tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78042925018221472272024-03-15T21:09:24.885-04:00Conquering Crafts (with limited skills)Me and my Zeds attempted Christmas crafts more or less every day, starting on the 1st of December and ending on the 21st, in 2012 and conquered Christmas. In the process, I discovered that there is time to do something between school and dinner at home and that I rather enjoy attempting crafts so I am still here blogging away.Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-30034852178916542302015-03-05T14:11:00.000-05:002015-03-05T14:11:26.366-05:00Beloved, Beautiful Balloons of Ice (and more)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVi8pdBGmRAzu3C3kZUkdNXC6rhhdzPVHwI4dXr8FuDPrmbsxeYs6efWRltYKb2S059uKCKQMC3yPyXsiM9owrfvOgoQRegh8BTpxz0aslRQjUpNkNSt48UjFv9xOezyv3HmzSXnQQ30a/s640/blogger-image-676926394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVi8pdBGmRAzu3C3kZUkdNXC6rhhdzPVHwI4dXr8FuDPrmbsxeYs6efWRltYKb2S059uKCKQMC3yPyXsiM9owrfvOgoQRegh8BTpxz0aslRQjUpNkNSt48UjFv9xOezyv3HmzSXnQQ30a/s320/blogger-image-676926394.jpg" width="320" /></a>While those of you in the UK and Ireland and such places begin to notice the arrival of spring in February, I keep reminding myself that it was -11C for the St Patrick's Day parade here in Toronto last year and that our garden was still under a blanket of snow on March the 23rd, days - days I tell you - after the official start of spring. With all this in mind, on the 1st of March, I still decided that we had better do our ice sculptures before the temperatures started creeping above 0C as they were forecast to do. <br />
It should be noted that we had quite severe <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/01/bring-on-minuses.html" target="_blank">splooshing of water</a> this year. I hadn't forgotten but it's kind of tricky to avoid, I find. <br />
We added some hanging decorations this year with ice gems made by freezing coloured ice cubes in advance before putting them in water to freeze. So now, feast your eyes!<br />
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The temperature in Toronto did not go above freezing in February of this year - first time in 75 years, apparently, so there is a little meteorological fact for you.</div>
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqeK_d_dQLivunyqZJm_6rw8rvGgwA9jAtRcBSB99iKTTz_t1Hw1EzmojXGQ1xp_ErHO-VWYwrQu8_8YklDp0dd3Dh89kin0WfONy50z7WdXVt5o0Z2xMKp67XT-y4gTHG8dBrpJ1CEjL/s200/blogger-image-552791203.jpg" width="200" />Careful placing - fleeces on but no gloves. We didn't stay outside for long.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJw6Ea1xl2yVQhNtOrLoR72kwHQ3OKKTGjoh-eFUnAVuCJSHjKvS80f0WwVDbEsmRdM9nvU85PGx2d65QrludnuO3HPfb_ZMu4JmeaDcGNJWpiFv3ceDlGWWBGjCfFN9fPuVFUm71ZKm6/s640/blogger-image-87367333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJw6Ea1xl2yVQhNtOrLoR72kwHQ3OKKTGjoh-eFUnAVuCJSHjKvS80f0WwVDbEsmRdM9nvU85PGx2d65QrludnuO3HPfb_ZMu4JmeaDcGNJWpiFv3ceDlGWWBGjCfFN9fPuVFUm71ZKm6/s320/blogger-image-87367333.jpg" width="320" /></a>I had hoped for a shot with blue sky and morning sunshine streaming through but it was not to be.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking on the balloons </td></tr>
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Aren't they lovely, though (the Zeds, I mean)? Even if you can't see their faces in this one?!<br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-70333415547410491602014-12-15T11:35:00.002-05:002014-12-15T11:35:33.571-05:00Tears and Tragedy and Gingerbread Disasters<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the collapse(s)</td></tr>
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In <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/12/the-remarkable-passage-tomb-known-as.html" target="_blank">past</a> <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/compare-and-contrast-gingerblossom-2012.html" target="_blank">years</a>, I have had notable and satisfying success with the manufacture of gingerbread houses. I blame last year's success for this year's failure. Last year was the first year I baked my own gingerbread to make a house. I researched meticulously, looking up different types of icing for glue and the best templates. I measured and crafted and sent the Zeds out of the room for the delicate building of the house but it all went without a hitch. It was wonderful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also before the collapse(s).</td></tr>
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I used <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/gingerbread-for-cookies-or-a-gingerbread-house-149257" target="_blank">the same recipe</a> as for our <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2014/11/gingerbread-menagerie.html" target="_blank">gingerbread menagerie</a> and previous houses but only baked for 10 minutes instead of 12. I think this was my first error, apart from the lack of meticulous planning. I also broke one of the roof pieces when it came out of the oven. That should have been my first warning that all was not going to be sweet as roses in our construction project but, alas, I ignored this warning as we still had spare dough at this point to cut out another roof piece. I may even have been a little proud at the rescue of this disaster. However, despite sending the small people from the room for the construction, things were not going to plan. Perhaps the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gingerbread-house-recipe.html" target="_blank">icing,</a> also used last year, was too stiff or my patience was too thin but the house collapsed. A bit broke. I assured Z1 that this one could be Z2's as he was mainly interested in all the candy for sticking anyway. I valiantly struggled on in the face of this adversity and succeeded in making 2 passable small houses (oh yes, I decided to do miniature ones this year so the Zeds could have one each) which were standing pre-decoration. However, not long into the decorating, they both collapsed. Z1 was distraught. She took herself upstairs in floods of tears with a soliloquy regarding the tragedy that could be heard downstairs. I fixed it as best I could and it still looked ok...until the next collapse. <br />
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We had to admit defeat. Z1 was quite brave at this point, perhaps all her tears were spent, but she did have the consolation of some cookies we had cut out from spare dough which she decorated. My plans were dashed but I did manage not to cry. It was close. We had even made extra trees and gingerbread men to stand around the magnificent dwellings we had envisaged. There are no further photos due to the trauma involved. My frustration and anger from the day turned, the next day, into a gentle melancholy for the houses that were not to be.<br />
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We will be ok. We will attempt these again some day but with more planning and care and templates. <br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-76107836952610081022014-12-02T21:01:00.000-05:002014-12-03T10:04:12.139-05:00Advent calendar 2014: toilet rolls and Junior Mints<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueprint for Advent calendar 2013</td></tr>
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Last year, I <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/11/a-sad-story-about-advent-calendars-and.html" target="_blank">had such plans</a> for an Advent calendar but the Zeds were not on board. This year, in keeping with my transformation into <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/11/how-blogging-has-changed-me-or-ive.html" target="_blank">one of <b>those</b> people</a>, I began collecting toilet rolls the moment Z1 showed any inkling of interest in making our own countdown to Christmas calendar.<br />
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We had a busy weekend, that last weekend of November which had been designated as our Christmas decorating weekend what with December beginning on Monday. Saturday involved a birthday party and a car breakdown and fireworks in Nathan Phillips Square. Sunday was to be the day of the decorations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCUdGiY8nMmvWp1tgmQjTpLIRuPUxJI_USo8pBWe1G9ettzn9icBAj_-xY_ezFgVMqwDmxnarjY0eKa6PRI9QFBhf8D1ropLAyDTw2b_yHD8djseiO4WQIj1CxHLm-FKjgQpEMxVkwDmq/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCUdGiY8nMmvWp1tgmQjTpLIRuPUxJI_USo8pBWe1G9ettzn9icBAj_-xY_ezFgVMqwDmxnarjY0eKa6PRI9QFBhf8D1ropLAyDTw2b_yHD8djseiO4WQIj1CxHLm-FKjgQpEMxVkwDmq/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toilet rolls attached, tin foil<br />and tape used abundantly</td></tr>
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Z1 was on cutting-up-toilet-rolls duty. I was rather more severe than necessary with her when she cut a couple of toilet roll segments too narrow to be able to hold sweets. I then pulled myself together and we headed off to our beloved Dollarama to buy the sweets for fillings. It was a glorious no-coat-in-November day. We used Hershey's kisses before but neither of the Zeds really seemed to like them. I don't blame them, it is not good chocolate. This year, Z1 chose Junior Mints and Z2 got some fruit jellies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz1mWhJEd_NemhAHMD0xiWjy-fikIiM6762aOnPtChaEx1Jhy0TrXS0aklpU8ZR8KK-B4Vtm9wnHze7Z8wR5MIE52_JlX6nc1LnHCz4SQjpQOA4Xp7qGELZk0e9tNPucf_7jT5aLUOQpr/s1600/IMG_4811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz1mWhJEd_NemhAHMD0xiWjy-fikIiM6762aOnPtChaEx1Jhy0TrXS0aklpU8ZR8KK-B4Vtm9wnHze7Z8wR5MIE52_JlX6nc1LnHCz4SQjpQOA4Xp7qGELZk0e9tNPucf_7jT5aLUOQpr/s1600/IMG_4811.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compartments filled with jellies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product - ta da!</td></tr>
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Z2 was not an active participant in this project. Z1 drew some little pictures in each compartment and the star on top and presents under the tree. She lovingly filled each hole with a mint and a jelly each...until disaster struck. She tried a mint and discovered she didn't like them. Thankfully, we had plenty of jellies so I ate all the mints and replaced them with jellies in the compartments.<br />
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After the Zeds were asleep in bed and the mints were eaten, I settled down with a Sharpie and the roll of tin foil to be used to cover each compartment. It was a bit tedious and I was a bit sloppy with it, truth be known but know this too: I was careful in mixing up the numbers so each day will be a hunt. This is in contrast to the fate of some of the poor, unfortunate people with Cadbury's calendars who have been using <a href="https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=%23adventcalendarproblems&src=typd" target="_blank">#adventcalendarproblems</a> on Twitter over the last few days*.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*If you can't find it or don't bother clicking, people were complaining that all the numbers on their Cadbury's calendars are in order ruining the fun of having to track the day's number down each day.</span><br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-36653232698731316722014-11-18T10:06:00.000-05:002014-11-18T10:06:57.285-05:00Gingerbread Menagerie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7ZuAJpKIR9IveZUeyyyFc0FfV2gAmFBsGHa90RZp2dbN_gdyeYN8reH7NwtwiVVfDaspoy4nkLUJtmnDfQB6MiYp7Hah-vE2VwJnpTlM3c8q8jD1owfKFv8RUit3nlU60BYW1Ucnb6TE/s1600/menagerie+of+gingerbread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7ZuAJpKIR9IveZUeyyyFc0FfV2gAmFBsGHa90RZp2dbN_gdyeYN8reH7NwtwiVVfDaspoy4nkLUJtmnDfQB6MiYp7Hah-vE2VwJnpTlM3c8q8jD1owfKFv8RUit3nlU60BYW1Ucnb6TE/s1600/menagerie+of+gingerbread.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
This weekend marked the official start of Toronto's Christmas - <a href="http://wintermagic.ca/events/illuminite/" target="_blank">lights were switched on at Yonge-Dundas</a>, the <a href="http://www.thesantaclausparade.com/" target="_blank">Santa parade was on</a> and it even snowed. There is more to come, of course as my email inbox will get fuller of increasingly frenzied messages from various companies telling me about amazing bargains and I begin to unsubscribe from the ones that make me swear the most when I see them. That's how I handle my marketing subscriptions, when I begin to swear at more emails than I open, it's time to get unsubscribing. <br />
