Thank you Shell xxx

We loved our package of old buttons. It was so nice of you to think of sending us some. James particularly enjoyed using them in his latest construction project.

Check out the blog of the very talneted Shell at My Handmade Haven - a very lovely and creative lady.
xxx

Book Sharing Monday (vii)

This week we have chosen a rollicking rhyme Slinky Malinky by Lynley Dodd. It is a great read aloud story poem which allows me to camp it up in my most dramatic fashion ;)


Slinky Malinky is a naughty cat, a sort of feline Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, who likes to go out at night and steal all the neighbours' belongings. One night, however, he goes too far....

All over town
from basket and bowl
he pilfered and pillaged,
he snitched and he stole.
Slippers and sausages,
biscuits, balloons,
brushes and bandages,
pencils and spoons.

... he bungles the job, wakes up the family and his nocturnal wanderings are curtailed. He becomes a respectable kitty in the end, but i am not sure how long it will last. Great fun.

Check out other book shares at:

Shadow Shot Sunday - Gala Day Parade

Today was our local Gala Day Parade. Schools, organisations and businesses and individuals come together and enter decorated floats, or dress up and walk around the town accompanied by various bands. This year's theme was Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Here are two Scots boys, my younger son and my grandson, waiting impatiently on the parade to start - flags at the ready

First came a man selling balloons...

...then the Gala Queen's carriage...

A brass band...

...and a pipe band (of course).

Then I looked across the road and saw this...

Our old picture house, now a community theatre and arts venue.

Hope you enjoyed my shadow parade. See lots more Shadow Shots at Hey Harriet.

Playing

James has been loving these warm days and spends most of his time getting down and dirty, running about in the garden. I love to watch him and it is great to see him so active - especially after his accident in the winter, when he fractured his femur. There is not much sign of the injury now - a wee bit unsteady on occasion, usually when he is tired, but on the whole it is a distant memory.So - he rolls about in his tent...



...fixes my car with a yellow playsilk...



...fends off hidden dragons with a skytail ball...

...and brings a whole new meaning to co-sleeping!

Exactly what a 2 year old should be doing, really:)

Milestone

Did you vote today?

This girl did - for the first time!

I remember how she enjoyed learning about the suffragettes, and she has always been politically aware. She took several older colleagues to task because they 'couldn't see the point in voting'. I guess in this current climate of expense fiddling it may seem like that, but at least we have the opportunity to make changes. Many don't have that.
I was proud to walk down to the polling station with my husband and younger daughter today to cast our votes freely and without harassment.

Relentless

I sat under the cherry tree for a few minutes tonight with my barleycup and my attention was attracted by a swarm of tiny insects flying around in a mad dance. As I watched them cavorting around I realised that I have been living at that pace for a few weeks now. The garden and greenhouse are claiming a lot of attention just now. K is sitting his Highers, hoping to get the grades he needs for university, James has been potty training, I have been attending the beekeeping classes twice a week, some work was being done to the driveway, and other family commitments are increasing. The gorgeous weather has also meant we are spending most of the day outside, but somehow the house seems more untidy - sand, dust and grass are carried in on bare feet, and household chores seem to mount up of their own accord, to be tackled quickly when small boys are eventually persuaded to have a bath and go to bed.
This hectic pace will calm down again - exams and beekeeping classes both finish this week, but other things will come in to replace them fairly soon. The insect's life is very short - just a few weeks, so they must dance while they can. I am grateful that I have time to take a few moments to reflect, before plunging back into the reel again.

Book Sharing Monday (vi)

This week we have gone for another oldie - The Tiger Who Came to Tea, by Judith Kerr, Now almost 41 years since it was first published, this is our second copy.

It is the simple story of Sophie and her Mummy, who are having a lovely tea when there is a knock at the door. Of course they are most surprised to see a huge tiger standing on the threshold, asking if he could have some tea! Well, what else could you do but invite him in?




Trouble is, he eats up everything in the house and even drinks all the ater in the taps! What can they have for supper?

Sophie's Daddy said "I know what we'll do. I've got a very good idea. We'll put on our coats and go to a cafe"

I have never been quite sure if I like this book. I think it offends my feminist side - Daddy goes to work, comes home and fixes everything, while Mummy is at home, powerless, and doesn't know what to do. I have to say, however, that all my children have absolutely loved this story, so I have obviously not projected my feelings. Is there a child that would not love having such a polite tiger for tea?

Share more books with Alex at Book Sharing Monday.