Main desktop has been showing the copy of the blog on it’s new host since this morning. Laptop, was still seeing the old one, which Helen has just posted too – all sorted now though 
Reason was (I think) that they were using different name servers, I run Treewalk DNS on the main pc as our local server (from the days when the then ISP had dodgy DNS), but the laptop seemed to have lost the setting and was just using the automatic setting – the routers I think
Posted in Blogging
i was going to go to the inland waterways festival, as that looked fun, but it was hot, and BB needs a bit more attention. SO we stayed in, and tried to get a working pattern that incorporates 2-ness.The girls watched some edutainment DVD’d whilst i napped – chris’ll know what! [edits to add - gorillas, and also read why are people different]
When I got up, SB migrated to the ‘puter to do jump ahead, which she enjoys, and I read and cuddled BB, hoping some one 2 one would set the tone for a happy day ahead – rofl.
BB and SB both wanted to make ice lollies, so we managed to find enough bits to do that, and I also got SB to make up a tray of ice colours [paint mixed in water]. bemused, she did it, and all went in the freezer.
Since it was a nice day, I got out the cheap tent that i had got from the tesco sale a while back, and BB and I put it up. She was very impressed with it, and happily pottered inside doing some happy maize, whilst i went between her and SB trouble shooting.
SB joined her, and they were playing so happily that i took the opportunity of digging up some potatoes. Got very stung by the nettles, and fingers still twitching a bit from that. obviously when I was at very grubbiest there was a wail about tent ownership, so we all read books together taking turns. mostly apple tree farm for BB, and stories from around the world for SB.
Decided that it was obviously lunchtime! SB and BB agreed on Muzzy German as an acceptable compromise on video, and watched the complete second level while I made home grown spuds, beans and carrots with sausages for them, and chris and i home grown spuds, beans aubergines and onion fritatta for us. yummy. SB ate hers whilst finishing watching the programme.
Both had had a mood boost at this point, and SB did some more jump ahead and BB pottered in the tent. the paints were frozen, and both girls liked the idea of cool painting in the sun, so we did that very pleasantly and co-operatively – hooray.
the girls then had some sweetie letters [from little nanny] that then kept them engaged for ages longer as they had made games out of them, families of colours, letters and then shops. I fed our fish, BB cycled and then SB read me the why were the pyramids built. She then harvested loads of beans and tomatoes, which I must do something with once this blog written.
I cooked a bean [surprise!] pea, sweetcorn and lentil curry for tea, with an additional home grown aubergine and paneer curry for us – yummy. The girls watched a magic school bus episode while i did this, as CHris showering, and it seemed they might settle- they did.
BB fell asleep after tea, SB watched tots tv, read some magic tree house, and is now in bed – maybe asleep?
chris has spent all day hard at work cleaning the big arch window and getting some of the paint off it. it needs new putty and repainting with linseed based paint. will hopefully be then watertight. some bricks also need the lime mortar repointed – we know someone for advice there ;¬)
Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, Cooking, DIY/ house renovation, gardening, geography, history, IT, language, literacy, science
bah humbug, both the near to us pubs are taking it turns to belt out music. last night was accross the road – so not too bad. but tonight and tomorrow it is next door. aarrgh!!
Posted in General
Bit of a test post really.
If you are reading this, you are reading the moved version of the site.
85! a family treasure [most of the time - but is accorded the leniency given to elderly family members!]
today she really enjoyed telling of her family history wrapped around the museum we were visiting.
Long may she remain the matriarch of our family
Posted in General
Well, it was lovely to feel that there might be a bit of summer left, and chris has worked hard outdoors [not that i can tell, because it is dark - but there is greenery on the floor!]. Anyway its the start of painting of our personal the firth of forth bridge – AKA the windows!
i left as early as poss [10 - rofl] to drive to little nanny’s. the drive was uneventful, though I did have to stop numerous times in laybys to get various bits and pieces for girls as BB didn’t fall asleep.
