Weekending

Our weekend was full. Shopping, getting the car fixed, dance classes and gardening, lots of laundry and of course the obligatory using the laundry basket as a rocking boat! The boys who love all things Italian decided to have their own little Masterchef. We made simple spaghetti sauce or at least the boys did- in went every vegetable from the fridge, some chard from the garden and the veggie left overs from the night before. I watched (and kept very quiet) as 2 courgettes were added. Much stirring and poking of the sauce and 20 mins later they pronounced it the best ragu ever made! I loved it as it was healthy and cheap  - what a bonus.

Thrifty Thursday - washing day!

When the sun is high in the sky, and I am dreamily looking out over the garden, I often have the same aspiration - that one day when I need groceries I open the door to my garden and most of our "shopping" would be in the dirt at my feet.Rather than load up the car with children, bags and lists and come home with a lot less cash, over priced food and cranky kids all I would do would be to pick and wash my home grown fresh produce and make simple but nourishing food. Of course, my dream also has a line of fresh,  pure white laundry on the line and on that score i have definiely found the alternative to commercial products. Today I made gloop. I'd read about it for years on forum posts from other smart mums and eco-warriors but only started to make it last year. Its wonderful, I can't figure out why I didn't use it years ago - it washes our clothes perfectly, any stubborn stains would remain anyway no matter what I use. My only gripe is I can't find borax in this country so make do without. I use this recipe,  found purely by surfing around.

The soda crystals are £1 for this bag which works out atabout  25p per cup and the soap was £1 for 6 bars. So it total for the month it costs me less than 50p . Now that is a thrifty tip I like!

When its like this I also add a few drops of essential oil - this month I added geranium - yummy smelling, clean clothes for one tenth of the price of commercial powders. Maybe you have something different? Thrifty? Eco friendly - let me know by posting a comment.

Time

I've been thinking a lot recently about the passage of time. I seem to use all the word "time" all the time, as in, time for tea, time for bed, time for school, time for drama, time to tidy-up .. you get the picture. Turning 40 in December past has shifted my perception of time and I feel the sheer weight of its passing and all we seem to have woven into our lives. It seems like only yesterday when we brought the twin car seats home from the hospital and I honestly thought then that I had all the time in the world. But, as those with children of school age know - you blink and the kids have moved out of  the babysling and onto a skateboard. Oh, how I would love to slow time down or even just pause and savour us as we are right now. Because todays moments will be tomorrows memories. So for me, its about reminding myself to make the ordinary days count. Today was an ordinary day, certainly a day that was not without challenges both big and small and I am sad to say that none of us rose to the occasion. So after tea, despite it being a school night and time for bed, a tired and cranky mummy and 3 tired cranky kiddos headed off to the park. With coffee, the football and a good book. I watched an ordinary little scene of 3 children playing footbal lin the semi darkness of a spring night and was grateful for a little extra time.

May day weekend

Its the Mayday weekend here in Ireland and to be honest , we've avoided all the big commercial celebrations instead opting for some homespun entertainment.Over the years i've become more of a homebody, the kids prefer it when we are relaxed  being in the garden or kitchen is perfect.There's too much hurrying about in general, too much pressure to create enjoyment for everyone so when kids are off school they relax and rest.When I hear the words "I'm bored, mum"I know it means the transition between imposed school structure and the kids finding their own level of activity. I tend not to worry but let them find their own way.  There is a kind of a rythmn to our day when we are all off, that of course, normally translates into bouncing morning, noon and night on the trampoline, playing football, dressing up, drawing, reading, painting, doing their chores and eating (lots!).... relaxation, huh?

But in between all that we've been to parties and playdates, cooked and baked and danced and of course ate loads of ice-cream.

For me - lots of jumpers to unpick and new plants for my baskets

Pasta with  pepper, wild garlic and nettle soffrito. Mostly foraged and declared the BEST pasta ever and for me at less than £1 for 4 portions definitely the cheapest.

Ready to party - his style and love of clothes knows no bounds

This moment... one year on

This moment .. in Soulemama style.

Today one year ago, I planted a tiny apple tree. Look, how it has grown and blossoms. New life pushing towards the sky, soon to bear fruit and nourish my little ones.
But this little tree was also planted on the day my darling daddy passed away. Rest in peace, dad, you are loved always and much missed by us all.

Thrifty Thursday - bargain hunter

I do  love a bargain, I know thats not unusual but I also have a love of 1950's crockery and often the two most definitely do not go together. Vintage is huge here and so are the price tags.So, treasure is indeeed, just that. We only have charity/ thrift shops here, unfortunately yard -sales do not exist in Ireland. Everytime I get a chance and with a limit of £5 per item (maximum!) I hunt through the second hand shops.  Then, sometimes, very occasionally I have "the luck of the irish". As i did today. I was dropping off two bags of the kids clothes to my fave charity outlet and had a good nosy at the same time. These goodies came out with me!

JAJ Pyrex Meat Platter £2.00

JAJ Pyrex Autumn Gold veggie dish with lid £1.40 & huge ball of Sirdar wool for 59p!!! (one hr scarf, £8.99 retail)

  definitely a good day!

Nature's larder

For weeks the hunt has been on. With every hint of increasing spring weather we've been looking, searching. To no avail. The recipes waiting. Last night we were down on the beach, a new path back through the forest was found. Still no sign - lots of bunny rabbits, tweeting birds, vetch, nettle, dandelion, clover - abundance of nature, but not what I was looking for. We clambered into the car, and as I siganlled out I checked the drivers wing mirror and lo! up on the bank at the edge of the mirror was reflected acres of little white chirpy flowers. My bounty at last!

An afternoon of bliss was had making pesto (read playing like a kid!) with the garlic, good parmesan and some nuts, olive oil. I don't use a recipe per se, its more rough and ready than that. I throw it all in and taste and flavour.

I added some lemon juice (all Italian mamas will shudder) but it does give it another layer of freshness.

Its perfect for pasta, marinade rub on meat and fish or lovely with toasted crostada.

The rest as you may be able to see from the pic was mixed into some lovely fresh irish butter  which was very soft and then rolled into some baking paper(you can use cling also but the paper is thriftier as at the end any waxy bits of butter can be used to a pan or two). I then pop it in the freezer and any time we need garlic butter i just slice a bit off. Delicious.

I'm reading Anna del Conte's biography which is just glorious gastronomy. She makes it all sound so simple and in the book is a great recipe in it for risotto with nettles and I think I'll cook it one night next week and add some of my lovely wild garlic. Will let you know how it goes.

Peace to you all