The first is Vanilla Sugar- (you can also make lavender sugar)

In a large jar (I used a kilner jar), fill it with sugar, and into this put a vanilla pod (or stalks of lavender) and leave for a couple of weeks to infuse. That simple!!

The flavoured oils are as simple: decide on what flavour you want: herbs, chillies, peppercorns are all a good choice. I chose organic rosemary and peppercorns in olive oil. In a glass bottle, you put your herbs or whatever you have chosen into the oil to infuse for a couple of weeks.

Made now, these, decorated with beautiful fabric tied around the lids with handmade tags, are a simple, beautiful and useful present for a loved one in your life!

]]> http://blog.thenest.ie/2011/12/03/craftadvent-day-3-flavoured-oils-sugars/feed/ 6 http://blog.thenest.ie/2011/10/16/and-autumn-marches-on/ http://blog.thenest.ie/2011/10/16/and-autumn-marches-on/#comments Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:57:55 +0000 Emily http://blog.thenest.ie/?p=2956 I’m here typing with our little man in my arms- he is laughing in his sleep- something he does a lot: I am frequently woken at night with him gurgling and shaking with laughter curled up beside me

(if only he would remember his gaeity when he is screaming in the car. Clearly, we have discovered, he does not like the car  ) 

Yesterday was promised fine, but ended up a very damp squib- a bit like our entire summer and autumn this year…

But inbetween torrential showers, we had moments of extraordinary light: colouring everything golden. I took a trip out to the newly weeded hen run, where Flash II, the Cockeral (offspring of the very handsome Flash I) presided over his ladies (apart from Mother Hen, who is a bit of a feminist and takes none of his guff- just does her own thing, with her chicks in tow)

I have been delighted with our Virginia Creeper that took off over Pebbles’ dog-run this year- it is so beautiful this time of year:

This is the time of year for apple tarts too; my friend Fiona brought out apples from her mothers garden (her mother, Mary, of “Marys Cake” fame), and when it came out of the oven, Michael noticed the cross in the centre had turned into…

a heart…

Hallowe’en is fast approaching

(I have to admit, I don’t like the Hallowe’en festivities at all, but love the pumpkin carving and baking)

The boys grew their own pumpkins this year (might try to make Erins pumpkin pie- yum) but they practiced on marrows this morning with pumpkin-faces the lady in the charity shop gave them yesterday (they were telling her about their pumpkin-growing and she was so impressed she gave them a bag of free Hallowe’en stuff)

At least we have found a use for all the overgrown marrows in the polytunnel

Two weeks ago we celebrated Fathers Day – spending the morning making cards for our most beloved daddy while he got a very rare lie-in- we had lots of cards and a few little presents; warned small ones not to say anything and let daddy have a sleep in, but that was not to be: he was woken with a full and frank inventory of what was downstairs, who made what and how this was a all a Big Secret. 

Sigh. 

I do try though…

 Later that day we decided to take off for the day, it being Fathers Day after all, to the Kildare County Show, where we wandered around eating candy floss

and looking at funny hens

and gorgeous pigs;

David Day from Jabba Jabba Jembe entertained, demonstrated and invited all to join in his drumming circle,

my friend Tara and her husband Pat (The Bat-man) made this fantastic willow dome (with their friends Drew and James too):

and later there was a chainsaw demonstration and we came home with one of these little wooden chairs made in one piece, with said chainsaw, from one block of wood (check it out in situ in the Babies Tea Shop!!)

Meanwhile, home here…

the little ones are continuing their fruit diet, eating their body-weight in raspberries, black, red -and-white currants,

a few (measly) strawberries (next year my aim is to have luscious strawberries- and plenty of them!)

and gooseberries.

I have to keep a close eye on my peas, as a few are swiped everyday well before they are ready…

(I see green bits in your teeth, little girl)

After a very unplanned blog-break, which, as time went on, became more and more difficult to start back again, I’m back. I won’t delve into the series of madnesses that were happening around here: we have had First Communion, sick babies, manic house cleaning (nesting gone nuts) and sheer, overwhelming exhaustion. 

But things have begun to slow down. The house is (quite) tidy even though our smallest is doing her best to reverse this trend

(this is taken as a “before” picture. This is a typical morning in our home: in the foreground there is a tea-shop for babies, behind this, the “tree-house” where the babies live, and in the background Liam set up his shop and bank- they are discussing the exchange rate of dollar to euro (I kid you not))

(my children are aspirational eBay buyers and spend a lot of time talking about exchange rates for the money they don’t have, and the items the would like to buy, (on eBay) (but never will))

Listening to a discussion like this between an-almost three year old and 6 (and a half) year old was nothing short of hilarious.

I have an epic post – but will decant them into more manageable shorter ones!! – but for now want to show you the first of our raspberry jam: the raspberries have ripened much earlier this year, and so far in the past 3 days we have picked 5 kilos! (and they are still laden with fruit every day. I love raspberries)

And aren’t the flowers just beautiful? Roses, honeysuckle and clematis. I’m hoping to get a chance to draw and paint these today. Can’t wait! 

July tomorrow already… June has passed in a bit of a blur… every morning our little ones say “not long before our baby arrives!” Need to get organised.

Soon. Very, very soon.