Rain rain go away! Embroidery for the soul

7th January



Taken today, a very different Thames to the one we usually see!
View taken looking towards home.

I cannot help it, but I am back to talking about the weather!! Bonkers or what?!?! It truly is one minute beautiful blue skies, albeit windy and then BAM! heavy torrential down pour. The ground is so sodden it is untrue and we have sprung a leak...well, several actually. That is the problem with living in a house over 400 years old, things break and often! So we have the classic saucepan scenario going on in one of the bedrooms over here at the eclectic house and a bed moved away from the wall in another bedroom. Best get round to sorting that out soon then!




View of the Thames away from home

In the mean time I have been thinking about embroidery.  Those of you who have been reading the blog may well remember that I attended a ladies Christmas lunch not so long ago, see post here:  http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/ladies-christmas-lunch.html
Where my S-I-L had made a lovely embroidered bag.  A nagging feeling began and an itchiness in the fingers started to tingle.  I had to get back to embroidery.  Having not touched a needle and thread in a decorative way for several years, I did not fancy anything too difficult and as I cannot stop thinking about and talking about the weather what better than to embroider something to do with it.  So here it is my little embroidery...TA DAAA!



Hoping this will be a magical rain embroidery to stop the rain soon



In Norway many years ago in the time of Bestemor (Grandmother) and her mother before her, they used to always embroider 'pyntehånkle', decorative hand towels.  These would be embroidered usually in one colour only, a little like my rain girl above.  I can recall only blue embroidered towels but mamma tells me red was also very popular.  After all red is a very Scandi colour.  These towels would be hung on a rail above a shelf.  The purpose being they were to be decorative and hid the contents of the shelf behind!  A neat idea, although in modern society, we tend to hide everything behind cupboard doors, or haphazardly displayed on Welsh dressers as a decoration in itself.  I do like the idea of a decorative towel though.  Maybe another wish list make?

Hope your umbrellas are bearing up in this weather, it feels like snuggling indoors and hooky time to me.  Think I better put all my crocheted stars and crochet a few more, then put them to some use, watch this space...

Stars pattern are from Attic 24 if anyone wishes to have a go.  They are SUPER QUICK, each one only 3-5 minutes to make and very addictive too!  Link below:
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2013/12/little-lacy-stars.html

♥








Crocheting baskets and the London boat show!

6th December

On our way to ExCel, the London boat show,
view from DLR, the Gherkin and 'Cheesegrater'

...and so it begins, the children have returned back to school and we are again ruled by a clock.  My daughter has exams and my son informed me late last night that he would need cookery ingredients for school today!  The peaceful Christmas seems an age away and we tumble and stagger into the new working academic year...

But before this Monday began we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, it was Mr H's favourite day of the year above any other and the children and I will always try and be with him on this day, whatever we are doing and where ever we are, what am I talking about?  The London boat show of course.

Almost as if about to climb a mountain to ski,
London's cable car across the Thames

As always we mooched around, made our way to the Guinness tent and met with old friends, spent more money in our dreams than we have in reality and noted items that need to be replaced and others to put on the wish list.  Leaving the boat show, we decided to try a different means of transport and instead of using the Docklands Light Railway, as we did to arrive, we left using the Emirates cable car that takes you high over the Thames.  It was dark and raining and I was not sure if it would be worth it, but WOW, London looks great at night.  From there we jumped on a fast clipper boat that drove us at high speed past the O2, Greenwich Maritime museum, the Golden Hind, Tower Bridge and many other iconic buildings.  Our capital is an amazing place.

 

View of the O2 from the cable car

Of course my weekend did not involve just the boat show and sight seeing, I had time for a little hooky and embroidery too!  I completeed the Christmas red make up basket and am secretely very pleased with it, although I have decided it is too Christmassy, so am going to embellish it with a mass of floweres and such like to crochet 'bling' it and trasnform it into something very different.  I quickly hooked up a partner for eyeliners and the such, in a vivid 'hot pink', very girly and included the Christmas red as the fold down top.  Might not need to embellish this one, but am still thinking about that.  As I was in London and had no access to my crochet books I sat in bed (Mr H had popped to the gym) and began to make up a pattern for a daisy to begin embellishing the basket.  It really is true that you need to block your work as whilst working on it, the daisy was so crumpled and tiny, I almost abandoned it.  Wish now I had taken a photograph to show you, but after blocking, it was as if it had been transformed from an ugly duckling into an unsure swan.

