Fabric fancies

Happy Friday!

Oh to have a little time to sew! 

Perhaps I will find a small window in the hushed quiet of Sunday morning-
before the sun and children rise. 

Passing down a street in Valletta last Sunday, 

 so many worn down slanting streets, with small hints of the city's former glory days. 

Small hints of stories tied to this place or that door.  

Am down with a cold, so not much posting or commenting this week.
Barely enough energy to get through my lessons and the upkeep of children and house when I get home.

Blessed is the weekend

Feeling happily restored as the new week opens( thank you for your kind comments), 

with small hands clenching wild flowers,
giggling laughter at darting butterflies and happy muffin dusted faces.
Fresh air and sunshine does do wonders for a sense of calm and perspective.  

Let the new week begin!

p.s. The date night and reconnecting space to walk and talk was much appreciated too. 

Happy Friday

Horray we've made it to Friday!

Now it's time for a cosy date with the Mr. 

Legligin being one of our favourites, unassumingly tucked  down a side street in Valletta, 

the owner a real food and wine lover means we never leave disappointed  {unless its all booked}. 

Hope you all have a calm relaxing weekend!

Thorny start

Hello and thank you for all the great comments as regards the banner! 

My personal choice was two - {morning light in Valletta} but perhaps having the family up there is not a bad thing. The photo for this banner was taken two weeks ago at a picnic in Salina Park near Qawra, under the Eucalyptus trees and next to a modern rendition of a typical Maltese hunting hut 

{which you still come across often}. 

The photo in this post was taken last weekend, autumn in Malta actually means only a few things are brown. Mostly the island is waking up after a long dusty brown toned summer,  the heavy humid heat is almost subsiding and the rains have begun. The plants are happy and turning to a lush green again. 

Thorny because we all started school this week, child 1, 2, 3,  and myself teaching- bit bumpy at the start [photo copiers jamming just before class, wrong room key, projector cable not matching etc., meeting some 200 students and attempting to learn all their names}

I suppose settling into a new routine is never very smooth. 

Hope your week is going by with less sharp edges, 

* Am afraid no Cornerview today ,  I just could not manage it this week. 

Capers, year three

We are just past the two year point and beginning year three of life in Malta  {and of the blog} so I am overdue on updating my banner - problem is I can't seem to decide.... am open to suggestions- which would you choose?
1.

2.

or 3

x

or 4

Wednesday's cornerview: 'humour'

When I think of humour the first thing that comes to mind at the moment is this show, Modern Family

 that the Mr. and I have recently started watching. We find it pretty funny, well cast and well written.

For more corner views go here. 

New York moments

Nearly forgot, I had the good luck the last few days of my trip to the States to be with my brother and sisters in Brooklyn, and I must say I am a converted woman, if I could live in Brooklyn I would not mind living in NYC in fact I would probably love it. There were great little shops, restaurants, parks, farmers markets and flea markets .  A vibrant truly international feel and very family friendly.

 

Flea market- trendy as ever and with some great food...notably the home made fruit sodas-loved the plum, ginger cinnamon combo

Local six point star beer at The Farm bar-

The brewer happens to be a friend of my brother's with Wisconsin ties so we learned some of the secretes,

 

Walked past an evening jazz concert just starting...

local streets

You betcha- I had brunch!
It is something I really miss, there is nowhere here in Malta that serves brunch as far as I am aware.
So I fully enjoyed eating at this little restaurant,  the plum crepes were calling my name, so too the rhubarb muffins! Yummmm

Off to a new week, hope yours is starting off well!

Happy Weekend

What a sweet parcel arrived today!!! 

Thank you Janis, I love the hand printed  bag and card...mmm nothing like that soft sweet smell of lavender!!!  Love the card you made as well. A good reminder to breath in,  and relax,  I have a bad case of last minute nerves at the moment, a new job  teaching history starts this week! Teenage students and full time work... will I manage?! 

Hope the rest of you out there have a relaxing weekend! 

Wednesday's cornerview: 'seven'

Seven delicious little stroop waffles from the Netherlands, 

perfect with our afternoon tea, thank you Guusje! 

For more corner views go here. 

By the way, here was the look out the window at midday today- it's time again for rain, summer is at its end. Storms thundering in  - pomegranate season has started. 

the rooftop view

Back from America

Hope you all are well. My trip to the states for the funeral of my grandmother was bitter sweet.  I still deeply regret that I did not get the chance to see her in person one last time before she passed away but going to where she lived and being around family and her old friends gave a very soothing, peaceful kind of closure. I am including in this post a few old family pictures of her.

Young Alice second from right

Alice, in the center

Grown Alice with her daughter

Alice, second from left, with her siblings.

A photo of my great grandmother's wedding, don't you love those hats! 

Happy Friday

Have a good weekend!

 We shall be enjoying sharing our small local alleys and island treasures with sweet visitors,  (some of you may know) and then it is away to New York to be with family and friends for the funeral. 

So see you all in a week or so! 

