Prickly

Prickly fir cones drying in the hearth.




Prickly holly being made into decorations.

Prickly mood as we try to sort out the under stairs cupboard where I store lots of food and all of the craft stuff, before the tree goes into the hall and totally blocks off the doorway tomorrow *grin*. Craig is busy there now - I hope - while I attend to important matters, such as blogging and online shopping.

Friends came to visit today and brought us some wonderful candles which they had made themselves. They're beautiful. I was going to photograph them to show you but my camera battery is flat. Must get it on charge. We've a busy weekend ahead.

This evening we read the Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen. Hermione is now wondering if we can keep our tree for the whole year so that it doesn't feel sad and discarded like the one in the story. Talk of keeping it and just changing the decor to fit in with the seasons. Hmmm...it seemed like a good idea before I read it but perhaps we should have stuck with Roald Dahl!

Wishes for Santa have been put up the chimney. Last year Hermione read in What Katy Did about children putting wishes up the chimney and Santa 'snatching' them away. We soon figured that providing we open the front door wide and she tears her wish list into small pieces, the updraught created in the chimney does seem to almost 'snatch' the paper from your hand when you put it by the top of the fire. Good fun (although must be very closely supervised of course) and adds a bit of that magic that I was moaning of the lack of yesterday.

On a total tangent here, did you know that wheat bags should not be used in bed? I was looking up instructions for filling them as I planned on making Hermione and Miles one each for Yule but I've changed my mind after reading this. Had enough spontaneously combusting in our life!

Edited to add that I just went in to tell nana what I had found out about wheat bags and we had one of those bizarre conversation.

Me - Did you know wheat bags can spontaneously combust, particularly if you use them in bed?

Nana - I didn't know that but I did know they are dangerous. They're so dangerous that Jenny (nana's friend in her 80's) had to stop making them for church fundraising after a lady in her nineties bought one, didn't listen to the instructions properly, put it the microwave for twenty minutes during which time it exploded and set the microwave on fire.

Me - Goodness, was the lady ok?

Nana - She's dead now, but the wheat bag wasn't implicated.

Ho ho ho

Miles was decidedly indifferent. Personally I thought Santa looked rather good this year but was a little bemused by the cheese counter style ticket machine showing your turn number, the waiting area with little tykes kitchen and computer games - oh and then there was Santa's helper in full costume in McDonalds.

I remember the days when I was small and I used to go to the local department store to see Santa. We used to board some sort of sleigh or craft (a very large cardboard affair I suspect) which was wonderfully decorated, made strange noises and 'flew' to another place to see Santa - exit cardboard box from other end and there you go - a magical journal and a mystical wonderland.

Where's the magic gone to? I know I know, in many respects we shouldn't tell our children pork pies - but then what of those magical moments? Bring it back I say.

Spiralling

Spirals are one of my favourite naturally forming shapes or signs. The whole extremes of the inner and outer, yet the whole connectedness too. I like that.




I know very little about Steiner Waldorf stuff but we often go to a building used by a Steiner Waldorf Kindergarten and I've noticed things about their advent spiral. Below is a pretty one I found online. I'm not sure of the whole Steiner significance of the advent spiral but I think it's a very fitting symbol for this time of year as folks reach out and also delve within.



I feel like I'm spiralling right now. Not spiralling out of control I'm pleased to say. More a case of spiralling in and out of the close hub of family and home - to friends both new and old - to colleagues and business associates (people who Craig works with who we have come to know as a couple) - to neighbours and more. A season of extremes. Plans for small intimate times with nearest and dearest but also time to reach out and be all embracing. Crafting and baking with the children - music and merriment with friends. Incidentally has anyone ever made wassail? I've plans for that later this month.


Although life is extremely busy right now I feel that we are doing a lot more of what we want to and a lot less of what we don't. That a good thing. A very good thing. Life's too short for it to be any other way. I think our advent calender/planner has helped. While we have gotten behind on some activities, (we have the ingredients but haven't yet baked our fruit cake) most things have gone to plan.



Some of the highlights have been gathering greenery and fir cones in the woods. Celebrating the abundance of mother nature. Marvelling at her strength. Remembering that we are strong and that we can carry on even when the wind tries to blow us away.



