Celebrating Advent

With the teenagers in our home, showing a real apathy to the Yule time spirit, matched with a little 4 year old with mounting excitement,I am drawn to this time of advent, hoping a gentle daily mix of stories, crafts, activities and occasional treats, will help lead little O into the holidays with a real sense of time and that little by little some festive magic will soften those cynical teenage hearts.

Mincemeat has been made ( and tasted, hence the huge grin  )

Recipe from Family, Festivals and Food.

Not a drop of brandy was to be found in the house, so Cointreau stepped in to save the day.

And a real treat, first ever visit to the cinema, complete with ice cream ( pink of course )

Then home, to a warm fire, glow of candles, jacket potatoes for tea followed by stories.

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I am using http://naturalfamily.50megs.com/custom2_1.html as a wonderful resource for our celebrating.

Royal Wedding Celebrating

Street partying with friends.

Egg Fun

Blessings of the Season.

13

Another teenager in the house, my girl is growing up.

Gone are the gifts of toys and in come suitcases, clothes, cinema tickets and the hugest bunch of roses delivered to our door from a much loved God Father.

Then the Sun shone ....

so I swept and washed a floor,

changed the beds,



lit candles to welcome the returning light,

turned the cd up, just a bit louder,

danced,

cleaned and opened the windows,

opened the door and let the fresh, Spring air rush in, clearing away those Wintery corners,

hung washing out,

stood with my face to the sun and gave thanks.

Happy Samhain

Richest and brightest Blessings to all x

3

Back from an unplanned blog break.

Lots of living going on here, changes and transitions, growing and learning, herbal medicine walks and workshops, library visits ( to avoid those fines ! ) friends to play, concerts and most importantly a third birthday to celebrate.

Yes, my little O is 3.

We partied at the beach with special friends and lovely Grandparents, we danced in the waves and bbq'ed sausages and burgers for tea, ate Thomas the Tank Engine cake and knew deep in our hearts how very lucky we are.

Endings, New Beginnings and some Partying !

L's week -

Tuesday - GCSE results, all As & Bs ( with 1 C for History )

Wednesday - Enrol at College, A levels - English Lit, Law & Philosophy

Thursday - Head to Leeds Festival with friends http://www.leedsfestival.com/home/index.aspx

An amazing week, hard work rewarded and tickets for a festival that could have been made for him, all his favourite bands in one venue ( apart from Muse but he has tickets to see them in September )
He set off, early this morning with a huge back-pack stuffed with junk food, wellies and water proofs .. it's pouring down here and has been for days.
Last minute panic of too small tent, had no solution, so it will be cosy for 8 large lads plus gear !
Life and all it's lessons.

He is spreading his wings, testing them and finding them up to the task of flying, soaring, catching some warm currents to take him onto new adventures.

While, this Mama feels excited for him, there is also some knots of worry, some concern, the need to chase him back into the nest and hold him closer, tighter, just for a little while longer.

He is our firstborn, the first time N & I saw our love made visible, all of our hopes, dreams and promises in one 8lb bundle of joy.
He teaches us, tests us and makes us find resources we had no idea we had.
I have learnt so much about myself because of him.
He has my heart, now and always.

So,I blow my nose, wipe my teary eyes and await the stinky, muddy piles of washing he will bring home with a good stock pile of wash powder !

17

Another number to celebrate here.
Flowers, candles and a Chinese takeaway marked our 17th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
17 years with my love, my best friend and a wonderful Daddy to our children.
We are richly blessed.


And now another lucky number for someone .. chosen by a random number generator, number 11.
How I laughed when I checked to see who number 11 was, counting down the lovely comments to find
Twig and Toadstool said...
Wahoo!!!! That's a real accomplishment!!Count me in on the giveaway...we'd love to win your beautiful creations!!!

Having recently been so very lucky in winning T&T's amazing rainbow gnomes, this seemed very fitting.

A huge thanks for all your kind comments, blogging is great isn't it.

Happy Solstice.

Brightest Blessings to all.

Easter Fun

Plenty of fun, running round the garden finding lots of treats.

Then slices of this, just to top the sugar levels back up !

Time for a Spring Detox maybe ?

Shoebox Love

11 shoeboxes filled with special goodies = 11 happy children around the World.
http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

Thanks to all who came, drank tea, ate cake and brought a box full of Love.

Now He is 2 !

