tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86283966991590966382024-03-13T23:22:33.543-07:00Smiling, each and every daySmiling, Each and Every Daynocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.comBlogger640125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-617370496664309732015-09-20T13:23:00.001-07:002015-09-20T13:23:35.410-07:00At The Shore<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzWNY9kGBuU/Vf8VxYz39iI/AAAAAAAAEWQ/nOSUNE5TVvo/s640/blogger-image--318720618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzWNY9kGBuU/Vf8VxYz39iI/AAAAAAAAEWQ/nOSUNE5TVvo/s640/blogger-image--318720618.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_wzz2eNg0kI/Vf8VrA5g5eI/AAAAAAAAEWI/lHOBTz3QvTQ/s640/blogger-image--680632961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_wzz2eNg0kI/Vf8VrA5g5eI/AAAAAAAAEWI/lHOBTz3QvTQ/s640/blogger-image--680632961.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xI1dTG1auFc/Vf8UsJB1y-I/AAAAAAAAEV0/CtwaXvzdb9g/s640/blogger-image--808821163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xI1dTG1auFc/Vf8UsJB1y-I/AAAAAAAAEV0/CtwaXvzdb9g/s640/blogger-image--808821163.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b29_57XOwRM/Vf8Vpyl_JKI/AAAAAAAAEWA/wvbx0oPXQ6g/s640/blogger-image-25747115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b29_57XOwRM/Vf8Vpyl_JKI/AAAAAAAAEWA/wvbx0oPXQ6g/s640/blogger-image-25747115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-45242441428259548052015-09-16T10:03:00.001-07:002015-09-16T10:03:43.323-07:00The New Jersey Edition - Yarn Along<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wRQKP4JeOCA/Vfmg7ehZFbI/AAAAAAAAEVk/gDwzwp8vj7o/s640/blogger-image-680434465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wRQKP4JeOCA/Vfmg7ehZFbI/AAAAAAAAEVk/gDwzwp8vj7o/s640/blogger-image-680434465.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joining in with Ginny over at http://www.gsheller.com </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-44523408420936212792015-09-11T04:05:00.001-07:002015-09-11T04:05:47.762-07:00Thursday with The Buddies - A Day Late<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IPyEi3b6RJk/VfK1fY6pwbI/AAAAAAAAEVM/Ettj2FKdhN4/s640/blogger-image-1680591429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IPyEi3b6RJk/VfK1fY6pwbI/AAAAAAAAEVM/Ettj2FKdhN4/s640/blogger-image-1680591429.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-93baswquVzk/VfK1iT_iv6I/AAAAAAAAEVU/5YSpLfwt07o/s640/blogger-image-267024767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-93baswquVzk/VfK1iT_iv6I/AAAAAAAAEVU/5YSpLfwt07o/s640/blogger-image-267024767.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KzqlcLPAirI/VfK1dB5yMMI/AAAAAAAAEVE/tdzLGwj2xPI/s640/blogger-image-1736584228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KzqlcLPAirI/VfK1dB5yMMI/AAAAAAAAEVE/tdzLGwj2xPI/s640/blogger-image-1736584228.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yesterday was all about the celebrating, an early birthday treat for Oscar, a day of blue sky, sunshine and fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-42587516662074800902015-09-03T07:18:00.001-07:002015-09-03T07:18:13.560-07:00Thursday with The Buddies - Seeds<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aWiCzwGZ1eI/VehWfpyES8I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/R92Hn9jtxYI/s640/blogger-image-2106792757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aWiCzwGZ1eI/VehWfpyES8I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/R92Hn9jtxYI/s640/blogger-image-2106792757.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pNDKkKWcnhI/VehWojNTkTI/AAAAAAAAEUw/mrgAtlYxTP8/s640/blogger-image-1794435284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pNDKkKWcnhI/VehWojNTkTI/AAAAAAAAEUw/mrgAtlYxTP8/s640/blogger-image-1794435284.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O6vj9gE0xqo/VehWkIYsAdI/AAAAAAAAEUg/mZps5Thghag/s640/blogger-image-427137591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O6vj9gE0xqo/VehWkIYsAdI/AAAAAAAAEUg/mZps5Thghag/s640/blogger-image-427137591.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wxRpuP3lajM/VehWmmaxL3I/AAAAAAAAEUo/Zq6PdSXkMoc/s640/blogger-image-91654815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wxRpuP3lajM/VehWmmaxL3I/AAAAAAAAEUo/Zq6PdSXkMoc/s640/blogger-image-91654815.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-55T69YP5XYs/VehWh2e6buI/AAAAAAAAEUY/p4-QCrplw_A/s640/blogger-image-1035949064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-55T69YP5XYs/VehWh2e6buI/AAAAAAAAEUY/p4-QCrplw_A/s640/blogger-image-1035949064.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sorting different sizes and amazing over how many seeds a poppy head has, The Buddies really got into their roles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">More information about Lynn can be found here http://raisinglittleshoots.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-38449514977814325362015-09-02T06:50:00.001-07:002015-09-02T06:52:13.140-07:00Ladies and Girls - Yarn AlongJoining in with Ginny for this weeks Yarn Along, sharing what's on the needles and what's being read.<br>
