Two Hungry Men and Miles From Nowhere Fun

Having Fun

2009-12-31T21:24:00.003Z

I hope you all have had as much fun as JT over the Christmas holidays.

There has been fun in the snow....

Fun with grandparents.....

Fun with new toys .....

And fun with boxes....

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Wrapping Presents

2009-12-21T10:29:00.003Z

This is for all you people who are complaining about having presents to wrap.

I could send you a little help. He's especially good at putting the ribbon on.

Christmas wrapping has just taken a little longer than usual this year!

Bringing You a Smile

2009-12-08T11:05:00.002Z

Getting a photo out of Jacob these days has been near to impossible. Once he sees the camera he either charges at it quicker than I can get the shutter closer or refuses to look at me no matter how many silly antics I do. So I thought I'd just share the one good photo I did manage to get.

Big Girl's Blouse

2009-11-18T15:34:00.005Z

Now who's this pretty little girl?

Special precautionary measures are required when JT is drawing!

The pen lids provide almost as much fun as the pens.....

What are you looking at?

An Autumnal Walk

2009-11-09T19:52:00.003Z

Having spent many days (and even weeks) recently couch-ridden due to sickness, Mummy and JT finally got out for a walk in the leaves.

You have no idea how much fun leaves can be..........

Here, you try Mummy.....

Can I eat them?

Fun On The Couch

2009-10-07T21:28:00.004+01:00

JT has recently learned how to climb up on the couch....

and boy is he having fun!

Jumping up and down is so much fun....

but the best bit is teasing Mummy!

Our Little Gardener

2009-09-29T21:10:00.000+01:00

Last week the vegetable beds needed digging up so we hired our own private gardener to do the work.....

First, he puzzled over what needed to be done......

then he checked the soil....

then he checked the tools.

Then he dug....

and dug.....

and dug.

That load's ready for off now Daddy.

Lawnmower Troubles

2009-09-24T14:03:00.004+01:00

The next time you buy me a lawnmower Auntie L will you please buy me one that fits in the washing machine.....

It just won't go in!

What do I do now?

I'll just go and mow the couch instead.

A Man's Work is Never Done

2009-09-17T09:00:00.001+01:00

Some serious ground work has been taking place here this week.

On Monday there were stones to be dug....

and shovelled into the trailer......

Wonder what this tastes like?

Then yesterday there was a lawnmower to be fixed......

then the grass had to be mowed....

even the stones had to be mowed!

And finally there were stones to be moved and they were hard work!

All in a week's work.

Wee Granny

2009-09-12T16:28:00.000+01:00

This is JT's Great Granny.

She is affectionately known as 'Wee Granny' by some of her great grandchildren because of her stature. She will be 91 in November and has 35 great-grandchildren. We called to visit her yesterday.

'Wee Granny' is very hard of hearing, so she shouts very loudly and this scared Jacob.

But then she produced cars.............

and they were friends.

Tractor Troubles

2009-09-07T20:35:00.003+01:00

We bought JT a tractor when we were away on our wee break. It is providing hours of fun (albeit in minutes at a time).

There is just one problem......

the slurry tanker keeps disconnecting from the tractor.

Then when he pulls the tractor the tanker doesn't come with it......

(notice the sound effects coming from his lips)

and this happens.....

So Mummy comes to the rescue and fixes it and the whole thing starts again!

A Weekend Break

2009-09-01T17:15:00.005+01:00

We had a long weekend away last weekend.

We walked along the promenade,....

we went to the park where JT played with his new tractor.

Who dresses this child?!?

Oh my!!!!!!

JT and Daddy had some fun.....

and JT did this at Granny's.

Smiler

2009-08-27T09:30:00.000+01:00

One of the nicknames we call JT is 'Smiler'.....

I think you can see why!

Puddles

2009-08-22T20:22:00.005+01:00

Jacob discovered puddles yesterday!