Taking food for cats and dogs to our local rescue shelter. The staff at the shelter were absolutely fabulous with the children and told them the stories of how many have come to be in the shelter. By the end of the visit even Miles at age three has a grasp of how many animals come to be there. Why can't so many adults? Those places will be full till the rafters come January no doubt.



Harvesting our willow. I'm amazed at how quickly it has grown. We have lots for crafting and have made a start on a big wreath for above the mantle.

Just wanted to say thanks again to all who have responded to Hermione's survey. We are making lots of progress on the writing front. Rather oddly it seems that as many families are winding down for the festive season Hermione seems to be really cranking things up on the educational activity ('work' doesn't sound quite right) front. Oddly enough though I seem to be doing the same. I've been talking to lots of people this week about setting up new home ed activities at a home ed building resource nearby. Lots of interest and enthusiasm. I'm feeling upbeat and positive. More on that another day, I think dinner is about to burst into flames!

Wish I had a home for Christmas

Awww, cute little fluffies.

The Giraffe Test

To all you highly educated ones out there - just a little something to keep the grey matter from going stagnant

How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator? Stop and think about it and decide on your answer before you scroll down.


The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.


2 How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?


Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?

Wrong Answer.

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.


3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend ... except one. Which animal does not attend?


Correct Answer : The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.


Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.


4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?

Correct answer? You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of theProfessionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old.

Great trading

I had a fabulous time at our Durham Exchange gathering on Friday night. Durham Exchange is a timebank where members can trade goods and services for a community currency. You can find our more about timebanks generally here – the site also tells you where your nearest one is. You can find out more about the local one here in Durham by emailing me.

I went along with a box of woollen jewellery and a chocolate cake to share. I spent a very pleasant couple of hours chatting with folks there, enjoying delicious food they had bought and I left with the following.

Half a box of woollen jewellery. I traded a few pieces and took instructions for two specially commissioned pieces. Still lots left in my little stock collection. I only thought on to take my jewellery and now wish I’d remembered to take some cakes. Ho hum, I’ll save those for next time.

A greenhouse. I have been checking out polytunnels for a while but have concerns about the wisdom of that plan seeing as we live on the top of a very windy hill surrounded by trees. Even assuming the thing didn’t become airborne I suspect I’d be regularly repairing the cover. When a member of the Exchange said he had a greenhouse to trade it felt like Christmas had come early. I haven’t seen it yet but I’m ever so excited. Apparently it’s in fabulous condition with shelving and stuff too.

A handmade pottery plate which looks absolutely fabulous on my kitchen table. The lady who made this is a member of the Exchange. She is extremely talented. She is only partially sighted and I suspect that may account for the exquisite details of texture. She moulded the plate on a rhubarb leaf from her neighbours garden. I love it. It’s so full of character and expression.

A handmade jug made by the lady who made the plate. Like the plate it has lots of wonderful little details including a little butterfly at the base of the handle. I tried to photograph it but it didn’t come out clearly. I feel really blessed to have met this wonderfully talented lady and have a couple of pieces of her work to call my own – and it didn’t cost me a penny of ‘real’ money, just some community currency.

A handmade organic bathbomb also made by a member of the Exchange. Hermione has her eye on this.

A children’s dictionary. I think Hermione is ready to start figuring out how to use one.

Some excellent remote controlled Mega Blocks vehicles which are going to Santa for Miles *grin*

Not bad eh for a couple of hours spent chatting with friends and tucking into a lovely shared supper?

Some of the other things which were on offer were flute lessons, lifts, three course meal cooked and delivered to your home, massage and more. Very tempting.

Survey help please

Hermione is doing a survey about the kind of books people like best. The plan is to make a graph with the survey results and then write a book on the chosen theme!

The choices are fairy stories, animal stories, spy stories, adventure stories, comedy stories or stories about celebrations.

What would your choice be? Hermione will be really delighted if she gets lots of responses. I've asked on a couple of home ed lists but haven't been overwhelmed with responses. Ask your children, ask your granny, ask your neighbour please *grin*

If you can help please just leave a comment here or email us on wootie@blueyonder.co.uk

Thank you.