Author Archives: HHaricot

what a scorcher!

suntan lotion – tick! hats – tick/cross/tick/cross etc!!

So today was an enjoy it while we’ve got it day! The MODHEU was put up again for some shade, and the girls whizzed and poddled about in the garden, climbing, swinging and sliding. Lots of giggles, laughter and ‘mine’ could be heard!

IMG 5095

Chris did a fair bit more weeding of the main veg bed, so when the temp drops a bit, I am going to go out and plant out squashes and sweetcorn [actually temp OK now, but bath and bedtime, so if I was outside it would cause mayhem!]

We did some home ed type stuff, when not running about aoutside, and some of it was simultaneous. SB made some more circuits with the brainbox primary plus kit – in fact she went and got it out and started without any assistance. It is a real hit. She has done half a hama butterfly and drew a lovely birthday card for my Aunty Margaret – writing and spelling herself on the back [except the aunty margaret bit] so slighty alternative, but no worse than my typing! She also did a wodge of explode the code 3 - this bit is about y’s and vowels at the end. SB was found reading a read nose reader as well – yay.

IMG 5096 IMG 5098

Some mental maths today – mostly on number bonds for 10, and some ‘lumping together’ [aka multiplication] of 2 and 3 lots of … under the guise of running a shop, and how many egg boxes did I need etc. She suggested this btw!

Actually, we had a proud daddy moment in the shop when she added 12 and 12 and got 24. It seems to have been the only good moment of the shop as the post office queue was apparently hideous, and SB went into I want mode. [its also the 1 stop shop].

Last weekend, the grauniad had a recipe for paneer – 1 litre full fat milk and 1 lemon juice heated – so today me and SB made some. it is now wrapped in muslin in our jelly bag, and the excess whey dripping out. Cool! SB liked watching the curdling process, and we saw how little curds there were to whey. SB also helped me cook tea.

IMG 5085 IMG 5081

We did watch the rest of Sound of Music. I am def depressed, as I tried hard not to cry as I discussed why they were running away. SB actually missed most of the overtones, and really didn’t understand. So I didn’t do that much explanation – war we can do later. She does want to see the sequel film, of them getting to america – i explained there is no film, I just read the book of their life, but to no avail! We’ve listened to little toe – now a daily occurence she is so fond of it. Before tea, as we had 2 exhausted little beans, they have been watching the blue planet – well SB watches, and BB dances to the music [cute]

IMG 5092

BB and I have mostly cuddled and shape sorted, chased, swung and built towers today. I do try and get a bit of as near 1 on 1 as I can – but SB not entirely amenable! [this is usually when she is match and sorting or hama-ing!] However BB is such an independent thing she is quite happy to have short bursts – as long as she can feed whenever she wants, and has prime control of lap time!!

Argh moment of the day was a thrush flying in, and then not flying back out again, ut being frantic by a non-opening window [eside a wide open door!] I psyched myself up to try and catch it in a tea towel, when finally it flew back out again.

Sunny day – AT LAST!

What a lovely day. We got right out into the garden and tried to catch up. so at last a garden blog!

We didn’t do any ‘match and sort’ today, but a fair bit of mental maths and spelling – SB and her teddy were playing at schools with me today outside. She insisted she had hard questions and the bear easy [cos he is 4!] I was weeding and hoeing at the time, and BB poddling about the garden – mostly climbing.

IMG 4952

SB painted her tile she made at the Abbey, nicely with black, yellow gold and silver at her choice, It looks very nice. And it was then lunch time. We listened to little toe and classic FM. SB very taken by house on the prairie and tom’s midnight garden. We had a spin off discussion on landgrabbing from Indians, and how to make a firebreak.

IMG 5006
After lunch we decided to ring a history book – so she chose a picturepedia book about the body! Anyway we went all the way through the book. She is fascinated about the body. It lead onto a discussion on oxygen, and how it was neede to make energy in the body, and how it was needed for things to burn. So we did some really cool oxygen experiments. we lit candles inside jars and watched them go out, and chris remembered a really cool one where you lit a candle floating on water with a jar over the top, and the water gets sucked up. Her Xmas tree crystal is looking good too.

IMG 5013

BB awoke, and so she read me a stack of books. SB went through some red nose readers, and the went into garden for a ‘school break’ while BB and I had some 1 to 1 with the fun blox and some wooden peg teddies. The all back into the garden. BB to run about wildly and giggle, and me to read Ulysses to SB [a firm favourite!] Actually BB and Guinness were doing a fair bit of bonding too.

IMG 5024 IMG 5061
We all made the dough for pizzas tonight, and then more fun outside. BB loves the little car we got from Merry, and SB is totally wild on the swings – particularly the trapeze bar, andging from her legs twirling around. My Aunt lost her 2 front teeth that way…

Hmm, what else, well we ate the pizza outside [incorporating home grown asparagus, and in the salad home radishes], with the girls running around the garden thinking it was great fun.

