A bit of Making

I am starting to get my creative mojo back after a nasty bout of Flu and Vertigo and it feels good.  No it actually feels great.

Inspired by the signs of new shoots and Spring outside my front door I have made new cushion covers for both the sitting room and the conservatory/playroom.

Simple envelope style, in the sitting room from some seconds Laura Ashley picked up last year.

Something a little more funcky in the conservatiry, Pop Garden By Heather Baily.

I have also been making birthday presents for Maxi's friends.  Simple personalised purses filled with wooden beads.

Sugar cubes, inspired by ......  I can not find the post, so if it was you, please tell me.

I am not sure where the sun has gone this morning though, it is very dark and grey.  I am off to the GP for some blood tests (Still feeling not right) and then for a day of play with my boys. 

We are really enjoying our Easter Holidays.            

More Spring Cards and Crafts for Children

The boys have been busy making again, the above one is made by stamping with half a potato and mini made this all by him.

This one is Maxi's, his writing is getting to be excellant and he did the spelling all by himself.

Maxi did the cutting out on this one and it has become a classic in this house!

This is Maxi's Easter Bunny Basket.

This was maxi's Easter Bunny Egg, which he made all by himself at school.  He didnt win the competation, but them some of the eggs were pretty perfect a nd I am sure the parents had more of a hand in them than I did!

When the Sun comes out to play, so do we

It is so much more fun when the sun is shining and we have been making the most of the last few days of MadDad being on Annual Leave, before I have the boys to myself for the last week of the holidays next week.

Vanilla Scones from The Pioneer Woman - Yum

Chocolate cakes - never fail to be eaten

I tried this, not very successfully, but had a great day out.

The boys went to Locomotion at Shildon, which is part of the National Railway Museum

They had a brill time and are already asking to go back.

We all enjoyed the sunshine in Saltburn yesterday (after football practice), mainly spent in the Valley Gardens

Ice creams all round.

There is a project taking shape in the garden

Boys and their toys!

I so don't want this week to end and MadDad to go back to work.

Jury Service

I have been issued a summons for Jury Service at the beginning of June.  I do not fall into any of the categories that are able to decline or are ineligible for attendance, but I just don't know how to fit it in with our family commitments.

I know that sounds such a terrible thing to say, but MadDad works and leaves at 6.30am and doesn't get back in to 5.45pm.  I drop Maxi at school at 8.30am and then I look after Mini and my mum till 12.30pm when I take mini to preschool.

I collect both the boys from preschool and school at 2.50pm and 3pm respectively, keep them occupied, prepare dinner, feed them, bath them etc.

I can arrange before school and after-school wrap around care for Maxi via the school at a cost of £6 per day for the duration and I think that he would be fine with that, but Mini is another issue.

I am loathed to put him in to day care for any length of time, he really suffered when I was in hospital and so did we.  It took months to get him back to his normal self.  I can not leave him with my mum for obvious reasons and MadDad does not really get enough holiday to take it off to cover childcare. 

Also I know my brother would step up and look after my mum, but it would make their life really difficult too.

So what do I do, I could ask for a 12 month deferral, by then Mini would be in school, so could do the wrap around care and it would also give more time for my Brother to be able to help my mum and also for her to be in better health?

Or do I just tell them all of the above and see what they say?

I know it is my civic duty and I don't want to be a shirker, but what if I get allocated a trial that will take longer than two weeks, who will look after my family then?

MadDad has done Jury Service, but it was pre Maxi and therefore, we didn't have any issues at all, but any of you mums and dads out there, what have you done?

Colour Swap

I also took part in Dolly Dollops colour swap this month too.  I was paired with Vicki, from Vintage Vicki

My colours were pink and green and you can see that Vicky has had a good look at the blog nad realised I am a lover of Hot Pink!

What a fantastic parcel indeed, I received some felted soap, which is mine all mine and a bar of chocolate, which I polished off on my own too!

Look at this fantastic bunting, isn't it just brilliant. I have popped it up in the kitchen and I have to say I love it, thank you Vicki. But there was more!

Vicki made a super broach for me and a needle case too and give me some pink and green crafting ribbon and some lip gloss and the most wonderful shell shaped plate, which is now in our en suite. Thank you Vicki, your package really did cheer me up.

 The minimads are really enjoying their lollys too.  Thanks again.

Farndale and the Daffodils

Daffodils (1804)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way, They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company: I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Photos were taken my Mini and Maxi on my point and click

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

Farndale

MadDad and the boys went Farndale to see the daffodils yesterday afternoon (I was zonked from Swimming with them in the morning, I am off for blood tests next week to try and find out what is wrong).

It is said that Wordsworth wrote the above poem after visiting Farndale. Well this year daffodils are late and the ground is very boggy, but the boys had a lovely afternoon and loved watching the spring lambs too.

We are very lucky to have this on our doorstep and it always reminds me when MadDad and I were courting.

The joy of receiving and a great big thank you

Me and the MiniMads have been blessed this last couple of weeks by the kindness and creativity of bloggers.

Firtly we were lucky enough to win a copy of a children's book that Cystal Jigsaw wrote herself. The mini's and I are treasuring reading a little of this each evening and are trying to make it last. Did I tell you she wrote it herself!

The wonderful Sandy of Baby Baby, who I often think is me in disguise sent me some chocolate sustenance and some buttons for the boys (who open the package and ran off with them before I could take a piccie) and some fabric she has been meaning to do something with. Thank you Sandy the fabric is wonderful and I have my thinking cap on for what to make with it.

I was also blessed to win a giveaway over at Sew Mental Mamma, a very talented lady who makes the most wonderful clothes for her children, please pop over and say hello.

I was blown away with her generousness, not only did I receive a zakka sewing books, to patterns, some Alice in wonderland fabric, a stunning pin cushion, ribbon and a large button, but she popped in some green bath foam for the minimads and it is wonderful as it contains no nasties or SLS so they can use it! Oh and I almost forgot there was also some Gin and Tonic Chocolate in the parcel too. Thank you ever so much.

Isn't the blog world just wonderful. I have had a hard month and I have to say that I have been in awe of the wonderful things we have received.

Also a very special lady Ang over at Tracing Rainbows wrote the boys the most amazing letter all about the Easter Story and we have been reading it after dinner each evening and the now can recite it pretty much off by heart. It was such a wonderful thing to receive, such a joy and so perfectly tailored for my little men. It has bright images and well it is just wonderful.

She also send an Easter present for each of the boys and for me and MadDad too.

I was also given an unexpected Easter Present from the very clever Liz at Violet Posy.  Look up, see that new header, well Liz made that and I had no idea.  She is a super and very talented lady.