A Coat with New Buttons

I have an old red coat which I like but I was not too fond of the cheap red plastic buttons.

A trip to C&H Fabrics for a set of brand new shiny buttons and the coat is now transformed and looks much smarter than it did before.

 

By the way I finally got the Red Pepper and Chilli Jelly to set by reheating it in half batches and adding a tiny bit more sugar.  Finally got it up to jam temperature and now it has a really firm set - thank goodness!

I then made a huge pan of Caramelised onion chutney on Sunday.  Again I  made triple the amount I would normally make, so it took quite a while to boil off all the liquid.  However think I may have ruined it by boiling it too hard as I was in a rush to go out to dinner at my Mum's house and couldn't wait for the slow simmer reduction.  I am sure it has a bit of a burnt taste so the whole batch may need to be ditched and I'll have to start again!

I have to share this photo of Nat from Saturday.  The cheeky monkey found his brother's red white board pen and scribbled all over his face.

Thankfully it was a white board pen and not a permanent marker so the scribbles wiped off easily with a wet flannel and some soap!

The pen is usually used by Seb to mark off his visual checklist each morning.  Seb has ADHD and Dyslexia and has difficulty with short term memory so he struggles to self-organise.

I had made a checklist for Seb to remind him what he needs to do each day in order to get ready for school.  I used pictures as well as words as he is quite a visualy motivated child.  I then had the checklist laminated so he can use a whiteboard pen to tick off each task and then we can wipe the checklist clean ready for the next day.

I have found it a great stress buster as now, instead of telling him five times to put on his socks I just have to ask "how are you getting on with your checklist Seb?"

Seb and I also have a deal that if he gets himself up with his alarm clock, wihtout me waking him, then he gets a bedtime which is half an hour later than usual.  If he completes all his tasks he can spend whatever time is left on the computer before he has to leave for school - great motivation to get him moving in the morning!!

So instead of the stress of nagging him, I can look out of the window and ponder the beautiful sunrise.