In the absence of a prosaic title - weekend walk....

Dearest Himself spent a very long and very mucky Saturday emptying all the soot and rubbish and dust and cobwebs that had accumulated over 150 years in our attic so that he could continue with the loft conversion. And he was totally fed up.

So, on Sunday we escaped and headed for the Dales for a lovely walk. (we did have a false start which involved going shopping for our picnic lunch and not having any way to pay for it and having to dash back home to get wallets..erhemm)

By the time we reached..........

 .........................it was lunch time and the 

the boys were faint with hunger (they did however make an awful amount of noise insisting that they were faint with hunger!)

We pulled up to the village pound - one of our favourite picnic spots - for lunch. Benches and a picnic table sit within the circular walls with a few native trees and the most stupendous view.  Having amended the lack of lunch for the boys with a picnic feast , we set off and had a most delicious afternoon autumnal walk.

the pound gate - the gateway to our picnic

 Top left - Settle village, top and middle right - locals.

Bottom left - make shift boardwalk and bottom right - limestone country

 Youngest and his favourite hat

Loving his shadow!

Eldest - away with his thoughts in wonderful surroundings

We returned through the village as dusk fell - ready to go home having had a cathartic walk. Bliss. And I managed to get some knitting down whilst out and about - double bliss :) Will show you shortly xx

Well, Monday seems to have returned with its usual speed. Hey ho - supposed it means one day nearer the next weekend :)

The calm AFTER the storm

Yesterday when I returned home from work (Thursday afternoons are mine and mine alone) I had an unhealthy itch to bond with the vaccum cleaner. Bordering on obsessive I whipped up a storm of plaster dust and building rubble as vacuum cleaner and me worked through in a determined-come-hell-or-high-water type of way. I am sure that the carpet was lifted off the floor with the suction to return to it's usual position in a quivering submissive manner. I dusted and wiped with a wet cloth, the water turning black with every rinsing. A red mist filled my glazed eyes - I*was*going*to*reclaim*my*house*from*the*plaster*dust* (this madness was briefly interrupted by the school run, feeding children, cats, dog, chickens, dispatching one off to music and dragging the other one up to his room to continue the BIG clean)

We continued, walls were vacuumed  skirting boards washed, curtains flicked and earmarked for the washing machine (which was already chewing it's way through a years worth of stashed clothing - the boys have inherited my tidying up genes....see abombstrukket). Pictures were removed off walls, dusted and stacked ready for the walls to be painted, toys were separated into re-home, keep, throw away - Eldest was shattered and pleaded to go and do homework (now that is a first!) 

Youngest returned from his musiscand was gang-pressed to continue in his brother's stead. We continued the unrelentless slash and burn action on the house. I was possessed. Youngest was procrastinating and eventually was banished to his  homework.

By 9.30pm I was finished - not in a-clean-house-sort-of-way, but in a-I-couldn't-do-another-thing-coz-I-was-so-tired-sort-of-way.

This morning - that whirlwind energy has all gone, I am back to my sore head and throat state, where only a mug of tea and some yarn action is all I can cope with....... So, the more gentle activity of knitting and tea sipping is bringing me back to equilibrium.

Don't think I could handle another frantic tidy up session for quite some time. If I show any inkling of doing so - please waft some wool below my nose (not too close I am still snotty!) to bring me back to my normal state - I thank you. 

WIP and help

Waiting to be played with.

Now, sitting in the sun, just about to press - ..Publish.. I am enjoying the quiet time, only the cats and the washing machine and me.......And Oh Yes In Case You Hadn't Realised! It Is F*R*I*D*A*Y!!

Have a good one xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In which I dust myself down

October.

Already.

This year has flown by with out much fan fair or sunshine. I had earlier on lamented the swiftness of time gobbling up 2012, but, I have had a sort of a resigned revelation - I am glad that this year is almost to an end. It hasn't been a particularly good one - not entirely bad either, just not brilliant.

So October - welcome, may your gentle autumnal sunshine and your russet hues mark a more positive end to the seasons.

Our loft conversion continues in a storm of dust and mucky hand prints. It is one of those 'chain reaction' type situations. I'll explain.

