Love the girl that wants to give her Mamma flowers, whenever she sees an opportunity to pick them… though in many a situation I have to urge her not to pick them! Love Autumn here in Santa Barbara (though it’s the warmest, sunniest one I have ever experienced in my lifetime!). The days are definitely […]
crafts
Things I’m Loving with a touch of icing sugar, paper chains & random elephants…
This was the week that started with three daughters at home. A Monday that witnessed mass paper-chain making, faces in plates of icing sugar and a Christmas elephant made out of an old milk-bottle! A Tuesday and Wednesday spent mostly at home, with two daughters (whilst Charlotte enjoyed end of term fun and shared lunches). […]
Thirty days hath September, April, June and November… FIVE sleeps till…
December countdown to Christmas Day – and thinking up some active ideas and goodies to pop in this amazing advent calendar my nine year old made on Sunday (all her own idea – the little paper cubes even have paper springs folded underneath each one – for easy pulling out from the main box). I […]
A Curious Wonderland
It’s spring school holidays here in Wellington and ‘Capital E‘ is always high on our list of ‘must do’ activities, with theatre, workshops, crafts and wonderful spaces to delight the senses. We didn’t make it to the theatre today, but did make a couple of wonderful ‘Fishy Friends’ – before going on to visit a […]
Halloween in NZ at Beltane time: Trying to please everyone
Here in our home it’s the second week of our spring break school holidays. It’s rained for most of it and the forecast is for yet more rain 🙁 We have escaped into the fresh air whenever possible, but the rain definitely makes us all feel a bit cranky and fed up (especially when the […]
It’s snowing like you wouldn’t believe…
in England (and in parts of Australia!). Here in New Zealand we’re thinking of our northern hemisphere loved ones as we snip, decorate and paste paper snowflakes on the windows. My wonderful sister’s boyfriend, Mike Hutton, sent me this photograph of my father and sister at The Roaches, near where Claire and Mike live in […]
4 Seasons: Making, Baking, Coughing & Spluttering
The nippers all have coughs and snuffles, which is surprising for the season. They are still happy loves, but a little on the tired side and having more time off school and kindi than usual (really don’t want to pass on germs just prior to Christmas!). Poor bubba isn’t sleeping well with her snuffles (which […]
Beads Frustration!
Some toys are sent to test a parent and child’s powers of persistence, determination and patience. ‘Beados’ are just that test! Last week, my good friends Stephanie and Francis popped round (Stephanie used to nanny for me when Sophie was a baby and I really needed an extra pair of hands!). They very generously bought […]