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http://www.gsheller.com</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But, oh my, baby knits to plus size tops, that's a whole lot of stitches I'm not use to having !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Provisional cast on, using crochet, a first for me, done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And then there's my book, I know I'm very late to this party but Gone Girl, just wow.</span></div>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ga1sIEAOX5o/Veb_CsBfwEI/AAAAAAAAEUA/rjACdi78GAE/s640/blogger-image-498175362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ga1sIEAOX5o/Veb_CsBfwEI/AAAAAAAAEUA/rjACdi78GAE/s640/blogger-image-498175362.jpg"></a></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-37260301072765314602015-09-01T01:58:00.001-07:002015-09-01T01:58:48.070-07:00Hello SeptemberYou roll in on a breath of chilly fresh air through my bedroom window, I smile.<div>You're here, start of something new, season, dreams, adventures, pace, I like it.</div><div>Looking out my window, the garden is different, shaggier, softer, bountiful, I adore it.</div><div>Colours are changing, rusting, dropping leaves, red apples, orange pumpkins, I love it.</div><div>Welcome, so pleased you're here.</div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-43BRc0xvRnY/VeVoxMSToRI/AAAAAAAAETo/eS7VXBl-2pY/s640/blogger-image-1427876745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-43BRc0xvRnY/VeVoxMSToRI/AAAAAAAAETo/eS7VXBl-2pY/s640/blogger-image-1427876745.jpg"></a></div></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-23687881567668163042015-08-26T01:47:00.001-07:002015-08-26T01:47:02.669-07:00On Repeat - Yarn Along<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Joining in with Ginny http://www.gsheller.com</span></div><div>Sharing a weekly knit and a read.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NzXvveWlBKk/Vd19AnXT8JI/AAAAAAAAETY/5tpKQWKy4Dw/s640/blogger-image--1322172101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NzXvveWlBKk/Vd19AnXT8JI/AAAAAAAAETY/5tpKQWKy4Dw/s640/blogger-image--1322172101.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It happened again, I devoured a book - started in Ireland, half heartily read the first few chapters, far too sleeply to concentrate after days of wonderful adventure, discarded.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Picked up again and inhaled from the beginning to end, in a couple of days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Read it, it's fabulous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Children of Willow Farm coming to an end too, three chapters to go, such a delightful book, packed with gentle explanations of farming ways and country living.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And socks, the boy wanted pink socks, so he got them, very quickly.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-59443365882584814632015-08-20T07:30:00.001-07:002015-08-20T07:30:47.814-07:00Thursday with The ( Water )Buddies<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ezlz0bChR-c/VdXkldE_W8I/AAAAAAAAETI/rZtU71nn9Cs/s640/blogger-image-1871937896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ezlz0bChR-c/VdXkldE_W8I/AAAAAAAAETI/rZtU71nn9Cs/s640/blogger-image-1871937896.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kD7CMxBWLXg/VdXkdU27mrI/AAAAAAAAESw/AFAG4-qn3GE/s640/blogger-image-240583741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kD7CMxBWLXg/VdXkdU27mrI/AAAAAAAAESw/AFAG4-qn3GE/s640/blogger-image-240583741.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ceQd5bU8kiI/VdXkY8IxsGI/AAAAAAAAESg/iDhPLW5X4W8/s640/blogger-image--1360615271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ceQd5bU8kiI/VdXkY8IxsGI/AAAAAAAAESg/iDhPLW5X4W8/s640/blogger-image--1360615271.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cg1XHGBIZ4c/VdXkjG-K9lI/AAAAAAAAETA/yFOsmIYTyuQ/s640/blogger-image--1242227036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cg1XHGBIZ4c/VdXkjG-K9lI/AAAAAAAAETA/yFOsmIYTyuQ/s640/blogger-image--1242227036.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OTmesC9XSug/VdXkfyV0raI/AAAAAAAAES4/ICoZRBNK6PQ/s640/blogger-image--1744356094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OTmesC9XSug/VdXkfyV0raI/AAAAAAAAES4/ICoZRBNK6PQ/s640/blogger-image--1744356094.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B-Pbm6Pkd5s/VdXkbTF-CiI/AAAAAAAAESo/O73lZCFxJDI/s640/blogger-image--1372655679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B-Pbm6Pkd5s/VdXkbTF-CiI/AAAAAAAAESo/O73lZCFxJDI/s640/blogger-image--1372655679.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With all the rain we've been having lately, it seemed appropriate to introduce the water cycle to The Buddies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Firstly they mixed food colouring with water, taking turns to choose colours and mix them up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After drawing clouds, they used a pipette to add drops of the coloured water to the paper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This was then blown with straws, chased as far as it would go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This proved great fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Buddies experimented with blowing the paint using straws, toilet roll tubes and just their mouths.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next up, they created rain clouds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Big jugs half filled with water, were topped with a generous amount of shaving foam to simulate a cloud.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They then dropped the coloured water, again using the pipette onto the top of the cloud, letting it soak through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This created a rain effect in the water below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Both Buddies were fascinated by the different coloured rain and the patterns it created.