1. To start the loft conversion - we had to enlargen the existing hatch to the attic
2. To enlargen the hatch - we had to remove the walk in cupboard
3. To remove the walk in cupboard, I had rescue tonnes of wool and yarn
4. To rescue my precious wool and yarn - I had create a new home
5. To create a new home - I...I....I had/have nowhere, so have stacked boxes shoulder height around our bedroom.
6. Back to conversion.
7. To remove the walk in cupboard - Himself and Youngest had to sledge hammer down two brick walls
8. To remove the walls meant lots of dust and rubble - so dust sheets were laid out and rubble bags assembles
9. To prevent my tearing my hair out - I removed myself outside and cleaned the greenhouse for winter
10. (Which in itself is a major chain of events type job)
11. To remove the rubble from the bottom of the stairs (where it should not have fallen) - bricks and plaster were carried out the front door
12. To remove the rubble from the hall way (where it should have fallen) it was put in the rubble bags and dragged out the front door over the pile of rubble at the bottom of the stairs
13. (Please visualise growing pile of rubble in my garden right outside the door)
14. To actually see 2 foot in front of your eyes through the dust - impossible
15. To vacuum up the mess without killing the vacuum cleaner - near impossible
16. To feel utter despair at the depth of the dust as it lands on everything upstairs (thank heavens I put down dust sheets in the boys room) however - WHO LEFT OUR BEDROOM DOOR OPEN!!??!!
17. To need a week at work to recover - that is saying something.......

Fast forward to the following weekend

Repeat points 7 - 16 then continue with.....

Frequent visits to the DIY store to pick up wall bolts, brackets, wood screws, masonry drill, timber, roofing/loft boards, cement, sharp sand, hooks, and, and and,and..the list goes on.

Watch husband turn into a workman, complete with blaring radio, huge and regular mugs of tea, mucky clothes, a pencil behind the ear and lots of sitting down and thinking/looking/tutting and scratching of head.......

Develop a close (bordering on obsessive) relationship with dying vacuum cleaner, damp cloths and a struggling feather duster.
Become a control freak about doors being shut and windows being open.
Despair over the layer of dust that has just appeared as by magic on a recently wiped surface.
Be close to tears coz you know that yet again your bedroom door is open and Youngest is frantically bashing at a brick to remove the cement bonding off it .... 2 foot away from your bed.

Then.

Then see the smiling face of Youngest as he knows his bedroom is being created and feel his infectious delight as he watches the stairs go up and the floor boards being put down.

There is so much more to do but Himself is quietly (if you don't count hammering and power saws) working his way through it and I make sure he gets a fresh hot mug of tea and a helping hand when he needs it.

I just have try harder not to let him see how wound up I am getting AT THAT DUST grrrrrrrrrrrr

Just an ordinary day

Tea

About to start a lace pattern

Lily

Holiday memories

Loving my shawlette - so-oo warm!

(Looking a bit stern - I'm not though, just trying to balance a heavy camera and take photos of my shawlette whilst trying to avoid messy house and hair!)

Oh, and by the way, it is finally Friday. Phew.

Sounds

I'm on my own this morning.
For all the right reasons - boys at school and Himself at work.
Subsequently the house is quieter than it's usual family filled reverberations but it is far from silent.

The radio quietly sings to the kitchen.

Although we live in a fairly rural village, our road is often used as a short cut between the larger towns so there is a regular sound of a car rumbling through. When we first came to see the house before we bought it, I hesitated due to the closeness of the road to the front of the building. I had worried unnecessarily.

Inside, the road outside is a non invasive sound that only occasionally catches my attention. The house creaks and stretches as the pipes warm up. I have lit the fire. I tried to resist the urge for that comforting feel - it seems excessive to light the fire for just me. Then, two wet little faces appeared at the door and as I let them in, bells chinking and fur dripping, I relented. The fire, now crackling and flickering is accompanied by the sound of purring cats as they lick down their rain-spiked fur.

I can hear (and see) the trees sway in the breeze, their leaves have lost their summer deep green and are showing hints of autumn. The sound ebbs and flows. Lily's bell chinks again, she is changing seats. She often tries out several resting places before choosing her final nap spot. Pan, now licked down and almost dry (she must have tongue fatigue) has fallen asleep with her head resting on the hearth. Her ear tips glowing in the reflected light from the fire. I can just about catch a small cat-snore but it is almost inaudible.  

I can hear - quite loudly in fact - my knitting. I have to confess that I have been playing the field with my yarn. I had started my shawlette and it had been flying off the needles until I reached the lace pattern. After a fair bit of confuddlement and looking up of the knitting abbreviations, I managed to get going again until right to the end when I had three stitches left over... b****r.

