Category Archives: music

didn’t like the title…

Back to work tomorrow, so a bit of gloom – hence sherry! [ex christmas stock!]

i had a lie in today and breakfast in bed – lovely. The came down to the playzone! SB was roller skating, and BB using the xylophone as a skateboard [v quiet!] SB very excitedly said she could do a handstand, so we put cushions on the floor [well, she's bound to hurt herself otherwise] and SB and BB take turns to do tumbles, headover heels and something vaguely looking like a handstand. i remember crying in a gym lesson being made to do a handstand, so not the best person to demonstrate to SB. Should have asked at camp last week! I took out her ‘hair’ but was amazed by how wavy it is – we have been thinking she was someone else all day!
We then made cards for my dad – usual glueing pompoms, stickers, sparkles, feathers etc. I bet he’ll be pleased though! The girls then did an even messier gluing stuff picture with some bits and pieces merry left here before. SB finished varnishing the fimo, and BB and I have been wearing the thumb rings she made us.

BB helped me make Spanish omelette [I hep youuuuuuuu], and it seemed a lunch she could do – keeping all the ohter ingredients stirring while the potatoes cooked. It was yummy scrummy too. SB thinks she can make that for us in the future – I have promised to teach her to cook this Summer. [she had 3 helpings btw!]. We ate in the conservatory as the table was covered in gluey things.

We all went outside after lunch to enjoy the good weather. the girls raced about playing games, SB made a potion with flowers, and BB watered things. our fruit trees are coming into flower – the merryweather damson is covered in flowers. Our broad beans outside are getting going, as is the radish. no sign yet of carrots though.

SB did a violin lesson - of the pulling teeth variety! However, though she was slouchy, she did better bowing, and it didn’t sound quite so much like we were torturing the cats!

Seed sowing – cauliflower, autumn giant leek, mangetout and peas. [must reinstate gardening blog!] the aubergines, peppers and toms all have at least a few seedlings – unsure at present which are which as only seed leaves! The peas from before are coming up [1 week since sown]. Both girls ‘helped’ me – which is why there is a variable number of seeds in each module, and by the end I have no idea what is where! luckily, they become obvious as they grow.
The worm world has compacted down a bit, so need to add some more compost [task for this eve!] . We studied a dead bumble bee, which then buzzed briefly in BB’s hand – not so dead after all then. She didn’t like that, and called it a naughty bee, but we gave it some sugar water [and I think it has now expired in it!]. Oh well, we got to look at all its various anatomical features before it briefly recovered!

SB has done some more zoombinis – run through a whole level, but only ‘saved’ 7 this time. Thanks Kirsty. BB watched Bob the Builder. BB fell asleep over dinner, and is now being unsettled, SB had a shower and Brittania and the pirate book for bed, and is now listening to 5 children and it – a firm favourite!

Thanks for the reading suggestions from below. Will save my pennies at the moment then!

today was brought to you by BB BB BB BB BBB [x3]

Bead Merrily… [as in that pearl and dean thing or whatever!]

But anyway, a lovely relaxing day! SB, as mentioned before, tore into some new books and is romping through the last one [sigh!] in the set I have got. The morning was mostly playing and an eternity getting dressed [I think the 2 girls were mostly playing then too!]

After lunch we did some fimo, We were going to do Easter eggs, but SB saw the girly flower jewellery kit she had got for her birthday so we did that instead, but with different colours. She found cutting out the flowers slightly tricky – as she wanted them to look perfect – so we had a small flower cutter in the playdough box. BB mimicked all the cutting and rolling with her playdough. We both loved the rollup rainbow for the flower middle. [yes will flickr!]

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After tidying that up and setting the oven going, she was then keen to do hama eggs – you’ve guessed it, another bead merrily kit [therefore the title! But obviously an old pattern as couldn't find it on the website]. She did a beautiful egg with butterfly, but decided we should put it on our hama window, so we filled in between the butterfly and egg a little bit with clear [worked out by SB]. BB was asleep at this point, having done lots of skipping about, making me food to eat, and playing with the castle.