We had just returned from our morning walk and I lifted him out of his pram to let him walk down the lane.....right into a puddle. He was wearing sandals!

He just stood for a few seconds and considered what had just happened. Then he smiled and bent over and touched the water......and splashed!

And I just thought - well he's wet now? Nothing the washing machine can't fix?

Tractor Friends

2009-08-15T21:16:00.003+01:00

Today Uncle Rodney arrived in his tractor.....

and he brought along Cousin Rob. Cousin Rob is almost as fanatical about tractors as JT.

JT was allowed up in the cab with Rob....

and Rodney's just become JT's favourite uncle.

We're not Brazil; We're Northern Ireland.

2009-08-13T20:03:00.003+01:00

Before I start let me apologise for these photos. The ISO setting on my camera was wrong, the light was wrong and JT just wouldn't stop moving around. He never stops moving around. Food pictures are just so much easier. You set them up and they sit there. I took 110 photos and these are the only 3 worth showing!

Anyone that knows my OH knows that he is a big football fan. He likes to inform me of just how good a player he was in his younger days. Nowadays he's a MUFC fan. The one and only item of clothing Daddy bought JT was this.....

taken 5 months ago!

Two days ago, we were shopping and I spied this for £1!!!!!

Rear view.

Daddy was so pleased.

I wouldn't say we're avid Northern Ireland supporters (it has been described like watching paint dry) but Daddy likes to watch them on the tv and we like to see our wee country win of course!

(For any visitors from further afield this is a Northern Ireland football kit and the title was one of their chants during the last football season.)

Good Friends

2009-08-06T21:46:00.004+01:00

The Mother Hen was having a dust bath today so JT went out to play alongside her in the muck.

These two are good mates......

She seems to let him away with more than she lets anyone else away with......tickle, tickle,tickle!

Cars, Cars And More Cars!

2009-08-01T22:15:00.008+01:00

This house is coming down with cars!

There are cars in my dryer....

cars in my baking cupboards....

(along with many other things)...

cars in my baking bowls....

cars all over the place.

This little guy doesn't go too far without a car...

cars in the coffee shop....

cars in the garden....

cars on holiday...

Big cars...

small cars...

Lotuses....

lorries.....

they all count.

Minis are pretty interesting too.

I could show you a million more but you get the point.

Chasing Hens

2009-07-29T20:57:00.003+01:00

What's a little guy to do after dinner out here in the middle of nowhere?

CHASE HENS!!!

Bauck, bauck, bauck - chicken!

An Important Phone Call

2009-07-27T13:54:00.003+01:00

Mmmmmmmm.....

Oooooooohhhhhhhhh.......

Aaaahhhhhhhhhh...

They must have got disconnected.

Helping Mummy Hoover

2009-07-24T12:56:00.000+01:00

Friday is hoovering day........

hoorraay!!! (That's JT's opinion not mummy's!)

Every Friday we hoover the whole house, top to bottom, and JT is such a great help (?) Let's hope this interest keeps up till he's 30.

First, switch it on.....

Next, go back and forward.....

we need to go under the bed......

right into the corners......

Then turn it off and let mummy finish the rest.

Summer Holidays

2009-07-18T21:34:00.000+01:00

I had a fab time on holidays last week.

We went to the park.....

we went cycling.....(STUPID HELMETS - AHHHH!!!!!)

and we went swimming.

I got a ride in a Lotus....brrrmmmmm....

and I got a ride in Bob.

We hung around coffee houses....

and we chilled at Auntie L's.

I even helped tidy up when we were leaving.Sorry Auntie L - you haven't seen the half of it!

Beach Babes

2009-07-12T20:12:00.000+01:00

We're officially on holiday so I took this little guy to the beach today.

With his best mate Daddy.

He's only ever been on the beach before as a baby totally unaware of his surroundings.

But today he got to walk on the sand...

and play with it .....

and, of course, we knew it had to come....... EAT IT!