I had counted the stitches before launching myself into the unknown abyss of lace knitting and had the correct number, so I concluded crossly with myself that I had obviously followed the pattern wrongly.

Carefully I frogged (stitch at a time) the entire row, re-counted just in case I had been wrong, then reading and re-reading the pattern and convinced myself that I could do it, started again.
Re-frogged.
Counted stitches again, placing in the markers as suggested by the pattern.
Started again and was rather startled to find that the pattern does not actually fit in between the 12 markers I had spent ages placing.                                
Frogged again.
I gave the shawlette a severe looking at and put it aside to take to Wednesday's knit and natter.

That was a fatal mistake.

Chatting and drinking tea are not good companions to lace knitting especially seeing all the problems I had had before. So, I put it down. Picked up a new set of needles and more yarn and started a new one.

I plan to go back to the first - but only once I have soothed my jangled knitting nerves with some lovely smooth and simple stockinette stitch.

Ah - I can hear another sound now, my tum - better go and have some breakfast.

Enjoy your Friday - xx

the diary of a reluctant domestic goddess...

I read this and was gently inspired. I felt invigorated by the simplicity of it all and looking around my house, decided that now was as good a time as any to do a bit of Zen-cleaning.

So with serene determination, a clear mind and an empty house (shipped boys off to school and Himself to work) I started.

I initially meditated with a mug of tea as I formulated a plan of attack. The house, as an entire entity, is too vast  a task to tackle especially as I only have the morning to start a life changing de-cluttering, cleansing and leaving no trace. No - a small piece of my untidy world would be enough start with (as the saying goes....how does a mouse eat an elephant? Well - a very small piece at a time) My house is my elephant....!

Having started another mediation with my second mug of tea I decided that procrastination does not fit in a Zen-style cleaning sesh so reluctantly drained the last drop and started.

I filled the sink with lovely warm soapy water and washed carefully and mindfully the breakfast crockery, keeping my head clear and thought free (note to self -must clean out litter tray). The cats were lying by the fire I'd lit earlier to warm the house, helping me have that satisfied homely feel (note to self - must clean up ash around fire) Keeping my head clear of thoughts and lists was going to be a little harder than I had hoped...hey ho, will keep at it (note to self - must start washing machine) hmmm.

The cats, now rested and feeling quite Zenned out - saunter over to the kitchen as I start lovingly and mindfully wiping down the surfaces (note to self - how did paw prints get up here?) I shush my chatty brain as I serenely scrub the mucky marks on the wall (note to self - think I will take off my fleece, all this Zen-style housework is raising a sweat!) Shuush brain!

The cats, now fully invigorated from their Zentype rest are having a full scale fisticuffs on the kitchen floor, red and white fluff artfully flying and drifting in Zenlike motion in the air. I, maintaining my serenity, open the back door to encourage them to go and play out. They, completely in the zone of cat-warfare, have not noticed my gentle encouragement and continue their game with gusto. With conciousness and a kindly guiding foot - I usher them out (note to self - try to breathe more calmly) I brush a stray hair out of my eye, straighten my apron and try to reconnect with that Zenstyle housework thing I am trying to engender. It's not working. I think a spot of meditation will help put me back on track. On goes the kettle.

For a short while I am busy - kept buoyed along by the feeling of Zengoodness. Then.....Pan comes in through the window pronouncing very loudly that she HaS BeeeN OUtside and IT is RAINING! I lift her off the window ledge and pop her on the floor. Trying not to notice the muddy pawprints she has kindly left me in a rather fetching pattern. I reach for the cloth and remove them instantly and instantly feel Zensatisfied.

I continue with my Zenwork, trying not to think about how grubby a house can get, clearing my mind of thought, breathing and using the act of zenwork as a form of meditation - when....

In comes Lily - she too was caught out in the rain but with her huge red fur coat has kept her reasonably dry however, her entire fluffy undercarriage is dripping in wet twigs, leaves and garden detritus. I zenlunge so I can de-twig her and she, being a cat, maintained a decent distance from my grasping hands as she shed her own personal compost-like-contents along the floor and the carpet. Standing up and composing my rapidly reducing Zencalm I accepted her and decided that I would just vacuum up after I had finished in the kitchen. She, by now had settled down by the fire and was pulling off and spitting out leaves and twigs all over the carpet (breathe..meditate..breathe...meditate......).

