A hub of activity

Sometimes I sit back and think that we don't do a lot, then I download the pictures from my camera and realise that we are always busy!

The Summer holidays are whizzing by, only another two weeks left (officially ;-)), when you home educate you can choose your own terms and schedule. The holidays have been so busy with children visiting us at number 2 so frequently that I might need a little holiday to get over the chaos! The little darlings do seem to gravitate to my front door and within, cannot possibly imagine why?.....do I need an excuse to enjoy the peace that the end of the holidays will undoubtedly bring?? I think not!!

So what business have the past couple of weeks brought?

Well firstly we took a little trip South to visit my grandparents. They live near Chichester, it's a pretty area of the country. The children always enjoy looking at old photos, playing with the toys my sisters and I made when we were younger, throwing pebbles on the beach and visiting the arcades (the latter is never my idea!). I like to walk along the dirt tracks that are parallel to the beach where there are many little bungalows made from old train carriages. The fascination of trying to spot the carriages within the structure of the buildings never seems to bore me. Many of the old shacks have now fallen into a state of ruin and have been purchased by developers, seems such a shame to me that the quaint little houses that utilised disused carriages are flattened to make way for modern buildings. I'm not one for change me!!

 

Chips on the beach

 

Yes, you can have one too!

I always dream of owning a little carriage cottage, renovating it sympathetically....I see myself and my children escaping life in the fast lane for relaxing breaks. It would be a simple affair, no T.V, only basic furniture and fittings and nothing but essential technological items, handmade items adorning the place, patchwork quilts, crochet blankets....arrr dream dream dream!!
If you want something enough your dreams often become reality..........

 

How strong......!

 

The past couple of visits that we have made, we have taken a walk around the marina in Chichester. Most people would be drawn to the flashy boats that line the holding bays, so many of them. But me, little nostalgic me, is drawn only to the primitive house boats that float on the canal on the walk to get there. A thriving community of folk seem to occupy these 'mobile homes' on water with their canal side gardens. Once again I find myself dreaming .......I was slightly disappointed on this recent visit as the reeds on the bank had grown up and blocked my view totally of the beautiful boats that now lead a secret hidden existence, wonderful for the owners no doubt. A couple were 'For Sale' so I couldn't restrain myself from taking a peek on line when I got home....alas, no surprises, they are waaayyyyy out of my price range!


Continue to dream........

Thursday on the recommendation of two friends we visited the Cotswold Lavender farm. The fragrance was divine as we drove up the lanes to get there. Unfortunately the lavender had almost finished being harvested so we missed seeing the beautiful fields of purple. Shall definitely pop a note into my diary for next year........

 

Harvesting the lavender

Friday last week I managed to fall for the children's plea for bikinis (not Small Boy of course!)....really I didn't mind as I quite enjoy a little ride into Oxford. It was quite nice on Friday to be leisurely going into town and for once not having to rush for a workshop which is so often the case.
I had warned the girls that bikinis aren't really great for wearing to the pool. I have really bad memories of jumping into the pool as a child and having my top end up around my neck...ummmm not good!!
Anyway, we headed for Prima Market (Primark) and quite frankly once the children had spotted the large collection of 'onesies' the bikini idea had gone completely (much to my relief!!). I am guessing that no other idiots are buying fluffy onesies yet due to our fabulous stint of amazing Summer weather (haven't been able to say that for a few years), so onesies all round (well not for me - I already have one from years gone past, but that's another story...please don't tell the children!).
The children excitedly changed as soon as we got home and within no time at all a 'onesie' party had begun on the roundabout with all the Timberyard (and beyond) children joining in the fun!!

This last two days the children have not wanted to leave the house. I have suggested visiting friends, popping out to explore but 'no', the girls have been incredibly busy (with neighbouring friends) creating their own little 'bear' making enterprise. I am always amazed at the amount of hard work and dedication that the children put into making their dreams a reality. I am not sure what sparked the idea this time? Perhaps the 'build a bear' bear that my niece left when she last came to stay?