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I tried and failed to get the zoombini’s maths journey started, so while Chris did that, SB and I read up about the universe. [a DK one through the book people, so failure to find a link!]. SB does like the space topic, and we return a fair amount. We looked at our broad beans in jars – roots and the start of a shoot. Chris did get the zoombini’s to work, so she has been round it on its easiest setting, and realised it wasn’t impossible [she had read the age suggestion, so had to be persuaded it was possible!] Next time we will start putting it up! I enjoyed the bubble bit. Both girls did a violin lesson as well.
BB woke up very clingy, but moved onto Poisson Rouge and then watching The Snowman DVD [she has a rotten cold poor thing].

Zoombinis Poisson rouge

Curry for tea, with yummy lentils. SB finished the zoombinis, and we went to bed. More Britannia [we are at king Malcolm and Qeen margaret] She read me a chapter of an Usborne Young reader [pirates], and we discussed finances, salaries, saving for rainy days, and why I go out to work, even though I would like to stay at home, and why we don’t both work part time any more. Hopefully that won’t make her brain whizz too much to fall asleep!

Em’s hairstyle will have to come out tomorrow, as only just in place – I’m not sure I can replicate!

Happy mother’s day all out there

today we went and said happy mother’s day to little nanny, and she was thrilled. The weather has been interesting! She taught SB how to play rummy – and SB was delighted. The lasagne went down a trick. She loved the card from SB, but chris packing cards forgot to take BB’s. I think she was just thrilled to see us though. Both girls were mostly delightful – as always.

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its a long old day for me though, with a good drive either side, and the keeping both girls at perky best, not putting sticky fingers anywhere [although they are fed chocolate and icecream!] without seeming too manic and making them unhappy! Cooking, washing up and being a full prairie muffin dervish [so not me!]

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But it is all worth it, Little Nanny totally delighted – has already rang a number of family members to tell them full details, and I love seeing her, and whats more, she is sooooo much better than this time last year. She has even got into town and back [though won't in the snow - I left her with provisions!]

learning rummy

on an educational front – we discussed – watermeadows, ditches, canals, draingage, ploughing and sowing, use of polythene and polytunnels, cathedrals and multiplication of time differences between driving at 60 and walking at 4! SB has read to Nanny there and me at home. And learnt rummy! It was also lovely having 3 of us singing baa baa black sheep et all on the drive as went in car with no stereo [or anything!]. SB also gave me a lovely card at Little Nanny’s – all written [and spelled] by herself. will photo and flickr – aahh.

busy busy baking

well, mostly today we have been baking and making mother’s day cards. BB loved sticking, and SB just enjoyed making the cards. chris’s parents came round and got their card, and saw SB’s birthday pressies [they bought her the gorgeous corolle doll . SB read to Nana whilst BB and I made and baked brownies.

SB did some education city and then we baked a choc chip banana loaf. we checked on our worms – nicely making tunnels and taking down food, our seeds – some evidence of phototropism in the spouted cress, and the tomatoes and sunflowers have started to appear.

I made a lovely lasagne, and the girls did some colouring, and then watched bob the builder on the ‘puter. BB singing along at top voice. i have to say, BB sings beautifully, and she is really vocal. We have listended to little toe and classic fm as well, so not all BTB!

We read more britannia [battle of hastings] and an ORT at bedtime.

not packed though.

Invasion of the bobbles

Well,that was Chris’s cry as he organised the home ed room – there did seem to be rather a lot of them about! In fact, chris has spent most of the day organising and tidying the room [and is still doing it] so 3 cheers for him!

resources reorganised!

