Sunday 31 July 2011

baby eats: oat cereal

Stage I, Stage II.
Makes at least 1/4C.

  • 1/4 C rolled oats.

  1. Put rolled oats into grinder/food processor.
  2. Pulse oats until finely ground (texture like powder).

To keep: Cover, and use within 24hrs.
To refrigerate: Cover, and use within 3 days.
To freeze: Put into flat container with lid. Cover, and use within 7-10 days.

Homemade ground oats may go rancid if it is kept too warm. It may get freezer-burn if kept with too much moisture. Treat it as you would crumble topping =)

I've made 1/4C today. We'll see how it goes.

baby eats: fruity oat cereal

Stage I, Stage II.
Makes approx. 1/8C (30ml)

  • 1t ground rolled oats,
  • 3t hot boiled water,
  • 2-3t fruit puree (e.g. pear).

  1. Put ground oats in small bowl.
  2. Measure in water.
  3. Mix well, until smooth as possible (may be lumpy-ish).
  4. Mix in fruit puree.

This makes a runny meal.
For a more solid texture, reduce quantity of water or puree at the appropriate stage.

Saturday 30 July 2011

story 2.5

"I'm sorry," Atilla expressed his sympathy again. "Would it help to take flowers to her? It works in all the ads on tv."

“Flowers?” Cat1 perked up. He drooped again. "How will I keep the flowers fresh?"

"These flowers," Atilla proudly pointed to the daisies, "like rain, sun, air, and dirt. That's why they live here."

“Soooo,” Cat1 said thoughtfully, "if I take a bit of dirt and flowers, and keep them with rain, sun, air and dirt, the flowers may stay fresh until I give them to her..."

"Yep."

“Do I have your permission to take some dirt, flowers, rain, sun, air and dirt?”

"Sure."

Atilla observed the hover-craft laser around a small patch of topsoil and accompanying winter daisies. The patch of soil levitated into the craft easily. A container emerged and waved purposefully in the air, and returned into the craft.

"I've got another brilliant idea," Atilla said. "Wait here."

Cat1 waited, while mein host climbed the porch steps and disappeared into his home. He looked bemusedly at the plant-life co-habiting his cockpit. Mayhaps it ought to be put into the storage hold? Except the cockpit looked so much friendlier with the sunny yellow centres of the flowers in the environment.

Atilla returned triumphantly with clenched fists. "I remembered the ads also like to give these to girls."

He opened his hands and displayed his prize - dark lumps.


"I got them from my dad's stash. It's chocolate for grown ups. I'm sure it will be a hit. My granddad likes them, and so does my uncle, and my mum. My auntie can't eat it because it's too hot spicy. I can have some when I turn fifteen."

“Thank you very much,” Cat1 received the contribution gratefully. He waggled his ship to signify thanks. He wiggled his ship to signify farewell. “You're a great help. I'll be sure to tell her. See you around.”

"Good bye," said Atilla, and waved him good-bye.

Wednesday 27 July 2011

story 2.4

"How are you?" Atilla reciprocated the friendly enquiry.

“I'm good,” Cat1 said, “but I need to work on my orientation skills.”

"Oh, I see. Are you working on it now?"

“Yes, mostly.”

"My mum says I can use the Southern Cross to point my way home," Atilla offered the advice. "Maybe it will work for you too."

“I'm good,” Cat1 said. “I'm not looking to go to my way home.”

"Oh I see. Where are you going?"

Cat1 coughed embarrassedly. “Er, I'm looking for Alberqueque.”

Atilla nodded his head sagely in sympathy. "It sounds like a most marvellous adventure. My dad would enjoy it." He perused the statement. "Actually he would say that I would enjoy it."

The saucer-craft bobbed and weaved in the air. Eventually Cat1 asked, “Atilla, do you know how I can get to Alberqueque?”

"I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question. I know how to get to the playground. I know it's not Alberqueque."

Cat1 sighed. This shortcut was turning out not to be a good one. He was becoming ever more late for his very important date.

“That's it,” he moped, “I'm lost.”

"Oh, surely it's not as bad as that," Atilla sympathised. "We can go to a police station and try to help you get to Alberqueque."

“I'm good,” Cat1 said sadly. “Maybe she'll forgive me.”