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I had considered bringing the Zeds along to the switching on of the lights but really, an outing into the dark and cold at their bedtime is not the wisest move. This will not stop me wondering if we should go along to the <a href="http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=750b7cc3b5e91410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD" target="_blank">impressively named Cavalcade of Lights</a> in two weeks time although I believe Z2 has a birthday party to attend that day. <br />
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So, none of that was particularly crafty but, as you see in the photo, we were fierce productive this weekend. I took a notion, after successful baking for the school cake sale using <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/gingerbread-for-cookies-or-a-gingerbread-house-149257" target="_blank">this fragrant recipe</a>, which I also <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/12/the-remarkable-passage-tomb-known-as.html" target="_blank">used last year,</a> that I should make gingerbread with the Zeds. The recipe is very satisfying, because you stir things up in a bubbly, fragrant pot and then add baking soda which makes it go all foamy. Maybe all gingerbread recipes do this, but I had not encountered the wonder of this before and felt that the Zeds would enjoy it. With plenty of being careful and lots of not touching the hot stove, the Zeds stirred and added ingredients and it was suitably delightful and cosy. We have<a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30CDA4-475A-BAC0-5BDCB86D08276C74&fid=3E33358C-475A-BAC0-5D294BA987ADA3A6" target="_blank"> many, many cookie cutters</a> and using them for something edible was so much less upsetting than the crumby mess of Play-Doh that you can't even eat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Qc_b7PPmDdqrD72g7ycfg7z4MOZDHy12Pxj9sxzFp-Fn-wwW9VrwjOGKYOx7kQN56QW_5IoC8VpS1RMxJuL3qtrlu9AvC6ZB-2SpXLBbvvqRPV7O4eD_p_XYY1x9bSoezFRc7z_GXYn/s1600/iced+gingerbread+menagerie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Qc_b7PPmDdqrD72g7ycfg7z4MOZDHy12Pxj9sxzFp-Fn-wwW9VrwjOGKYOx7kQN56QW_5IoC8VpS1RMxJuL3qtrlu9AvC6ZB-2SpXLBbvvqRPV7O4eD_p_XYY1x9bSoezFRc7z_GXYn/s1600/iced+gingerbread+menagerie.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
The true triumph of the day, though, was coming home after the Santa parade and whipping up a bit of icing and some leftover sweets from Hallowe'en and letting them decorate their animals before bedtime. The owl on the bottom left is Z2's, the rest are Z1's. I particularly like her use of the sweets as suckers on the octopus's tentacles. Overall, though, she was a little too delicate in her use of icing and Z2's generous application worked a bit better. I definitely want to make more to decorate myself. Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-22792988415249625902014-11-11T11:05:00.001-05:002014-11-11T11:05:34.043-05:00I am coming back, I think<br />
As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop and the Christmas decorations begin to appear, I find myself drawn back here. Also, Z1 asked about making an Advent calendar this year so <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/11/a-sad-story-about-advent-calendars-and.html" target="_blank">last year's sad story</a> may have a happy ending this year. In the meantime, things have been made in the Conquering Crafts household since my last post in April. The highlights are below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm82XSFAmEA_umNodWTUDNJHiydtNMxeqpG35CQBitsTM2-cPU-vTxShZuk6r6zrlrlOZT2KCgJQHwNM35PUN61CJ2Oc-d2jOzzGGL-RmiEoBvVeLjLyZEBqOM02W3bQEjCLwyCp9XdTl/s1600/more+rainbow+loom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHm82XSFAmEA_umNodWTUDNJHiydtNMxeqpG35CQBitsTM2-cPU-vTxShZuk6r6zrlrlOZT2KCgJQHwNM35PUN61CJ2Oc-d2jOzzGGL-RmiEoBvVeLjLyZEBqOM02W3bQEjCLwyCp9XdTl/s200/more+rainbow+loom.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiby3_y90jkzPUjtFS4ywwC6R3HFD-LDtMU3dhX49BqQznjerg-eWYK6kN6prlm_uZgfVCh_NVRjLAMDF0FRNSTo7DHrJd-ptPcmnslKeo_6VXOdGK_dO0e81V2d9HKH0IO9Eb7rSDtI_ta/s1600/rAINBOW+LOOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiby3_y90jkzPUjtFS4ywwC6R3HFD-LDtMU3dhX49BqQznjerg-eWYK6kN6prlm_uZgfVCh_NVRjLAMDF0FRNSTo7DHrJd-ptPcmnslKeo_6VXOdGK_dO0e81V2d9HKH0IO9Eb7rSDtI_ta/s1600/rAINBOW+LOOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiby3_y90jkzPUjtFS4ywwC6R3HFD-LDtMU3dhX49BqQznjerg-eWYK6kN6prlm_uZgfVCh_NVRjLAMDF0FRNSTo7DHrJd-ptPcmnslKeo_6VXOdGK_dO0e81V2d9HKH0IO9Eb7rSDtI_ta/s200/rAINBOW+LOOM.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Like many a household across the world, there were many of these to be found in our house. And like many a parent across the world, some of them were made by me after the Zeds were in bed. And there may have been swearing at spillages and mistakes. Overall, a success, though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTuRXsn1rF74geLWIiyWG0B5mqQZ1VouXCo9krk2QQiOTRYg7EJezN0G8EoP7gIJGahbw6W_h-qIcq3q_kZcZosnVhBM4mWO7aMTMxJW4Nmbr3XkXgQnTkxsibJLLtNBGg6sfSqOsCqZQ/s1600/Z1+decorated+cakes+at+a+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTuRXsn1rF74geLWIiyWG0B5mqQZ1VouXCo9krk2QQiOTRYg7EJezN0G8EoP7gIJGahbw6W_h-qIcq3q_kZcZosnVhBM4mWO7aMTMxJW4Nmbr3XkXgQnTkxsibJLLtNBGg6sfSqOsCqZQ/s200/Z1+decorated+cakes+at+a+party.jpg" width="200" /></a>Then, there was a cupcake decorating party and Z2 got in on the action too. He is more of a fan of icing than he is of cake.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIbbetj4mTWg5uwi-tPpGrypQnOoQdpDE40Eb-rYX-6KohpgPXt4ZkcVPU-Sdl7P00MF_DcrUQD7JrI5zeCXMOs-QvqxJ5LyVo76ieEuqqHlo9kSVza386f1A2-991k4BAo8l0JZx-lQT/s1600/zayd's%2Bicing%2Befforts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIbbetj4mTWg5uwi-tPpGrypQnOoQdpDE40Eb-rYX-6KohpgPXt4ZkcVPU-Sdl7P00MF_DcrUQD7JrI5zeCXMOs-QvqxJ5LyVo76ieEuqqHlo9kSVza386f1A2-991k4BAo8l0JZx-lQT/s200/zayd's%2Bicing%2Befforts.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z2's icing efforts. This <br />
photo refuses to be posted<br />
horizontally. Grr.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRcmmWgddfqh-B5gwlNHneAbQ3D45eQulD33AHYk46z05FYpbsmX6JVp4Fzzh_IEuolJLj3tVJ4cuXqKGxMS89_a7wcD6JNVK3cYUUP79KR6j9wWQNv7HBvD0tGkXMT0DuuU5qMDzJ3Qu/s1600/Zayra+sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRcmmWgddfqh-B5gwlNHneAbQ3D45eQulD33AHYk46z05FYpbsmX6JVp4Fzzh_IEuolJLj3tVJ4cuXqKGxMS89_a7wcD6JNVK3cYUUP79KR6j9wWQNv7HBvD0tGkXMT0DuuU5qMDzJ3Qu/s200/Zayra+sewing.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
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Z1 got a lovely sewing kit for her birthday which we cracked open during the summer. She is keen to make mittens now, I am considering some simpler project that she might be able to wear. Possibly a very simple skirt that she could sew decorations onto if I do the skirt. Hmmm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJRigPa1L8UJcMp-OyZyXOs30Q5Z0knhKDI0Vv4cfpz6DRYRUEa8DFU3L1dm0Wpzh_MrCiLhB5gi7yLPENnweHBgICinaPoyJqpCR8I0FTrvTcFxLYL4ErKkPwlP15VD1z4dTudP5oOPO/s1600/gift+basket+for+daycare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJRigPa1L8UJcMp-OyZyXOs30Q5Z0knhKDI0Vv4cfpz6DRYRUEa8DFU3L1dm0Wpzh_MrCiLhB5gi7yLPENnweHBgICinaPoyJqpCR8I0FTrvTcFxLYL4ErKkPwlP15VD1z4dTudP5oOPO/s200/gift+basket+for+daycare.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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As Z2 is now a very big boy (as he will indignantly tell anyone who dares to say that he is a small boy), he left daycare in July. I was rather proud of the gift basket I made for the lovely staff there. I like dots. Oh yes I do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YJbOr3ZBRiWX3J8VC1zT0fPlJxrKl5mdAzNR0m9wVtb6F5hyNCm-CkOxoEPXJYWcrYANAwXk2bo3kxlEDGJALwaRi2NZJ7Ni7blJoJJcYk0c4i8cKSr5wXz10G8LROpUSeJg_oWLhIyj/s1600/Zayd+spider+cake+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YJbOr3ZBRiWX3J8VC1zT0fPlJxrKl5mdAzNR0m9wVtb6F5hyNCm-CkOxoEPXJYWcrYANAwXk2bo3kxlEDGJALwaRi2NZJ7Ni7blJoJJcYk0c4i8cKSr5wXz10G8LROpUSeJg_oWLhIyj/s200/Zayd+spider+cake+2014.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziAhT3TLVWekkam2Ap09QU2smaNnI73GeBxpKVzixDmGsVbZKGWKss6ORfP-vI7Crk5qoavW4WQ55rJJtRZkR3L_RkDGe9EpvAFuoYvri7p7vpQc8GQ5re_TKOoyZ9UHN1P5CPeN7pfuU/s1600/fruit+kebabs+for+Zayd's%2Bparty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziAhT3TLVWekkam2Ap09QU2smaNnI73GeBxpKVzixDmGsVbZKGWKss6ORfP-vI7Crk5qoavW4WQ55rJJtRZkR3L_RkDGe9EpvAFuoYvri7p7vpQc8GQ5re_TKOoyZ9UHN1P5CPeN7pfuU/s200/fruit+kebabs+for+Zayd's%2Bparty.jpg" width="150" /></a>For Z2's birthday party, making fruit kebabs was a nice way to pass the morning without constant "what time will the party be?" questions. I have seen amazing efforts on Pinterest that look like rainbows but I think ours look pretty good too. I also successfully persuaded him to ask for a cake that would fit with my "Make an ordinary chocolate cake" plans. I rather like him. (The cake, that is, not Z2. He's a spider. Clearly. Again, the cake. Z2 is human.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcMK-CmEBYMiEgxpENtnUXCyZKBOoskA-N5KOwNmZXFhwFtEcQRFWkCfXPpQdvrkkCMbE77p2dEUTgt7Y-6kpDl8lhOhX8PHH0cGQhTGJ7pqt9iGo0Mq-MlJzOL9bdXr-nQzmR8rprtwm/s1600/2014+pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcMK-CmEBYMiEgxpENtnUXCyZKBOoskA-N5KOwNmZXFhwFtEcQRFWkCfXPpQdvrkkCMbE77p2dEUTgt7Y-6kpDl8lhOhX8PHH0cGQhTGJ7pqt9iGo0Mq-MlJzOL9bdXr-nQzmR8rprtwm/s320/2014+pumpkins.jpg" width="240" /></a> And before you know it, Hallowe'en was upon us again and we took to the pumpkins. Last year, <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/10/would-pumpkin-seeds-be-big-for-spiders.html" target="_blank">Z2 made valiant efforts with the Dollarama tools while Z1 took the role of artistic director for her pumpkin.</a> This year, I did buy better tools and amidst warnings about being very, very careful and frustration that it was still a tricky job, we carved the beauties in the picture. Z1 was disappointed that hers didn't look better but it was all her own work (middle step). Z2 was artistic director for his (top step) and I was disappointed with the botched eyes on mine (bottom step). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTVtQlaLDIqxE6PGJBuTJ7YUQ0pRpVkL1bR7za6CDOGh65SrGxPutlsnDUOVueildld9K53_j3T0lMandj9bkzOUK2kRD4oBRzEDzR2RdwnMAOpPE82-Y4FSn2e6Jldrt-I7xsW8AtWZQ/s1600/Zayra+bat+wings+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTVtQlaLDIqxE6PGJBuTJ7YUQ0pRpVkL1bR7za6CDOGh65SrGxPutlsnDUOVueildld9K53_j3T0lMandj9bkzOUK2kRD4oBRzEDzR2RdwnMAOpPE82-Y4FSn2e6Jldrt-I7xsW8AtWZQ/s200/Zayra+bat+wings+2014.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEs9oj2eZiCgfzh-HFZBDGFO21Kbjk-0Yr77wL3ZGgX1RGZfPQjMtPR-C9tVfoToJ6pctS6T0luo48vANEFMAmGKv5LegVVtRqOFKGNOx4OhKM7zzuEo2A6-knZXjPVyc4Vo7AwdXXCWD/s1600/Zayd+bat+wings+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEs9oj2eZiCgfzh-HFZBDGFO21Kbjk-0Yr77wL3ZGgX1RGZfPQjMtPR-C9tVfoToJ6pctS6T0luo48vANEFMAmGKv5LegVVtRqOFKGNOx4OhKM7zzuEo2A6-knZXjPVyc4Vo7AwdXXCWD/s200/Zayd+bat+wings+2014.jpg" width="150" /></a>Disappointingly, from the point of view of photos and family records, Z1 decided that she wanted to be a bat <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/10/black-tops-bat-wings-and-toilet-trips.html" target="_blank">again this year</a> and Z2 followed her lead. I did make fresh costumes but used the same tops as last year so that saved some hassle. I followed the instructions <a href="http://mypoppet.com.au/2011/10/how-to-easy-bat-wings-for-halloween-or-dress-ups.html" target="_blank">here</a> and used a measuring tape and everything to tailor-make them. On the great day itself, it rained. Again (3rd year in a row). Z1 didn't care and declined to cover her costume. Z2 put on his fleece and didn't really get to show off the costume at all but still got a great haul of<strike> crap</strike> to enjoy for weeks to come.</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-79486281694187831522014-04-14T09:27:00.000-04:002014-04-14T09:27:54.478-04:00T-shirt doodles and disappointing snails<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