Got there and had lunch – apart from BB, being in awkward mode. After that we set out for Gressenhall Rural life museum. i’ve been there before as a child, a couple of times. Last when I was 13. i still remember it quite clearly, and a lot has changed. I liked the mishmash agricultural huge ground hall as was better – and my enduring memory of harvesting mangels is from this! Also, very coolly, my Nan’s Dad made the wheels of one of the carts there.
Also, for more family history my nan’s gran was born there, as were her first 2 children, so we have real family connection to the poorhouse there. ALso her gran’s first child [of 10] went back to help run the place, before going onto a v successful business career.
Anyway, although I prefered the older version, this was still good value, and had children’s things laid on. the girls made wagons and gypsy wagons. then we went to the re-enactment of a working day of managing the poorhouse. i had to cry into BB’s head, and my dad was dressed up [yes audience participation] as a grandad fallen on hard times and made destitute with wife and 2 grandchildren, whose parents have died. And SB was the girl child. My dad turned out to be a brilliant actor, so was far too realistic for me. I guess i have never doubted my dad’s love for his family, and that he would put us above all else, so this did sound far too credible.
BB started to play up [understatement], so i went back to car to pop her in the buggy, and then met up with family for some more looking around all the displays. my nan was disappointed not to see her mum’s butter churn, as it was there lat time we went, though we didn’t go in all the bits as walking with stops was still a bit strenuous for her. Dad took SB to the playground, and me, mum, little nanny and BB went to the cafe. From there back to Nanny’s home, and then finally back home here, with the sun in eyes for whole drive – aargh.
Can’t seem to get photo’s into blog, so will ask my system administrator when he brings me coffee!!
Humm, he was fiddling! so they are now in.
Oh yes, back at home we had tea, and the girls watched an arthur and the knights of the round table narrated by the BT advert chap, and then a programme about wild elephants. SB then collapsed into bed, but BB took forever, having had all that sleep.
Posted in Butterbean, General, history, Out and About, Stringbean
i will add photos, but not just at this minute for the last post and this one! We all got up in snuggly mode again this morning – prob the rainy dull weather was offputting. SO we read books, children played, bit of ‘putering and then we settled in front of german Muzzy, which we hadn’t watched for a while, and watched the whole of the first series. BB was spellbound and trying to say some of the words. Sb also took some in. we should do language based things more often!
Then, having found the phone, and ascertained that the invite to Michelle at the Manor was still valid, we drove there. i memorised the route, and then gave SB the task of reading the aa instructions. she was v good at it, and we got there with no hitches. We had a lovely afternoon, and stayed v late, adults chatting and children playing. Thankyou.
Posted in General, language, socialisation
Chris has played today while I’ve been away, and I have returned to a bean! He said he wondered when I would notice – immediately my love!
Posted in General
you know, I am definitely grumpy that we have catapulted into Autumn with not much of a summer to show for it. today was miserable weather, the evenings are shorter. grumble grumble!
anyway, today we have had a bit more of a chill day. my parents left this morning, and both me and SB were doldrummy because of it. So we have read loads of books snuggled together with BB as well in a heap on the sofa. The new shelf reorganisation is OK-ed by BB and SB, and they have been picking books off left right and centre. SB very happy to find old favourites such as greek myths, archaeologists dig for clues and the usborne science books.
SO when i couldn’t talk at all from parchedness, i got out the pattern blocks and sheets, and the girls both made patterns for a bit, interspersed with ‘putering. Mostly webland and cbeebies. BB is exceptionally good at manipulating, mouse control and general ‘puter using. she switiches it on, goes into her screen, finds firefox and them the bookmark toolbar. or else webland explore – which she manipulates well too.
girls keen on baking, so went out for supplies, bt when I got back in, SB got all wobbly, so we called tots tv magic adventures french, and she snuggled in a duvet to watch it whilst BB and I made chocolate brownies. After that it was BB’s turn to get waily, so we snuggled together and she fell asleep.