The girls created their own pattern, sourced their own supplies (from my stash of fabrics) and learnt how to use an electric sewing machine (four of them!). I have to say it is a tad nerve wrecking allowing them freedom with such an item but I wasn't prepared to sit for two days minding them! So far no screams (well not that I've heard anyway!)
So six bears have so far been made with hand sewn faces by Miss P and they tell me that each one has a satin sewn heart within its chest....how cute is that?!
Six bears have all been sold on the green..... and a further thirteen bears have been ordered....
I can see that I'm not going to get the use of my house back for sometime :-(......oh well, being banished from the lounge and the kitchen has given me time to do all those jobs that simply wont do themselves!!

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Of course Small Boy had to help with 'the jobs that wont do themselves'....

It's great fun watching the brush come out of the top!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home......

We have just returned from a wonderful week of camping at HESFES with a bunch of amazingly inspiring friends.
HESFES is an annual festival for families like ourselves, who choose to educate their children using the method of 'otherwise' as oppose to choosing the traditional 'school' system.

Small Boy spent the first two days at the water tap!

Really it's a place where mine and many other children get to spend a week away from home continuing to be their usual 'free' selves.

 

 From the moment of arrival until the moment of departure one week later, I really hardly see my children at all, accept at meal times and bedtimes (although I usually have to track them down as the dark hours set in), this year the community 'smorg' session was a definite draw which made capturing the feral beasts a little easier.

How many children can be squeezed into a Bongo camper van roof?

It's as much my own distraction as theirs, there are sooo many interesting people to talk to and workshops to take part in, the only problem seems to be that a week simply isn't long enough!

Miss P and friends hard at work

Clean clothes and personal hygiene really don't play a very big role in our festival regimes, (well I say our but I'm of course talking about the smalls). Miss P and the Little Lady generally do check out the inside of the portable showers once or twice but Small Boy wouldn't dare scar his grubby reputation of stepping anywhere near a bar of soap. His personal challenge is to see how thick a bath ring he can create once he gets home!

Warm tootsies

He smelt delicious once he'd had a splash around in the midst of a warm bubbly tub upon our return....and surprisingly, not a bath ring to be seen. The water was rather blue though. That would be the blue hair spray he had been topping up all week. Yes, this year Small Boy insisted on having 'blue' hair for the week. The Little Lady had pink and Miss P had me dip dye the ends of her hair bright red!
I must confess I was drawn to the bright purple myself and was more then a little tempted, however I couldn't rid myself of the thought of the 'purple rinse', I'm only a mere 40!!

 

Toasting marshmallows

I have to confess that this years HESFES was some what of a struggle for me. I picked up strep throat and ended up spending most of the week complaining about how ill I felt. Luckily no one boffed me off (although I'm sure they must have been tempted). Antibiotics did begin to kick in on the last day by which point I was just about ready to begin my week of partying (oooh did say that???).....

Once camp was packed up I couldn't wait to get home. There is nothing like your own comfortable bed when you need a good nights sleep and I knew that I was to return to my little home sanctuary where all of my neighbours were to be away for a couple of days. I do love my neighbours but the thought of peace and quiet was really appealing at that moment in time.
I saw no one as I drove into our estate, only peace and quiet as I walked up my garden path with the overgrown fig tree shading the door and dappling the sunlight onto the path. My house was clean as I walked in, and there on the table was a wonderful note.....

'Thank you so much for letting me stay in your lovely home. It is the epitome of calm. Staying here overnight has felt like being on holiday for a week........'

It was lovely to have been able to offer my empty house to my friend for a night and even lovelier to learn that she enjoyed her stay so much.

Arrr yes, that's my home, my sanctuary, I love my home......I've had moments of thinking I wouldn't live her for long, cannot imagine why such thoughts would cross my mind. I'm here to stay!

Sweets scented Sweet Peas, clean sheets and a comfy bed........pure bliss!

 

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Parenting boys

When I started out on my parenting journey, I had very little doubt in my mind that if I could choose the sex of my child, I would most certainly have chosen a girl.
You see, I had previously had a great insight into boys as a result of working as a nanny and as a Montessori teacher......
In my many years of experience, I came to recognise two very distinct types of boy. The first is the calm, slow moving, gentle kind and the second is the 'bounce off the wall, in to everything, run on overdrive until bedtime' type. Both types of boy are undoubtedly lovely and as a parent you wouldn't be without them, but what I am referring to is the amount of energy needed by you the parent to cope with their characteristics and ways.
My experience of girls at that time was that, in the main, they are controllable and are easily persuaded to like and be interested in similar things to their mothers (as boys are to their fathers). They (in most circumstances) remain calm and will sit for hours completing tasks if they are interested.
Of course there are always those who differ from my observations, they are very generalised and not intended to offend in any way.
My thoughts at the time were that if I had a boy I was fairly certain that I would find myself with the high energy, latter kind.....so a girl it was to be and a girl the first child was.


