About us

We are a hard working, family of eight. Swimming in the sea when we aren't busy on our small holding. Daddy dragon has to work away a lot, so this blog is to let him keep up with our adventures at home.

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Time rushes quickly away


It feels sometimes as though the minutes of the day slip through our fingers and there is nothing we can do to slow it all down.

Projects stack up, work flows in, and suddenly a month or more passes by.

We have officially return to the roaring winds, that stomp and snarl like lions outside the door. 

And every where you look there are people eagerly anticipating the year's end all ready.

Don't throw away these last few weeks, they will go by plenty quickly as it is.

Instead free up you time.

And try meditating.

A very long time ago I bought the hatchling a set of children's meditation cds, and they have brought them out again. 

They tell me every one should meditate, it is good to rest your head.

Hence, I am passing on their message.

And wishing you a good mid week.

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Respectful remembrance


Today, we are thankful for this peaceful day that we have.

I wish it was something that could be taken for granted, that a battle once fought was finished.

We all know the truth is otherwise.

So, today, I will simply be thankful for what we have and hope for peaceful tomorrows.

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

A beautiful start to the day


Making poppies


This is my latest of many attempts at crocheting a good poppy.

For whatever reason, this year, I decided I wanted to make our poppies.


Partly, because the paper ones just aren't the same as the soft velour feeling ones we had when I was a child, partly, because we bought about 30 last year and still managed not to have a full set for the remembrance ceremony, and mostly, because like many other parts of my life, I don't want to buy it. I want to participate, live, give, grow, learn and be a part of things. 

I could buy a poppy, or I can spend hours trying my best to make them, spending the time pondering the significance and meaning of it all.


So this year, I'm making our poppies.

And if you are interested, I'll pass on what I've done, if you want to make the poppy in the top pic. (Just comment if you want the write up for any of the others)

In black, chain 3 sc and join with a slip stich to form a ring.
Crochet 2 dc stitches into each of the three stitches in the circle, and change to red.

In red, chain 2 and crochet in 2 dc in each of the 6 stitches for a total of 12 dc in the round.

When you have 12, slip stitch to join.

Do not chain, go straight into a triple crochet stitch, in the first loop. Then another, so 2 triple crochet stitches in your first stitch. 

Then put three tc's into the next stitch, then two tc's in the third stich.

In the fourth stitch, only one single crochet.

There is your first petal.

Do this again three more times. 

12 stitches = 2 tc, 3 tc, 2 tc, 1 sc, 2 tc, 3 tc, 2 tc, 1 sc, 2 tc, 3 tc, 2 tc, 1 sc, 2 tc, 3 tc, 2 tc, 1 sc

and then slipstitch it closed.

Ta da!

Oh and if you have a better crochet or knit poppy pattern, I would love to know. 

Please do comment, and link. 



It is that time of year again.


Babies,


down 


by the sea.



Monday, 3 November 2014

Her buddy


This spoiled kitty


watching movies with his favourite hatchling.

Makes me very happy.

Sunday, 2 November 2014

A gentle autumn


The autumn weather has treated us gently.

And for that I am thankful.

Not everyone has had a gentle month or even year.

I would not wish those difficult patches on anyone, and I wish gentleness and peace for you.

Today, I am thankful.

And I am reminded, that our children are borrowed gifts, 

and we never know how long we may have with them.

Enjoy them, these beautiful babies do not last forever.

Caramel Apple Crumble with Bourbon vanilla ice cream


The day after halloween always seems to be a little bit of a let down for the hatchlings, and this particular 1st of November, all their activities went wrong as well.

When we finally came home after a long morning of things going wrong, we needed a dinner that felt something special and this was even better than that.

I glazed 12 cox apples, peeled and chopped, in calvados and brown sugar.

I poured the apples into an oven dish and sprinkled with a generous quantity of cinnamon.

Then I topped the apples with some homemade muscavado rum caramel. 

(1 tin of condensed milk, 2tbs muscavado rum, 1tbs brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla bean paste, 1 tbs butter, bring to a boil for 2minutes)

Then I crushed 8 digestive biscuits and added 3/4 cup rolled oats, and 1/2 cup dried coconut; to this I added 1/4 cup of melted butter, mixed it in and poured it over the caramel.

I put it all in the oven for 30 minutes while our ice cream maker chilled my bourbon vanilla custard into ice cream.

Needless to say, we all felt a lot better afterwards.