LEMONS!!!

Lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons, lemons lemons, lemons lemons lemons...

And these are just the first batch!

Yes we had sooooo many lemons. And even after giving some away, we still had no idea what to do with them all!

And so the process has begun:

Lemon curd.

Lemon Meringue...

check out the naughty boy in the corner eating the meringue off the pie with his fingers!!

And juicing for humous, shiny hair, lemocello and lemon marmalade to be made next week!



Snow

Well, we've been a bit stuck here in Albania. Most of you Europeans have battled the snow in one way or another these last few weeks... and so here's our story.

Our local council and centre.

 Our neighbours!

 Oliver loving the snow.

 A Hamam ruin

This beautiful statue sits in the centre of Shkoder. It's so wistful and dreamy...

 The snow melting off her face gave the appearence of her crying.

Here we are in the process of building a Gruffalo. Although, we did get a bit cold halfway through... maybe we'll finish it!

And that's our story. It still isn't over: black outs, frozen pipes, damp/cold clothes, electrical storms fill in the gaps. This story also has no end at present. And however much we have loved winter, I'm eager for spring to arrive!

note: My story is nothing compared to the cold so many others around me have endured. Although I am experiencing a snippet of life here, I can't imagine how poorer families are coping during this time. 



Bits and Pieces of Life!

Well we're right into the swing of our 'Albanian Life' at the moment.

Oliver started school, and homeschooling, Jamie is back in the swing of his research and I'm.... well I'm.... umm... what am I doing?

 Good question. Keeping busy I guess. Sewing and crocheting, Home school prep, cooking, trips to the gym... I say no more, but instead, here are pictures of life for us all.

Fresh spinach from the market.

Homeschool: Learning numbers with flour.

 Homeschool  resources.

Getting creative again

 Hanging out with his friend.

 Collecting wood for the fire.

 My fab bike, gets me everywhere!

 Eating Albanian Traditional food

 Happy Birthday Noah!

That time of year again: Lemon harvest... Lemon Curd!



Things to do whilst Journeying

Since I spend a lot of time travelling around, I find that the creative things I love to do have been put on hold for the moment. I'd quite like to get back into some upholstery and even some sewing. Those seasons and times will come around again... soon!

But in the meantime, one thing I can do whilst I'm travelling is crochet.

Over the Christmas season I decided to make a blanket for Oliver.

I remember as a kid when we were poorly we had a 'sick blanket'.  It became such a comforting feeling to be wrapped up in it, sitting in our lounge.  And so that was my inspiration behind Oliver's blanket, and I love the result!

 

I wanted to incorporate the colours that make up some of Oliver's passions. Lego and superhero colours!

Having got a taste for crocheting, I now have the bug! For Christmas my mother in law, Barbara, bought me a fab book on Japanese style crocheting. That will keep me busy!
But for now here's something else I'm knocking up. I'll let you know what it is when I'm finished.

Have a good week people!

January

Well, it's been a while since I updated my comings and goings.

 

Since Christmas life has really been on the road.

Travelling back from Albania for Christmas with my Family. Then back on the road for New Year in Istanbul.

 

Last week, we took Sunday off, and drove to the Greek mountains for some fun in the snow!

 

 

Jamie took on the challenge of cooking us up some Turkish tea in the snow!

 

And the end of last week saw me and my family back on the road, this time heading back up to Shkoder.

 

This is the Anthropology life. Or a life following the Anthropologist!

 

And so, I leave you with a few pictures of our journey up here.

 

 

Sunny Greece 

Kastoria... at the border

Rations for the driver!

Frozen waterfalls at the sides of the roads. 

I didn't get any decent pictures of the hail and rain that followed,as it was in the night. But boy that was hair raising!

 

 

Hopefully I'll get my act together and show you some of the work I've been doing amidst the travelling too. A crochet needle and wool is easy to pack up at the lightest wind change, and I've been so excited with the results! So look for more blogs and watch this space!!!