27 June 2011

cb:
- parents,
- husband,
- sister,
- baby,
- sleeping baby,
- 'Yes Minister',
- knitting,
- playground,
- Union,
- great boss,
- email,

6 best:
saw - happy playing baby,
taste - hot salmon cooked by husband,
touch - knitting,
heard - big belch from unsettled baby, who then promptly settled,
did - held unsettled baby until big belch,
smelt - hot seasoned salmon.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

story 2.3

The daisy patch grew underneath the denuded plum tree. The tree was bereft of leaves and plums and blossoms, and it was magnificent with twigs and branches. This meant sunshine easily found the daisy patch and warmed it up.

Atilla crouched down and inspected the flowers. He racked his memory to remember what the best daisies look like. He remembered that daisies in the golden heat of summer were pink-tipped, white petalled, and yellow centered. These winter daisies were all white petalled and yellow centered, and short stalked.

Would Mother like such pitiful looking ones?

"Hey, kid-"

Atilla looked up from his reverie.

"Yo," he said.
"You're in Auckland," he informed the hovering saucer-shape, "Did you forget to turn left at Alberqueque?"

"I'm good," said Cat1. "I was just in the neighbourhood."

"Oh, okay."

There was a lull in the dialogue.

There was a prolonged lull in the dialogue.

Atilla squinted. "Was there anything else?"

"I was just wondering what you were up to," said Cat1. "Was your mum's mail all right?"

"Yes, it was all right. She did say that I oughtn't talk to strangers. We haven't been introduced," he reminded his associate.

"Yes," agreed Cat1. "I'm Cat1. Hello."

"Hello," replied Atilla, "I'm Atilla."

"Hello Atilla. What are you doing?"

"Hello Cat1. I'm inspecting my garden."

Cat1 brought up the visuals of the garden. He looked carefully at each creeping vine, each lichened branch and twig, each leaf straining for the sunshine, each insect zipping in the weak warm sunlight, each bird evading Atilla's notice, the cat patiently waiting at the other side of the fence, each pink manuka flower blooming with radiance.

The dominating aspect was the large yellow grapefruits ripening on the tree, and the swelling orange-coloured tangelos ready to burst on their tree.

"It's a good garden," Cat1 congratulated his host."

"Thanks."

26 July 2011

cb:
- sleeping baby,
- roti,
- fresh coriander,
- mum,
- dad,
- husband,
- sunshine,
- playing in playground,
- sleep,

6 best:
saw - happy laughing rolling baby/ husband agreeing to random activity,
taste - fresh coriander,
touch - husband,
heard - husband looking after baby,
did - no laundry,
smelt - fresh coriander.

Monday 25 July 2011

story 2.2

Atilla jumped from the porch and landed safely on the grass below. He kicked the weeds clustered around the wooden steps of the porch.

That activity satisfactorily concluded, he turned his attention to other available interests in the garden.

Many seeds from the mothball plants had fallen on the lawn. Atilla practised his precision grip and picked them up, collecting the seeds in his right pocket.

Sometimes the fairy-bits fell off. He found fun in picking them up, and blowing them so it floated off into the blue yonder. Mostly the fairy-bits fell to the ground again.

As Dad hadn't cut the grass yet this week, daisy flowers arched their heads towards the small patch of sunshine which found its way past the neighbour's home shadow.

Atilla jump-jumped his path to the daisy patch. They look so pretty and clean. Mum would like flowers. Especially since there wasn't that many in winter.

25 July 2011

cb:
- sleeping baby,
- cha kway teoh,
- sister,
- parents,
- playing with baby,
- knitting,

6 best
saw - happy laughing baby,
taste - crumpts, toast/ sushi/ fried noodles,
touch - kissed baby,
heard - babbling baby,
did - go out with sis,
smelt - dinner.

Friday 22 July 2011

22 July 2011 - i'm very tired

i'm v tired. didn't do much. looked after baby in morning, went to playground, strolled around neighbourhood.

had a nap. and now still mentally fatigued, unable to deal with ird.

Thursday 21 July 2011

story 2.1

It was a wet day. The sun was shining. Birds shook off the rain, and chirped to their heart's delight. One song even included several telephone rings.

Atilla gazed at the scene without joy. It was still too wet to go for a walk to the playground. Mum was insistent on that.

He had on his galoshes and play clothes so he could walk in his wet wet garden. Dad had not cut the grass yet, so it was as tall as his knees.

Walking in it was an adventure. He might find a squelchy grapefruit. Or tangelo. Or loquat. Or cat poo.

story 1.5

Paper was flung out of the letterbox with no regard to tidiness or ownership.

