Blackwell Arts and Crafts House

 Last Thursday we visited the Blackwell Arts and Crafts House in the Lake District and declared it the best Home Ed Day Out.  Our visit was very fortuitous as the work of Francis Priest was on display throughout the property.  There is also an opportunity to meet Francis in person at Blackwell  in March so a return visit is definitely on the cards.

Such a beautiful, light and airy room and you would never tire of that view.

Even though this was a fairly dark room it was not oppressive to be in unlike other Stately Homes that we've visited.  The house certainly had a very welcoming feel as we moved from room to room.

I particularly loved this yellow room which also included a lovely adjoining dressing area housing the boots and the mirrored dresser.  When I saw the embroidered coverlet I thought about my friend Eva's daughter Veronika, who is currently studying fashion design at JP Catholic University in California.

The museum showcased information about the Arts and Crafts Movement alongside a beautiful display of Francis Priest's ceramic designs.

We finished the day with a well deserved treat from the cafe and a little wander around the shop, where Pip was able to purchase a pottery book which will help enormously with her work.

Monthly Craft Club

It was our usual craft session at Rhyddings Park today, our friends were sadly missing but in spite of their absence we had a very productive afternoon.  Our brief was to decorate the painted wooden labels for the raised beds and even Dave joined in:

 Thumbing through the books for ideas.

 Louise demonstrating the chalkboard pens, they were a tad temperamental!

 "Whatcha looking at?!" 

 It was very cold in the outside room and we all cheered when the kettle went on and mugs of tea were passed around the table.

 That's better :-)

Lovely signs waiting to be hung in their respective abodes.

Whacky Wednesday ~ It Could Only Be Lent!

Another whacky day of driving hither and thither.  Once we had dropped Ben off at college the three of us drove to Whalley Abbey for a look around and to also visit the Autisan cafe that had been featured on a recent episode of Songs of Praise.

  Whalley Abbey was originally a Cistercian Monastery and is now a retreat centre belonging to the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn.  The cafe itself is autism friendly so no loud music and glaring lights and some of the staff identify as being on the autism spectrum.  It was good to support a worthy cause that is almost on our doorstep.  We made it home in time for me to have a well deserved lie down before heading out the door to collect Ben and drive to the hospital for a diabetic appoinment.

 Hot chocolate at the Autisan cafe.

 A replica of the Cistercian Monastery

 Beautiful Tapestries

 Pip's photo of me!

Now that Ben is over sixteen he no longer attends the paediatric clinic and this was our first time at the transition clinic on another part of the hospital site.  The building itself worked well for Ben as it didn't shout at him, this is a hospital!  Even though he has been attending since he was four and cannot remember ever not having diabetes, over the last few years he has found it increasingly stressful attending the clinic sessions and so the appointments have always been met with dread.  Unfortunately the appointment itself was not straightforward :-(

 Benedict's blood sugars have once again been all over the place resulting in a lot of hypos, either at college or late in the evening.  The team want him to try a Flash Libre CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) which he isn't to keen on as it will require another piece of kit to carry around.  However it will give us much needed information regarding his blood sugar levels throughout a 24 hour period and providing he is stable it will also reduce finger prick testing on his good days. Thankfully we did get to catch up with the dietician and offered some useful advice in the interim period. Fingers crossed things should hopefully improve :-)

Words and Pictures

There used to be a primary schools programme of that title name and it was the highlight of my week.  When the big TV was wheeled out of a cabinet and we were all assembled in the hall it signified a half hour respite from desk work :-) Sorry for my absence here the weeks seem to have flown by, April already?  Crazy!

Words

This year I was determined not to have a word of the year since the last few years have been more than challenging and definitely reflected my given word!  Last year's word was "Trust" and within days of that being chosen I was rushed into hospital!  The previous year was "Hope" and trying to remain hopeful when everything else seems to be crashing around you is very difficult :-)

This year's word came to me whilst washing up and would not let go and so "Possibilities" became the word for 2017.  Within a few weeks I was offered a position using my writing skills as an editor and writer for our local diocesan newspaper.  Instead of leaping right in I commited my answer to prayer and realised that despite this "fitting" my word it was not doable since the work was unpaid.  I felt at peace about my decision and realised that whatever I do needs to provide in some small way financially for myself and the family.

Fast forward a few weeks and a friend from prayer group approached me about a job opportunity!  As of last week I am now content writer and social media manager for this website. In addition her late husband's second book will be launched in October of this year and so I will also have additional responsibilities at this time including the organisation of  two launch date workshops!  I am very thankful to have been given this opportunity and please God other similar work will follow as and when needed.

