Pink Hair and Flowers

What's going on with techno Thursday? This week Jacob was at a pool party again.  Probably for the best as he had been at camp everyday learning to animate things.

While he was away Rose and I did some girls things, we bought fabric for a summer dress (coming soon), painted toe nails with flower patterns (thank you for the invaluable advice Sara's beauty corner) and Rose had her hair done.

The pink streaks aren't permenant.

The relentless heat has let up a bit and we've actually had a couple of nights of rain.  The grass is still yellow but the sunflowers are now officially taller than Rose.

My cone flowers are coming out, you can just see one behind Rose's head, and the Black Eyed Susans are starting too.

Yesterday we went for a walk by the Grand River (it's name not a description).  I wished I had a canoe as it would have been a lovely day for a paddle and I might not have been able to hear the kids moaning back on the river bank.  We were right in the middle of a city with a population of 500,000 and look how busy it was.

We walked through a couple of lovely flower glades to get there.  I don't know if  you can tell but there were hundreds of Black Eyed Susans here, bit more impressive than my 4 that are currently out.

Techno Tuesday

Or is it Made by Me Muesday?  You choose.

Jacob was at his station last Thursday but unfortunately I was not so here's the Tuesday version.

I know it's July and we're in the middle of a heatwave but I've been looking ahead and getting some knitting done for the fall.  This time I took Jacob with me to buy the yarn in order to get tried and tested non-itchy, for modelling purposes we are good, I guess time will tell for the actual wearing.

Its 'based on' (I say this because I bought the wrong weight yarn and mis-read the pattern so it's not quite the same) a free pattern I found on Ravelry called Wurm by Katharina Nopp, it's pretty easy and very versatile.

And here's Rose with our first ripe beefsteak tomato and a profusion of borage flowers

Leopards and tomatoes

It's hot here, today will get as high as 33 degrees with the humidity making it feel like 41.  Urgh.  Yesterday evening standing out on the back deck it was quite pleasant, about 25 with a slightly cooling breeze but the air was so wet it was like drowning in lukewarm soup.

That doesn't have much to do with today's post except to serve as explanation if I fail to make any sense at all, I don't function well at high temperatures.

Rose has been at gymnastics camp all week, today I get to go and see what new things she will be hurting herself doing in the garden next week.  Thursday was dress up as a jungle animal day, she decided on an ocelot so I spent Wednesday producing emergency ears and a tail.  Here she is demonstrating that she is still bigger than a sunflower.

And beside her flowerbed that we planted up with coriander, cosmos and borage seeds at the end of May.  I know it seems an odd space for growing things, behind the garage beside the gas connection and the air con unit but it's the only place that gets full sun.

Yesterday was a very exciting first for me.  I ate my first home grown tomato.

Yes I know, it's a bit weeny and I'm not sure if it's the right colour.  This is the label from the plant pot when I bought it.

I don't know if it was labeled wrong or I'm supposed to leave the fruits on the plant until they turn yellow.  If anyone can enlighten me that would be great.  If not I don't really mind as it was delicious red anyway.

First a Fail

What happened to Techno Thursday then? you might ask.  Jacob was out at a pool party, socializing.  That's poor for the second week back isn't it.  So here's a couple of pics from around and about instead.

First here's a where's Wally, it's Rose actually but the same principle applies...

Just in case you missed her.

I really wish she wouldn't go that high.

The pond continues to abound with wildlife despite the water being very low and a bit manky looking.

And look at this magnificent beast that's taken up residence in the parsley.  You can't see scale well on that photo but it's about the size of my little finger.

Apparently it will be a swallowtail butterfly when it grows up.  I really hope it builds a chrysalis in the parsley pot, I might turn it into a summer science project.

Kitchen Reno

We have embarked on a kitchen project, it's more of a facelift than a renovation really but I seem to have a real problem with decision making these days so even this could take a long time.

So I've been as disorganized as ever and forgotten to take before pictures, here's one I took to identify the doors when I was busy spraying the hinges silver.  You get the picture, it's dated to say the least.

I was going to post this board of possibilities for some feedback...

But as a result of the painters being much speedier than anticipated we have already chosen the lighter of the paint swatches and this is what it looks like this afternoon all primed and ready for the real stuff.  

I'm tempted to tell them not to bother putting the doors back on, it's nice never having to bother opening them.  I miss my drawers though, as the actress said to the bishop.

Today the kids and I took the tile samples back to the store and I discovered recycled glass tiles which I thought might be a nice, environmentally responsible choice.  I tried to take a couple of photos for Tom and with the kids help this was the best I could get.  Not sure I'd buy them.

Made by Me Monday

Last week I made Rose a new romper for the summer.  It's always fun making something for Rose as she isn't afraid of a little colour.  So without further ado here she is modelling it while looking for turtles at the pond.

Also demonstrating why having your top fixed to your pants is useful when you like to spend your spare time upside down, no T-shirt flopped over the head and belly button showing today.

And finally impersonating the Isle of Man national flag which I now know is called a 'Triskelion'.  Useful pub quiz fact for you.

Anyone with no interest in sewing stop reading now.

For anyone who is, this is made from a pattern called Zephyr by Figgys.  It's the second time I've made the romper and I've made the dress version of it twice too.  It uses a total of 24 pattern pieces (arghh) and I'm not keen on the ties at the bottom of the shorts but on the whole it's easy and well written but doesn't come in adult sizes.  Probably for the best.

Return of Techno Thursday

Ta da!

After all this time can you spot any differences?  I can tell you that there are 2 that I know of...

1. His bedroom is tidy and everything has been thoroughly sorted, even the ancient stash of rockets (candies, he's not trying to go to space I don't think) has been removed from under his bed.

2. He has new headphones, these have a microphone so he looks like a telemarketer or Madonna ha ha.

For an alternate view here he is yesterday annoying a couple of snapping turtles in the pond where I did the rubbish time lapse.

He is managing to look remarkably turtle like himself all rolled up like that, I've no idea how he gets his spine that round, it gives me the heebie jeebies.

Made by Me Monday

Actually this is Made by Us Monday as Rose did a lot of pouring and stirring and Jacob took part for about 20 seconds.

As part of our teachers gift pack this year we made bath bombs.  Partly because Rose loves a good bath bomb but mostly because I've been looking for an excuse to try making them for a while.  There are tonnes of tutorials and instructions online, we went for this one at One Good Thing by Jillee which worked out nicely.  We needed a bit more water to get them to stay together and they're really difficult to handle when you're molding them but they harden up pretty well and fizz like crazy in the bath.

So here is Rose modelling them and a good 'what happens next...' photo sequence.

She rushed of shouting 'Blaghhhhhh' and rinsed out her mouth a hundred times of course.  The orange and lemongrass oils smelt lovely but I don't suppose for a moment that it tasted good.