early mornings in the kitchen
This week, Tom's brother Nick and his girlfriend are staying with us before they embark on a new job in the UK. I'm really enjoying having them around, as they are both gentle and warm people, and seem to be happy enough spending their days here the same way that I do: reading, knitting, drawing with the children, walking in the woods and sitting around drinking coffee.
They've come here for a bit of rest, too, after a long year working demanding jobs. So in the mornings while they're sleeping, A and K have been enjoying dreaming up possible 'party ideas' for when they wake up. Yesterday, they had the idea for a 'waffle party', so we spent the morning setting that up. It's a wonderful time to be in the kitchen, because we can watch the sun come up slowly through the glass doors.
I feel very European making and eating waffles. We never made them at home back in NZ but a good friend of mine who came from Austria would always make them when we visited, so they remind me of her. We like them with yoghurt and fruit, or butter and jam.
And I have been experimenting with my lovely new Bernina machine. To start off with, I made a mat for our kitchen table, so we could put hot plates down on it. I used some vintage cotton from Emily and some dark brown corduroy I brought from home. I also faced it with thick flannel for extra thickness, and did a wee bit of machine quilting around the edge. It feels nice to be sewing again.
Nice to have a visit from some family! The 'parties' sound like a fun way to start the day, and yay you for sewing! Gorgeous fabric, lovely result too.
Posted by: Jo | January 17, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Waffles...mmmmm. The table mat looks great, you must be pleased to have foot-on-pedal once more! I know I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't sew for more than a few days.
Posted by: Pauline | January 17, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Beautiful table mat,love the colors. I am like Pauline, I get withdrawal symptoms after not sewing for a few day's so guess I will have to make a table mat
Posted by: Pat | January 17, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I also have terrible withdrawal symptoms after not sewing for a few days...and that's why I was worried about you after reading you didn't have sewing machine in Norway in winter!!!!!!!
I love waffles, and yours are lovely :D !
Posted by: Alicia | January 17, 2008 at 10:32 AM
You can try eating them the Norwegian way: With "rømme" (=sour cream) and jam (strawberry or raspberry), or, if you're feeling adventurous, butter and brunost (brown cheese)! Yum :)
Posted by: Anja | January 17, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I'm really enjoying hearing about how things are going in Norway. It looks so beautiful! I'd appreciate some advice on finding flannel fabric - I had a look in the fabric store, but got confused, and didn't really know what I was looking for!
Posted by: Julia | January 17, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Mmmm, waffles. I'm following your adventures in Norway with great interest. It seems such a brave and exciting thing to do. Glad to read too that you have a sewing machine to use. I imagine that would be hard to live without one.
all the best :)
Posted by: janet | January 17, 2008 at 03:24 PM
I love the table mat! Sooo pretty. There is something about your pictures of Norway that bring me back to my childhood, which is really odd because I have always lived here in the US. Hmm...maybe somewhere within it spikes memories(?) from my Scandinavian ancestors? Don't know if that is possible, but, oh - Very **beautiful** pictures!
Posted by: Melissa | January 17, 2008 at 05:17 PM
perfect! (have reading knitting drawing walking coffee-ing jealousy). my mum has the same sewing machine, its so heavy with reliability, the best kind eh.
x
Posted by: Lisa | January 17, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Mmmm - must break out the waffle iron; it's been too long! :)
Your table mat came out beautifully!
Posted by: Barbara | January 17, 2008 at 07:12 PM
You can tell alot about a crafter based upon the amount of supplies (thick flannel? Not light!) she packs in the 20 kg of luggage she takes with her to embark on a new life in a foreign country. I love your dedication!
Posted by: Jessicah | January 17, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Good to see you have all arrived safe and sound Melissa, and im loving the photos of your whereabouts and happenings. say hi to everyone for me
love Zander
Posted by: Zander Wastney | January 17, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Just so you know, I'm about to steal your idea and make some table mats out of corduroy. And when I put them on my blog I'm sure in my usual fashion I will forget to credit you with the design. Apologies in advance.
Posted by: alisonmc | January 17, 2008 at 10:13 PM
mmmmm waffles, I wonder if it's possible to make gluten-free waffles, surely it is. xxx
Posted by: kate Shuttleworth | January 17, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Love the table mat, it's a great idea, and looks beautiful.
Posted by: Ruth | January 17, 2008 at 10:54 PM
How lovely that you will have family (relatively!) close by. You really seem to have settled into your new life, M - good for you!
Posted by: Claudia | January 17, 2008 at 11:27 PM
I bet it's nice to be sewing again :) I love the fabric Emily brought to you. It's so you!
And the sunrise. How lovely. And it made me laugh about your days; when you finished with 'sitting around and drinking coffee' - it all sounds like such fun - especially with nice family visitors.
xx
Posted by: charlotte | January 17, 2008 at 11:43 PM
ohh looks lovely all of it :)
if you make waffles for afternoon tea/coffee one day you should try them with whipped cream and some blackcurrant jam - it's fabulous ^^
Posted by: Elisabeth | January 18, 2008 at 12:03 AM
It must be great to be sewing again, I too am impressed at the amount of sewing supplies you seem to have from NZ. I'm really enjoying your adventures, I thought of you today as I scoured the op shops and recycling depot in Nelson imagining how exciting it will be to visit places like that in your new country. Love the table cloth that Tom bought you the other day too.
Posted by: Gill | January 18, 2008 at 04:06 PM
It all looks so wonderful! Is moving to the other side of the world really wonderful? It looks like heaven from your place! I'm glad you can sew again. It helps to keep me sane! I'm really enjoying your blog. The whole moving somewhere else thing is so appealing. I think it's that fresh start thing. Mmm.....fresh start!
Posted by: Kris | January 18, 2008 at 11:47 PM
I am so tickled to see what you have made already with the bernina! The table runner for hot plates is beautiful. I so appreciate small details like the machine stitching on the corner. The visit sounds lovely. And wasn't it nice with such a sunny day yesterday?
Posted by: Ravenhill | January 19, 2008 at 12:50 AM
knitting, drinking coffee, sewing..sounds like a plan that agrees with me! lovely new runner...
Posted by: mims | January 19, 2008 at 02:53 AM
how sweet of you guys to have a party ready when they wake up. i think you have a special gift of making the everyday things into a fun game for your children. inspiring!
xoxox,
kimberlee
Posted by: kimberlee | January 21, 2008 at 09:07 AM
The mat for your table looks lovely! I bet it is lovely to be able to sew some more again:)
Posted by: Chara Michele | January 21, 2008 at 02:00 PM
houseguests who share your daily rhythm. the best kind.
Posted by: kirsten | January 22, 2008 at 06:56 AM