Miss P is to become a teenager this year!

When I was pregnant with my second child, I was certain that this little wriggly bundle of bump undoubtedly had to be a boy......the little lady came along :-)

Such an industrious hard worker she is too......

How very cosy, two beautiful little girls, so easy, so calm (most of the time).......by child number three I actually wanted a boy....well it would make a change wouldn't it? Having girls around was by that point pretty easy stuff.

POP! After a whole 50 minute labour, 'welcome earthside' came our little package of trouble all wrapped up in his embryotic sac. The hospital staff informed me that was lucky and that he'd probably be a sailor or a seaman.....ummm!!

Small Boy started out as the easiest child. Perfect at breastfeeding (always hungry) and brilliant at sleeping (happy to be put to bed awake - unheard of I know).....I was rapidly drawn into that amazing sense of euphoric love that you have a for a child, but I was never prepared for the challenges that I have faced so far on my parenting journey.

Up until Small Boy was eighteen months old, he was a dream, everything just sailed along very nicely thank you, but literally the moment he turned eighteen months old......POW!!!!! The trouble began!

It started the day I noticed that a pot of houmous had been spread quite literally over ever item in the fridge. I loVE houmous but it really  sticks like 'sh.. to a blanket', no easy task to clean that off!

Secondly, it was the mystery of the apple that had been eaten in the main but the core had been replaced in the fruit bowl......STRANGE!!

Things got worse.......twenty plus eggs thrown at a wall with a friend in the drive of which the dogs were very pleased to lap up....the black mess that followed on the beige carpets was not a pleasant cleaning experience!!

The siege of our friends car when he left it on the drive, which ended up being plastered on the inside and the windows with thick emollient cream......

The truck!!!! I'm not sharing that one....!!!!!!

The stones in the lawn mower tank, the potential water in the petrol tank of the car, the mystery of the beer being taken from the fridge......Okay I'll share that one although I'll probably have all my rights to parent removed.
The fridge in our porch was left open and a can of beer had been removed. I followed the mystery trail that took me to a barn by our house where we were restoring a car at the time. Small boy was standing at the far end holding the can with a rolled up piece of paper in his hand. 'What are you doing'? I questioned, to which he replied 'I'm having a can of beer and a cigarette'....Mortified mother!! I was quite upset by that one but did chuckle when he wasn't looking. He was only just two and had managed to properly open the can!

I was reminded of these stories this evening when Small Boy ran inside telling me that he'd just put a snake on the fire. We were burning some garden rubbish and I had left him to clear up the last bit. He's good with fire he was taught to respect it from a very young age. Anyway, I sort of half hearted listened (as you do) and didn't really give the idea a serious thought until he insisted on showing me. True to his tale he had in fact managed to burn a slow worm alive. He'd picked up a pile of dried grass and thrown it into the flames, only to find that the 30cm slow worm was inside. Poor thing was 'no more' obviously :-( He was a little upset but proceeded to dissect it anyway, shame to waste the opportunity!

There are many more stories to tell, he's provided great entertainment!

But on a serious side, having a boy has really enriched our lives (the girls might disagree with me there), he is an extremely sweet natured chap, definitely very masculine but also understands the feminine species. Plus he takes me out of my comfort zone. I can expect the unexpected! I do have to climb trees with him and lay on river banks watching the fish, I do have to sleep under the stars and sit at gates during the night time hours waiting for foxes to come out. I do have to show an interest in dead animals and slimy frogs but I also have wonderful cuddles and hugs and a very sweet young friend :-)
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Thank you X

I have been writing this blog for about two years now and during that time have kept meaning to say 'Thank you' to those of you who take the time to read my posts and make comments :-)

I was thrilled when the total number of hits reached 1000 and had meant to voice my excitement back then...oh how time flies...I have now hit over 8000 hits....how incredible is that?!! Incredible and such a boost to little old me who really has no idea at all how to write and who just waffles on randomly about whatever significant thing come into my mind.....what a delight to have such a following....yeeha, woohoo...skipity skip!! Oh dear, has it really come to this? No wonder my dear children think I am totally bonkers!!

