Coffee Break sketch......does it look like I've had my coffee?

Just need to get through the rest of work, then a whole week off to get into home decorating and to get the most of the house completed.

Worst part about home improvements, is making sure it is safe for the wee man. It's been a slow process but definitely can see an end in sight.

Twitter- @homemadedad 

Scripture reading sketch......

First time sketching a daily reading. Leave a comment below if you like them and if you would like to see more.

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Coffee Break sketch...... daddy son time

A quick sketch of Finley and me sharing one of our favourite past times, walking from coffee shop to coffee shop.

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Coffee Break sketch ...... Wednesday 25th October

Today's quick coffee break sketch...... when you just need those coffees to get you through the day.

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Having a coffee while my coffee brews.....

Having a Starbucks cold brew while waiting for the kettle to boil, so I can have a hot cuppa while out with the dogs. There's nothing wrong with that is there!?

The past week while Finley has been sleeping away in his cot, I have been up to the wee hours working on the house decorating. I have been getting the flooring down and the rooms are starting to come together nicely, still plenty to do but if I just keep at it, I am sure I will have it all completed in plenty of time for the Christmas decorations to be put up.

I was thinking about waiting until I had all the rooms done before putting up pictures of the development but I may put weekly ones up at the end of each week to show what's been happening.

Until my next coffee break......

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Coffee Break sketch #003

Late coffee break sketch tonight. Homemade Eggnog Latte, one of my favourite beverages. I will be enjoying a few more on the run up to Christmas before my stash is finished. Hopefully Tescos or one of the other supermarkets will be bringing it out again in December. You Americans and Canadians don't know how lucky you are to be able to go into almost any convenience store and buy it! Thankfully as well Starbucks make their own Eggnog Lattes so I shall be popping in quite frequently! 😊 I wonder if you can just buy the cartons of Eggnog from them!!

I didn't get any sketching done yesterday as I was busy laying laminate flooring in the playroom. Since this house is quite old, a few of the walls run off and working round a fireplace, it took me quite awhile to get going but nearly midnight last night I got it done. Only another three more rooms to go!! 😱😂

Anyways....enjoy the rest of your Saturday everyone!

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Coffee doesn't ask stupid questions......

For when it's going to be one of those days......

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How to make a perfect coffee...... #01

First sketch in my series of different coffee types. If there are any you can think of which doesn't appear on the blog, please leave a comment, or if there is one you would like to see or to make sure I sketch it.

Enjoy, I know I do when drinking them!

Twitter - @homemadedad 

Felt like a hurricane to me.....Storm Ophelia

Definitely one of the worst storms I've lived through and it is still raging outside while I drink my umpteenth coffee of the day after getting out of work early to be able to get home before it really kicked off in Northern Ireland.

Managed to get a coffee while making sure that everything was nailed down and that the dogs were secure and safe before the worst weather hit.

Not sure what damage has been done outside but it will be the morning before I assess what has happened. I have seen some of the damage that has happened all over the island and even though I have drawn the cartoon, in all seriousness I hope everyone is safe in the homes tonight and nothing to bad happens. Sadly there has been a few deaths because of the storm and let's hope there are no more because of it.

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What's happening......

Where are You?

I'm sitting in our front room, having a breather from the first coat of white paint on the ceiling. It's 10pm on Saturday evening and I am now struggling to get up of my ass and get back to starting the second coat.

Now I wonder where everyone is that comes to view my blog, drop me a message below telling me where you are.

I got a comic strip completed this evening for this year's Countdown to Christmas and hopefully will get a few more done this coming week. I wasn't going to do one this year but I love Christmas and these wee cartoons make me feel a little more festive and hopefully brings a little smile to everyone's face, who comes to see it.

Spent most of the day with my baby boy, sampling a few coffees along the way. I got my Bosch Tassimo cleaned earlier in the week and had my first Eggnog Latte of the season and the first in our new house and yes before you ask, it tasted amazing.

Now, I'm thinking off coffee but before I can get that little gift, I had better get back to this painting.

Till next time. My Twitter is - @homemadedad

Enjoying my Pumpkin Spiced Latte earlier while Finley enjoys the stirred! 😊

Coffee Break......Perkatory

A wee sketch during a coffee break earlier today. Showing the delight every time it's brew time. Whether It's, instant straight through to cold brew, I love it and will try it as long as it's coffee.

Not to say that it's a habit but I will make myself a coffee at home when I'm going for a walk with Finley to drink on the way to the coffee house!

