At last!!

The recipe that I mentioned some days ago, the fig ice cream. Especially for you Guusje. Sorry it has taken me some time to get round to writing it down!  It is an original recipe so sadly I am not completely certain on the amounts I used.  I am also including a very dependable tasty strawberry ice cream recipe. 

 I have opened a little etsy shop!!! 

It is called The Caper Collection and can be found here,
I still have quite a few items to add but here are a few. 

To celebrate I would like to have my first give away! 

Who ever is picked can choose one of the following: an animal of their choice, one of the small purses, a make up carrier or the jewellery carrier. 

In your comment please leave your name, which you would prefer and your email address. I will choose someone in one weeks time.

Strawberry Ice Cream
400 grams chopped strawberries
100 milk
300 ml fresh cream
100 grams sugar
Directions: puree all ingredients together and pour into ice cream mixer.

Fig, Walnut and port ice cream
7 large very soft figs
50-100 grams toasted walnuts (chopped)
300 ml fresh cream
100 ml milk
orange rind
100 ml port
pinch cinnamon
Directions: Simmer lightly in a covered pan the figs in the port ( fork some holes into each of the figs). add in sugar, orange zest (around 1/2 tsp) and the pinch of cinnamon. Let cool and then scoop out the fig insides and add to the liquid, remove the peels. Gently pour in the milk and fresh cream. Lightly stir and add to the ice cream mixer, add the nuts just as the ice cream is getting thick. Obviously this is according to your own taste so feel free to increase or decrease amounts of orange rind, sugar and figs. This was my first time making this ice cream, sadly the Bajtar Tal San Gwann figs are finished so I will be trying it with a different sort of fig when the new kind are in season at the start of August.

Wednesday's Cornerview: Summer

The joy of such simple entertainment.

Happy Monday

A small taster to what I have been working on lately.

Still without the Mr. but I have been making the most of my quiet evenings with some new sewing projects, having fun designing and trying out ways of making a small make up carrier bag (for the times you are away for two or three nights and just need a few things, one or two lipsticks, mascara, eye shadow a blush etc. ) and a jewellery carrying case and lastly a hand purse (but I have not taken photos of those yet).  Am making some things for the next arts market here in Malta and yes... the etsy shop (planning to have it ready by the end of the month). Not many days left! Will let you know when I do get it off the ground. 

Any feedback much appreciated.. still working on the pricing.. I find this part very tricky. 

Corner View: Noticing (late)

My absent minded professor has been away these last two weeks, lost in a conference of maths and logic. He was away for my first art fair, fathers day, our anniversary and my job offer (teaching history). In some way it feels like its been years and not just a few weeks. It is terrible to say that it takes him being away to make me realise how much he means to me... but I suppose in the whirr of life with smalls it is easy to get caught up in the to do list of every day, every week...perhaps do a little too much nagging etc.  Having him gone makes me notice .. notice how much he means to me, to us all, the children really miss him. I realise just how much he helps me keep my pace, makes me laugh and supports me through phases of second guessing myself which I so appreciate. 

I am so thankful for having him in my life. Silly coffee machine ruler, fellow radio addict, foodie, 

travel lover, planner and love.

The whole island feels different without him. Am so glad he will be returning next week. 

Happy Monday

Tis Fig Season again here! Actually to be specific it is the season of Bajtar ta' San Gwann (the big purple soft figs) will be cooking some with a tiny bit of port and orange zest tonight (have eaten so many raw that I think its time to try out other methods). The season is only about three weeks long and there are not so many days left... you know what I am planning next- but of course - Ice cream! So we can savour the taste just a little longer into summer. There are actually three different fig seasons here in Malta. So this most likely won't be the last of my posts on them (Tin).

Wednesday's Cornerview: 'Daily'

Aside from the first thing- (coffee of course), and bread (delivered fresh to ones door if one were to leave a small bag and some cents in it), and some morning kisses 

the daily MUST is for me a bit of the 'outside world'.

Global News from the BBC, NPR's Fresh air and a bit of Woman's hour to keep me up to date on the 'going-ons' of happenings out there and cultures I feel connected to (ought to have some Norsk Radio).

Of late I have heard some shows that I can't stop babbling on about.. here are a few favourites

1. Hostages- (a recent This American Life show)

2.Watching Giants (cool short piece on the underwater culture of whales 

(really far more interesting than you would guess!)