For Z1's birthday party, we decided on an art party since she pretty much draws all day long. This also helped to cut the invitation list as she invited only those who she felt would be interested in art. However, as it turns out, when you put 14 children in a room with t-shirts and markers, only about 6 of them want to draw on t-shirts. Those who did were delighted with it but the others mostly ran around noisily. Which was fine. Really. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0rqJNjxB90VyxmvVLZmVFtkizvnJlD-UR6jMT2e97sYp5rK7g-mD-K59Yo0OjlNMPpLUwLwEDIGoHpnfdXpeCAZ7kLDRS_a6w3IRWtA9nWPm57rHGp7iK25TEy00Gfk1fZE_XyL3Emn1/s640/blogger-image--923568764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="hedgehog, snail, child's drawings, t-shirts, crafts, fabric markers" border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0rqJNjxB90VyxmvVLZmVFtkizvnJlD-UR6jMT2e97sYp5rK7g-mD-K59Yo0OjlNMPpLUwLwEDIGoHpnfdXpeCAZ7kLDRS_a6w3IRWtA9nWPm57rHGp7iK25TEy00Gfk1fZE_XyL3Emn1/s400/blogger-image--923568764.jpg" title="T-shirts decorated with fabric markers" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely hedgehog, not-so-great snail</td></tr>
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This left us with some plain white t-shirts and lots of fabric markers and I got it into my head I would draw a hedgehog on one for Z1. So I did. In my jim jams before getting up one Saturday morning. Sometimes inspiration just strikes. Z1 then added some detail. I am quite happy with the hedgehog t-shirt. <br />
However, Z2 then requested a slug. I can draw quite amiable <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/06/sad-sunflower-story.html" target="_blank">slugs, though I say so myself</a> and so I started but, for some reason, persuaded Z2 that it should be a snail instead and changed it into a snail. I am not so pleased with him. I can do better. Sigh. We still do have a few spare t-shirts, though so perhaps another day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd29d_HMNFcGKtj_KYZvjaP-8yMNWmWe5Z3NI_h70Z9asKCLrAx7WSHAMKD6CjRZze9vZ4S8oFmQwLAnUY50q-JNFU4kCKsNhyRe8UBuq7DxMKTf1S1JzUSC6x-fUPt44UKEdeAlVQRI4/s1600/Amiable+snail.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd29d_HMNFcGKtj_KYZvjaP-8yMNWmWe5Z3NI_h70Z9asKCLrAx7WSHAMKD6CjRZze9vZ4S8oFmQwLAnUY50q-JNFU4kCKsNhyRe8UBuq7DxMKTf1S1JzUSC6x-fUPt44UKEdeAlVQRI4/s1600/Amiable+snail.png" height="142" title="Snail" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, I can draw nice, amiable snails</td></tr>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-1350987334872023062014-04-02T11:08:00.003-04:002014-04-02T11:08:39.566-04:00Ladybird, ladybug, coccinelle<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnf2CjJu_ggvXuWlSpn6-I11jKKM4oeJthzBxzcbgkcpn2jNENKTxNzql2XyMlKs4ZfPh8THBi4wpZ2iiG42Old0p8az6YZI7Xy2_Vsa-41v7HmAvHglmQpZEXeCMfGc9mR7UdTONfet3/s640/blogger-image-2189680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnf2CjJu_ggvXuWlSpn6-I11jKKM4oeJthzBxzcbgkcpn2jNENKTxNzql2XyMlKs4ZfPh8THBi4wpZ2iiG42Old0p8az6YZI7Xy2_Vsa-41v7HmAvHglmQpZEXeCMfGc9mR7UdTONfet3/s640/blogger-image-2189680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMZyNMq7Gg3KBroQt8bcgM-i_z645imOYk13Oeq0QDQ7r3hVQKHsXS8ikyRQmlUzMJOQC7F6rU-UK1J-_KDnyAIJkT-2Ez-xYJ5mqy7KVdcspo0k5bBBEGjucAK9mLEvoqELsTwEumwVs/s640/blogger-image--1142350002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnf2CjJu_ggvXuWlSpn6-I11jKKM4oeJthzBxzcbgkcpn2jNENKTxNzql2XyMlKs4ZfPh8THBi4wpZ2iiG42Old0p8az6YZI7Xy2_Vsa-41v7HmAvHglmQpZEXeCMfGc9mR7UdTONfet3/s1600/blogger-image-2189680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnf2CjJu_ggvXuWlSpn6-I11jKKM4oeJthzBxzcbgkcpn2jNENKTxNzql2XyMlKs4ZfPh8THBi4wpZ2iiG42Old0p8az6YZI7Xy2_Vsa-41v7HmAvHglmQpZEXeCMfGc9mR7UdTONfet3/s400/blogger-image-2189680.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In all its glory with apologies for not fully wiping the plate for this picture</td></tr>
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Well, I must say that I was quite pleased with the loveliness of this ladybird cake and it was pretty delicious too. I felt the licorice legs I had <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2014/03/sneak-preview-of-this-years-cake-with.html" target="_blank">planned</a> might contaminate too much cake for those who do not like it so I left them out. Six spots for my six-year-old Z1. Hurrah. I have also included a gratuitous shot of how happy Z2 was to bash the piñata. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMZyNMq7Gg3KBroQt8bcgM-i_z645imOYk13Oeq0QDQ7r3hVQKHsXS8ikyRQmlUzMJOQC7F6rU-UK1J-_KDnyAIJkT-2Ez-xYJ5mqy7KVdcspo0k5bBBEGjucAK9mLEvoqELsTwEumwVs/s1600/blogger-image--1142350002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMZyNMq7Gg3KBroQt8bcgM-i_z645imOYk13Oeq0QDQ7r3hVQKHsXS8ikyRQmlUzMJOQC7F6rU-UK1J-_KDnyAIJkT-2Ez-xYJ5mqy7KVdcspo0k5bBBEGjucAK9mLEvoqELsTwEumwVs/s200/blogger-image--1142350002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The party spread (before arrival of pizza)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEU8stJFTyNUe5GtXjRJjDxDQ7I3ww7pvG7zpQegrwKJtIEPxTRMAxGlxb7wJdGj93MBO5JbP9bME6QcJO6iUPZWHk7pNjEBOzrAVKDTEJ1Xq_TrB7L4jXY4QNbIHS_XtayaSXw6jFGai/s640/blogger-image-560433765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEU8stJFTyNUe5GtXjRJjDxDQ7I3ww7pvG7zpQegrwKJtIEPxTRMAxGlxb7wJdGj93MBO5JbP9bME6QcJO6iUPZWHk7pNjEBOzrAVKDTEJ1Xq_TrB7L4jXY4QNbIHS_XtayaSXw6jFGai/s400/blogger-image-560433765.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A VERY happy piñata bashing boy -he had been waiting DAYS for this moment</td></tr>
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<img height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnf2CjJu_ggvXuWlSpn6-I11jKKM4oeJthzBxzcbgkcpn2jNENKTxNzql2XyMlKs4ZfPh8THBi4wpZ2iiG42Old0p8az6YZI7Xy2_Vsa-41v7HmAvHglmQpZEXeCMfGc9mR7UdTONfet3/s400/blogger-image-2189680.jpg" style="left: 244px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 40px;" width="96" />Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-89759879762184468752014-03-20T14:56:00.000-04:002014-03-20T14:56:25.311-04:00Sneak preview of this year's cake with a purpose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last year, Z1 had a beetle cake. It was quite a <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/03/and-now-cake-with-purpose-meaning-and.html" target="_blank">chocolatey and wondrous thing</a>. This year will also be chocolatey and wondrous as I mostly believe that cakes should be chocolate. We have decided upon a ladybird and I have planned as you can see in the lovely picture below. The party is on Sunday. Baking shall take place on Saturday. I am quite excited. </div>
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On a side note, I was speaking to a friend here who had a book that talked about a ladybird. She thought it was a rather amusing typo or weird mistake. In Ireland and in England, we call them ladybirds but I do accept that the North American version - ladybug - makes more sense.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZrGcR7v7Z6Zmw9s6d92Th1C9L3AAB1bXSEODrrBxsrnv99EDupGKu-fiotIP4kDDtRk7bDoPOthKW_AY28A87RpkZrZBL0ZeD1GMIdc6fdK3mWIOWygytRsK7ta0X5_dX1KMTg_Bv3X/s1600/Ladybird+cake+planning+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cake, ladybug, ladybird, cake decorating" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZrGcR7v7Z6Zmw9s6d92Th1C9L3AAB1bXSEODrrBxsrnv99EDupGKu-fiotIP4kDDtRk7bDoPOthKW_AY28A87RpkZrZBL0ZeD1GMIdc6fdK3mWIOWygytRsK7ta0X5_dX1KMTg_Bv3X/s1600/Ladybird+cake+planning+2014.jpg" height="506" title="Ladybird cake or a ladybug cake" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-91720560407966993352014-03-10T13:46:00.000-04:002014-03-10T13:46:58.370-04:00A Winter Tea PartyOn discovering that the winter festivals in Quebec and Ottawa were finished and we couldn't go, Z1 was rather upset and I, on the spur of the moment, proposed that we have a winter tea party. I suggested she invite two friends and that we could have cupcakes with blue sprinkles. I sent the invitation emails to the parents before I could back out of it, what with her birthday party coming up and the house never being as organised as I'd like. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7Ox-KYZAvPNrAGXQ6La_Kkeb6VxirpbM4A0nxKrqMOShcOiSAsWM808fA8YdKqiT5VLzQUpVXM5WWvD6nlhqiyQR2TU96KrtQ5J1F5hbWpY7riiZVs8GIdzfJe9Y-SqY_hjR2sDEkG-0/s1600/blue+sugar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="baking, cake decorating, sugar, blue" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7Ox-KYZAvPNrAGXQ6La_Kkeb6VxirpbM4A0nxKrqMOShcOiSAsWM808fA8YdKqiT5VLzQUpVXM5WWvD6nlhqiyQR2TU96KrtQ5J1F5hbWpY7riiZVs8GIdzfJe9Y-SqY_hjR2sDEkG-0/s1600/blue+sugar.JPG" height="200" title="Sugar dyed blue" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue sugar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTQkg6PHBPfzMhb_5esZKwluCEA_8fI2oMVSnhD6ivbfK08fADO-1iyEQ_uvKvkJaQlxsj1v5UT7TYKV8yZNdJMp2uJub8g1hCx3Z3eDZgJpeW-ch0MlIJpS66Uqy8MuqhqvGcmoVa_NY/s1600/cracked+blue+glaze.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTQkg6PHBPfzMhb_5esZKwluCEA_8fI2oMVSnhD6ivbfK08fADO-1iyEQ_uvKvkJaQlxsj1v5UT7TYKV8yZNdJMp2uJub8g1hCx3Z3eDZgJpeW-ch0MlIJpS66Uqy8MuqhqvGcmoVa_NY/s1600/cracked+blue+glaze.JPG" height="200" title="glazed sugar pattern" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glazed, cracked, beautiful </td></tr>
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Blue sprinkles seemed hard to come by in my usual range of shops (or at least not in reasonable quantities at a reasonable price) so I Googled and found you can just add blue food dye to sugar. Hurrah. I then went on over to Pinterest and found that you can apparently make "edible glitter" by putting dyed sugar in the oven for 10 minutes. Z1 didn't seem too excited about this but I was. However, it didn't really turn much sparklier than the simple sugar + food dye combination. It did change the colour a little to a more turquoise/greenish hue and it also produced a beautiful glazed, cracked mess on my baking tray. <br />
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I baked some cupcakes and the Zeds helped by licking the beaters after I had finished (I know about raw eggs and salmonella - we had a lucky escape this time - one of many, many lucky escapes from the perils of post-cake-mixing bowl and spoon licking). Some were chocolate, some were vanilla. I wisely decided to start icing them just when the Zeds were due to go to bed. Husband got them up to brush their teeth while I squiggled and swirled. I lovingly took photos knowing that they were to be <strike>destroyed</strike> decorated by the Zeds in the morning. All in all, it was a success - I got to try new things like the ribbony icing tip that came in a 4 pack of icing tips and also making blue sugar. Z1 had her friends over and got to run around screaming a bit. I got to have my friend over too (one of the mums stayed - yay!) and there were even leftover cakes to bring into work on Monday. Maybe next year we'll go to Quebec or Ottawa for the winter festivals but our Winter Tea Party was fine for this year.<br />
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<br />Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-76809259250913910352014-02-17T14:31:00.000-05:002014-03-30T21:24:58.287-04:00Snowy snowy snowy snowy snow<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ejE2IH9nfTr61mze785iy8GXIVx8ysj5VeBabVEHpC4JWhHbpW1YPFQ4Pvh3D2ABY8eV4N7lFY_u4eInXSU7BaT7CQBtSTZghk3rwuxGzfUqZtuoWYXMdpjNQtiDtwhomrnqe0bFYu9/s640/blogger-image--885317551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPzaBrmeGELBVh0vPcjxGZGi0bQLaV8dPsI9eOAZYRAjMX4BbkwdckC1_NHHJta-P58GPmmKhDt_yiV0YNnv3iv6Z6gfsjhZyYq-MAYjz8xRDd0HMrQQ-hoMNF1kEo5iznGbDd4SIWS_u/s640/blogger-image--802331789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPzaBrmeGELBVh0vPcjxGZGi0bQLaV8dPsI9eOAZYRAjMX4BbkwdckC1_NHHJta-P58GPmmKhDt_yiV0YNnv3iv6Z6gfsjhZyYq-MAYjz8xRDd0HMrQQ-hoMNF1kEo5iznGbDd4SIWS_u/s640/blogger-image--802331789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGsmsgkYcl_CEQx_6qSf0DWPi9f0gs9zWsDqXCioD-05Zqa4N7caS_l31pDNH8o4krm4FPp-EKACf39X7VFkOz9gIbeVvXydDcHnCoF7ZBwlm3OXV4TSnLYkSkxv8jli6rd8E8Su8ANV3/s640/blogger-image--875067863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ejE2IH9nfTr61mze785iy8GXIVx8ysj5VeBabVEHpC4JWhHbpW1YPFQ4Pvh3D2ABY8eV4N7lFY_u4eInXSU7BaT7CQBtSTZghk3rwuxGzfUqZtuoWYXMdpjNQtiDtwhomrnqe0bFYu9/s1600/blogger-image--885317551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8ejE2IH9nfTr61mze785iy8GXIVx8ysj5VeBabVEHpC4JWhHbpW1YPFQ4Pvh3D2ABY8eV4N7lFY_u4eInXSU7BaT7CQBtSTZghk3rwuxGzfUqZtuoWYXMdpjNQtiDtwhomrnqe0bFYu9/s640/blogger-image--885317551.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow excavation (possibly a dragon)</td></tr>