 



So I shall continue to hook up some flowers and see how the baskeys turn out, but am very tempted to buy some chunky yarn and make bread baskets in spring like colourrs.  They are very easy to make, for the large basket I followed a patern to begin with, but the smaller one, I made up as I went along.  They a super quick and would make excellent presents, I think...  the pattern for the larger red basket, can be found here:  Thank you Chickpea!

http://chickpeastudio.typepad.com/chickpea_sewing_studio/files/crochet_basket_pattern4.pdf

 

 

 

 

Finally I leave you with a sneak peak at the next blog posting.  I have returned to some embroidery after many many years away!  It is all very seasonal and I cannot wait to share it with you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

British weather, food and crocheting!

3rd January


Bent sign from the hailstones, but I was glad to be back home!

The Queen would hate me as I hear she cannot stand it when people make small talk about the British weather, but in days like these (sure that is in a song somewhere...) where the weather is so amazingly quick at changing from glorious blue skies to dark foreboding ones, why not!  Having spent an enjoyable day and night in London yesterday accompanying my daughter and her friends, the journey home this morning was in brilliant sunshine, until the last five minutes of motorway driving, when the largest hailstones I have EVER seen in my life descended from the heavens above.  Driving became difficult and the three girls who were singing at the tops of their voices along to the radio did not notice my hands clutching the steering wheel very tightly and that we had slowed down to a snails pace.  The wipers could not keep up, the road was wet and slippery and the surface water made the drive more like a skating rink. Genuinely glad to arrive home today, I made them all hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallow as a treat and myself a VERY strong coffee!







The largest hail stone I have ever seen!



Hot chocolate with marshmallow and cream.
♥Just what was needed♥

 

The year has however started well and I am excited about the year to come, leaving home yesterday to take the girls to London, I had not thought about any craft work to do whilst they were gallivanting around the sales, so I just grabbed the closest ball of wool and a crochet hook as we bundled out of the door. Whilst they were shopping, I sat myself down to a coffee and looked to see what I had brought with me, it was Christmas red! Not really what I would have liked to have worked on and so pondered as to what I could make. I came up with the idea of a crocheted basket for my make up and so settled down to begin. A coffee later and I was hungry so I ordered Vietnamese soup, A Pho chicken with extra chili, it was delicious and a great warming dish.

 

I did receive some very funny looks from people with my large bowl of soup and crocheting. Thank goodness Mr H was not with me, he would not have been impressed. In fact he made a sign over Christmas and hung it on our front door, want to see it...



 

 

But 'tension' does not stop me (Mr H is secretly pleased that it makes me happy, he is just a tad worried that the house might be taken over by crocheted this and that though...) so in bed this morning, after he had left for work,  I continued with the red crochet basket as the girls watched movies.  After all, is this not what the new year holiday is all about, relaxing before we all hit the clocks that rule our lives again.  I am hoping that the basket may be finished tonight and my make up  will be beautifully organised, a sneak peak so far...

 

 

 







New Year's Day 2014

1st January

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope it brings us all happiness and joy but most of all good health.  You hear this so much that it almost grates, but the sentiments are so important that maybe we do not hear it enough.  Ummm, so New Year resolutions?  Ummmm... not sure, have not even given it a moments thought, will have to ponder on that, many things I would like to do, have to do, need to do, not sure that I really need New Year's resolutions?!?!  What about you?  Would love to hear from you, post a comment below and tell me what you are up to!

Despite having a late night/early morning with family and friends I did manage to knit a little today, not as much as I would have liked, but a little, my concentration was about as great as a gnat so I did not last long, maybe tomorrow...



A much needed coffee to keep me awake, the knitting that I am
playing with at the momet, socks with a heart motif and
lovely homemade mini mince pies and chocolate.
A perfect New Year's day in my book ♥

For us the weather has been dull, grey, windy and that nothingy drizzle type rain that makes seeing anything impossible and makes you wetter that you could imagine, so it became an indoors type of day, where one child settled into the TV, the other decided to rearrange her whole room. You know that feeling when you begin something and it becomes bigger than you had anticipated but now it is too late to turn back type of feeling, well I believe my daughter has just learnt that!  However, she continued all day and just before she collapsed into bed, her room was completely different to how it had begun the day.  New room arrangement, new year!

I have decided that I shall not be posting every day in the coming  months, as I must admit to be taken by surprise at how long blogging takes and so many things went to the way side in our home and in my life during December, that it cannot continue like that.  So I shall endeavour to post every week and occasionally more when the time and feeling permit me.  I have much in this eclectic life that wants to be shared not least our latest sailing adventure which is gradually building momentum and pace and is coming to fruition, all very exciting here on the home front.  More on this in the coming weeks. But a sneak peak at the fifth member of our family below, Brimble.  During these winter months now that Christmas is past and that joy is gone for another year, many turn their thoughts towards new goals and dreams, we are no different and ours tend to flow towards Brim and where she will take us next...

 

Writing about Christmas being over and all the twinkly Christmas lights soon to be taken down, our days will seem short and the nights long, it is at this time of year that I often try and brighten up the black that I seem to live in and today I went all out to wear bright for January 1st...

