Current rambling

I read a blog post recently about feeling valued and worthwhile as a homemaker. It was pretty inspiring. I'm trying to think of it whenever I'm doing housework, so I take more pride and I consider it less of a chore and more as a part of my role. This works well when my daughter is having a good day and isn't tired and grumpy..... Tired and grumpy days are a lot more trying! It's hard to do anything when a crying toddler won't let go of your legs or let you put them down. So, there isn't really much to this post. I never know what direction to head in. I've taken up sewing. The old dining room is halfway converted into a sewing room and it will be a great space when it's finished. I really want to start making patchwork quilts (as if I wasn't old lady enough!), but I'm holding off for a couple of years until I have two kids that sleep through the night (touch wood). It's on the same list as learning the banjo. I might start small with patchwork cushion covers now....maybe.

Sewing an apron.

I've signed up for an apron swap through one of the blogs I follow. Yikes. The last thing sewn by me was a pillow case at school. But it's an apron, right? It can't be the hardest thing to sew. I want to get some really pretty fabric for it. I'd better make sure I do a calico practice run first.

Blog drought.... What's going on?

Well. I have been slack. Or busy doing other things. I haven't blogged since October and now it's the first day of March. My daughter is now 14 months old and just learning the art of tantrums. I'm pregnant with our second child. Summer has been milder and kinder than last year. There - all caught up. Sophie is spending the day with her grandparents today, as she does every Thursday. I usually spend the time cleaning the house, or getting a pedicure, or doing the shopping. Today? Nothing. I'm feeling very lazy indeed. Oh, wait. I did put on a load of washing.

Weddingsweddingsweddingsandspring

I go through waves of blogginess. I've sat down to blog twice in the past month and each time I've stopped and thought, "What do I actually want to say?". Rather than think too much about it today, I've decided to start typing. The next couple of weeks are all weddingy here. Friends of ours had a surprise wedding reception disguised as an engagement party on Sunday just gone, my friend from mums group is getting married this weekend in Dunsborough and my brother is sealing the deal next weekend. It's a good thing I love the loved up. Sophie and I are heading south tomorrow for a few days. It's time to do those wedding cupcakes! I'm mostly worried about the baking side of things. I haven't used that oven much and I really don't want to overcook them. The decorating should work out alright as long as I take my time. I'm feeling stressed about it all, but I think that's because I need to remember to take everything down with me. So basically, my head is occupied with thoughts of weddings lately. Other things are happening? Yes, other stuff is going on too. Spring has sprung and we have glorious weather today. Summer is hinting and nudging at the edges. I've planted corn, basil and roma tomatoes. I'm starting slowly - watering every day - hoping they fruit nicely... I'm constantly in awe of how quickly this year has flown. It's nearly Christmas, nearly my daughter's first birthday. I'm less terrified of motherhood than I was six months ago.... a week ago..... yesterday, even. I'm enjoying it muchly and I'm trying to live in every moment because it's all going too fast.

My middle is rounder, my to-do list is longer.

This is a weird ol' couple o' weeks.

I was sick last week and I transferred my cold to Sophie this week. We live in The House Of Snot, which is slowly drying up. Mmm.

And so, in the interest of not being a sadsack:

Today I am grateful for a beautiful child to spend my days with, a hard-working (long suffering) husband, sunshine to dry my washing, a great carrot cake recipe, my sister coming to stay, lunch with family tomorrow, a new camera and my health.

Sweet thang

I love baking. It relaxes me. It does for me what reading a book or going for a walk or watching a film does for others. I like all those things too, but baking is my go-to activity if I have a bit of free time.

With only three of us at home (one who isn't allowed to eat any baked goods yet), it is hard to eat our way through the fruits of my relaxation. I like tasting it, but I'm usually good for one or two and that's it; it's more about the process for me. I often take cakes or biscuits to family night and to mothers group.

Last week, I took a practice run of cupcakes to mothers group. They were a practice for my SIL's 40th and I had tweaked a recipe and wanted to see that it still worked out okay. Also, I hadn't quite decided on the way I was going to decorate them, so I wanted to have a play around with that. They ended up looking pretty flash and almost professional (my piping is still a little shakey).

Anyway, one of the girls at mothers group has asked me to make the cupcakes for her wedding in October! I'm beyond excited! It pleases me that someone thinks my baking is good enough for a wedding and I'm looking forward to the challenge of making these little cakes look stunning and delicious at the same time.

So..... this has got me thinking... I might like to set up a market stall once or twice and try to sell my cakes and biscuits. I know there are too many cupcake places around, but they seem to focus more on how spectacular the final product looks, while I would prefer to focus on the taste. Also, I have some good biscuit recipes that are lovely and need to be shared with cups of tea everywhere.

The more funky, boutiquey markets like to showcase wares from people who have (at the very least) decided to set up a facebook page promoting their craft. I don't want to do that just yet. I'd prefer to go to a couple of little community markets or farmers markets and see how I do there.

There are still a lot of things to nut out, though. How do I package them? Cupcakes have their own boxes, but biscuits need something similar so they don't get crushed... How much do I bake? When do I bake it? Can I use recipes that I haven't made up or is that frowned upon?

A day off to brunch.

While I've been on maternity leave, my husband has been working incredibly hard to provide for our family. Two jobs. Five days of 9 to 5 managing a music store and four nights of gigs a week. That's a whole bunch of work. Sophie and I get to spend time with him on Mondays and Fridays during the day, but he's off to work those nights. He doesn't get a full day and night at home.

AND he does it all because he loves us. We're super lucky.

Before Sophie was born we went out for meals a lot. It's one of our things. We love good food and we love other people preparing it for us. Since Soph arrived, I've perfected the art of eating quickly. I reckon I could finish an entire meal in five minutes. Our little one isn't at a stage where she appreciates fine food and wine and taking one's time to enjoy both. She's also on her best behaviour in the morning.

So now breakfast has become our thing. It's quick and cheap (ish) and delicious.

We're slowly working our way through the breakfast places in Perth. We've had some super duper ones and a couple were meh. Standout places that I've been to with friends but not yet with Court: Sayers in Leederville, The Attic in Fremantle and The Kiosk at Floreat Beach.

We'll get there. We're making breakfast our mission.