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This has been a winter in which I feel I am earning my Canadian stripes with snow shovelling and lots of cold temperatures and so on. I was feeling guilty at the pristine blanket of snow in our back garden - it seemed terrible not to be making footprints and snowmen and forts in it. So, on Family Day, I insisted that we rectify this. Up - breakfast - snow gear on and out to enjoy the snow or be damned.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGsmsgkYcl_CEQx_6qSf0DWPi9f0gs9zWsDqXCioD-05Zqa4N7caS_l31pDNH8o4krm4FPp-EKACf39X7VFkOz9gIbeVvXydDcHnCoF7ZBwlm3OXV4TSnLYkSkxv8jli6rd8E8Su8ANV3/s1600/blogger-image--875067863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGsmsgkYcl_CEQx_6qSf0DWPi9f0gs9zWsDqXCioD-05Zqa4N7caS_l31pDNH8o4krm4FPp-EKACf39X7VFkOz9gIbeVvXydDcHnCoF7ZBwlm3OXV4TSnLYkSkxv8jli6rd8E8Su8ANV3/s640/blogger-image--875067863.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailing through snow</td></tr>
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I had been organised enough to save some washing up liquid bottles to fill with food dye to do painting on the snow. Husband had even got some scientific grade blue stain which seemed potentially unwise but turned out to wash out easily.<br>
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The snow was not very sticky so we piled it up and excavated it rather than really building but am pleased to say we disrupted the blanket sufficiently. Ten centimetres of fresh snow are forecast for tonight, though so we may have to do the same again next weekend.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PshyphenhyphenoMy7eMbqe7vMD2K7BAwdlQxxoI13-yj_93sxKg1c1C_eCEPNeRfP0gjP-AW1uNZYLPVhd3k8kTzds1FTH3zLq-kiQX4JJhKtBPv6CRkFpx3KhnKSmGpRWY_sIjWGcziCBFjxxFI0/s640/blogger-image-59905840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PshyphenhyphenoMy7eMbqe7vMD2K7BAwdlQxxoI13-yj_93sxKg1c1C_eCEPNeRfP0gjP-AW1uNZYLPVhd3k8kTzds1FTH3zLq-kiQX4JJhKtBPv6CRkFpx3KhnKSmGpRWY_sIjWGcziCBFjxxFI0/s200/blogger-image-59905840.jpg" width="150"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting snow</td></tr>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-86632037058672239792014-02-14T12:34:00.000-05:002014-02-14T12:34:40.999-05:00When you think you're ahead of the game but it turns out your're just about hanging in there<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyKPcnjd12Ht2kgdcmwc5wL8QMoC5ctmZQVdfM16ZnwcBXhHnsyUC1ruEWjju9ZY0uIx9aypdU3S6_e7Y3idQXPFG4iPi-MSgz-V5576J71SBXjwvOI7FjIoasnwzLKrJVOKgxwplC4Vx/s1600/Valentines+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyKPcnjd12Ht2kgdcmwc5wL8QMoC5ctmZQVdfM16ZnwcBXhHnsyUC1ruEWjju9ZY0uIx9aypdU3S6_e7Y3idQXPFG4iPi-MSgz-V5576J71SBXjwvOI7FjIoasnwzLKrJVOKgxwplC4Vx/s1600/Valentines+2014.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Last year, I had <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/02/hearts-of-rage.html" target="_blank">hearts of rage</a> even though I generally have a reasonable affection for Valentine's day (but must admit to never having seen the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitefriar_Street_Carmelite_Church" target="_blank">relics of the venerable saint </a>in my town of birth).<br />
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This year, I was all prepared with ideas in my head and a saved template on my computer. However, I had the wind taken from my sails by a post on Z1's class blog with the class list and an assurance that writing out each name would be a great writing exercise for the children. My schemes had mainly avoided Z1 having to write out much as I felt it would be tedious. Also, the bookmarks I had planned, glittery hearts with her name on them stuck to a lollipop stick - ta dah - a bookmark - were not conducive to having names written on them. We overcame the latter problem by putting the bookmarks in envelopes and, as for the tediousness, it turns out I had underestimated her tolerance for writing and she completed the task as well as decorating the envelopes with each classmate's favourite colour accompanied by frequent declarations about how awesome it all was.<br />
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Z2 helped a bit with glitter painting his hearts but I did most of the work. As for the beautiful bag you see in the righthand panel of the picture, Z1 decorated it but it was chiefly my effort as bedtime was nigh by the time we got 'round to it. Sadly, I was not paying attention to detail and the other side of the bag has an upside down heart. However, on a positive note, it did not fall apart when we were carrying it to school despite the fact that I ran out of sticky tape (Z1 gets through miles of the stuff for her various projects) and had to use a glue stick to put on the ribbon handles and seal up the bottom. Furthermore, it turns out there was a book fair at Z1's school this week making the bookmarks so very appropriate and on theme. I win after all.Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-84645784223296964232014-01-22T10:24:00.000-05:002014-01-22T14:53:28.143-05:00Return of the icy marbles<a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/01/bring-on-minuses.html" target="_blank">I did these last year</a>. <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/02/feast-your-eyes-on-these.html" target="_blank">I loved them.</a> I loved them so much I got a canvas of them for the wall. I was pretty excited to do them again this year so I am not sure why or how we managed to get over halfway through January before doing so. Between this year and last year, I heard of people who found that they didn't work. Perhaps this delayed me - fear of them failing me, disappointing me as I try to find joy in below freezing temperatures. <br />
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Last year, I said that I had <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/01/bring-on-minuses.html" target="_blank">learned a lesson about water splooshing out</a> after filling the balloons and removing them from the spout of the tap (the faucet, if you wish). I must admit that it turns out it was a short-term lesson and I should have revised this year to avoid the same again. Having said that, I did not need paper towels at any point this year so I have made progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyYH8qGXA65I0x8jY_j-7w6A3plAa7aSiSjdQFLEESZVQy136_3NyOTz2FMrEDJgJM9Yklcb3iaz_ZUfBDooOdg-f0BhYpjR3o6V1mEgKaZcx-AP5JO6TeG84NJyarkIryRuxWmNXyjlg/s1600/Ice+balloon+preparation+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyYH8qGXA65I0x8jY_j-7w6A3plAa7aSiSjdQFLEESZVQy136_3NyOTz2FMrEDJgJM9Yklcb3iaz_ZUfBDooOdg-f0BhYpjR3o6V1mEgKaZcx-AP5JO6TeG84NJyarkIryRuxWmNXyjlg/s1600/Ice+balloon+preparation+2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The Zeds needed some persuading to actually come with me and place them outside. This is why they are not wearing coats, a fact which was remarked on by Husband and a neighbour. In my defence, they were only out for a few moments and it was only about -5C or so and I thought it would encourage them to come back inside once they had placed them and I didn't want to hang about out there. Also, they didn't wear coats for this last year so let's call it tradition. (It was a positively balmy 13C when we did it last year.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHzxfWq2k8b0rLYrxiOikOP7Nm3g3O7uocxNfVVbxGoI8smdaVF1Uqi8V7eZ_QxteEvVW1Epal_wLyOCqDTsdldYvQL4d0kwDCoflZuglRruPajtCidZ43LCCEAc8SHwbxYhXctfqwiUy/s1600/Instagrammed+broken+balloon+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Instagram, ice, winter, balloon" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHzxfWq2k8b0rLYrxiOikOP7Nm3g3O7uocxNfVVbxGoI8smdaVF1Uqi8V7eZ_QxteEvVW1Epal_wLyOCqDTsdldYvQL4d0kwDCoflZuglRruPajtCidZ43LCCEAc8SHwbxYhXctfqwiUy/s1600/Instagrammed+broken+balloon+2014.jpg" height="200" title="Broken Ice balloon Instagram" width="200" /></a>The big reveal happened the very next day. There was snow falling so I wanted to get to them before they were buried. Also, I am impatient. One broke when I went to check on them the evening before. Still beautiful.<br />
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So, without further ado as there has been quite enough ado so far, here they are! Oh, and note how the purple dye, in particular, seems to become encapsulated rather than remaining diffused - it did that last year too - this is art AND science.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpVhKvcZJzbDlsu95V9Kq1Yswruw4zaClZwUpSehYfMH3lG015RhxLJtVrIkwfAWwpoGwLaTURCC7rEYR6l7uGnboYyffBk_p6QCvtjh0AopzZnQKUuNr1tUNCttO1b0CbP4o_D4C93S5/s1600/composite+of+after+-+balloons+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ice, balloons, craft, winter, colour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpVhKvcZJzbDlsu95V9Kq1Yswruw4zaClZwUpSehYfMH3lG015RhxLJtVrIkwfAWwpoGwLaTURCC7rEYR6l7uGnboYyffBk_p6QCvtjh0AopzZnQKUuNr1tUNCttO1b0CbP4o_D4C93S5/s1600/composite+of+after+-+balloons+2014.jpg" height="400" title="Ice balloons" width="400" /></a></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-17909249672259126742014-01-17T11:32:00.001-05:002014-01-17T11:32:59.406-05:00Life gave us mangoes (so we made not-banana bread)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="baking, banana bread, mangoes, fruit, mango bread, chocolate" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmfsIBKCuFvUL7obVNTfBO0ZNGvWo42x_2wYIU8ZcDaokqqpa1nCCTlwcXWkDZCOQ_ybYaiQ2GYuB2wYKplWODvCWsbl7rTJSNz4r_jZaQ0AMlmg7XpdsAmjgC0MW9G_rAHWRL7DndVTy/s320/blogger-image-2032457620.jpg" title="Chocolate mango bread" width="300" /></div>
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This cakey bread delights me for a number of reasons:</div>
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When baked in a loaf tin, I consider cake to be somewhat wholesome and I put it in Z1's lunchbox with pride</div>
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I have a very lovely friend who hates bananas. Really, really hates them. This means that any time I bake with bananas, I feel a little like I am betraying her. This is irrational, particularly given that she is very unlikely to pop in for a cup of tea and be repulsed by my offer of banana-based baked goods as she doesn't live on the same continent as me. For this cakey bread, I substituted mangoes for bananas in the recipe so I didn't have to betray her at all.</div>
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By substituting mangoes, I was able to use up the tinned mangoes that I thought would delight the Zeds but, unfortunately, were rather tasteless and not really worth eating. Using up things like that fills me with quite a lot of happiness (see <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/02/not-pancakes-but-possibly-even-better.html" target="_blank">here for a previous example of this</a> )</div>
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It tasted nice and the Zeds and even Husband gobbled it up which, <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/03/a-cake-for-no-other-reason-but-f-with.html" target="_blank">as I have mentioned before</a>, doesn't always happen in my house.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">You may also be interested to know:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I used a recipe for "chocolate banana cake" (but put my drained tin of mangoes in instead of the required banana) from <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/recipes" target="_blank">the BBC recipe website</a> but the page isn't loading at the moment so I can't link directly to it.</span></div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-43227937703535145402014-01-06T11:38:00.000-05:002014-01-06T11:38:57.426-05:00Post-Christmas present<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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My mum is one of the unfortunate people who has her birthday rather close to Christmas. For her, it means people may have run out of gift-buying stamina (and money). For me, I always feel I want to get her something very lovely, as she is my mum, but I need to get organised and inspired quickly in order to get it to her on time.</div>
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Z1 said she would like to make her a brooch so I thought that, with a bit of supervision from me, we could make something that would be mum-worthy, personal and mailable. It would also be something that could occupy Z1 for a bit while I worked from home in the lazy, post-Christmas, huddle-in-from-the-cold-and-let-the-Zeds-watch-Arthur-Christmas-again-and-again days. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back</td></tr>