Bobbi's head popped out again. "Say, stranger, you're right. My bed does feel comfier now."

"My pleasure." Cat1 toggled his flight controls so his ship made a gracious bow. "Well, kid, how goes? Got what you need?"

Atilla beamed with happiness. "Yes! I'm going to take all this to my mum. She'll be so pleased with all her mail."

Young Atilla carefully gathered the scattered pieces of paper: colourful catalogs, rectangular envelopes, plastic-coated advertising. There was an awful lot and they overflowed his small hands.

Being an enterprising little fellow, he tucked some under his arms, some in the elastic waistband of his trousers, and more under his chin.

"Thank you," he said politely to the two strangers.

Cat1 waggled his craft. "My pleasure. See you around." He zoomed off into the blue yonder.

"Likewise," yawned Bobbi. "Anytime." She lowered the lid of her bedroom, and a discrete snoring emanated shortly after.

Feeling very pleased with his achievements, Atilla entered his home and proudly presented his prize to his mother.

21 July 2011

cb:
- sleeping baby,
- happy baby,
- parents,
- husband,
- clean dry laundry put away & almost cleared dining room,
- tidying knitting ends,
- Pokémon,
- Big Bang Theory,

6 best:
saw - baby mouthing his right foot,
taste - sausage with mustard and ketchup,
touch - holding baby while Wii Fit Plus,
heard - husband home,
did - playing w/ baby: rolling ball, Wii Fit Plus, jumping/ talking with husband,
smelt - fresh air,

Weirdness:
blackbird singing sound of ringing telephone.

Wednesday 20 July 2011

story 1.4

Bobbi lifted the lid from her bedroom. She blinked at the bright sunlight, and squinted vaguely around her. Down was a small squirt of a humanoid. Up was a hovering object.

Atilla frowned. He had a fearsome frown. A crease appeared between his eyebrows, his eyes narrowed,his nostrils flared, and his lips pursed.

"What are you doing in there?" Atilla asked.

"Not sleeping," Bobbi grumbled.

"Why do you choose not to sleep in our letterbox?"

"It's cosy," she explained.

"Oh," he said.

The three were at a brief stalemate.

"You could ask her about your mother's mail," Cat1 suggested to Atilla.

"Good idea," Atilla congratulated his ally.

He addressed the wee head atop his letterbox. "Please can you give me my mother's mail?"

Bobbi yawned. "Dunno. I think I'm not supposed to tinker with her majesty's post."

"I think you won't have to pee on it," he said earnestly. "Better not to, actually."

"Give the mail to him. Consider it one way of making your bed more comfortable," Cat1 advised.

"You're real full of it, aren't you?" Bobbi said admiringly. "Sure thing. Here we go-"

20 July 2011

counting blessings:
- play time with baby,
- neighbourhood walk with baby,
- shower,
- 2 hour nap with baby,
- parents,
- husband,
- breastfeeding baby,
- sunny day,


6 best:
saw - happy baby,
taste - spiced corn chips,
touch - calming baby,
heard - laughing baby,
did - play with baby: Wii Fit Plus, playground, gym mat,
smelt - husband.

Tuesday 19 July 2011

story 1.3

"Good grief," Bobbi muttered, "It's impossible to sleep in with all that racket outside."

"Keep it down out there!" she hollered.

Atilla glared suspiciously at the letterbox. It never spoke previously. He decided to ask the hovering thing for a different favour.

"Can you find out why the letterbox told us to be quiet?"

Cat1 considered. "Sure," he said, "as long as I'm not taking mail that I have no right to."

Through the visuals of his craft, he inspected his latest assignment. It was mostly green, and there was a protruding line which might, if design were standard in the multiverse, be the entry to an opening.

In an unsympathetic world, force would be expected to apply to open a closed object.

Cat1 applied natural philosophy. "Hello. Why do you want us to be quiet?"

"Gods' blood," the words echoed hollowly from the letterbox, "I want to sleep."

"It wants to sleep," Cat1 explained to the kid.

Atilla was more suspicious. "I had bedtime last night," he reasoned aloud, "and I've had breakfast, and I haven't had lunch yet so it's not naptime yet either. No-one is asleep now."

"Well I sure can't sleep if you keep talking," griped the letterbox.