Necessity the mother of invention

My recent fix for the problem of earring storage, a strip of cloth attached to the inside hinges of our wardrobe doors, it's proving very handy. If any of you find your self in the same boat, this solution only takes an hour ( I did it by hand but with a sewing machine it would take 5 min).  Measure the distance between the hinges first. Then you make a fold at the top and bottom of the cloth strip, add a small tie through the loop at the back to tie it on at the top and bottom and your set! It in no way interferes with the opening or closing of the door.

  

Looking forward

Thank you for all for your  thoughtful comments. Traveling state side in a weeks time for the funeral, looking forward to seeing my sisters, brothers, nephews, uncles, aunts and parents.

Recently the Mr and I walked down to this restaurant(Lupanara) in Birgu, it is literally built into a cave, along the backside of Fort St. Angelo, which dates back to the Phoenician period. Was a nice evening, and sitting out near the water we managed to catch a wee whisper of a breeze (the heat has been a little overwhelming these last weeks). 

**Side note. Am reading a book called the Sword and the Scimitar which describes the period when this area was a thriving hub of activity (1560's) - a good read if you like history and are at all interested in Malta. 

• Needing a little smile? Have a look here ! 

Feasts ad farewells

It's the village feast of where the Mr. is from, so we have been out amid the festivities of St. Helena in Birkirkara (as also seen last year). Band marches, endless fire works, music and great enthusiasm (even with the thick humid heat).

Alice T. Winfield

My mind is not here though, we received news that my grandmother passed away suddenly, and without having the chance to say good by or to speak to her one last  time makes my heart feel like lead. These are the moments when living so far from family and old friends is difficult. It had been a year and a half since last I saw her. To be fair she was 97 years old. Until the day she died she was still reading the New York Times, a lady who wore berets tipped to one side in the winter time, could argue with the best of them about any given topic, loved to travel (and did a fair amount- from Kathmandu to Cuba). She was an optimist who was always willing to have a conversation with a stranger, a curious, tennis playing gal, my hero.  The woman who taught me to play cards, to swim in the sea, to iron a shirt and to drink afternoon tea. We share the same feet, hands and eyes.  

The world feels slightly duller with her not in it. 

 I will be taking a few days leave from the blog.  

Amid the heat

Some places to put pencils and paintbrushes 

(thought it was about time to put some of those old cans to good use and I do so like oil cloth). 

Reversible headbands for the girls 

ohhh and a new Ice cream! 

Carol Jean I call it (after my mother who first introduced the glorious combination of 

dark chocolate and orange to me)

This recipe is much like Zanzibar (found here) except using 75 grams dark unsweetened cocoa, and the 3/4 cup sugar needs to be brown sugar, when you simmer the milk and chocolate add in one strip of an fresh orange rind (roughly two inches by half inch wide), a 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla and be sure to remove the peel before adding the cream. 

It is very good, the chocolate being dark, the orange a solid hint without being overpowering.  

Taking time to ....

give thanks.... (as inspired from this blog).
 Thanks so much Melissa for pointing it out!

Taking a moment to give a small momentary thanks -
- to the scrawny old man across the ally from us (their front stoop five feet from our door) who is blasting out old Elvis records ( am all shook up is echoing through the stone ally at the moment in the noon day penetrating sun)

- to the quiet few hours my husband gave me while he takes the children to the park and shopping ( I can clean and run errands in complete blissful peace.... podcasts filling my morning). Long lines at the post office with no stress.

- to the breeze that gave a short reprieve from the down ward beat of the sun and which made me look up at the rustling leaves of a fig tree heavy with fruit leaning out beyond the school fence.

- to the three boys racing in our ally, cheering and hooting  with the thrill of the competition,  they made me fondly remember those care free never ending summer days of when I was a child.

- to the chance  this morning to give my full attention to a particular story on womans hour- (knitted lives) oh  how it made me smile.... what full of life women!!! What a delightful project. It appeals on so many levels. The knitted swimming shorts excerpt a particular hoot.

- to the cool dancing police guys in this video who made me want to get up and move too.

- and lastly thanks to my middle child (whom I tend to worry most over) who yesterday made me smile with her cuddly soft caress as she layed down for a mid day nap next to me, kitten purring between our shoulders, the fan rhythmically beating on and blowing gently the small curl by her temple... these are some of the moments my spirit appreciates.

And you? Which things could you give thanks for today or yesterday?

Happy Friday

to one and all..

Dash assisting T in rescuing a paper airplane

wooiee there is nothing like hot weather and trying to do a few errands with three kids in tow... some moments are fine, even nice, and fulfilling in that parental sort of way, kids singing and skipping down shady alleys. Tanned legs cheerly making their way past beaming stooped over grannies sweeping doorsteps and past crowds of old men standing or sitting in the shady part of the piazza  drinking small glasses of sweet tea.

