Show and Tell

1. Post-show Morgan
2. Moon
3. Colour wheel
4. Outdoor sisters
5. Grandma
6. Knitting
7. Tali ("Kitty lie down me kitchen!" Also, she totally has a little chocolatey beard from "helping" to make truffles. The baby, not the cat.)

Yes, not really over seven days, just a sample of our week. :)

Touching Base

Quaker stripes, growing.



Creative play, spreading across the floor.



Chatting, sitting, learning, building, side by side Minecrafting with Morgan.



A Rowan with her little purse, singing a song about baby's day.



Dressing up, and dancing, as always.



A program about Penguins to watch, and a funny baby bringing some to me as I knit.



Mean kitty, scritching. Sweet sad baby, snuggling.

Compass points and grid references, Ariadne's string, playing at libraries, skateboarding in the muddy garden, baking a banana loaf and eating it, symmetry play and mandalas. Toddler trying to colour in a dining chair, slicing carrots for snack times and sorting all the story books. A four year old making letter shapes with tree blocks, and a nine year old reading stories from South America. Anime and Asgard and The Lorax and planning for Chinese New Year.

Connecting, playing together. Going with the flow.

Just another home day.

This Toddler

This toddler...

...flings herself head first off furniture and anything else she can climb.

...shouts "two, two THREE!" in warning that she is about to try something dangerous.

...is instantly totally devoted to any animal she meets. Especially my mum's scaredy rescue dog Lucy, and our obnoxious guard-cat Izzy.





...brings life to a halt by climbing in to my lap and shouting BOOOOB when she is tired.

...likes snippy scissors, which we have a hell of a time keeping out of her way. This week she snipped the back cover out of one of our Horrible History books.

...says, "oh sheet" when she breaks something. (Oops.)





...climbs in to my bed at an unmentionable time of the morning and stays there snuggled up until she hears her preferred entertainment downstairs (sisters). Sometimes she even climbs on to their bunks and shouts at them to WAKE UP until they pay her attention.

...cries for Jenna any time Jenna goes out, or any time she doesn't hear her calling. Big sisters are better than mummy for hand holding on long walks, especially.

...eats more macaroni cheese than any of the adults in the family.

...has favourite favourite toys including: Jenna's doll, Rowan's rainbow dash pony, Jenna's miniature Daleks, and my knitting needles.

...is still babied and adored by all of us (of course). :)

Seven Days - colour, and that cheeky baby

1. Watching a spider eating
2. Bubba has a drink
3. Yarn love
4. Best toy in the world
5. Best friends
6. Blue skies over Cathedral Green
7. Craft stall

Daybook when simplicity is pleasing and easy

Outside my window the sun is very bright, but the air is cold and fresh and there has been a light misting of rain on and off through the day. It has been a day for wandering in the garden, where the vegetable plot is looking wonderful in spite of only three beans coming up and the cat digging up the onions (EVERY year, honestly).

I am thinking it's time to go collect my two biggest girls from their mid-week club at the Church on the corner.

I am thankful for afternoon baby nap times, beautiful fluorescent yarn, being friends with my daughters, my mum's dog sitting contentedly on my feet, and popcorn.

In the kitchen there is still some paintwork left to be finished (the bits I can't reach without the step ladder, which is a terrible idea during the hours I'm in sole charge of the little ones). We have too many plug sockets - having lived for so so long with just two! The only annoyance right now is that my scales have gone missing in the great moving of boxes and it's slowing up a yarn order (and means I can't easily bake).

I am creating toddler socks - red cabled toddler socks. I have made several mistakes in the cable and lace, but I'm guessing my littlest won't notice or care, and I'm not having the kind of week that allows for perfectionism. :)

I am going to the Arboretum to meet friends this week. That's my grand plan for getting us out and about at least one more day this week without spending money!

I am wondering whether it would not have been wiser to make more cookies this afternoon when we made one giant cinnamon cookie to share. I could happily consume more cookie about now. I am also wondering whether my children are going to start showing chicken pox or not, as today is day 16 since exposure and I've conscientiously kept them away from baby and toddler groups for two weeks now.

I am reading Mirror Wakes (the second Laenan Kite book) and not getting far, with all the distractions. I can't complain, I've read two other books this week from cover to cover (mostly by staying up later than is truly sensible because I couldn't bear to put them down).

I am hoping that I can arrange some more opportunities for the children to see friends, as our restricted outings have left Jenna feeling a little lonely. My little extreme extravert...

I am looking forward to a big squishy parcel of sparkly sock yarn for dyeing. :)

I am learning, oh, quite a few things this week. Some Morse code, some 16th century history, some Norse mythology, and techniques for sock knitting and knitted amigurumi.

Around the house: the cat and the dog are warily watching each other now, uncomfortable companions while my mum is having building work done.

Morgan is emptying Jenna's leather satchel on to the floor (I'm sure that will please her sister!) and Rowan is sitting in the middle of the living room wearing only grey spotty tights. She has a crispie cake the big ones brought her back from their club. Talia is pressing the on/off button on the playstation. Excuse me while I go and remove her!