Anyway, I want to share my latest little gadget with you...have you noticed the little fish on the right hand side of the screen? Cute aren't they! Well Miss P informed me how to add entertainment in the form of little fish to my blog, it's nice having little pets to keep you company whilst you are madly writing away. You can feed my little fish by clicking your mouse within their tank and watch what happens....oh the simple pleasures of life! I am now wondering if it is possible to overfeed them??

The other recent additive is that you can now read my blog in different languages, yes, there's a link at the top of the screen on the right. Well you might feel inspired to read whilst holidaying in Spain......!!

Now, I am thinking that the time might have come to add a little more to this blog but my brain is totally not of the technological kind and I genuinely have absolutely no idea what-so-ever how to make the changes I have in mind. This is where you my friends come (hopefully) to my rescue.
Firstly I really would like to know how to upload photos quickly from my camera? At present it takes ages, such a bore and I would love to be able to offer visual stimuli to my posts...
Secondly, I really would like to know how I can highlight a word within my blog which will enable you, the reader, to click on it and be taken to some far off place (namely another website, for when I want to make reference to something or enable you to look further into something I've been rattling on about).
So dear friends please don't be shy and come on out of your keyboards to voice your ideas.....
Thank you soooo much....(here's hoping of course that you do help....hehe!!) X

Live a little......

I am completely struck by the love of Summer.....it doesn't take much does it? A few days (well a week now) of glorious sunshine and I feel like this year we haven't been short changed of the season. Do you remember the ghastly Summer we had last year (yes I know best forgotten that one!).

It was sooo hot yesterday, I found it difficult to decide what to do. Having children around certainly keeps one busy...sometimes doing things that we really would rather not do. The kids decided that they would like to camp out last night so muggins here had the arduous task of erecting the tent in the blazing sunshine. Funny how the kids disappear when there is work to be done, even if it is for their benefit! Ummmm!!!
Well, it wasn't only my off-spring that planned to camp, the intention of the entire Timberyard (that's where I live) were fixated on doing the same.
There are ten small people within our small community, all of similar ages. Each and every one of them makes themselves at home in all of the houses (I have to confess to doing the same myself), it's really rather lovely.
So tents erected....by mid-morning the squabbling had begun; that's someone spraying water at someone else or a child's flip-flops being placed out of reach in the tree or some banter about something....! When you have so many children living in one area it happens. So the threats started pouring 'If you don't stop this and get along, then you'll not be camping out tonight'!....'Just get along'!! Anyway, by late afternoon myself and my friend had been talked into sleeping under the stars with the children....not quite sure exactly how that happened, I do know that these things happen frequently though! It's almost as if the children have some sort of powers that put you into a trance and convince you to agree to something and then when they snap their fingers and you wake up in a dreamy state, you haven't a clue how such matters came about...really very bazaar!!
So after an evening of entertainment (from the children) and some adult socialising with my lovely neighbours, we threw together our make shift concentration camp (well that's what it looked like).
The children danced and frolicked in their pyjamas for hours before settling down.
What started off as seven children camping out ended up being two (plus us adults) and then an extra one joined after an hour of so......I'd like to say I had a peaceful nights sleep but although the calls of nature are harmonious in many ways, the call of 'Mummy I'm cold' and 'I've wet the bed....' were somewhat destructive to a peaceful slumber!!!
So here we are the day after and funnily enough the child are out of sight again...there is work to be done of course, clearing up all of our belongs and trying (oh trying) to squeeze those tents back into their bags (why do they make them so small?).

My point to our adventure is, that you have to live a little, go with the flow of life.......my children (and myself) will have fond memories of our sleepless night under the stars....not sure they would be so quick to recall a strict seven O'clock bedtime!!
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Ed note: Would love to add photos but seem to have encountered a techy problem!

To Love A Man........

