to kentwell, to kentwell to show a new shift

As you might remember, last year we particpated in the annual tudor recreation at Kentwell Hall for the first time. I would very very much recommend anyone who can to go and visit, either in a school trip or at the weekend. it is quite something. This weekend was the first open day for new and old participants to hear patricks vision for the year, sign up for potential roles, talk to the costume elves and say hello to other parts. T-bird and her daughter aprillia are hoping to be new participants this year, so they came up on friday and joined us for the weekend.

but i am getting a bit ahead! thurs was a multisports day, both girls enjoying it, but very cold apparently. thurs also cubs for BB and guides for SB. They both love these groups. I am very happy as BB for years was v reluctant to go to participatory groups on her own, and had to be shoehorned into judo before deciding she really loved it. cubs she has loved from the get go . SB had a fair bit of problems with bulling initially at guides. she is so different, home educated, mindful and helpful, not partic trendy, not in a hurry to leave childhood behind. But she has stuck at it, got a core group of friends there and ignores the slings and arrows shot in her direction. Proud of both my girls. . fri was a very busy day, conservation in the morning and then SB had orthodontic appoint mid aft [as she had lost an elastic band] and then she had extra ballet class in the eve. BB was left in charge of the mothers day cards to nanny and nana – and did a very good job of repurposing some of the djeco pictures

So now we have got to t-bird and aprillia arriving girls played pandemic and chatted, BB was v excited T-bird and I sewed and chatted companiably in lovely conservatory great evening . I also v v quickly whipped up a partlet for SB which I was impressed by . unfortunately elves said it was perfectly fine for being poor [tho white a bit bright] but not perfectly fitted enough for rich. sigh! SB is being rich for most of it [borrowing from bess most of the clothes] and poor for a weekend or too – in the clothes i made last year. both now need a partlet. we had a pizza and film night before all getting an earlyish bedtime [ok not the kids!] . sat saw us old parts togging up in our tudor clothes for the first time since last kentwell. realised we never de-mudded the kirtles and dh hose needs a patch. all the linens ok though .

what i really like about kentwell is the very friendliness and also knowledge of so many of the participants. thankyou to the elves for their constant help and authority with the clothing. [even if the horse kept bumping me as i tried to help ] and also to Tamsin who is lending us a lute so that SB can start to play it, we can see how we get on before deciding whether to commit and buy one. very helpful, very friendly people. DH is considering basketmakers, woodchoppers or sottler – made me giggle that i needed to vouch for his skills , myself cott or peddlar [last year peddlars woefully undermanned, so thought could offer a hand] , SB tentry and then poor days- thought could beg herself a place on a station nearer the time, and BB barnschool and with me. so all sorted . t-bird and aprillia had a longer day than us but seemed happy with potential niches at the end too . I managed this lovely snap of a lovely friend

we got home, a bit shattered, watched some tv, chatted, and kids keeled over into bed and adults not much later… today aprillia still shattered, so they made an earlier decamp than orig planned, but with some linen so that helps with the 40 bags out Had cards from the girls for mothersday – which i will put on a post of their own . today has mostly been bimbling about. Have cut out next SB shift. music prac with the girls – tho bb lost her nerve when the f sharp in a key sig not by the note on the cello, so we decided to talk about it and try again tomorrow. piano moving more quickly though . SB and I did some french together. getting to the end of galore park 1 book, so need to buy 2, and think i will buy answer book as well! BB did some painting, weighing things out and minecrafting. both girls spent ages playing sylvanians together. i love it when they play happily together they are currently in a more in synch mode – phew! had a lovely tea of roasties as my treat and now should do some work I guess to prepare for tomorrow!

happy mothers day