Back in the sactuary of the now almost Zenclean kitchen, Pan has gone out of the door coz the sun is back out and come back in through the window - as she cheerfully tells me I liiiiike this coz it IS fUUUUn. I mindfully and lovingly notice her ********muddy paw prints along the window, across the sink, on to the floor and end where she very happily sits and purrs at me. (pant..meditate..pant...meditate......)

Teeth clenched, hackles raised and blood pressure ready to blow, I get the cloth and vigourously rub off the prints and stomp down to get the vacuum cleaner and frantically clean the carpet then round the fire. The vacuum cleaner doesn't seem to be playing nicely so I check the bag - it is full to bursting. I am getting jaw ache. Bag replaced - I start again.

A final flourish with it and I am done. As I turn of the motor I can hear the dreaded noise that all cat owners cower at.....the noise of digging in the litter tray. That sound of a cat as it settles in the tray then....that moment of silence.....that 'productive' moment of silence......then the frantic covering up.

Dig. Dig,dig, dig,dig,dig,scratch, scratch, scratch (silence as they check what they have been doing) then a scattering of litter as they leap out of the tray feeling quite pleased with themselves.

Trembling at the affront to my Zenzone kitchen I stumbled into the detritus strewn floor as I pass a very satisfied and relieved cat. I can feel a cold sweat come over me. (pant..pant.....pant... sod the meditate..pant.....) I empty the tray as a smell worthy of chemical warfare engulfs me and my Zenzone, my eyes water and I feel faint at the length I have to hold my breath.

Outside in the fresh air, I clean the tray, dry it, reload it with litter and return it to the kitchen. Feeling a little less Zenhappy and getting rather fed up with the Zenwork, I put on the kettle and try to think calm thoughts, fail miserably as I can hear the second cat leaping into the clean litter tray................

Later.

Having recovered myself, put out and then had to dash out to bring back in the washing, dried two rain-wet cats, re-wiped the floor, the window ledge and washed the dog (no - not sure why I did that one either) I needed to bring myself back down to earth - so have resorted to blogging and having a brew......

*sigh*

Lily and Pan - the anti-Zencats

I have to say that having a break from blogging was a good thing for me - quite cathartic actually. Your comments are wonderful to read and I am always gratified that firstly that my blog is read and secondly you comment on my rather random life - thank you! Welcome too - all my new followers, which have quietly crept up to 101 - wow, thank you again :) xxx

blessings (and other Zenlike thoughts)   hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxx

the saga continues..... and its 4am

Unable to sleep due to my brain not powering down and switching off, I am downstairs - much to the surprise and delight of the catlings who think they can now have 4am firsts (breakfast firsts).

I am always amazed (in a cross sort of way) how noisy the house is through the night. The creaking and expanding of the pipes, the rumble of the fridge, the click of the walls, as well as the sighing and settling of the heating gives the house a heart beat, a rhythmic breathing - a life of its own - I just wish it didn't do it so loudly!

Any hoo, as I was saying -  seeing I am awake and trying not to toss and turn too much, disturbing Himself, I thought I would slink down quietly and try and calm my frazzled grey matter with a cup of tea and a tinkle on the keyboard (and feed the catlings).
The tea is delish, the cats are playing in the kitchen and the brain is still whizzing, so I shall continue to subject you to my wafflings..

After yesterday's tidal surge was temporarily contained by catching the drip...drip...drip in the spare kitty litter tray, Himself armed himself with some tools and unscrewed the incontinent cupboard off the wall.

Not as easy as it sounds as it suspended beneath the counter next to the sink making it awkward to reach. With a few choice words hissed under his breath he managed to wrestle the unit free by manhandling it out of position. The catlings decided to inspect his work by trying to shin up his legs. Not a popular move.

Once the cupboard was freed of it's moorings, we could see where the leak was emanating from. There, lurking behind the unit was a copper pipe which was shooting the finest shower of water straight up against the underside of the counter. It was such a fine jet of water that it seems disproportionate to the problems it had been causing. This stream was of great interest to the catlings, in particular Lily who sat beneath it with a quizzical stare. Himself, now seeing what was the cause of the leak set about fixing it.

Easy job he grinned, just off to get the 'thingamy watsit' (please insert correct terminology here - my brain although awake is not functioning).

I start to cook our evening meal.

Much clattering and muttering later, he stomps off the garage.... 'Need to get the doodad thingamajig' (insert as before but with a different tool)

Bit more DIY sounds are coming out from under the counter, the air is turning a delicate shade of blue.