To Love A Man

If you want to change the world love a man; really love him
Choose the one whose soul calls to yours clearly who sees you; who is brave enough to be afraid
Accept his hand and guide him gently to your hearts blood
Where he can feel your warmth upon him and rest there
And burn his heavy load in your fires
Look into his eyes look deep within and see what lies dormant or awake or shy or expectant there
Look into his eyes and see there his fathers and grandfathers and all the wars and madness their spirits fought in some distant land, some distant time
Look upon their pains and struggles and torments and guilt; without judgment
And let it all go
Feel into his ancestral burden
And know that what he seeks is safe refuge in you
Let him melt in your steady gaze
And know that you need not mirror that rage
Because you have a womb, a sweet, deep gateway to wash and renew old wounds
If you want to change the world love a man, really love him
Sit before him, in the full majesty of your woman in the breath of your vulnerability
In the play of your child innocence in the depths of your death
Flowering invitation, softly yielding, allowing his power as a man
To step forward towards you…and swim in the Earth’s womb, in silent knowing, together
And when he retreats…because he will…flees in fear to his cave…
Gather your grandmothers around you…envelope in their wisdoms
Hear their gentle shusshhhed whispers, calm your frightened girls’ heart
Urging you to be still…and wait patiently for his return
Sit and sing by his door, a song of remembrance, that he may be soothed, once more
If you want to change the world, love a man, really love him
Do not coax out his little boy
With guiles and wiles and seduction and trickery
Only to lure him…to a web of destruction
To a place of chaos and hatred
More terrible than any war fought by his brothers
This is not feminine this is revenge
This is the poison of the twisted lines
Of the abuse of the ages, the rape of our world
And this gives no power to woman it reduces her as she cuts off his balls
And it kills us all
And whether his mother held him or could not
Show him the true mother now
Hold him and guide him in your grace and your depth
Smoldering in the center of the Earth’s core
Do not punish him for his wounds that you think don’t meet your needs or criteria
Cry for him sweet rivers
Bleed it all back home
If you want to change the world love a man, really love him
Love him enough to be naked and free
Love him enough to open your body and soul to the cycle of birth and of death
And thank him for the opportunity
As you dance together through the raging winds and silent woods
Be brave enough to be fragile and let him drink in the soft, heady petals of your being
Let him know he can hold you stand up and protect you
Fall back into his arms and trust him to catch you
Even if you’ve been dropped a thousand times before
Teach him how to surrender by surrendering yourself
And merge into the sweet nothing, of this worlds’ heart
If you want to change the world, love a man, really love him
Encourage him, feed him, allow him, hear him, hold him, heal him
And you, in turn, will be nourished and supported and protected
By strong arms and clear thoughts and focused arrows
Because he can, if you let him, be all that you dream
If you want to love a man, love yourself, love your father
Love your brother, your son, your ex-partner; from the first boy you kissed,
To the last one you wept over
Give thanks for the gifts; of your unraveling to this meeting
Of the one who stands before you now
And find in him the seed to all that’s new and solar
A seed that you can feed to help direct the planting
To grow a new world, together
~Anonymous~

Wild and free

The way we parent our children is often a reflection of the ways in which we were parented ourselves. You may have heard the saying 'I opened my mouth and out came my mother'......we often say the things that our mothers said to us as we were growing up, often those things are sayings that we might not necessarily have liked or agreed with as children - funny that!

For some, our own experiences of childhood may contain bad memories and we may not wish to repeat such practises when we raise our own children.

My own personal experience of childhood contains many really good and positive memories. Dad worked and mum stayed at home to look after myself and three siblings. My parents approach to child rearing was to just let us get on with things. Of course I'm sure there were some boundaries (although some of you who know me may say that is questionable). We did have to go to bed quite early (probably so that they could fix the house after a day of trainee gymnasts trashed it!), but in the main, I consider myself very fortunate to have had such laid back parents who pretty much left us to find our own feet.
Perhaps it is of no surprise then to learn that my children also have quite a considerable amount of freedom in life. I guess we are lucky in that we live in a very rural and safe area where there is a lot of space to explore and be children. I don't have to worry about 'strangers' or traffic, here the only things to worry about are how high the tree is that the child is stuck in (mainly because I have to climb it to rescue them).

I've been pondering a lot recently, marvelling at the life we lead. Evaluating, contemplating and smiling.

'When life gives you lemons....make lemonade!'

