As it is snowing, here is my recipe of snow ice cream. Do not use compact snow unless you want it slushy... You can find the recipe on my parenting blog...
13.1.17
Snow ice cream or Italian granita with snow...
As it is snowing, here is my recipe of snow ice cream. Do not use compact snow unless you want it slushy... You can find the recipe on my parenting blog...
23.12.16
29.6.16
Recycling rubbish!
 |
| Courtesy of Empty Common Garden's blog |
I like to think I believe in the Rs of recycling: Retrieve, reinvent, reuse (first mentioned here in this Community Garden Blog). In this instance I am not retrieving from a river but from the blue bin. I have been recycling:
- plastic fruit punnets to use as cloches on pots in the greenhouse, also soda bottles cut in half as ground cloches
- plastic packaging to pick up cat poos in the garden
- toilet rolls to make planters (just stand on a plastic tray)
- small plastic containers to store seeds
- ice cream wooden sticks to label plants (you can write on them with a pencil) and chopsticks saved from sushi restaurant visits (you can write on top fat bit)....
- re-using teabags and coffee grounds as mulch
- keep nut shells to scatter in raised bed as they deter snails
- oranges' and lemons' netting could protect a small plant from pigeons
- use grass cuttings to deter weeds
- use moss growing among my grass to line hanging baskets as it keeps moisture
- keep stones I find when digging up in the ground to hold moisture for potted plants
- use raspberry and blackcurrant leaves for making tea
- Encourage mint plants so I can use their leaves fresh or dried to make tea
- Use nettles in compost bin to encourage compost making (and wee if I can pee in a pot - as shown on Gardeners' World not long ago)
- Keep the pond clean as frogs are saving me a fortune in slug pellets
More ideas to come! Happy gardening.... Here is a cute idea from Charlotte, who is the Empty Common Garden's Coordinator.... More ideas are on that blog.
25.5.16
Making something out of (nearly) nothing
 |
| Michela helped Charlotte build a bug hotel using recycled materials. Find out how here |
 |
| Decorating biscuits is a popular party activity for kids. This is marvellous creation by an 8 year old girl |
 |
| The Botanic Garden in Cambridge has activity drop-ins once a month. This mini dry garden is very pretty |
25.5.15
Keeping busy...
 |
| Lavender leaves and heather flowers in wedding favour's recycled tulle - something out of nothing |
 |
| Crowdsourced content before the net |
1.5.15
Recycling and life hacks
 |
| Pic: Campfullmonte |
I have been thinking of ways I use/re-use things and here are a few off the top of my head:
- using the previous day's boiled water from my kettle for ironing and watering plants (my kettle has a scale blocker by the pourer)
- buying socks in similar colour/style so I always have a spare when one develops a hole. Plus an old, clean sock is handy to clean shoes and apply shoe cream
- using an old toothbrush to clean between tiles and hard-to-reach areas
- using baby wipes on burned grease on my cooker (best done after you have used the oven so it's warm)
- using lighter fluid to take off sticky marks (like price stickers or sticky brown tape marks).
Feel free to contribute....
28.2.15
10 years of this blog! A craft & cooking carnival
Here is a selection of crafting and baking projects featured on this blog since its start in February 2005. The last picture features Pandan cupcakes, which I made adapting this recipe from Youtube.
 |
| Cosy hat and cape for my baby daughter |
12.12.14
Life hacks - don't you love them?
In the past month, I have been tweeting useful articles on how to re-use and/or repair items and they have proved very popular... for instance, did you know that the pumice stone you use on the hard skin of your feet can clean the water sediment in a toilet? I know, it's not a Xmas tip, per se but if you have guests and need to clean a scaley toilet, then it's handy. I use a broken pumice stone for cleaning, I am not suggesting you use it again on your feet... gross! But let's move away from toilets to more exciting things, such as handmade Xmas decorations. I had a go at making a wreath for my front door and a tree decoration this year: see them here on my 1930s House blog. They came out pretty well and my daughter helped too.
