This will hurt me...

What causes such a smile? The hand-knitted jumper? The home-made mittens? The come-to-bed eyes? The rakish part of the hair? You decide!

Two for one of a hunk looking at a tiger. I like the tones of this one. Very Autumn, with a 1970s-vibe. The jumper is - of course - one of Jen's creations. You can also see it here , and here , modelled by another fellow you might recognise.

Here's a felt sandwich that Jen made the boys for Christmas. The choices are limited, but if you'd like some mix of ham, Jarlsberg cheese, tomato, lettuce and beetroot on white bread, and don't mind not being able to eat it; this sandwich is for you! Which brings me to today's Sunday Top Five: My Top Five Sandwich Fillings ! 1) Cheese : I'm a cheese man: Double Gloucester; Wensleydale; Gouda; Cheshire; Provolone; Edam; Limberger; Lancashire; Mozzarella; Havarti; Mascarpone; Gołka; Camembert; Tilsit; Gruyère; Brie; Fetta; Gorgonzola; Red Windsor; Red Leicester; Quark; Chèvre; Ricotta on and on and on it goes. Today however, I can't go past a nice mature smoked Cheddar! 2) Salami : Like cheese, the varieties are endless. I can't look past a spicy Hungarian though... 3) Tomato : fresh from the garden! 4) Lettuce : a crisp and fresh cos will do. 5) Beetroot : you know what they say...

Here are my two little grumblers in the Japanese Garden on Good Friday. The blanket that you can see them sitting on is a little project completed by my lovely wife for Ezra. It's a counterpart to one that has made numerous appearances already that was made for Henry (here is a good one that Ezra has modelled ). I should also mention that Ez's jumper is also the handiwork of the talented Jen. I chose the buttons, which in many respects is the most difficult part. Continuing our endeavour to ensure that Henry and I managed to traverse the world of cuisine before he hits five, this evening we made our very first kugel . For the uninitiated, the kugel is a traditional baked Jewish side dish that comes in all manner of flavours, sweet and savoury. We turned to the humble kugel in an attempt to broaden Henry's mind to vegetables. Our attempt featured sweet potato, carrot, potato and apple . It goes all right. Well worth a crack if they refuse the veggies. If anyone has any sim...

No Jen is not torturing the poor little mite with knitting needles in his head, she's knitting him a hat! Yet before you go and finish knitting that hat, it pays to check that the size is right. Thus we have a baby on the bed grasping circular needles while his father callously photographs him. It is indeed a cruel world.

Continuing the series that some very aggressive knitting enthusiasts frightened me into offering, a five day old Ez makes an appearance in the what I am told is a Clementine's Shoes Kimono and a little beanie that she appears able to turn out in less than a day. This one has drawn plenty of positive comments from random strangers (you know, the drooling imbeciles who try and grab your week old baby in the supermarket), as well as some more polite people. If you wish, the very nice folks at Clementine's Shoes have posted the free pattern for the kimono online , and I am told that it is knitted in Grignasco Bambi . This is a type of material which may or may not be made from wool cultivated from a freakish deer/sheep/alpaca hybrid. Now, bear in mind that Jen has altered the pattern somewhat, in a way that I do not understand nor appreciate. I think that it involves the border or edging, but I will be honest with you, I tend to fade out of conversations about knitting as quickl...

Here is a clearly flushed and embarressed Henry modelling the "Kittyville hat" that Jen made him sometime ago. If you like, I can point you in the direction of the pattern, just ask in the comments and I will find it for you.

Some time ago I promised to post some pictures of the crafty bits and bods Jen has made for the kids over the past couple of years. I figured that I'd best get to it, lest the mob lynch me for failing in my duties. Where possible, I shall link to patterns/designs to do it yourself, where not, I won't! So there... Here is a "Stop the Wailing" t-shirt that has got quite a bit of wear over the time that master Henry has been in possession, he has even managed to let the silvery button that passes for the whale’s eye survive. I would have lost money on that bet.