Then come the testing grating on your nerves moments when not shouting takes every bit of strength you have, like when you have gone to the bank and your 6 yr old boy scoots up very close in order to get a very good view to the random lady trying to get money out of atm machine in front of us, at the same moment curly topped older girl child teases your younger girl child in stroller -within seconds come a few high pitch screams and the loud sound of the  aluminium water bottle clanging onto the stone floor,  ..it rolls, knocks past to older already annoyed  people waiting in the hot sun and on into the street and traffic - just at the moment you are trying to explain to said 6 yr old - please give the lady some space... atm machines are a time for PRIVACY (for lack of a better word)(privacy a relatively newly introduced term in the house). This slightly chaotic moment is then topped off with curly topped middle child (who is obsessed with finding coins)  screams she has found a MONEY!!!! Younger child (aka destructo) demands A MONEY TOO!!!! I NEED A MONEY!!!!

Moving right along that was peanuts next to the crowded hard ware store experience.... waiting in line, having various small hands belonging to my wee tribe nearly tipping over huge rolled up hoses, black shade material, aluminium trash cans neatly stacked up as I wait in the short but sloooowwww line (and get skipped by a stocky old lady) what can I do?! Arguing in Maltese is not my strong suit. Finally when it is my turn, I try to explain what I mean by a glue gun. Meanwhile boy child insists I ask them for sparklers.. first time I ignored his interrupted question but upon the fifth repeat I finally excuse the child, tell him off quietly and then start trying to explain what a sparkler is in sign language.. with two old men behind the worn out dusty counter looking very very confused... cake candles is what they eventually handed to me... so yes, coming home, out of the sun, is heaven sent.. time for  huge juicy peach and banana smoothies..(the peaches in Malta are absolutely delicious right now) what else can cure frayed nerves right?
I won't bore you with the next thing asked for (aside from painting all the windows with random paintbrushes and muddy water and setting the kittten up in his own boat... in the kiddy pool). Actually (  I only just narrowly rescued the poor little guy from his sea fairing  adventure .. much to the extreme dismay of child 1,2 and 3). Its not even lunch time. Sometimes half a day with the 'tribe' is like one bumpy and uphill treck.... some nice sights and sounds, loving lovely moments but there is no way around the fact that it takes heaps of energy and patience.

For sanity I find a run down to this bay as the sun comes up helps me keep my cool, in moments of being pulled (sometimes literally) in three or four directions. 

Wee little gift I made this week for a friend thinking of making another for the shop...

Zanzibar ice cream

Named more for an ice cream  I remember loving as child then the exoticness it may allude to. 

Now I am not exactly sure if there ever really was a Zanzibar ice cream that I tried as a child but I seem to remember it and it was most certainly a dark chocolate type (I come from the midwestern state of Wisconsin known for it's dairy products, ice cream being one found in unusual abundance). 

Here is my version of the Zanzibar Ice Cream

  (or dark chocolate ice cream with a hint of mint)

2 cups full or 2 percent milk

3/4 to cup dark cocoa powder ( I used dark Perugina powder) 

(Picture shown) 

*of note, I am  not entirely sure if it is just dark unsweetened cocoa powder or perhaps something you make the thick hot Italian hot chocolate with. 

4 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar ( I used a tiny bit less than this) 

1 cup single cream

1 spring fresh mint

Heat two cups milk in a medium saucepan. 

Mix 3/4 cup cocoa powder with the milk.

add 3/4 cup sugar ( I used demurera but any plain sugar would do) 

* I like my chocolate ice cream to be on the dark and bitter side as I like to taste the chocolate so you may want to add a little more sugar).

Let the mixture heat just to a gentle simmer (then add one three inch spring of fresh mint) and watch closely so as not to burn for 2-5 min, stirring continuously. Then remove from heat ( also remove the soggy mint spring) and add the 1 cup single cream (in the US it may be safer to use double cream) (here single cream whips just like double cream, only difference I can see is single cream is a little less thick to start with and it is near to impossible to find double cream).
Separately beat 4 egg yolks till fluffy,  (should be ribbon like when you bring a whisk through).
Add the heated milk and cocoa mixture in a tiny smooth stream to the whipped egg yolks, and when completely combined bring the mixture back to the stove top and heat slowly till it thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, remove and let cool , then refrigerate for a few hours and lastly pour into ice cream churner (this recipe makes about 10 two scoop servings).

The weeks are galloping by at an unusual pace here, sorry I have not managed to write many posts or leave many comments. amid visitors and neolithic temple reading here I have been working on some sewing commissions. But here are a few tiny snippits of the week, 

The season of village feasts, Birgu (our close neighbour) had hers on Tuesday. The sound of fire works and marching bands have been a constant all week. 

Going out, and enjoying skirts ( I go through phases of forgetting to wear them) 

but ahh in summer heat they are the best!

Little creations- oil cloth bag for kids

Happy Monday

Nothing like a full weekend of activities and nice slow meals with friends to help the back to business of Monday mornings! Am coasting from the nice talks, new faces and interesting films caught at this weekend's short film festival. 

Hope your week is starting off well.

oh!

I tried out a very tasty new recipe - Zanzibar chocolate ice cream I am calling it- recipe to come soon! Swimsuits to rinse and hang on the rooftop and kitty boxes waiting to be cleaned... 

more soon though! 

p.s. Isn't Zibibbo a fun name for a grape?!