End Of Week Round Up

I had hoped to post each day but by the time I could sit down after tea I was just too darned tired!!  So here is the remainder of the week as it occurred:

On Tuesday and Wednesday Nanna and Grandad came to visit.  Grandad helped Dad build a gate at the side of the house to prevent Pip from escaping into the main garden and causing havoc amongst the mud and tree cuttings.  Nanna helped prune the trees at the back of the greenhouse as well as the redcurrant bushes running along the side fence.

"Hey Mum, you're on candid camera!"

Mum found this lone croc strewn into the redcurrant bushes, no prizes for guessing which young man was responsible for such a thing.  He definitely takes after his god father, Cannon Luiz Ruscillo who used to "welly wang".  Welly wanging is a lazy way of putting the wellies away at the end of the day; instead of placing them into the shed they were thrown from a vantage point in the hope they would land in the desired spot.  On most occasions he was lucky until the time came when said welly landed in the pond and he had to "fess up" to his mum and dad!!  Still, he turned out OK!

 Pip helping Grandad.

The finished result.

Pip playing in her new fenced off area this morning which meant I could potter in the kitchen uninterrupted.  A win/win situation.

On Thursday I packed an impromptu picnic and we met Sara for lunch at college since she was on a half day.  We were blessed with glorious weather and the fresh air was a welcome tonic for Benedict who has been coughing none stop since Tuesday.

Benedict and Sara tucking in.  We had peanut butter sandwiches, fruit and apricot scones.  Orange juice and coffee were the beverages for the day.  After lunch we took a walk in the grounds within our immediate vicinity:

 This is the tree that the "Arb" guys practice for climbing.

Fungi in the shade.

 Autumn foliage.

Our next stop on the way home was a trip to Barton Grange.  They had the Christmas display up and running and true to form I had left the camera in the car, so I made do with my phone camera and here are the pictures from our visit:

This Grinch model actually moved and the screen at the back was running the film.

Benedict trying on hats in the ladies department!

Needless to say there was plenty to see and do and for the first time in ages we actually stuck to our shopping list.   Sara summed up the visit remarking, "Hey Mum, we actually avoided the cafe this time!!"

I'm off tomorrow on my once a month jaunt to "Make and Cake", it is my time to switch off from the constant cares and worries of multiple health problems and to just "be".  I'll be taking my camera and knitting with me and I don't in the least bit feel guilty... I've been very organised for once and have made both meals for tomorrow:  Vegetable soup for lunch and Swiss Chard/ Courgettes in a cheese sauce to be served with brown rice and salad, for tea.

 

Fresh Air and Fun

I could have easily tagged this post as "Just Another Manic Monday!" for within minutes of waking Dave and myself were dealing with a plumbing problem and an hour later the car refused to start!!  Thank goodness I'd remembered to say a short prayer before allowing my feet to hit the floor, God's goodness and peace kept me calm, no shouting or less than favourable words, nothing short of a miracle I'd say!!

 By 10:30 am both problems had been sorted and although we had to change our original venue we had a fantastic day and all within a 20 minute drive from our home.  So without further ado here are our pictures:

 Our first stop was to visit our lovely friends in Silverdale, we buy all our wood from them.  They own a  forest at the back of their house and  they only take trees that have felled on their own due to decay or high winds.  To the right of the forest is a beautiful walled garden where they keep several hives, their honey is just delicious.

The Wolf House Gallery was our next stop.  We had hoped to feed the kids but their gluten free options were almost non existent, it was a choice of soup but no gluten free roll and a coconut slice, hardly likely to feed two hungry tums.  The kids however did have a great time in the small play area and I had a quick look in the gallery.

Shot taken from the top of the drive.

Pip found an outside toy box containing "my baby" and the two were inseparable for the duration of the visit.

Benedict doing what he loves best, just digging!

The studio where the artist in residence works, I just love the Christmas tree made from logs of wood, it is quite delightful.

Heart design hung on one studio wall.