A cake made by one of his favourite people - Grandad B, filled with his favourite things - jam & cream, topped with his favourite fruit - strawberries and eaten while wearing his favourite top - Thomas the Tank Engine.
A good day.



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Thanks for the pumpkin hat love, pattern for those interested is found here
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/holpumpkinhat.htm
I knit using 2 strands of dk wool, makes for a sturdy, warmer hat,I like to blend a ball of red and one of orange.
Happy Knitting.

Proud Smiles

3 GCSE exams taken at 14 by L, resulting in 3 passes - A for English and 2 Bs for DT and Maths.

We are so very proud.

Heading off to The Mother Camp tomorrow with K & O, while L is off to Spain to celebrate with Grandma and Grandad ( alright for some ! )

A year of blogging

Just diggin' in the dirt. I have loved this first year of blogging, after reading other people's blogs for sooo long before taking the plunge myself, when I did it felt like a huge deal.

I have loved sharing the things that make me smile, life's simple, day-to-day events, the joy of family and friends.

I have loved your comments, reading each and every one and marvelling at hearing from old friends and loving making new ones, all so very special.

I have loved finding a space to remind myself that even at your lowest, when days are so very difficult, there really is something to smile about and share with others.

Thank you.
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O, K and I are heading off to HES FES tomorrow http://www.hesfes.co.uk/gpage6.html for a week but before packing up all our gear, I'd love to offer some small tokens of my thanks for sharing this space with me.
Please leave a comment, great to hear from old, treasured friends and wonderful to hear from you if you've never left a comment before. Will pick some winners on our return.

Mother Earth danced with us .. holding out her arms and welcoming us in.

The early signs of the earth warming.

Counting my Smiles

Today seems like a good time to " count my smiles "

Naughty giggles at Home Ed Drama Group with the other Mamas.

A fantastic Son through to the Regional Finals for Enterprise Week .... and boy has he come up with a good idea.

Sneaking out Circle Dancing tonight.

My wonderful "Mother Friends" ..... who are all just the Best.

A Husband returning from a week away in Africa, tomorrow ... counting down the hours.

These gorgeous Sunflowers sent from Emma & her wonderful family.

A new-to-Me bread maker ( I stupidly Freecycled mine and regretted it as the lady pulled out of our drive ! ) how happy was I to be offered another ... 2 loaves made and eaten so far.

Watching my incredible Daughter grow into a wonderful young Woman ... She's playing Eliza Scrooge in our Home Ed take on A Christmas Carol, fantastic.

New & old friendships ... all so very special.


A happy, healthy nursing Babe.

How blessed am I.

Our own Strictly Professional

K's awards for Ballroom and Latin .... didn't she do well !!!

A First Ever Birthday

O is 1.

1, it really doesn't seem possible that a whole year has passed, that Mother Earth has turned her wheel and 4 seasons have come and gone since his birth.

After the loss of our newborn daughter in March 2005, followed by a devastating miscarriage a year later, I began to believe our family was done and how incredibly lucky we were to have L and K in our lives.

How N and I found the courage to try again, I'll never know but the Goddess was with us and remained with us, as this Babe stayed and grew.

He came when he was ready, not listening to any due dates or any plans we had made, 4 weeks early.

The silence at his birth was killing us, until the midwife asked for quiet .. " listen" she said, as newborn cries filled the room ... our hearts exploded .. he was here with us, safe and well, who could ask for more.

Celebrating a year of wonder, at the beach.

Thanking the Universe for such a precious child and the Universe responded with pure beauty.

Happy 14th

1. He use to love Postman Pat and Fireman Sam now it's Top Gear, Life on Mars and Torchwood.
2. His grasp on current affairs leaves me standing.
3. He is very handsome.
4. He is a very proud Army Cadet.
5. He loves cheesecake ( esp. Mama-Made )
6. He wants to drive an Aston Martin.
7. He is a great older brother.
8. He enjoys History, Science and Geography.
9. He dries up without being asked ( and makes his bed )
10. He sponsors a killer whale called Arrow.
11. His taste in music is fairly good !
12. He reads alot.
13. He is an adored Grand Son.
14. He makes me smile .... alot.
    

Baking the cheesecake to celebrate.

Hats to say Happy Birthday my Darling Son and to warm some little heads that they might know 14 years and more of happiness.

I Love You L.

Hat total - 10