Beach Babies

An impromptu paddle was the order of the day when we met friends at the park, then wandered down to Pebbly Beach.

Rory Turns Seven

Every day, Boo counted down the 'sleeps' until Rory's seventh birthday party. He carefully chose Rory's birthday gift, selecting the toy he himself most wanted in the world for his cousin. It was bought and placed on the table waiting to be wrapped, but Boo never once moaned or asked to have it for himself. It was a special gift of love.
All the long drive into the city my four-year-old chattered with excitement, and refused morning tea so he had plenty of room in his tummy for party food.
I worried that, with 18 other schoolfriends there, Rory wouldn't have time to notice Boo or would -- understandably in the excitement -- leave him to play by himself or with the other 'babies'.
But, to my delight, I discovered that seven-year-old boys can be unutterably gracious. Rory held Boo's hand all through the day (even with his big friends watching on), he took his little cousin into the thick of the games, and unwrapped Boo's gift with as much excitement and enthusiasm as Boo had put into it.
How lucky we are to have such a special young man in our lives.

They're Home!

Five weeks is much too long to be without a Granny and Papa next door. Goodness but we were excited to see them back, and everything feels 'just right' again.
The house was dusted and shine, dinner ready, and Boo decorated a 'Welcome Home' banner, which we hung over the front door to greet the returning travellers.

Blossom

Boo-isms

Boo at the opera: "I don't like that singing. It's too beautiful."

*******
As we leave the station, having waved Grandma off on a trip to Big Town: "Now I don't have anyone left to give me lollies!"

Playing 'Chest'

Last week, entirely without prompting, Boo asked if I would play "Chest" with him. I hadn't realised he even knew what the game was, but took down Papa's beautiful set -- which has pieces which include medieval peasants, wild stallions and courtly kings -- and Boo was entranced.
My chess skills are almost non-existent, but I was able to show him how each of the pieces moves, and the general goals. We played until Boo was bored, mainly moving and taking eachother's pawns (since these make the simplest movements), then put the set carefully away.
Since then, my little man has asked to play several times more, and yesterday evening he challenged his Dad to a game. Although it is all just fiddling at this stage, Jumps is a masterful player -- and Papa's not too bad, either -- so perhaps one day these three will be able to have regular games together. Or maybe I'm jumping ahead -- either way, Boo's having fun at the moment, and being introduced to something that might one day give him great pleasure.

Canopy of Roses

The apricot climbing rose called 'Crepuscule' in full flower at the front door of the manor ...

... makes a lovely spot for a children's picnic ...

... with a canopy of roses stretching into the blue sky above.

Cut & Thrust

Over the past few months, Boo has moved from cutting with plastic knives, to using metal cutlery for buttering bread and eating. Today he helped to unload the dishwasher at the manor, and was intrigued by the sharp little fruit knives which live in Granny's top drawer. Later, when we were cooking together, he asked to be allowed to use a sharp knife to help me cut vegetables.
I set him up with a chopping board and several small potatoes, and watched him so very carefully and fearfully!
I showed him how to hold the knife, to place it safely on the board when not in use, never to point a knife or try to slice something while holding it, and to place the vegetables flat side down for a safer cut.
But my heart was beating quickly the whole time, and I had a box of band-aids at the ready!
I'm not sure exactly when is the right time to begin using sharp knives, but I tell myself that Boo is becoming more sensible each day, and some jobs are actually safer if you use adult tools. He showed an interest, paid attention to instructions, and was proud of his achievement. So perhaps his attitude more than his age (4) is what counts in deciding whether he is old enough to learn this skill.

Tears & a Posy

Her tears were forgotten when Boo handed Nyah a posy of her own, so she could join the other kids, who were industriously decorating the outdoor table with flowers.

Flowers, Eggs, Jam & Chocolate

A thank-you gift comprising all of life's essentials.

Jaxon

Belle's darling five-month-old has the longest lashes I've seen on a baby boy -- and the sweetest temperament to match.

Games Children Play

Girls ...

Boys (they were enjoying this, believe it or not, and howled when we told them to stop) ...

Nature or nurture?

Hmmmm ...

The Parade Passes

This weekend we celebrated the 150th anniversary of Toytown's founding.
Boo excitedly waited for the parade to begin down Main Street, and we weren't disappointed by the turnout.

There were three marching bands, horses, clubs dressed in uniforms and waving wildly, children from local schools, a bullock dray, fire-engines from yesteryear, police cars with wailing sirens, vintage cars ... even a horse and carriage with costumed driver and passengers.

A navy helicopter flew overhead, then landed on the oval by the sea, just beyond the market stalls.

Boo took a look inside and had a turn in the pilot's seat.

Then there was a slide down the giant slippery dip, sausage sandwiches, a lucky dip and lollipop. And, to top of a marvellous day, it was time for a ride on the steam train!

Boo had a ball -- and came back smelling of smoke and steam.

Finally, on our tired journey home, we stopped at Tinytown where over 300 bikers had come for a charity rally. Axl and Wayne had ridden as part of the contingent, so we said "hello" before heading home for tea and a rest.

To the Sea!

I love being at home -- but, after a while, I need to go out and connect with the big wide world, even if it's just for a walk in the open air.
So today Boo and I dropped buckets and brooms, picked up two friends, and headed to the sea.

The children spent half an hour simply throwing rocks into the tidal pools, giggling and laughing at the splashes they made. I laughed, too.

While we waited on the wharf for our hot chips to fry, we watched the huge pelicans, already curled up for sleep. One spread its wonderous wings and glided overhead -- such a magnificent and enormous bird!

The seagulls swooped down from everywhere to try to steal our feast -- Boo and Lexa spent as much time chasing them away as eating chips. Jahly didn't budge -- he knew the safest way to keep greedy gulls from his plate was to gobble up all the chips as quickly as possible!

Spring Cleaning

This weekend has been a busy blur of cleaning and packing away the contents of the kitchen, in preparation for when the new cupboards arrive. The dining room is stacked full of boxes: food, pots, pans, plates and cutlery all piled higgeldy-piggeldy. We're terribly lucky that we can move into the manor for the next week or so, so there's no need to live surrounded by chaos, which is partly the reason why my packing has been so haphazard.

Although it might still ten days or so before the workmen come, Jumps wanted to use this weekend to move the spacious pantry cupboard and an overhead set of cupboards into the laundry. I must say it looks fabulous -- up until now my linen was squashed into the bedroom dresser, while towels and sundries spilled out of a melamine bookcase placed behind the laundry door. It almost feels like I'm getting a new laundry and kitchen at the same time!

I will take some photos of the renovations soon, but for now I'm adding a few shots of the beautiful weather and the garden, which is bursting with flowers. Even the blossom is out -- almost a month too soon -- and pink-and-white magnolias embrace the cottage on every side.