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oscar said " the buddies had great fun doing the experiment "</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jack said " my favourite bit was dropping paint onto the paper and blowing it "</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-37731298190738442912015-08-19T04:40:00.001-07:002015-08-19T04:40:29.994-07:00Farming Socks - Yarn AlongJoining in with Ginny over at http://www.gsheller.com<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RtQOMPEHG50/VdRrK6NTBxI/AAAAAAAAESQ/-cSxWO2k84I/s640/blogger-image--1703973863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RtQOMPEHG50/VdRrK6NTBxI/AAAAAAAAESQ/-cSxWO2k84I/s640/blogger-image--1703973863.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The last time I devoured a book, to my shame was The Twilight Saga, staying up way too late, snatching chapters while chopping veg, stirring a pot or having a wee !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But this book, this book I. Could. Not. Put. Down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Everything else had to wait.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had already read Child 44, Agent 6 and The Secret Speech, all Tom Rob Smith's other books, enjoying the insight into Russia and it's ways, the intrigue and suspicion of life behind the Iron Curtain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Farm set in England and Sweden, showing the authors own heritage, had me completely drawn into it's pages, unsure of where I was being taken, what to believe or how this dark tale would end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I lost hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fed my family, pizza and oven chips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Forgot to get the washing in when it rained and left the next load in the machine for a day !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I am shocked to discover that not only have I finished the book ( 2 days ) but Oscar's socks are also nearly done ( just over a week )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the Barbara Erksine, I was going to start from last week, lasted less than three chapters, yawn ! yawn !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-53150814290292043712015-08-16T12:35:00.001-07:002015-08-16T12:35:08.278-07:00Runner Beans<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-POYIQtZkIjk/VdDl5uieCQI/AAAAAAAAESA/MpiOa7KVFiA/s640/blogger-image--1173721067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-POYIQtZkIjk/VdDl5uieCQI/AAAAAAAAESA/MpiOa7KVFiA/s640/blogger-image--1173721067.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dUtSIRlUvTU/VdDkvF-ZCEI/AAAAAAAAERo/kankBJNTkCk/s640/blogger-image--1226685175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dUtSIRlUvTU/VdDkvF-ZCEI/AAAAAAAAERo/kankBJNTkCk/s640/blogger-image--1226685175.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hEwquTsbvco/VdDlLOhi20I/AAAAAAAAER4/ZC1s4X9089A/s640/blogger-image--2018505437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hEwquTsbvco/VdDlLOhi20I/AAAAAAAAER4/ZC1s4X9089A/s640/blogger-image--2018505437.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xRidHyCI8jg/VdDkylKC-zI/AAAAAAAAERw/JGiJn4qTVAo/s640/blogger-image-95079372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xRidHyCI8jg/VdDkylKC-zI/AAAAAAAAERw/JGiJn4qTVAo/s640/blogger-image-95079372.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SBeicILxnzA/VdDkR2SNpNI/AAAAAAAAERg/2wDIetoEQdc/s640/blogger-image-1857059649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SBeicILxnzA/VdDkR2SNpNI/AAAAAAAAERg/2wDIetoEQdc/s640/blogger-image-1857059649.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A wigwam of beans, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A place of shade and fun, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Of bees and butterflies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Red flowers turning into long, green beans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A hiding spot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A peaceful spot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An abundunt spot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A delicious harvest, topped and tailed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chopped and cooked</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Eaten and stored</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A delight to savour, long after summer has gone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-5596400399603412862015-08-13T00:46:00.001-07:002015-08-13T00:47:43.047-07:00Thursday with The Buddies - Rocket Men<br />
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In July, The Buddies enjoyed a visit to Armagh Planetarium, N. Ireland.</div>
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Both Jack and Oscar were mesmerised by a visual journey through Space, seeing the constellations come to life, learning the names of Planets and riding Saturn's rings.</div>
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Since then, we have continued this theme using books, YouTube videos and games.</div>
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Today, we tested the power of air, using balloon rockets.</div>
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Blowing balloons, bulldog clips and sellotaping them to straws on strings proved tricky for The Buddies but the countdown and launching was all theirs.</div>
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We did quiz The Buddies on the concepts of Newtonian Motion but realistically their enjoyment came from racing the released balloons.</div>
