Category Archives: Stringbean’s HE

Sneaky Saturday

Posted on April 29, 2007 by | Leave a comment

I was working yesterday [and I am today ? typing this at work in a lull!! ? though the system is logging me doing it as the site is unauthorised]. I came home at lunchtime and had a lovely afternoon with the girls.

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We had lunch and then piled outside to play. After games and swinging about etc, we decided to get the Happy maize out. Now I think it?s a really good idea to have something that damping can stick together so you can build something 3 d without glue and other messiness. BUT? did they have to use dyes that would stain?? Seems barmy to me. Especially as SB was wearing her new skirt and all 3 t shirts simultaneously from la redoute [they sent me a 10 voucher and then I bought some more things!]

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That brings me onto a whole new rant. I bought a denim coloured floppy hat with wired brim. Looked perfect for me for Kessingland on the site, and indeed in the packet. Except?. It only just fits SB!!!!! It is adult. Would link, but its no longer on their site. SB thought the colour too boring for her ? and they now have plenty of sunhats anyway ? but I offered it as one we could add things to in her design and she thought this fab. So while they were maizing, I sowed some lace on the crown ? as instructed ? and it looks v nice. It is planned to be beribboned and belled!!!! [an over the top girl just like her mum!]

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SB did some maths ? as it involved writing, we just did a page as it was v slow ? and she hopped around the garden for about 30 mins to find the best maths place ? by the pond ? no BB was pond dipping and making a mess! The perhaps on the swing, but it kept swinging about making writing harder! So finally back under the MODHEU where it was shady, and the task done.

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BB and I pond dipped ? trying v hard to miss the enormous goldfish that BB particularly wanted to catch ? rofl! Then played in the sandpit ? I was supposed to be eating the dishes she brought me ? she warned me it wasn?t tasty though and just pretend. I filled up the pool with water, and BB had more fun bellyflopping in and out of it. Then she gave me a big cuddle and fell asleep. SB was racing around on her bike having invisible races.

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Chris, who had been planting the final potatoes, raced up and swooped her up into the bath, where she tried to fall asleep. SB read to me some more magic tree house, and then went outside to bellyflop and slide into the water ? which had warmed up a bit.

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I had been supposed to make her up some elaborate story to play, but instead she had beans on toast, got some pj?s on, and then it was game time [BB fell asleep straight after bath anyway]. SB chose our scrabble word game which takes ages.

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Unfortunately on going upstairs, BB woke up, feeling it must now be morning ? sigh! SO SB had Angelina stories and made up ones, and BB then came down with me, and shared my takeout curry [an unusual treat!]. An early night for me.

In the garden we have loads of strawberry flowers – feeling hopeful!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, literacy, numeracy, Stringbean's HE, writing

Protected: Wibble number one ? going round the blog ring

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Posted in General, Stringbean's HE

Another lovely day

Posted on April 26, 2007 by | 1 comment

Chris took BB to toddler gym and SB and I did a piano practice. Since we could do it uninterrupted she did really well with concentrating. We then played games – mostly guess who as she has loved that ever since we went to SOTP last summer. I then suggested SOTW or some more of yesterday’s explorer of north america book, but she fancied our DK exciting bits of history book instead [mainly battles!] So we looked at egyptians in it and the first world war. After that she fancied some science experiments.
SO we got out an experiment book on forces, and the first thing was making a weighing device in Newtons. SB looked at it, found the ‘ingredients’ [with my help] and set too making it. We used some weights we had recently got from home ed bring and buy and some scales weights to calibrate. She was rather thrilled by it, and we ended making 1N of oranges weighed out. [no apples!] We mentioned Newton’s great find with dropping apples though. The only hitch was the loop of hysteresis [i think that is right - prob should google!] and the fact that our elastic didn’t go back to exactly what it was before! She has remembered gravity well, so we had a run about the way gravity holds things together. Chris and BB came back to be impressed by our new weighing machine.

SB did some primary maths 2A particularly quickly today. We unfooded, with her having left over Ken Hom, me curry, and when BB returned she had ken hom and chris curry! We thought we had been so productive in the morning, we piled outside to play after lunch. In all the playing we had a quiet down time, when I read some egyptian myths and legends, and SB confessed she had spent the whole time looking at the birds and hadn’t heard a word!! I was interested anyway.

BB played with some Happy Street and silly games with me – mostly sticking her freezing cold feet up my jumper – aargh!! Lots of cycling, swinging, climbing and general whizzing about. Sb read some more magic tree house book.

When SB went to ballet class, BB and I made chocolate cookies. She was rather proud we were making them without Sb as a surprise – and did them very nicely. Obviously our measurements were flexible. i don’t find usbourne recipes overwhelmingly reliable. However, 5 mins after i thought they would be ready they were. SB and BB enjoyed them on her return.

Anyway, tea time!

