Buck buck chickens initiation

Smallest finished painting his Mouth of Truth last night and took in to school this morning. He was very proud of it and so he should be. He's worked hard. Boys went to school. Huffle worked in the loft and I went off to knitting.

Today we had a full table and half of the table were crocheting. I sat and sewed in all my ends of my latest socks and continued crocheting a chicken. Later in the evening I finished the chicken and Smallest ran away with it, called it chicken and it joined his 'gang'.

Everyone at knitting went out for lunch at the new Bistro (that used to be shookeeperEl's wool shop). It was very nice and I had a warm Goats Cheese Salad. It took ages and we didn't have time for shopping as Suffolk wanted to come back to help me with the rod pocket for the blind. Once again, we measured and pinned and held them at the window and finally decided where the folds were going to be. She left me with the task of sewing them but unfortunately I didn't have any cream thread so I couldn't do any. I've left everything out so it makes me do it at the weekend once I buy some! I'm hoping the first blind is going to be up at the window very soon.

The boys came home and played football. Tonight I made Butter Chicken and Lentil Dahl and because my sewing machine and material is all over the table, we ate in front of the TV. We watched a robot wars episode and then finished the film Sing, before the boys had showers and went to bed.

Huffle and I settled down and watched Gardeners World with a cuppa after hearing that the U.K. was in for a cold spell and possibly snow. Oh dear!

 

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Kettles day off

Grandma and Grandad arrived home safely. Neither slept on the plane though they had plenty of room.

The dishwasher was emptied this morning and sat all day until about 9pm before it went on again. Poor old thing. It had a nice rest after being on constantly for the last three weeks. The other implement that got a well needed rest today was the kettle.

I had a very busy day. I did four loads of washing and drying and folding. Suffolk came round early morning and we sat and measured and pinned and unpinned and measured and pinned and measured for about an hour and a half. She left me with instructions on what to do next for Blind No1 and rushed off to take Miss12 to an orthodontist appointment. Instead of settling down to sew, I drove to school to take the Tuba and music stand back for Small, not that he noticed it was there. It was pouring with rain when I arrived so didn't want to drag the Tuba in on its wheels, instead I carried it and it is really heavy! While I was at the school I popped in to see the Principal to talk to her about Parent Volunteer Drivers and other parents not being around to collect their kids. She was appalled and promised to do something about it, she also apologised about the basketball thing where Smallest didn't get to play. I was there for ages.

When I got back I pinned again and sewed the bottom and then pinned the top, added the Velcro, pinned that and sewed it to the top. This actually took me all day to do bearing in mind I didn't get back from school until 12 and Huffle and I had lunch at 1pm and I FaceTimed Moo and Suffolk. Anyway it is done now and I am happy. Huffle and I held it up to the window and it fits! Wahoooo. Suffolk is coming here tomorrow afternoon to help me pin the rod pockets so I can sew them at the weekend. Ummmmm that's what she thinks!

Before the boys came home I ran to the bus where it drops MissMoll off so I could deliver her birthday present. We bought her a pink football and a skipping rope so she can bring them over when I look after her and her brother. She was very pleased and gave Huffle and I a cup cake. The boys had theirs on the bus on the way home.

The boys did some piano practice, put their clothes away, helped with dinner (to be fair that was just Smallest who also painted the end of his mouth of truth) ad played on their tablets until dinner. Tonight dinner was Meatballs. They have missed it as we haven't had it since GG were here. Small said it was because we had Roast Dinner every night. That's a bit of an exaggeration but I guess as it's his least favourit meal, it seemed to him like we had it a lot.

Afer dinner all the boys played on the XBox and I crocheted and got my knitting stuff ready for tomorrow.

Huffle has been busy most of the day up in the loft working but he did carry my sewing machine up and down the stairs, put away the washing and help me check that the blind fit at the window.

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Is that soup hot hot?

I did not want to wake up this morning and was just dreaming about nonsense when Smallest came in to get me up.

Today was rainy, dull, a bit sunshiney, but mainly dull and overcast. I went to aerobics and worked extremely hard. We started with doing ten of each exercise (planks, squats, push ups, mountain climber and many more) and then nine, then eight, right down to one. It sounds easy but it was hard and hot and sweaty. When I got back I had promised to take Grandma and Grandad out but I had to have a shower first.

We went to the charity shop which was rubbish and nothing at all to buy today. We continued to Winners where I bought a lovely little yellow teapot to go with the sugar bowl and milk jug Grandma bought us. (This morning I broke our beloved Brown Betty Teapot). We carried on to Walmart where I found a bigger brown teapot and bought that too plus a birthday present.

We decided to go out for lunch (Huffle was too busy to join us today) and went to a place we went to on their last visit where we had a not so good experience. We decided to give them a second chance. Wish we hadn't! Grandma wanted a soup and I asked if 'hot soup' meant spicy or just warm hot. She said it definitely wasn't spicy. When Grandma got it it WAS spicy and we told the waitress who argued with us saying it wasn't. They didn't take it off the bill so I filled in the comment form and said we weren't happy. I did give a tip but not much. Wish I hadn't bothered on Grandads behalf. We popped in to the local farmers bakery and picked up a treat each which we had at home with a cup of tea from the new pot.