What have we done? well the morning was mostly playing for the girls, running about and having fun. The new violin shoulder rest came through [its a bit big!] but we fiddled it [rofl] and both girls did a violin practice, and I managed to get some nice bow arm movement from SB. We had unearthed some DJ readers level 3 [a long ago book people order] and SB had a go at reading the carnivorous plants book, and she did some education city. We looked at the worms again, and our cress has started to sprout [the only thing sprouting so far. Have read kirsty's gardening blog and feeling well behind again!]. I read a variety of books to BB, and she did handstands while SB did a bit of singapore maths 1B final stretch!
After lunch, I distracted BB with playdough, so that SB and I could so a fairy clothespeg dolly from tesco’s. The playdough distracted SB too though, so we didn’t! BB has made a plaster of paris handprint, and we will do SB’s tomorrow or fri perhaps. We did our french conversation, and added in the age again. I know that isn’t really much for language, but still…
We then got out a microscope we had picked up from freecycle and had a play about with it. The lenses aren’t brill, but SB enjoyed messing about, seeing what she could see etc. intended to read greg’s microscope, but didn’t, and BB fell asleep.

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With BB asleep, we went and snuggled altogether on the sofa and did some story of the world [it has been ages!] and read about China and the great wall. we also have the great wall of china book from sonlight, and assorted bits from enchanted learning that she has done. We looked at the globe, messed about with our own calligraphy and I change the I am romulus and this is rom to I am chin shen and this is china [said, but she'll remember!] we even compared and contraste with romans, and looked at google earth – took up about 2 hours of interest. I guess this is what it should be like all the time!

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With BB then awake, we did tidying and had a chippery tea. Girls had a bath, and more britannia and ORT for SB bedtime, but BB still up and about due to 2 hours of sleep before! Other than that, both girls have been singing around the house, dancing and generally being lovely [mostly!]

Oh for some sleep!

v difficult to get up and go to work, but did so. [though had a mad phoner on my mobile while I was there - i think it might have been Josie! I put it on silent - rofl] The beans did a bit of maths, not sure what else and then went to the playbarn to meet with a friend. they had a lovely time

When I came home, Chris was reading the tree of life [about evolution] well, SB read half of it and he finished when she got tired. Its a really nice book actually – the evolutionists answer to a creation story. I would recommend it. They then all looked at places on google earth – my parents are off to Syria, which started the search.

We did some violin practice – both of them. SB has a stiff bow arm, so am doing various weird waving excercises as well, being a swan, wrist sighing etc etc.

We read some more of the science encyclopaedia all about atoms [woosh over her head I think, but she liked looking at the pictures - especially the rutherford model]. We looked at the worm world again, they seem to be fine, and pulling the leaves down their burrows. Other than that mostly played dolls and loved me! [the ed is all bitesized if you were wondering how it all got fitted in!]

They also helped Chris make a pineapple upside down cake [BB only ate the pineapple!] All very noisy and wild. Early bed for all of us.

oh, a late update! we have played around the world board game [draw] and connect 4 – and SB truly beat me [rather than a tactical lose] for 1 game out of 3! Hooray. More britannia and ORT reading for bedtime stories, and she is now listening to Horrible Histories CD [so I might tick history!]

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Sunny Sunday

yay, spring is in the air. the daffs have been around for a while, the cherry blossom nearly over and the magnolia budding. Hooray for the rebirth!

I had a lie in today – well, BB did wake me, and we sang songs for a while, but she got up with Chris and I didn’t. When I did finally stir my stumps, I had heard them playing dollies together for a while – no idea what else.

So a slow start, with me reading books to the girls and them playing more dollies and castles. We also did a violin practice [for both] and started SB on twinkle twinkle – but will do merrily we roll along as well. She enjoyed trying starting on different strings.

We looked at the paperweight mosiac from yesterday, and peeled off the paper – unfortunately some of the little mosiacs came out too, but I think that was because the paper wasn’t damp enough. Can glue them back in easily enough. It looks fab anyway.

After lunch we piled outside to make the most of the weather. Mostly playing – hide and seek – where I giggled so loudly in my hiding place, but she still walked past twice :rolls: BB kept giving the game away as well. Chris washed the cold frame, and BB her dolly [thank goodness not SB’s new one! – we should have bought her a bathable one from Merry!]. Much swinging and looking at sprouting broad beans and radish – some suitably investigated by BB, so probably also ‘not working’

We sowed some more broad beans – into roottrainers, and some aubergines. Gradually catching up! Need to do some peas and brassicas ideally before hunstanton for the earlies, but fine to wait. BB got really carried away by the broad bean sowing, so happily sowed the rest of the packet into little pots which she filled with compost. the bean family are so ideal for little fingers! She was sooo proud of herself too, and told me about it over and over again.

