Happy Halloween / Urban Sketchers

 

First things first, HAPPY HALLOWEEN,I hope you have lots of spooky fun planned for today? I have a whole day of cooking and cleaning ahead of me, in preparation for Oscar's halloween tea party later (expect a post all about it tomorrow).  But I wanted to tell you about a sketching group which I have joined. They are called Urban Sketchers and the title clearly speaks for itself. I had hoped to become a corespondent about a year ago, but at the time they required you to be part of a 3 person group and despite a facebook shout out, I couldn't get 2 other local sketchers willing to commit. 

They seem to have changed that now, and if you are part of the Flickr Group, there is a chance you will be scouted as a correspondent.

I have started my own Urban Sketchers Blog (you are required to display your work on your own site someplace,to join the group), so I hope you will find the time to take a peek.

If you decide to join up yourself, do let me know, the turnover is so fast its easy to miss sketches.

Valerie

xxx

This Week, (and a little video)

Things have been ticking along here this week, as we get ready for Halloween. I think I may have mentioned before, Oscar has a predisposition for Gothica (HERE), so as you can imagine the sudden emergence in his 2 year old little world, of all things ghastly and ghoulish has been very exciting for him. I even took him on a wee walk around the 400 year old cemetery.

 

 

 

I have finally made a decision about nursery for him, and he begins 2 mornings a week on 7th November (unless I chicken out before then), and he has a place for Nursery School booked for next April (when he will be 3..............3!!!!).

Its not all been fun and ghouls this week though, Daddy has been poorly and Oscar slipped in the bath and burst his lip.

 

s'cuse the dirty face

I have also been trying to be brave and take some more photos of myself for the OTHER BLOG, but its feeling a bit like trying to make a silk purse from a sows ear just now, because I want to promote a positive image of plus size ladies (offers from unpaid models most welcome lol).

 

And finally I would like to leave you a little video of Oscar, who has discovered the joy of slime/goo (ps its Scooby Doo on TV in the background, as if you couldn't guess).

 

 

 

Valerie

xxx

Shades Of Autumn

Shades Of Autumn

The colour this week is red. A bit of a 'challenge' again. Its amazing how much man made colour surrounds you when you live in a big city. It distracts from the fact that there is very little nature. We have our own garden so its not so bad, but it makes me glad we moved from the flat.

Here is our red trio.

 

 

Don't forget to come back next week for Purple

 

Valerie

xxx

Anti-Weigh In Wednesday (on Thursday)

 

I think I mentioned a few times before, that I cook from scratch most every evening. I am careful to emit salt and sugar unless absolutely necessary and we have meals full of vegetables. All of this still applies. I have decided, as discussed HERE to give up on the food restriction and be a bit more relaxed with my eating. It was with some surprise that when I stepped onto the scales this week, I found I had lost 1.5lbs. More than any other week whilst 'cutting back'. Interesting no? I even had a celebratory Baileys and Ice (which was on sale at the Metro store £12 from £19.79), after my drawing class.

I dont know what it means, but I suspect I have been out and about a bit more this week and I have been much happier, not thinking about food 90% of the time. Although I was far from being hungry, I was finding it difficult to put aside the cravings for the food I was denying myself.  I guess its true that a little of what you fancy does you good.

The picture is of our lovely Spooky - Cheese and Apple Scones, they do not contain any sugar and a minimum of butter, so a fairly healthy.

Recipe

Makes about 12

225g self raising-flour

pinch salt and pepper

50g butter or low fat spread

60ml milk

50g cheddar cheese, grated

3 apples, peeled and grated

 

Method

1. Sift the flour and seasoning into a large bowl


2. Mix the cheese and apple together on a plate


3. Add the butter in small pieces to the flour, rub together with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, make a well in the centre


4. Add the milk cheese and apple and mix until you have a soft dough


5. Turn the dough out on to a floured surface and knead for 1 minute, then press out until 1 inch thickness, use your cookie cutter (or upturned glass etc) to cut out desired shapes


6. Place the scones on a greased baking tray about 1 inch apart, glaze with a little milk, bake on Gas 7, 220c for about 10 minutes until golden.

Valerie

xxx

A New Path

Yesterday Oscar and I went on a nursery visit. At the time I was fairly happy with the nursery, but today I am having doubts. I cant tell yet, if it is the nursery itself, or if it is my feelings about separating myself from Oscar.  I am going to arrange a visit at another nursery either today or tomorrow, and then I may be able to tell what is causing the doubts.

For the majority of us, our babies are the shining star in our universe around which we orbit, exclusively for the first few years at least. Having 2 older children, I have experience of this already, but its amazing how we forget. As a mama of a 2 year old and a 22 year old, I can tell you without a doubt, the first time and the last time is the most difficult. The first time our little precious is left with daycare is heart-wrenching, but make no mistake you will feel exactly the same when the are all grown up and leave home for good (even if they are off having a lovely/drunken time at Uni, just like you did).

Oscar ran off into the nursery yesterday without a backwards glance, and he stayed in the dining room and then the playroom while I had a tour. He did not ask for me once. I am taking this as a good sign, but I also know the novelty may wear off once the penny drops, (mum is not staying here and I am).

Anyway, it was a busy little day yesterday, with the nursery visit, a trip to the museum toilets (funny how toilet trainers need to go to every toilet they have ever been to as soon as they see it), a wander around the blustery cemetery, The Howff, which is featured in a great book by the way Witches Blood, and a bit of shopping.

At 5pm we scooted home to the cabbage and ham in the slow cooker. Daddy came home at 6pm and Mama, for the first time ever, went out in the evening, to my first life drawing class in 15 years. I had a wonderful time, and it has resolved in me that its not just Oscar needing a new adventure, I do to.