...The **** thing won't fit...... need the other gizmo -  see if that makes a difference - if not its off to the local hardware store...mutter mutter mutter (insert necessary correct terminology and swear words at will).

By now food preparation is in full swing as I step over bits of copper piping, the offending cupboard, tools of various shapes and sizes and the husband. He is, I feel, getting a little cross that a simple job has turned out to be a major affair but then..... isn't that normal? It feels like it in our house.

He breaks off briefly to eat then disappears off to his garage again to retrieve the gubbins/whatchamacallit/doohicky-thingamajub that will just do the job and solve all the problems......but not just yet..... (once again, please feel free to replace the above words with plumbing related tools in any order you fancy - I thank you)

Eventually he emerges jubilant and I am ushered into the kitchen to bask in his victory. There - his nemesis - a small finger sized copper pipe, with a tiny split in it, lies vanquished on the floor surrounded by tools and mucky  water. He has manfully replaced the pipe with a special 'whatever' attachment thingy and most importantly - HE HAS STOPPED THE LEAK - he is without a doubt my hero.

However, the story does not end here - oh no, what happened afterwards included some of the following - moving the incontinent cupboard across to the other side of the kitchen and attaching it to another wall, which meant the fridge had to move out of its slot and into a new position, which entailed removing the obligatory grotty stuff that collects beneath the fridge and mopping the floor. The space where the fridge now resides needed another cupboard to be evicted (cue same grotty stuff lurking plus half a dozen cat toys, toy bullets, missing letters from school, elastic bands and marbles) and moved to it's new home.

This also meant the dog's bed (a hard plastic kidney bean shaped bed) was next to move. Only problem here was the bed now did'nt fit the remaining space....our kitchen is not big, it is bordering on bijou.
Not a problem says Himself - he is on a roll and I am going along for the ride. He returns waving a carpentry saw about in the air and promptly removes a corner off the dog's bed. She watched horrified from behind the desk. It now fits...........

While all this is happening, the boys have had their showers, sorted out their books for school and gone to bed.  The kitchen is still full of activity and a disgusting mess. I am now flagging....Himself too is getting bored with the whole thing so we stop for a brew. I try to wash up.....there~is~no~hot~water....

Oh yes Himself remembers, I switched off upstairs under the hot water tank.

Off he goes to turn the water back on. I think that I should also know where this tap is in case this ever happens again, so follow him.

I wish I hadn't....to get to the tap, he has pulled out half the bedding and towels from the airing cupboard and piled them up.....everywhere.

I walk away.

Back downstairs, kitchen just about acceptable, washing done, tea made and catlings fed (again) we sat down and contemplated what a 'productive' day it has been.

Thank goodness it was over - it was nearly midnight and we'd had had enough!

Baking by us (3), Himself goes up in the world and finally some precious crochet time❤

Do you ever get those moments, when having idly looked at a rather yummy recipe feel really inspired to do it?
Yes?
Do you ever, having been inspired, print the recipe out in a dash at work, stuff it in a convenient bag/pocket/drawer to retrieve at a more kitchen appropriate moment?
Yes?
Do you, then having been inspired, stuffed recipe away safely, got home and cast your eye over the baking the cupboard and decided that you have enough or nearly enough or similar or alternative items to do said baking?
Yes??
Do you then, having been inspired, printed the recipe, sort of confirmed ingredients then have to wait several days to the weekend to actually make said recipe
Yes? Yes??
Do you then find when the weekend actually arrives you have lost your cooking mojo but in a slip of concentration actually mention the words baking/weekend/new recipe to your children who  yell back at you...
YES!!

Oh... only me then - *sigh*

May I present to you............Baking by us (three) while Himself goes up in the world.

1. Windfalls, lightly cooked, chopped then tossed in cinnamon and sugar (thank you Eldest)

2. Pastry rolled and 30 mini pie bases cut ( Eldest)

3. Mini bases after chilling (Photo thanks to Youngest)

4. Pie base, with added apple and now topped with another disc and crimped (Youngest)

5. Pies - glazed with milk and sprinkled with sugar, ready for the oven (Photo thanks to Eldest)

6. Ready little pies, still steaming  from the oven (I'd tried holding one to photograph and burnt my fingers)

7. & 8. Cool enough (just) to eat and the last time you'll ever see them!!