BB is such a jolly little thing, SHe loves to talk [good thing in this house] and tell stories. In the garden she had 2 little boats that kept going on adventures round the garden with her, and you could overhear snippets of conversation between them. She is being a bit mean to SB but we are being firm that isn’t tolerated. Chris thinks that she actually enjoys doing the kiss, so now she has to go out into the hall and then come back in and kiss, and SB is encouraged to ask for a kiss at other times – maybe that’ll work. She loves being upside down at the moment, and does adore SB [mutual], following her around, and wanting to do everything with her. She’s also been my shadow – mostly because I have had so little time with her this past fortnight. Back on even keel now though I think.

We kept back some of the broad beans, and have done the beans in a jamjar experiment again – to again look at shooting and rooting. wonder whether to have a go with carrots as well this year like that – though the seeds are so fiddly?

We came in for hot cross buns, and SB cbeebied. BB – poor thing – started to flake, and was trying to eat and be asleep at the same time. Both girls got early baths, and BB stayed awake [just]. A quick pasta tea, and she was much perked, so we all looked at the first animal picture atlas together – BB spotting animals [mostly snakes and frogs!] and SB having to do continents as well.

SB then asked complicated genetics questions, so we discussed chromosomes, DNA and mitosis [sort of!] and looked at pictures of DNA [getting her to practice saying it out n full - BB had a go too] in our science encyclopaedia. We worked our way around one copy from each parent, but we each have 2, and so there can be ‘hidden genes’ ie blonde and curly! so you get a ‘surprise’. At the back are some experiments, starting with cress and the need for light and phototropism. Chris took BB up to bed, and we set up the relevant experiments, having a pack of cress handy.

SB then fancied doing some piano, and we have turned over another page, so have added G to our list of notes![ GABCC#DE] . We looked at our worm world again [well, we had looked at it several times] Ours aren’t the most active, so I might add one or 2 that have never met BB before, in case that is the problem! it might just be they are slow to recover from such a shock. We re-read all about earthworms, and I felt a need to make a home-ed poster about it as a project. We will see whether I can persuade SB thats a good idea too.

Bedtime, for the big girl, and I read her some more from Britannia [which I can't really class as history - more British myths and legends!] , and she read me another ORT book. She told me she REALLY REALLY loves these books. She’s geting good at it. there was hardly any sounding out, or mistakes, but she has been reading books on and off all day and loves to read the farm books to BB as well.

only a week before annual leave – wayhay!

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Back to Earth

we have done a fair bit of earth oriented thinking today! Unfortunately the beans conspired to make it a very very early start. Though SB did read me 2 books in bed, as I was refusing to be awake [chris just pretended to be asleep]. eventually I told him via SB that he needed to make me a cup of tea, so then had a catch up nap!

Urmmm, well I think we started with looking at the worm world thing that was picked up from the charity shop whilst looking for gists on thursday [rofl!] We duly all went out, filled with alternate sand and soil and liberated some juicy worms from the fruit bed to put in. BB was devastated that she didn’t get to play more with the snakes, but since at least 2 were put back on the garden as we were unsure whether they were really not working [her phrase] or playing dead, we felt the sooner out of her grasp the better. Later a ladybird also stopped working – she is a menace to our beneficials!!

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We had a look at our previous sowings, and a few broad beans have germinated, and we have a very thick row of radish seedlings – hopefully marking some carrot ones to follow! We also harvested loads of early sprouting brocolli – yum.

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it was a lovely day, so we did general playing in the garden, swings, playhouse etc etc until lunchtime, and I also pottered about with some weeding and feeding.

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After lunch we did simultaneous crafts [always slightly hair-raising! SB did a mosaic kit that Merry gave her for her birthday, BB did painting and stamping, and I lacquered the only bit of made fimo I could find from Melrose – the pendants and dragon appear to be awol.

