Silver grey fox mask

I thought I'd make a silver fox mask. It's using the same pattern as my Ginger Fox of course, somehow though, it looks like I've just used a camera trick to change its colour!

Incredibles cape

Ahead of the sequel due out this summer, Mr H has talked me into making an Incredibles cape. 

You can order these direct from me if you contact me connie@mummyhughesymakesstuff.co.uk

Teenage Turtle masks

My kids absolutely love these! It was all I could do to get them to take the masks off so I could photograph them!

All the brothers are available to purchase in my etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/594876844/cheeky-turtle-felt-mask-for-dressing?ref=shop_home_active_2

Unicorn masks

I think these are still a work in progress.

Today wasn't much fun. I had to go to the hospital for some blood tests, seems I have viral fatigue. I am knackered. I have been for months now. Isn't it terrible when you hope there's something wrong with you do that you can be given something to make you well again?

Anyhoo. Unicorns. Taa daaaa....

More Gnomes

These are available to purchase on my etsy site: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MummyHughesy

New gnomes

Start of the Christmas makes. I've got some new beard material which makes them look so wise....

Zero Waste gift - seven year old

One of my boy's friends has his birthday party tomorrow.  I've made him a hat from the end of the yarn of a jumper I made my brother years ago! The boy in question is a proper carrot top, I can't wait to see this hat on him!

My Connie Mug

I've been decluttering A.LOT. recently and it's time for me and this guy to part ways. This is the only novelty item I have ever found with my name on it! I have had it since I was a child, probably around 30 years. Alas, apart from sporting my name it's useless,  I have had pens in it for most of the last 30 years as it's cracked, but the base it so much smaller than the top so it topples over easily.

Sooo...... a photo for memory, and a wave goodbye. Farewell Connie Mug xx

Nb.  Highly recommend decluttering, it's incredibly liberating!

"Does he like Meccano?"

The quote of the day!
Ollie had an MRI this morning, but set the machine off because he'd forgotten he'd put a piece if meccano up his nose! Honestly....

He is still very cute though!

DIY Apple cider vinegar

I am currently experimenting with making my own Apple cider vinegar as we all use this as conditioner, even Mr H, who says it's helping to keep his dandruff under control.

I had a couple of apples which have been in the fridge a bit too long, 1 tbsp of sugar to 1 cup of water. Instructions are here : 

https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2014/10/diy-homemade-apple-cider-vinegar-using-peels-and-cores/

This blogger warns not to use metal as the vinegar will corrode it, and pkastic leeches into the liquid so best use glass or similar. 

Another blogger says after a couple of weeks you have made hard cider which you can drink! Perhaps on a future batch ;)

This is my cider after two weeks on the shelf! It's a cold and frosty morning so the light is totally different, but the liquid has gone cloudy and it smells like scrumpy! Now I need to strain out the fruit and keep the liquid.

Tunisian crochet scarf #2

This is the scarf Katie made, but photographed in daylight :)

Tunisian crochet scarf (zero waste gift)

Katie wanted to make a present for her BFF. We thought he could do with a scarf but I wanted her to do the heavy lifting on this one as she is 9, so I usually get little to no help (or credit!)

I thought Tunisian crochet would be a nice thing for her to learn as it's less fiddly than crochet or knitting and it worked beautifully!  Now, I did help her make this, but she did do a lot of the crochet herself and is very proud of the result! I hope BFF appreciates the effort!!

Instructions we followed from this blog: https://www.stitchandunwind.com/free-tunisian-crochet-pattern/amp/ we used a 5mm crochet needle and some self patterning sirdar (I think!) Sock yarn which I'd made into a jumper years ago and have unwound, so it's recycled too!

Bad photo as it's night time and I've just realised his birthday is tomorrow!

School Arctic project

The kids worked together to create Ollie's Arctic habitat in a shoebox project. So cute! He drew the penguins and Katie made most of the box, he praised her about how good he thought it was and she replied "Most people don't take art as seriously as I do. "
I nearly choked on my tea! Girl after her mother! 🤣🤣

Beautiful Baps!

My friends Stu and Sarah brought their kids for a visit today. I made tomato soup and buns thinking we would go for a winter walk and have instant hot  food on our return, alas it rained. All. Day.

Buns are half the recipe below, the other half used for pizza bases on Friday. I put a silicone sheet in a rectangular baking dish and left overnight to rise in the fridge with milk on the top to prevent them drying out. In the morning I brushed melted butter on them before baking! Yum!

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/bread-recipes/basic-bread-recipe/

Reducing our pet's carbon pawprint

We brought home a cat this week and have been looking at ways to do this without bringing home more plastic. We've got wood chip litter, the kids have folded origami bags for cat waste (hoping Mr H will dig a hole for it all in the garden tonight) and we've bought biscuits in bulk. Good job we bought the recommended food in bulk to discover, she doesn't like the recommended food that she's been eating at cats protection!  How annoying!
Yesterday we tried her on tinned food to see if she prefers it, with resounding success!  I also discovered a way to cover the cat food! I'm so pleased with this discovery! Millicano coffee lids are a perfect fit! And take the edge off my guilt for buying a product with a plastic lid.

Pasta with a machine

Katie and I made pasta again today. Using the same recipe, but this time with a pasta making machine my friend has given me on a long term lend (her husband wanted it but never uses it, I'm allowed to keep it until he remembers!)
It was soooo much easier with a rolling machine!

Home made pasta

I was very excited today to start our Zero Waste new year, it was also quite nice to shop for something which wasn't "Christmas" food. Mr H and I are feeling rather saturated with meat and cheese!
I managed to get quite a lot of things from Lidl in tins, a few bags of flour etc, also had butternut squash for 65p each so i have a few of those noe. I prefer to get my fresh produce in Waitrose and they have quite a few fruit and vegetables loose, but I had to weigh them and got stickers I didn't want, maybe next time I'll self scan rather than quick check.
I had made pasta by hand earlier in the day, along with a basic tomato sauce, we had this for dinner when I got back and it was gorgeous! I have since arranged to borrow a pasta machine from a friend because rolling it by hands was time consuming and a great deal of effort!
Pasta recipe here: http://www.cookingandbeer.com/2015/03/how-to-fresh-homemade-pasta/
Sauce:
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/the