The spinning wheel in the corner of my bedroom is getting a few minutes' use every day as I figure out tension and start to figure out a good treadling speed.

I am pondering this quote from the Radical Unschooling group: "If you can only see the obstacles, then your journey won't be easy. Be like the water, finding its way around the rocks. See the openings, the possibilities." (Robin Bentley)

One of my favourite things is peanut and salted caramel ice cream. If I have just introduced you to this concept, I am *very* sorry. ;)

A peek into my day:







The Simple Woman's Daybook

Seven Days - still the choas

1. Keeping out of the builders' way
2. Helping hands
3. Dandelion experiments
4. Space! (And a floor!)
5. Asleep with a friend
6. Getting shoes on to go out
7. Natural History connections

Week in Pictures - quick-growing

1. Painting
2. Fish
3. Growing so fast!
4. Fern
5. Carrots
6. Friends

Daybook when life is busy but sunny...

Outside my window - the sun is shining brightly, lighting the contorted branches of the willow tree with silver and gold. Shrieks and laughter from the children filter into the house as they put on a show on their "stage" (an old blue-painted pallet). Even the little one is running around out there with them, wearing a purple knit pleated skirt and an orange tie dye tshirt. Her fuzzy blonde hair toddles in and out of view as I stand in the kitchen with one eye on the peach muffins in the oven.

I am thinking - how necessary it is for children to get to know and love an animal. It's such a blessing to have my mum's dogs staying again. Talia hugs Lucy-dog soundly, and Lucy comes to her when she calls. (Tali calls both dogs "AMA!" but Lucy doesn't seem to mind.)

I am thankful - for the perfect golden glow of this morning, and the smell of earth, and the promise of Spring.

I am wearing - brown yoga pants and a black dress with a paint mark on it. It's that kind of day. I have my hair tied back because there wasn't time to wash it this morning. I feel slightly grey, and very sleep deprived. The first and major impact of the baby sleeping through for a few nights is that when she doesn't it feels *so much worse* than it ever did when she was waking every night!

I am creating - a blue cotton knitted cowl. I need to get on with gnomes. I'm procrastinating.

I am going - to spend this afternoon creating chaos and colour with the children. We took a magical walk in the woods this morning before Martin went to work, so beautiful and peaceful, and we were lucky enough to spot two woodpeckers (and a robin, though that was hardly an achievement since he sat on the path practically where we'd step on him, showing off and singing his heart out)! It's tempting to let this afternoon slide into another nothing day, but I've had a bit of a nothing week and I need to plan some more fun stuff.  :)

I am wondering - why at certain ages there is nothing I can do to fill these girls up! Morgan just came to whine to me that she's SOO hungry and why is food taking "for ages"?

I am reading - The Ashes of Eden by William Shatner.  Don't judge.  ;)

I am hoping - all of the happy little parcels of colour I posted off early this morning speed their various ways to their new owners.  :)  (I am also hoping like crazy that the poor pathetic broken car doesn't give us any nasty surprises, the MOT is on Monday and the work that we know about will cost about £400.  *sigh*)

I am looking forward to - finally not having to worry one way or the other about getting the car through its MOT.

I am learning - how far it is possible to make basic storecupboard ingredients go in order to scrape together car repair money. I am quite sick of pasta. On the other hand, I've been baking quite a bit to use up flour and dried fruit and seeds and tinned fruit.

Around the house - the bedrooms are feeling fresh and comfortable, somehow this morning I woke up feeling rather energetic and did some yoga (!) before putting away two bags of laundry, tidying all the bedrooms, and changing all the bedding (yes, not surprising I feel a bit crashed out now). 

The living room looks pretty much the same way it usually does, with discarded coats and books, a dressing gown, a scattering of baby toys, a couple of bits of paper, all of the tipped-out crayons, a brick trolley, the rocking chair pulled out into the middle of the room, and the red tractor abandoned where Tali gave up pushing it up and down to go play with her sisters outside.

One of my favourite things - is hearing Jenna and Morgan read aloud to themselves, to each other, to me, and to the little ones.

A peek into my day - 


Simple Woman's Daybook

Daybook from a very ordinary home day

Outside my window: there are only so many words for "grey" to describe the early Spring sky on another damp and chilly day.  The cat presses her nose to the window - she won't come in, we're looking after my mum's dogs today and they are rather to interested in the cat for her own comfort.  I am awaiting  the rumble and clank of Martin's work van door slamming, telling me that he is home and our family time can begin.

I am thankful: for clean fresh water, Norse myths, a clean kitchen, small helping hands to fold laundry, cold breezes on our morning walk to the park, colourful journal pages, and warm socks!

In the kitchen: I earned myself some Good Mama points by baking breakfast muffins late last night for the girls to wake to this morning.  I wish I'd taken a picture.  They were absolutely the best muffins I've made to date.  

It's pancake day today and we've run out of lemon juice, and I take leave to doubt the likelihood of being able to get either lemons or non-metallic-tasting juice from the local shops.  

The tumble drier is humming away (I am still in frank admiration of the many large families who manage without one) and there is yarn hanging on the back of the door for want of anywhere more sensible to leave it to dry.

