gulp

Where is the summer going? I realized the other day that there was only a month left til the boy begins school again, in Grade 4. Wait, what? It's been a wierd couple of weeks.

 The weather has been more west coasty - cloud, rain, and then sun, sometimes in the same day or same hour but after weeks and weeks of sunshine, it is taking some adjustment. We've still had days at the beach with waves to jump around in and if we stay for supper, glorious sunsets.

 And just because it is summer, doesn't mean that life is all summery. There was some sad news for our school community a few weeks ago and my heart breaks for a family in mourning. And our group of friends are gearing up to say adieu to a family moving away for a couple of years. But on the plus side, we are looking forward to a family reunion at the end of the month and the boy is anxious to play with his cousins.

Amongst the sad news at the end of July, came the good news of a new addition in our extended family which prompted a crafting fever by myself. Out of the craft cupboard came the felt and fabric, cutting mats and cutters and projects that have been sitting in waiting for ages are coming to fruition.

an oops cake - delicious but a bit messy after the layers slipped around in the heat

quilt for a new addition

Of course, my sewing machine has mutinied and is off at the shop being repaired, so I dug a serger out that I got at a huge sale eons ago and never managed to learn how to use, and have been using it. Teaching this old mummy dinosaur new tricks!

 I made a couple of felt friends, altering a pattern to make a lion (finally as I'd been thinking about it for ages) and which I find slightly ironic given the media storm around this story. We had a stuffie lion, with a fabulous mane, when we were children, so stuffie lions have always had a place in my heart. Here's the one I made:

I also made a sheep:

Cooking seems to be (pardon the pun) on the back burner during these summer days but one staple has been these easy summer potatoes.

Easy Summer Roasties
1 lb small new potatoes (halve the bigger ones)
dash of olive oil
sprinkling of onion salt
salt and pepper

Place the potatoes in a baking dish and microwave for 5-7 minutes. Once done, add the oil, onion salt and some salt and pepper and make sure all the potatoes are covered. Roast in the oven for about 15 minutes at 375 deg F.

so exciting

It's been a crazy busy month around here at mummy dinosaur what with our boy starting Kindergarden and me becoming a school mum. The forms alone are a killer. (and I can hear all those experienced school mums snickering). In addition in a mad moment I volunteered to be team manager for our boy's soccer team - guess what - more forms. And uniform pick-ups and hand-outs, raffle tickets to organize and snack schedules to create, etc. All amidst a very busy time at work. And of course, when life is busy what do I do - give myself even more to do but that's for another post. So into my crazy September life came a little sunshine yesterday. This wonderful book. Weekend Handmade by Kelly Wilkinson.

If you don't know Kelly, well let me tell you about her. She has a wonderful blog over at makegrowgather.com and makes all manner of wonderful things - things to eat and drink, things to wear, things for kids to play with and things to decorate your house with. And she has put lots of those things and instructions on how to make them, in this book. In the interests of fairness, I should say that I am very lucky to be vaguely related by marriage to Kelly and her wonderful sisters. She is as amazing in person as she comes across in her book - so if you are at all feeling like you should craft something, pick up this book and start crafting. I'm just trying to decide what to make first. With the rain falling tonight and the gorgeous pictures I'm feeling lots of love towards the felted flower cowl in the make section.