I have made a new friend. In real life.
We’ve been chatting politely to each other (as you do) during our son’s swimming lessons for a while now and last week she invited us for tea.
We’re supposed to be going there today.
So, naturally Joe’s come down with one of those random temperatures that children seem to get for no […]

Firstly, I must say thank you very much for all your wonderful support!
I do hope you all enjoy belonging to my little email club. 
Julia Lineanongrata has asked me to tell you 10 honest things about myself, so here goes: 
1. I don’t always answer my home phone. Basically because I hate the interruption. But, in my defense, I do […]

 
 
 
 
My little business took another step forward today:
I now have an email club!
So, if you would like to receive free patterns, 
discounts
workshop details 
and exclusive club members’ only offers
around four times a year  
 
please email me: janet@janetclare.co.uk
and I’ll gladly add you to the list.
Maybe, this completely free and exclusive to club members only mistletoe stitchery pattern will tempt you to join?
 
 
 

I had a lovely day out on Saturday.
I showed my work to the ‘Market Square Quilters’ in Newbury in the morning, joined them for lunch and then spent the afternoon looking at a beautiful antique quilt collection. 
My thanks to all the ladies for a lovely day that combined so many of my favourite things.
It was grand!
I was only able to go […]

I had made (not that well as you can see by the unmatched seams) this ankle length A-line skirt.
Very practical, sensible and boring.
Never wore it. Not once.
I kept thinking about the skirt on the front cover of ‘Home’ by Anita Kaushal and embroidering something on mine.
But what?
After some weeks of thinking and still not wearing the skirt, Joe presented […]

So, my last kitchen poem. I enjoyed them and hope you did too.
The boys played in the kitchen this morning,
in front of the sink, by the kettle and the oven:
or in other words completely in. the. way.
I asked them slightly huffily why they always insisted on playing in the kitchen and Henry said:
“So we can […]

Friday night is ice cream night. So tonight they had vanilla ice cream, bananas and homemade toffee sauce. I think they liked it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And just for the record; I’d like to say that drinking the last of their icecream like that is uncharacteristic. My boys have impeccable table manners. At all times. Honest.
The original recipe is from ‘Apples […]

Why do they insist on waggling their feet and kicking each other through every. single. meal?
This is boys’ tea time on Thursday 4pm : pre football club pasta.
I called it ‘footie’ earlier and got told it was ‘old fashioned’.
I stand corrected, Joe darling.
Anyway, by the time Henry had finished the floor was covered in pasta.
And there it sadly […]

Our kitchen last night.
As ever:
the lava lamp is glowing,
the radio is singing,
and at least one small boy is wondering what’s for tea.
Last night it was one of our favourite treats: prawns.
I just love watching them turn pink.

And after tea?
Sparklers in the garden to remember this naughty chappy!
 
 

 
 
So, last night (and most others too) we were all safe, together, well […]

Henry wanted to wash up for me today.
No, he honestly did!
And of course, I let him.
He was extremely happy and proud of himself for helping.
Which makes all the floor mopping, the later re-washing of bubble covered but still dirty dishes (in secret) and the changing of wet clothes completely worthwhile in my book.
I have just noticed […]