Hello goodbye Eugene

Since Christmas our beloved Eugene has been living with our friend Toby. Although he is the best dog in the world (along with Bert of course) and we love him loads, he needs lots of care and attention and since Kitty arrived we had been struggling a little bit to give him as much time as he deserved. Our walking time in particular had suffered and Eugene was starting to stress, frequently misbehaving in the house and running off at any opportunity. He went to stay with Toby for a few weekends just to give us and him a break and when Toby said he would take him more permanently, we knew it was the best thing for him. Toby loves him too, takes him everywhere and more importantly gives him lots and lots of long walks. Eugie seems very happy.

Tonight, Toby came over and brought Eugene to see us. We gave him lots of cuddles and he played with Bert for a while before we said goodbye again. We miss him, but he is happy. Toby doesn't live locally, but we see him quite frequently so I'm sure he'll be visiting again soon.

Potato head

Last summers tasty home-grown spuds

Despite neglecting my garden all last year due to the trials of having a small baby hanging around, I did manage to get a few spuds in. We got about eight meals worth during the summer and they were so nice, I am determined that I'm going to get a full crop going this year.

Gwen, my friend at work runs an allotment society and has let me put in an order for some seed potatoes with them. They buy them together from the Calder Valley Organic Gardeners and we should receive them around the end of February. I can't wait. I don't really have enough room, but I have ordered Accents (first earlies), Belle de Fontenay and Wilja (second earlies), Nicola and Pink Fir Apple (maincrop).

I have been studying my vegetable book closely and am keen to also try some of the coloured varieties, blues and purple eyes. The CVOG will be holding a potato day on 27th Feb where you can go and buy other more unusual varieties. Maybe Kitty and I will venture over there.

I also found these Purple Haze carrot seeds in Wilko yesterday. I've never had much luck with carrots, but you have to give it a go when purple ones are the prize! How yummy will these look in a salad or stir-fry.

In the mean time, Kitty and I had fun today baking poppy seed bread. Not sure if it was the new recipe or Kitty's kneading technique but they actually turned out well. They don't look as good as the ones in the book, but they certainly taste good.

10g fresh yeast

500g strong bread flour

350g water (measured rather than weighed for accuracy)

10g salt

poppy seeds

mix, rest for 1 hr, cut into 12, rest for 45 mins, bake at 240c for 12 mins. Done.

Party time

Kitty got her first invite to attend a birthday party for one of her little friends from nursery - Eddie.

It was at a Wacky Warehouse. She didn't like the pizza and french fries on offer (I don't blame her - it was pretty horrible!) but the pink milk ice-cream lolly was a hit.

They all sang Happy Birthday to Eddie and then enjoyed a good hour and a half going mad in the soft play area.

Riley, one of Kitty's best friends was also at the party. The pair were inseparable. Despite being eight months younger than Riley, Kitty is most definitely the leader!

At nursery today, Kitty decorated a hard boiled egg with glitter.

Crafty weekend

Kitty loves the Ikea Mala easel that auntie Alison got her for Christmas. Today, she did some painting and gluing.

The finished piece. Surprisingly little paint ended up anywhere else but on the page!

Kitty keeps losing her gloves, so I made her some from wool scraps that has a string to go through her coat. They were really quick to make, so if they work I might make some more with prettier wool.

I finally finished Kitty's new purple cardigan that I started way back in March. It is a little big yet, but I can't believe how much bigger it is than the green one I made in the same design when she was born. I guess it's definitely time to stop trying to squeeze her in it!

Let it snow!

After my first day back at work yesterday, it was wonderful to wake up early this morning to see the amount of snow that had fallen over night! To be fair, we did get ready, dig the car out and attempt to drive to the end of the lane with all good intentions before deciding it just wasn't going to happen and going back inside. I called the one guy that had actually made it to work and then we set about having a fun day.

By 11am, daddy had been sent home from work too so we ventured out into the snow. This time I remembered great mama Kitty's technique of putting a plastic bag between two layers of socks to keep little hands warm and dry. It worked a treat!

Bert loves the snow too!

Daddy decided to take Kitty sledging.........without a sledge! Looks a little like baby abuse, but honestly, she loved it.

Kitty's new fair isle beret knitted at the weekend from Jaeger Handknits JB29.

Forecast is for more snow until the weekend. Lets hope so!