3. Sheds- what a clever- funny idea for gathering men together to talk. 

4. Last but not least - a piece that really renwed my faith in humanity and the power of what one person with the right vision and attitude (and support) can achieve. Fresh Air Interview with the founder of Home Boy Industries (helping to get gangs off the streets and into skilled employment). 

First

Caper Collection (my first stall)

This weekend I participated in the Patches Market (the first of it's kind in Malta). Was a  lot of work leading up to it (sewing last bits early in the morning and late at night) but really an enjoyable experience. Met some cool people and tapped into the art/craft community here in Malta. Looking forward already to the next one, lots o ideas bubbling around in my head for the next event! Still need to get the etsy shop up and running! Time where does it go?! 

When life gets ahead

Pardon the silence....am franticly catching up and finally finding my breath again. Very busy last two weeks, funny how sometimes things all happen at once! Did not manage to make this week's Cornerview, shame (bliss- what a good idea click here for what some others came up with).  I have been wanting to draw your attention to this

Click here for more details. Still putting together my collection for the market. 

Will post about it as soon as I finish.  Drop a line and join if you like! 

Happy Friday!

Wednesday's Cornerview: From where I am sitting

Or rather as I have not been sitting much, its where I am going. Notice for once I am in the photo!
This scenic picture was taken by my friend Amber, over from Italy with her family.
Heading down to the water. 

Stairs, children and waves was the view.

Off to play a little

Pardon the silence, we have friends visiting this week. 

Will be back soon!

Wednesday's Cornerview: Your street

Our street when she was getting all dressed up for the feast. 

Our nice little run down ally

Our stoop plus the gang (who without fail try to run to the end in time to scare us) 

Monday morning traffic

 Along with the blue sea,  blossoming peach trees and sun blanched quaint stone streets there is also this side of Malta (I am admittedly overdue in making this post). 

This is the view out the car window last week while we were stuck in endless traffic (a bit of rain means flooding in many parts of the island and more than the usual numbers of traffic jams). Lovely industrial Marsa, with its many derelict cranes (gone is the hay day of the Maltese ship building industry). Many pot holed back streets criss-crossing between factory buildings and closed up abandoned old storage houses. I was beginning to fear I may be painting too sunny and perfect of a picture and so was moved to include a few photos that normally I may edit out.

I for the most part in the last year have focused my attentions on the bits of beauty and culture here.  This also helped in my transitioning to the island, trying to find the hidden treasures that make living here really worth while. But this (above photos) is also Malta, lots of construction, lots of traffic... it is the most densely populated country in Europe and because most of the country was built long before cars were invented, there simply is not space for them all. I could go on in this direction, with the many faults one can find here but at the moment I won't spend too much time on that, for I am enjoying this time of allowing myself to be charmed by Malta's rustic worn down beauty and quirkiness.

*I must admit I do rather like some of the old abandoned houses,
 such textures and small remains of past glory!  

Wednesday's Cornerview: Collections

Due to the fact that we have been a rather mobile family  (our oldest has moved six times in his six short years of life), we have not had the chance to really collect much (sadly) but our migratory days should be behind us and it is nice to start collecting bits and bobs.  

This little trio was a gift from grandma and are used by the children for personal maple syrup pouring convenience. Handy too because we can be sure they each only consume about a tablespoon or two  at a go... (its the real deal here and I view it like gold)

As my sister over at Ten Finger workshop knows.. takes a whole lot a trees to make just a pint of the magic stuff!
Thank you Joyce for hosting Cornerview while Jane has been away.  For more cornerviews check here. 

"What doin?"

Green Garlic

Funny how you can go about your day attempting to be oh so serious and adult, like say trying to take a nice close up shot of a fresh bunch of local garlic (because you recently learned garlic originated from Afghanistan and got a little inspired to buy and make something with green garlic),
when you spot at the last second
 a little face, fingertips and curious eyes.
"What do-in mama?!"

Little D is as mischievous as ever,  now days on tip toe she can peer over the table, reach the computer mouse from standing by my side at the desk, and is very agile at dragging chairs round the kicthen to have a closer look at any kind of cooking or sewing I am up to. Today she was pretending to 'go fishing' through the bars of the staircase with a wooden yoyo, swinging it with such force that she nearly knocked out her big sister. 

May your week be starting off with pleasant surprises. 