My Own Little Busker

2009-07-10T20:27:00.000+01:00

This little guy thinks if he plays long enough on his harmonica I'll give him some money....

He doesn't even need to play - I've been warned I'll be throwing money at him for the next 30 years!

My First Peach

2009-07-07T21:00:00.000+01:00

Ummm, what is this now?

First the sniff test.....

Then the taste test.....

Ummm... there's gotta be a better way of doing this....

I know......

The squish test!

Not too fussed on this - I think I'll put this in the 'unwanted food' hole.

My Daily Vista

2009-07-06T20:10:00.000+01:00

When the glorious weather set in a week ago I took half an hour to go outside and practise my camera skills. Landscapes make much more obliging subjects than children!

This is the view from my kitchen window:
One of the first things I do about 6:15am is open these blinds.

And these vibrant Chinese Poppies (I think that's what they are) have replaced my tulips.

This is the view from my dining room. It's our 'back garden'. Hubby calls it a mess but I actually really like it. There's something really tranquil about it and it currently provides us with our own nature show starring a family of pheasants and some little rabbits.

This is actually a photo taken from down those fields 5 years ago (I confess to a little bit of photoshopping in this one)!

Living miles from nowhere has it's advantages.

P.S. I thought this post was finished but this was the view from the window 2 mins ago!

The Mob

2009-07-02T09:33:00.000+01:00

Where do you suppose these ghostly white footprints came from?

What mob created this mess in my dining room?

Well, here's some of the culprits.

And here's the rest of them.

This guy's the ringleader.

We asked the The Boss if he would care to comment on these activities and this is what he said...

Chicken, Arrowroot and Gingerbread Muffins

2009-06-27T21:26:00.000+01:00

Q: What do you get when you combine, chicken, arrowroot and gingerbread muffins?
A: A very eventful Saturday!

I wasn’t meant to blog again today – My Daring Bakers took care of that (and besides I have way too much housework to do). But some of today's events were too good to forget!

First of all this lady arrived....

with this little guy....

and this one.....

In fact, we are now the proud owners of a mother hen and eight little chicks! (Names anyone?)

Then, while I was playing the domestic goddess and baking gingerbread muffins this little guy did this!!!!!!!!!!

Boy did he enjoy himself.

What's the matter mummy?

I just concentrated on my baking for 3 SECS and that's what happened!

Well, at least I had gingerbread muffins to console me.

Gingerbread Muffins

250g plain flour

½ teaspoon bicarb of soda

1 teaspoon baking powder1

½ teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1 egg

50g dark muscovado sugar

50g light muscovado sugar

150ml full-fat milk

¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar

6 tablespoons vegetable or corn oil

4 tablespoons golden syrup

4 tablespoons black treacle.

Preheat oven to 200c.

Line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin papers.Combine the flour, bicarb, baking powder & spices in a large bowl. Whisk the egg in a large measuring jug then add the sugars, breaking up any large lumps. Add the milk and vinegar then measure in the oil with a tablespoon. Use the same oily spoon to add the syrup & treacle so they don’t stick to it. Whisk the mixture to combine and add to the flour mix. Stir until mixed but still fairly lumpy. Spoon into muffin papers & bake for about 20 minutes until the tops are dry.

(I made half the mixture to produce 6 muffins)

I found a Strawberry!

2009-06-24T14:32:00.000+01:00

Daddy, you know that wee flowerbed you have in the corner of the garden....

and you know the strawberry bush you have in the corner of it?

Well, guess what I found on it this morning......... a STRAWBERRY!!!!

You know how much I like strawberries!

And then mummy came running so I shoved it all in!

What?! Me?! Eating?!

But don't worry Daddy I left one for you. xoxo

2009-06-15T20:45:00.000+01:00

Everytime 'we' unpack the shopping, Jacob manages to find a new toy in amongst it. One week there was the tomato, last week it was toilet roll .....

and now this week it's nappies.