An owl acting as gate keeper.

A sign that says it all.

By now our tums were truly rumbling so we made the short journey to our favourite nature reserve and feasted on baked potatoes, soup and warm drinks.  Their is a little table with children's books, crayons and paper so Benedict and Pip were kept busy:

Pip engrossed in her "Work", she tries so hard to copy some of Benedict's writing it is quite sweet.

View from one of the bird hides.

Looking hard.

" I saw it mummy... I saw a penguin!!!!" 

Pip and I having one of our regular discussions it goes like this:

Pip, "I no want the reigns"

Me, "Then you have to hold my hand and walk nicely"

This time she agreed and we walked together.  Benedict as usual was "going his own way" and  ran ahead to the feeding station, perfectly normal for a boy his age but not one who is often not hypo aware.  It is a constant dilemma between allowing him the freedom he craves and keeping a constant watching brief on an all too often volatile medical condition.  I managed not to comment and he was all smiles at having watched the birds on his own.

Before leaving we stocked up on bird feed and both kids had great fun in swishing their hands in the seed bins, very therapeutic I know.  I might just look into filling an lidded box with some popping corn as a cheaper alternative, I bet Pip in particular would have fun pouring and digging.

All in all a good day and plenty of smiles all around.

Snapshot Blessings

We've had a disjointed week in these parts, a birthday celebration and a day spent errand running changed the home school rhythm. By Friday afternoon we were done with formal stuff and cut class to watch our Matilda film, the read along was finished just the day before!  Here are some pictures from Tuesday morning, where Dad and Benedict followed through with medieval studies in a hands on way:

Building a trebuchet.

Dad's workshop proving to be very useful!

Working hard.

 The finished result.

Wednesday was Sara's birthday so once Benedict had spent the morning working with Shein, a gang of us headed off to a very nice restaurant for her 22nd birthday celebrations:

Opening presents first thing, hence the pyjamas!

Nanna H listening intently to Mr Chatterbox!

My yummy salad.

Little Miss PJ kept announcing she was, "very hungary!"  She ate everything including dessert.

 Sara enjoying a burger with side salad and chips.

My gluten free dessert, you cannot beat the good old meringue as a coeliac friendly sweet.

 Dave's dad telling a tall tale!

Hugs.

Thursday was our errand and be out of the house day, as my neighbour and friend Yvonne was coming to clean.  We came home to a sparkling house and plenty of dirty cloths in the washing machine!!  No matter how hard I work cleaning the entire house is beyond my physical abilities, so I keep the bathroom and kitchen in order in addition to daily cooking, washing, teaching and nursing.  Fair do's I'd say.

On Friday we used the montessori manipulates to aid sequencing of large numbers.  They were an invaluable help and prevented boredom and frustration from creeping in.  Our Friday film afternoon was a great hit and is likely to be repeated once we finish our new current reader, which is "Little House on The Prairie".  We might have to search you tube for an episode to watch.

Speaking of you tube, I thought I'd leave you with a link to an artist I discovered this week via a friend at prayer group.  This song in particular is one of my favourites and indeed might just be an anthem song for me!

Be blessed San x 

Fireworks

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder treason and plot.

We see no reason

Why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.

By God's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?
Burn him! 

Benedict, Pip and I made our way to the local park to view the firework display from castle hill.  Apart from observing the marvellous display I was bombarded with questions:  Why do we have bonfire night?  What exactly is in a firework?  What does the pyrotechnic engineer do exactly?  Was Guy Fawkes really a bad man even though he was a terrorist? and Why is there a health and safety ruling that says we can no longer observe from castle hill?  I did my best to answer so in a short half hour discussion we covered British history, religion, politics, chemistry, job descriptions and risk assessment!  Phew!!  Here are our pictures of the evening:

 Our evening meal courtesy of Hugh... stuffed butternut squash with blue cheese and walnuts, served with leeks and greens liberally sprinkled with black pepper and tossed in butter.

