The Chicken Whisperer

I was poked awake this morning by Small who was crying "My Diddle is dead! Mummy, Diddle died!". Poor Small, his fish of one day died. Smallest's fish (Little Baby) is still alive but with no food. Moo told me to give it a tiny crumb of bread to nibble on. I did, he nibbled and now he swims around the bowl at great speeds. Smallest has decided that 'Little Baby' is now the family fish. Small's mum's friend will bring us some food over soon.

The boys went to school (we realised all the clocks in the house were two minutes slow - we noticed when the football game had started early!) so that could be a reason (apart from the times it was the fault of Grandma and Grandad and Moo) that the boys have missed the bus once or twice!

Moo and I decided to have a day out in Port Perry today. We drove there without getting lost - amazing, however we did go home the wrong way! I can't be good at everything! Ha ha.

We went in to see MrsM (my Garden Centre Boss) who was working there today. She showed us around the British Shop she worked in and said if there was anything I ever wanted, she would check to see if she could find it at the wholesalers. Lovely, however it is very expensive!

We tried to walk near the lake but it was quite cool and windy so we gave in and got a coffee instead. We sat there for ages reading the magazines.

We walked up and down the streets, going in shops, trying on hats. Looking at shoes. Moo bought a hat which really suited her (they don't normally, she has a funny head!). We got some cedar boards for the BBQ and a thermometer so we know the outside temperature before we go out - I'm sure there will be a photo of it from time to time?

Lunch was Butternut Squash Soup and a Scone - ummmmmmm. We had to bring some scones home too.

After we had exhausted ourselves we drove home, the wrong way. I was behind a man in a truck, because I was in the wrong lane I indicated to go left, he saw me and drove really close and then gave me the finger. Cheeky bum! I was only indicating to go in the correct lane!

On the way home we stopped at the 'country store'. I warned Moo she would feel quite young here and very 'able'. Last time I came here I was with Grandma and Grandad and the place was full of old people with walking sticks, frames and wheelchairs. There weren't too many people there this time but enough that Moo was bumped into and driven over by a trolley!

I made her try some fascinatirs on and the woman who worked there said "are you having too much fun?". Oh yes, much too much! We bought some Spinach and Feta croissants.

What do you think? Red or yellow?

We got home and realised we were supposed to be at someone's house having a cup of tea and seeing their garden. I rang them and apologised. They were fine. We might walk there one day when the boys are off.

'Little Baby' was still alive so we decided to go to Small's friend's mums to see if she could tell us what the fish was so we could find a place to buy food. She wasn't there but we were told she would be back soon. We waited on the front for a few minutes. The car came back and three people got out followed by two sheep, a cage of ducks and a load of hens and chicks. One of the chicks was poorly so Moo tried to keep it warm. We were told we could have one but chicks and raccoons don't mix too well here. We didn't want to take the chance.

Came home, waited for the boys to get home. They blew in off the bus. It was very windy. Small said "it is sunny and hot at school and cold and windy here!". We only live five minutes from the school. The boys came home with lots of stuff in their bags, photos, drawings, schoolwork. Smallest came home with his first school report. Mainly 'developing', with the Teacher happy to have taught him. Shame he gets another teacher next term but sure he will do well. He has been in a funny mood today. This morning he greeted me with the news he is sad but didn't know why. Then from school he decided he didn't want to do anything we told him to. He was a bit angry with Small. Maybe he's tired. He had a late night last night and he fell out of bed.

We all had dinner together as Huffle came home slightly early. Then we had a game of football. Taking it in turns to be in goal and swapping our teams around.

We had a visit from the local firemen who were calling on everyone to tell them about fire safety, alarms, meeting points etc.

Everyone (not the firemen) sat and watched Smallest's photo slideshow from school and then Moo read the boys a story and put them to bed.

 

 

Day of Doings (C'Mon England!)

We wanted to have a slow and lazy day today, but we are not good at doing nothing. So instead, Huffle made two more veg beds while the kids were playing nicely together.

Moo and I finished mowing the grass, then raked and bagged the cuttings.

The swing broke yesterday while Small was on it, luckily it wasn't while Moo was pushing Smallest as he goes very high, he may have been pushed to space! (or at least next door!).

The swing wasn't mendable so we now have to look for another one as the boys get a lot of use out of it.

We tried to make the 'dry hedge' at the bottom of the back garden but we struggled to get the posts in, so we have to rethink that project!

Moo and the boys, tickling.

Huffle managed to cut the old wire fence down. We were all exhausted so came in, got washed, and had dinner. We had a game of 'don't say it'. One of Smallest's words was Dancing. I guessed ’cook' and he said "no but it is like singing!". WHAT?