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Posted in Books, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, science, Stringbean's HE

A home day

Posted on April 25, 2007 by | 2 comments

wahay! poor old chris had the dentists first thing, but the girls watched tv and gave me a later start than I thought – 9.30. After brekkie of fried eggs and toast as a treat, i suggested to SB that she bring her maths or story of the world to the kitchen table, but she called me to the sofa with a book about the exploration of america. So we read that, looked at the map of various explorers and discussed native americans [and did some more inuit throat singing!].

We went outside and played for a bit, and the SB did some maths – rather easy greater and lesser than in primary maths 2A. She then demonstrated great trapeze artist skills – and was swinging holding on only by her knees, and somersaulting off – weyhey SB. She does always ask if Violet Portico can do these things -I tend to say yes. BB and I were being Bob the Builder, making things with the Bygga set from Ikea.
SB whizzed around the garden on her bike, and BB on her trike. We started to decorate our papier mache pots, and had some lunch, but due to spotting rain, came in and did both in the kitchen.

BB did some playdough whilst SB and I did some sudoko. When she started to join in more, we called it a day! BB and I played boxes, and also SB and I. good game from schooldays!

I did some weeding and gardening whilst the girls played. BB often helps me off and on. Gardening is going to get it’s own blog post i think. We played chase and confetti with the cherry blossom which was fun, and the just lots of being together. BB played in the sand whilst SB did some piano. We had lots of home-ed type free ranging conversations. e of which i swore I would remember to blog, but I have forgotten them!

edited to add – one of them was about debt – credit cards, mortgages and saving for rainy days. our credit card debt is now 1500 – woohoo , and being steadily paid off. so we discussed why i only want the mortgage as a debt, and how much rainy day savings were thought to be a good idea [3-6 months expenditure!] and that we owned 1/4 of the house. She asked sensible questions and got – hopefully – sensible answers.

A bath, chippery tea, britannia and SB reading to me. BB fell asleep at the table – poor love!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, gardening, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, SB-PE, Stringbean's HE

Have I redeemed the blog yet?

Posted on April 23, 2007 by | 5 comments

wouldn’t want Jax to hibernate us!

So today I know SB did maths as she proudly told me she was doing book 2 – it is primary maths not MPH this time. But I got home to find her rewiring the toaster – well think Chris was – not sure which is more frightening! Anyway we shouldn’t have burnt toast now. She also has done loads of reading – pretty much whatever, whenever.

BB has been ‘a pickle’. But also done some lovely colouring. I try not to take heed of milestones to compare, but BB is def way ahead of SB’s neatness of colouring in at that age. SB would just do 2 scribbles through a whole page. BB very carefully tries to stay within the lines.

Gratifyingly, both could still remember I was a parent of theirs.

We went out in the garden to play and plant. Chris did potatoes [still!!] and I did hoeing and brocolli. Both girls bobbed about helping. The ground is too hard really for them to make good holes though, so got a bit bored.

I found them the papier mache pots they had, so they then enjoyed painting them – pearlescent pink and pearlescent lilac paint from tesco, very girly! SB wants to the put glitter and jewels on when they are dried. Following that they made things with playdough together for a bit whilst i put in the last of the brocolli.

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They both finished with cycling races – SB against her Leeds friends, and BB against sundry similar aged children – rofl! SB didn’t always win, but BB did.

SB has decided she does want to learn joined up writing, so we must do more getty and Dubay, and also the piano lessons! Tonights game was rummy, and then Britannia is the Dick whittington story. SB read more than I wanted of Dr Seuss sleep book!

I have planted out a few more mangetout. We will have 2 short rows of peas – yummy!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, gardening, General, literacy, numeracy, science, Stringbean's HE, writing

Sunny Sunday

Posted on April 23, 2007 by | 1 comment

I fact, I got sunburnt slightly, though had creamed up the girls. As already blogged [the shame of being the last blogger!] we spent a lovely day with English Heritage with Michelle and family at Wrest Park‘s St George weekend. At the very end, we bumped into The Deep End as well.

We started with the end of a redcoat display, and then watch some Roman cavalry officers [transported through time!] rather cleverly shoot bows and arrows. The girls enjoyed patting the horses. Moved on to a falconry display. We were going to the Nelson bit, but the girls disappeared into the middle of a puppet show audience so we had lunch and were in the right place to the watch the roman soldiers drill. SB noticed they were speaking a different language, didn’t cross her mind it might be Latin!!

A nice restorative cup of tea, and we wandered to the living history bits, watched some fire jugglers, and then a mediaeval knight dressing and play – well, everyone else watched that. BB was a bit ’2′ having not had enough sleep the night before, so we looked around all sorts of other bits – particularly liking the musicians – before she fell asleep. Finally we wandered back to the St George ending. BB was convinced it was a ‘dinodoor’ [having just woken up].

We had a slow walk back, stopping for ice cream, race running and tree climbing. A bit more of a look around the living history roman bit as well. The girls wrote their names in Latin and talked to the enactors – SB has really got the hang of just talking and asking questions to adults.

