Saturday Morning Drum Roll

Back in the Garden

Opening up the sand pit was like unearthing new treasures for O and the girls, were very interested too.

Sunshine, seeds planted and soil beneath my nails, heaven.

Taking the time to ....

Play.

This Morning's Work.

Nature Treasure Boxes

O's decorated treasure box.

An adventure to our friend's lovely wood to fill it, with things from nature ( mmm orange is abit doubtful ! ) matching up the colours painted at the bottom of each section.

Leaves, berries, wild plums ... the wood was a larder of treasures.

We looked at soft and hard, smooth and spikey.

O at nearly 3, loved this activity, chasing round the wood to find his goodies, so very proud when he had found all the sections.

Inspired by the lovely Kelly and her boys http://freeflowingways.blogspot.com/

Working at The Car Wash

You might not ever get rich.

But let me tell ya it's better that diggin' a ditch.

There ain't no tellin' who ya might meet.

A movie star or may be even an Indian Chief.

(Workin' at the) car wash.

Workin' at the car wash yeah !

Come on and sing it with me car wash.

Get with the feelin' y'all car wash yeah.

Come summer the work gets kind a hard

This ain't no place to be if ya planned on being a star.

Let me tell you it's always cool

And the boss don't mind sometimes if ya act a fool.

At the car wash

Talkin' about the car wash yeah!

Come on and sing it for me car wash.

Car wash yeah!

(Work and work) Well those cars never seem to stop comin'.

(Work and work) Keep those rags and machines hummin'

(Work and work) my fingers to the bone

(Work) at five I can't wait 'til it's time to go home

Hey

get your car washed today.

Fill up and you don't have to pay.

Come on and give us a play.

Get a wash right away.

Car wash

talkin' about the car wash yeah!

Woo car wash
Those cars never seems to stop comin'

Well

I say

Keep those rags and machines hummin'

This week has been full of ....

the very best pizza making with the very best of friends,

body art,

jammin' with the grooviest dudes in town,

delighting in the growing garden

and harvesting.

The Bean House Grows and Grows

An idea,inspiration from friends ( am I too forward to call you a friend Sharon, hope not x )

http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2010/04/sunflower-houses-30-days-of-beauty-29.html

Less than a month ago, still new, still patchy but with so much promise.

http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2010/06/in-garden.html

And now, a garden delight, a mix of Sunflowers, growing tall, nearly touching the sky, French Beans and Runner Beans, providing cover, tangling their way up the poles, stunning red flowers, Sweet Peas, so fragrant, rainbow colours, so gorgeous and yet to show their smiling heads, Calandula ... a surprise to come.

A carpet of woodbark at his feet, a chair to sit on and view his kingdom from, O is a happy boy.

Make plans for this project next year, you will not be disappointed.

In the Garden

We have been enjoying every bit of weather gifted to us recently, from searing hot sun to long days of rain to thunder and lightening storms that have lasted hours, keeping everyone awake into the small hours.

I dared to dance a brief naked salute to the Goddess in one of these storms, hoping the darkening sky would hide me from my neighbours. I was repaid with a wonderful feeling of lightness, wellness and content.

The garden is booming from this warm rain, the broad beans, cabbage, lettuce, beans, courgettes, pumpkins and so many other goodies are growing before our eyes, snaking up sticks, spreading across the earth and looking so wonderfully healthy and happy.

O delights in the mud, building, creating and digging, lining toys up for mud moving duties that keep him busy for hours, days.He is covered at the end of these mammoth sessions, his hands thick with earth, his clothes barely visible beneath such a thick coating but his smile is huge, beaming through the muck, his eyes sparkle, his lessons from Mother Earth learnt.

Busy with Grandad

While his elder brother struggles on with GCSEs full of cold, fever and sore throat ... O enjoys his days in the garden, busy with Grandad, always a job to do and always to do together.

Funny seeing this picture, as O has now had his hair cut and looks a different boy.

Play Trays

Our play tray ( actually a cat litter tray, bought very cheaply ) has provided endless fun, we have used it to grow cress, for indoor mud play, cooking fun with dried beans, rice etc and beach play with coloured sand, shells, nets and rakes.
A lovely treat on a rainy afternoon, to find the tray set up and covered over with a cloth ... what fun is hiding underneath.

Picnic Play

This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.

To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.

Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/

Sunflower Houses & 30 Days of Beauty : 29

Our new garden project has been inspired by the wonderful book Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy, her lovely blog is here

http://sharonlovejoy.blogspot.com/ and spurred on further by this lovely bloggers post http://downinthemeadow.blogspot.com/2008/11/sunflower-house.html

A sunflower house for O, a secret place for summer days, to cool down, to play, a spot for lunch, a special place to be with friends.

We set pots out in a circle with a tepee of canes and cord for the plants to climb up.

Each pot has a sunflower and plenty of sweet peas.

We plan to add pots of runner beans to add cover and edible treats to hand.

The foundations are laid with rich compost for the plants to grow, now we hope with lots of love and care, plenty of help from Mother Nature and a good mix of both sun and rain, our Sunflower House will be blooming soon.

Moving in before it's finished.

Number 29 in my 30 Days of Beauty, our salad bed, nearly ready for a first picking.

Digging with Grandad

Happy days in the garden with Grandad.

Days of digging, collecting piles of stones, finding worms and much laughter.

A wheel-barrow each, side by side, this boy and his Grand, are joined at the hip.

Conversations, questions and answers, silliness.

Times to truly treasure.

Wonderful giveaway over at Eileen's
http://eileensplace.blogspot.com/2010/04/earth-day-giveaway-free-may-childcare.html

Be lucky x