19 July 2011

counting blessings:
- feeding baby,
- local playground,
- sunny day,
- parents,
- husband,
- baby,
- internet,
- game time,
- Wii Fit Plus,
- content baby,

6 best:
saw - baby on swing, baby at playground keyboard,
taste - homecooked spaghetti bolognaise,
touch - hugged baby while doing Wii Fit Plus,
heard - neighbourhood sounds on sunny day,
did - take baby to playground/ write story,
smelt - ham & egg pie.

Monday 18 July 2011

story 1.2

Being a natural philosopher was no advantage at a time like this.

Cat1 scratched his armpit idly. Yep, he was lost. He rotated his map to align it with astronomical navigational aids, as he had been taught in orienteering basics. No inspiration.

The next action to try was thus:
"Hey! kid!"

The kid turned his head to the voice above him. Being a young'un, Atilla did not overthink being hailed by a flying saucer hovering over him. It seemed a natural occurrence.

"Yo," the kid replied.

"Where am I?"
"Auckland," said the kid.

Cat1 dropped his jaw in a stunned gape. "Suffering succotash! I should have turned left at Alberqueque."

The kid commiserated. "Yep."

Atilla then asked for help in return. "Can you help me get my mother's mail?" he asked the flying object.

Cat1 considered the matter carefully.

"It's against the law to fiddle with other people's mail," said the flying saucer.

Atilla concentrated. "I'm not asking you to use the post as a violin. I just need some help to get the letters for my mum," he explained.

"It's against the law," Cat1 repeated.

18 July 2011

counting blessings:
- midnight hickey on chin from baby,
- sis,
- husband,
- understanding baby,
- sunny day,
- game time,
- 3D Zelda Ocarina of Time (? issues w/ too much screentime),
- love,

6 best:
saw - happy smiling feeding baby,
taste - hot tea,
touch - baby's plump wrist,
heard - contented baby,
did - held unsettled baby,
smelt - hot chips and chicken burger.

Sunday 17 July 2011

verse: my dear i've lost my wits and brain

my dear i've lost my wits and brain
incessant burbling driving me insane
poopie spectacular in particular
adorable smiling privately to sunshine
tufted hair what a trick weaken me
live well darling

Saturday 16 July 2011

17 July 2011

counting blessings:
- baby asleep in cot,
- sister,
- husband,
- weather,

6 best:
saw - baby's long eyelashes closed in sleep/ sleepy baby lungeing for a feed,
taste - slow stewed squid dinner,
touch - baby's soft skin,
heard - incessant burbling of baby,
did - fed fresh milk to baby while sitting at Kohimarama beach: seeing Rangitoto, blue sky, white clouds, feeling fresh breeze, seeing a happy baby smiling and enjoying his time,
smelt - aromas from restaurant.

story 1.1

Young Atilla toddled down his driveway. It was a grey concreted wide drive, wide enough for twice ten Atillas. Right now only the original Atilla occupied the space.

Despite Mother's remonstrances to hold her hand when walking down the driveway, Atilla believed he knew better than Mum about what he could do.

He could, to start, unlock the front door. He knew, and did, turn the doorknob to open the front door. And he had had much practice and experience walking out the door.

He put all his knowledge into practice, and now he had arrived at the letterbox.

Atilla was stumped. The letterbox was a puzzle which needed to be cracked step by step.

Item one: the letterbox was much higher than he could reach without help.

Item two: it was a locked box so a key would be needed.

Item three: the letterbox was quite deep inside, and he might be unable to find his hand afterwards.

Friday 15 July 2011

16 July 2011

counting blessings:
- dream smiles (2x!) from cuddled baby,
- woollen knitted large blanket made with granma's love,
- sunny day,
- baby playing in sunshine,
- beetroot,
- family picnic,
- good eggs,
- unconstipated baby,

6 best:
saw - baby playing in sunshine/ baby dream smiles/ dad playing with son,
taste - beetroot/garlic & rosemary mushrooms,
touch - sleeping baby snuggled close,
heard - sis,
did - family pcnic/ playing with baby on gym mat,
smelt - clean fresh air after storms.

verses: rain drops on roof tops

winter rain
it thunders down
drowning out
night-time sounds

no squeaking insects
no startled birds

pit pat
pit pat
drip
drip
drop

it stops.

it stops.


lying next to him
his soft sighs
oblivious to the storm outside.

his softly warm body
delicate hands
baby-fine hair.

wriggle wriggle
for a small kid
he takes up the whole bed.