Follow the link for the proper grown up recipe that - if I had read properly - I may not have done. Above  is our simplified-boys-and-mum-on-a-Saturday-afternoon-cooking version. The original look soo elegant and were probably made under ideal conditions - either way - ours tasted yummy❤❤, kept the boys very entertained and fed Himself - a win win situation :)

We've had a bit of a long standing niggling problem with our bathroom leaking when it rains - not every time it rains, just occasionally and when the east wind blows. Himself has been up several times and with this type of DIY, it can only be tested - when it rains.....

The repair some times lasts for months even years before it starts again.

Well, while we were away in Galloway - it rained and rained and RAINED at home - both outside the house and ..... inside the bathroom. Himself once again gritted his teeth but this time he decided to DO SOMETHING MAJOR..... no patching or re-tarring but A RE-ROOFING type mission was planned.

This entailed the purchase thereof HUGE ladders (something he's hankered after anyway so not a difficult task) it involved ripping off ENORMOUS chunks of roofing felt, TONNES of gravel (why on EARTH do you put gravel on a roof???) Years of layers of old tar and pitch which, despite being up there for ages, some of the tar was still sticky.....his trousers and hands are visual proof of the stickiness. Urgh.

With offers of many reviving cups of workman like tea, little apple pies and support from 2 boys and me, he ripped off the roof, re-pitched with thick stinky gloopy black tar from a bucket then lay down layer after layer of roofing felt.

And  did it pass the Rain-Test? On Sunday night - it hammered it down....but was it the right kind of rain? Well..... the bathroom didn't leak! So hopefully his hard weekend paid off - any way he's gone back to work for a rest!


Still surprised by the fact we all like ❤love❤ my blooming flower cushion, I wanted to try something else. Not as 'girly' a bit more edgy but still with ruffles and sporting different colours. I found my inspiration from Made in K-town. So, casting my mini-bunting aside (it is still in progress, I have just run out of cotton yarn) I have started this......

Not finished yet and still an experiment, I do *L*O*V*E the way it is going. I started with straight ruffly-wiggly diagonal lines then got bored and allowed my hook to take me where ever 'it' wanted and now I have a wonderful fracture line running right through it - causing all sorts of interesting movement.

I have a long way to go and it doesn't look anything as neat and as pretty as the original inspiration but I am still loving❤❤ the way it is developing. I will keep adding the stripes and accentuating the fracture line - watch this space!❤❤

Well, that is a small snippet of our weekend and as usual it has flown by and we are back to the beginning of a brand new week full on things to happen - bring it on!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Hope you all have a wonderful Monday :)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

What a wet day!

Probably made wetter by a soggy combination of boys, wellies, hose pipes and power washer.....and oh yes it rained as well!

It started oh so well......we were all togged up with wellington boots and waterproofs (a tad over dressed? - err no - bear with me, you will soon see ).

Now, through the eyes of the boys - the order of the days play is as follows...

• find power washer (right in the bowels of the back of the garage) so far so good
• connect hose pipe to tap (still going well) then connect to power washer
• switch power and water on (NOT YET I shriek! my PLANTS and we got to move the bench!!)
• switch power off and grumble about mom and giggle at brother
• help carry countless pot plants out, move table, bench, boots, milk crate, mat, dog bowls, dog toys and feel that this isn't exactly fun
• get permission to switch power on again (SWITCH IT OFF I shriek [again] water is going EVERYWHERE!!) 
• isn't supposed to do that? (err no - connections not secure and water is spurting out from every possible place)
• switch power on and feel the power!! 
• 'draw' squiggles on the stone in the water and marvel at how dirty the flags and paving slabs are
• shoot water sneakily at your brother's back when he and your mom are not looking
• deny all knowledge of above bullet point, giggle
• spray a bit more
• hit a soapy area and make some glorious frothy bubbles, snort and chortle
• spray the wall (The floor please I remind)
• spray the floor
• quick spray at back of brother's head, look away and pretend to whistle while working, trying not to giggle
• get yelled at by dripping brother, giggle
• get yelled at by getting-worked-up mom
• spray the floor
• spray mindlessly in the air as the is infinitely more fun, giggle
• have spray removed from you and have it given to your brother....
• Follow similar procedure several times whilst swapping power hose between brothers
• Stand in the ran while spraying the outside area feeling very wet
• start to get bored 
• find a broom and hit a small plastic pot around the lane in an exciting mix of ice-free hockey and croquette, giggle
• almost hit your brother with a wild swing
• get yelled at by brother
• get yelled at by teeth-grinding mom
• sigh
• swap with brother who immediately starts playing ice-free hockey and croquette and almost takes your head off too
• yell at brother
• spray him in revenge , giggle
• both get yelled at by your wild-eyed-going-mad mom
• both stand sullenly with dripping hair and water in your boots
• complain that you are wet and need to go get changed
• get told not yet (Please C.A.N  W.E.  F.I.N.I.S.H   W.H.A.T   W.E   A.R.E   D.O.I.N.G... I say through gritted teeth)
• sigh and return to spraying the floor, the rapidly retreating dog, the plant pot, your brother, the air and then back to the floor before your frenzied mother notices, try not to giggle
• too late.....she noticed
• RIGHT THAT'S IT - ENOUGH! your by now demented mother shrieks
• notice that actually she seems pleased and that she has started to put things back into place
• gallop upstairs dripping all the way to change into dry clothes
• come back downstairs to find chunky slices of the carrot and almond cake waiting next to your mug of tea
• Aah yum,  and despite your hair still dripping down your neck decide that actually it was GREAT fun.