Then it was time to watch England v Italy. Huffle and Small watched the game. I half watched it. Smallest and Moo relaxed in the garden. By the time it got to the Penalty Shoot Out, we were all watching. Poor Huffle couldn't sit down, he was too nervous. England did not deserve to win.

Moo, Small and I played cards. The boys had their tea. Various games were played. The rain came. The thunder came. It has gone really cool now. I'm wearing a cardigan!

 

 

A few (or more) near misses!

A nice night with breezes coming through the open windows. No artificial air con last night. Smallest slept beautifully on the air bed and even slept in until 8am.

We had a waffle and fruit breakfast.

A nice slow morning. Huffle spoke to Grandma and Grandad. I added a bit of top soil to the front bed. Moo showered and got ready slowly. Then there was a mad rush. It was nearly time for the Town Picnic which promised fun for the kids, live music and a BBQ. We were one of the first families to get there. We found the petting zoo and all went ooooh and ahhhhh over the rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, calves, chicks and ducklings. They were the same ones we saw at the Summer Festival we went to.

We watched a baby guinea pig nestle under a baby cow. The cow then sat down and rolled on top of the guinea pig. Moo told the owner but he just shrugged and said its okay. But it wasn't okay! The cow just moved even more. I told a girl who told a boy who tried to lift the cow. He moved it just enough to see the flat guinea pig and then the boy handed it to the man and said "it's dead!". The man said nothing just held it in his hands with his eyes closed (the man not the guinea pig!). I thought the man had died too. I walked away and said, "that's it, we're going home! Moo stayed watching and the kids carried on playing with the animals. Then Moo said "it's alive, it's okay". Was the man the Guinea Pig whisperer?

We talked to the firemen. They showed us how their hydraulic cutters and equipment worked. It was very interesting.Small sat on the engine and got a hat and a pack of cards.

Smallest spent most of the time on the bouncy castle. He met a new friend who was five, but he didn't know his name and he didn't know where he lived. He did know that he went to a school that went up to grade 11!

All the boys had their faces painted.

The boys and Huffle had hot dogs and Moo and I had some potato salad. (no veggie stuff there). There was a woman who sat next to Mrs Royal who said "are you a member?". Yes I said I am! "what is your name?". I told her. "Well it is time to pay again" she said haughtily! "I've only just joined!". I said. Mrs Royal said "this is my neighbour, her and her husband have only just moved here and they have joined this year!". "well her name isn't on my list and I'm only doing my job, what did you say your name was again?" she said even more haughtily. I walked away before I punched her! I looked at Mrs Royal as if to say "who's your friend?". Silly woman. Apparantly she is the treasurer!

We listened to the band, we ate our food, smallest bounced, the boys ruffled the animals, Moo ran after the animals and put them back in their enclosures when they escaped, and then we took the kids to their party.

Moo, despite her name, is really scared of cows, but she was very brave with this tiny one!

The Party lasted five hours. Moo, Huffle and I came home, had a quick sandwich and drove to an ice cream shoppe (it was an old style one). We ate our ice creams under the shade of a parasol in the courtyard and then drove to a waterside walk we haven't done before.

It was lovely. We walked past newly naturalised marshes to the beach. One long beach split into lots of little ones by trees and rocks. More people here than we have seen on a beach before. Saw a wedding party. Some boys swimming in a Lake. Sunbathers. Families playing ball. They were regenerating the area and trying to make sand dunes.

We sat in the sun, we sat in the shade, we walked a fair distance in the hot hot heat (only 27*) we went and bought some cold drinks and then drove back to the nice bit of the beach and sat in the shade.

We popped into a supermarket. Huffle was worried we were in a bad area. It was a very cheap supermarket in a not so nice part of town. We got a few things and hurried back to the car. We got back to the party with ten minutes to spare. Huffle looked about of the window and could see water games happening. He said "oh god, they are going to be wet". The boys were dripping with water. Small had no shoes on and very wet socks, no top, shorts so wet they almost touched his ankles. Spraying water from his water gun. Smallest was running around with the sheep (the kids whose birthday it was - twins got a sheep each) and the chickens and the ducks. The kids mum asked him if he wanted hamburger or hotdog. He told her he didn't like hotdog (even Though he had one earlier) and he didn't know what a hamburger was! They made him plain pasta and about six people asked him if he wanted cheese. He said "why does everyone keep asking me that?". They loved him apparently.