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Santa & Ruudy Christmas cartoon countdown

Soon I will be starting my Santa & Ruudy Countdown to Christmas cartoon. To help us all get into the festive spirit on the run up to the big day. We would love to see you all come all and join the fun.

https://www.facebook.com/SantaandRuudy/

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"Latte" to the season

I had my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte on Friday and had to draw a sketch to celebrate the occasion. Really is one of my favourite Autumn beverages. Gets me ready for the winter season selection from my favourite coffee houses!

First trip in October to the Folk Park......

I absolutely love the Ulster Folk and Transport museum and when we moved closer to it in the summer, we decided to take out the yearly pass. I think this is Finley and my second time and he has been with his mum a few times as well.

It's a great safe zone for him to be able to play and explore and while he's still very young, some of the history and delight will sink into his memory.

My little Diamond with his namesake road sign.

At this stage I think Finley was getting tired of the near constant photos I have been taking of him.

They started them young in school back in the day.

A shout out to the world in general.

Finley had great fun playing with all the old equipment around the park.

One of the wonderful houses they have rebuilt. There was a lot of activity around the day we went and the houses had their fires on which was great to get warmed up before Finley was on the move again

Finley on the move again.

Finally got to see the forge in action after all the times I've been. We stayed for quite awhile here as Finally was intrigued by all the goings on and the man working the fire was telling us all about the iron works and the items that he had made. All of which were to go on sale in their shop the next day.

We're already looking forward to our next visit, which hopefully won't be too long away.

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Homemade Dad......Jokes 004

Homemade Dad...... jokes #003

Homemade......Stew

So Finley and me were out today having a bit of fun in the late Autumn sunshine that was about today. 

When there started to get a chill in the air which gave me a hankering for some stew. So of home went and started prepping for dinner.

Finley has his own wee kitchen in the kitchen, so both of us were getting busy.

 Plenty of spuds went into tonight's meal, which means lots of yummy left overs for tomorrow.

In goes the carrots onions and a leek, just cause I felt like it.

 Starting to resemble a stew.

The final look, it was warming and heart for such a lovely but chilly late Autumn day.

Ingredients

800g chopped beef

1.3kg Potatoes

1kg carrots

2 onions

1.2l beef stock

1 leek

½ tsp fresh thyme leaves

Method

1. Make the stew. Cut the beef into large chunks. Peel the potatoes and cut into pieces of similar size to the meat. Put them into a  bowl of water to keep them white. Peel the carrots and cut into slightly smaller pieces. Slice the onions into thick rings.
2. Put the beef in a large, clean saucepan. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, skimming off all the impurities from the surface. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
3. Add the potatoes, carrots and onions. Season generously and simmer for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the thyme. Simmer until the beef is tender (15-20 minutes). Take off the heat, cover (don’t stir) and leave for 15 minutes. (You can make this up to 2 days ahead and keep in the fridge). Garnish and serve.

Is there anything different you would do when making stew? 

The one thing missing was some Wheaten bread but I'll have that made for next time.

@homemadedad 

Gardening Time...... working on the Greenhouse

When we moved  from our old house I brought the Greenhouse with us. My dad dismantled it for me and it has been set in (Garden one) since we moved in.

I'm glad I did bring it with me because as a lot of us do, I drove past the old house and they had flattened the garden, removing all the fruit trees, roses, fir trees and other fruits plants. As well as disposing of the shed and I'm pretty sure the Greenhouse would have gone the same way.

We do have a huge new Greenhouse (to me anyway) in the vegetable garden (Garden four) but I thought I could use the smaller one in some shape or form.

So Finley and I rolled up our sleeves and got to building the mecano set that set before us. Thankfully my dad is very neat and kept all the nuts, bolts etc in a small pot for me.

I had managed to find similar instructions online to help with the rebuilding of the Greenhouse but Finley decided his Dad didn't need these! 😊

So after a few screwing together, unscrewing and re-screwing again, we have at least managed to get the frame up and mini-greenhouse is sitting close to main greenhouse.

 Finley counting how many nuts and bolts still to be needed. After this exercise, I'm pretty sure I need a few extras to finish the build.

Finley checking some of the posts and frame work for me.

Finley in the main Greenhouse checking the equipment, to see if they need serviced before the winter months set in. 

So there we have it, the start of our vegetable gardening has begun, slowly but it has started and that's something.

Stay tuned for more Gardening times and other stories from Homemade Dad......

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Homemade Dad......Jokes #002

Follow me on Twitter @homemadedad