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nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-74219938450024996082015-08-12T09:26:00.001-07:002015-08-12T09:31:12.430-07:00Socks - Yarn AlongJoining in with Ginny http://www.gsheller.com<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6SYKX92mLpw/VctzurqYeSI/AAAAAAAAEPw/4Wy1-mEM5E0/s640/blogger-image--270037148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6SYKX92mLpw/VctzurqYeSI/AAAAAAAAEPw/4Wy1-mEM5E0/s640/blogger-image--270037148.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am two chapters from finishing my latest Jack Reacher novel, this Barbara Erskine will be next.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Socks for my little love on the needles, inspired by the coming of Autumn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She is feeling close, very close with her breezes and darker evenings, orange leaves are appearing on the cherry trees, apples, blackberries and elder berries are nearly ready for picking, the light is changing, the shift is happening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I welcome her.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-46370641424812684192015-08-09T23:38:00.001-07:002015-08-09T23:38:22.373-07:00Beach Buddies<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-frsYaEAkS3s/VchG3D0JOvI/AAAAAAAAEPc/NhEvscQL2po/s640/blogger-image-1248000158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-frsYaEAkS3s/VchG3D0JOvI/AAAAAAAAEPc/NhEvscQL2po/s640/blogger-image-1248000158.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBF_cNMNN08/VchGXbJLYWI/AAAAAAAAEO0/46HYl_jYr2Y/s640/blogger-image-872672079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBF_cNMNN08/VchGXbJLYWI/AAAAAAAAEO0/46HYl_jYr2Y/s640/blogger-image-872672079.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6fxYE2YRl0w/VchG1B5Nv3I/AAAAAAAAEPU/7n0Y1q3_Uy4/s640/blogger-image-1348809737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6fxYE2YRl0w/VchG1B5Nv3I/AAAAAAAAEPU/7n0Y1q3_Uy4/s640/blogger-image-1348809737.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g35Vpp5Tpzg/VchGeEZ2PDI/AAAAAAAAEPM/5F0JTr9mf_M/s640/blogger-image--2069436480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g35Vpp5Tpzg/VchGeEZ2PDI/AAAAAAAAEPM/5F0JTr9mf_M/s640/blogger-image--2069436480.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ruUnwBxxJTI/VchGcBgvgGI/AAAAAAAAEPE/A5zXB-EZO1M/s640/blogger-image--764366560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ruUnwBxxJTI/VchGcBgvgGI/AAAAAAAAEPE/A5zXB-EZO1M/s640/blogger-image--764366560.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y0IDoM01_AA/VchGaXrmQpI/AAAAAAAAEO8/a30qFzAkvVk/s640/blogger-image-504071709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y0IDoM01_AA/VchGaXrmQpI/AAAAAAAAEO8/a30qFzAkvVk/s640/blogger-image-504071709.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As most people were leaving, we arrived</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Late afternoon sunshine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sausages to BBQ, flasks of tea and cake, Madeira cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kites to fly and spades to dig </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the sea</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To splash to kick and jump, to paddle, to swim</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Family to chat with, teenagers to tease</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Knitting abandoned for bug swatting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Frisbee and traffic jams of cars, planes and diggers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sand filled buckets</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Water to collect and sand dunes to explore</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These times are good, healthy, healing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are restored</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-28153997936103447482015-08-06T06:54:00.001-07:002015-08-06T06:54:52.242-07:00Thursday with The Buddies - Pop Art<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kfl48rVmQFY/VcNnKYdIrkI/AAAAAAAAEOg/Aa6DFosiQig/s640/blogger-image-918947075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kfl48rVmQFY/VcNnKYdIrkI/AAAAAAAAEOg/Aa6DFosiQig/s640/blogger-image-918947075.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EbmRWwPrnx4/VcNL2a4DxLI/AAAAAAAAENw/_KU6S_ngqWg/s640/blogger-image--1430329701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EbmRWwPrnx4/VcNL2a4DxLI/AAAAAAAAENw/_KU6S_ngqWg/s640/blogger-image--1430329701.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-flZO65sgLN4/VcNL7PSIsvI/AAAAAAAAEOA/duNDP7aq1hs/s640/blogger-image--1132136551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-flZO65sgLN4/VcNL7PSIsvI/AAAAAAAAEOA/duNDP7aq1hs/s640/blogger-image--1132136551.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SdwKV0TRyjc/VcNnF77dDXI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/TSHGn3ZyfJ0/s640/blogger-image-225235252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SdwKV0TRyjc/VcNnF77dDXI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/TSHGn3ZyfJ0/s640/blogger-image-225235252.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vK7kyQgmaYQ/VcNnH3YgdqI/AAAAAAAAEOY/CUWJhSJniJE/s640/blogger-image--725562839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vK7kyQgmaYQ/VcNnH3YgdqI/AAAAAAAAEOY/CUWJhSJniJE/s640/blogger-image--725562839.