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I discovered the craft section in Walmart in preparation for the great <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/and-were-off.html" target="_blank">conquering Christmas craftathon of 2012.</a> Generally speaking, I head to Dollarama for our craft needs but I felt for a real, proper birthday present for my mum, we could splash out on quality Walmart goods. Also, Walmart is near a lovely park with an ice rink so we could do skating before or after the dratted and dreaded shopping centre (ok, ok, mall, I do think of it as a mall, my assimilation to North America is well underway). I was hoping for brooch backs of some description and Z1 was going to choose the decorations for the brooch. I was going to steer her clear of anything too gaudy in the hope that my mum might actually, really want to wear the creation. </div>
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Sadly, Walmart did not provide a brooch back for us and so I made do with a cut up <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/11/how-blogging-has-changed-me-or-ive.html" target="_blank">cereal box</a> and a safety pin secured with sticky tape. It did, however provide some nice colourful buttons. I did try to convince Z1 to choose the darker colours rather than pastels but she would not be swayed. I had intended on covering up the back with shiny paper or something but we couldn't get the glue to stick well so I just let it be. </div>
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Z1 took charge of the size of the brooch and was planning to just stick the central button on after a careful selection process. Not only did this leave a not-so-attractive area of naked cardboard on the brooch, it was also only going to take a mere moment to complete so I encouraged the use of more buttons. I think that the finished object is good enough to be worn with pride by my lovely mum. I am sure she will receive it gratefully, graciously and with grandmotherly affection so I will keep my eyes open to see if she wears it at all, indicating that she truly likes it, when we next see her in the summer. </div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-15930407375227532492013-12-21T04:00:00.000-05:002013-12-21T08:44:09.605-05:00The Remarkable Passage Tomb known as Newgrange and our Gingerbread
House (unnamed this year)I am posting this on the winter solstice, the 21st of December, which is marked on my Canadian calendar as "First Day of Winter". Now, Canadians, I know you know a thing or two about winter but considering the inches of snow and the temperatures that have fallen well below freezing in the past few weeks, I respectfully suggest that winter starts well before the 21st of December. Also, after the 21st of December, the days start getting longer again - it's midwinter, ok?<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the light passes <br>
right through the windows above <br>
the door just like Newgrange...<br>
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The reason I am posting this on the 21st of December is the remarkable feat of engineering I unintentionally pulled off in my building of this year's gingerbread house from scratch (<a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/compare-and-contrast-gingerblossom-2012.html" target="_blank"> for previous year's efforts, from kits, see here</a>). This feat of engineering clearly reflects that of the ancient builders of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newgrange" target="_blank">Newgrange</a>, where on this winter solstice day, as the sun rises at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passage_tomb" target="_blank">the passage tomb </a>, it shines through a window above the entrance to the tomb and down a narrow passage right into the central chamber. As I built this year's house, my deep Celtic roots took over and, when I took the "before" photo, I saw that I had aligned the front and back windows. I am sure that if I lined it up this morning, on my kitchen table, the sun would have shone through our front door peephole, through the windows and onto the kitchen wall where a rainbow would have been projected. However, it was Saturday today so I didn't get up to check. <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_JKlcDy4ZcibJTPiTiVTjG-r6bI5nRAHvt1PZjAa6GSEWnDEp5CRAd6fTo4cRjxyW_DStr0dlWulWo7Qx4Z3d5woZcG1S4omrWes7IqSSC3InXDELI-O57hFoLLEucWYmYDD8aVLPNgC/s1600/bubbling+spicy+gingerbread+mix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_JKlcDy4ZcibJTPiTiVTjG-r6bI5nRAHvt1PZjAa6GSEWnDEp5CRAd6fTo4cRjxyW_DStr0dlWulWo7Qx4Z3d5woZcG1S4omrWes7IqSSC3InXDELI-O57hFoLLEucWYmYDD8aVLPNgC/s200/bubbling+spicy+gingerbread+mix.JPG" title="bubbling pot " width="183"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbly, spicy, beautifully <br>
fragrant gingerbread mix.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Due to the fact that the gingerbread in the kits I used before was barely worth eating, I decided to bake my own gingerbread this year. I have some experience <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/not-gingerbread-biscuits.html" target="_blank">of</a> <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/03/stacked-gingerbread-i-decided-to-bake.html" target="_blank">this</a> though I had never attempted a building project before. I used <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/gingerbread-for-cookies-or-a-gingerbread-house-149257" target="_blank">this recipe</a> after a spot of googling. What I really liked about this recipe was that I got to mix up sugar and molasses and spices in a boiling, bubbling, fragrant pot. It also meant that the dough was warm when I was kneading it and rolling it out*. The recipe says it makes 3 fair sized gingerbread houses at some point - that is rubbish, I didn't even have enough to cut out roof pieces to allow for big overhanging eaves for mine. However, I suppose "fair sized" is subjective.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWtg9IEGCB2-pHoDHgXyOg2hYyS-HD48hpxYOr-ch1zqzdM5EongRpF6Noo6FTwXSo3D9gsiQOXGJ3fYOK4xHmYspb00j4nLA4uiaU3Idaa8Ro7OQZk1iDPMNH0gFNGLkC_18j5c-33rU/s1600/Zayra%2527s+side+of+house+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="seasonal baking, Christmas baking, craft, kid's craft, decorating" border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWtg9IEGCB2-pHoDHgXyOg2hYyS-HD48hpxYOr-ch1zqzdM5EongRpF6Noo6FTwXSo3D9gsiQOXGJ3fYOK4xHmYspb00j4nLA4uiaU3Idaa8Ro7OQZk1iDPMNH0gFNGLkC_18j5c-33rU/s200/Zayra%2527s+side+of+house+2013.JPG" title="Decorated gingerbread house" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z1's side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ9tQj31TU5mw02v5ghqOZ2quhsZlFYvRj8IQjlYmqjqE7yG-rdomj54Em2JYJUmi5S9ysDWDcp9NIPUXCwqpRVJD798XEnQrWNDS6ZNCYfEjPijRPiypJt1Ty4yn1PJ0FlceU2x81jHZ/s1600/Zayd%2527s+side+of+the+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="seasonal baking, Christmas baking, craft, kid's craft, decorating" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ9tQj31TU5mw02v5ghqOZ2quhsZlFYvRj8IQjlYmqjqE7yG-rdomj54Em2JYJUmi5S9ysDWDcp9NIPUXCwqpRVJD798XEnQrWNDS6ZNCYfEjPijRPiypJt1Ty4yn1PJ0FlceU2x81jHZ/s200/Zayd%2527s+side+of+the+house.JPG" title="Decorated gingerbread house" width="186"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z1's side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, readers, I was rather delighted with the outcome. I was a nervous builder having read and seen pictures of gingerbread houses disastrously and tragically collapsing due to the icing glue being insufficiently gluey or too slow to dry. I warned Z2 to stay away while I was attempting construction but it was a simple, painless and successful process. We passed happy moments decorating with a system whereby I squirted on the glue (royal icing - <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gingerbread-house-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">this one, as it didn't require cream of tartar which I don't have</a> ) and the Zeds stuck on the sweeties. I foolishly bought Tic-Tacs which don't look so well but, in my defence, I thought they would be orange, not white. I rather like the marshmallow tower that Z2 built. <br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWtJQwLgHmLgMifh72y1o70PXrMXmWtxYKLDKHDlKg3Tgr8YcHrCnKThQFLcrjmeLgT24sNmixTXYqb9vCOTJsKVIYuZ23AROzaRJnm_w3a-DdIIkelGbI4Cl0us936lcm4nQGXc7Sxhv/s1600/taking+a+break+from+gingerbread+decorating+in+his+fort+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWtJQwLgHmLgMifh72y1o70PXrMXmWtxYKLDKHDlKg3Tgr8YcHrCnKThQFLcrjmeLgT24sNmixTXYqb9vCOTJsKVIYuZ23AROzaRJnm_w3a-DdIIkelGbI4Cl0us936lcm4nQGXc7Sxhv/s200/taking+a+break+from+gingerbread+decorating+in+his+fort+2013.JPG" width="150"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sofa cushion fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a while, Z2 tired of his task and went to relax in his fort. Z1 <br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyO1P4QT9IjW-mCNEMmykxkfRue2nd5kUeMISlOTTn58FIKQFGq9_FrncA59rkpasQlqcORYEM9j9KozKP2MtefMA-KQ5jteXZqvZPdfx1xFokSU271Lvg5UG-odap7txfasQ0yK74tJ8/s1600/back+of+house+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyO1P4QT9IjW-mCNEMmykxkfRue2nd5kUeMISlOTTn58FIKQFGq9_FrncA59rkpasQlqcORYEM9j9KozKP2MtefMA-KQ5jteXZqvZPdfx1xFokSU271Lvg5UG-odap7txfasQ0yK74tJ8/s200/back+of+house+2013.JPG" width="144"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of the house<br>
by Z1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
stuck with it and decorated the back most magnificently as well as being responsible for the beautiful and welcoming front. The completed house is now in the process of having bits broken off for Z1's lunch box and Z2's breakfast and for me whenever I get the urge. It does taste very good and has the added bonus of making the kitchen smell nice...or at least the area around the kitchen table. A true triumph, really.<br>
<br>
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<br>
<br>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwroTR9F7n1nK4ekiASpRkj0LZPgXXBHzY62kcpLicS7vR_5WZsjvNbanoVSC0FDS-jzxNiflKir_jxbGF2v4UkkXKyPmz4n2-6T9M4ZDAc7aMQWk0JS-CoHESk3YSdxx9nrDT2pr2AkQh/s1600/after+collage+gingerbread+house+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwroTR9F7n1nK4ekiASpRkj0LZPgXXBHzY62kcpLicS7vR_5WZsjvNbanoVSC0FDS-jzxNiflKir_jxbGF2v4UkkXKyPmz4n2-6T9M4ZDAc7aMQWk0JS-CoHESk3YSdxx9nrDT2pr2AkQh/s200/after+collage+gingerbread+house+2013.JPG" title="Gingerbread house after" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrg8knMFz127Klc614r1_jSKl-xd8hzRSYtgSrYHhGiGFf0lYpIBSC_1MDlsM2Vy_DADeRdF6ogkLrm23bIGOgrYgQ7mjIVjmGa5OiC5g3MJfYbQ1stl-6b9gFTipw2jTTlKGSGCmCVxk/s1600/Before+collage+gingerbread+house+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrg8knMFz127Klc614r1_jSKl-xd8hzRSYtgSrYHhGiGFf0lYpIBSC_1MDlsM2Vy_DADeRdF6ogkLrm23bIGOgrYgQ7mjIVjmGa5OiC5g3MJfYbQ1stl-6b9gFTipw2jTTlKGSGCmCVxk/s200/Before+collage+gingerbread+house+2013.JPG" title="Ginger bread house before" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
* A drawback is that it seems to dry out quite quickly so it's really for immediate use.Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-54601669616458755152013-12-13T16:01:00.000-05:002013-12-13T16:01:08.352-05:00Opting out<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQco4xFaggzAZqgGif5d7ea3p7vUwYxamJGvASVgAlps9x7TPNqzkuKLW98mQnhUgNuZuduCxTvskBGTSHS58XgryHaS9SqXed2KaftUqpHXrLBn2MXDuXbNi8Z1GlcgbqJ23z-s1UaV1_/s640/blogger-image--1828968870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQco4xFaggzAZqgGif5d7ea3p7vUwYxamJGvASVgAlps9x7TPNqzkuKLW98mQnhUgNuZuduCxTvskBGTSHS58XgryHaS9SqXed2KaftUqpHXrLBn2MXDuXbNi8Z1GlcgbqJ23z-s1UaV1_/s640/blogger-image--1828968870.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festive coffee filter garland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Lazy weekends are somewhat harder to <strike>actually have at all </strike>relax and enjoy when you have delightful, enthusiastic and energetic young children. I had grand plans, one Saturday evening, to bring the Zeds swimming AND ice skating while Husband was off playing badminton. On Sunday morning, my weather app said -8C and Z1's earnest, wholesome and easy suggestion of a scoot to the nearby graveyard (it's lovely, honestly, it is- trees and peace) followed by Christmas crafts seemed like a lot of effort.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLF1LqJ_ehe1XV3rzbWArjfaJqEtYLmGmkvbRWWF3DdeP5Y78VA8MVI5bn6tLR9h3lTftqECipy7siCtQQDSZ-GAAde8m4JIWRhCP-4T0N3Q1bIRh7uFypqoXMGxvV8MlHE09KbUbiuf_/s1600/snowflake+2+(crapper+one).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLF1LqJ_ehe1XV3rzbWArjfaJqEtYLmGmkvbRWWF3DdeP5Y78VA8MVI5bn6tLR9h3lTftqECipy7siCtQQDSZ-GAAde8m4JIWRhCP-4T0N3Q1bIRh7uFypqoXMGxvV8MlHE09KbUbiuf_/s1600/snowflake+2+(crapper+one).JPG" height="200" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowflake 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2cqFJTCSETxgaWUaFaVp6ZzBOdEnpG0R_p44L9ah4x2yec1UIJIeTUlf_38wUBwVBJe_PjsF9EmWGv42tLDsmyK2Pi7n7LrlZt6kPzEhHBx6bBxRSVhUgs8w5SMIAhbUjITZtPfvvyPA/s1600/Snowflake+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2cqFJTCSETxgaWUaFaVp6ZzBOdEnpG0R_p44L9ah4x2yec1UIJIeTUlf_38wUBwVBJe_PjsF9EmWGv42tLDsmyK2Pi7n7LrlZt6kPzEhHBx6bBxRSVhUgs8w5SMIAhbUjITZtPfvvyPA/s1600/Snowflake+1.JPG" height="193" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent snowflake number 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Attempt one at crafts on this day was snowflakes from coffee filters which we made with some success last year <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/christmas-crafts-in-cafe.html" target="_blank">despite being out in a café.</a> I had even practiced two this year and was pleased with the first one until I made the magnificent second one. However, Z1 got frustrated very easily and my attempt to follow a template without actually marking it out on the coffee filter was less than impressive. Even Z1, who is usually quite kind and enthusiastic about my efforts was not inspired.<br />