My daughter and I both love advent calendars and guess what... there's one that combines hacks and festive ideas: http://sugru.com/go/advent-calendar. My daughter and I like this toy mash-up:
We have some samples of Sugru to try out and I am hoping to make/fix something in the Xmas holidays, which start on 22 December. The last day of my daughter's school term is Friday 19 December. Merry Xmas everybody from Mrs Santa and Rudolph Michela.
Let's move to festive baking and here is a cake we made for a party. We only had blue icing left, hence the unusual colour scheme. The 'clever' thing about this cake is that it was made in our breadmaker and it was too big to fit in the takeaway silver tray so I cut it in half. The other half was stored undecorated in a tin as my partner is very fond of fruit cake but doesn't like icing. Two for the price of one!
We have some samples of Sugru to try out and I am hoping to make/fix something in the Xmas holidays, which start on 22 December. The last day of my daughter's school term is Friday 19 December. Merry Xmas everybody from Mrs Santa and Rudolph Michela.
12.10.14
Creative recycling: central heating copper pipe, scrap silver & rough emerald
 |
| Butterfly brooch and lily pad ring - with original pipe |
 |
| Ink sketch effect of my copper jewellery set |
I believe in creative recycling even when I am making jewellery. These two statement pieces were made using copper from a salvaged central heating pipe (from my own central heating system, I have not raided a skip). The butterfly brooch has silver antenna and pin, while the lily pad ring matches a pair of silver and gold earrings I made earlier on.
The silver circles on the ring are made of recycled scrap silver (melted into a ball and hammered into the size of a tiny watch battery) and a rough emerald (one of those they send you with certain junk mail offers - yes they are real but not precious).
Why am I posting this? Two reasons: to show people you can turn trash into a treasure and to enter a competition organised by http://www.ableskills.co.uk/.
4.10.14
13.8.14
Hello, long time, no see!
 |
Dinner in my revamped summerhouse/shed,
furnished by recycled/upcycled items. I only bought
the external paint, the internal paint was a leftover.
|
I had a very busy time and neglected all of my blogs, including this one, my very first! Looking at the statistics, I still get readers, despite the lack of updates, so thank you for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment and/or a link to your blog!
Aside gardening, I have kept up my recycling interests by attending Carbon Cambridge Footprint and Transition Cambridge events (I recommend the Swishing, Food Disco and, Seed Exchange events, their Open Eco Homes - I lent a PR hand for two campaigns) and recently joined a gardening project (follow this link to find the organiser's email).
So I swapped seeds, got ideas to use leftovers, acquired a few items of clothing, harvested a few veg, all free! The Seed Swapping events have a very small admission charge, but as it goes to the charity, it doesn't count!
So if you live in Cambridge, I hope to see you at one of these green events, you can learn something too. I haven't still managed to attend the Green University, but I would love to know how to fix my bike - here is my article: Pedal Power for all, full of family tips.
Last but not least, if you live not far from Victoria Road, please join this new Skills Exchange: http://www.cambridgeskills-exchange.co.uk/.
Have a good summer, I am already picking apples - everything is early this year!
19.9.13
Bedsheet ball gown, indeed!
I sent a photo of myself in my homemade Jane Austen/Regency outfit and it got posted on Cambridge Carbon Footprint's blog Live Well with Less.
If, like me, you like to make do and mend - while lowering your carbon emissions - I recommend reading this excellent blog.
9.8.13
DIY projects in my 1930s house
 |
| My revamped summerhouse - the 1930s house blog |
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'm busy working from home and doing some DIY. If you want to catch up with what I've been up to, visit
http://fromrattopositiveparent.blogspot.co.uk/ (juggling parenting with work)
and
http://the1930shouse.blogspot.co.uk/ (DIY, crafts and vintage stuff)
I think running five blogs is a bit challenging. I have two others, an arty one and an SEO one.
Have a happy summer!
18.5.13
11.5.13
27.4.13
Cycling for all ages in Cambridge
I have finally posted my comprehensive guide on pedal power for all, including young children, on my sister blog. I am covering health benefits, buying bikes, road safety, child bike seats, parking, cycle maps. Click here and enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
