This week

 I've been meaning to blog all week, but just never really got around to it, so here's an amalgamation of all the different things I was going to post about!! 

Do you remember around this time last year, Luke suffered a real disappointment with his swimming, they didn't think kis swimming was up to scratch, and whilst trying to get his 2000m badge they asked him to stop? Well, he has been working hard, his teacher has been working on his style, and last Saturday (at a silly time of 9.15am (that doesnt usually exist at the weekends, well not in terms of being out the house!) Luke got into the pool and started the first of his 100 lengths.  An hour and a half later, he got out the pool with a beaming face, as he had achieved his goal. 

In the meantime, Alec was going for his 100m badge, but did not stop swimming!  In the end he ended up swimming 400m!!  And Ethan was attempting his 10m, and swam 20m!  So a very successful morning all round.  Well done lads!

Over the autumn we put up a bird box in some "dead space" at the back of the shed.  We had been wanting to put in a camera, as the tv was only the other side of the wall, but we didn't get around to it.  Wish we had now, as we have a family of blue tits in residence!  Can you see it sticking it's head out the bird box? This is the closest we can get, which I suppose is perfect for the birds, but I would love to be able to have a closer peek!

 I love this patch of the garden at the moment, so colourful, and it always brings a smile to my face.  I also love the fact that at other times of the year, the interesting areas are in different parts of the garden. 

 I was doing a bit more spinning the other evening, when Sophie wanted a turn.  I slipped the drive band off, so she wasn't pulling the wool through, but felt like she was spinning by pushing it with her hand.  I was impressed with her technique though, she's obviously been watching, as she was treadling, and holding the fleece and yarn correctly, she was also trying to get the yarn to feed through.  I guess soon enough she'll have to have her own bobbin to spin on to!

 And finally, we had so many downpours yesterday there was no hope in staying dry when picking the boys up from school.  No problem though, we embraced the wetness, and set off early for some puddle jumping.  By the time we were back home, we were truly sodden, but it didn't seem to put Sophie off doing a tad more puddle jumping!!

So there we are.  Random glimpses of the week.  I would have hoped to have shown you all the plants I have transplanted down the allotment, but the weather keeps putting pay to that at the moment.  Got so much to still get planted, but we'll get there, slowly but surely!!

Just for the record

Yesterday Sophie took her first controlled steps. 2 steps, she was sooooo proud of herself. She spends alot of time on her feet now, clapping hands, shaking her head in excitement, jumping up and down!

He Passed!

Luke had his grade one drum exam yesterday, and was feeling really confident having spent pretty much every opportunity this last week or so practising on his drumkit!

Dosed up on Rescue Remedy, as the nerves began to kick in, he entered the exam room, knowing he only had to try his best, and it was all experience. The first time he has had an exam, I was so nervous for him (I think I should have had some rescue remedy too!).

The good thing with drums is you can hear them easily. All his set pieces were perfect, and he came out feeling he had done his best, but eager for the results.

His teacher called today to say he had the results and he had passed with merit, and was very close to getting a distinction. Luke is really pleased, and we are all very proud of him. The nice thing is even though his exam is over, he is still spending alot of time on the drums.

Well Done Luke!!!

What have you started?

Claire what have you done? Claire from Border Stories has introduced Free Food Friday, and whilst I'm never organised enough to do it on a Friday, it has got me looking in the hedgerows, and I whilst down the allotment digging up some nettles the other day, I brought some home for nettle soup. Truly delicious, Sophie and I tucked in for lunch two days on the trot, and I now have a recipe for nettle fritters too, so guess what's for lunch next week!

Yesterday, whilst walking around the football field trying to get Sophie to sleep in the sling, whilst Alec was trying out his first attempt at football training, I was noting down some blackthorn bushes, which will hopefully give rise to plenty of sloes come Autumn, and an elder bush, with blossoms very close to opening, so elderflower cordial here we come! All I need to find now is some wild garlic, as there a recipes aplenty for garlic bread, soup, etc. I guess some more scouring of our local wilderness is required!

I am awaiting a parcel of beeswax to finish off my comfrey nappy balm, that has been sat in a cupboard for a couple of weeks. I'll hopefully be able to tell you about that next week!

More progress down at the allotment this week, with the runner beans going in, and some more ground cleared for hopefully the purple sprouting. Also got around to sowing pumpkin, courgette, and cucumber in the mini green house, along with some naturtium and calendula saved from seeds from last year. The school that Alec and Ethan go to have just started their own veg garden, and are willing to take some of the extra seedlings of purple sprouting. Although the amount of extras that we have, I think we could feed the school a few times over!

Luke has been put forward to take his grade one drum exam, so he is now angling for a drumkit! Might have to be an early birthday present, along with ear plugs for us and the neighbours! He has also been identified as gifted and talented for English and Maths, which has boosted his confidence even further to become an author. A good week for him!