Pink and fluffy

It's New Years Day and the mood is pink and fluffy.

We certainly had pink cheeks after a brisk trot around the marina, a rummage through the lobster pots and pausing to admire the harbour mouth.

A pink flower on a snazzy cap - yes, Nana has had her crochet hook out again.

A pink mantle for the New Year. The colour of calm, quiet and acceptance. Hearts and flowers.

Still lots of candles as we wait for the sun to return to full strength, splashes of red and fiery orange too.

A beautiful card from a friend I once studied with and thought I had lost touch with since she moved miles away.

Flushes of pink as I deliberate whether to start our studies this coming Monday or the Monday after. Flushes of pink as I try to decide if the study of rivers comes under the category of geography or biology. Oh, and then there are the thoughts of all the cool places I hope we will visit on our river studies. Reservoirs, lakes, sea, damns, locks, river mouths, high level trickling streams and more. Have any of you guys ever seen the Severn Bore? I would so like to see that and take Hermione there too. It's been featured on the TV programme 'Coast' a couple of times and it always fascinates me. To be honest the sea totally fascinates me. A friend thinks I'm fascinated by the sea because I know on a certain level that very evolved beings come from the sea - perhaps I think if I hang around long enough on the shore line I might get some sense *grin*.

I suspect we will leave studies till the Monday after as it's my uncle's funeral on Wednesday coming and he has specifically requested and arranged for there to be a big celebration after the formal bits. I think that's cool. I know there is often the obligatory drink and sandwich after a funeral but for someone to make arrangements for a specific venue and itinerary is rather special I feel. An ongoing sense of fun and happiness. A celebration of life, the way he touched our lives and the memories that will live on.

You know what this pink picture reminds me of? Marbled paintings we made and used to back our exercise books with when I was in Mrs Sweeny's class aged nine. Those marble effects have made a lasting impression upon me. So pretty. I know Hermione wants to use exercise books this year and we will - but perhaps we can make really pretty paintings and use them to cover them. Even if they don't inspire her I'm sure they will make lesson time brighter for me.

Reflections on 2008

It’s been a strange one 2008. I’ve come to expect the unexpected. I’ve seen real highs and real lows. I’ve wept with laughter, joy, despair and gut wrenching fear. I’ve paced around our kitchen table with my head in my hands - but then I’ve danced round it too more times than I could mention.

I’ve learned not to take things for granted. Security can literally disappear in a puff of smoke. I’ve learned that things aren’t always as they seem - all that glistens isn’t gold. I certainly have seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly this year.

Thankfully nothing’s fallen down that can’t be rebuilt, and that being the case 2008 has presented us with opportunities - opportunities to rebuild and reshape areas of our life with the benefit of knowledge, experience and hindsight.

The troubles we’ve had have really served to strengthen my personal relationships. I’ve learned that I have friends and a community that will support me when the going’s tough.

I’m not sure I will make any resolutions this coming year, save for to continue to live, love and laugh – oh and perhaps see a successful conclusion to our ongoing legal battle with the insurance company that likes to say ‘NO’ *grin*.

Wishing you all a joyous 2009.

Indoor greens

Not deterred by my rather dismal attempt at growing indoor greens before, (sunflower greens about a year ago if I remember rightly), I planted some chard and rocket seeds in the kitchen last week. The tiny shoots are starting to show and we're all keeping an eye on them.

We still have chard and rocket in the garden and it's still growing, but it grows very slowly in winter and we've also found the leaves are really tough, even when small.

I'm so pleased that the children will eat these greens that I feel I must do my best to grow them. They don't eat many other leaves. Here's hoping the indoor chard and rocket will be more successful than the sunflower greens.

Keeping busy

Thank you ever so much everyone for your kind comments below. We're doing alright. All keeping busy - it tends to be the coping strategy of choice around here.

I dug the last of the roots out of the garden this afternoon. Here are a few jerusalem artichokes. I don't know what we'll do when these have gone. They've become a real hit in our veggie stew with dumplings.

Dug up the last of the parsnips too for what they're worth. The roots have all separated probably due to the clay soil we have here. I had been warned that the gentleman who lived here before us tried for years to grow carrots and parsnips without success - but I had to try and see for myself.

I've been rummaging through my seed box too and making plans. I'm feeling really fired up about my growing plans for this coming year. As some of you know I have had my name down for an allotment for a while. Well, I now have a much better solution. A couple of friends who live nearby don't feel able to manage their garden and this is a concern for them. So, we've agreed that I'll clear it, dig it over and plant veggies which we can then share. I get more space to cultivate and more veg - they get a tidy garden and fresh veg from their own patch - a win win situation!

