Outside In The Afternoon

In the afternoons, of late, Tiny and I have been making hay while the sun shines and getting our art on.

This means we arm ourselves with a wad of paper and a clutch full of textas, head outside to our grotty but ever so-cool table (that I coincidentally found on the side of the road) and draw the sunlight away.

And every so often I click through a row of stitches.

This is Matt's scarf that's been in the works since last year. At this rate I will be churning out a scarf a year? Yep. Seems that way. I am sloooow.

Lying Under The Trees, On The Grass

Lying on the grass, underneath a huge old oak tree, listening to the smalls playing. The Doctor and Matt climbing the branches, negotiating each carefully, and Tiny, she just runs away, to the bandstand, back she goes, climbing those stairs. And I lie on the grassy green, enjoying a spectacular Spring-ish day. This is life. This is living.

It's Me: Day 6

It's such a blissful day today. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The smalls are happy. The mama's happy. Parenting when the sun is shining is so much easier than on grey days when you're locked in the house and then cabin fever sets in. I tend to go a little barmy. Perhaps even more than a little. Perhaps I go tres barmy when I have cabin fever.

Today I feel like a snake that's shedding it's skin. No need for too many layers. I am a big fat snake in the sunshine. Stitching. And while I know snakes can't stitch for lack of hands, I am sure it's not through lack of trying.

So today we're clocking up time in the sun. A 2002 UK study revealed that eight-year-olds could easily identify Pokemon characters far more easily than they could name "otter, beetle, and oak tree." Scary huh? Get into the sun people! Enjoy nature peeps! Pokemon are for... I don't know. We're not into Pokemon. Phew.

Day 6. Four days to go. I need to pull out the big stops from here on in.

PS - The Doctor took a hilarious series of shots this afternoon of me - right after he photographed the lavender. Apparently it needed a photo too. My photos - totally unflattering, funny nonetheless. Totally untouched, just for the record.

Spider Hunter

Lately we've been enjoying getting out and about and feeling the crisp Autumn air on our fresh little faces. The smalls and I have been going walking and park-ing (not to be confused with parkour). When those to-do lists are getting to hideous to conquer, it's so good to be out and.. spider hunting!

Have you noticed the spiders wrapping up their food parcels? The big fat spiders are all about the place around our 'hood. We look for the biggest to point out on our walks. Sounds a little boring. Perhaps a little weird? Trust me, those webs are magical. When caught in the sunlight, incredible.

We've also been enjoying crunching the Autumn leaves underfoot. Tiny's been learning to listen for the birds. The Doctor's been mastering the fine art of scootering. I've been enjoying some greenery and some thinking time (don't worry, it's not been hurting too much).

Please note: The Doctor doesn't usually wear a helmet on the swing. Only for extreme stunt purposes.

Kiddie Craft:: Spring-time Butterflies

I know you already know how to make these. I'm safely assuming this because everyone at some stage in their childhood has made these deliciously easy, and utterly satisfying butterflies. Yesterday we spent the good part of an hour squishing them out to discover new breeds of the pretties.

All you need:

- paint (non-toxic)

- spoons so the little one can dollop on big fat, shiny globs of paint

- lotsa lotsa paper

- fingers for squishing out the butterflies

I trust you don't need instructions. Wing it. Pun absolutely and definitely intended. If you do need instructions, email me. I'll craft some up for you. Boom! Boom! Pun really ridiculously intended again. Sorry. Tough crowd tonight.

What We're Doing Today

It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The spiders are where they should be - anywhere but close to me. The babies are cooing. The toddlers are toddling. Isn't Spring the bomb?

Today we're outside. Lapping up the sunshine. Letting the warmth warm up our spirits. We're building cubbyhouses out of old sheets, having a tea party. Loving the sunshine! Happy weekends ahoy!