Gifts

We have been blessed with visitors from afar, my parents arrived in Malta a little over a week ago. They came just in time for Easter and for a spring trip to the smaller Maltese island of Gozo.

  Pepito and grandma                                                                                    Little D and her grandpa

It is a gift to see the bonds with grandparents forming and growing , memories in the making.... 

making grass angels

My parents left this morning, we were sad to see them go.

One of the hard parts of living 'overseas' is the distance of family.

my father and I

Snaps

Little D and Tano at Mistra Bay

On the sunny days round here you will find us dashing out to the countryside for a picnic , some flower picking, water colour painting and ball throwing keep the children busy as the absent minded professor and I get to lounge with the paper, fresh bread, Italian cheeses and fruit. 

Making sure that our wee dragon child gets some sun. 

 And if its raining, hailing blustery and cold (which it has been for a good deal of the last month)-

 Then you will find me trying to heat up the house (this Midwesterner sooooo misses central heating). 

Yesterday's treat was my first go at Ginger snaps- a personal favourite. Goes well with a steaming cup of chai which I have also been indulging in on a nearly daily basis (more on that later).

The cookies were a hit, the recipe I used can be found here.

My latest find has been the foodgawker app - great for inspiration and new recipes! 

lastly a captured shot of the resident small dragon- who has learned to smile!

Josh Ritter - Love is making its way back to you

This started my day off on the just the right sweet foot- (thank you Maria)

(click to watch the video)

May it bring some gentle humming into your day too.

* * * 

and this is what I am day dreaming (err... window shopping) 

about as I wait for the sunshine of spring days to arrive.

Stormy Seas by White Stuff

It's hard to believe that little Pepito is almost one month old! Somehow I still have not gotten back into the swing of things, I seem to be constantly stranded amid piles of laundry, and dishes, nursing the little one for what feels like hours on end and managing very little else. I had forgotten this stage... days passing in a whirr... the edges of day and night being very blurred. 

Snug in the buggy with his little bunny (thank you S!), 

these photos were taken by my friend Anne 

over at Cloudberry Images. 

* * * 

Thank you all for your sweet comments and emails after the last post ! 

Little arrival

On Wednesday evening baby Joseph was born.
He has transformed our little house like a new season, 

with new smells, sounds and the hushed winds of his loving siblings embracing him into their midsts. 

We are very happy and just a tad busy, 

so forgive me if I won't be posting for some time. 

***

Happy New Year!

We started the new year off with walks amid orange trees, gingerbread muffins(recipe below) then

some Tom Waits as the rains then fell. I made some long overdue clothing for the smalls' smalls; that being a coat and wool trousers for Foxy (debatable if it is a grey fox or a rat), little felt coat for little D's frog and a new dress and little coat for Magpie's sock monkey. 

Now time for some tea and that Songlines magazine I found in my stocking! 

(ahh yes made some new stockings this year!) 

see below

Gingerbread Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour

 1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 cup molasses (mixed with 1 cup boiling water- let sit for half an hour)

Directions: Cream the vegetable shortening with the sugar then add the egg, separately mix all the dry ingredients and add alternatively with the molasses and water mixture.

Makes 18 (very moist) dark muffins, bake at180/350 for 15-18 min

Happy Holidays 

from our little home to yours.
Happy 2012

Time for New Beginnings. . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Addison, Blue Mountain Arts, 1989
"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.
As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,
Remember each experience for the good that has come of it
    and for the knowledge you have gained.
Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.
Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.
Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.
And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.
Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings
    and the celebration of life."

Hugo

More than two years ago we were given this book as a Christmas gift

This fall I finally felt like the children were big enough to appreciate it.

So bit by bit every evening we have been reading it. 

It is one of those books that is like a treasure.

and now... 

They have made it into a film! I take a breath in and hope that it is half as wonderful as the book.
This Christmas we are looking forward to watching it -  (trailer for Hugo here).

snapshots

I managed to take a few very quick shots of some small purses I made before the Christmas Market, thought I would share them with you all. 

If I manage before the baby arrives, I will finally update my etsy shop.... 

its been quiet and empty since my year of teaching History!

Shame. 

Christmas cheer

Friday arrives and finds us baking the first batch of cookies (gingerbread), also of seasonal significance you  find bubbling on the stove top, Imbuljuta (the Maltese chocolate chestnut soup) a sweet soup with cinnamon, tangerine peel, cloves and allspice...mmm the smell is heavenly. 

Christmas cards to write, mistletoe to hang and stockings to finish embroidering... yes, Christmas is in the air, may your weekend be filled with seasonal cheer. 

Stamps!

Its been a loooong time since I have put to use my carving tools, was so fun to do a few stamps for Christmas, (initially I made them to print on gift bags for the Market) but it also functioned as a fun rainy day project, to get the kids and I into the Christmas mood.
Complete with cheesy Christmas music and thick Italian hot chocolate!

They began just after they came back from Saturday sports club thus the lovely orange atire!

Catching a breath

Last weekend I participated in my first Christmas Market,
and I so enjoyed the experience! A tad tiring as I was on my feet for nearly 10 hours (being 7 months pregnant) but great to speak with people, network with other artists and to sell my handmade pieces. Foolishly I did not have the chance (was busy preparing right up to the end) to take photos of most of my work so I will include a few shots here, as well as some photos of the event taken by Denise Scicluna at the Patches Christmas Market which took place in the old Market in Valletta last Sunday. 

A part of my stall is featured on the right 

Food 

Live Music

Lastly a not so clear photo of myself and my stall

Thank You

There is something wonderful about receiving an unexpected parcel in the mail.  Today a special thank you to A. whose package arrived and whose tea and cookies I have been savouring. 

What a very nice surprise!!! 

I do believe that friendships, be they old or new, are one of the grandest treasures in life.

They can brighten the darkest of days, they can inspire, encourage, support or just make us burst out with laughter. Yes, good friendships surely are one of the finer things in life. 

May you (those Americans among you) be enjoying the company of family and friends on this Thanksgiving holiday.