I, on the other hand have delayed plans to power wash out the front of the house to when the boys have gone back to school, or left home, or got married or anything.......!

I have recovered now.

Any way, today we are doing something in complete contrast - we're off to Harrogate for the day! 

What ever you get up to,  I hope you have a wonderful day xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Holiday musings part 1

Meet some of the locals...................

top left - the welcoming committee - what a baaaa-gain
top right - help! they are going to EAT me! (this is in our awning!)
bottom left - late evening walk and vintage bus
bottom right - very proud, very gentle and very large mum with her very cute, very long legged and very whiskery-chinned babe - oooh I want one!!

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Himself gets his haversack ready, he puts in.......


Maps and GPS (need both of course)
Waterproofs - well you never know
Lunch - for all four of us
Flask and tea and milk and sugar - ditto
Water - ditto
Hats - ditto
Dog's lead
Dog's ball - for those 'lets play fetch' moments out on the hills
tissues - for noses
Coats - for all four of us again
'Bum mats' x 4 so we can sit in comfort when we munch


I get my hip pack ready, and I put in it....


Camera
two balls of wool
crochet hook (and a spare)
first aid kit
chewing gum
cell phone


errr - priorities! priorities!! 

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And to prove it - 
top left - on the road
middle left - over looking  Dufton Pike at lunch time, hot feet out of hot boots
bottom left - on the road
centre - sitting at the head of High Cup Nick, tea and crochet hook - what could be more glorious??!
top right - breakfast with crochet and coffee as blackthorn blossom is tossed gently on a warm breeze
bottom right - proof of priority packing - and yes I do crochet as I walk, I get some odd looks, mind, but I do get a lot done :) !

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Well, that was just a little taster of our delicious weekend - thank you for popping and sharing it with me....I love life....

Here's wishing you a wonderful day xxxxx

*8things

I was inspired by Magpie Girl's *8things where she 'practice's gratitude' and is thankful for things in her life. As I read it, I realised that I am too very lucky and have a lot to be thankful for. So, here goes:

*1thing- I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend, my confident, my strength, a brilliant Dad to our children, expert sawyer of wood and lighter of fires, teller of corny jokes, leader of expedition length walks, instigator of 'naughtiness',  my love and my life.


*2things - my two boys -  my angels, my beasties, my monkeys, my delight and my despair, my mess-monsters, givers of hugs and kisses and sticky fingers.

*3things - our home - shared with thing one and things two! A warm and loving home filled with clutter and affection.

*4things - my family - both near and far. A text or phone call away. A hug or word shared. A grumble or groan too, but that is the reality of life and family. Without them I would be lost.

*5things - my friends - close or occasional, laughter and gossip, some not seen for ages but when together the length of time just melts away. Support and advice, debate or disagree, days out or days in, friends are precious and I am grateful.

*6things - my job - despite days where I find I have ground my teeth flat, I still bounce back and see something positive in it. The people I work with can make me laugh, give me support, make me mad, irritate the hell out of me, cheer me up and put up with me being - well - being me - that's just got to be good.


*7things - my life - the life I live, where I live. The hills, the village life, the characters and eccentrics that surround me. The access to the countryside so close to where I live. The ability to breathe and hug the sky.

*8things -  today - just to be here, right now, to live, to be alive. 'Life is for living' and each day is a new beginning to enjoy, to share and to love, to craft and create, to laugh and to live - to make it count.