Firework photographs courtesy of Dave who had drove elsewhere in the park to set up the tripod and try out the "firework" setting on the new camera.

 Pip wasn't sure of some of the loud bangs but on the whole managed very well.  There was so much to look at and it was lovely to watch them enjoy the spectacular colours that lit up the sky.  Once home we settled down to these as our treat supper:

 Delicious dessert apples from Kent coated in Green and Black's Organic Milk Chocolate and topped with Dr Oetker sprinkles.

By now it was nine o'clock, so up the wooden stairs to Bed-fordshire, we did however manage to squeeze in a chapter from "Matilda" by Roald Dhal.  Benedict and I are enjoying our bedtime read and although I find some of Dhal's works a bit gruesome, this story is very funny and a delight to read.  I've promised us both a treat viewing of the film once the book is finished.

A lovely end to a busy, happy day.

 

Vicious Vikings and Courageous Knights

We had an early start this morning.  When I say "we", I mean me, Dave and Pip... 5am to be precise.  Little one was coughing  and the kindest thing was to stagger downstairs and provide tea and toast in abundance.  Dad as usual was a star and undertook the first breakfast routine whilst I read to little miss PJ.  After our repast and in an effort to keep her entertained, without resorting to desperate measures of the dreaded CBeebies,  this is what transpired at 6am this morning:

 You mean nobody else builds chairs at this time in the morning?!

The chair building exercise and story time kept us going until 7am when it was time to rouse Benedict from his slumbers.  Mum sorted the second breakfast routine, including washing machine on and wet items transferred to the dryer and general tidying.  Whilst eating we listened to Ancient Faith Radio and "The Children's Bible Reader" podcasts, these are proving to be a real hit with the family and are a thoughtful/peaceful start to the day.

By 9am Pip was flagging so Dave took her out in the car so that she could nap and Benedict and I made a start on our desk work.  Most mornings we spend the first hour on numeracy/literacy, so spellings and times table work were tackled first.  After this, we made a start on our Vikings work and today's challenge was to " Plan a Viking voyage" and "Design and make a Viking ship".  We had to investigate how a ship was prepared including  the necessary items for sustenance, warmth and defence.  Benedict used our manuscript copywork sheets to write his findings which were as follows:

A Viking ship was made by a river.  A tall Oak tree was cut to make the keel.  The cut pieces of wood were fastened together with wooden pegs.  Animal wool and sticky tar made the ship waterproof.

  A ship carried everything it needed for a voyage - drinking water, dried meat and fish, weapons and furs.

We talked about the importance of each of the items but most especially the need for fresh drinking water and the fact that, salt water if consumed would cause death to the sailors.

 Using the BBC primary history site, answering the quiz questions and playing the interactive trading game.

Our impromptu Viking long ship completes with moveable oars and covered raisin snack boxes as cargo storage.  Apparently the sailors used to sit on their storage trunks when rowing.

Benedict's writing ability has suddenly blossomed and with it his confidence has soared.

After a tea and snack break we read the next installment of out literature reader, "The Kitchen Knight".  Benedict then narrated what he could remember and as usual it was quite a significant amount! From the list, he chose his passage to write and illustrate:

 

The strange lady.

By now it was time for lunch and Dad, Pip and Sara were also back from "Sing and Play", so we were all able to share what we had achieved this morning whilst we ate.  We took advantage of the afternoon sunshine, Dave took B and P to our local playground whilst I logged this morning's activities and tidied the lunch time dishes.

Adventurous as ever!

 A roundabout workout!

 I had a welcome treat this evening  I visited with my neighbour and friend from across our road and she has kindly offered to help with the cleaning. As well as dealing with family member's sickness,  I struggle with my own ongoing health problems and often it is enough for me to make sure we have clean clothes and are fed and watered! Sara our remaining older daughter living at home, does sterling work when she can but she is at college most days and on her day off she has assignments to plan and write.  It will be good to have the help and it will be nice to have our environment in a more ordered state!  So another productive day and smiles all round.