Despite my absence here we have continued to take pictures and rumble along with our usual daily activities of keeping body and soul together, housekeeping and homeschooling.  This week has seen slightly more activity than usual though, the kids both big and small gathered here for Mother's day last Sunday and on Thursday we had a field trip with some friends to Speke Hall 

Mother's Day Gathering

One camera, one tripod and a remote control proves to be very handy when taking a group shot!  The only difficulty is getting everyone looking in the right direction ...

 ... and not being silly in the background! 

 The teenage boys that I know seem to be a law unto themselves!!

 I made two soups:  Tomato, Carrot and Chilli and Celery and Sweet Potato.  Sara and Tom made Rice Krispie nests and Kathryn brought a Gluten Free Chocolate Cake and Bakewell Tarts.  I also made a Paleo Orange and Nut Cake.

 Kathryn being "mum" and cutting into the paleo cake.

 Cannot believe that this little miss will be four in just over a week, eep!!

Speke Hall

 There were clouds and a slight drizzle on Thursday but died down just as we reached the picnic table :-)

 Benedict smiling as I was just about to hand him a sandwich!  He was having another hypo and food was needed immediately.

 Rosie sharing a story with Pip who was definitely out of sorts and unbeknown to us brewing a virus that day :-(

 This lovely gal is always smiling and nothing phases her, good job too with four kids eight and under!  Little did we know by the end of the day that one of the kids would require a visit to the emergency room!

 Simeon in camo gear and a mud splattered face for extra authenticity.

 Baby Damien cuteness overload.

 The entrance to the hall.

 We had temporarily lost the kids in the "underpass" but they eventually came back round again.  Pip had also managed to slip in the mud and I had forgot to pack spare clothes!!  We are just not used to going out on field trips, not so long ago I used to be super organised!

 The blue room which was given as a wedding present to one of the ladies of the house.

 By the time we had finished looking around the downstairs, my two had scarpered outside with Kara!  Stately homes are just not their thing, give them a museum with hands on activities and they are fine but wandering around old rooms "is boring."  However, Rosey loves learning about history and since she is familiar with Speke Hall, she became my guide for the day and we had a whole heap of fun.  We followed the kids trail and found the spy hole, the priest's hole and the toilet which was at the end of a very long corridor and up and down several stairs, hence the need for a chamber pot under the bed!

 Happy not Horrible Histories!

 The cafe beckons for cake and tea followed by:

 The Childwell Giant Trail
John Middleton was a 16th century giant who lived locally and is remembered by this trail.  You can read more here

 When you stood next to this small building, the giant began to snore!

The end of the trial then signified the start of a woodland adventure play area which was greatly loved.  Sadly Rosey toppled off the platform for the zip wire and cut her right brow :-(  Thankfully we had the big portable trailer so Rosey and Simeon  who was very tired at this point were transported back to the car. It was all good in the end and with a clean up and some steri strips she was soon sorted.  All in all we had a really lovely day.

The latter part of the week has necessitated immune boosting herbs, remedies and a warm air humidifier, good job I did not give it away!  That virus that Pip was brewing took hold yesterday and late last night she was in the throes of a really nasty croup attack.  She eventually resettled around 2am so I did manage to get some sleep, of sorts :-)

Happy Weekend! 

Ribchester Romans

We have had another busy home school week.  The kids are working on a joint unit The Romans.  I know that Benedict has looked at this period before but there is always something new to explore.

 Pip had fun finding common place names and seeing their Roman counterpart, Gloucester was Glevum but London had kept its Roman heritage.

 Tombstone Carving.

 Domestic bowls and flagons.

 Locks and bolts.

 Pottery fragments including some Samian pottery from Gaul.

 Animal bones.

 Roman Cobbler.

The museum grounds are also home to a full time archaeological dig which involves students from the University of Central Lancashire.  We were given a tour of the site and also had the opportunity to chat with one of the professors in charge of the dig:

 

 That little black splodge in the middle of the sieve is in fact a Roman barley grain!

 All samples are placed in this "washing machine."   The silt and clay soil sinks to the bottom and the finds are caught in a very fine sieve.

 Samples hung out to dry.

 Fragments of animal bone and a Roman nail.

We concluded our trip with a visit to the church next door:

 A prayer tree, Pip and I placed a leaf for Daddy :-)

We made it to the car just before the heavens opened!  

A successful day :-)