Category Archives: General

home maid

Posted on October 20, 2007 by | 2 comments

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.

Shaker shaker butter maker bread dough vs cookie dough

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.

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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.

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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.

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Lovely day. tomorrow SB wants to make cheese!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Cooking, DIY/ house renovation, General, history, literacy, music, photos

First Fire

Posted on October 19, 2007 by | 2 comments

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!

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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.

Polishing

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.

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Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, DIY/ house renovation, gardening, General, geography, IT, literacy, music, science

Madly Socialising

Posted on October 18, 2007 by | 5 comments

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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, history, language, literacy, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Aargh Blogging

Posted on October 16, 2007 by | 2 comments

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!
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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!!]

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Posted in art and crafts, Blogging, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Out and About, SB-PE, socialisation, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE, writing

visitors

Posted on October 10, 2007 by | 2 comments

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!

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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!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, General, numeracy, socialisation, Stringbean

note

Posted on October 8, 2007 by | Leave a comment

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

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Posted in General

going swimmingly

Posted on October 7, 2007 by | 2 comments

i got up early, we got going early. Played games, did jigsaws. Home ed – S singapore aths and handwriting, B counting and pattern making [rofl! both did the europe jigsaw, we looked for diff countries and discussed that it is SO old there are 2 germanys. SB has quick;y cver t cover read a fairy book. BB did a lovely hama butterfly. we watched numberjacks and roar.

the afternoon was mostly going swimming  – finding costumes, dong wees, finding corocs  you get the picture! we all had a lovely swim.

Back, and some violin practise -well 2 actually  from SB, games with BB, a picnic/cafe reenactment. loads of jump ahead level one and poisson rouge [SB,BB]. SB coloured in french colours, and we had our french conversation.

tea and bed. There, all done. total week from H*** at work next wee – just hoping to keep head above water.

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Posted in art and crafts, General, geography, language, literacy, music, numeracy, SB-PE, writing

Belated Holiday photos

Posted on October 7, 2007 by | 2 comments

At last being flickred.  Lovely short break camping on the North Norfolk coast. I liked this one!!

A spot of mud!

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Posted in General

DS lite run out of power

Posted on October 7, 2007 by | 3 comments

and no, we have NO idea where the charger is. I see on ebay various things to connect with a USB port – are they special ones, or can you stick a generic connector in and it will charge – rather than blow the thing up!!

HELP

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Posted in General

I hate migraines

Posted on October 6, 2007 by | 2 comments

I should be a a 20 years since started uni reunion. instead, as I was baking, a massive headache started. I have taken max doses of everything in my posession, fell asleep from 2-4 but still too crap to go. only now surfaced really in last hour. SHOUT AND SCREAM.

we baked cookies, SB did some maths and writing, and read about romans. she also apparently did loads of zoombinis.

Earlier this am, when I was fine, the library did a very late medal and certficate presentation for big wild read, so we went to that.

chris making me a cards dinner, and then I might fade away again, and hope for better day tomorrow.

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Posted in Cooking, General, history, literacy, numeracy, writing