I have been thinking a lot about Montessori materials. I really am taken with some of the geography resources but not quite so struck on the prices. I'm in the process of acquiring some corkboard and am going to try my hand at making some of these pin map puzzles.

I'll report back when I've done it but in the meantime you can read the instructions here if you fancy giving it a try yourself.

I've been making felt hearts stuffed with lavender and rose petals. It's ever so therapeutic - the sort of sewing you can do with one eye on the tv, one eye on your chocolate and whilst also having a natter with your other half! I think I may turn them into some sort of garland for the mantle when I have enough. The heat rising from the fire should help disperse the sent of the petals.

Also been admiring this wonderful fabric postcard given to me by a friend. She made it herself. I'd not come across these before and I'm quite taken with it. I'd like to have a try at making them sometime. Just think how lovely it would be to receive one through the post.

Waiting

I know, I know, I said I wouldn't be back this year. We had so many plans for the next week or two. So many people to spend time with. Time to outwardly acknowledge and thank so many for the support they have given us through what has been a challenging year.

Sadly nana's brother has taken a turn for the worse. Mostly unconscious. Not quite here. Not quite there. It's a strange time. Reminds me very much of the days before my dad's death although the circumstances were very different.

Thankfully I know that the same folks who have supported us and helped us through this year will continue to stand by us through this time. They'll understand why we have cancelled most of our arrangements and will still be there for fun and laughter at a more appropriate time.

In the meanwhile we're all contemplating the bigger picture. You know, those big 'why' and 'when' questions that life sometimes throws at you. Contemplating a life that is precious, a life characterised by outstanding determination, energy, enthusiasm, hard work and charisma.

Edited to add the wait is over. Nana needs to be alone. I'm trying to figure out where I need to be - and am messing on suddenly trying not to think about the big why and when questions.

Happy Christmas

Things feel a bit odd here. Not odd in a bad way - just a different way. The big frenzied shop which I always tend to rush out and do at this sort of time hasn’t happened. I’ve stuck to my ground in that this year our celebrations will be homely, hand crafted, stripped of glitz and very much heart felt.

Sure I’ve wondered now and then if I have enough to fill the stockings, enough satsumas, cloves and cranberries. I don’t know if I have or not. What’s more I don’t really seem to care this year either. Despite all that’s gone on of late I still find myself smiling – rather inanely I guess it must appear to other folks. I feel calm. I feel like I’m living my truth – something I rarely do at this time of year, caught up in commercialism and hype.

When things have started to get too much I’ve tried to do what I always (should) do – get back to nature. Messing in the garden, checking out what’s growing, what needs cutting back and generally clucking around with the hens really revitalises me. The children played in the paddling pool yesterday (in clothes and wellies not swim suits I hasten to add). They dug holes and made puddles. They squished mud between their fingers and formed mud balls. They chased me throwing mud balls till we fell in a laughing heap on the grass.

Lying on the grass looking up at the sky I was struck by it’s beauty. I’m in the right place. It feels good.

I’m sure Christmas will come, right on time as it always does, but this year I’ll welcome it with open and arms and muddy feet as opposed to the usual frazzled wreck who has spent too long tossing and turning trying to figure out whether to do brandy sauce or custard with the xmas pud!

I think this will be my last post for 2008. I’m planning on spending lots of time with family and friends over the next week or two, lots of time just ‘being’ and lots of time getting my head around next years education plans.

Thank you for visiting me. I appreciate your kind comments and lovely emails and am looking forward to a busy, bloggy 2009.

New arrivals

Introducing Merlin (left) and Polly (right), the newest additions to our gang.

They are beautifully fluffy, roughly twenty weeks old and not quite at the point of lay. With the sudden loss of Fanjio and a slight reduction in eggs due to the dark days also, we have found ourselves not able to bake as I am loathe to buy eggs because I don't want to eat an egg which has potentially come from a hen who has not lived well. Perish the thought of no cakes! We called around the local farms which sometimes do battery but they weren't dealing in hens right now - just turkeys, hence we ended up with these two barn beauties from a local farmer.

Polly may well come into lay within a week or two. I'm sure she's older than Merlin as she has more comb and wattle (the red bit on the top of the head and below the beak).

We brought them home when nana was at church yesterday and they had gone to roost by the time she came home. We decided not to tell her and let it be a surprise when she let them out this morning. Polly (the brown Fanjio lookalike) came out first and nana looked like she was about to keel over with shock. Gave us all (including nana once she was over the shock) a good laugh to start the day.

We still aim to rescue ex batts. Hopefully come summer.