SB and I made ‘rainforest’ cake – well, it had bananas and chocolate in it, which are rainforest ingredients. We thought adding rubber would be yuk, and that although we like carrot cake with cinnamon and nutmeg, they might be a bit weird with the coc and banana combo.
Since BB was still asleep, we then did some fimo-ing. SB made a particularly ace turtle, some cool beads and a weird ‘thing’ i think it was for putting babies in? We glossed some fimo things we had made before, and also threaded a necklace we had made from one of the bead merrily kits up.
SB felt perky enough to do a bit of maths, so she did, and I woke BB up – I know, cruel mum! so we did more reading squished together, including stories from around the world and various fairy tales.
We neede some more baking therapy so made some cheese scones all together. I forgot that earlier SB wailed as I had *made* her have some sweets in the shop – it was a treat! hardly compulsary. She then decided not to eat any of the cake. She has been complaining of tummy ache today, so prob that. However, being me, I am now panicking instead about eating disorders, so wondering what the best thing is to head it off. i would rofl at myself being concerned and paranoid if I wasn’t so concerned.
Might do a self image thing on positive things?? am i overreacting?? [and I am imagining you all think so, but...] Anway, we also did some piano practice. she enjoyed this enough to want ot do it again, and thinks she prefers piano to violin.
Anyway, both girls then happily playing together and then next to each other on the ‘puter until tea and bed. SB has started the next magic tree house book sunset of the sabretooth, she read me a chapter, and I read her a chapter of from lava to life [her choice, honest! i read anything she chooses]
BTW, i got some duplicate magic tree house 17-24 from the states – new in wrapping [8 books]. I could have got them more cheaply from amazon as paid $44 including postage – sigh. They would cost 17.39 through amazon [not put any postage there]. SO if anyone I know fancies emailing me a best offer, I’ll consider it before putting on home ed bring and buy or ebay.
This set is brand-new, unopened in original packaging/shrink-wrapping.
I went out and harvested again today – we have more beans than you can shake a stick at. I must learn the blanch and freeze thing.
My mum and dad came this morning to visit, and are staying overnight [just gone to bed]. SO a lovely day of chatting, playing. And my dad taking advantage of us having broadband [which he doesn't need at home!] to look at digital cameras.
Mum brought some sparkle and glitz jewellery links for the girls to play with – cue at least 2 hours of contentment, making necklaces, crowns and bracelets, and then selling at a shop. Cheap plastic tat, but oh what fun was had. I am a great believer in utilising cheap platic tat. I love the wood and natural things, but not sure my children would want all their toys without glitter and primary colours.
Also, along the way SB did some maths [just part of a section really, 15 mins as I am just keeping a bit of focus as we have had a proper holiday since about june I think!] and also L in getty and dubay – earning praise from my parents for her writing – she was most chuffed. My mum is a musician, so both children showed off their violin playing – well BB had a shrieking fit as I confiscated hers from being in danger of being broken by her wildness. But SB played hot cross buns beautifully, and mum gave her some useful tips and pointers on rhythm and bow speeds. In amongst all the playing, both mum, dad and I read to the girls various books, mostly the usbourne science ones as they are very noticeable in the new shelf arrangement. SB also had a look at the spotter book on dogs, and read out some of the rocks and minerals – pointing out we had found belemnites before. Cue more praise from mum. I shouldn’t really be so happy about this, but my parents are ambivalent about home ed. So having SB autonomously [and BB] pull books off the shelves and read them is rather a good thing I think!
But mostly we have played and chatted today. Mum and SB did a number of joint drawings. SB got mum to draw the people and some of the features, and SB drew the rest, and sometimes SB drew most and then asked mum to fill bits in. I worked really well. We all did some more of the fab sunflower mosaic as well.
Oh, and I have sooooo missed BOLDING that it is back!
Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, literacy, music, numeracy, science, Stringbean's HE, writing