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_SlC01TaLX0/VcNL4hEuoGI/AAAAAAAAEN4/UZClVB7on54/s640/blogger-image-2117251863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_SlC01TaLX0/VcNL4hEuoGI/AAAAAAAAEN4/UZClVB7on54/s640/blogger-image-2117251863.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Who can resist bubble wrap, not us, that's for sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ingredients needed - the buddies, paint, paper, sticky tape and bubble wrap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Outside is a must too, unless you're happy to redecorate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One buddy was eager for the foot wrapping, one very reluctant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Once feet were covered, paint slathered on, we let them go, jumping, hopping, stamping and popping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Giggles filled the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next we did hands, one hand covered and one free for the buddies to let loose themselves, filling their bubble wrapped mitten with colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They covered the paper vigorously to create louder and louder pops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a physical activity, with the buddies enjoying the sensations of tickling ( from applying the paint ) joyful movement and the physics of applying pressure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With the last piece of bubble wrap laid on the ground for them to paint with brushes, they both, having enjoying being loud and exuberant became contemplative, thinking carefully about colour choices, design and working independently, while having an unspoken agreement to meet in the middle of the bubble wrap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Paper was placed on their designs and both enjoyed a final jump to pop the last of the bubbles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a fun hour, with minimal assistance from us, after the initial wrap and taping of the feet and the first application of paint, the buddies took control.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Have to hand, bowl of warm, soapy water ( or garden hose ) and towel for clean up operation.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-65381559297945085832015-08-05T04:14:00.001-07:002015-08-05T04:14:00.513-07:00Its done - Yarn AlongJoining in with Ginny <div>http://www.gsheller.com</div><div>Weekly sharing of a book and a knit.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GO8upwz-RIo/VcHv9o_7CNI/AAAAAAAAENg/7ghYgf6K6JM/s640/blogger-image-1800385334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GO8upwz-RIo/VcHv9o_7CNI/AAAAAAAAENg/7ghYgf6K6JM/s640/blogger-image-1800385334.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Guernsey is off the needles, ends sewn in and buttons on, oh those buttons, just the cutest things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some adjustments to the pattern, seed stitch rather than rib to end of sleeves and waist, seemed far more in keeping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Still love the softness of the Rowan cotton, the colour and stitch definition but it splits,catches and pulls a lot, maybe not a yarn I'd choose again, ah, cotton and I, just not a happy mix.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Enid Blyton, Children of Willow Farm is coming to an end, suplimented with endless piles of Julia Donaldson, Mick Inkpen and all those good reads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Me, I'm same author ( Lee Child ) different Jack Reacher tale of adventure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy days.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-78365770425793882472015-08-04T08:33:00.001-07:002015-08-04T10:06:28.726-07:00ArtWhat a great week of art, a free on-line course with video tutorials, nothing fancy needed - paper, pencils and paint and around 30 minutes of your time.<br>
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http://carlasonheim.blogs.com/kids_art_week/<br>
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nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-52071846313760541862015-08-03T10:07:00.001-07:002015-08-03T10:07:33.853-07:00Tomatoes<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yZETWdCZBrQ/Vb-fslLBUJI/AAAAAAAAEIA/Z1dSQGTRvkM/s640/blogger-image-1885184303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yZETWdCZBrQ/Vb-fslLBUJI/AAAAAAAAEIA/Z1dSQGTRvkM/s640/blogger-image-1885184303.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KPAtTxhotnA/Vb-fulBvadI/AAAAAAAAEII/MBdzUGYQC2Y/s640/blogger-image--915707592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KPAtTxhotnA/Vb-fulBvadI/AAAAAAAAEII/MBdzUGYQC2Y/s640/blogger-image--915707592.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wWhbeFYv1lk/Vb-fwip5okI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/zeM66F0dipg/s640/blogger-image--1709278702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wWhbeFYv1lk/Vb-fwip5okI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/zeM66F0dipg/s640/blogger-image--1709278702.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1wrgOoBktF4/Vb-fyvknAdI/AAAAAAAAEIY/h8wVLG6iJI0/s640/blogger-image--1665776878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1wrgOoBktF4/Vb-fyvknAdI/AAAAAAAAEIY/h8wVLG6iJI0/s640/blogger-image--1665776878.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e5cEPYNOObs/Vb-f05TgwiI/AAAAAAAAEIg/SUQZIpOY6FI/s640/blogger-image--2114176098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e5cEPYNOObs/Vb-f05TgwiI/AAAAAAAAEIg/SUQZIpOY6FI/s640/blogger-image--2114176098.