Grandma, Grandad and I watched an episode of Broadchurch and watched the woodpecker feed from Smallest's new bird feeder. The boys came home, messed about with Grandad, played on their tablets and had dinner early. Tonight Smallest had to forgo his football so we could take Small to the High School for Bandstravaganza.

Bandstravaganza was excellent. I am so proud of my big Small who plays his huge Tuba so well and looks so handsome in his ironed white shirt (though wish he didn't wear white socks with his black shoes and black trousers). He was so well behaved, unlike others in the band and despite the Tuba being as big a him, I could hear him play and I know he works so hard. All the bands did well and they came together at the end and played three tunes as one whole band. Considering they only had one rehearsal today, they were excellent. I am equally proud of my small Smallest who was an excellent companion to me during the performance, he didn't run off with his friends and play tag as they were doing. He didn't need an iPad or phone to keep him amused and he sat and watched and listened to his brother play. They are both very special boys and I am a lucky Mum. Two people spoke to me about Smallest at the end, both with good comments. Nice. Well done boys.

Huffle drove Grandma and Grandad to the airport for their 9:50pm flight.

Bye bye Grandma and Grandad. (Grandma informed me today that when they come back it will be less than six months. Phew, really? That quickly? Have we got time to recover?

Wishing you a safe flight. Let us know when you are home. X

 

 

 

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Tell me about your lazy Chips

Back to routine, up early, make lunches, speed boys up and get them out for the bus on time. I went to work and left everyone else at home. Huffle went back to work and Grandad worked in the garden, mainly on compost corner.

There was no list of what to do at work and all main people were absent so Jan and I manually cut down some huge grasses. Coffee break was some lovely chocolate Shortbread and the rest of our time we cleared the sedum from the car park and wandered. Next week we should be in the vegetable garden. I came home with some Spring flowering bulbs, lots of sedum and a tiny 'ickle tree. Huffle and I planted them up and we all had lunch.

Today I had a dentist appointment. Never been my favourite place but today all was well even though I had a small filling. It was at the front so the injection made my nose numb too. It was all over in 40 minutes though I went back to get some bits smoothed becuase they felt weird! I don't normally volunteer to go back in. Our dentist is very good and despite me having huge trouble in the UK with injections not working properly, he seems to get my mouth numb in no time, plus it wears off a lot quicker too. Must be different somehow. In the U.K. I used to get really weepy and tired afterwards but not here, just a little sore where they worked!

Back home Grandad was watching the Leicester game on the TV so I sat and watched with him with a cup of tea. Shame we lost. The boys came home, played basketball and football, did a chore and played on their tablets. Small says I'm so unfair to make him do chores after all the work he did over the Easter weekend. And I told him about all the things we have to do for him like driving him to various places, keeping him fed and watered and cosy and warm and housed. Poor teenager!

I helped Grandma with the end of the dinner where tonight she used up considerable amounts of the Easter Beef and made a pie. I had a mushroom one.

The boys played football and I fell over and hurt my knee. Smallest fell ver and hurt his ankle and play was suspended. TV! Bed.

 

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Last of the Summer Beer

It was a very cold start to the day but still Grandad sneaked out to put the corner brick in on the M4, add the concrete leaf to the 'dry river..........' and screwed in the mouth on the tree (it's upside down but we won't mention that!). I loaded my car with my Summer tyres and drove to the garage to get them changed over and get my oil changed. I walked home needing a hat and gloves. How silly that yesterday was so warm too! After breakfast Huffle loaded his tyres and also drove to the garage for his tyre change and then also walked home.

A field of blue scillas

Small did some homework on the computer, not something that needed to be done but something to get him ahead for school tomorrow. Smallest and I painted his 'Mouth of Truth' for his Ancient Rome project. It is looking very good. Then we played Mancala and taught Huffle how to play. The boys went on their tablets and Huffle and I helped Grandad with the 'dry river bed that's not dry anymore because it's wet' before dragging him back inside to play games with us all.

Smallest's version so far

The real one

We played Wizard (Small won easily) and Five Crowns (I was winning but we abondoned it due to lack of patience). Grandad sneaked out again to move some woodchips around the garden. Huffle and I walked to get our cars and walked a bit more when they weren't quite ready. Once we got them back we put our Snow Tyres back in the barn for next Winter and made a decision to go out for dinner.

Once we got everyone ready we went out for mod afternoon fish and Chips. The roads were horrendous. We have never seen so much traffic. At one point (I was following Huffle's car) there were two lanes that went into one and there were many cars trying to jib in. A huge lorry came to the side of Huffle's and my car and bullied his way in. Very dangerous. Lots of beeping and Huffle took his licence plate and reported him to the drivers company. I wonder if anything will come of that!