Thursday 14 July 2011

15 July 2011

counting blessings:
- mum, dad,
- understanding husband,
- cuddly baby,
- healing skin,


6 best:
saw - in bed with waking alert baby, bright wide brown eyes looking interested around as much as he can see lying on his back,
taste - chicken satay,
touch - playing with baby,
heard - talked to AF,
did - follow up at medical centre,
smelt - jalapeno corn chips with day-old chilli.

14 July 2011

counting blessings:
- mum,
- dad,
- appreciative husband,
- sleeping baby,
- dinner,
- reduced laundry drying in dining room,
- working internet,

6 best:
saw - winter rain storm bucketing down while I'm cosy indoors,
taste - hot tea!
touch - lying down on baby's playmat, and playing with him,
heard - sighs of sleeping baby,
did - lying down on baby's play mat and playing with him,
smelt - contented husband.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

13 July 2011

counting blessings:
- parents,
- mum,
- dad,
- understanding husband,
- sleeping baby,
- knitted a few rows,
- 'Columbo',
- heat pump,
- nice home,
- terrific washing machine,

6 best:
saw - sleeping baby,
taste - cooled boiled water made with love,
touch - hugged husband come home from work,
heard - acknowledgement from baby's grandpa re. not over-tiring baby before nap time,
did - spoke to baby's grandma & grandpa re. not over-tiring baby before nap time,
smelt - close husband/sleeping baby/rose hand cream.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

12 July 2011

counting blessings:
- sleeping baby,
- wonderful husband (lets me sleep in),
- parents,
- mum,
- knitted 20 rows!
- large burger dinner,
- 'Jeeves & Wooster' dvd,

6 best:
saw - sleeping baby (0921-1121, 1305-1405, 2005-2200, 2243-)
taste - venison/beef burger with trimmings dinner,
touch - extra springy spring for baby hammock,
heard - love and carng in husband's voice,
did - feed baby/knitted 20 rows,
smelt - homemade rose hand cream.

Monday 11 July 2011

11 July 2011

counting blessings:
- parents,
- understanding husband,
- forgiving son,
- warm sunshine,
- half-dressed baby crawling,

6 best:
saw - half-dressed baby happily crawling,
taste - duck noodle/ open sandwich dinner,
touch - cuddling sleeping baby,
heard - love in husband's voice,
did - feed baby,
smelt - golden free-range egg yolk.

Sunday 10 July 2011

10 July 2011

counting blessings:
- sister,
- husband,
- financial situation,


6 best:
saw - sister,
touch - calming baby,
taste - tuna dinner,
heard - advice to go to sleep,
did - sleep,
smelt - bathed baby.

Thursday 7 July 2011

8 July 2011

counting blessings:
- mum,
- dad,
- apple crumble,

6 best:
saw - happy jumping baby,
taste - crumble topping,
touch - soothing ice-pack,
heard - windy day,
did - knit 4 rows,
smelt - warm baby.

7 July 2011

counting blessings:
- homemade jaffa cakes (lemon curd, and the lessons have been learned),
- aloe vera,
- ice packs,
- home freezers,
- parents,
- husband,
- sleeping baby,

6 best:
saw - doctor & nurse,
taste - cold smoked salmon,
touch - soft baby skin/ cold pack,
heard - 'worst case scenario: 2 weeks to heal',
did - get scald professionally treated,
smelt - rose hand cream.

Wednesday 6 July 2011

6 July 2011

counting blessings:
- www, Tim Berners-Lee, www.w3.org,
- parents,
- husband,
- lovely child,
- great friends,
- jaffa cake recipe,
- great mum,
- great husband,

6 best:
saw - Grease movie, Big Trouble in Little China,
taste - salt,
touch - holding sleeping cosy baby,
heard - lover's voice all loving and caring/ baby's voice so chatty,
did - napped 30 mins,
smelt - husband (intimacy).

Tuesday 5 July 2011

5 July 2011

counting blessings:
- baby slept 2016-0745!
- easy to understand baby -wake, eat, nappy, play upright, eat, play, carry, sleep, wake, nappy, eat, lie down, jump one hour, sleep, nappy, eat, play, eat, carry, bath, eat, sleep-
- recipe for homemade gripe water -fennel seed infusion-
- internet! and people providing information on internet,
- parents,
- husband,
- bed,

6 best:
saw - fruit picked from own garden,
taste - wan tan hor fan (yummy!),
touch - cuddly baby not struggling,
heard - loving reassurance from husband/ husband giving support for homemade gripe water,
did - make homemade gripe water/ completed 1 leg warmer for baby,
smelt - husband (intimacy).

