Petits Haricots

said SB when BB gone to bed. I would quite like to try the doll kit [from Vix and M some time ago]. OK. I get out my sewing and the doll kit, we decide to start easy with the waistcoat and she is away. no stabbing incidents. We are slightly disagreeing on what some f the clothes might be, so if anyone done this, could they comment on whether the red bits make dungarees, and whether the yellow flower is a skirt for the yellow and red top bit? Anyway, a very happy hour.

Other than that, whilst I was at work a massive tifying fest. i rescued the little angel dress knitted by aunty phyllis [little nanny’s sister] from the bin pile.

Sb has done lots of webland, some handwriting, read usborne first elizabeth 1 and looked at quicklinks and decided that the dolphins at daybreak is a totally fantastic book and read the lot. Also been to ballet.

BB and I have baked choc cupcakes, she has been a total pickle otherwise. hmm!!

A job I’ve been putting off for many months at the very least, is sorting through the extremely large pile of kiddies clothes we have collected over the last 6 years. They were mostly sorted out before we moved, but BB of course has been through a lot of them since then, and there were a lot that had got mixed up during that time, or SB has been through since we moved.

But one, it was raining today so couldn’t work outside, two, I want to take some down for my cousins baby. So I bit the bullet. It has taken me literally hours, though bar some putting into bags, and a heap of socks and odd gloves etc. it is all sorted now.

I’m not especially attached to kiddies clothes etc. , but a few items I just couldn’t put in the passing on pile. One of them was a cardigan knitted by my Aunty Barbara when SB was baby She has suffered with dreadful polymyalgia for some years now - she had it then when SB was little, though nowhere so bad as now, and there was still hope they would be able to treat it successfully. It must have been an effort for to have knitted this cardigan.

But most of all for me is a little fleecy oversuit, hat and blanket set that we bought for SB before she was born. Seen here being worn by BB at our first Melrose in Feb 2005:

I can remember buying it, we’d gone out a couple of months before she was due to Mothercare for a big shop for stuff (odd in instself now, surely we’d do it online now?). They had this little set, it looked so cute, we succumbed to buying it (we didn’t buy many clothes for her, got given loads). The blanket at least, was used to when SB came home  from hospital - it was cold, it’s been snowing, she was so wrapped up you could hardly see a baby . I can remember taking her out dressed up in it to our favourite park in Leeds. I can’t part with it yet - soppy and daft I know.
I think it in some way sums up all that excitement and anticipation of planning for the approaching birth of your first child, and those first few month with the new baby. And  the memories of those happy times.

Yes I know its American, yes, I know it is also druidic, and no we are not doing anything educational at all with it.

Instead, we are - allegedly - having fun. I am not entirely convinced, after all, the girls are at an awkward phase of sibling relations, and I am not at my most emanating gentle calm vibes mode. After all, how can you share making red icecubes? theres just nothing to it?? OK, i guess one could have stirred, and the other put in the colouring, but only BB wanted to do it, she found the tray , asked nicely, so why make some bit for SB - I did say she could find her own tray, but of course we didn’t have another one…

Actually, that was just the end, we have been rather more positive for a lot of the day. SB did a quick bit of writing practice - getty and dubay C - and we read the DK space explorers book together. We all played with jigsaw and had a toy food picnic. Chris vanished to sort out the clothes mountain in the spare room [ultimately the best place to be!]. Sb insisted on having her haricut so she could brush it better - so 3 inches removed!

BB wanted to make cupcakes, so we made halloween cupcakes - orange food dye and sprinkles integral to mixture. they were lovely, and didn’t keep to be iced! BB chose too large cups, but the advantage was that the cupcakes came out weird shapes, extra halloweenness!

There was a debate about going swimming, but instead we did pumpkin cutting. Well, I was directed by BB and SB, did all the hard bits. they drew fiendishly difficult patterns for me to cut out. SB’s I was quite good with. BB’s I artistically ‘re-imagined’ [ooh, battlestar galactica soon!]

The choice then between hama/fimo and sweetie making - yep we made peppermint creams - orange food colouring and egg white powder as not cooked recipe. Oh, and we used vanilla essence instead of peppermint. So peppermint creams re-imagined too. And it was only after the peppermint creams that my patience, and SB and BB’s ran out.

