Saturday Work

It was a very productive day at number sixteen: I worked through my job list which included cleaning the bathrooms and checking off the newly arrived bank statement, I'm quite pleased with my finance progress and it is coming together nicely.  Pip made one of her epic doodles for Dave to provide some much needed colour in his day, Ben made a yummy melt in the mouth tart for tea as well as helping Mum prune the plum tree (that has yet to fruit), so all in all a good day.

Courgette, Leek and Cheese Tart

Outside card gaming

Tucking in

I tried every which way with exposure compensation but had real trouble with setting the lighting on the camera and yes, that is another steep learning curve!  I have finally to take as many photographs as I can using my lovely camera that Dave bought for my 50th so with a bit of luck and practice things should improve!

Beautiful bouquet from our lovely friends that visited on Friday, it was strange and sad not to hug goodbye but that's life at the moment :-)

This Week

It's been a while since I blogged and radio silence at this end usually means only one thing and that is I have been struggling with my health, caring for family members and keeping the house running at a bare minimum.  I think the previous two weeks caught up with me and my body decided to let me know in no uncertain terms :-)  Still, I have managed to snap some shots of this past week and thought I would share them here:

Monday was our "Little Flowers Group."  We were low on numbers since one family was travelling home from a christening but the rest of us had a lovely time.  Our saint for the session was St Joan of Arc, so after the usual introductory prayers, song to St Therese and memory verse, we listened to the story of St Joan and then completed a page for the notebook as well as a colouring sheet:

Benedict had some fun in the workshop on Tuesday and spent a good hour or so whittling.  We bought him some whittling tools and a book for Christmas and so he chose to have a go at a spreading implement, so here are some shots of a work in progress:

In amongst the paint tins and in front of Dad's work bench.

 Stage One Complete.

Wednesday was an unexpected home school day for Pip.  I had been up half the night battling a migraine and had only managed to settle again at half past six in the morning.  Since Dave is currently unable to drive and we do not live within walking distance to school, the only option was to teach her at home alongside Benedict.  Pip is an enthusiastic learner and easy to teach, we worked on Singapore Maths, Cooking, Reading and Religious Instruction.  Here she is wearing the apron I made her from her drawing of an angel, it is a combination of applique and machine and hand stitching:

 I think she is happy with it, don't you agree?!

On Thursday we watched the documentary "One Simple Question" produced by Teresa and Ben Carey.  The whole film from start to finish was expertly put together, the scenery was epic, the story well told and the photography just awesome.  Pip was very impressed and drew a picture of Ben battling the elements during a violent storm with Dory the ship's cat in tow, Teresa was below decks navigating.  We posted the picture to their face book page so hopefully they'll see it before too long:

The boat is named after Ben's mum.

Friday was a struggling along home day and to be honest just getting Pip to school and back was my successes for the day.  In the past seven days I have had two days in total where I have felt remotely well, not a great hit rate I know!  To keep my spirits up and as an accountability tool, I have decided to undertake the 30 day minimalist challenge; on day one you rid yourself of one item, on day two, it is two items and so on up to day thirty, whereby over four hundred items should in theory have left the house!!  Now I am not a hoarder and had a substantial clear out just before Christmas and again before I was hospitalised, so this challenge should prove interesting.  The following is a montage of items for the charity shop:

So Far, So Good!

God also gave me a great big nudge today, to remember to look for the daily joys :-)  I let that slide when I was ill and no surprise my mental and emotional well being also took a tumble!  My daily joy today is a blog link.  I found this lovely lass via another blog and her site is such a happy place :-)

Be Blessed x

 

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 

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."