And the moral of the story is...

...don't expect minimalism when you leave a four-year-old girl alone with a packet of shiny cake decorations and say 'just get on with it, lovey'.


I don't see anyone complaining, though.

Slop it in and stir it around

I love making muffins. They appeal to the slapdash side of me that can't rear its head during normal baking activities. No need to weigh anything, or even mix it that well. In fact, the less you stir, the better: muffins like to be largely ignored. Lumpy mix makes for fluffy results.


These ones are even a bit good for you - full of oats and wholegrain flour, with canola oil instead of butter. They are practically perfect.


They freeze well too, given half the chance.

A colourful weekend

We are having a very colourful weekend. Golden boy got his first pair of shoes - he screamed at every pair until he saw these red ones. Then he was like an angel, behaving beautifully for the shoe lady. He knows what he likes.

These peonies were so pitiful looking in the bud that I bought two bunches. Now they have exploded into crazy pinkness and have taken over the whole house with their scent. They make me smile every time I walk past the windowsill.

Number one had a go at wet felting, and found it so difficult to choose her colours that she used them all:


Finally, I am delighted to report that the new fruit and vegetable season has arrived with a vengeance. For the last six months our weekly vegetable box has been full of swedes and curly kale and swedes and curly kale and swedes, and although they are very virtuous there is only so much a person can take. Spring has finally sprung, with asparagus and the first proper strawberries following fast on its heels. Every year I forget how incredible English strawberries are in season. They are totally unlike the refrigerated, polystyrene puffs that are around the rest of the year. The children eat until they have stomach aches, and still ask for more. Who am I to argue?

Rainy weekend brunch

What a horrible rainy day we have had. A houseful of screaming children and washing that just won't dry. On days like these we really need enormous quantities of pancakes. Thanks to Nigella they are just a moment away.


Now that's better.
Added bonus - no need to cook lunch!