After dinner, we visited Quiche at his work. Grandad hasn't been in contact with him this visit due to his phone being broken. We stayed for a chat and a tour of his workshop and then went on and drove to the beach nearby. We had a blustery walk along the boardwalk to the lighthouse and then back again along the boardwalk, along the beach and to the park.

The boys had a silly old time on the park equipment while we sat and watched them (well they were out of sight but we knew they were there). Grandad filled his pockets with rocks we selected from the beach for the 'dry river bed that's not dry anymore because it's wet'. All blown away from the wind but with enough fresh air to make us happier, we came home.

Grandad placing his precious rocks

A cup of tea for the grown ups, showers for the boys and a game of Top Trumps by Grandad and Smallest. Then Grandad and I left everyone else at home while we went to the Garden Club for a talk on 'how to plant a spectacular fall garden' which was given by MrsM.

It was a fabulous talk and I took lots of notes of things to buy to make a really nice autumnal garden. When I showed MrsM and GrandsonD they said I should just dig them out of their garden. Oh okay then I'll see what I can find. We sampled some lemon cake, welsh cake and amazing raspberry, gooseberry and red currant jam. I shall have to make that one.

 

 

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Got spoons in many puddings*

HAPPY EASTER

After breakfast today, Grandad slipped out of the house and into the garden. He was then seen to be wheeling barrows of woodchips to the side of the barn. Huffle and I finished folding washing before also joining him outside to add to the wheelbarrows of woodchips. Not only was the bit from the veggie patch to the barn done but we also did around the fruit bushes and the comfrey. It is looking very smart. We had a lot of help again from the two boys.

I hid lots of eggs around the house and garden and the kids found them all with their little baskets. They didn't want clues this year. At the end we put them all in one dish and helped ourselves. Grandma made a start on dinner which was not intended for midday but more like mid afternoon. We finished our work in the garden as the dark clouds started to descend.

The storm never came though we had quite humid conditions at times plus some huge rain spots that didn't really come to anything until the evening when it bucketed it down. All the boys played basketball and then we came in. The kids played on their tablets. Huffle helped with dinner and I made a filo tart for Small and I. We had a lovely dinnner. Far too much food but worth the wait. However we have enough Beef for the rest of the week and maybe some of next! Grandma said we could have Treacle Pudding but not until 6pm.

There was also a game of football

MrsRoyal came for a quick visit as we were clearing up. Grandma did make the Treacle Pudding which was just delicious and we ate it just before 6pm.

Everyone played Newmarket. Smallest won. It was funny. We always use the coins from Huffle's bag of foreign money. In this bag there is a gold coloured signature ring and two big coins commemorating Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding. These are much wanted items and we always want to win them.

 

A Grandma comment made about MrMoonPig who "has spoons in many puddings!"

 

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Pardon my trowel

It rained all morning and some of the afternoon and looked very grey and dismal. The this afternoon the sun came out and it was really warm. Tomorrow we are supposed to have storms. It really has been a crazy Spring so far. Grandma and Grandad have seen every weather possible.

After a pancake breakfast we all went off to our respective football stands to watch our teams. The Stoke supporters (the rowdy ones) went up to the Upper Tier and ran down every now and then when their team scored (and yet were very quiet when they didn't). The Leicester fans sat in the main stand and cheered loudly to Upper Stand when their team scored. Both lots of supporters were happy with their respective scores.

Grandma and I helped Smallest with his Ancient Rome project which is to build a 3D model. We chose The Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Veritá). Him and Grandma built the beginnings of it last week and today we added lots of papier-mâché. It's looking good and just needs a good paint once it is perfectly dry. Grandma and I got all squished in the floury water but Smallest preferred to use a brush. Funny how he doesn't mind rolling in mud and leaves!!!

Because it was still raining, we decided to go out for dinner and look for a birthday present for Smallest. For dinner, we went to Joeys which is a nice place that we don't go to too often. The waitress asked if it was anyone's birthday and we said yes we were celebrating Smallest's, Grandma's and Grandads. I don't know why she asked because they didn't do anything. Good meal though.

We were next to the Mall and during dinner Smallest decided he wanted something for his garden. We visited Winners and Walmart and found nothing and then decided to drive to a bigger Walmart and a Canadian Tire. There he chose a funny king frog bird feeder. We also found some planters to replace our dilapidated urns on the porch and some compost. We let Grandad loose in The Tire and he picked up a phone holder thingy (he was very pleased with it) and some Swiss Cheese Files.

Naughty boys!

Back home we watched Britains Got Talent and decided it hasn't apart from the girl singing at the end. Huffle liked the Papier Mâché man becuase it reminded him of Reeves and Mortimer.

We ended the evening playing Crazy 8's until Smallest went to bed and then Ace 2 Ace with Small and then we carried on into the night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS ELDERFLOWERMEADOW xxxxxxx

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MRS RUMBKESKINS xxxxxxx

 

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