spring goodies

Yummy goodness from the garden, spring salad of broad beans, rocket, lettuce, celery leaves, avocado and haloumi (made using this recipe).

I also absolutely had to share this great juice recipe. A couple of weeks ago I went to a "know your weeds" workshop, held by Isla Burgess. It was a great introduction to knowing what "weeds" grow around us, I have been looking at our garden with a new eye. One recipe I tried and really love is a juice made with cleavers. Cleavers is a "weed" found in almost any garden here, and it seems to grow quite prolifically as well. It is full of good minerals, especially silica (which is what makes it "sticky"). While browsing to find a good photo of it, I found this website that also explains what the health benefits are. That much goodness and free to top it all, how could I resist.

Cleavers (photo from here)

The juice itself is really refreshing and tastes a bit like watermelon. I sometimes add a dash of honey, or just drink it as it is. I even tried it in a smoothie with banana and yoghurt, and Tahi liked it.

It's very easy to prepare, just grab a good big handful, put it in a pot with a bit of water at the bottom and pound it. The water turns dark green. I pour the liquid into a jar, fill it right up with water then add honey. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

my creative space

Some upcycled board shorts for a little boy turning 3... Shirts are great for making kids' pants and shorts, they already have features like pockets and buttons and as a result the pants look like I spent a lot of time adding little details!

The fabric on this one is perfect for hot summer days, light and soft. I added a turquoise waist band and matching bias at the bottom to add some nice contrast. After making Tahi's board shorts last summer I fell in love with the style, it suits little boys so well!

More creative goodness here!

Kids' bean bag; Who won?

OK, so I was expecting a bit more enthusiasm for bean bags, but hey, good for the 3 people who entered the giveaway! Maybe you all have bean bags already, or is it I scared everyone with my struggle to fill the bean bag? Or perhaps the perspective of having to make the bag that goes inside... Ah well, it would be good to know before I have another giveaway.
So I used random.org to choose the winner, congratulations knightlight! Please leave a comment with you email address?
On another note, the All Black are world champions! Wow, well done, although I have to say the french played very well and probably better than the kiwis. As my friend said when I told them the french play better under pressure: "pressure makes diamonds". True that.
And here's what Tahi and I have been doing lately...

Do you rugby?

We do! We've been following the Rugby World cup from home, we managed to borrow a friend's TV.  The semi finals took place last week end, the teams were ruthless and it was pretty exciting to watch.
The final is tomorrow, All Blacks vs. France... I've been counting down the days, I'm really looking forward to this game. Even though I'm french I have to admit I'm fully supporting the All Blacks. I think they really deserve it, they're playing so well as a team, it's been a pleasure to watch them play throughout the cup. So GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!

My creative space

Takes place in the kitchen this week.
Made cottage cheese for the first time, very very happy with the result, it tastes just like I remember it and I looooove cottage cheese. It's quite a long process but to my mind definitely worth it ("too many dishes to wash" is Josh's complaint).

I also tried out a recipe found while browsing my Pinterest, as one does. It's a recipe for an upside down apple tart here (from this pin). This one is a keeper. I'd been looking for a recipe for Tarte Tatin (the french name for this dish) for a while, and this is it. It just so happened that we had some apples lying around, too "fluffy" to be eaten by the local apple eater (Josh), so I had to use them up somehow. Plus I'd just made some butter that morning...

The cake turned out great, just what I expected, although a bit too much butter and sugar to my taste, but that's easily tweaked. And I'm using the left over apple cores and peelings to make some more apple cider vinegar. No waste, that's what I like!

Spring!

Josh took some neat photos around the house the other day.

Apple blossoms

Chooks hanging out in the sandpit

Who's that cute little fella?

Peach blossoms and broad beans gone mad in the background

Potatoes!

Spring onions going to seed

Tahi looking at a record

Guess what these are for?

my creative space

My sewing machine broke down last night. Well actually, the motor did. It's a semi industrial, so the motor is a separate entity altogether, placed under the sewing table. Maybe that's a good thing, in case I have to change it... I'm a bit nervous though. I dismantled it last night after I heard a big "pouf" coming from underneath, saw a flash of light and the cap at bottom came off. It blew the fuse. Pretty impressive. I had been having trouble with the motor for a little while, it was definitely due for a check up. In the meantime I'll be cutting up a storm I guess. Or not!

Fortunately the breakdown happened after I'd finished making some clothes for my best friend's little boy, I was quite keen to send her a parcel (she lives in Germany) before her son grows out of the clothes I made him. She's been ECing him from birth so I decided to make her some special EC pants. From top to bottom, the traditional split crotch pants, and my two designs: the flip flap and the trapdoor EC Pants. I hadn't made any in ages so it was nice to go through some old patterns. The split crotch pants turned out better than I expected and look very cute. All three are made for winter wearing, since it's Autumn in Europe and only getting colder from here. I hope she likes them!

And while you're here, don't forget to enter the giveaway...
More creative goodness here!