This time last year was a period of great change and adjustment for us, with my soul mate having departed earth side and our move to a new home, the start of a new journey on a different path for our family unit began. It was exhausting to be honest. But time passes by so quickly and as it does so it heals wounds and brings with it new links, new experiences, new friendships and new memories to have and hold to take you on your path to the future.

We're all on the other side of the fence now, enjoying life to the full once more and we consider ourselves so fortunate in so many ways.

The children decided to dig a swimming pool!

Observing the children I am so aware how they are changing and maturing. Being at home with them enables me to witness so much. I am ever grateful that I have the opportunity to do so. Sometimes I worry that they perhaps aren't achieving the level of education that their peers are reaching in the school system and then when I look closer I realise that they are fine and learning vast amounts even on days when they appear to do very little.

Never forgetting to smell the flowers...

We are exposed to so many amazing experiences at home and with friends. Recently we had to deal with a rather serious medical emergency at work. Miss P called the emergency services and calmly answered all the questions and gave all the information that she needed to. Small boy grabbed the first aid kit from the car and the little lady dealt with showing the paramedics in. All in a days work, no second thoughts given.
I laugh (to myself) at the clothing choices they make. The little lady was out riding her bike in her PJ's for much of the morning. Small boy tends to spend a lot of his time in his camouflage overalls with his sun hat and cycle helmet on...there's normally a bow and arrow stuffed somewhere too and a back pack full of essential items. He has that hunter gather instinct about him and constantly talks about shooting or catching his dinner! I do love the way they aren't influenced by peer pressure or fashion.
We've been taking full advantage of the lovely weather that has been blessed upon us recently. Bedtime seems to have slipped to 'come in when you want' and most meals have become picnics as the smalls decide to dine Al Fresco. The gravel driveway has proved an interesting site for fossil hunting and many an evening are spent searching for the best or prettiest fossil.
I hope the experiences they are having will become fond memories of childhood in the future. they'll certainly become very fond memories of relaxed parenting :-)

If mummy asks for some weeds to be collected for supper, Small boy brings a wheelbarrow full!

It's midsummer's night tonight, there is a feeling of mischief and magic in the air, hope some of it is conjured into my wonderful elderflower cordial that is stewing on the stove top as I write.

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Swish and dine......

I've been having a major clear out recently mainly of clothes but also of 'material things' that seem to clutter our space and our lives.
I have two wardrobes in my room and both were full to almost breaking with clothes, it really was quite ridiculous, so sort out I did. Anything that hadn't been worn in two years was dumped into a pile...that pile really did become quite a mountain. How many little black dresses does a girl need?
I'm rather embarrassed to say I found eight!!
Once I started the whole process became really quite enjoyable and liberating, la lala lala la, out and out and out..oh yes out with so much stuff....I have whittled my wardrobe needs down to one.....how cool is that!
Then I moved onto my drawers and baskets......more things to go....I'm loving this.......

The bug spread to the children's rooms where the floor had become an extension to the wardrobe....The Floordrobe!! My new rule is, if it doesn't fit in then you either have to rid yourself of something to make room or give it away.

Eight bin liners full later I am faced with the 'what to do'? with it issue....I could take the stuff to the charity store and often I do, but on this occasion I figured that so much 'stuff' warranted a party....(any excuse with me). So I invited a whole crowd of like-minded friends over and we had a 'Swish'. A Swish is  clothing exchange. You bring along things that you don't want and take stuff that you do.
In real Wyld woman style we had a 'pot luck' supper too where everyone brought something tasty to share. We had a real gourmet feast (I wouldn't expect anything else from these lovely friends). Quiche, salads, wild garlic pizza, jacketed potatoes and a selection of hearty puds all homemade, all delicious!

Once nourished on the inside we set to exchange. There is a definite order of respect and no smashing and grabbing as I once experienced at a jumble sale (never again). People generally have someone in mind for an item and if that person doesn't like it it's offered to all. It works really well. I had to keep the children back (no easy task). The little lady snuck in and demanded her checkered dress back at one point (the one she's never yet worn) and small boy yelled 'Don't sell my clothes' (he hasn't grasped the concept of the swish yet)! Even my visiting niece seemed to think I was giving away something of hers (I ask you, how embarrassing?!).