 

I leave you with one last photograph that has cheered me no end, spring is not that far away, it may be forced and indoors, but outside the snowdrops are pushing through...

 

For now, have a wonderful start to the year and I hope you are able to spend a little time enjoying yourself and 'creating' in your own eclectic lives, pop by and visit me when you have the chance ♥

Boxing Day - New Years Eve

26th -31st December

I love these days between Christmas and the New Year, they are full of so much and yet so little, what do I mean?  Well, the days tend to be filled with all sorts of activities from this year we walked in the countryside, swam at the leisure centre and cycled along the village and town roads.  The weather was a mixed bag but knowing there was a roaring fire back at home made it all the more sweet coming through the front door.  In between this hive of activity there were more family to entertain within our home and others to visit.  Some sneaky TV watching was had, newly acquired presents were used and worked out and some lounging around on the sofa eating yet even more gorgeous food.  Not to forget, time for both a little crocheting and knitting.  Can you see why I love these days... not once have I felt rushed, hassled or stressed between Christmas and New Year and that IS a good feeling ♥

 

Some of the homemade goodies eaten over the last few days

 

 

The middle photograph on the food montage is a very typical Norwegian dessert made from the left overs of grøt that is traditionally made on Christmas Eve, receipe for that can be found on my post: http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/christmas-2013.html
so with the left overs, all you need to do is whip up some double cream and stir it in.  The red sauce is made from blackcurrant cordial and cornflour.  Put both in a pan with water and boil up gently until the sauce thickens up slightly, pour warm or cold over your 'ris krem' Norway's answer to rice cream, a totally moorish dish.  Give it a go.

 

Fresh air always feel extra good after having been indoors over the Christmas period to try and rid oneself of that bloated excess feeling, sometime it is not all that easy to push yourself out, but never once have I regretted it afterwards!

Below you will find home made marzipan, made into various food shapes, a 'must' on our Christmas making list of things we always do.  Felted knitted slippers worn all over the Christmas period, in traditional Scandinavian Christmas red, what other colour would do?  And finally my current knitting project, socks with a heel heart , knitting whilst in bed! ♥

 

 

Christmas Day 2014

25th December

This year our house was blessed by many of the family members and friends willing to share this special day with us.  As the children are becoming older so are our Christmas morning wake up calls becoming later and later.  I must confess to preferring an 8am wake up call to the 6am of a few years back.  In our household the children wake each other up with whispered excitement and bring their stockings in to our room and onto our bed and share their surprises from Father Christmas with us.  This is such a magical time of the day and season and I love the fact that the children seem to cherish these traditions too.  This year the children were sharing a bedroom  to allow other family members visiting to have their own room whilst staying with us.  Our daughter told us that her brother had actually suggested from about 6 am they should sneak into to us and begin opening the stocking, but her adolescent age obviously wanted and needed more sleep, so she would not accompany him in and he would not come without her!  There are some advantages to having teenagers!

 

Stockings made when the children were small, look
how tiny their handprints were.  Somehow I never finished
them off, and now cannot quite bring myself to do it. 
Strange, I know!







Stockings opened and many ooohing and aahings later we bundled downstairs in PJ's ready for a lightish breakfast accompanied with lots of fizz and cups of tea.  Some years previously we used to go all out for breakfast as well but our stomachs found that a rich breakfast followed by a huge Christmas dinner was not the way to go and so we are much more restrained these days.  Much of our entertaining philosophy is to share the burden, thus reducing stress a little on us, but the main reason, to include everyone and give everybody a sense of purpose and pulling together.  It generally works well and people like to have something to do.  Thanks Ninda for breakfast this year.



Traditional hats hanging in the hall ready to grab for the pub walk

After present exchanges round the Christmas tree and more fizz drunk, the Christmas table was laid, the turkey was stuffed and placed in the oven and the last guests arrived, it was time for another British tradition .  The pub on Christmas day.  I was not brought up with this tradition and is only one that I have been introduced to since I have been married, but one which I have adopted whole heartily and LOVE.  We all insist on wearing silly Christmas hats, there is no forced cheer as suddenly everyone is in the mood as we trudge to the local hostelry.  If you have never partaken of visiting a local pub on December 25th then I recommend it.  Everyone in the pub on Christmas day is in such a good and cheery mood.  A quick couple of drinks and we are soon back in the warmth of the house with the roast cooking smell permeating throughout the house.  Wonderful.♥

I am sure our house is no different to anyone elses, we go the whole hog to make it perfect and often something is forgotten or omitted, but it does not really matter or make a difference to the day.  Crackers are pulled, jokes are shared and the competition begins to see who can keep their cracker hat on the longest and so the game playing commences.  This year Mr H introduced us all to a new game he made up, of having to chase each other around the garden (wearing one of the above hats) and trying to grab an others hat without loosing your own.  It was hysterical and despite many of us sliding and falling over on the lawn a good time was had.

