So. It was exams day...

And R didn't want me telling people about her grades and things, but I don't know why. She only did 2 GCSEs, and the college were going to accept her if she passed them, so maybe she just wasn't worried about it. Or maybe she thinks she should have more. Or maybe I just embarrass her by being proud.

An A in Maths and a B in English. Pretty damn good. Especially considering that the Maths was done in about 6 weeks. Before that, R had too many other things to do, with Radio, and RNCM productions, and babysitting, and taking photographs, and sleeping. :-)

This is where it is hard for me. I don't rate the exam system at all. You should not be able to get a Maths GCSE, having not done formal Maths before, in only 6 weeks. But she worked for several hours a day for those few weeks, and she can feel proud. Nobody can ever take that away from her. :-)

So now I am only home educating 2 children.

More jam!

So I am a copycat. Or else, Martine just inspires me. :-)

Here is my attempt as blackberry and apple jam. It is still hot. We are waiting to see if it sets, but I am optimistic, because the stuff that I spilled in the pan set, and was quite tastey!

Ignore the big one that is half full. It started out as a completely full jar, for which I lost the lid, so it had to get transferred at the last minute. It will just be the first one we eat. Also, ignore the bits dripping down the side of the jars. It was after my unsuccessful ladelling attempts that I read it is a good idea to use a jug. So now I need a jam pot and a jug. :-) I know full well, I don't need either of those things, I am just having fun. Besides there is no room in my house for anything new...

Today I have been making Jam!

I have been wanting to try making jams for years. The biggest problem has been getting enough fruit. We make a lot of Blackberry and Apple crumble, but we don't get enough blackberries to do much of anything else. I think I will try to change that soon. Because today I made my first batch of jam ever - plum jam. The plums came from the community allotment.

It looks very pretty and clear. More so than in the photo. (The apples are from the community allotment as well!) But I don't know if the half jar will be ok, and there does seem to be some white stuff on the top of one jar, which I have read about in recipes. hmmmmm

I am slightly worried that I boiled it for too long, and it is actually going to set into very large plum flavoured boiled sweets, but we shall see. It was fun anyway, and I am ready to try again! And licking out the pan was tasty!

Daisy Day!

Or perhaps I should entitle this as "I finished something!"

I have been working on the daisy square for a while. Check out Krochet Krystal's blog. She has come up with a great Daisy pattern (info is on Ravelry as well).  When you join the Yahoo group, you get that pattern and are asked to "pay" for it by doing some squares which you send to Krystal and she crochets them together to make beautiful afghans for charity. It is a great idea, and it was nice to do and feel a part of something bigger, even though I only did a few squares.

Then I did more squares, for a poncho for M. My goal was to finish it at the weekend, but here is Wednesday, and it is done. But at least it is done! She didn't want any tassles or fringe or any shell edging or changes to the collar or hem. So here it is, the Daisies looking fabulous, without any help.

                                      
                                                   M isn't afraid of colour, is she?! :-)

here we go again...

So I am tired and cranky and struggling to eat healthy and stuff. I do, however, feel that I have turned a corner with my Pilates and that my back is at least getting better if not yet good. I am not sleeping well, and baby is teething a bit, although the not sleeping has more to do with me and not her.

I am making some nice crochet squares, the idea for which you can see here.  I have made some to send, now I just have to get to the post office. And I have nearly finished the poncho I am making for M with the same pattern.

Looking forward to doing little for the next couple of weeks, before life starts back up again, and gets more busy, and complicated, and expensive.