Monday 12 May 2014

Mid May miscellany


I often take photographs of things we do, objects around the house, little details of our day-to-day life. I like the fact that they're not really connected or themed in any way. 

Sometimes I feel the urge to write posts about specific subjects and occasionally they'll be quite serious or meaningful. Others just detail somewhere we've been. But I do enjoy putting these 'random' posts together. They're like a scrapbook page illustrating our week. So...

Feathers in a jar. I always try and find feathers when we go out walking (finding unusual ones in a non-straggly condition is a rarity). And in the background, the £2 enamel coffee pot from last week's car boot sale.



Apples. Bramleys for cooking, Cox's for me (these ones are particularly sweet and crunchy) and Granny Smiths for Jay. Joe won't eat apples. He prefers pears. For now.


The lemon-scented geranium my mum gave me seems very happy on the kitchen windowsill. It's a bright spot and I'm assuming the flowers are an indication that this plant likes to sunbathe.


Joe and I go out walking most days and have been dressing for the weather (sharp showers punctuated by spells of dazzling sunshine). Today we hid in the woods to escape the rain and I ended up with a big bunch of wild garlic leaves; Joe wanted a 'wower' and he sat happily twirling it about between thumb and forefinger. 


Rainy days call for indoor activities. This week: painting paper plates and making animals with Play Doh.


Joe is so lucky to have beautiful knitted jumpers, hats and cardigans coming his way on a regular basis. This cotton hoodie is possibly my favourite so far. His auntie brought it over on Saturday night. He looks so sweet in it. She's a prolific knitter and makes him lovely things.


Dark chocolate Tunnock's Teacakes. I've never tried them before. They're rather nice with a mid-afternoon cup of Earl Grey.

I've revisited quite a few childhood foods since Joe reached toddlerhood. I'd forgotten how good they are: Dairylea triangles, Heinz Cream of Tomato soup, malted milk biscuits. You can't be sophisticated all the time, can you?

So that's my miscellany. Where else would you find feathers, coffee pots, apples, jumpers, geraniums, finger paints, wild garlic flowers and Tunnock's Teacakes all in one place? 

I hope your little details are making you smile :)

22 comments:

  1. Wonderful things Sarah. I love the feathers in the jar, I'm always on the look out for pretty ones too but never manage to find nice stripy ones like that. How lovely to get so many knitted things for Joe, I love knitted cardigans and jumpers! And dark chocolate teacakes - I so need to find some of those! x

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    1. They were actually the only ones left as the milk chocolate had sold out! A happy accident though as I'm now definitely a convert...
      I'd love to find some pheasant feathers one day and guinea fowl ones are pretty too. Maybe I should start wearing my glasses more when we go out walking!
      x

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  2. So glad you like the hoodie, he does look extra sweet it in and I feel rather special when I get a mention in here :)

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    1. He's gone out in it today... I suspect it will be getting a lot of wear. And I realise you're actually his great auntie but that seems wrong somehow - people who read the blog might end up picturing you as a Miss Marple type, knitting away in your slippers ;)

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  3. Miscellany posts are my favorite type. When I had toddlers, I rediscovered animal crackers and canned peaches. :)

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    1. Oh, we used to eat peaches and pears from cans (tins over here in Blighty)! I think my mum was more partial to them than us - probably why they featured on the menu so often!
      We have Cadburys Animals, little chocolate biscuits, and Iced Gems which I still find hard to resist even after all these years :)

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  4. These kinds of posts are always so rewarding, for writer and reader, I think. I'm hopeless at having my cameras to hand in the house - they're usually either tucked away in my camera bag ready for an outing or atop the tripod in my studio. I must do better.

    I felt a tug at the heart strings looking at your photos of Joe's chubby little hands ... took me right back to my eldest at that age ... it seems so long ago and far away now.

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    1. His hands make me laugh - they're more often than not covered in food or dirt from the garden, and they remind me of plump little starfish.
      I wish I had a studio for taking photos! I'm very envious.

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  5. I love the little details that make up daily life :)

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    1. Me too! You could probably photograph and record them every day... that would make an interesting project to look back on :)

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  6. A perfect list. Lucky you to have knitted gifts. I tend to stray towards Laughing Cow cheese triangles thinking I am sophisticated because we only had Dairylea as a children, but whatever the brand there is nothing like a cheese triangle straight from the foil wrapper.

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    1. They're good aren't they? And I agree, there is a cheese triangle hierarchy... I try to avoid the own-brand bargain ones (although they probably taste the same).
      I used to love toast with cheese spread and jam when I was little. Ditto cottage cheese and jam. You either like it or find the idea quite disgusting.

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  7. Love those snippets from your week. I've never eaten (or picked) wild garlic. How did you use it?

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    1. Hello! Wild garlic is actually very mild (despite the pungent smell) so you need quite a bit if you're after a strong garlicky flavour... I just tore it up and wilted it into some chicken soup I'd made from leftovers... you can also use it for making a herb butter, pesto, flavoured oil or mash it up with some soft cheese and spread it on bread or toasted ciabatta.
      I made sure I picked some where it looked as though the ground hadn't been crashed through by dog-walkers (and gave it a thorough wash just in case).
      There's loads of it about just now - hope you find some!

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  8. Great post, Sarah! I love the small tidbits and details that make up our every day life, and random things posts are so much fun. They open a door into learning a bit more about the person writing them. I love your enamal coffee pot!

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    1. Me too! Car boot sales (yard sales in the US?) are such fun to look around - I love the way you never know what you'll find. Occasionally there's treasure amongst the rubble!

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  9. I love these miscellany posts Sarah ... you have definitely made me smile ... the feathers are beautiful displayed in the little jar ... the photo of Joe with the wild garlic is very special I think ... you have inspired me with your use of glass ramekins for paints ... we have a huge collection of them ... one too many Gu puddings ;) ... and I am always trying to find new ways to use them ... and the dark chocolate teacakes sound delicious ... I adore dark chocolate digestives so chances are I will love these ... wishing you a lovely week ... Bee xx

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  10. Hi, Bee! I think I just take so many (unrelated) photos I just stick them in a mixed-bag post and hope for the best! I do like writing them though as the rare 'deep and meaningfuls' I put together take an age to find the right words.
    The ramekins were given to us in case we could find a use for them but I have to say, I'll have to give those Gu puds a try...
    Hope you're enjoying May so far. It's really beautiful, even in the rain!
    S x

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  11. Love your random photos. It's amazing the things I was able to do with my son when he was growing up that takes you straight back to childhood. I sure like that knitted jumper you have. Beautiful

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  12. Heinz tomato soup is the best! I used to have phillidelphia cheese sandwiches and dip them in. In fact I had that a lot when i was little! I must buy some. Heather x

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  13. I love your miscellany. I dont even know dark chocolate teacakes existed!! x

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  14. Your miscellany is superb. I love the coffee pot, what a find. Dark chocolate tunnocks teacakes - ooh, I'd buy those just for the packaging. I honestly love Heinz cream of tomato soup - in a totally non-ironic way - and was thrilled to be able to buy party rings and iced gems for birthday parties, things I remember from my own childhood. x

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