There was biting...

wrestling....

rolling.....

and lifting...

....and it was all so much fun!! (Oh, and we had a little builder's bum too!!)

Snapping Clothes Pegs

2009-06-11T21:23:00.000+01:00

Q: How does a busy Mum trying to make dinner entertain her 1 year old?

A: Let him pull apart all the clothes pegs one by one!

First, take it by the two prongs....

get a tight grip.....

pull hard.....

harder....

snap!!! Mission accomplished.

Now start again....

This occupied Jacob for an amzing 25mins!

The Chocolate Thief

2009-06-07T20:45:00.000+01:00

I am a member of Hotel Chocolate's Tasting Club which means that every so often I get a relatively expensive box of fine chocolates. I tend to keep them tucked away out of sight ("Out of sight, out of mind.") However, that little 1-year-old monkey that I have tootling about the house spotted the box today and he knew that the contents were worth getting his hands on. So I watched as he pulled the box out of is hidey-hole, and wrestled with it until he had it open....

Decisions, decisions.

I've just been rumbled.

Is this a look of guilt or what?

Oh well, at least he has good taste in chocolate!
P.S. The sweets were blueberry and white chocolate in case you're wondering about the colour!

Happy Birthday Monkey

2009-06-05T13:52:00.000+01:00

I just can't believe that this little guy is now this:

And that a whole year has passed. We've done a lot of reminiscing over the past few days.

You're a precious wee man and it's been a brilliant year.

(Despite following Jacob round yesterday with a camera trying to capture the perfect photo of him on his 1st birthday I have only one photo worth showing! I know this should have been posted on his birthday (yesterday) but events just ran away with me. )

Summertime

2009-06-01T20:36:00.000+01:00

has finally arrived! It's just as if someone has flicked a switch from winter to summer. Last week was cold and wet but the glorious weather we have waited months for is finally here and that means....

Sunglasses...

Sunhats....

and Sunloungers.

Bowls and Stones

2009-05-30T21:27:00.000+01:00

So its the day after Jacob's birthday party (#1) and he's got some lovely new toys and what does he play with?

Mummy's baking bowls.....

putting it on top of his head and testing the acoustics...

and putting the car in and out and swishing it all about!

And stones!!!!

Will someone get that child some toys to play with!

First Birthday Party (#1)

2009-05-29T21:27:00.000+01:00

Well today was the wee man's 1st Birthday (#1).

The boys came up with Granny and Grandad as well as cousins Soph and Rob with their mummy and daddy. The weather was beautifully warm so everyone played out on the patio, followed by pass the parcel...

Which Jacob won of course!

Then there was loads of food, enjoyed by all....

I wonder does his mum realise how many E numbers that food colouring has?!

Of course there was cake (any excuse to practise my sugarcraft)...

And the whole day I think Jacob just wondered what on earth is going on????

(I would have taken more pics but I was working frantically in the kitchen with the food or trying to prevent Jacob from eating stones on the patio!)

We've got a surprise for you!!

2009-05-26T20:19:00.000+01:00

Hi Honey,

Just a wee reminder that there's a wee surprise coming your way this week as a thankyou for all your love and hard work.

xoxoxo

From your two hungry men!!

A Special Stovetop Espresso Maker

2009-05-22T20:22:00.000+01:00

This is my special stovetop espresso maker. Strange thing to write about, I know, but it's on it's last legs (see the melting handle) and it holds so many memories. I just love the pale blue colour of it that matches perfectly with my kitchen. I loved the holiday to Nice 2 years ago where I saw it and just couldn't go home without it (I had melted the handle of my previous one a couple of days before we left). I loved the quaint coffee shop in Nice that I bought this from, shelved with beans and coffee equipment, which I visited every morning for my caffeine 'fix'. I love the baby that caused all the night-wakings and early mornings that drove me to rely on this precious piece of equipment. And I love the husband that got up 5mins before the 6:30am alarm clock yesterday morning just so he could put this little machine on for me.