Monday 4 July 2011

4 July 2011

counting blessings:
- jolly jumping baby (1 hour!)
- parents,
- sleeping baby,
- lovely husband,
- heat pump,
- "Big Trouble in Little China",
- sausage casserole,

6 best:
saw - active baby,
touch - home-made rose hand cream,
taste - sausage casserole,
heard - sighs from sleeping baby,
did - put baby into cot for afternoon nap,
smelt - chinese roast duck.

Sunday 3 July 2011

3 July 2011

counting blessings:
- supportive husband,
- loving child,
- big plate of dinner,
- sunshine,
- helpful parents,
- forgiving child,
- 5 min nap,

best six:
saw - cleared kitchen table,
taste - breakfast and lunch and dinner made by supportive husband,
touch - kiss from husband,
heard - comfort from husband,
did - helped husband put baby into bed,
smelt - fresh clean baby.

Saturday 2 July 2011

0244-0312 3 July 2011 0324

*heaved sigh*

Atilla started crying out while asleep. No amount of stroking or low level murmured words would comfort him, or penetrate his dream.

I picked him up and it seemed to help. His lower half was extremely warm, which was concerning. Investigating further, I surmised the cause to be the hot water bottle at the foot of his bed.

I carried him for as long as I could - given my state of consciousness, state of my back, his slumbering moments.

It was cute in sporadic outbursts: he turned his head from side to side, seeking available feeding comfort (futile effort as he was at my neck height and I received wet kisses).

I anticipate it will become much colder at 5 or 6 am, so I decided to put his woollen trousers on him. My actions brought him to a higher state of wakefulness.

'Nothing for it', I thought to myself (functioning on reduced sleep), 'let's put these on him properly.'

The rough handling corresponded with his full waking.

My time was now pre-occupied with a fussing uncontented Atilla; a change into fresh nappy didn't work and he ought to be good until morning.

I experienced frustration with the situation (Atilla's unsoothable fussiness + my aching back + my want to sleep + my fatigue + my reduced capability to meet Atilla's needs) and annoyance with Atilla because he wasn't going back to sleep.

It was very close.

I named my emotions. I talked through possible actions to take to soothe Atilla, and explained to myself why I didn't act.

Having heard myself out, I decided the case for inaction had less merit than taking action.

I took his new nappy off and put him on his potty. Not a jot. Wriggle wriggle. Some happy coos.

Back he goes on the change mat. Nappy goes back on. Woollen trousers goes back on, with yellow vest tucked in. Pick up. Pat pat on his back. Cuddle.

Check his bedding is suitable for him to lie down to sleep. Hot water bottle not too hot.

Put him in bed. Pat pat. Walk out of the room.

recipe: rose hand cream (jojoba oil)

1t beeswax
1/4 honey
4T jojoba oil
4T rosewater

1) put glass jar on a small folded cloth in a small pot of water.
2) put wax, honey, oil in jar.
3) heat pot as a double-boiler, blending wax, honey, oil.
4) add rosewater slowly while stirring vigorously.
5) take jar out of water and continue stirring until cool.

Comments:
* wax tends to cool faster than rosewater,
* add rosewater drop by drop (as if making mayonnaise),
* current recipe makes a mixture that separates into water and a creamy substance.

recipe: rose handcream (original from book)

1t beeswax
1/4t honey
4T almond oil
4T rosewater

1) put a glass jar in a small pot of warm water.
2) blend wax, honey, oil.
3) add rosewater slowly while stirring vigorously.
4) take jar out of water; continue to stir gently until cooled.

2 July 2011

counting blessings:
- un-moulded window-sills,
- filling healthy breakfast (poached eggs on bed of salmon, baby spinach, toast,
- family breakfast,
- family picnic,
- almond-chocolate encrusted patesserie,
- sunny day,
- co-operative husband,
- mown grass,
- stack of clean nappies,
- baby asleep for 2 hours,
- family dinner,
- fun baby,
- naked baby sitting happily on toilet seat,
- funny baby,
- time with energetic baby who entertained himself,
- sleeping baby;

six of the best:
saw - naked baby grinning while sitting happily on toilet seat,
touch - family hug/ home-mde rose handcream,
taste - poached eggs on salmon with spinach on toast,
heard - baby giggles,
did - applied clove oil to window-sills/ organised family picnic,
smelt - sunshine on picnic.