<br />
We stopped for lunch and, afterwards, I suggested painting the coffee filters. I rarely get out the paints but I figured I could just supervise while drinking tea so it seemed like a good plan. It was. They sloshed paint about on the filters, I have a wipe clean tablecloth and they didn't fight. The stroke of genius, on my part, was deciding to string them up as a garland as it meant I didn't have to leave them on the table to dry or risk the wrath of the Zeds by putting them into the recycling (at least, not yet). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We did not go out scooting to the graveyard. </div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-36721514619740961662013-11-26T11:48:00.001-05:002013-11-26T14:36:56.979-05:00A Sad Story About Advent Calendars and Rejected Toilet Roll InnersLast year, you may recall that I got Conquering Christmas off to an eggcellent start with this <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/and-were-off.html" target="_blank">Advent calendar</a>. Around two weeks ago, I began to plan for this year's creation. I started saving toilet roll inners and calculating how to lay out 24 sections of toilet roll inners as a triangle shape to resemble a Christmas tree. This infographic shows the intricate plans that I made. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEnbPeGozqzYS0Wiy7JzzWwZT1_3Dj7-W4JquZyiGei7vgQhsaazvFCczfLe44qjfi7H3Jfx_zAw2-4qUq4v00sqOGh86knT6Yh0vIIF_9ylCyYHq9q6pmS_-NOoHUArCIcQwx6lyQM1J/s1600/Advent+Calendar+planning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas, Advent calendar, Advent calendar craft, craft, children's craft, kids craft, Christmas craft" border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEnbPeGozqzYS0Wiy7JzzWwZT1_3Dj7-W4JquZyiGei7vgQhsaazvFCczfLe44qjfi7H3Jfx_zAw2-4qUq4v00sqOGh86knT6Yh0vIIF_9ylCyYHq9q6pmS_-NOoHUArCIcQwx6lyQM1J/s640/Advent+Calendar+planning.png" title="Advent Calendar with toilet rolls plan" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
However, Z1 and Z2 saw Advent calendars in a shop and now they want them. I tried to remind Z1 how much fun we had making last year's but to no avail.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwVDWa6adOaTkYlOGzq4nqRJ2rinioVB9dQ-or6KHrofpjiiRo4-l9oUMyqGzzw4gjZS0KjzxvuSmYeeGt1NhrFIUwTK5eGwaPkdWQHnmR3EsyCUd0N_bB4gfyuIt4vCe2xBGGCv62Bo5/s1600/Giant+Lindt+Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lindt, Chocolate, Christmas, " border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwVDWa6adOaTkYlOGzq4nqRJ2rinioVB9dQ-or6KHrofpjiiRo4-l9oUMyqGzzw4gjZS0KjzxvuSmYeeGt1NhrFIUwTK5eGwaPkdWQHnmR3EsyCUd0N_bB4gfyuIt4vCe2xBGGCv62Bo5/s200/Giant+Lindt+Ball.jpg" title="Giant Lindt Ball" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Lindt ball with <br />
mouse for scale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am seriously contemplating making this one for me - 'twould be perfect for rationing out my Lindt balls from the giant Lindt ball that Husband kindly gave me for no reason at all and I could use up those toilet roll inners I've been saving.<br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-45256262333275263972013-11-11T13:24:00.001-05:002013-11-11T13:24:46.246-05:00From Recycling Bin to Train: A Sunday Story<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7QLou8JhaRCcc12cL8_EJdu2hYW6y3G2zAb5vTH4Pnm_F3RA3gLWobM0UEzg96_VcR5htf58s9OmA2oetYeA201eNic_szw_lalAg5YmJ9zP9Jd5joLCKoFFmq0_aHpUSRIUqHWv5XkZ/s640/blogger-image-1450823489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7QLou8JhaRCcc12cL8_EJdu2hYW6y3G2zAb5vTH4Pnm_F3RA3gLWobM0UEzg96_VcR5htf58s9OmA2oetYeA201eNic_szw_lalAg5YmJ9zP9Jd5joLCKoFFmq0_aHpUSRIUqHWv5XkZ/s400/blogger-image-1450823489.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very happy looking train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An indicator that you may have let your daughter watch too much television on a lazy Sunday is that she starts squirming and looking for something else to do. At some point, you may realise that telling her to sit still and watch the movie is probably not the best parenting. Crafts are an appealing indoor alternative that, one can hope, will not involve having to move too far from the very comfortable sofa.<br />
<br />
In fact, the initial material-gathering steps didn't require me to move at all. Z1, under my instruction, salvaged the egg carton (writing this post stirred up my <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/11/i-know-why-they-sell-eggs-by-dozen.html" target="_blank">carton vs. box</a> internal debate once more and I had to read <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/12/and-were-off.html" target="_blank">here</a> to see what I'd settled on last year) from the recycling bin. I did assure her that the bin wasn't too yukky. She also got the scissors and Husband was intercepted on his way down the stairs with some items for the recycling bin, to see if he had any useful materials. <br />
<br />
At this point, I moved from the sofa and, under direction from Z1:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>got more cardboard (cereal box...cereal not quite finished so rolled up the bag and shoved it into the other open cereal box) </li>
<li>brought her a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonie" target="_blank">toonie</a> and a quarter, so she could choose which size would be more suitable for train wheels (oh yes, she had decided to make a train by this point, forgot that important detail)</li>
<li>found the tape, which we keep on top of the microwave (of course we do, where else would one keep the tape?). </li>
</ol>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsVV8jGuj63-JdKPskSrXmX0QZuByhPkoVLJCmqjqECn9lbsFTwCNesDcGls23pG4jtr9dqm_Eynb9Io-mNENWkdHwSqIpp6ow-AmBS92mItQcrzFxRuw52kd-tqdJ0DN_wJVMusp-x0b/s640/blogger-image--1693728456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="craft, egg carton, egg box, train, kindergarten" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsVV8jGuj63-JdKPskSrXmX0QZuByhPkoVLJCmqjqECn9lbsFTwCNesDcGls23pG4jtr9dqm_Eynb9Io-mNENWkdHwSqIpp6ow-AmBS92mItQcrzFxRuw52kd-tqdJ0DN_wJVMusp-x0b/s200/blogger-image--1693728456.jpg" title="Egg carton train" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Her planning started well as she counted the dents on the top of the egg carton to see how many people she would need to fill them. However, once she started cutting out their bodies (rectangles of cereal box cardboard), she forgot how many she needed and just kept cutting until she tired of that task. I was drawing around the toonie and cutting out the circles which were to be wheels and people's heads.<br />
<br />
<br />
She then instructed me to cut out the arms she had drawn. I pointed out that, as she had just drawn lines to be arms, I couldn't really cut them out. I was being a little belligerent at this point, truth be known. However, Z1 had a well of patience for me and my lack of initiative and cooperation. She calmly explained and demonstrated how to turn the lines into rectangles which could then be cut out to use as arms. Meanwhile, she was going through yards* of sticky tape to ensure the box would stay closed. I tried to just let her be but did remind her that wasting materials was not good craft practice.<br />
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<br />
T-shirts and trousers were then drawn and decorated by her, cut out by me and the assembling began. The once nude rectangles of cereal box had heads stuck on and t-shirts and trousers applied. She didn't bother with the arms I'd painstakingly drawn and cut. Pah. The chimney at the front was from Husband's old aftershave bottle and, if you look closely at the side view, you'll notice that one of the wheels had been destined to be a head to begin with. <br />
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Z2 asked where the driver was. Z1 told him the guy at the front was the driver. Everyone in the household is suitable pleased and impressed with Z1's train from recyclable materials. I trust you, dear readers, are too.<br />
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*<span style="font-size: x-small;">I originally wrote "metres" here as I am a metric person but yards sounds better. Just thought you'd like to know.</span><br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-82559504035280037472013-10-30T14:51:00.000-04:002013-10-30T14:51:38.961-04:00Would pumpkin seeds be big for spiders?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHh_XxKtqw5fcMsMlYxtyWXuQyh1IeE3tZYTEm-sdURkDYQC_BcF_RyUIpyrXR-q3lFFKomPnAbVBA2KQ2cxsYmNu241ma8GzFw2VgmZePxpT56XMnkfGVA02OzHVsk0FL2bSauKtzAPD/s1600/Pumpkin+carving+plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHh_XxKtqw5fcMsMlYxtyWXuQyh1IeE3tZYTEm-sdURkDYQC_BcF_RyUIpyrXR-q3lFFKomPnAbVBA2KQ2cxsYmNu241ma8GzFw2VgmZePxpT56XMnkfGVA02OzHVsk0FL2bSauKtzAPD/s200/Pumpkin+carving+plan.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z1's plan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-nw5VNW1w_ZSp9q6ryMcGr0ZSgu_88ZKxDq29CPUPXnFJ5P0fRSGS5CwnFirflNcq0Vlibd0CahumzdTWF6jABvyRH8pdbWL_EuD71tVH3gFjlDhbPUBhk63IflNmfSJ3vVa_HwH-WY2/s1600/PUMPKINS+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-nw5VNW1w_ZSp9q6ryMcGr0ZSgu_88ZKxDq29CPUPXnFJ5P0fRSGS5CwnFirflNcq0Vlibd0CahumzdTWF6jABvyRH8pdbWL_EuD71tVH3gFjlDhbPUBhk63IflNmfSJ3vVa_HwH-WY2/s320/PUMPKINS+2013.JPG" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine, Z2's in the middle <br />
& Z1's at the back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first thing I must say is that Z2 was not impressed with the idea of hammering cookie cutters into his pumpkin. I really thought he would be as one of his first and favourite sentences for a long time was "I'll fix it with a hammer". However, now he is very big and three whole years old and he definitely wanted to use a sharp thing. Thankfully, the Dollarama pumpkin carving tools (oh yes, I have specific pumpkin carving tools, this is serious business) are not so sharp that I was concerned for his digits so he was allowed to wield one.<br />
Secondly, I should explain the title of this post. This was a question asked by Z1 during the course of our pumpkin carving. I was a little baffled by it so I asked her to clarify. It turns out she was imagining that the stringy bits of pumpkin guts that we gleefully hauled out with spoons and fingers were spider webs. As a result of this thought, she was wondering whether a spider the size of a pumpkin seed would be considered big. I decided it would be medium. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk3rBKbX_xCRX6ZJQha7z2cZQzAixsuRZj4cSMNGjIwFD_I64uewP_7XJceXJ-3lhAD8XVeiB58m1_uLpP8DqE2i73w-yscTxuqJrVx902rVq0WLfs4exVefgiauVzkhnpp2Wyiu5UwAE/s1600/Zayd+pumpkin+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk3rBKbX_xCRX6ZJQha7z2cZQzAixsuRZj4cSMNGjIwFD_I64uewP_7XJceXJ-3lhAD8XVeiB58m1_uLpP8DqE2i73w-yscTxuqJrVx902rVq0WLfs4exVefgiauVzkhnpp2Wyiu5UwAE/s320/Zayd+pumpkin+2013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z2's pumpkin, please do admire the eyebrows</td></tr>