The boys came home with their goody bags - a fish each! Luckily we still have our fish bowl but they are tiny and they can hardly be seen! The twins' mum said they probably won't live to tomorrow but if they do, she will bring us some food! Small named his 'Steve' after 'poor Steve' who unfortunately died at Bradgate Park when we forgot we had caught him and left him in a bucket! We said he shouldn't be pessimistic and he named him "Diddy". smallest named his 'Little Baby' because he is soooo small! They had their tea whilst watching them in their bowl! Small even donated a shell and two coloured stones!

They both had showers, had their tea and went to bed. Smallest wanted to sleep in with Small so we set the air bed up in Small's room but they couldn't get to sleep so Smallest moved back into his own bed in the end.

We had a BBQ. Today we tried grilled Havrati which melted into a big pile but it was really nice. jacket Potatoes, garlic bread which burnt on the bottom and Mushroom with onion,peppers, garlic and cheese - umm nice but they did set the BBQ on fire. I don't think we are natural BBQ'ers but we will keep trying. We also had Corn on the Cob. Moo dropped hers on the floor and had to wash it and then dropped it again, then Huffle dropped his. I didn't drop mine but when we were serving the mushrooms Moo did drop my plate and fork - bless, she didn't want me to feel left out.

A very tiring day day for all. Hopefully a lie-in tomorrow.

 

Mowed by Moo

This morning Moo and I had breakfast with the boys as we were going out early. We all had boiled eggs and soldiers. They were boiled perfectly. I skyped Grandma whilst eating (most rude but the best time to catch me sitting still for long periods of time).

Once the boys were on the bus, Moo and I went to Mrs Royals and she drove us to a nearby forest. The walk was called Spirit of ...... (can't remember). It was very very wet, long grass. We walked for about an hour and a quarter. It was a good hard up and downhill walk. Lots of Mosquitos though. We had to walk in single file so I watched Mrs Royal's back and Moo watched mine and swatted the mossies away. Oh Who swatted Moo's? We had covered ourselves in mosquito repellant as I had been bitten the night before on my leg and it had swelled. It was the size of my palm and very hot. Then it got bigger and bigger until it was larger than my hand! I had to take antihistamine.

The forest walk

Mrs Royal on safari

Jungle Moo

Part of the way around the walk, we stopped high on a seat and looked at the lovely view.

It was a different forest to the ones we normally go to. Lots of open spaces.

Having five minutes. Moo was smiling before I took this. Whoops!

Beautiful trees and beautiful blue sky

Just a few odd clouds

Lots of pines all in a row

When we got back we sat outside. The temperature today was lovely. Not humid. Hot but not too hot. We decided to get the mower out. I started and then Moo carried on. It suited her.

Our patch of day lilies almost in bloom.

Look how pleased she is with herself!

Up and down, whoops you missed a bit

Our veg beds, thriving.

I was taking a picture of the sky when I noticed Moo still mowing.

We stopped for lunch and I Skyped Yahoo. We had a good catchup - not spoken to her for a while.

We ate lunch and then I finished the back bit of the back garden. We thought we would leave the other part plus the front till Monday or Wednesday. We sat and played a few rounds of scrabble and then got ready to walk to school. Smallest's class was having a presentation.

Smallest and his friend - Smallest was the 'rich man'

Watching another group doing their piece.

We sat in the library and watched three different groups performing a play about a stone cutter. They were very cute and said their lines beautifully.

The class watching their presentation

After all three groups had performed, they showed a slide presentation of various photos the teacher had taken since they started in that class. There wasn't too much of Smallest as he didn't start there until November. We all have a copy of the photos which is set to some cheesy music.

We walked home from School. Moo and Small lagged behind and Smallest and I walked quickly because he desperately needed a poo!

We played outside. We played a game called "don't say it" where you have to get the others to guess a word without saying certain describing words. Very funny, especially when Smallest plays. One of his words was 'cut'. "daddy cut one of these down". "a tree?" "no but he cut one, oh whoops, I said it". Another one was leg! "I sit on one". "a chair?" "no with my legs, oh no I did it again!"

Huffle came home early and we barbecued. This time in the sunshine, no rain, no thunder and no lightning. Very dull really. We had salmon, tilapia, potatoes with rosemary and Parmesan and Small's Banana, choc, Marshmallow and Syrup pudding - nice! The salmon was lovely. Even Moo thought so. She didn't like the Tilapia.

The boys played and then watch TV whist Moo, Huffle and I raked and cleared the grass cuttings. There were a lot. Then huffle played the don't say it game with Smallest again.

Moo put the boys to bed. Tonight Moo is in the loft and Smallest is in the library on the air bed.

We grown ups sat on the porch, blogging, cross wording and IPad cricketing! It is a lovely temperature now. A light breeze.