IMG 5039

IMG 5059

Sb went to bed listening to 5 children and it – at last she likes the more grown up story CD’s – though Winnie the Pooh still her favourite.

it has been a very relaxing day.

My Little Nanny not had such a good day, as her next door neighbour [since they moved in after the war] and closest friend in hospital to die from her breast cancer. Although late 80′s, their friendship has spanned half a century [more], her husband and Nanny’s brother were prisoners of war in thailand together [building infamous railway, and against all odds both survived] and they’ve seen children and grandchildren grow up. So wishing a peaceful crossing there. She is heavily sedated and not really ‘there’ due to brain mets, but even so, lets hope for diginity and a gentle passing none the less.

picnic day!

which was lovely. we met up with one of tbhe localish home-ed groups for a picnic in the park. It was sunny most of the time, and there were lots of people there. A lovely park too. SB had a whale of a time, running in and out of the play area and the paddling pools with her friends. BB was also very adventurous, and being her usual gorgeous self.

IMG 4859 IMG 4853

It was nice for both Chris and I to go, as we often seem to share the children like a relay race, rather than jointly.

IMG 4845 IMG 4867

It helped shake some of my cobwebs, as I really am fairly blue at the moment.

IMG 4890 IMG 4893

IMG 4903

This evening, SB did some paint and learn CD, and then we have watched another segment of sound of music. She was fixated by if they would have a wedding ball, and enjoying the songs – clearly missing most of the plot! Not got to the overt Nazism yet – thats the next installment.

Thanks tim and Nic [with a reminder from Merry!]

Your personality: Stress Lover

You just love it when things get frantic… and doesn’t everyone else know it? You buzz around the office at 100mph, with your quick-fire repartee and snappy decision-making. Which is great for getting things done – or at least giving that impression – but make sure you know where the line is. Don’t lose that focus, but remember you’ve got a life outside work too.

Your office role: Hostage

You feel trapped into empathy with management, which leaves you powerless in negotiations over your future. You cling to the hope that your loyalty and good behaviour will one day be rewarded. Surely it’s only a matter of time…

Your job attitude: Mother Hen

The people you work with are like your babies. Little children to be protected like fluffy little chicks. No-one cares like you do about your team – and you can’t bear to see them upset. Even if change is needed, you would resist it rather than see your brood dispersed.

char 13

Allpadding=”4″ cellspacing=”0″>

Career Inventory Test Results

Extroversion ||||||||||||||| 43%
Emotional Stability |||||||||||||||||| 53%
Orderliness |||||||||||||||||| 60%
Altruism |||||||||||||||||| 53%
Inquisitiveness |||||||||||||||||||||||| 76%
You are a Planner, possible professions include – management consultant, economist, scientist, computer programmer, environmental planner, new business developer, curriculum designer, administrator, mathematician, psychologist, neurologist, biomedical researcher, strategic planner, civil engineer, intellectual properties attorney, designer, editor/art director, inventor, informational-graphics designer, financial planner, judge.

Take Free Career Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Autonomy

they woke up early – far too early! luckilly they then went to sleep fro 2 more hours, so 8 when I got up.

we have had a very full day. the only non-autonomous things were cookie making and watching sound of music – neither were at all resisted!! Trouble is, we did so much today, that there is a real problem in recall!

Anyway, SB has been very keen on learning more about space. So we read a DK picurepaedia book and then started painting a picture of the solar system – we have done the sun, complete with solar flares and some constellations. when it is dry, we will stick on some planets. SB pretty clued up about the solar system, various star types, rockets and astronauts. however a bit unsure about the various unmanned missions, as not sure that remote control would work. [she could have a point, thinking of mars!]

IMG 4721 IMG 4719 edited-3

BB also keen to paint, and did a lovely daub picture – she concentrated very hard, and didn’t make too much mess either! It was great having them painting together.

Back into play mode, adn SB insistent she wanted to play Jojo in numberland – so worked her way with ease through first CD whilst I played with BB.

BB and I read, had more fun with those Ideal blox from Merry, played with teddy and dollies etc. BB jabbers away non-stop. it sounds more like words now – though not my lnaguage yet! She has been rather fascinated by our hama window decoration, and worked out that if she moved a chair from the playroom to the window she could finally reach. She was careful though, and didn’t pull any off.

IMG 4735 IMG 4731

A quick lunch and BB fell asleep. I had promised SB we would start to put together her roman villa, so we started taht. I had thought she would get fed up very quickly, but actually we did a fair bit. we read and chatted about the accompanying book about roman life as we went. The house lararium we decided was dedicated to Minerva – goddess of crafts amongst other things. Actually, it highlighted how much SB has picked up about ancient greece from reading around the myths and legends. I failed to find a suitable alternative goddess to Hestia for us, in the books, but now looking it up, it is Vesta, of vestal virgins fame! Hmm, her feast day is coming up. This comparative religions lark!

