Sometimes, especially on really colds days when she's been covered up for our walk, Maisie doesn't want to get out of the amouti when we get home. She pushes back the hood and pulls off her hat and she'll ask me to help her get a toy or two and then she'll just hang out, on my back, until she's ready to get down. I think she probably enjoys seeing the house from a different point of view.

Did you know that a sleeping baby is heavier than a wakeful one?

We've been having a hot week. The idea of turning on the oven has been completely awful but today it is cool and I'm taking advantage of it to make a tart during Maisie's naps. I came across the recipe when I was looking for something else the other day and wanted to try it. It's got multiple steps and things have to cool in between so I thought it would be a good project for a day when I know my time is going to be broken into little blocks. Of course it turns out the recipe I'm making is not the one I thought I was making - I thought it was the almond cream one but it turns out it's just custard - still looks good so I didn't correct myself even though I probably could have.

It's a quarter to ten and so far I've got my tart shell baked. There must be some trick to getting the shell to not shrink up so much when the it bakes. Anyone know it?

She just woke up.

---

It's lunch time now and she's asleep again (though Rob's home so I'd have been able to get something done now anyway). I've cut up apricots and pitted cherries and mixed together the custard. Fruit in shells, custard poured over fruit and everything into the oven. Nothing to worry about for another half hour and I'm pretty sure Maisie will give me enough time to pull things out of the oven even if she's awake.

---

The tart's out of the oven, the kettle is on and Maisie is still asleep. I can see her stirring though. I might have to wait.

---

Everything's ready but Maisie woke up just as the kettle reached a boil. I turned it off and spent some time with her instead.

---

It's 5 pm. There is nothing like a baby sleeping on you to help you doze off. I actually woke up half an hour ago (half an hour after I'd intended to go out for a walk but we can do that later) but was so groggy it took me a while to get off the couch (plus, Maisie was hungry again). Since everything was prepped for tea and Maisie is in such a good mood I've put her in her swing in the kitchen and turned the kettle back on.

The tart is excellent. Fresh and summary and not too sweet. I can see this becoming part of my regular summer dessert repertoire. The tea is good too but then tea always is. Maisie is sitting in her swing telling me stories. They're very exciting; she rattles out a bunch of sounds and then has to catch her breath afterwards. I love listening to it.