It was a lovely day, good company. We didn’t watch particularly with the girls, as they got very good at squiggling to the very front, looking cutely and smilingly at those near them and then sitting still – it would have been a mean person to send them back, and no-one did! SB particularly enjoyed the St George bit and Chloe being there. Looking at the deep end, it is a shame we missed the nelson bit, but the girls were deeply embedded in the puppet show!

Photo’s to follow as have been manically back flickring to catch up [its been a hectic week!]

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Posted in Butterbean, General, history, literacy, Stringbean's HE

Last day of the hols

Posted on April 15, 2007 by | 3 comments

well, feels like that here with 6 long days ahead. SO we made the most of playing today.
SB has really been enjoying the Jane and the dragon series on TV, so will prob buy some books for her. She read some felicity wishes today, and assorted early readers.

Chris and SB went for a bike ride on the quieter village roads, learning how to indicate and turn right – she thought it was fab. Chris said she was riding really nicely – all that scootering has given her extra balance. not that her balance on 2 legs is that brill always!

BB and I sowed some runner beans in modules, counted them – in her own fashion, and played outside while they were out. When they came back we had crumpet pizza – yummy.

The whole day was spent outside. the girls wanted to do something messy, so we did papier mache around some plant pots to paint and decorate when dry. They then wanted to get wet, so we got out the old paddling pool [now deflated and puncture! But it was enough to hold a bit of water, and when BB’s cube slide ended it it there was much fun and mayhem for the rest of the afternoon!

As I went in to make dinner [moroccan ish stew!] I cage SB and BB the face paints, so they painted themselves. SB was particularly gorgeous [though the picture will be cropped for general consumption! While it cooked we played spraying with the hosepipe – always a favourite!

Chris planted some of the potatoes – pink fir apple, again wy late, but hopefully will do something. They’re through cardboard boxes, hopefully to keep the weeds down.

A bath – and they really needed it! BB fell asleep nearly instantly, and SB and I played games before bed, SHe is such a sweetheart as she made me a flower display as a present, and hidden in it was some chocolate for me.

Anyway, I have had a lovely break, but don’t imagine I will blog much in the next week!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, gardening, General, literacy, Stringbean's HE

sorting the crops

Posted on April 14, 2007 by | 2 comments

today has been a good gardening day. I put in some more peas, finally put in the onion sets [way late!] cleaned out some of the greenhouse and started potting up the tomatoes. I was helped [sort of] in these tasks by both girls at various different stages. so some of the onion sets are upside down, and some roots detatched to some extent from peas. however it is all a good learning experience. SB also dug up one of our leeks from the garden – i am proud of the leeks, first time they have been successful. I also sowed the first french beans in modules. Chris put some more of merry’s boxes over unused veg bed. The pear tree – and most of the fruit trees still alive – are covered in flowers. I’m hoping that this year will be a good fruit and veg year. i think the last year we truly did well was when SB was 2!
it has been an outdoor playday – the girls playing hide and seek, races, climbing etc etc and helping me. i have been narrating stories, races etc for them to do whilst gardening and then joining in with hide and seek. SB has read to me several times, and also to BB. I read both girls the cat just so story [prob my favourite one].

We did some painting outside. SB painted a house – putting her ‘sign’ in the picture as well. BB mostly painted herself – so an outside bath in order too!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, gardening, General, literacy

Getting on with the reading then…..

Posted on April 14, 2007 by | 5 comments

Resding the Grauniad

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Posted in literacy, photos

fossicking

Posted on April 13, 2007 by | 5 comments

today we went fossil hunting with the not-so-local group! it was really good fun, at a brickworks. the ex quarry is a nature reserve, and a fossil section. We mostly found ammonites, belemnites and gryphaea. How cool is that!

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We all enjoyed it. SB met up with old friends – including the quietly noisy crew. All were amazed at how many fossils there were. BB liked finding ‘something’ though she was the first to find the gryphaea – a snail she said. Lots of geology and dinosaur conversations in the air!
After quite a while, we moved on to do a bit of pond dipping. BB caught a fish!! SB caught a fair number of bugs.

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SO I texted Merry, and we popped round to cheer her up. Though SB in particular was not very cheery – mostly at a loss due to lack of the older girls I think. BB and Josie more happy though BB was a bit violent at times – aargh. We should have taken cake, or grapes – better for the throat. Lovely to sit and chat. Also had a look in the bead merrily stock room [ and a box before it even got in there – mostly to fish out some little cutters for SB] and came away with this as well.

Home for a chippery tea and a UNO marathon. While having the chippery tea, we looked again at the oil and water, and this time counted how long it took to seperate enough for us to see a faint line, and then to see a strong demarcation – though still a bit mixed. 14 for the first and 20 for the second.? BB fell asleep in the car and declined to wake up. No doubt will do any minute now! Got to Robert the Bruce in Britannia. As an aside, SB has devised her own heraldic banner – will photo and flickr. She is very proud of it.

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Posted in Butterbean, General, literacy, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE