Ripe for the picking

 
Grace cottoned on the fruit on the blackberry bushes at the weekend when we were out walking the dog at Temple Newsam. We had to pry her away after a few mouthfuls. Not wanting to miss the season, Matt the Husband took her back out yesterday after work to pick fruit for baking. A real independent little girl, Grace carried and picked her own fruit for the bucket and came home to bake blackberry muffins for supper. Tasty!

 

Taxi!

Arm resting on the window, reversing over her shoulder, Grace is showing early entrepreneurial signs. Taxi!

Pedal on pedal on

Kitted out like her Daddy after a sketchy start involving lots of "No Daddy" protestations, Grace set out on the bike for a jaunt around the garden. Legs long enough to reach the pedals, full of intent but lacking the co-ordination to propel her into actio, Daddy will just have to push for now! Pedal on pedal on....

That's just triggered a blast from the past, living in Dublin, just turned 21, listening to Luka Bloom play live at the theatre... The Acoustic Motorboke, the song was called, pedal on pedal on....

Hilltop adventure

Not wishing to miss what could be the last day of summer, we set off for a morning jaunt around the nature reserve at the back of the village. Windy and with great views of tractors farming the local land, Grace had a blast...

Grace, very proud of her achievement of walking up a very very steep hill...

Grace, the independant lady, walking Daisy-woof

Spotting tractors, Grace's favourite passtime at present...

Enjoying the wind in her hair....

Silent Sunday

Hop hop Mummy!

LOOK! Hop hops EVERYWHERE MUMMY!

Still hopping after the wallaby walkabout...

Meal Planning Monday

As you might have noticed I've hit the wall one way or another and it feels like ages since I've sat and thought about what our family will be eating in the week to come. Lacking the inclination to really take the bit between my teeth, I'm planning on keeping it simple:

Monday: mushroom risotto with a jamaican jerk kick

Tuesday: spagetti carbonarra

Wednesday: beans on toast - a cheat night as Grace will have had 3 square meals at nursery and I'm working in Newcastle and Manchester this week so time is short (as I'm sure by Wednesday will be patience and energy to cook!)

Thursday: brown rice with pork and vegetable ragu

Friday: sausage, egg, chips and beans... good old fashioned home comfort with a dollop of ketchup for good measure. I'm looking forward to this one the most!

Remember to head on over to Mrs M for some real culinary inspiration...