SO we are snuggling - different parents each - and watching TV. We are on the next magic tree house book - dolphins at daybreak, so must look out some related books to read through.

edited to add: Have had tea and bath, calm restored. I have had a glass of wine, and hope the pumpkin soup I am making for Halloween won’t suffer too much as a result! SB reading about birds in the DK picturepaedia, and BB playing with numbers. Soon BB will be off to bed, and SB fancies  fimo then when a bit of peace.

A bit of aimless web browsing with my morning cuppa, seeing as Butterbean is working on yesterdays time.

Came across this article from the Observer - Cheap Green Solutions for Heating Your house (ok in the interiors sections, so expect style over substance….) Such an uncritical piece of drivel. And i’ll ignore the fact that most of it has got nothing to do with heating your home.
Most annoying bit, about wood burning stoves:

But if you’re really concerned about your carbon footprint, look for stoves featuring a smoke-less CleanBurn system in which the gases created when fuel is burnt are circulated back into the stove and burnt off

No, it won’t have any affect on your carbon footprint at all - grrr. Whatever the stove does with Carbon monoxide etc. produced you can’t escape from producing Carbon Dioxide, it’s very simple chemistry.
Next:

Double Glaze Your Windows

Well it certainly doesn’t come under the cheap heading. Unless your windows need replacing anyway, it’s not cost effective and will have lots of embedded energy from manufacture etc.

Next floors:

According to Lorna Haigh from Alternative Flooring, wool is the best option for people looking for maximum warmth and practicality since it insulates, feels soft underfoot and is easy to clean.

Well, yes I’m sure Lorna would, but is she talking sense journalist or just marking guff?

Ranty, ranty rant

Feel better now

Have just put SB to bed, and am still making up maggie hamilton and the ferocious beast stories. tonight the went to windy miller and got some christmas flour and made a christmas cake [well, I must be on the 1000th story by now, and it is difficult!]. they decided to sing a christmas carol as they made it. these stories are interactive, with SB improving them as I say them, and she wanted them to sing the one with salmon cheese and chelsea. I gave up, so she sang it…

…hosanna in excelsis!

I am just not so good at this time of year. I get grumpy for no apparent reason, decided that I am crap at everything I do [well, even crapper than I normally rate myself] and just fid it hard to shift. Thinking about whether those lights actually work, whether i should get one - what a lot of money! and whether it is because I am actually just crap. This time of year is a big reflection time, so will be putting up something home-eddy at some point! [not a surprise announcement of schooling!]

This week may have gone more sadly/badly because of the death of my godfather, but I have been crap and morose at work as well as home, and it just isn’t on. Work is not a place that accepts [or should accept] anything less than as near perfection as manageable, so feeling that let things down there a bit too.

SO at home, chris and the girls done lots of shopping trips as far as I can see! we had that lovely day at Michelles, and SB also has had a lovely playdate with Rainbows R. oh, the girls had a midweek swim, which they both enjoyed too.

I was at home thurs, but not sure what we did at all, apart from Chris took the girls shopping. SB did some maths, something on the web, we watched some downloads?? Nope, no idea - should have blogged! oh, a lot of playing with the castle! Oh, and the lego. Bit of a little house on the prairie revival as well.

Today both girls have spent a fair bit of time on the computer - poisson rouge and starfall for BB with a bit of rainforest maths, and education city and rainforest maths for SB. SB and I read the fall of the romans in story of the world, and then some more about atilla the hun in raiders and invaders - and discussed why both books might have what might be ‘key facts’ different. The some looking at their internet links - which were poor. luckilly Sarah blogged, so we snitched some of her roman links instead. might look up the usborne ones- must be some quicklinks on their site.

SB did some running and sports with Chris in the garden - new trainer/running shoes from la redoute which she isn’t sure whether she likes. BB and I have had lots of snuggles and silly play. SB took herself to the piano to do some practice - asked me to help when her new piece has made her move her hands - cue much panic! do I play the note they’ve written or the finger number? both dear, you have to move your fingers - aargh.

i had set up some pots of glue, assorted bits to stick on and some pringles tubes in the kitchen for them to fiddle with. SO they did that for a bit. SB got glue all over a new dress, despite me begging her to take it off and minor scene about that with me stumping off into garden - just as she spills it everywhere.

