library that I really like so I was pleased when I came accross it. The story is of a boy who is growing, he has a puppy who he watches grown, he goes through all of the seasons before finally realising that he has grown too.

The story is gentle and descriptive and the illustrations really capture the different seasonal changes. I often change the story when I read it as the illustrations seem to have too much more to talk about than what is in the words alone.

Montessori?

We are trying to find an area in which to stay for at least a year in Adelaide – but where to start? Well I guessed that ‘T’s happiness is my happiness adn that sending her to a good nursery with good schools nearby was the most important thing for me, so that is leading our search.

I came accross this Montessori nursery and school online and we are really looking forward to looking round it. I think that ‘T’ is very suited to Montessori education, she is a real thinking and is forever ‘sorthing’ her toys, some of  the below pictures were taken the other day when I found her passing her pretend pasta from one dish to the next, time after time, I’m amazed at how she sets up these little activities for herself and keeps herself entertained with these types of activities. I like the structure, simplicity and early education that the Montessori avenue seems to take, and it seems most suited to how we are at home as well.

When she plays with her play frame she ‘sorts’ and arranges her playsilks on the different slats, and she will sit and play with bricks and duplo for up to 30 minutes alone on a good day.

I really think that she is at teh right stage for a structed nursery now – her energy levels are rising, as is her concentration span (and her constant chatting!) I can’t believe how fast this time has gone and as much as I look forward to seeing her excel in a nursery, which ever one we decide on, I know it’s another chapter that will be closed. My little girl is growing up so fast before my eyes and it scares me!

Jamie Olivers ‘Epic Roast Chicken Salad’ recipe review

I saw this recipe in Jamie Oliver’s ‘Jamie’s Great Britain’ recipe book and thought I had to give it a try – I am SO glad I did as it was easy, cheap, and the flavour was just amazing – I think this is one of mine (and my husband’s) favourite dishes now!

The chicken was simply roasted with lemon and thyme and then left to cool, so this bit I did in advance in the morning which was easy enough.

The second part was just as easy, using torn up bread as chunky croutons which were infused with the flavours of the juices of the chicken, a while bulb of garlic, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and crispy streaky bacon. The flavours were delicious!

I have had a hunt for the recipe online but can’t seem to find it, though the recipe list is here if you want to take a peek – if however you need an easy and extremley delicious recipe I highly recommend a trip to the library to get this book…..

Enjoy! x

The blog list….

Not being here for a little while, I thought I would share with you somore of my favourite blogging places to visit on the web.

• Ginny from Small Things is probably my favourite blog, she is a home-schooling Mum to 6, a fantastic photographer, a very clever knitter and somehow manages to write a beautiful blog on top of all that!………….
• Mama UK has the most adorable photos – notes from a Waldorf inspired family life.
• Frontier Dreams, such big content and again, beautiful photographs.
• Bluebirdbaby – Stunning photographs and a beautiful home.
• ecoMILF – great tips for eco-firendly parenting and living.
• readingmytealeaves – potions and ramblings, always something new to read and ponder over.

I’ll be back soon! x

Feel free to comment below with a link to your own blog, or a favourite of yours x

(photo taken last April – I just love these flowers)

How to make Scotch Eggs

Here are some simple instructions on how to make 4 x Scotch Eggs:

Ingredients:

• Good quality sausagemeat – I found this one from a local butcher
• breadcrumbs
• 5 x eggs
• Olive oil
• Bowl of water

Method

Place 4 of the eggs into saucepan with water and boil until cooked. Cool under a running tap and remove shell. Dampen your hand in the bowl of water and take a piece of sausage meat roughly the same size as an egg (makign your hands wet will stop the fat from the sausagemeat sticking to your hands and will prevent getting into a complete mess!) Roll the sausagemeat into a ball and flatten, then cover the egg with it. Do this for the other 3 x eggs.

In a seperate bowl, whisk an egg and add each of the 4 sausagemeat-covered eggs to the mixture, ensuring it is entirely covered with whisked egg. Now roll until covered in the breadcrumbs. Repeat for all 4.

Cook in a saucepan with enough olive oil to almost cover them, remembering to roll them around every now and then. They take 10-15 mins to cook (on average) annd ensure it is fully cooked. Eat cold as a lunch on the go or as part of a picnic.

Goodbye England…………

Today’s the day. Our belongings are currently on a  ship about to sail to Australia and this evening we board our flight to Singapore for a little break away and to break up the long journey before starting our new lives in Australia.

Still in shock that this is actually happening and just going to keep this short (for various reasons)

I will be back in this space soon, to let you know how we’re getting on in the sunshine, but I’ve scheduled in a few posts that I’ve written in advance to give you something to read in the meantime……….

But for now, farwelll, I’ll be back here soon xx