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's very green in the greenhouse, plants heavy with vines of tomatoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I spied, exactly one ripe, red, ready to eat fruit today, there has been the odd one or two more over the last few weeks but not the baskets and baskets full, I'm ready and waiting for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The garden plants are equally green with less fruit, apart from a variety with black tomatoes, which seems to be enjoying the mix of frequent rain, occasional sun we are having this Summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Plannings of roasting, freezing and dehydrating, along with slicing and eating are on stand-by while we wait, hopefully for some days of sunshine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have grown tomatoes each year, like my Dad and my Grand Fathers, long before we had a greenhouse, before we even had a garden, grow bags, a sunny wall and young, leafy tomato plants (have never done well with seeds ) in the tiny, back yard of our first house, did fine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Green tomato chutney is all well and good, with the final fruits of the season but I'd rather be roasting with garlic, making salsa or simply slicing onto sourdough bread, spread with butter and sprinkled with salt than bottling and pickling these beauties.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bring on the sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-20042274956804693422015-07-31T05:34:00.000-07:002015-07-31T11:11:20.699-07:00January - June KnittingIt doesn't feel as though my needles have been that productive this year and yet when I looked back over the photos, I found quite a selection.<br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My stack of dishcloths have been replenished, severel tiny, new babe knits have been made.</span></div>
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Socks and leg warmers for a friend's little girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hand spun, cotton, sock yarn, stripes, plain, old patterns, much loved and new ones have been used.</div>
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nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-59173108630735849482015-07-30T09:46:00.000-07:002015-07-29T23:57:54.901-07:00Thursdays with The Buddies<div>
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I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">think we'd be ok to call ourselves, seasoned home educators, enough years under our belts, paper mâché works of art, boxes of pictures, ticket stubs and pond dipping sessions attended to be the real deal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">By no means experts, mistakes aplenty, disasters, triumphs and glitter crusted carpets are us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Denise - This will be our 14th year of learning at home, what began with Lewis at 7, taken out of school for a break, followed with Katie and Oscar never attending school.</span></div>
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Lewis, 21 and Katie, 17 now at University and college both decided to go to school in their teens.<br />
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Do we unschool ? Maybe</div>
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Are we project based learners ? Sometimes</div>
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Workbook Users ? Occasionally</div>
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Times tables, curriculum, hours of school time, test taking ? No, we are definitely not.</div>
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We learn at home, Oscar and I, by doing, seeing, listening, investigating, making and play, lots of play.</div>
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Our weeks flow, nothing much fixed firmly, plenty of time and space for all that life has to offer.</div>
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But Thursday, Thursdays are different, Thursdays we have a long standing date with our buddies, Jack and Susan.</div>
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And those are days full of adventure.</div>
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Susan - <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We are a family of 5, 2 adults and 3 children, living in a very rural area. Our 2 oldest children chose to go to school for the first time when they reached age 14 so for the last 2 years Jack remains the only one being home educated. This has allowed Jack to really establish his own pace and rhythm and way of processing things. We learn, discover, repeat and develop together throughout the week of play, music, talking, watching and doing. Ok so there's the necessity of frequent medical appointments and treatments but Jack isn't being taken out of education to attend them, they're just a part of the overall week.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We'd love to start sharing our adventures here, each Thursday.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our Paddington Bear days, gardening and play days, making, cooking and sharing days, days out and days in, Book Sharing days, holidays, festivals and fun days.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These Buddies are our greatest teachers and sometimes we teach them.</span></div>
