Weekending

It was a very busy and extra long weekend for us, so there was a lot of serious Weekending to be done.

Yesterday it was Queens Day or Koninginnedag in celebration of our queen and a national Holiday.

Every where in the Netherlands there were flea markets, mainly occupied by mothers and their children, selling the toys and kids stuff they have out grown, including the contents of cellars and attics. 

When I was four I stood on a flea market selling my toys with my big nephew and when she is old enough it will be miss E's turn and I will be one of the moms overseeing the spectacle. 

This year we went into the hunt with one special item on our wish list: a nice seat for Miss E. and scored within the first hour to our content. We are two vintage school-seats richer and one mom somewhere is celebrating the space in her home with two seats less.

There were picnics to be had: scones with Mascarpone and jam, quiche with grapes and cucumber and cherry tomatoes. So there were also a few late night baking sessions.

The day before it was Spring Festival on the mountain. The shepherd brought his flock and lambs that were born that same morning to see and touch. There were all kind of ecological market stalls. 

And now this busy mama is going to close her eyes and count some sheep herself. It was a wonderful weekend; I hope it was the same for you too.

Tea for three

The problem with baking and blogging about it, for me is that I mostly bake in the evenings, when miss E. is asleep. The baking is good, but the light for making pictures is terrible. So most times my bakes don't make it to the blog.

Today was different; I slipped in a perfect baking session during miss E.'s naptime. And here is the result: a perfect tea for three after naptime.
There was a simple black tea and lemonade accompanied by some ginger bread and "fig and blue cheese savouries".

I'll show you my labour with love, and you can find the recipe for the gingerbread in my previous post, and the recipe for the fig and blue cheese savouries over here.

There are only a few ingredients: flour, butter, blue cheese, pepper, salt and fig preserves.

I cut the cookies with my favourite antique cookie cutter and I put in the dimples with the back of my honey spoon which provided to be the perfect tool. Sometimes things come together like they have always belonged that way. I love it when that happens.

I think these little little flowers are perfect for this early spring. The taste is a little salt and sweet, I'll definitely make them again. 

Signs of spring blue.

The grape hyacinths I planted begin January are growing steady but slow. It is cold in the window. They bear thick leaves but show no sign of flowers yet.

Outside birds are singing spring tunes in the morning, but it's still chilly and may as well snow in March or April. It wouldn't be the first time. So to keep warm I'm knitting a shrug in a beautiful alpaca. It's the first time I work with alpaca and I love how soft it feels in my hands. It promises to be very soft, cosy and warm. It is a perfect garment to take with you for a colder evening. You can find the pattern here.

What's in your WIP basket?