My Tank Has Arrived!

2009-05-19T20:20:00.000+01:00

Well, it finally arrived today. I have tutored and saved for this and hopefully it will be worth every penny. Since I've been full-time at home I've been baking so much more and hardly a week has gone by when I haven't thought of how much time one of these would save me (not to mention how much less frustrated Jacob would be when I'm not holding a mixer in one hand and a bowl in the other so that he has to watch from the floor). Now I can just hit the button, pick my baby up and watch it all come together, together (I imagine the novelty will wear off after the first mix).

What will I bake with it first? Bread. It has to be bread. Much and all as I enjoy kneading dough, this will make the process so much easier on my muscles (Jacob's already working them enough at the moment).

They say these machines are built like a tank - my mum still uses the one she got as a wedding present nearly 30 years ago and its still going strong. I imagine one day it'll just be the heavy, old-fashioned eyesore of a mixer in the corner so it'll be interesting to have a record of the day I got it and how pleased I was.

Learning To PhotoShop

2009-05-18T21:22:00.000+01:00

I have recently embarked on a quest to learn to PhotoShop. Much and all as I'd like to go to a class I'll have to do with teaching myself! It'll be interesting to see in 10 years time whether I'm still at it or how long this endeavour lasted. For now anyhow here are the before and after shots of my new found skills acquired tonight.

Robbie's Birthday Party

2009-05-16T21:55:00.000+01:00

My cousin Robbie was 2 this week and his party was today.

I had fun playing with Grandad...

Uncle George made up lots of silly games:

Cousin Soph makes me laugh.....

We had lots of fun, food and birthday cake!

An Addition to the Family!

2009-05-15T10:07:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we received details of our sponsorship child, Mutati Mawia. He is 8 years old and from Nguni, Kyayuka, Levakoo (I have absolutely no idea where that is apart from being in Kenya). He is now at the Curran Clinic Orphanage run by FAME. He has six siblings (including a set of twins). His mother, Mawia Katui, is not married, has a big family and a hearing problem. We look forward to corresponding with this little man and there will be valuable lessons for Jacob to learn through this endeavour.

Teeth!

2009-05-14T13:09:00.000+01:00

Who would have thought these gorgeous little pins could make my baby go from this ......

(notice the double back left)

To this......

There have been tears.....

And tiredness.....

I call this the Neurofen effect.

Its been a long day!

I Love My Tulips

2009-05-13T09:24:00.000+01:00

My husband is far more patient and long-sighted than me. He went out in the cold, wet winter weather and planted some tulip bulbs. I wouldn't have bothered. It was much too cold. And they're so little in the vast expanse of our 'wild garden' (i.e natural mess). But they make such a differnce. They brighten up our 'garden' and they make me smile every morning when I look at them out of the kitchen window.....

Blowing in the wind.......

Two lonely stems.....

A helping hand.....

But most of all I love it when my two men surprise me with one!

(Yes, I know the tulip is out of focus but Jacob wasn't playing ball at all with getting his photo taken.)

Does Jacob Like Tomatoes?

2009-05-12T16:02:00.000+01:00

Look what I found in mummy's shopping bag.....

I wonder what it tastes like?

Oooohhhh!

Maybe I'll try that again.....

But I don't like the skin.

Want some mummy?

He managed to eat quite a chunk!

For You Ritchie!

2009-05-11T13:45:00.000+01:00

This is for you Ritchie! I thought about waiting until your birthday but I couldn't. Remember the discussion we had at the weekend about how much we'd forgotten of our life together. Well this is my attempt not to let it slip so easily through our fingers. Little remants of our seemingly mundane existence stored away for us to look back at next year, in 10 years time, in 50 years time and pass on to the kid(s?). It won't be everyday. It mightn't even make it every week but it's something. To show our kids (and remind us at times) how much we are in love and the wonderful life we share together.

I love you honey xoxoxo