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Hmm! then came a bit of awkwardness – SB and BB did colouring and then head over heelsing, and I asked that the felttips should be lidded and tidied – time to gloss! BB and SB did some violin practice [must get a shoulder rest!] , SB did some more area stuff with cuisinaire rods [from here to there] and BB and I read books and did pattern blocks and then had another gloss moment about being mean to SB!

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Daddy returned, so I took 5, they helped him find seed trays, and we reconvened to sow peppers, tomatoes and sunflowers. Watered in very well!! More playing outside and the SB did some piano practice, and BB fell asleep mid wail on my lap. have wound down with dinner and robin hood since then.

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Chris nearly managed to set fire to the house [sigh], luckilly I know if I think I smell something hot, I should immediately investigate [frying pan with oil]. Can’t get laptop keyboard to work either. Oh well. Early night tonight. Feeling much more whole – though frayed at the edges!

totality

remembered to look at the moon. it certainly does look weird when it is the wrong colour! When I got home from work, SB and I read some of our new books – marie curie and the search for radium and eric the red and leif the lucky. She had lots of questions after the marie curie one about science and elements and atoms, but decided we would look at another book ‘tomorrow’

she has done a fair bit of webland today while I was out, and chris has done a grand job on sorting out this years propagatory – time to sow some seeds! bit late with peppers already – oops.

SB and BB both did some violin practice, and SB some piano. otherwise mostly chilled and did pattern blocks altogether. tonight before going to bed, I read SB some britannia and she read me clumsy crocodile from usborne young readers. Her flow at reading is really coming along, and she reads things all the time now during the day – fantastic.

I must make sure worries of work don’t eclipse the joys of home.

started on the sowing

so feeling much better. The middle of the fruit bed was weeded and covered in cardboard which we have sowed broad beans through – aquadulce claudia. i say we, because SB and BB worked as a team to plant them. SB reiterated that BB was an excellent helper frequently, for us all to exclaim just what a really useful engine she was these days [rofl] we also did some ivy removal – but carefully, as didn’t want to disturb any early birds nests.

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the girls also did lots of playing in the new playhouse with BB also now confident at getting up to the upper level and down again – though did like me and chris to pop in and out. what with having to bend over double to get through the door! but def a good buy – though very muddy on the floor now!

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In no particular order! We did the rest of the India bit in story of the world, SB liked the activity of nail varnish and make up!! She was in princess clothes anyway. we read some more of the buddhist tales and discussed the buddhist lifestyle vis a vis our own. SB finished the foam bag with great ease. Has obviously got the hang of sewing [sowing and sewing in one day!] and so will attempt to find the little cross stitch sewing kits from yellowmoon [via FC] to continue on with. [merry was right, I do have a lot of crafts, but you have to say that is a bit pot caling the kettle!]

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edited to add – gah,silly browser lost post as I was putting up, and I had only presaved half [silly me]

Anyway, that lead to lots of being at a ball, with me singing and SB and BB dancing in dressing up clothes – very jolly. When worn out, we relaxed wathcing bonjour mes amis. [now I have forgotten the blog post!] oh yes, we had a piano lesson – got to adding in D now, so 6 notes. BB came in half way and grumbled on the bass notes. SB not phased until she made a grab for the lego as well!

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BB and I have read lots of books together, done more marble running and jigsaws, and also general rousting about. SB has been investigating the enchanted learning printouts in depth, and done 2 more china booklets, and cloluring in and naming maps. She has thought the printout folder rather fab. I had better keep up and have some always in it. we discussed new year some more [and were a wintsy bit jealous of various flikr photos - she needs more organised and outgoing parents!]

We looked at seed catalogues – BB most interested in the fruit, and very good at naming them! Sb a veg girl, but we need a few more companion flowers to jolly things up. Must raid Merry’s cardboard box heap, and find a cheap supplier for smeipermeable membrane for keeping down the weeds [any advice?] Actually, can I ping Ady – does he know whether this type is any good for planting through, or don’t they do any planting through? [no, i don't think we need quite that much!]
there was a bit more ramble, but totally forgotten it. sorry!