IMG 4755

when she looked flagging, we moved on to hama a flower for Aunty Margaret’s birthday. [more of Merry's goods!!] We were going to play the piano, but instead SB started excavating out a pretend triops fossil [that tesco's dinosaur tube]. we msut get some replacement triops eggs [unfortunately chris spilled the last lot all over the floor, though they hadn’t hatched - actually does anyone know how long they usually take to hatch, and if we can just use pond water, or need to get a new nutrient bag as well?]

IMG 4779 edited-1

BB woke up, so some playing upstairs with happy street – and SB joined us when she had lost interest in teh excavating. it was time to offer the baking cookies. Somehow we muddled through – BB loved making them! S’s mixture was ‘interesting’ so I added flour until it felt more reasonable! They were topped with smarties, and the girls ate the spares. [where is Sam when we have cookies?]

IMG 4786 ?IMG 4780
SB went back to jojo, doing the second CD all through – multiplication and division. Although we have done grouping and sharing as mental maths, she’s not seen it written, so I did have to do a bit of helping. However, the easiest level seemed pretty much right for her. i just had to occasisionally remind her of the signs.

More general messing about type playing, imagining allsorts, and arbitrating between BB and SB as the inevitable ‘mine’ war hotted up. Honestly, SB winds up BB on purpose. I think this might been the greenest phase she has been through. We do our best to treat diferent but equally -IYSWIM – and explain what is funny in an 18 monther is not in a 5 [when it is plain naughty] – yep, a difficult concept. I suppose BB is going through a rapid grow and develop phase and their relationship has to adjust too.

Ah well, tea of noodle, veg and seaweed soup, listening to little toe show and then settled down to the first part of sound of music. BB was slow to fall asleep tonight, but SB out like a light. She needed to be as took a long time last night – though she does now enjoy the 5 children and it story CD [partly as the phoenix one has been on little toe]

What we didn’t do was any gardening – wail so far behind!! but the weather was awful – even hail, thunder and lightening. The good thing is though, that there will be frost. And its been so long since we planted anything that I’d have prob planted out all the tender things as well ‘while I’m at it’ hopefully we will get a lot of things in this weekend. today [and working the weekend] has left me fair worn out. Must have a shower, as have paint in my hair.

Family Gatherings

i like the 4 generational thing. Mum and Dad brought Little Nanny to visit. I was really happy to see her since it has been a while. Work has been so crazy that I have been derelict in my duties on visiting.

Anyway, I was at work in the morning, but on call since then [and amazingly didn't get called back either - well yet!] so I got to enjoy the whole visit.

SB put on a dance show to start with [surprise!] and BB joined in. We then had some yummy home made sweet potato soup, and some home made bread rolls that Chris and SB? had made in the morning.

IMG 4694 edited-3

then just a happy family afternoon, some reminiscing, some looking to the future, and a lot of giggling at my girls. SB slightly green tinged which was a shame – a bit like she was overtired actually. She enjoyed dancing on my dad’s feet- just like i did as a girl, and read to my mum. Some dance mat craziness went on, and BB showed her circus skills – almost head over heels and climbing.

IMG 4695 ?IMG 4707

IMG 4698 edited-3 ? IMG 4703

Rather cutely, as they were leaving [after an excellent curry for tea] BB demonstrated a new today skill of blowing kisses – majorly cute! SB and I read some fly on the wall egypt and they are both now asleep. Aah, quiet.

What type of mother are you

From mother crone’s homeschool

go here

Your type is: intp ?The ?Love of Learning? Mother

?I keep the encyclopedia in the kitchen so we can look up things together while we eat.?

  • Intellectually curious and patient, the INTP mother relishes those times with a child when they are learning something interesting together. Whether they?re at the zoo or computer terminal, she sparks to answering his or her ?whys? with in-depth responses or new knowledge.
  • The INTP mother is also objective and introspective. She listens to and discusses children?s ideas and questions as she would those of a peer, fostering self-esteem and confidence. Open and non-directive, she allows children the freedom to do for themselves and quietly encourages them to believe they can do it.
  • Independence, autonomy, intellectual development, and self-reliance are probably the INTP?s highest priorities for her children. An avid reader, she naturally imparts an appreciation and love of reading as well.
  • Drawn to all types of learning, the INTP may also value her mothering experience for all the new insights about life it provides her.

Actually, going through old blogs, I am usually an ISFP – so just putting that in gives:
Your type is: isfp ?The ?Giving? Mother

?A people pleaser from Day One, it took me 30 years to
figure out I could say ?no.??