SB and BB rather nicely playing together - BB is doing match and sort with lego with SB! Dinner ready. off I shoot.

Back again. SB fancies watching robin hood, so we will do that. Chris has downloaded torchwood as we have run out of regenesis. Enjoying that too. they do like filming the girls bottom in tight jeans! That isn’t exactly the bit I watch for though!

This is my major pondering season - often done with a tinge of negativity. I think I am just not good at this time of year. maybe I should do like others and plan a winter sun holiday for now for a boost? I am OK as we near Xmas, then in the spring there is a dip until the dafodils, but summer is coming. But for now, colour me blue.

Anyway, I was looking at what we do, wishing I was a more get up and go, taking out and about. i think it would be better for me - get that sense of achievement, and maybe better for the girls. Even if just a walk in the park, down to the river, I dunno. Will this give them more ‘moments’ to remember, think I was there more?

Hmmm

our order arrived today - cue much trying on! it is the sale. for the next few summers, our girls will be wearing stuff like this!

Now this is the sort of important news we like:
Don’t make that bed - it’s bad for you  

woke up with an appalling migraine. bugger. supposed to be driving off to Michelle’s [a reasonable drive]. swigs loads of tablets, gets chris to text, finally feels vaguely human and off we trot.

we had a fab day. shame merry couldn’t join because of Josie being unwell - hope she is soon entirely perky, and the bug doesn’t go round the family.

SB, Chloe and BB all played together beautifully all day. No contretemps at all. even with BB - ok, so there was 2 or 3 pouty moments with B, but that was it. I loved playing labyrinth, and will have to look out for it - what a great board game. I was the only loser. Girls did lots of imaginitive play, and also choreographed a dance show for us.

I remembered to take pictures of their hama window display, and when I flickr I will put here, as i think all similar windows should have one.

Michelle and I chattered, more or less uninterrupted- until the labyrinth game, which we played too [aren’t I relieved it was Michelle who knocked all the tiles over not BB!!], and so it was very late we left. She was far too soft on Chris, as I have brought back a cake - though he had popped to bakery anyway and bought one! The window is finished on the filling in front, so now for some new glass and putty.

Will add photos at some point!

My Godfather died, he never regained consciousness properly, didn’t recognise anyway in the moments he was not sedated. Had he come round, here were huge queries over the neurological problems he might have, Aah have a beer for him, as he was a good beer man. [on the right]

Chris’s parents have been here tday to look after the girls whilst i was at work and he was working on the window. s we have had the heatng n. t is still on! and it is lovely. must switch off tomorrow though.

Sb has bee very good, and has done her singapore maths, and her getty and dubay - finally started book C - woohoo. She has read lots to the - scored easy impressing marks! Nana French read one of the explorer books back - about polar expeditions.

When I got home we did some violin and piano practice too - SB was supremely confident about playing to them. Def proud Mummy moment - twinkle twinkle on the violin and haydn was a happy man on the piano.

Lots of game playing also - both girls keen to tell me all the games they had played. BB bamboozled nana with her playing who’s who, but i was actuall surprised at how well BB had the concept and what to ask for.

Watched some downloads, and a fab junior jackanory about the sorcerer f samarkhand - don’t know about the girls, but I was spell bound.

