Author Archives: HHaricot

TBH, we have been manically busy, and mothers day crept up on me. As well as the 3 child family thing, work has been crazy busy with lots of v important deadlines hitting in the last we of march and first 2 of april, causing me stress – tho ultimately they have gone ok. Also DH having some worries re parents health – hopefully will go OK. so we didn’t make much of it at all. Girls made lovely cards though.

we then went to meet with the manorborns for a great walk at RSPB. we really haven’t done it enough in the last few years, and i remembered how enjoyable they were. kids walked nicely, my hip and leg not too troublesome and the kids had us completely fooled when they hid from us!

we finished at their house having a wonderful meal and playing a new game – always great BB got a bit ‘past it’ by the end, but our hosts were, as always, very gracious . Thankyou for a lovely day!

not only am i far behind on blogging! but also on gardening – well probably lots of things. juggling 3 kids when used to 2 takes quite a bit more energy! especially as wanting to spend quite a bit of time with FrB so that the language [particularly trying to sound english rather than french is the agenda at the moment] is going along nicely, and then balancing that out so other kids not jealous. ALso the running about the country we are doing so that the british history in 6 months thing is a success. [these are my 2 main goals for FrB time with us on an educational front]

Anyway, gardening…

we checked through some seeds, the girls weeded their veg beds, and then sowed. I have sowed toms, peppers, aubergines, beans and beetroot [ a bit eclectic!] and the girls are mostly flowers.

we also cleaned the trampoline, well, that is what they said they were doing

Having had E since sat, we asked if anyone fancied an extra weds4ed so that we could blend that with nattyem coming to pick up E. no-one else was free, so we went with an arts theme, an extended pottery morning, and a musical afternoon. The pottery worked v v well, with the usual suspects taking time and care to get their creations to fit with their internal visions. Although R struggled with her vision initially, i really loved the outcome. in fact, as always, I am always impressed with what all the kids do when given time and encouragement to follow their vision of the brief. Brief – pinch plant pot to grow ‘hair’ in, or slab mug making. Don’t they look fab!

We had a roasted veg pasta bake for lunch, and cake and muffins and then went on to do some music. SB and FrB did some General Musicianship with me – starting on grade 1 which they could do easily, so Grade 2 next time. The with E and nattyem we did lots of recorder duets for descant and treble on a variety of recorders. Think we all did very well – though i realised it is so long since i last played a treble that i have ‘forgotten’ the instinctive placement of fingers – eek! Much more musical than Sunday’s karaoke!

the bigger girls finished the day with a board game, and the younger ones were minecrafting. All having fun whilst we grown ups chatted over a well earned cup of tea. My girls did some conquer maths, and the older ones some latin before judo for all. We finished the day watching the british sewing bee.

well, not exactly we had borrowed another child – E – from sat to weds, as the girls were desperate for a sleepover!

Sunday – they did lots of playing board games, and the wii, and an [interesting!] exceptional 2 hour karaoke performance. I don’t think the girls are very strong on tunes!! When I upload to flickr I might put here, unless am bribed in the interim! Was lovely to see them having such fun

Monday – a home ed worky type day. E got a ticksheet too – i think she is not going to demand them at home tho! Also ballet class. When i got back from work – rather later than anticipated! – the girls helped by baking for me for work the next day. They made a dairy free apple and cinnamon cake and a chocolate cake. We also made sausage rolls and a roast veg pasta salad. Then my 3 kids each had a piano lesson with me. FrB is moving steadily through the book. Our big step really is learning the names of notes as in France the use the sol-fa system. I am doing the Gina plan with BB – we have gone back a bit to regain her confidence! SB has quickly picked up her grade 3 pieces. They are out of date now, but will get her to learn scales, feel comfy and then we will start on Grade 4 music. We are also enjoying her jazz duets. We finished the day watching Epic.

Tuesday – Morning was a bit book worky, and the afternoon was chemistry with daddybean. This time they finished their separation experiment, and then made plastic sulphur – heating it and then cooling in water. This was, apparently, a bit smelly! BB played a boardgame instead with S. The evening was swimming, and then watching 2 episodes of bang goes the theory – one one electricity/power supply, and the other on cancer.

Bb had a fab judo training day with an Olympian visiting too. She worked hard and felt it had been a good day

A new Kentwell year is dawning. It is 1578 for those that care about such things. As always, I am sewing! This years jobs are here. I have made one shift apart from collar and frills, and have completed FrB’s petticoat . FrB sewed her apron – she is very proud of that! So this was the first open day and we met up with friends there and looked forwards to a new season. I have lft it  bit upto Patrick where i go next time, dyers is my preference as i have been reading up! But have also put felters down or alehouse. The cott is a really interesting station, and I could really enjoy doing it, but think should try a number of different places. DH has put down for builder, woodpile or sotler, SB is going to be a sottler, FrB in the woolhouse or cott and BB barnschool and pottery.

FrB enjoyed wearing her petticoat bodies for the first time

A good way to celebrate your monthiversary It is surprising how quick the month goes! I gave her the art academy ds game for her monthiversary present and we had takeaway pizza for tea [hers with ham ]

we set off friday and stopped in our travelodge on the way to Anglesey. We had a cottage falling of the top of wales! We were really lucky as the weather for all but one day was sunny, though there was a fair old breeze! We had some stunning views from walks

The crazy girls did some swimming – in wetsuits and the shrouded in towels with hot choc to warm up!

we visited the local bijou museum, which was excellent. the kids trail was fine, and helped the kids navigate nicely the museum, and we were the only ones in there. it also had a very good cafe and an art exhibition.

we went to some prehistoric sites – very important for our history of britain through the ages project! These included burial mounds and iron age round houses. Very evocative and fabulous views.

we did do some home ed whilst we were away. All girls finished the prehistory to end of iron age – now we just have to add visits we have done, and leave some pages empty before starting… the romans! FrB and BB also did some English work, and FrB brought her recorder – ermmm did we leave it there?? A fair bit of colouring and lots of animal crossing on ds!

There was a lot of picnics in the boot of the car and cafe stops. FrB had her first cream tea.

We visited 2 castles – Beaumaris and Penrhyn both beautiful in different ways and at polar ends of castle history!

On the way home we went to Great Orme ancient copper mines. These were fab! I thought I was very brave going in the caves as not my favourite things! However it is wonderful walking in such ancient places, and the cavern was awesome.

We geocached a bit and placed and picked up a travelbug. we hugged, laughed and had a wonderful time . Going to end this post on 2 fab holiday photos.