I am wearing: a very hippy purple dress with my green knitted tunic over the top, and a selection of colourful beaded bracelets.

I am creating: lots of little things to be finished...  I am not feeling the project love, really, today.  Last night I made a baby hat, enjoying the speed and ease of crocheting a familiar favourite pattern.  I'm quite enjoying knitting some little rainbow gnomes for a customer, but today I somehow can't concentrate on those.  I did get it into my head to knit Rowan a quick little tiny mouse, but can't find the right size needles!  Ah well.

I am going: to have to put the children's clothes away again.  It's not one of those jobs that feels particularly satisfying - I know it's work that will be swiftly, surely, and thoroughly undone almost before it's finished.  

Part of me is ready to have another proper cull and get rid of some things.  But with younger siblings growing into things so quickly, it often happens that something barely-worn will be a true favourite constantly-worn for the next child down.  I think I'm a natural hoarder, anyway, but I shy away from further attempts to reduce laundry by culling the wardrobes.

I am wondering: whether Talia is drawing in books again.  She is quietly sitting in her favourite corner, just out of sight from my chair, and I can hear a contended sighing and the rustle of pages turning...  No, she is in fact pen-free (for once) and is just happily "reading" a stack of picture books.

I am hoping: that the extra-careful food budget, using up of cupboard ingredients, and doubling of my weekly savings deposit, will actually result in us being able to repair the car to get it through its MOT at the end of the month.  I'm still trying not to think about it, really.

I am looking forward to: pancakes for tea.  A hug from my hard-working husband.  Sneaking in a bit more art play time standing at the kitchen worktop, hoarding my quiet moments (and my precious art supplies) covetously away from the treasured-but-demanding small children.  The daily reading-aloud of Harry Potter with my biggest girl at bedtime.

I am learning: more about Norse myths than my own initial interest ever carried me to (and enjoying it hugely).

Around the house: there is a large den made from three umbrellas and a chalk board taking up almost the entire playroom.  The girls have blankets and a little table under there, and have set up house.  Rowan is sitting in it right now with a small selection of her favourite soft toys - a velveteen rabbit, Morgan's old penguin (remember Baby?), the first Waldorf doll I ever made (seven years ago - her name is Lily and she is Jenna's), and a small grey toy cat.  Morgan is sulking in her bed reading a book; she and Jenna have had a falling out over something.

Jenna is now sitting with Talia, reading to her.  Talia tries to turn the pages too fast, and gets very cross when Jenna doesn't let her.  Talia is wearing a thick squishy red cardigan, and has her yellow bag with her - the dratted thing is rarely out of her little baby grasp today as she only got it yesterday.  It's a cheap kit bag with shopping centre advertising on it, a free gift we would rather have declined.  As usual with things I don't really actually want, the children adore it.

I am pondering: whether it might be possible to start getting the little ones ready for bed earlier even when their daddy is working late, because yesterday I got *so much done* after they all went off to bed early!  I don't like the idea of them missing out on seeing him in the evenings, but I did really need that quiet hour last night, and felt better for the preparation time today too.

One of my favourite things: is the rich chortle of this ticklish toddler, who comes to me with her baby arms raised and her face glowing with delight, asking me to poke her belly and play endless rounds of "Round and Round the Garden" while she squeals and whoops with joy.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Just Busy

What a week!  We seem to keep on doing this - these weeks of barely stopping for long enough to draw breath, weeks where I wonder where all those days went and how come we didn't get done any of the things I so earnestly intended.  I have yet to settle to that Autumnal drawing-down, that easing into Winter Warmth-seeking indoor comfort and rhythm.  Our year got stuck on Summer Doing!



We did museum open days and made friends with some owls.  We did mad science in the library and held snakes and made our own sherbet.  We painted, and read, and walked my mum's dogs.  We went to Legoland.  (Please remind me if I am ever crazy enough to attempt that again, just no.)



It's rather nice to know, though, that after spending a day largely just queueing, I do really enjoy my children's company.



"Purty fire!"  (As Rowan still calls it.)



Samhaim came around all over again.





Morgan made chocolate eclairs.



Lucy looked sorrowful every single time I caught her on the sofa.



Owl pellets were duly dissected and an impressive heap of rodent and small bird bones were discovered therein.



We had friends over and made train tracks and I didn't even get out of my PJs all day.  And I didn't get much of my knitting done, either.  Hours of companionable conversation, wrangling of toddlers, and mopping up spills.  We have awesome friends.



And that, I suppose, is my list of excuses for not being able to string together a decent paragraph, or in fact finish knitting my brother's birthday gift for tomorrow.  And it is also my list of reasons why my living room looks like it has never seen a vacuum cleaner - and co-incidentally why I have not written much this week.  I would love to say that next week we will slow down and I will breathe and dance and not look like a whirlwind of activity who has not had time to check her outfit for baby dinner "sharing" before she leaves the house...  It would only be a broken promise!

What a perfectly mad Autumn it has been here.  The drawing in of the dark is not overshadowing our bubble of happy just yet.  ;)