  • Quiet and unassuming in her devotion, the ISFP mother is responsive to her children?s needs, offering behind-the-scenes love and support. She is gentle and non-intrusive, flexible and adaptable.
  • A ?be there? mother, the ISFP takes pleasure in physically caring for her children and doing for them. Her best times might be ?doing little things? with each child one-on-one.
  • More than anything, the ISFP mother wants her children to know they are loved. And she enjoys being needed in return.
  • Dedicated to raising children who are responsible and care for others, she favors a non-directive approach: instilling values by setting a good example. She may be a strong role model for community service.


hmm! i prefer the first option – have been an INTJ before as well,

Your type is: intj ??The ?Individual Integrity? Mother

?My kids are better off arguing their own point of view than telling me, ?But everyone else is doing it.??

  • Individualistic and independent, the INTJ mother is both a role model and teacher of how to be an individual and live life with integrity. She is introspective, defining her own success from within, and generally confident in her decisions. She is unlikely to be persuaded by her children saying, ?But all the other mothers are doing it.?
  • The INTJ is competent in providing for her children?s basic needs, but she is likely more focused on developing their self-esteem and confidence. Observant and insightful, she puts great importance on independent thinking and self-sufficiency, yet she is comfortable providing protection and boundaries.
  • Self-motivated and intense, the INTJ works hard and takes life seriously. As a mother, she lives for those moments when she can impart knowledge and offer her children perspectives on life and important issues.

?so I guess i am probably a mixture – as always! I think the first is more what I aim to be, but I do see myself in the other 2 as well. what does anybody else think?

Thanks nic – freudian inventory

Freudian Inventory Results
Oral (56%) you appear to have a good balance of independence and interdependence knowing when to accept help and when to do things on your own.
Anal (50%) you appear to have a good balance of self control and spontaneity, order and chaos, variety and selectivity.
Phallic (36%) you appear to have negative issues regarding sexuality and/or have an uncertain sexual identity.
Latency (53%) you appear to have a good balance of abstract knowledge seeking and practicality, dealing with real world responsibilities while still cultivating your abstract and creative faculties and interests.
Genital (53%) you appear to be somewhere between a progressive/openminded and regressive/closeminded outlook on life.
so apart from not wanting a one night stand, I’m a bit boring really!
Big Five Word Test Results
Extroversion (41%) moderately low which suggests you are reclusive, quiet, unassertive, and secretive.

Accommodation (58%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly kind natured, trusting, and helpful at the expense of your own individual development (martyr complex).

Orderliness (47%) medium which suggests you are moderately organized, structured, and self controlled while still remaining flexible, varied, and fun.
Emotional Stability (44%) moderately low which suggests you are worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.
Inquisitiveness (67%) moderately high which suggests you are intellectual, curious, imaginative but possibly not very practical.

Take Free Big Five Word Choice Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

oh, and on this? 92%

mine teddy!

a sentence!

shrieked repeatedly. [it is SB's though!]

Out and about

today we went out with one of our local home ed groups to Denny Abbey. there was stained glass making and tile making put on, and for the older children a bit more history, but SB was having so much fun playing, that the youngest group played making arches and then sundry imaginative run around games! A huge turnout.

IMG 4559
BB was much taken by looking through the coloured plastic to see how the world changed colour, and did this will all the colours she could grab. SB had a lollipop design for her stained glass- rofl. She was quick to answer questions, and enjoyed the tile making too – she concentrates really well on crafts.

IMG 4575 IMG 4541

IMG 4542

A reproductive lesson too by a rather frisky bull in a field full of cows and calves. Ended on a sour note, as SB ran off with her friend M and hid just as I was putting BB in car. Took me 5 mins to find them. She knows she shouldn’t run off from carparks. grr! So she looked sad all the way home as she had been naughty – by which point I felt sad too!! And I hadn’t done too much of a major telling off either.

Anyway, got home. Chris went to the meeting with the council about the pubs request for musi 4 days a week. he got chatting to the owner, who prob isn’t going to use music so much, and it seems part of the deal is some kind of noise limiter device thingy. So we’ll see.

SB did some maths – difficult bit again, so we cut it short – its adding over a 10. She’s fine at adding and subtracting within the 10, and her understanding of tens and units seems fine, its just that making tens thing. Some playing with cuisinaire rods and pattern making with that and the ideal blocks. We also made a mask – it was SB’s present to me as a sorry for being naughty, she made me a make-a-mask kit and wrapped it up – ahh, all friends again, and a long cuddle! She really can be thoughtful[yep, there is one of me in the mask!]
IMG 4592 IMG 4590

We then spent most of the afternoon outside, running around, making up games, and SB and BB playing together beautifully. We lost track of time, so have had chips for tea listening to little toe radio – we are all enjoying the little house on the prairie adaption. We finished the day watching some more of the blue planet DVD series – shores this time. SB has become very taken by natural history DVD’s
IMG 4598 IMG 4601