Recycled dress turned washable lunch bag

This morning I had one of those heart wrenching moments when I dropped my daughter off at school, she said "Mum, my lunch bag makes my food smell funny". Ok, we'll sort it out tonight I replied.  Bad mother moment, I hate those plastic lined lunch bags, even after scrubbing it in the washing up bowl - it does still smell funny.

Here's a picture of M in her favourite dress a few years ago...

and here's her new lunch bag, ready for tomorrow...

...and you can throw it in the washer.  I had to 'borrow' one of her pink headbands to use as a fastener, I don't think she'll mind.  Hope she likes it...Nx  

PS. I made it from this web site.

Autumn has arrived

I know now why some call it Fall!  Everything is falling...leaves, acorns, conkers.... hundreds of conkers....

Friday after M's school harvest festival, we collected about half of these from outside the church.  We returned today after school and collected tonnes more, so we get home and tip them out of her book bag and get creative...

Great fun had by all.  I love autumn, this reminds me of a song my mum wrote when we were little, one part I remember "copper golden leaves falling, winter's in the air, autumn is my favourite time of the year". It just happens to be her birthday today, Happy Birthday Mama.  Nx

Rose hip syrup with unrefined sugar - from over the garden wall

I HAVE to put this photo first...

Oh deary me.  Well they do say quality not quantity hey!  So, what's in the bottle? Rose hip syrup.  Thought I'd have a go as there are loads of hips dangling over the garden wall...

I chopped one in half just to see what they look like inside...

Ro helped me pick some, wash them, whizz them and tip them in the pan...

I picked around 250g added 400ml boiling water and simmered for 20 minutes.  Sieved, put the pulp back in the pan, added another 200ml boiling water, simmered for another 20 minutes. Then sieved the whole lot through a piece of kitchen roll in a sieve, just in case there were any hairy bits!

I then added 50g unrefined muscavado sugar and boiled for about 15 minutes.  Poured into my sterilised bottle and the kids licked to spoon and got their fingers in the pan for the remainder...

I will definitely pick more rosehips and make more of this syrup, might make drop scones in the morning just to drizzle....Nx