::Medieval goodness::

We indulged in a little Medieval goodness
this weekend at the annual Medieval Fair.
My little boys found so many of their key
passions-archery, sword fighting etc in
one place. It was hard to entice them to
come home. Their Mamma is already
thinking of possible costumes for next
year. Because if you plan to make three
medieval costumes-its best not to leave
it to the last 3 days right??

Quinces

Every once in a while, on this culinary journey of mine, the chance
of a new little adventure comes along. Why I ask myself have I
never cooked quinces before? I first basked in their beautiful,
pineapple-ish scent and yellow-ness.

Before poaching them in syrup with a vanilla bean. I waited
for the fabled, magical change of colour and then it
came ~ peachy pink with an aroma that fits somewhere in my
childhood. They were of course eaten warm, with ice-cream.
So now I too can claim to cook quinces.
Runcible spoon anyone??

::Nest::

You know, I have been giving a bit of thought to this "nest" of mine recently. At how my two boys are getting a little older-and how I can almost feel the next phase dawning. Not quite, but its in the wind. I find myself wondering how this is going to change celebrations like Easter and how I can make them relevant -and suitable to an older child. There are core things that will remain the same-mountain climbing and watching sunsets. But some of the other aspects might change. Perhaps the craft will become a little more complex or new things will evolve. In a way its like a new frontier-kind of freeing and exciting. But also I am so very well aware of how careful I should be with change-not to instigate it, when it is not really needed. To take the cue from by boys.

The fall of the year

I love the chance that Autumn affords to let things relax and

fall away a little, before they re-form fresh and new in the Spring. I find myself thinking about the areas of my life, where I could relax a little and allow change to manifest-and things I could cast adrift-food for thought on these beautiful Autumn days.

Birds

We got a bird book the other day, we had been hankering after one for ages. It was good timing really, given that drawing has well and truly taken off at our house. So there has been lots of careful concentration and copying of birds.

And you never know, there might be a field trip in the near future....it is a field guide after all!