Bread

Yesterday, Caiden and I baked bread. We are busy with a new poetry block at the moment and the poem we are working on is called 'Bread Making' by Edith L.M. King. The peom is from my poetry book that I used in primary school, titled 'Chosen for You, a Book of Poems for South African Children' He really enjoyed baking his bread and it turned out beautifull, I am so proud of him and I could see that he was really proud of himself too:)

Bread Making

Mother's kneading, kneading dough,

In and out her knuckles go;

Till the sticky, shapeless lump

Grows a pillow, smooth and plump.

Then she cuts it, pops it in

To the neatly buttered tin,

Leaves it rising, higher and higher,

While she goes to make the fire,

How the glad flames leap and roar,

Through the open oven-door;

Till their hot breath, as they play,

Makes us wink and run away.

When they're burnt to embers red,

Mother shovels in the bread;

And that warm delicious smell

Tells her it is baking well.

When it's golden, just like wheat,

We shall get a crust to eat;

How I wish we could be fed

Every day on new-made bread!

So sweet...

Caiden is going to memorise this poem and write it into his language book and we will no doubt be making lots of fresh bread!

We used the wonderful bread recipe called 'Very Easy Bread Recipe' from 'The Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book' such a lovely recipe book.

Sneak peek below:
This is a new pattern I have designed today, it is for an Autumn English Oak Tree leaf. I will be sharing the pattern with you tomorrow:)

Have a wonderful Saturday...
xo Linda

Creative Friday

Welcome everyone, to Creative Friday :) Thank you so much to everyone who shares the love and posts their links to their amazing work:) Please feel free to post your links to anything you have created and would like to share, it can be a recipe, sewing tutorial, knitting tutorial, felting, crochet, crafts, art, spinning, weaving, working with fibre, photography, poetry...etc...

I also love to hear from you, so if you have a moment, please leave a comment:) Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us! Just add the name of your blog to the widget and then add your blog link with the http:// at the beginning of your link address:) I have added a Creative Friday button on the sidebar of my blog, please feel free to add it to your blog for Creative Friday and link it to http://www.naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/ so others can find this space and share their creativity too:)
xo
Linda

Knitted Pumpkin Pattern

Today I thought I would share with you, a little knitted pumpkin pattern which will be perfect for your nature tables for Autumn or for Halloween or kitchen play. They also really work well for decor in a bowl on your dining room table. If you would like to knit larger pumpkins, just double the pattern:)  It only takes about 10 minutes to put together one and you could make a few in a short space of time:)

Materials Needed:
Wool needle for sewing up
Circular needles
2 double pointed needles
Orange yarn for your pumpkin and green for your stem.
Fleece for stuffing

I have knitted this pumpkin using the magic loop technique.

Pattern:
With circular needles cast on 9 stitches.
Round 1: Knit the first round.
Round 2: Increase into every stitch in the second round, you will now have 18 stitches.
Round 3: Knit 1 round.
Round 4: Increase into each stitch in the 4th round, you will now have 36 stitches.
Round 5 to 9: Knit
Round 10: Knit 2 together all across the round.(18 stitches)
Round 11: Knit.
Round 12: Knit 2 together all across the round. (9 stitches)
Round 13: Knit.

Leaving a long thread, break yarn and thread onto a wool needle, thread your wool needle through your stitches, stuff and pull tight. Do not overstuff as this might make your pumpkin look too round, I understuffed my pumpkin and the convolutions of the pumpkin's skin showed up quite nicely. The wool I knitted him in was also a little on the chunky side and handspun and this worked quite well:)
 

Once you have closed the top opening of your pumpkin, take your needle, push down through your pumpkin, pull out on the other side and pull tight. This makes a depression on the top of your pumpkin. Sew tightly underneath.

Concave pumpkin top.

Pick up 2 stitches in the middle of the top of your pumpkin, attach your green thread and knit an I-cord for a stalk.

Sew in all your ends and you are finished, enjoy!!
xo
Linda

Please note, this pattern is for personal use only, and not for resale, items knitted from this pattern may not be sold for commercial purposes, thank you.

Black and White Wednesday...

I so enjoy these Black and White Wednesday Posts... The detail of black and white that gives us a different perspective of an image is at times breathtaking...

(Erin holding Alice)

I am filled with gratitude that my children can grow up with their chickens, learning to care for them, understand their behaviour and love them...

I am filled with gratitude that these beautiful hens lay us the most wonderful eggs each day and nourish us...



One of my favourite birds, the Guinea Fowl...

Please pop by these wonderful blogs to see more B&W Wednesday beauty:
The Knitty Gritty Homeasted Blog 
Morning Sun Rae Blog
Running With Needles
(I will add all the links here, let me know if you have a B&W Wednesday post:)

xo

Linda

Our Days...

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments regarding the knitted dandelion:) The last few days have been fun and busy... Caiden is finishing off his Native American block so we are busy with crafts at the moment and possibly for the rest of the week. Today we made stick bread.  The bread was tasty and so filling too! He also made an Ojos de Dios that he enjoyed so much, it was almost like a meditation for him and he is busy making more... We will plant a Three Sisters Garden too. Any other suggestions would be appreciated for crafts:)

The view from our front door... Our Spring garden is in full bloom at the moment and we have been having the most amazing sunsets. In this photo above, we almost had rain, almost... (can't wait for rain...)



We made this wonderful Apple Clafouti that we discovered on Jen's beautiful blog Sewn Natural Studio It was quick and easy to make and oh my goodness, it was divine, everyone wanted More! Thanks Jen:)

I have some exciting news to share, I am busy putting together a book porposal for my book and I will be sending it off within the next couple of weeks, I made the final decision last night and I am so happy about this new journey... Hold thumbs!

xo

Linda

PS Nicole over at Garden Mama is having a fabulous giveaway!