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<br />nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-4327044195317159532015-07-29T05:10:00.001-07:002015-07-29T05:10:52.842-07:00Guernsey - Yarn AlongJoining in with http://www.gsheller.com<div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1V8jcTYtbIs/VbjCyaSFCbI/AAAAAAAAEFY/GxKiBZJR5M0/s640/blogger-image-1108662951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1V8jcTYtbIs/VbjCyaSFCbI/AAAAAAAAEFY/GxKiBZJR5M0/s640/blogger-image-1108662951.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Things have stepped up a gear since last weeks dishcloths, this cold weather will do that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Over the weekend, I wore not one but two pairs of wool socks, layers of tops, cardis and jumpers, topped with a waterproof coat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were at a festival, Underneath the Stars in Yorkshire but seriously it's nearly August, I was freezing and we weren't even camping ( hotel with beds, bath, shower and cooked breakfast )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I cast on f.pea's organic guernsey just before we left and knit on it solidly over the weekend, sitting in the big top, listening to the delights of Eddi Reader, Kate Rusby and more, while dodging the rain showers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Coming up to the end of the first ball of Rowan Luxury Cotton, DK, I finally succumbed to what had niggled me from dividing for the sleeves ( this is a top down, free pattern ) it looked too small, way too small.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I ripped back, right back and cast on for 12months instead of the 6, so pleased I did, loving how it's looking now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yarn is wonderful, soft and the colour is a summery apple mint delight, I'm not normally a cotton fan but this has won me over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Total childhood flashbacks, reading Enid Blyton to Oscar, my days were filled with Famous Five and Secret Seven, this gentle tale of life for four town children, recently moved to a farm is a summer reading delight, even if the weather isn't playing ball.</div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-26100812187959386142015-07-27T09:38:00.001-07:002015-07-28T01:29:44.196-07:00Strawberries<br />
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For years we enjoyed tiny little alpine strawberries from our garden, plants bought on a day out, planted in a pot and savoured each summer.</div>
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Then the chickens found them !</div>
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Those tiny, sweet bursts of goodness, didn't stand a chance, fruit, leaves, plant and roots, totally wiped out.</div>
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New plants, different variety, full sized beauties, new position in the garden, raised bed in fenced off vegatable patch has produce plump, juicy treats and lots of them.</div>
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The harvest has been good and looks to last for a couple more croppings at least.</div>
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Mostly enjoyed fresh from the picking, I have however managed 3 pots of rhubarb, strawberry and vanilla jam and strawberry and mint cordial, some in the fridge and some in the freezer for instant sunshine in the depths of winter.</div>
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nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-62323499955582076602015-07-24T01:37:00.001-07:002015-07-24T01:37:13.635-07:00Handful<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YCgkSZM9yyA/VbH5N0OkeBI/AAAAAAAAEEY/A_5gY29SEA0/s640/blogger-image-919845859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YCgkSZM9yyA/VbH5N0OkeBI/AAAAAAAAEEY/A_5gY29SEA0/s640/blogger-image-919845859.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Joining in today with This Moment http://www.soulemama.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-33905030014473661342015-07-22T13:35:00.000-07:002015-07-22T06:36:24.535-07:00Dishcloths - Yarn AlongJoining in today with Ginny over at http://www.gsheller.com<br />
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Books and Knitting, knitting and books, these are a few of many favourite things.</div>
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I've hit my annual mid-summer slump of knitting, where every project cast on is wrong for one reason or another and ends up ripped back and discarded.</div>
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An almost finished Griffin vest for O was taken apart and abandoned due to a yarn join, right in the middle of the front, that bothered me so much it had to go, not content with taking it back to the join, I kept winding until all the yarn was back in balls and stored a way for another time.</div>
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It's not that the weather is hot, this is the UK after all, it's muggy, windy, showers and full on rainy, sunny, not so much, it's just not, well, autumn, winter, cosy, fireside, soup kind of proper knitting project time.</div>
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So dishcloths it is, because I certainly can't be without needles and yarn.</div>
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Cotton is perfect, bright, fun colours, pops of yellow, blue, orange and dishcloths, just the right size for an afternoon or evening, in the garden, watching a movie or listening to the rain.</div>