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Thirdly, it is worthy of note, I feel, that the eyebrows on Z2's pumpkin were entirely his own doing - he poked the holes and wiggled that carving tool around sufficiently to make them. He had help with all other features. Z1 also mostly took the role of artistic director on her pumpkin. The bluntness of the Dollarama carving tools not only makes them relatively safe for big three year olds, but also makes it fairly hard work to carve a pumpkin with them. Perhaps next year I shall upgrade my tools.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8m7PpGnQkfrr1lhxAhjiiHidQxjlimDkj8YoNzXCO5l-1T5CfOztb-5QmfoGmCr3n0_RmqmGhf3UVT0LIFvM-we4l3uHFXsri-c3ifGLUSdDyd-q4egV5RQxo-SHh-J1cX3oyfSdSo5U/s1600/Zayra+pumpkin+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8m7PpGnQkfrr1lhxAhjiiHidQxjlimDkj8YoNzXCO5l-1T5CfOztb-5QmfoGmCr3n0_RmqmGhf3UVT0LIFvM-we4l3uHFXsri-c3ifGLUSdDyd-q4egV5RQxo-SHh-J1cX3oyfSdSo5U/s320/Zayra+pumpkin+2013.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Z1's pumpkin</td></tr>
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The last thing which I feel I must mention to make this post complete is that I went to the trouble of removing pulp and string from the seeds in order to roast/toast/bake them as snack. Z1 had tried some last year when one of her teachers did this and it does feel awfully wasteful, even for the <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/10/preparations-are-afoot.html" target="_blank">spookily good price</a> I bought these pumpkins for, to throw away such bounty. Initial feedback was good, Z1 asked for more and said they tasted like popcorn. However, the next day Z2 specifically requested, out of the blue, that he not have pumpkin seeds for dinner and Z1 did not eat any of the seeds which I packed, with some degree of satisfaction, for her lunch. I quite like them but I feel that some of them may be destined for the rubbish bin after all. <br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-40492852189477891562013-10-22T15:01:00.001-04:002013-10-22T20:02:10.171-04:00Preparations are afootWhile I may not have got further than the one bat costume that I <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/10/black-tops-bat-wings-and-toilet-trips.html" target="_blank">reported on earlier in the month</a>, I have managed to keep Z2 on track mentally to be a bat this Hallowe'en.<br>
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We have bought pumpkins - three: one each for Z1, Z2, and me. They were only 88 cents each which was <strong>spookily</strong> good value, I am sure you will agree. Husband is away this weekend so will miss out on the carving though I think he'd very much enjoy it if he got down to it.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl7_7bGkVPQSpcnLyBmOGdn_Xv3FkGKoqeqd4n4Rv284w1jJCll0wHjn1c9MTpAq5mNQERDXrxiFLKLKN4V-MG0eSO-1BbVCjEbqKW4aSxxyET1os2GJ7z0fUJwyjUrgsnNwFPrw3k5XI/s1600/Halloween+2013+holiday+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl7_7bGkVPQSpcnLyBmOGdn_Xv3FkGKoqeqd4n4Rv284w1jJCll0wHjn1c9MTpAq5mNQERDXrxiFLKLKN4V-MG0eSO-1BbVCjEbqKW4aSxxyET1os2GJ7z0fUJwyjUrgsnNwFPrw3k5XI/s320/Halloween+2013+holiday+house.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hallowe'en extravagance</td></tr>
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I set Z1 the entirely unnecessary task of washing the pumpkins while Z2 napped on Sunday. We have set them on our steps as decorations, not yet in their full, carved Hallowe'en glory. We also have one black tinsel cat, one black tinsel spider, one strand of black tinsel with purple spiders, one hanging bat decoration and one hanging ghost decoration on our front porch. We are positively understated compared to most of the houses in our area who have decorated for Hallowe'en, with the house in the picture being the outright winner in terms of extravagance and exuberance for the celebration.<br>
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I have been <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/kilburina/halloween/" target="_blank">pinning</a> away a few templates of ideas for carving these pumpkins. These, I must admit, are mostly for me. I am much more excited by pumpkin carving than I thought I would be, something I discovered when I carved my first pumpkin in my first autumn over here in Canada.<br>
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I plan for Z2 to use his wooden hammer to bash cookie cutters into the pumpkin to carve his. I understand that this may be one of the points where my pumpkin carving extravaganza may not go to plan.<br>
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The sweeties to be given out to trick-or-treaters have been purchased and placed strictly off limits to all members of the household. <br>
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Pumpkin carving is scheduled for this Sunday. I will, of course, report back.Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-57833951831830422342013-10-07T11:40:00.001-04:002013-10-07T11:41:04.806-04:00Black tops, bat wings and toilet tripsHaving been to Dollarama to buy "bat teeth" and "bat ears"<em> (actually cat ears and vampire teeth but I reckon with the wings, they will pass as bat ears and vampire bat teeth. I was prepared to make the bat ears also but these will do nicely and we got a bonus cat tail too)</em> and having picked up a remnant of mostly black suit material for $2.99, all that was missing for the making of the bat costumes were the plain black tops. The outing to get these was postponed until Sunday after a lengthy Saturday afternoon nap on the part of Z2.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUckCA_ZbLKCeTSoXMwSVui-r1K5-bO8qbG_5LoEbrKgYUQE96aj_89Ews4DcMQHU2nNZg1H8vym87udk19sJ_-JnzzaBrsHQYHJOoHcEypnD3FbHT35yk0u_UGgMRg6FsP341ZTs88b4u/s1600/Shopping+centre+trip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUckCA_ZbLKCeTSoXMwSVui-r1K5-bO8qbG_5LoEbrKgYUQE96aj_89Ews4DcMQHU2nNZg1H8vym87udk19sJ_-JnzzaBrsHQYHJOoHcEypnD3FbHT35yk0u_UGgMRg6FsP341ZTs88b4u/s640/Shopping+centre+trip.JPG" unselectable="on" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map does not include detour to shop with lots of sparkly things where NOTHING SHOULD BE TOUCHED as I was a bit dizzy by then and can't remember where it was</td></tr>
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Going to the shopping centre (or mall, if you will) requires, of course, plenty of preparation - the pre-car journey toilet trip, the setting down of the rules <em>(no, we will not be buying any toys in the </em><a href="http://www.rainforestcafe.com/" target="_blank"><em>Rainforest Café</em></a><em> but we can look at the fish and the pretend animals; we are going to buy plain black tops and look at tea for me, there will be no other purchases though we may get some kind of snack food <strong>if</strong> you are good)</em>, the route planning within the centre to ensure maximum efficiency... Actually, no, I did not route plan but that was mainly 'cause I didn't know where my fancy tea shop was. Also, even if I had route planned, it would have been quickly scuppered by Z2's announcement that he needed to go to the toilet and the fact that the first set of toilets we went to had a ridiculous queue so we had to go in search of some others. However, happily, we did find plain, black, long-sleeved tops in H&M as hoped. Hurrah. (However, the teas I wanted were not available which was </div>
rather a devastating blow. Or, you know, slightly disappointing.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmzAfDocQH9siy4S6OO4AerIZpgu2bZ7aC8zMq-PFBnd3RKF25n-9Zp2aNTXIkt-L56T8t_A8DxQOX6H2f2dQZyppfIhHtSGf4L6ywlgp9hXFIygbi6BluF9bm3kQ7hyzvYpJ1EC_1q_/s640/blogger-image--960477321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="bat costume, bat, Halloween, Hallowe'en, dressing up, homemade" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgmzAfDocQH9siy4S6OO4AerIZpgu2bZ7aC8zMq-PFBnd3RKF25n-9Zp2aNTXIkt-L56T8t_A8DxQOX6H2f2dQZyppfIhHtSGf4L6ywlgp9hXFIygbi6BluF9bm3kQ7hyzvYpJ1EC_1q_/s320/blogger-image--960477321.jpg" title="bat costume on small girl" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What me? I forgot to dress up, Mwa ha ha ha, I am <br />
just wearing boring old black a bat! </td></tr>
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Now, once the tops were purchased, Z1 was keen to make the costumes right-now-this-very-second. While I couldn't quite satisfy that request what with us being in the shopping centre and all, I did get started once we got home and I even let her try it on when I had only done one wing. While doing the first wing was quite exciting and doing the second wing was rather satisfying, I now have to motivate myself to do two more wings for Z2's top and continue to foster their commitment to being bats this Hallowe'en. The advance planning bodes well for the former but will be a little trickier for the latter.</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-49154665496585073872013-09-19T09:24:00.001-04:002013-09-19T09:25:27.697-04:00As summer melts into autumn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-ghH_QdwnCbXn_bbawJmjx3_MhpUhs71sQuiS5XUKKlutyhwkt4tD3x_XS3YpSYV_N09nXCyaUH982PEoxbPEv1rJNt8g0KcLvz_Yxz4ul1x3qAwFC_rnVGu6QaghA4UQwPALIWEGo_2/s640/blogger-image--1879212494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-ghH_QdwnCbXn_bbawJmjx3_MhpUhs71sQuiS5XUKKlutyhwkt4tD3x_XS3YpSYV_N09nXCyaUH982PEoxbPEv1rJNt8g0KcLvz_Yxz4ul1x3qAwFC_rnVGu6QaghA4UQwPALIWEGo_2/s200/blogger-image--1879212494.jpg" width="150" /></a>Back to school and slowly waning warm weather has been keeping us outside and busy in various ways. I make no apologies for soaking up every last drop of warmth and sunshine as the evenings and mornings grow darker.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv_cBIFIjfKjoMjX82rYTqcdsTnkVF-fPadwwTfSHBmAgmqjdyXVa1l-Le8NlZPO6jsC8oYA8A2ZlaBuCZyi2foZ0gX8WcAeMGH017jlSOt_22rtEYuCJvKH5aVcv7I1rpqsqJnWaEL62/s1600/apple+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="baking, cake, apple cake, zucchini cake, fall baking" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv_cBIFIjfKjoMjX82rYTqcdsTnkVF-fPadwwTfSHBmAgmqjdyXVa1l-Le8NlZPO6jsC8oYA8A2ZlaBuCZyi2foZ0gX8WcAeMGH017jlSOt_22rtEYuCJvKH5aVcv7I1rpqsqJnWaEL62/s200/apple+cake.jpg" title="apple zucchini cake" width="200" /></a></div>
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That is not to say that craft and creations have come to a halt. There was a delicious <a href="http://conqueringcraftiness.blogspot.ca/2013/09/zucchini-and-apple-cake.html" target="_blank">apple cake</a> which Z1 directed, funeral portraits for our dearly departed fish, a pirate hat for Husband from Z1 and we are currently planning for <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2013/01/z1-and-me-co-authors-with-bonus-bat.html" target="_blank">bat</a> <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/11/z1-is-unpredictable.html" target="_blank">costumes</a>* for Hallowe'en. </div>
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I don't mind shop-bought costumes but I do maintain that there's a certain charm in homemade costumes that just doesn't happen with bought ones. Watch this space.<br />
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*links to other bat-mentioning posts, not brilliant bat costumes, you will have to wait for them.</div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-69303421092708587502013-09-04T10:50:00.000-04:002013-09-04T10:50:14.961-04:00Le Conquering of Les Crafts en France<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSN36YUYNHfSLzTAZEz2ZwisNzNVBbfjC4UeJ3HzY2aA5xbYrLmTTknTElEeAeNT-gL4n9o8FUkDqWZmjv3p76xFVC3C4iFg080cSEED55IsjJOKa_E1uPpG7EIQ-Cs4jHzfowUF6vrsc/s1600/view+from+the+balcony+France+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nature, water, trees, leaves, summer" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSN36YUYNHfSLzTAZEz2ZwisNzNVBbfjC4UeJ3HzY2aA5xbYrLmTTknTElEeAeNT-gL4n9o8FUkDqWZmjv3p76xFVC3C4iFg080cSEED55IsjJOKa_E1uPpG7EIQ-Cs4jHzfowUF6vrsc/s320/view+from+the+balcony+France+2013.jpg" title="Peace and greenery by the river" width="320" /></a></div>
