Camp GP

Home for a few precious, stormy, sunny, ridiculously beautiful, communal days.
And this was home in the daytimes, when the rain poured down (and down).
We cooked communal meals on Joxy's tripod over the fire pit, or huddled inside on several little gas stoves, and everything was shared and delicious. I must have buttered three entire loaves for "starving" children, running around in the cold giving them even more appetite than usual.
Apart from regular feeding, the children really didn't want our input. They had friends, and freedom, and wild open spaces, and the shelter when it was too hot or too cold for them.
Milk-blissed baby slept wonderfully, snuggled in the crook of my elbow, with her little sock-hat on her head to keep her warm.



In the bitterly cold downpour of Sunday, we huddled in the car for a while, until I could feel my feet again. There was talk of going home in the morning, though none of us wanted to. And still the rain went on. My husband went to the nearest shop to try to get some wellies for me.
Life was better with warm feet.
Wroxeter Roman playground ;) kept our spirits up. Though I lost my children and ended up crying and shouting by turns when I found them in the gift shop opening sweeties. I had been waiting outside the toilets for them to come out!





What's the time Mr Wolf?

Jacqui's birthday and SUN!

When she wasn't sleeping, Tali crawled around the group scavenging food.  Baby face down in a plate of noodles, om nom nom.  What can you do with a baby like that?

We all hate saying goodbye. It's far too final a word to say to such dear dear friends and soul sisters. It has even taken me longer to post, because I knew I'd just sit here wanting to come back.
(Sleepy Morgan is chirpy and sweet. Sleepy Rowan is pouty and cross!)
Civilisation has its perks. Warm dry beds, and baths, for example. But in my mind there is nothing half so civilised and civilising than sitting around eating a leisurely shared meal with friends. In a field, with the horse flies biting and the storm kettle refusing to light, and all.

Quirky

I have been sneaking a few pictures of my funny bright wild Jenna's style.  (So, I played with the photo editor too.  Sue me.  It's fun!)

What seven year old chooses to go out in a grey boy's jacket and thigh-high dayglo socks?  Oh.  Yes.  Mine.

She told me the other day that most of her friends wear sensible grown-up clothes, but that's fine because it suits them.  She also said that sometimes she wants to fit in and wishes she was just the same as everyone else, but any time she gets to choose clothes she can't help liking the bright fun stuff!

You small people who know your own mind, speak from your heart, do what you love, and dress to please yourselves, I salute you and your glorious originality.

More "just" days

1. Hand clapping games
2. Pizza with family
3. Meccano
4. Big Fat Caterpillar
5. Colouring in
6. Packing for camping
7. Princess
8. Nom nom sling

Shh I know that makes eight, but I just don't care!

Buttercups

I am one happy mama today. :)





Beauty beauty beauty all around.  Tiny flower, tiny hands, bright clear wide eyes.  Gold glinting brightly in the cool grass.  How generous are the gifts showered upon me, in this one ordinary life.

All, all is grace, sunshine and rain, light and shadow.  All, all is grace.

Sewing : Growing : Sunshine

Once the sewing machine comes out, I find so many things I want to "just" whip up, I end up staying awake until silly o'clock in the morning and cutting out a dozen projects. I finished this change bag for a friend, then started making clothes for the girls.
In one morning, I made two skirts, a dress for Morgan, and two pairs of little trousers.
I'm not actually great on the sewing machine - things come out the wrong size, and I rarely finish off edges properly. It takes concentration to make something neatly and hem it and everything, though I try much harder for other people than I do for myself. Morgan's dress I left with a deliberately rough edging with machine embroidery all the way around. It's so pretty, and it's her new favourite thing.
After the sewing, I took the girls into town on my own to try to get to a protest about government priorities. Nothing seemed to be going on, and the police were quite visible, so I have no idea what happened really. But the park was nice!





Rowan didn't seem her normal bouncy self, and fell asleep on the picnic rug. I would suspect sunstroke but we'd only just come out! From the park we went to get milkshakes, and Rowan fell asleep on the chairs in the cafe, so we called it quits and came home at that point.



And now for something completely different. ;) Here are our baby caterpillars after just two days, from tiny little larvae to this:

Back to maternal smugness: oh look, more things I made! :)  Sorry, done with the sewing pictures now.  But the baby bottom was too cute to leave out.
 
Gratuitous baby smile...

An evening trip to yet another park felt like the thing to do, and refreshed us all a bit (melting, as we were).



And our garden finally got its yearly haircut and we gave in and trimmed back the willow so that my roses can breathe.



It's sooo summery this week. :)

There's so much light and warmth even in the evenings.  We're eating outside at least twice a day.



Oh my goodness, who is this person who refuses to stay baby-like?
And we had friends over. It was wonderful. And we made icecream, although we really don't need to use friends as an excuse.





Just a few days more and the caterpillars have grown so much! Rowan adores them. They are so hairy and wiggly.

"There isn't enough *time*," is my constant refrain at the moment! Where are all these days speeding off to? If you work it out, perhaps you could let me know!