Compulsory charades were played and moved into a new phase by having a few rounds via skype with aunts and uncles on the south coast.  It brought us all together and made us laugh all the more.  Try it, it works a treat!

Many presents and drinks later

we all fell into bed happy and exhausted

and Christmas day was done for another year.♥

Christmas 2013

Christmas Eve 24th December

This is the BIG day in Norway and an important day in our household. As we are British and
Norwegian here at home we have amalgamated Christmas into our own unique experience. So as in Norway at 5 pm the bell rings out and Christmas proper can begin.

This year for us it was bitter sweet and hence I have not posted in the last week, apologies to you all. I wanted to savour all the moments I could and not be squirrelled away in a corner of the house blogging; you see my sister is about to emigrate and this is to be our last BIG family Christmas for who knows how long.

Everyone descended to our house this year to be together and to make merry.  Cocktails are a must for us and bring with them their own happiness.  My sister and partner are dab hands at cocktail making and will mix some up at the drop of a hat, my favourite that they make?  Espresso Martini, to make the perfect cocktail follow the below instructions, and ENJOY!


Any family or friends gathering
is made extra special with an espresso martini

Ninda's Espresso Martini

Use equal amounts or vodka and Tia Maria (or any dark coffee liquor)
Equivalent to a shot of espresso, but made with instant coffee ie very strong
Sugar syrup to taste
Drop if vanilla essence


Put into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice - the water from the ice also helps to dilute it a bit

Have a testing taster before serving to make sure it is to your liking!
Pour and drink!

Norwegians tend to visit the church on Christmas Eve prior to the 5 o'clock bell ringing to place Christmas wreaths and hurricane candles on the graves of loved ones.  Norwegian churchyards are well kept and loved and all the twinkling lights on this night cheers the heart rather than saddens it. Families tonight will open presents, have a visit from Father Christmas, prepare his grøt and sit down to a large family meal, much as the British will do on Christmas day. Menus vary from household to household, a bit like us deciding whether to have turkey or goose.  In Norway the choice is rib of pork or pinne kjøtt (lamb).

As we tend to celebrate the opening of our presents mainly on Christmas day, over 30 years ago we began another family tradition of what is now infamously known in our household and amongst our friends as the £2 present. We always open our Norwegian presents on Christmas Eve and often Father Christmas has rung his bell outside our home and has come in to visit, much to the glee of the children.  One very memorable year, our daughter was so excited she jumped up and down as if a teenager at a pop concert, squealed with delight at Father Christmas entering our home and promptly fainted by all the excitement!  But back to the £2 presents. All family members buy each other a present to the value of £2, this is strictly adhered to and woe betide anyone caught spending more. Any friends who spend Christmas Eve with us are forewarned of this tradition and are required  to bring £2 presents for everyone.  Despite the rise in inflation over the past 30 years, we have stuck to £2 and refuse to change it, as our son said this year, £3 presents don't sound the same!  Each year we need to become more inventive and clever in our buying and great fun is had by all seeing what the others have come up with.  These are often our favourite presents. Everyone is on the same playing field, we all give and receive the same amount of presents and we have all spent the same amount of money. Love it, just love it. ♥

In between eating a lovely dinner, opening our £2 presents as most families do, we needed to prep the veg, make the pigs in blankets, assemble the traditional and obligatory trifle, we are British after all too (we always use Delia's, for us it is simply the best) and had a mini mince pie bake off between family members.  It was a great day and evening.

Some of you may remember the post on nisse,
 http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-crafting-part-1.html
Where I mentioned it was very important to keep them happy, one such way is to make grøt.  Every Christmas Eve  (Jul Aften) it is traditional to eat grøt and make one for Jul Nisse (Father Christmas). Grøt is essentially rice pudding, but eaten as a main meal with a large dollop of real butter plopped into the middle or the bowl of grøt, then sprinkled liberally with sugar and a fine dusting of cinnamon. It tastes so very good.

Mamma's grøt

2dl of pudding rice
1.8l milk

♥  Add the rice to the milk.

♥  Bring it to the boil and continue to boil for approx 20 minutes until the rice is cooked.

♥  Add a pinch of salt before serving.

Dish into individual bowls and each person helps themselves to butter, sugar and cinnamon, see above picture.  This is Christmas, Norway style!

This night as with the past fourteen years, both our children went to sleep in their Christmas pyjamas, only ever worn on Christmas Eve and Christmas night, slept on hastily made Christmas pillow cases embroidered many years ago and  hung stockings by the end of the bed with nervous excitement that filled the house.  What a lovely time of year.



I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and that you have continued old traditions and begun new ones as we have.