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No thought provoking, summer reading classic, just a fast paced, action filled thriller by my bedside.</div>
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This is my fourth Jack Reacher novel and I don't feel quite done with him yet, his time will come, I'm sure, I have a habit of binging on authors, Patricia Cornwell, Faye Kellerman, Kathy Reichs, only to grow fed up with the same old, same, still good while it lasts.</div>
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nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-8131635678867610222015-07-21T05:33:00.001-07:002015-07-21T05:33:52.243-07:00Potatoes<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Sl3mz4dzT4/Va48EETeXhI/AAAAAAAAEBo/i8kCUumaOEs/s640/blogger-image-557888656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Sl3mz4dzT4/Va48EETeXhI/AAAAAAAAEBo/i8kCUumaOEs/s640/blogger-image-557888656.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mX6iVQYD0aw/Va48H6kK4CI/AAAAAAAAEB4/DxBGXvdEQ3Y/s640/blogger-image-143428145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mX6iVQYD0aw/Va48H6kK4CI/AAAAAAAAEB4/DxBGXvdEQ3Y/s640/blogger-image-143428145.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kbd7_QyDIoo/Va48F_e4GFI/AAAAAAAAEBw/qQoNnknvTAY/s640/blogger-image-1918676433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kbd7_QyDIoo/Va48F_e4GFI/AAAAAAAAEBw/qQoNnknvTAY/s640/blogger-image-1918676433.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LymIb82gLMU/Va48LipYfOI/AAAAAAAAECI/qx9BoZ7qzQI/s640/blogger-image-190069118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LymIb82gLMU/Va48LipYfOI/AAAAAAAAECI/qx9BoZ7qzQI/s640/blogger-image-190069118.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OZOnS3fBztE/Va48Jm-v9OI/AAAAAAAAECA/jdZUIYI3HCo/s640/blogger-image--1362694113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OZOnS3fBztE/Va48Jm-v9OI/AAAAAAAAECA/jdZUIYI3HCo/s640/blogger-image--1362694113.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0jOY2Nq0YYI/Va48ASBzhMI/AAAAAAAAEBY/z--rLq8m4Yk/s640/blogger-image--1045836449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0jOY2Nq0YYI/Va48ASBzhMI/AAAAAAAAEBY/z--rLq8m4Yk/s640/blogger-image--1045836449.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2HVTDyifAFA/Va48CIHnENI/AAAAAAAAEBg/229fDxSKZeI/s640/blogger-image--1682118509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2HVTDyifAFA/Va48CIHnENI/AAAAAAAAEBg/229fDxSKZeI/s640/blogger-image--1682118509.jpg"></a></div>nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628396699159096638.post-5272756896846658202015-07-20T23:54:00.000-07:002015-07-20T00:35:32.427-07:00Nest<br />
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She made her nest right outside my kitchen window, nestled tightly against the wall, tucked in the yellow rose bush. She had collected straw from the chickens, plastic tape from somewhere, ribbon, paper and a whole load of stuff from somewhere else. She had woven, tucked and tended and created a masterpiece, ready for her babies.</div>
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Our relationship got off to a very difficult start, this Mama and me, she darted off whenever I was near, no time to chat, no time to get to know each other, no chance of letting her know I wanted to be her friend.</div>
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Slowly and I've no doubt the mealworms, I left out, played a huge part, we became friends, she was less inclined to fly away or snuggle down deeper over her brood.</div>
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We began to chat, she listened to me singalong to the radio, watched me hanging out the laundry and collect it in, she accepted me being around.</div>
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She began calling when I was in the garden, like a neighbour over the garden fence, I would wish her Good Morning, ask after her health, all with a smile.</div>
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Like any proud Mama, she was eager to show off her babies when they hatched and I was excited and extremely honoured to see them.</div>
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Such a delight, we all began to take time wishing her well, cooing and making all the normal new baby remarks.</div>
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She preened and fussed, flying in and out with meals, we saw more and more of her two babies as they grew, bulging out of the nest, demanding food and plenty of it.</div>
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Then came the wing stretching, the sitting on the very edge of the nest and at this point, we knew our days of having these beautiful, new neighbours were numbered.</div>
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Saturday was a long day away from home, while we visited with K, laughed, swam and enjoyed time together, that wonderful Mama and her two children moved out.</div>
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We came home to an empty nest. </div>
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Our own nest is emptying with L ( 21 next month ) still in Leeds, now living with his girlfriend and K (17) out of hospital and doing very well, in a supported living placement near Manchester.</div>
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Thankfully, O with his nearly 8 year old zest for life and all it has to offer, fills our nest to bursting.</div>
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nocton4http://www.blogger.com/profile/05201679860305222357noreply@blogger.com5