BB fell asleep, SB finished her magic tree house book, and we did some ‘proper sewing‘ [her phrase!] . Nice start to what is going to be a frantic week [in part because I’ve left my submission of evidence of learning to the last minute for work]. Chris has done a god job on the window today to. smiley faces all round.

today i was a bit low on patience. The girls were a bit low on tolerance. Various people comment [IRL] that this blog always sounds good - the spin i put on there. i guess thats because I want to remember with rose spectacles, I know the usual tensions were there, so I don’t necessarily need to go into them. for posterity, however, a fairly standard exchange

BB - wail cry, want to watch numberjacks. i haven’t watched for ages

me- lets read a book or play a game

SB - I want to play a game

me - after you’ve finished your maths

BB - no, its my game, I’m bouncing

SB - BB bouncing on me - wail wail

Me - BB stop bouncing on SB, SB do your maths up the table, on the sofa or in the dining room, not spreadeagled on the floor where BB wants to bounce

SB and BB - wail, its not fair

[BB scratches SB to make her move ]

SB force 10 wails, BB SCRATCHES ME

Me - SB, on the sofa NOW. I asked you to move, you have stayed on the floor to annoy her. BB off the bouncer and say sorry to S - NO? then to the stairs

[bounce bounce bounce , BB goes, comes back and says sorry, peace restored, until next time!]

Does that help?

Anyway, great wailing choruses apart, SB did maths, handwriting, much computer gaming. We read about the first landing on the moon. BB bounced, read books, played with dolls house, starfalled [she is v good on starfall].

We all just about did a jigsaw of America together - BB wanted to do it, less than impressed with SB helping, though we did manage to do it toether without too much stress in the end. We all bailed outside, where a bit more personal space enabled us all to be happier people.

the cosmic supply bit is that chris wheeled out our old broken washing machine, and 1 mins later there was a knock and an enquiry to take it away. Fantastic - someone can fix it or sell it for parts, and we don’t have to go to the tip.

i made a particularly yummy chilli bean soup/stew [it was halfway between - rofl] for tea. we all wolfed it down. We finished watching Adam Hart Davis looking at the cosmos: a beginners guide.

so, having had B educationally polishing the staircase yesterday and picking fruit and veg, today she became the kitchen maid and the dairy maid.

She wanted to make some bread rolls, so she did this, with minimal help from me as i was busy helping BB make shortbread cookies [yummy]. So having got the dough proving, we decided to make our own butter to go with the rolls. Added several coins in the hope that it would be quicker to do, and it was! SB read the dairy section on a farm through time and a few other pages.

We then had a lunch pause with number jacks and mama mirabelle fix - i think we are watching downloads too often. hard when BB can put them on. we minimised TV by having it in a different room. I a kinda hoping its a phase in winter as not out so much.

SO we went outside for most of the afternoon. doing an autumnal glue picture mostly scattered poppy seeds = which they both loved doing. chris was doing more fixing of the window. Both girls were very interested in the whole business. General playing too.

SB did some piano practice,means a lot to me, but on GBDF ad ACE she has got to Haydn was a happy man - a tune often sung in our family. BB bounced and did lego. We ate the yummy rolls. We got a free book where did the river go, and SB enjoyed reading that whilst BB and I played catch. The pages were in order of clues by maths at the bottom she enjoyed the challenge.

SB and BB then had some lovely play together with dolls house and animals whilst made dinner, and then I took BB to bed whilst SB did some jump ahead.

Lovely day. tomorrow SB wants to make cheese!!

Of the year, though a couple of evenings it would have been nice. As yet not had heating on except the occasional visitor - ie little Nanny!

Today wasn’t as planned, as I anticipated going to Flag Fen. however, both irls having a lot of fun together all morning playing imaginative games upstairs, so decided to let live. Of couse they couldn’t do the same at all pm! SB and BB read Merry’s catalogues, and ticked pretty much everything in it. Hmm! SB quite clued up that she will get v little of what ticked, so I pointed out, that she should tick her MOST favourites only else we will just choose - thats fine apparently.

She did education city whilst BB and I played with the lego and read books. SB then joined in, but her and BB were in a #not quite matching mode, so we all went outside to let off steam. SB and BB harvested all the pears [about 12 - should count!] apples and beans. Racing around duly done!

SB then did some piano practice - very nicely. she particularly enjoys the piano. After that, we played at being housemaids, and beeswaxed the wood panelling on the stairs. Well, SB helped put it on, but removing was a bit like hard graft, so I did that - looks better for it though.

Much general play - mostly with the castle, then watched really wild show downloaded whilst eating cinnamon toasts - mmm lovely! SB and I looked at a maps book [briefly!] before we went to bake cakes - banana choc and cinnamon loaf. Hasn’t risen as much as normal, so no doubt missed something or other out. tastes fine though! SB drooled over the fimo we bought from Merry - particularly the translucent orange one for doing pumpkins!

