Sunday 20 September 2015

At The Shore








A week in Ocean City, fishing, paddling in the Ocean, kite flying, cycling, pampering ( morning at the spa ) knitting, popcorn, all with family, the very best of times.

Wednesday 16 September 2015

The New Jersey Edition - Yarn Along



Lady Wren is nearly done, I so wanted to have it finished before coming on holiday but things didn't go that way, so I'm knitting a row here and there, the beach, the balcony, with my feet up watching Real Housewives of the OC, it's tough, being here in the sunshine of Ocean City.
We did finish Tumtum and Nutmeg, the first book of this series before flying over here, so we've started  straight in on the second, these are delightful stories, Mr and Mrs Nutmouse of Nutmouse Hall are the kind of mice I'd love to meet and I am no way a mouse fan, so we're reading a chapter here and a chapter there, after a day at the beach, after a visit to Cape May, seriously these are rough times, long may they last.

Joining in with Ginny over at http://www.gsheller.com 


Friday 11 September 2015

Thursday with The Buddies - A Day Late





Yesterday was all about the celebrating, an early birthday treat for Oscar, a day of blue sky, sunshine and fun.
For me (Denise) the day went way beyond the marking of nearly 8 years of Oscar, the rides at a local fun park, the ice-cream and excitement of discovering what's around the next corner - pirate land, cowboy village, angry birds play area ! The celebration was about these Buddies, these boys, their friendship, their brotherhood.
If you want to learn about love, acceptance, compassion, friendship, loyalty, forgiveness ( cause believe me they do fall out ) spend time with these two, they have a lot to teach us.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Thursday with The Buddies - Seeds







I recently purchased Lynn Sheddons wonderful, Exploring Nature with Children, a year long curriculum with a weekly theme, deeply rooted in getting children outdoors, using their senses and energy to learn about the Natural World that surrounds them.
Seeds were our starting point. The Buddies had been on a seed treasure hunt earlier in the week, we talked about seed dispersal and spores, as we gathered different varieties from Jack's garden.
Today The Buddies became nature detectives, finding where seeds were hidden in each plant,shaking seed heads, cutting open beans, apples and tomatoes, squeezing out Ash seeds.
Sorting different sizes and amazing over how many seeds a poppy head has, The Buddies really got into their roles.
Pictures were drawn of wind dispersal, using our collected seeds, books were read, The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle and the story of Johnnycake Appleseed, names written using cress seeds.
A fun way of revisiting a topic normally delved into in Spring, we enjoyed a fresh look at seeds and this was a great start to using this resource.
More information about Lynn can be found here http://raisinglittleshoots.com






Wednesday 2 September 2015

Ladies and Girls - Yarn Along

Joining in with Ginny for this weeks Yarn Along, sharing what's on the needles and what's being read.
http://www.gsheller.com

I'm knitting for Me, yes Me, there's been few things, a hat, a shawlette, ermmm ... Yep that's about it, in 30 plus years of knitting. 
I cast on a Lady Wren, a top, All. For. Myself, using Knit Picks, Comfy in DK, it's cotton, you know, cotton, that yarn I'm not sure about knitting with, it splits, it's this, it's that, well, actually, no, this is glorious yarn, soft, silky and wonderful to work with, I'm loving it.
But, oh my, baby knits to plus size tops, that's a whole lot of stitches I'm not use to having !
Provisional cast on, using crochet, a first for me, done.
And then there's my book, I know I'm very late to this party but Gone Girl, just wow.

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Hello September

You roll in on a breath of chilly fresh air through my bedroom window, I smile.
You're here, start of something new, season, dreams, adventures, pace, I like it.
Looking out my window, the garden is different, shaggier, softer, bountiful, I adore it.
Colours are changing, rusting, dropping leaves, red apples, orange pumpkins, I love it.
Welcome, so pleased you're here.