Fit For A Queen?

 A couple of weeks ago we were at a Village Yard Sale. I picked up a spare Pyrex Bowl for 10p and a second melamine bowl for 20p. The first a simple 1litre pudding bowl - I have one already - this is a useful size for steamed puds etc. The second is an iconic bowl I have admired since we first married...

In 2009, my SIL gave me these two melamine bowls from M&S, 2.5 litre and 1.5 litre sizes. I use them all the time. I love them, and their cherry red brightness enlivens the kitchen.

Here's my new orange bowl - it is 2 litres in size - halfway between the other two.  And although different in shape, I can still stack the three so they go in the cupboard. 

But why is so special about this new bowl? Simply that it is a Danish design, from the Rosti Company, and called The Margrethe Bowl. It has the most wonderful history, it was first made in 1950...

The designer was a guy called Sigvard Bernadotte, and his dad was King of Sweden. His niece was Princess Margrethe of Denmark, daughter of King Frederik IX. When the forward thinking Danes changed the rules of succession so that the teenage princess became next in line. S got permission to name this design "The Margrethe Bowl". The design was so good, most Danish women wanted one for their kitchen. In 1972. Margarethe became Queen, reigning for 52 years, till her abdication in 2024. She was a gifted, and popular monarch.

Over the last 70+ years, more than 25 million Margrethe Bowls have been sold. It features in design museums, and even got onto a postage stamp. Its useful handle, efficient pouring lip, and high sides, make it useful for batter and cake making. It is now available in 15 colours, plus a steel version. Mine is about 35 years old, I think. Like my two M&S melamine bowls, it has lost its rubber non-slip ring at the base [but that hasn't proved a problem with the other two]  I do like Scandi design, and I think this will prove a useful addition to my kitchen. Yes, IKEA do make a similar shape bowl in cheaper plastic, but I love the retro orange colour and 'Rosti' printed on the base of mine! Now I am even more determined to visit Copenhagen! 

Can you imagine a British designer producing a  piece of kitchenware called Camilla?

What item would it be, do you think?

Bargain Buy

Blogfriends will know how much I love words, their meanings and their history
In Greek. lego means I say
In Latin, it can be mean I collect or I assemble
And in Danish 'leg godt' means play well

All the grandchildren enjoy Lego, George especially [I am convinced he has more Lego people than there are people living in this village!] So I was interested in a Lego storage unit which I saw at the Yard Sale. I took a photo, and put it in the family WhatsApp group. Steph responded positively so I bought it. The seller apologised that the front bottom bar was missing. I said I that was no problem, I was married to a guy from the Men's Shed!
We brought it home. I put the bins in the bath [they were not very dirty. just a bit dusty] and Bob added a front bar, a backbar, and a back panel to stop the drawers pushing right through. All scrap wood from his Stash. The pink baseplate on the top reveals this is actually a Strictly Briks piece which is Lego compatible. So I tried out a Duplo Cowboy from the Toybox and he seemed quite happy. Now all we have to do is plan a trip to Manchester [not sure |I could manage this on the train!] 
What a bargain for £4!

Will This Work For Me?

Sometimes I tune in to one of Joshua Becker's minimalism videos. He seems a very nice guy, and genuine in his approach. And he certainly practices what he preaches in terms of being generous with his resources. His main premise is that if we have too many possessions they can be a burden to us, and stop us living to the best of our ability*. This little video could easily be included in Michael Mosley's "Just One Thing" list. Joshua explains how the "one less" habit can help reduce clutter gently but effectively. I may try his idea this autumn and see if it works for me.

*JB is an enthusiastic Christian, and elsewhere speaks about how having a faith in Jesus helps him to 'live, and to live abundantly' 

Do Small Things With Great Love...

Mother Theresa has been credited with this quote. I love the fact that the 'rope' thrown out by the bear and mouse to help their friend rabbit back to shore is strung with hearts.

In these days of 'instant gratification' [Order online now and it will be with you within hours...] it is good to remind ourselves that some things take time, love and patience. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step [Personally, I'd struggle with 500 miles, and then 500 more, but I would be do it, if it got me to my beloved] 
I was thinking of the goals we set ourselves [major and minor] which may need a lot of little steps

• learning a new language or skill
• tidying and decluttering the home
• restoring broken relationships
• making a patchwork quilt
• teaching a child to read, swim, cycle
• reading a difficult book
• building a good community
• creating a lovely garden
• adapting after a 'life-event' [moving, childbirth, job-loss, aging, bereavement etc]

This month's calendar picture encourages me. It reminds me

• I'm not doing this alone, friends**, family and faith are there to help
• I don't need to be quick, I can go at my own pace
• Some steps will be small and easy, others may challenge and stretch me
• I need to slow down sometimes, and wait patiently for others to catch up

**September marks the birthday of my friend Christine, who generously gives me The Painted Bear Calendar every year for Christmas, it is a year round gift. Thank you Christine for being there on my journey with me for so many years now. 

 

Golden Apples, Or Wolf Peaches?

