Day three: A strange fact
You know those limpets that stick to cliffs and things...
If it was as big as a human, it's penis would be as big as Nelsons Column, Trafalgar Sq. London!
Amazing!
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
A blog everyday in September: Day 3 A strange fact
I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog ever day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September
Day three: A strange fact
Day three: A strange fact
Monday, 2 September 2013
A blog everyday in September: Day 2 Back to school
I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog every day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September
Day two: Back to school
Today I return to school as a secondary teacher in an all boys school. In a couple of week I will blog about the ups and downs of returning to school, juggling part time work, a baby and trying to keep a social life, but for now here are the crazy things buzzing round my head about my return to work.
Day two: Back to school
Today I return to school as a secondary teacher in an all boys school. In a couple of week I will blog about the ups and downs of returning to school, juggling part time work, a baby and trying to keep a social life, but for now here are the crazy things buzzing round my head about my return to work.
- Will my little boy be OK?
- Will I remember how to teach?
- Will the pupils be happy to have me back in their lessons?
- Will my colleagues be pleased to see me, or will they miss my maternity cover? Will it make a difference?
- I can't wait to have something that's just for me, not anyone else in my family.
- I love my job, and the pupils so it will be fun to be back at work.
- What will the new head teacher be like? How will it be working under a different form of management?
- It's only part time - my working week will be over before I know it!
- I'm so grateful for my mum, and my mother in law for looking after my LO - it has saved me time, hassle, worry and money about finding a good childminder.
- Do I really want to be away from my little boy for this long when he's still only six months old?
- Will we be able to afford our bills every month?
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Blog everyday in September: Day 6 National Read a book day
I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog ever day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September
Day six: National Read a book day
Day six: National Read a book day
This book is wonderful.
A quick synopsis - four sisters growing up in an America at war with itself. Trials and tribulations of sisterhood as children, and then growing up and out of the family home and the new challenges that face them.
I first read this book while I was in Sri Lanka when I was 19 - I just picked it up in a 'library' in one of the travel lodge/hostels we stayed in. Since then I read at least once a year because I love it so much. The main character, Jo, is a reflection of Louisa May Alcott (LMA) and her family life is a reflection of that of LMA.
Sections of the book that touch my heart:
- The kindness of their mother is passed through to her lovely daughters - this is shown in the book as charity to poverty stricken family, as well as to the kind gentleman living next door.
- Their kindness is reflected back upon them and so gratefully received - when Beth receives a piano.
- The friendship between Jo and 'the Laurence boy'. This touched me so much that my son is called Lawrence.
Highly recommended - tissues required!
A blog every day in September: Day 1 Who am I?
I follow a blog about motherhood and saw that the writer did a 'blog every day in August' challenge and I really enjoyed reading it, so I have decided to take part in Chickywiggle's blog every day in September
Day One: Who am I?
Easy peasy:
As a secondary teacher we run 'humanities' lessons which is basically history, geography and RE in one lesson. My colleague and I have planned a whole term's work called 'Who am I?'. It is based around identity - the pupil explores their own identity as well their peers and looks at cultural identity of others too. It's a really interesting way of getting to know the pupils but they find it hard to express things about themselves. "Can I just say 'I enjoy playing x-box'?" is a regular question.
I think self reflection is a really important part of life - self understanding and value can be obtained by thinking (and practicing) What do I enjoy? What am I good at? Who am I?
Day One: Who am I?
Easy peasy:
- Ali, 28, live in Dorset with hubby, 7 month old boy and Border Terrier
- I'm about to start back at work as a Secondary Teacher - part time hours, but totally dreading it (planning to blog about back to work experiences! Stay tuned!)
- I love to craft! I'll try anything with the right guidance, but I really enjoy machine sewing. (Some of my creations can be found here and here)
- I started to blog just to get some thoughts and ideas down on 'paper' - some are like diary entries, some are rants about things that annoy me, some are about the things I have been crafting. I'm not very good at keeping up to date with it. I can go months without doing anything, so I think this 'blog everyday' will give me a little kick start, and maybe some ideas too!
As a secondary teacher we run 'humanities' lessons which is basically history, geography and RE in one lesson. My colleague and I have planned a whole term's work called 'Who am I?'. It is based around identity - the pupil explores their own identity as well their peers and looks at cultural identity of others too. It's a really interesting way of getting to know the pupils but they find it hard to express things about themselves. "Can I just say 'I enjoy playing x-box'?" is a regular question.
I think self reflection is a really important part of life - self understanding and value can be obtained by thinking (and practicing) What do I enjoy? What am I good at? Who am I?
Food!
This is an old post, from an old blog - just moving things around!
Food is a big part of the Hoskins life! Out for dinner and trying new things
However, there is nothing quite like making something yourself to share with friends and family so this will be the first of many posts about food we have made!