Hmm, just been looking at earthships [thanks Dani and Gill] . What a fantastic idea. Up for that really - and so much better in a village/community setting. Anyway, back to blogging

ermm. oh, yes, we then watched some mama mirabelle, BB got her numberjacks fix, SB and I had a very long cuddle and snuggle, I read apple tree farm books to BB, Sb practiced ballet moves. Oh, and nearly forgot, she did some violin practice too. in the end I had to be fairly insistent that we finish it, as she had done half an hour, and was getting stressed out by accidentally playing 2 strings at once occasionally. I am wondering if she is too much of a perfectionist for the violin?
After tea, we played continuo. A rather great thinking game, and SB won! She has read me some magic tree house, and is now reading a felicity wishes book in bed.

Somewhat late in blogging myself! pots and kettles from Chris!

Wed we went to the first Latinetc group meeting. A few local home ed families are getting together to look at minimus Latin, and SB was interested . Crafts and science extras also. We were late - surprise! Katy took the children though to say SB sum, listen to some myths and legends and play a roman based game , i think, cos I was mostly playing with BB and chatting with the other mums - one of whom was cooking yummy soup.

Children then ran around for a bit to blow off some steam, and then I pretended to be Nina of the neurons, and we thought about how we found out about the world, about our 5 senses and then concentrated on taste. I had brought various things to taste, and incorporated some of Katy’s. Unfortunately, I missed taking a pic of K with a huge amount of coffee granules in his mouth priceless! We chatted about the different things we taste, and why they may have been important, and that sweet and salty were our favourites.

Lunch - yummy soup, SB had 4 helpings!! then children careering around the garden, BB playing with plasticine and adults gently chatting. A phone call from Chris reminded me about rainbows, and we just made it. We also came back early to watch SB proudly walk the rainbow path - she loves it!

Today I initially had to go into work. The we zoomed off to Merry’s. I didn’t spend quite as much as I thought! Though have only actually paid for part of the order, and am going to add to it - so should keep mouth shut. Oh, and Mondeo racked up a £700 service bill, and still has to have a slipping clutch done on top.

Anyway, off to Merry’s and girls had a great time playing and putting on a show. Merry and I got to talk - nearly peacefully on occasion, but BB threw a lovely sulk - to everyone’s amusement. Both girls much taken by the press hama kits

home and both girls asleep. Chris has sorted out the electricity circuit prob we had - took most of the day unfortunately, as out big window is stripped and exposed to elements.

Have flickred and addede the odd photo

Chris has loads of half written posts that need finishing!

I obviously worked a lot last week, but also tried to do as much as poss at home - playing games with SB after BB in bed a consistently good thing, and we have felted and hama-ed.

Errm, keeping going with violin, and she did some spontaneous piano practice tody - woohoo! musical instruments are gradually tuning in her brain too - she is much better at singing a tune, so hopefully wont be as tone deaf as Chris.
Maths and handwriting regularly done, we are nearing the end of first story of the world. DO I think she remembers it - not a lot, but hopefully setting the scene as it were! Quite a bit of crafting and arting. Read about pompeii -buried alive, and ring of fire from sonlight. and also the leap ahead volcano, and read through a volcano book. More playing with the ello and ds. Jump ahead and zoombinis on ‘puter, and watching various natural history progs. SB reading loads - fairy books, felicity ewishes, horrid henry and anything she can get her hands on.
girls and chris swimming at the weekend - we’re trying to get back into the habit of going on a sunday as BB loves it

Girls and chris went to see oliver twist yesterday - SB found it too scary, and had difficulty getting to sleep. we talked about our visit to gressenhall, and the rellies that were born there, but she was still unhappy - doesn’t want to learn about victorians! then playing with firends and shoe buying. SB eventually got some felicity wishes boots. they sparkle along the side!

SB is rather frighteningly gaining a waist and indefinably ‘older’. PANIC!!