 

I wouldn't say I was 'proud' of them, but I am proud of my effort. I look forward to improving over the weeks/months.

 

Valerie

xxx

Family Fun

On Saturday we spent ages trying to think what  to do for the day. I spent an hour on the laptop looking at the 'what's on' section with no luck. Oscar was looking a bit tired and anything overly energetic would not have been a good move. We decided to go out for lunch at the very least, and since we are not keen on taking the little guy into pubs, we went to the art gallery/museum, (at the recommendation of a friend).

The lunch was very nice, with a good selection of children's choices too. Afterwards we allowed Oscar explore the building. He has been to the galleries before, but it was about last year at this time, so he does not remember. This time, he thoroughly enjoyed the paintings (and especially the ones with little phones beside them, explaining  the work), and the display cases, with artifacts from all ages, including a viking longboat and an Egyptian sarcophagus, right through to 1970's fashion. The bones of a whale hang from the roof in one of the rooms, and I remember as a child being in awe of them myself. Oscar was no different, and it was lovely to know some things never change.

There is a Cecil Beaton exhibit running just now, and in honour of it, a family photo workshop was open. Oscar was able to draw pictures of us, look through old photo's and finally have his photo taken in (a weird mish mash), costume of his choosing.

The Mcmanus Art Gallery and Museum is free, and we spent much longer there than we had anticipated. I would highly reccommend it to locals.

The following photos are a bit blurry because they were taken on my phone, but I thought they were worth posting anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valerie

xxx

Shades Of Autumn

Shades Of Autumn

This weeks colour is orange, but due to a combination of rain and wind (so not getting out) and living in the city (which is mostly grey), we haven't managed to collect many orange themed images. So I give you.............Mama's Little Beats squash collection.

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Valerie

xxx

Chilly

It sure is chilly around here. There was ice on the paths and snow on the Sidlaws which overlook us.  Oscar and I managed out shopping for a while though, and it was a welcome change from the wind and rain imposed imprisonment. We even managed a wee Halloween Biscuit from the bakery, possibly the nicest bakery we have. Just the ticket for a weight watching Mama or NOT.

 

Mama's Little Beats will carry on as normal, the other blog is a big is beautiful venture.

Valerie

xxx

Weigh In Wednesday wk 5

Non post related pic - just a pretty flower ;)

 

No lose no gain this week. I cant say I am surprised. After 5 weeks of denial I am finding this week tough and I have fallen off the food wagon twice already (I wont tell you what, so that A. you wont judge me and B. I wont encourage other weight watchers to think about naughty food).

I/we are not only cutting out 'unhealthy food' such as saturated fat, sugar and cola (sob, I miss my cola), but we have switched to organic wholefood. The first week we were vegetarian and last week we had red meat once. I will never give up meat completely because frankly I like it, and also I think there are good nutrients in low fat cuts of organic meat. The price really puts me off though, so its not only for health reasons that organic steak, or an organic chicken only makes a star appearance as opposed to being a regular feature.  I think our favorite meal this week has been organic chickpea burgers crumbled into home-made wholewheat wraps, with carrot and honey filling and homemade tomato salsa. Very tasty, but I have to admit, maximum effort at the end of a tiring day. Homemade pizza is still the quick fix healthy food here, which makes us feel we are not being totally deprived. I have been using wholewheat flour for everything, but I actually prefer it, which is lucky. Our usual topping is tuna (tomato puree and onion and mozzarella base), but sometimes we just have organic cheese.  So, no carbonated drinks, no alcohol, no sweet treats and no big fat shop bought lamb pathia with garlic naan. How long can I last?

Valerie

xxx

A Green Home

 

We finally started decorating last week, and despite the paint smell bothering me (it is apparently low VOC, but has a distinct farmyard odour about it!), it has been a welcome change. The last few lounges I have had, have been cream with red or red with cream, but the HUGE lounge window brings in so much of the green from outside that it seemed only natural to carry on the colour inside.

 

 

In the daytime, most people in the lounge spend their time looking out of the window, so the wall colour is secondary, but its nice to put my own stamp on it. I did well though, 6 weeks of white, that must be a world record for me ;)

Valerie

xxx

The Plan

I have made a plan. Its funny how I didn't realise I needed a plan until I had one. The sense of peace which descended over me once I had made the plan told me it was the right one.  It may take as long as 5 or 6 years for the plan to unfold, but that's ok, because I am not free-falling any more. For the immediate future, the plan may or may not include these

 

 

But it will definitely include plenty of these

 

 

And plenty of this

 

 

And time permitting, a pile of these

 

 

With this taking a more important role

 

 

Of course my family are at the forefront, but the plan is for me,  its not my plan for my husband or my children, or my house, its a personal plan. As the dark days of winter slide towards us, its good to be able to say, at least I have a plan.

 

photo of the West End by Dylan Drummond

Valerie

xxx

 

The Urge

The urge was there, Duncan was free to watch Oscar, and so with a couple of false starts, I got to spend the day yesterday, painting. It felt really good to paint again.

 

 

Big size jpg on Flickr

 

Valerie

xxx

Wave Of Light

 

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the world. We would like to invite you to take part in the global 'Wave of Light'. Simply light a candle at 7pm and leave it burning for at least 1 hour to join us in remembering all babies that have died during pregnancy, at, during or after birth.
This can be done individually or in a group, at home or in a communal space. Wherever you do this, you will be joining a global wave of light in memory of all the babies who lit up our lives for such a short time.
www.babyloss-awareness.org

 

source source

Valerie

xxx