 I got rid of six bags of my unwanted items and reclaimed a few of my own items that when push came to shove I realised I actually quite like really (do hope that I wear them now).
I also gained a very pretty 'Whistles' skirt, very 'me' ....really lovely, shall be sporting that one should we have a Summer this year!
My friends left with their cars full...haha what a sight!!!
But what a wonderful evening, swishing at its best and a great social time too......

Feasty foraging

Spring is finally upon us in all her glory. It only seemed like yesterday that I looked with despair from the windows at the bare trees waiting to be dressed for the season several weeks behind schedule, and today I go out to observe how nature has rapidly graced the scene with a blanket of lush green and coloured sprinkles. Somehow this new scene seems very familiar, it's as if it has always been there.

With everything rapidly sprouting it is hard for us keen foragers not to notice the sudden influx of free food readily available in our surroundings, I talked about the wild garlic that I have been enthusiastically gathering for the past month. That is still out there in abundance where I am, although sadly not for all of you, I am told. The pungent flavour has now spread from the leaves to the flowers, still delicious though and the flowers themselves now add beauty of a different kind to salads so still worth looking out for.

This week we decided to take a walk and see what else is out there. Every year I try and learn a few more things that can be added to the table in some way or other. My children are growing up to be so knowledgeable about these things, I love it! It was only on Friday this week that Small boy suddenly yelled out whilst we were driving 'There's Jack by the Hedge'! Jack in the Hedge is also known as Garlic Mustard, it has a slightly garlicky/peppery taste, great to add to mixed salads.

So salad hunting we did go and this is what we found.....please step this way.........

Ground Elder - This is all over my garden and is most gardeners worst nightmare. I haven't given it a try as yet but it's supposed to be a great 'spinach like' alternative.

Dandelions - also know as 'Piss a bed'....quite funny I think as dandelions are a diuretic. The young leaves and flowers can be added to salads or I've made many a quiche using them.

Cleavers - also known as 'Sticky Willy', these are the plants that stick to you and later in the season their annoying little seed balls stick to your pets and are rather time consuming to remove! They taste a little like pea shoots.

                     Jack by the hedge - This is the Garlic/mustard tasting plant I referred to earlier.

Such a treat was experienced by all on this walk (I do so love being at one with nature), we are so fortunate to live so close to such beautiful animals and creatures. We stood and starred for quite sometime. The animals knew we were there but the distance between us made them feel secure enough to continue basking in the sunshine!

 

A lovely bed of wild garlic!

 

 

Snacking on the way.......

 

 

 

Small boy is always on the look out for skulls and interesting treasures....

 

 

Beauty in the woods

 

 

Check out these Jelly Ears....gathered for tea....

 

 

Boo!

 

 

Tad ah!! Mixed wild salad with a dash of lemon juice and a pinch of Himalayan pink salt, fried jelly ears, roasted butternut squash and carrot and beetroot salad with cous cous, oooh and a blob of mayo......delicious!!

If you go down to the woods today........

DON'T STEP ON THE RAMSONS!!!!!

Actually DO, the smell is divine.

For those of you who don't know about this wonderful plant, it is in fact 'Wild garlic' and it is growing in abundance in woodlands now.
I didn't photograph the garlic growing so I shall have to describe it. The leaves are about 25cm long, soft, smooth and shiny and tapered to a point. Later in their season they develop starry white flowers. Identifying these delicious plants is simple, go with your nose, it's all in the scent!

Medicinal uses:- 

Wild garlic has all the same medicinal uses as cultivated varieties , (i.e. it's an insecticide, has antioxidant properties, and boosts the immune system (isn't it incredible how nature provides everything we need in season)), with wild garlic you use the leaves instead of the bulb of the plant (although the bulbs can be used, they are just very small).

Culinary uses:-

With a little creativity, wild garlic can be used in a variety of dishes. Try putting it into soups, lasagne's, Spanish omelette's, salads and my favourite......pesto!

 * I got rather carried away when I last made pesto and added dandilion, cleavers and stinging nettles too, all good and all FREE!!

'Wild garlic pesto'

Ingredients:

A large handful of wild garlic

A cup of  pine nuts (if you don't have these try experimenting with other nuts and seeds, I used sunflower seeds and they were perfect!).

Olive oil

Lemon juice

A pinch of Himalayan rock salt

1 cup of grated cheese

You have to experiment with the quantities, I rarely measure out anything so can't be specific. Pop all your ingredients into a food processor and whizz until the desired consistency and then serve on pasta or sandwiched between two floured tortilla's and grilled (now that was delicious!!).