BB is also getting small girlish. She counts and pretends to read alot. SHe is great at switiching on her ‘puter, finding the kids downloads and choosing one to watch - scary! Her drawing and painting is very careful,, often with a story to it, that she chats or sings along with. BB excellent at singing. I think she may well have inherited my perfect pitch. She is also getting careful with hama beading. Her vocab is excellent - prob due to having SB as an older sister. Still well into her numberjacks addiction!

My Mum seems to be OK post surgery - phew. Unfortunately found today that my godfather has been admitted to my local tertiary hospital neuro unit and not at all well. intubated and ventilated for th last 5 days - so I would appreciate any positive thoughts.

hmmm, there have been loads of things I thought I should blog from both girls - can’t remember them for toffee!! Hopefully chris will [subtle nudge!!]

we were supposed to meet up for a day in the woods, but the weather looked grim, i had had a not brill nigh and still have migraine, so visitors came to ours. they were laden with games, so a HUGE game fest went on and we had a great time. didn’t take many photos as chatting and playing!

prior to their arrival, SB was racing through her maths book, did some more decorating of Mum’s get well card. BB and I baked some cookies too. She has also read ring of fire, to go with our vaguely volcano vaguely roman feel to the week!

Monday we had a HE group trip to a local fruit farm, before we left Stringbean had a phone call from one of her friends who wanted to make sure they synchronized outfits They both have the same stripy purple outfit from H&M. I think it’s probably the first time she has ever had a phone call to herself from one of her friends. I was highly amused by it. didn’t manage to get a piccie of them together though
Anyway the trip was fun. kids enjoyed it and I learnt a few things as well.

Rode around the farm in trailers towed by tractors

The farmer told us about the history of the orchards, the different fruits they grow (they are trying out Apricots), why the newer trees are much smaller than the old ones etc

Picked and munched on apples

Learnt about grafting different apples onto another tree

Had a look at how they grade the apples

And at the juice bottling

There were some enthusiatic helpers

Some went off to the playground afterwards, we headed home with the Deep Enders and plied Katy with tea whilst kids ran around and played.

Helen came home, then Deep Enders left, SB went to Ballet class, girls made get well cards for Nanny S, SB I think beat Helen at Landlock whilst I put BB to bed.

Tuesday - Library day, normal finding books, reading them, chasing up kids etc. Iyt was raining so they wanted to get kitted up in their full Muddypuddles outfits. BB quite comical as hers much too big for her (it’s meant to be a 2-3 but they are sized very big - SB still managed to wear it earlier this year - though a bit small for her by then…) so we probably took longer for them to get dressed up than walking round to the library

SB chose, for the first time to sit out the Storytime story bit and read by herself (but then the stories are aimed at 2-3 yo) - did the colouring though home via the shops.

A lovely bit of quiet whilst they sat on the floor in the playroom reading, and I hid in the kitchen for 20 minutes with a cup of coffee.

On the topic of SB’s reading, it really is zooming along. She got a Rainbows Fairies book out on Saturday, she wasn’t sure about it as she had found them a little bit hard when she had them before a month to two ago. She read the one on Saturday straight through in the afternoon. So we had a couple more of those, and i managed to convince her to try a few books from the Junior Fiction shelf, rather than the simpler ones.

Tuesday afternoon, was lunch, a bit of playing followed by maths and handwriting (it’s really easy multiplication and division but she likes to do it so leaving her be to finish it off), cook dinner for later, try and find out about some Gymnastics classes for SB and she got a book out about Gymnastics and was doing lots of moves out of there. There is a very good Gymnastics club nearby (-ish) but it’s popular and has a longish waiting list. Emailed about a couple of other possibilities as well.

Then the swimming lesson routine, followed by dinner and bedtime. BB didn’t want to go to sleep, and took ages, by which time I was feeling tired/rubbish as the cold/lurgy kicked in, so it was TV and then a (for me) early bed

chris a bit behind on blogging, so:

last week to GP’s thurs/fri

today visit with local group to fruit farm, the deep enders visited. Ballet. SB and B made get well cards for mum, SB beat me at landlock - total jubilation! finished pompeii - buried alive. interesting chat about early warning devices etc