In the middle of August, me and the Zeds left work and school as usual one day and were driven by Husband to the airport. We took a 'plane to Paris, took a train to a town near our top-secret holiday hideaway and were collected by my venerable father and magnificent mother to be transported to the peaceful and green place in the picture. With multiple adults to watch the various children, warm sunshine, countryside and not much else, the pace of crafts here was considerably more relaxed than the 21 days of Christmas Conquering Crafts that started this blog. In fact, though I was prepared to do more, we only really made a fairy house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz6fArCbFvYDLJHFPewHPyaM-FduQl21hA5n_JfefaLRHkPwz8soAVjB7yOzh-kFMLvjBckZdwaAMaNXHDgL3ccxmiR7t7Ey9uqBHYjuLw1QLHtRGH2HmAH9EMpeBEkUddAWz0dDBC1a4/s1600/Fairy+house+France+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sticks, stones, fairy house, outdoor crafts" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz6fArCbFvYDLJHFPewHPyaM-FduQl21hA5n_JfefaLRHkPwz8soAVjB7yOzh-kFMLvjBckZdwaAMaNXHDgL3ccxmiR7t7Ey9uqBHYjuLw1QLHtRGH2HmAH9EMpeBEkUddAWz0dDBC1a4/s320/Fairy+house+France+2013.jpg" title="Fairy house of sticks and stones" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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This was a scheme that I was rather more excited about than Z1 was. I thought we could do a stick collecting expedition as phase one with construction belonging to phase two but the phases merged. Z2 was good at stick-collecting but had to be persuaded to relinquish them as building materials as he likes to use them to fight bad guys. The paint on the stones was from an outdoor painting project (painting sticks, in fact, using the stones as a palette for the paints) that Z1 did under my dad's supervision but they doubled up as good walls for the house.Interestingly, Z1 confirmed that she saw some items of fairy furniture, including a sofa made out of teeth, one morning when she checked the house. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of this but it is, surely, a sign that the fairy house was most successful even if it didn't quite look like <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=fairy%20house" target="_blank">these</a> . <br />
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<strong>Other relevant information:</strong><br />
<ul>
<li>I did make the paper houses from <a href="http://www.conqueringcrafts.com/2012/11/z1-is-unpredictable.html" target="_blank">this post</a> with one of the other resident children </li>
<li>I also made this delicious and delightful dinosaur cake but that was all my own work with limited baking resources.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsKQQJETIYqw0POBm43zKQsgVs2A5p_Rr0psEuAO5mppMnvo4Teyoko4k2mkjuapQdDboSqUPkDlisE-Q56FLqoTlpqIcIVrsJ-gJ5sCdjCvVtPAPrqchBT6nnpcjhDj3kldwnLAr8sCA/s1600/Dinosaur+Cake+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="birthday cake, chocolate cake, dinosaur cake" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsKQQJETIYqw0POBm43zKQsgVs2A5p_Rr0psEuAO5mppMnvo4Teyoko4k2mkjuapQdDboSqUPkDlisE-Q56FLqoTlpqIcIVrsJ-gJ5sCdjCvVtPAPrqchBT6nnpcjhDj3kldwnLAr8sCA/s200/Dinosaur+Cake+2013.jpg" title="Dinosaur cake" width="200" /></a></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-73191056080336307992013-08-13T09:20:00.002-04:002013-08-13T09:20:56.898-04:00Conquering Canadian Camping - Illustrated by Z1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l9YAgeX7ufyPFzG5QJQTeBZgvbC4ILuY1GEjH_atosNZKoM54bjc4QmQua2n1O9digPoMhwUSXSdpY0gWUp08Nn5I7Hi0mzOxAcBmwoyGUWl0QgRmtIyD1oJfdwPsoaHQyooDEvvumen/s1600/Camping+artist's+impression.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l9YAgeX7ufyPFzG5QJQTeBZgvbC4ILuY1GEjH_atosNZKoM54bjc4QmQua2n1O9digPoMhwUSXSdpY0gWUp08Nn5I7Hi0mzOxAcBmwoyGUWl0QgRmtIyD1oJfdwPsoaHQyooDEvvumen/s640/Camping+artist's+impression.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please take a moment to delight in the details of Z1's drawing of camping - the zip for the door to the tent, the torch hanging from the roof, the blue, bubbly air mattresses, the toasting of the marshmallows! Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7804292501822147227.post-22822832760093265732013-08-07T10:14:00.001-04:002013-08-07T10:14:22.171-04:00Conquering Canadian Camping<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_Iskpxs_D9zaG7n0Q2RoSfcVLjS5adlBREV0u9FhTrbTOqnMc4QSa2BattXg7vzj2aaGrYAxbThS0R6eVc298A_wDp5zVlwpeHXSc5_Ylb2QkjzW7cj3wY0hHO0XDwHPBHd0a4nePjxN/s1600/Shadow+Portrait+on+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="river, bridge, shadows, people, nature" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_Iskpxs_D9zaG7n0Q2RoSfcVLjS5adlBREV0u9FhTrbTOqnMc4QSa2BattXg7vzj2aaGrYAxbThS0R6eVc298A_wDp5zVlwpeHXSc5_Ylb2QkjzW7cj3wY0hHO0XDwHPBHd0a4nePjxN/s320/Shadow+Portrait+on+Bridge.jpg" title="Shadow portrait on a bridge" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Zeds</td></tr>
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I consider myself something of a veteran camper. Not a hardcore, out-in-the-woods-with-nothing-but-my-tent, camper but a civilized-campsite-with-toilets-and-showers camper.<br />
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Throughout my childhood and up to my teens, I went camping in France on family holidays. I have innumerable happy memories of these trips - hot sticky car memories, Vivaldi's Four Seasons while feeling slightly carsick, early morning zip sounds, discovering unexpected playgrounds, smelling other people's dinners in the evenings, earning a franc for finding a forgotten tent peg, the joy of parents coming into the water to splash, speaking Irish to confuse small Dutch children who spoke good English, walking up to the campsite shop in pyjamas to buy bread in the mornings, terrifying and exciting thunderstorms in a rattly tent... With all this and the addition of living in Canada where camping and campfires seem almost obligatory, it is no wonder I was keen to bring the Zeds camping. <br />
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Preparation really started last year when I bookmarked <a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/Camping/Tents/PRD~0762254P/Broadstone+Dome+Tent%2C+7-Person.jsp?locale=en" target="_blank">a tent</a> so that I'd be emailed if it was about to become a bargain. I read the reviews and ignored the bad ones. I am quite good at that. As it was our first family camping trip and, as I only realised after booking the site and buying the tent, Husband's first camping trip ever, we picked <a href="http://www.trca.on.ca/albionhills/" target="_blank">somewhere close to home</a>. We did a test run of the tent in the garden and the Zeds slept in their sleeping bags for the week before we were due to go. I was more proud of getting the tent back into its carry case after putting it up than I was of putting it up all on my own (with a little help from Z1).<br />
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I packed up the car , thinking of my dad all the time as I tried to do it as efficiently as possible - squeezing squishy things into tight spots and making maximum use of<a href="http://static.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styles/gallery/public/images/car_photo_503293.jpg" target="_blank"> the space</a>. I had lists stuck up in the kitchen and ticked them off as I got things done. I was the queen of camping organisation. Z2 had just graduated from nappies meaning less bulk to pack but also leaving me wondering a little anxiously how far away the toilets would be from our tent.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7svdSoLjR6m3PCTtEA6qJRXe9wJ8_JUr2lC88xxBllKYy2GzpbN4e099c7sVNjPGAK8XUkYfFg4Zxx31JtWc_qD5lQ2FVkWVGOnMNeOtIjSqtdIXECmj21Saosu1f-N4pBGa2qybxh7q1/s1600/Campfire+chats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="camping, children, camp chairs, campfire" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7svdSoLjR6m3PCTtEA6qJRXe9wJ8_JUr2lC88xxBllKYy2GzpbN4e099c7sVNjPGAK8XUkYfFg4Zxx31JtWc_qD5lQ2FVkWVGOnMNeOtIjSqtdIXECmj21Saosu1f-N4pBGa2qybxh7q1/s320/Campfire+chats.jpg" title="Ready for the campfire" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Zeds on site</td></tr>
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Our site? Oh, our site was glorious - large, shaded, secluded, backing onto the little river, not too far from the toilet but not so close we could smell it. Glorious and wonderful. Never mind the noisy, radio-playing neighbours across the river. Husband hadn't really expected neighbours, let alone noisy ones.<br />
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We put up the tent with careful attention to which way the door should face and started pumping up the mattresses. I was very impressed with<a href="http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/kucge.muexa/v/vspfiles/photos/BD-1321F-2.jpg?1364497703" target="_blank"> the luxury of the air mattresses</a> - a far cry from the <a href="http://c.shld.net/rpx/i/s/pi/mp/12740/441829203?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rvtoyoutlet.com%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2FRVST-415-B_large.jpg&d=524bc2bee36e11a5c5b0358e250864e87443460c" target="_blank">canvas and rubber lilos</a> that I was used to. I was, in fact, rather excited to try out our grand queen size air mattress but that fell through when I unfolded it to find that the stopper was not attached. I valiantly attempted to keep the air in by leaving the pump attached and sealing with bubble gum but, in the end, the Zeds top-and-tailed on one single mattress and me and Husband shared the other. Thankfully, we are somewhat of a miniature family and it was reasonably comfortable. <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Zeds, a lot of the focus of the camping trip was on marshmallows and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S'more" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">s'mores</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I had bought a fancy extendable toasting fork, Husband set the fire and the Zeds were assured that after the hot dogs and burgers, they could toast marshmallows. Our fire was very smoky indeed. In fact, I think it contributed to my worst-headache-in-the-world-ever
™ (with apologies to those who suffer truly debilitating migraines - that phrase kept echoing in my head all night as I tried to sleep). However, we had deliciously smoky burgers and delectably charred hot dogs. Turns out the Zeds don't really like (smoky) toasted marshmallows. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv16XjgKMKxTmMzWCJuftoNcEwe4PN7biJgQZPC-z4h0ePmk6H43ysVf2OesCq0SN__jfB5fMbV34vF8Z8R-oxctQ_In9Y9PYEZ4bgBiUQS-WI2BIFwS0hKF1vAcEDpCWdXXYTFjOwlkPo/s1600/Sunlight+through+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="nature, sunlight, sun, leaves, trees" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv16XjgKMKxTmMzWCJuftoNcEwe4PN7biJgQZPC-z4h0ePmk6H43ysVf2OesCq0SN__jfB5fMbV34vF8Z8R-oxctQ_In9Y9PYEZ4bgBiUQS-WI2BIFwS0hKF1vAcEDpCWdXXYTFjOwlkPo/s320/Sunlight+through+trees.jpg" title="Sunlight through summer trees" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the weather when we woke<br />
after our first night but later on</td></tr>
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We woke up in the morning, ready for <a href="http://www.nutella.ca/" target="_blank">Nutella</a> on bread for breakfast only to find that we had committed the rookie mistake of leaving our cooler bag in the open. There were no bears to worry about but a pesky raccoon stole all our bread, marshmallows and chocolate biscuits. This was not a great start to a rainy camping morning but, luckily for us, it turned out that some campers in another part of the site were putting on a free-for-all pancake breakfast so all was well.<br />
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Despite smoke, headache and no double mattress, despite rain and stolen food, despite noisy camping neighbours and more trips to the toilet with Z2 than were really necessary (not 'cause he has just toilet-trained, though, turns out there was a bridge on the way to the toilets and he kept saying he needed to go so that we could play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pooh_sticks" target="_blank">Poohsticks</a> on the way back), I loved it. I have already been researching <a href="http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/camping/canisbay-lake-campground.php" target="_blank">other sites which are radio-free and further away</a>. I had memories triggered from unexpected sources (notably the blast of warmth and smell of toothpaste intermingled with toilets in the wash block) at every turn and I welcomed them all.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">You may also be interested to know:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">On our return, when packing up the queen mattress to be returned for a refund due to the lack of a stopper, I found the stopper. Perhaps I was not the queen of camping organisation after all.</span><br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415209861691658543noreply@blogger.com8