Enjoy!!

Who do you think you are?

It's an interesting question isn't it...we think we know who we are, but are we really true to ourselves and how do we appear to others?

The reason for blogging on this subject is because I have recently advanced into the world of 'dating'.

When you are in a long term relationship you bumble on along, content in life and secure. You take for granted the partnership you have, assuming (or perhaps not giving attention to the fact) that your partner will always be there. You share the responsibilities of life, of running a home etc etc. When that partnership dissolves for whatever reason, you have to re balance life...bluntly that's 'DIY' and it's not easy!

Back to dating.......

So it seems there are many options open to the single woman...(or man of course).

1. Leave things to chance.......this could of course take a long time and if you don't get out much your chances of finding Mr (or Mrs) Right, are seriously reduced.

2. Have a friend set you up on blind dates with their single friends.......sounds like a bad nightmare!

3. Join a dating agency......this seems to be what most singletons do these days.

So once you have established that you are going to go with the dating agency option, the next step is to decide which one? If you google the subject, ooodles of sites come up. I tell you choosing the right sight takes some hitting and missing too.

All the sites that I have so far looked at require you to register to have yourself put in the picture (it's a bit like selling your house), and you have to pay for the privilege to make contact and read messages from prospective lovers.

OK, so that established, one has to describe oneself....this for me is the tricky bit.

'Wild, crazy mother of three who has no income who cooks lentils and still does cartwheels at the age of 40'......

Ummmm

'Internally beautiful young lady with delightful dependents, loves crafts and living in the country'.......

Oh dear

'Buxom brunette, slim, likes to laugh (and joke around), dances in the living room, OK sings into the hairbrush (sometimes)'......

Arrrhhh

'Hippyish, home educating, vegetarian, earth mother, makes delicious dandelion quiche and is slightly bonkers'....

You could spend a lifetime planning and writing your profile and it is so important in finding the right person, get it wrong and the potential lover might just run a mile, or you may well attract some total weirdo...oh yes, they are out there!

Last weekend I decided that on line dating wasn't for me and that Mr Right was going to just turn up in my life, two days later, I have joined another website! A week later and I'm off again, having been contacted only by folk in their late 50's (not that there is anything wrong with this but I tend to like folk my own age)!

So it goes on.....thinking for now that there is a grand plan out there and that you never 'find' love when you are looking.

Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!

Wooohooo, Spring at last!

Ooooh, arrrrhhhh Spring, it's here at last!

Today was the most beautiful day, pure Vitamin D at its best beaming down upon the wet and cold earth at last and all day long too.

Having been hiding away and waiting for warmer weather to appear, it's finally here. At last the time has come to venture out once again and that we did.
I am really feeling the need for adventure at the moment and am determined to make the most of every opportunity to get out and explore this wonderful place in which we live.
For many years now, I have know about a little church that stands alone in a field near Burford. So today, sun shining and snacks packed, I decided to take the children for an adventure. It's taken me about seven years to do this!

The church I finally discovered is called St Oswalds and it sits in a field at a place called Widford right next to Swinbrook near Burford. We parked in the car park of the Church in Swinbrook and followed the footpath through the churchyard across a couple of fields to this amazing little place.

At a first distant glance, the church appeared Victorian. I was basing that judgement on the little bell peak that rose above the hills. As we got closer, it looked much older and once inside it look rather ancient!
The church is tiny (not the smallest I've seen), well in comparison to most churches. But what is quite amazing and mystical is the fact that it doesn't seem to serve any place. The church just stands alone in the middle of a field. Literature within suggests that there may have been a village in the area perhaps wiped out by the plague of the 14th century. Interesting indeed!

The literature also suggested that there were Roman mosaics beneath the flagstone floors, even more amazing! I don't think I can begin to imagine any further and will just take from this place a sense of awe and wonder and enjoy it for what is was, a place of peace, tranquillity and beauty.

A walk back to the car park through the village, was full of talking points and interesting things, thoroughly recommended as an adventure to fill a couple of hours, longer if you stumble upon the pub on the way home!

Oh, we could pass by the ford without a little play! (Well small boy couldn't...note how the girls just stand and stare). xx