Surprise!

We had two wonderful sets of surprise visitors today.  First up Sara and Tom called late morning after having taken their petrol mower to the repair shop.  I did not get a shot of them but I did snap a picture of Benedict's  home made sweet potato and celery soup with tomato and garlic croutons:

Later in the day a voice called upstairs, "Hi mum!" It was Kathryn and Mary Grace!!  They stopped for tea and the little ones had great fun in the garden:

Benedict and I also had a productive day we watched a time team production of The Celts and Benedict used his mine craft skills to make a round house and hill fort.  I sat and worked on a shawl whilst watching the programme.  It has been a very long time since we both felt inspired to learn. 

Father's Day

I sometimes think that a day for parents is a bit over rated and is primarily a chance for the greeting card and gift industry to turn a profit!  That said with a bit of forethought and planning a lovely day can be had without breaking the bank.

Pip made some bookmarks and a star card when she was at school and Benedict remembered that Dave had a liking for iced coffee, so with money in his pocket he walked to our local Starbucks seller for a treat for his dad. Kathryn and Mary Grace had sent a lovely text message and a super cute personalised card.

We managed to speak to both our dads and the cards and chocolate treats were a real hit.  Dave takes his job as a father seriously and managed to remove a bumble bee from the conservatory, it reminded me of the time when my dad completely emptied my bedroom in order to catch a very big spider.  It was either that or me not sleeping in the room that night!!

We have had very changeable weather but the clouds finally rolled away and we ate our lunch on the decking at the bottom end of the garden:

Pip took Timmy doll for a walk in the Maclaren pushchair, we bought it when Benedict was six months old and he turned twelve last week!

Whilst Pip had her fairy day yesterday Benedict had fun with Debbie and her lads, they saw the sponge bob movie, pottered around town (she bought him this Star Wars set) and then they went back to her house for lunch and Lego building.

            Dave's coffee treat.

   Mixed Salad, Croutons, Butter Beans and Chorizo.

                       Mr Man and me.

Doing the dad thing playing swing ball with Pip.  The kids were also great in letting the aged parents rest after lunch and Dad is now having some much deserved workshop time.  A grand day at home.

A Fairy Day

As is customary, every year at midsummer we have celebrated a fairy day for Pip.  With her actual birthday two days before Christmas it all seems to pass by in a blur, so the midsummer solstice proved to be a very good time for a half yearly celebration.  There is only one other person that is allowed to celebrate in such a way and that is the Queen!

The day began very early with Pip waking at 5am, not through excitement but just her usual " I am ready to start the day mindset."  As per tradition, there was a present from the fairies which she managed to build,  until she reached the tricky part whereupon Dad's skills were called in to play:

By breakfast time the grey skies had given way to a light yet persistent drizzle but that did not dampen our spirits!!  I had set out the craft items in the caravan the night before so the morning was spent making the party food.  Pip joined in with the making of the fairy cakes:

By noon our guests had arrived and we all sat down to a help yourself lunch of sausages, sweet corn fritters, salad, baked beans and cheese jacket potatoes, followed by chocolate fridge cake and fairy cakes for dessert:

After lunch the girls enjoyed making a fairy dell complete with a flower fairy and her house, a Brachysome "tree", a mini washing line, a pistachio shell  path strewn with fairy dust and a wheat grass meadow waiting to grow:

The sun is shining and all is well x 

A June Daybook

Outside my window ... There are patches of colour amongst the green foliage.  The strawberries are prolific and have definitely benefited from being in the raised beds.

I am thankful for ... A coffee date with hubby this morning.  It was good to spend some quiet time together and as an additional treat a robin came to say hello:

I am wearing ... Denim coloured linen pants, a long sleeved raspberry/navy Paisley shirt and a pair of hand knitted socks.  It might be midsummer tomorrow in the north of the UK but it is chilly :-)

I am creating ... An aestlight shawl, an icon of St Raphael and food for Pip's fairy party tomorrow.

I am wondering ... Why we are struggling with so many health issues at the moment.

I am reading ... The permaculture way by Graham Bell.

I am hoping ... That the kids will cut Dave and I some slack over the weekend and actually manage to be in each other's company without fighting :-(

I am learning ... To lean heavily on God :-)

In my garden ... We have strawberries just waiting to ripen and red currant bushes dripping with fruit.

In my kitchen ... There is chaos!  We have just eaten an evening meal and the dishes are calling my name!

In the homeschool room ... I am treading uncharted waters aboard a ramshackle raft with no life jacket!  Homeschooling a frustrated pre teen diabetic boy is at times not fun.

A peek into my day:

A beautiful note for Pip from a dear sweet ballet mad friend who came to stay with us last year.  Thank you Chanda xx

I am joining in with : thesimplewoman.blogspot.co.uk

Apologies for being unable to make a link but we are minus a computer at the moment and I am using a blogger app for my phone! 

Hospitality Begins In The Heart

For weeks now I have been pondering the whole homemaking thing ... It has proved a welcome distraction from the ongoing sickness on my part. (I am having regular reviews with the GP and am currently on my second round of blood tests)

The homemaking often portrayed in the glossy magazines, cyber space and Pinterest is the immaculate version; white walls and carpets, beach themed or shabby chic decor and not an item out of place!  Totally not my version of reality whereupon I battle daily with discarded Legos, crumbs underfoot and the four o'clock panic of "What are we going to eat for dinner?"

Jesus version of hospitality although at first glance might appear overly simplistic is in fact quite a challenge, we are called to "love one another with brotherly affection and to outdo one another in showing honour."  This is not a call to showmanship in the clean sweep stakes or gourmet style cuisine, no it is a call to preferring the needs of the other and in having a servants heart.

Little did I know in rising very early with my youngest and by God's grace answering the call of service, I would meet Him in the quiet of the lounge whilst she happily appreciated the beauty of creation from the swaying of the swing.  We both had our needs met as the rest of the household slept on.

" Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honour.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve The Lord.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."