(Mine is starting of with lots of sneezes and a bit of a cold, there has been a mighty wind blowing round the island lately perhaps there is some connection). 

Friday, glad to see you again

Passing view as we drove home Thursday evening, 

 Valletta in her dusty beauty, bathed in the golden light of sunset.
 Do I really live here in this 'other' land...is this brown eyed man at my side really my husband?

 and these three round faced sleepy children are mine?

.. how ever did I get here.....

 lost in the now, the moment, the reality of it. Feels like just yesterday I was a student rushing to class. 

Of note this week:

Chick pea season is back again, and we nibble them fresh off the stalks...
here is a close up of what they look like. 

and playing round and round in our car these days is this song, (thanks honey) am now officially hooked... this is also a favourite.  

Happy Friday, hope you enjoy the weekend.
(Its the start of watermelon season here)

Corner view: Statues

These two statues were spotted near a small boarded up chapel on a walk past artichoke fields (posted about some weeks ago).  They were so unassuming,  seemingly forgotten about, amid overgrown fields and flower patches. Far from any paved road.  

For more Corner views look here. 

Look

what arrived in the post! 

Thank you Melissa from over at Tigerlily Tinkering for the lovely bag, I love it!!! and I so dig that inside pocket! Pop round to her blog and see her brilliant  barter market idea. 

Am planning on joining once I have enough stock (nearly there). 

Happy Monday to you all 

Lessons learned

It occurred to me this week, (perhaps it was related to the rainbow paintings the kids have been drawing) to show the children the film The Wizard of Oz, remembering the songs and some of the classic characters, got me quite excited (I need to buy the old books, the original pictures are wonderful, so too the other books in the series). 

Suffice to say the kids loved the songs, the Munchkins, the Tin Woodsman, the Lion and the Scarecrow but I had slightly forgotten the potency of that Wicked Witch of the West! Even with forwarding through the scary parts, the memory of the green faced witch had a very lasting impression!!  

My middle child, the chocolate loving curly topped girl, could not fall asleep, then woke throughout the entire night with nightmares. Oh the lacking skills! I tried everything, talking about happy thoughts, books, movies characters... but how to remove that witch image from her mind!!?? We are on day three and still she is waking in the night with nightmares. What have I done?! So lesson learned, wait till your children are perhaps over the age of six to show them this film. Although little D at age two seems to be fine, (could be a factor of a more sensitive nature and intense imagination of which the 'sweets' child is). 

Other books in the original series

* as I was writing this, little D came up and pointed at the picture of the witch saying OHHH that the scary one!!

Wednesday's Cornerview: Gardens

San Anton Garden, a garden which dates back to the time of the knights, it was built in the early 1600's. 

For us it always provides a calm little quiet shaded oasis. The main sounds are that of the birds, another highlight is watching the ducks (not a common sight here in Malta),  sometimes a swan or two, occasionally a peacock out strutting it's stuff and quite a few little turtles sunning themselves near one of the four ponds.  Oh, yes and it is home to more than a few very relaxed cats(clearly they feel they own the place). The San Anton Gardens are free and open to the public, behind them is the president's palace. 

*I don't know the name of the tree which dropped the sea of little orange petals but it certainly gave the place a particularly golden glow on this visit!

I was in two minds about which photo to use today and because I am a little sad not to be returning for a visit to the states this summer I decided to also include this picture, taken of little D last summer, enjoying the swing in my parents back garden.   

Of Dogs and Donkeys

What did this weekend's Saturday picnic bring us but a chance encounter with some Maltese donkeys, and what sweet curious ones they were! 

(You can see already that little D is making a worried run for mama), this came with a screetching DON'T EAT ME! plea to the donkeys. Funny because we calmed D down and explained donkeys don't eat people (which then embolded the older two kids to go nearer) just in time for the curious darker donkey too take a good nibble/lick of my husband's toes.  This did not help Stella's fear.  

Shortly before this meeting with the asses, three very fox like dogs came upon us, all very friendly and  curious, smiling in the noon day sun with slit eyes. They then followed us to where we met the grazing donkeys.

In the end we had three dogs and two donkeys following us, which was slightly terrfying to little D and kind of thrilling to the older two children, who soon adopted a we-want-a-pet-dog (or pony ) chant for the rest of the trip home. 

 The moment post bite and one of the said Dogs