A huge thank you to all the kind people who have shared their lovely homegrown tomatoes with us this summer. I have concluded that gardeners fall into two groups - the diligent waterers [like Brian] and the less conscientious [like me]. I started off determined to raise a crop of crimson globes, but once the water butts were empty and I was making frequent overheated journeys with the can from tap to pot I lost enthusiasm. 

But despite that, the fridge has been well filled with lovely donations - huge scarlet beefsteak and golden 'Texas toms' and tiny ruby cherries. The lettuce patch revived after the rains, so I was able to make 'regular' salads. But I knew we couldn't eat all the tomatoes before they were past their best. What to do?

Ann suggested a pie, and Liz mentioned a Tarte Tatin just as I was thinking about pastry. The legend is that at the famous Tatin Hotel in the Loire valley, one of the sisters absent-mindedly made an apple tart upside down, flipped it out of the pan, and into the history books. [I am not convinced by this story at all]

But what works for apples ought to work for tomatoes. Joy the Baker advises cooking them whole. I cut mine into slices [smaller ones in half] Arranging them in my Le Creuset pan, big slices first then filling gaps with smaller ½ toms I sweated them off for a little while  with a little butter and olive oil. Having sprinkled salt, strewn basil leaves, and drizzled balsamic vinegar, I patted a circle of puff pastry on top [Co-op pre rolled sheet from chilled section] 16 minutes in a hot oven, then I flipped it over. Cheese on half of it [for Bob] and under the grill till that melted. Served with a red&white cabbage/red onion/carrot coleslaw. Quick and easy to make and very toothsome....

The remaining toms were sorted into 'better - use for salads' and 'less exciting' . These ones have been cooked off and frozen to make a sauce for pizza/pasta/bolognese base.
Italians call them pomo d'oro which translates to golden apples, as the first fruits brought to Europe from the Americas were yellow. We Brits call them tomatoes from the Aztec word tomatl
The Latin name is lycopersicon which translates as wolf peach and that comes from a German legend saying that you could use these fruity to summon werewolves! [You may know the word lycopene, that helpful antioxidant found in tomatoes, and also pink grapefruit]

Whatever you call them, big or small, red or yellow. tomatoes are full of good nutrients. I'm truly grateful to my lovely neighbours for their generosity. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TOMATO RECIPE?

Blinkin' Blogger!!

 All good herein Cyprus. Blogger will let me post your comments but not reply to them. SORRY 

You Gotta Pop A Pocket Or Two!

Someone posted in a Community FB group to which I belong. Her daughter had been receiving treatment at our local hospital, but they'd referred her on to Great Ormond Street who were brilliant. Mum wanted to "give something back" in gratitude - and was appealing for local stitchers to make some "NG pouches" [sometimes called "tubie pockets"]
Online these can cost up to £15 each

These are simple, washable pockets to hold nastro-gastric tubes tidily [and can be pinned safely out of reach of fiddling fingers!] Most are around 10cm square. How hard can it be?
The Norfolk Mum had posted a picture, so I made a cardboard template. She wanted the simple pockets, not the pones with an attached clip. I set up a production plan, and  easily made forty in a day, using scraps from THE Great Stash. I already had a poppa gadget and supplies. I used some floral prints, and some which were 'child friendly' - cars, dragons, fairies, teddies. 

Mum was very grateful, she said in her post she wanted 100 pockets. I hope that she exceeds that target,. and I am sure GOSH will be pleased too.

Do you have any experience of these little pockets?

A Bit Of A Puzzle

I love puzzles, and do a daily killer sudoku each morning - a 3 x 3 grid into which I have to fit numbers. But this week I have done a different sudoku challenge- one for packing my suitcase! We are going on holiday to Cyprus. I needed to pack the minimal number of garments for the week. Following the example of my daughters I've used the sudoku method. You choose 9 garments which will combine to make 27 outfits. 3 tops, 3 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes = 3 x 3 x 3 =27

I looked at what was in my wardrobe, and decided that I did not need 3 pairs of shoes - trainers and sandals would be fine. I also wanted to avoid strappy tops- it may be hot, but if we visit local churches, it is respectful to have covered shoulders. I'm definitely 'coastal grandmother' looking at the stuff in my wardrobe

Blues and whites abound. But I am not taking jeans. They are currently way too snug for hot weather. I don't want shorts. This was what I've ended up with-
4 tops - white linen, white cotton tee, blue cotton tee, striped tee

3 bottoms - blue linen trousers, pale blue/white stripe linen trousers, cotton pattern skirt,

2 shoes - sandals and trainers [the latter for clambering over ruins etc]
This should be 4 x 3 x 2 = 24.

Plenty for a week [not that I'd wear the stripes with the floral skirt] 

But I did add an extra outfit for fancy evenings out, a new black cotton maxi dress with heeled blue shoes, and silver accessories [chosen by Liz and Rosie] and a blue cardi in case it gets breezy [ suggested by Steph] 

Plus of course sunhat, pjs, and swimsuit [and underwear] 

The only item specially purchased for this trip was the dress- and that was paid for with my M&S reward vouchers. 

Have you ever used the Sudoku packing method?
Do you buy new clothes for your holiday?