The Good Life

I went out and harvested again today – we have more beans than you can shake a stick at. I must learn the blanch and freeze thing.

My mum and dad came this morning to visit, and are staying overnight [just gone to bed]. SO a lovely day of chatting, playing. And my dad taking advantage of us having broadband [which he doesn't need at home!] to look at digital cameras.

Mum brought some sparkle and glitz jewellery links for the girls to play with – cue at least 2 hours of contentment, making necklaces, crowns and bracelets, and then selling at a shop. Cheap plastic tat, but oh what fun was had. I am a great believer in utilising cheap platic tat. I love the wood and natural things, but not sure my children would want all their toys without glitter and primary colours.

Also, along the way SB did some maths [just part of a section really, 15 mins as I am just keeping a bit of focus as we have had a proper holiday since about june I think!] and also L in getty and dubay – earning praise from my parents for her writing – she was most chuffed. My mum is a musician, so both children showed off their violin playing – well BB had a shrieking fit as I confiscated hers from being in danger of being broken by her wildness. But SB played hot cross buns beautifully, and mum gave her some useful tips and pointers on rhythm and bow speeds. In amongst all the playing, both mum, dad and I read to the girls various books, mostly the usbourne science ones as they are very noticeable in the new shelf arrangement. SB also had a look at the spotter book on dogs, and read out some of the rocks and minerals – pointing out we had found belemnites before. Cue more praise from mum. I shouldn’t really be so happy about this, but my parents are ambivalent about home ed. So having SB autonomously [and BB] pull books off the shelves and read them is rather a good thing I think!

But mostly we have played and chatted today. Mum and SB did a number of joint drawings. SB got mum to draw the people and some of the features, and SB drew the rest, and sometimes SB drew most and then asked mum to fill bits in. I worked really well. We all did some more of the fab sunflower mosaic as well.

Oh, and I have sooooo missed BOLDING that it is back!