First - look at these disasterous cupcakes! These were made with our niece and nephew and tasted fine but they look awful! I dont know what we did wrong, but I thought I would post them to show that even when things go wrong, whack some sprinkles on them and eat them anyway!
Once it was cooked, cooled and put together I smeared the remaining icing around the outside so that I had something to stick the chocolate fingers to. To give you a rough idea of size, this is a regular dinner plate - the cake tins were 20cm?? - and it took two packets of fingers to go round the ouside.
The berries on the top were fresh and delish, and we served the whole thing with cream so that it was more like a pudding than a cake as such!
As it was Christmas we decided gingerbread SNOWmen were on the cards. Below are two images - one used ready to roll icing that we then cut with the same gingerbread man cutter and laid on top (with a tiny bit of water to make it stick!) and then we decorated. The other is using icing sugar and water to make a sort of paste that we thought looked more like snow! It all depends on how much time, space, effort you have to make! They went down a storm at the family christmas gatherings!
Food is a big part of the Hoskins life! Out for dinner and trying new things
However, there is nothing quite like making something yourself to share with friends and family so this will be the first of many posts about food we have made!
First - look at these disasterous cupcakes! These were made with our niece and nephew and tasted fine but they look awful! I dont know what we did wrong, but I thought I would post them to show that even when things go wrong, whack some sprinkles on them and eat them anyway!
Triumph!
This however felt like somewhat of a triumph. Inside is a chocolate sponge cake with chocolate fondant icing in the middle. You could make your own easily, but you could just as simply use a Betty Crocker ready made packet mix!Once it was cooked, cooled and put together I smeared the remaining icing around the outside so that I had something to stick the chocolate fingers to. To give you a rough idea of size, this is a regular dinner plate - the cake tins were 20cm?? - and it took two packets of fingers to go round the ouside.
The berries on the top were fresh and delish, and we served the whole thing with cream so that it was more like a pudding than a cake as such!
I LOVE gingerbread!
Gingerbread is super easy to make whether you are an experienced baker or not. I used the following recipe this time but there are often recipes in childrens books, on the back of the brown sugar packet, on the back of the gingerbread man cutter box and so on!As it was Christmas we decided gingerbread SNOWmen were on the cards. Below are two images - one used ready to roll icing that we then cut with the same gingerbread man cutter and laid on top (with a tiny bit of water to make it stick!) and then we decorated. The other is using icing sugar and water to make a sort of paste that we thought looked more like snow! It all depends on how much time, space, effort you have to make! They went down a storm at the family christmas gatherings!
Christmas makes
This is an old blog post, from an old blog
I wanted to share some hand made bits and bobs that I made for Christmas presents this year. Some are from my own imagination, some I have made from patterns in books and some I have copied from things I have seen in books/online/other blogs etc etc
Enjoy!
You could put some fabric on the back too if you wanted it to look a little bit more professional/neat as my edges were a bit scrappy on the back. I have also seen people using a cork board inside so that you can add pins rather than pegs as I have used here, but you would need to avoid the wadding if that was the case for you!
These cushions were quick and easy - two squares of fabric sewn together (even with my limited sewing experience last year!). The middle is pinched together using self covered buttons (available from good haberdashery shops or online). Last year my experience was rather limited and I ended up making the cushions before buying the cushion pads - idiot! And I also should have bought nicer quality fabric to make them look a little nicer - but hey, you live and learn!
Most of my fabric I get from eBay as I find it cheaper and lots of people do nice bundles of fabric in a certain colour set - as you can see on my green cushions below! However, this time for the main cushion fabric I went to a local shop because I felt I needed to see and feel the fabric to know it was what I was looking for.
The cushions are 50cmx50cm so my cushion pads came from Ikea - biggest bargain of the Christmas shopping! Everywhere I looked large cushions were about £20 - Ikea came in at less than a fiver! BRILLIANT!
I decide to save on cutting and to reduce the risk of me cutting wonky/the wrong sizes and so on, that I would have one long piece of farbic that I would wrap round the cushion. It meant that I only needed to stitch the two sides - the top and both were just one continuous piece of fabric. Does that make sense...?
First - the applique bit! I had planned to make two the same - both with the circles, but on my tiny machine and with my extra long fabric it was quite hard work to machine stitch round all those circles while trying to manouvre a metre of fabric. The circles came out really well - just have patience! However, I was over it and therefore made the bunting style one too. Even easier! Snipped some triangles as shown and attached them to the fabric using my sewing maching - I use green cotton to add to the effect, and them simply attached green ribbon using another green zigzag stitch to give the 2012 summer bunting effect!
Again, I hemmed the edges that would be showing on the back of the cushion before joining the edges up the sides - simples!