This and that and - oh yes - a bit of the other

Good grief it's cold today. But, not going to dwell on the coolness of my toes and the numbness of my fingers.
Excuse me, going to toss another log on the fire...........

........Back. Now where was I? yes, good grief it's cold today. And that is the last you will hear me mention that.

Now in no particular order - this weekend's round up.

Sunday - Remembrance Sunday. Youngest proudly carried the flag down to the cenetaph and stood with the rest of the flag bearers whilst the service stopped the traffic in the streets. It was a bright cold day and the pavement's icy fingers crept through our boots and into our bones. Youngest stood there in his cub uniform - it will be his last call of duty as a cub - he's growing up. I watched as he felt the chill of the air wrap around him and make him shiver. He had refused to wear a coat as it would cover his uniform, one he is so proud of.

In the back of my mind was the fact I had left a cake quietly cooking in the oven.....alone......at home...by itself..... as we stood for the two minutes silence.

I silently berated myself for thinking of the potentially charcoaled baking rather than collective emotion for the moment of hushed remembrance.
As soon as it was politely possible, having snatched the flag from youngest's frozen fingers, shoved him into his coat, passed the flag to a startled senior assistant leader, grabbed shivering youngest and a rapidly-turning-blue eldest who was hanging onto a tooth-chattering giddy dog - we ran up the hill home. Leaving behind a bemused Himself.

Frantically smiling apologetic excuses as we ran gasping through the returning church goers.

...Sorry....excuse me....cake in oven....excuse me.... oops sorry....cake....oven...burning.....  

All the time dragging in breath and dragging children, coat flapping and camera bouncing we returned home, my legs like rubber - the only thing that kept me going was the thought of rescuing my poor cake.

We burst into the kitchen and I flung open the oven door - and there......sitting all demurely and ready to be taken out was a polite little lemon drizzle cake minus it's drizzled lemon - phew!

Little while later, we all sat, my Mom and Dad, gently defrosting boys and Himself, as we hoovered up the last crumbs of the lemon drizzle cake. Yummmm.

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Friday was fun - Friday was like visiting France. We spent a lovely evening with our French friends and their many other French speaking friends and despite a distinct lack of speaking anything remotely French sounding, we really enjoyed ourselves. It was in the early hours of Saturday morning we finally flopped into bed.

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Saturday was wet wet wet and nothing as enjoyable as the band of the same name.

A bit of bad tempered mooching around seemed to be the order of the day until we bought some paint, found 3 paintbrushes and a paint roller and spent a very good day (despite the rain hammering down outside constantly) and we painted our hall.

Talk about a complete boost to ourselves and the house! It used to be a hideous yellow - yes, I don't know how we lived with it for so long either....... It always felt dingy and dark, but now, sporting ivory white new coat it feels bright and huge!!

(But that is probably due more to the fact we had to take every thing out for painting and have not put it back yet....might not, like it like this)

Monday - oh drat - that is today, back to normal. So excuse me, waffle ending, work about to begin...and I'm cold! And that is definitely the last I'm going to say on the matter (for now.....)

08.06.10 - Back

Yes, back, 

it was wonderful. 

A sun-filled, beach combed, 

woodland walked, coastal rambled, 

river swum, midgie swatted, sheep observing, 

kite and buzzard spotting, 

freckle-making holiday.

Bliss.

We found it hard to return to normality. Don't get me wrong, it's great seeing the cat and chickens again and it always amazes me how much the garden grows whilst I am not looking,

but....but... I do miss something a fair bit..........................

We have a much loved battered old caravan and it does have the luxury of a shower and loo, but when Himself is the one that has to collect the water it feels a bit extravagant showering. 

So we all have 'granny baths' which are probably also known as a 'festival freshen up'! 

A basin full of warm soapy water and an all over vigorous sponge rub.

'Yes boys - I did say everywhere.... not just your faces!'

aaww mu-u-u-uuum....'

So, to be able to come home and have a shower under steaming hot water was bordering on decadent!  

Himself has spent most weekend's evenings making this bathroom for me, and I really love it! 

Even the boys helped, by knocking off the original tiles, doing the artwork in the frames and supplying key ornaments (green car and campervan) 

All that is left to do is to hang the pictures.

A small glass trinket box, a birthday gift from a work colleague - a perfect match

Linked to Mon's Through the keyhole  no.4, pop over to see her 'real people, real homes' post.

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Once I have waded through the gazillions of photos I have taken, I shall reveal some holiday highlights - till then!