I think this is so adaptable to whatever you want it to be - keep it similar for a wedding gift, or something, or you could make your childrens names for their bedrooms and so on
I love it so much - it was on the wall the minute we got home!!
I wanted to share some hand made bits and bobs that I made for Christmas presents this year. Some are from my own imagination, some I have made from patterns in books and some I have copied from things I have seen in books/online/other blogs etc etc
Enjoy!
Pin Board for Mum -
Easiest and quickest thing I have ever made!! There is a piece of foam board inside that was about a fiver from Hobbycraft - I cut it in two and made two A2 (ish?) pin boards. I used spray adhesive to stick some wadding and the fabric, then used a glue gun to stick the ribbon on the top and the edges so that things can be hung from it. Quick easy and a lovely gift - my mum uses hers in the kitchen, but also takes it to her craft fayres to display things she's made - like brooches or cards and so on.You could put some fabric on the back too if you wanted it to look a little bit more professional/neat as my edges were a bit scrappy on the back. I have also seen people using a cork board inside so that you can add pins rather than pegs as I have used here, but you would need to avoid the wadding if that was the case for you!
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| The finished product |
Cushions for a friend
These are actually from last year.These cushions were quick and easy - two squares of fabric sewn together (even with my limited sewing experience last year!). The middle is pinched together using self covered buttons (available from good haberdashery shops or online). Last year my experience was rather limited and I ended up making the cushions before buying the cushion pads - idiot! And I also should have bought nicer quality fabric to make them look a little nicer - but hey, you live and learn!
Christmas cushions for our house
These cushions were made using left over fabric from some other projects - hence the red and white backs! I downloaded the simple reindeer shape from the internet - a simple google images search! And used that as a template for my fabric. I hand stitched them to the cream colour backing fabric to get the effect that I wanted, but you could easily zig-zag stitch them on for a sturdier and neater finish.
I am yet to master attaching a zip so all my cushions have fold-over backs. To do this I hem the edges of the fabric where it will be showing before I attach the cushion backing to the front cover to get a neater finish.
As I said - all very basic, but it works for me and hopefully my short tips can help other beginners at this activity!
Cushions for the In-Laws!
My mother-in-law is an avid crafter so I was nervous about doing these, but with a baby on the way we needed to be saving money! Making them cost relatively little, and it kept me entertained for free!Most of my fabric I get from eBay as I find it cheaper and lots of people do nice bundles of fabric in a certain colour set - as you can see on my green cushions below! However, this time for the main cushion fabric I went to a local shop because I felt I needed to see and feel the fabric to know it was what I was looking for.
The cushions are 50cmx50cm so my cushion pads came from Ikea - biggest bargain of the Christmas shopping! Everywhere I looked large cushions were about £20 - Ikea came in at less than a fiver! BRILLIANT!
I decide to save on cutting and to reduce the risk of me cutting wonky/the wrong sizes and so on, that I would have one long piece of farbic that I would wrap round the cushion. It meant that I only needed to stitch the two sides - the top and both were just one continuous piece of fabric. Does that make sense...?
First - the applique bit! I had planned to make two the same - both with the circles, but on my tiny machine and with my extra long fabric it was quite hard work to machine stitch round all those circles while trying to manouvre a metre of fabric. The circles came out really well - just have patience! However, I was over it and therefore made the bunting style one too. Even easier! Snipped some triangles as shown and attached them to the fabric using my sewing maching - I use green cotton to add to the effect, and them simply attached green ribbon using another green zigzag stitch to give the 2012 summer bunting effect!
Again, I hemmed the edges that would be showing on the back of the cushion before joining the edges up the sides - simples!
A gift I was given!
The below was not made by me, but given to us as a gift by a very talented friend and I think it is so amazing that it worth a mention! She has taken the time to photograph all sorts of random objects (In this case a boot scrapper, the frame of a bed, some string, a scrabble tile, a tree, a fence and some wood) and as you can see she has put them together to spell our family name.I think this is so adaptable to whatever you want it to be - keep it similar for a wedding gift, or something, or you could make your childrens names for their bedrooms and so on
I love it so much - it was on the wall the minute we got home!!
It's never too early to start thinking about the things you could make for people as gifts - they dont have to be for Christmas, birthdays, mothers day etc all work. The thought process by you makes you feel proud of what you have given, but they also know that you have taken the time to create something from nothing.
If you are imaginative you can just free style which can be fun, but you can buy all sorts of basic books with step by step guides to making things - mine come from Amazon as I find them the cheapest!
Good luck!
Toys for little ones
These are some toys we've made for friends children that I thought I'd share just for you to see. I've tried to use old bits and bobs for these smaller toys, and to accessorise the letters to keep the costs down as often the children have grown out of them after a short while.
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| MDF letters - painted and decorated |
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| Toy giraffe for a baby |
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| Stuffed elephant. |
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