My Heart Leaps Up ...

Eric tells me that, while there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it turns out there's a wishing stone at the beginning. And he'd rather find the stone, because then of course you can wish for a pot of gold (and for many other things, too).

Bunny Bread

A last little taste of Easter fun ...

The Concert

The programme of events ...

Music and dancing, while the audience watches from infront of the curtains ...

Refreshments, which were served with tea after the performance.

Easter Joys

Crafting ...

Hunting ...

Finding ...Feasting ...

Playing ... Beaching ...

Paddling ... Walking... Loving ...

Autumn Light Touches the Garden

Simple Gifts

I've heard Lord of the Dance many times, but never realised that it is actually a recent version of this hauntingly lovely Shaker dance tune.


Listen to Simple Gifts

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come 'round right

-- Elder Joseph

Easter Ritual

We make hot cross buns only once a year.
Grandma is always there to help.


This year we made miniature buns ... little morsels are so much more tempting.

There were choc-chip versions for the children, and fruit buns for the rest of us. (I snuck a couple of the chocolate ones when they were hot and oozing straight out of the oven. They were so delicious that next year I'll make double the chocolate dough -- after all, Easter's not the time for restraint.)

Adam was happy to help out with the eating. He adored the sultana version -- he had two for breakfast ... and another one for afternoon tea!

Too Soon

This little one seems to think that nine months is not ...

.. too early to be pulling himself up to stand, and thinking about starting to walk!

Please wait until you've turned one, baby. I'm not ready for a toddler yet!

The Truth

Eric adores his eight-year-old cousin, who seems to him to be so much wiser and faster and bigger and more worldly. And Rory is kind, generous, loving and patient with the littler boy -- and he's also happy to shock Eric just a little with new 'naughty' words and slightly older cheekiness.
When Rory recently stayed, the two relished each other's company. They played Lego together, spent hours on the Xbox, laughed and joked and told each other silly stories in raised whispers.
They insisted on both sleeping in the double bed, and Rory read choose-your-own-adventure books to Eric until 9:30pm.

By that time, I'd snuggled into my own warm bed, but left the door open so I could hear the boys chat. And so I was listening as Rory educated Eric on the true nature of the Tooth Fairy, and then Santa to boot.

And you know what? I didn't mind -- and nor did Eric. He was suspicious last year, and I never quite gave him a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Now he feels that he's been let into the 'big boys' club, and it's his turn to join the grownups and let Adam enjoy the make-believe.
The official motto from me is still "If you don't believe, you won't receive", and Eric is still willing to toe the line, but now it's with a twinkle in his eye!

Gloves, Shears & Roses

Waking

Peek-a-Boo

Boy 'n' the Hood

Nine months must the the perfect age for pure 'babyness'.

Lovely smooth skin, bright eyes, chubby cheeks, wet kisses handed out to anyone who'll accept them, plenty of darling baby chatter, and enormous cheeky grins.

What would we do without him?

Tiger

Face painted at our dear little cousin's party.

Turning Pages

As it was unusually quiet in the children's bedroom, I peeped into the doorway too check that all was well ... when I saw this ...

We often read this book together, and he scoots over to me excitedly when I pick it up, ready to listen silently. He'll even turn the pages, nowdays, if I push over the corners for him.

Easter Parade

For the last few weeks, the kindergarten children and their year 5 buddies have been making Easter Hats together. Eric's marvellous buddy, Liam, was responsible for much of this masterpiece, which my little boy wore as he walked with Liam in the school's Easter Parade.

And Then There Was One ...

Eric's been in a torment of excitement for days, waiting to set off on his long-anticipated birthday trip. His little suitcase stood packed and ready at the door since yesterday afternoon, and this morning he was up and dressed at 5am. Finally it was time to leave, and he hugged me tightly (and even gave a tiny sob) before climbing into the car to with Granny and Papa. We waited at the front gate and waved wildly as the car went by, knowing that he will have the most marvellous three nights at the Gold Coast, visiting all the theme-parks and swimming in the pirate-ship pool at their hotel.

As for me, it's a holiday of sorts with just one little person to enjoy and look after.

Although it would have been lovely if they'd wanted to take him, too. At least then I might get an unbroken night's sleep!

We Have a Rooster

I'd tried to avoid noticing the obvious signs -- a luxuriant tail, massive legs, and a proud comb. But when I entered the coop and heard a throaty, low, and almost querulous "cock-a-doodle-do?" last week, I knew I had to admit we have a rooster. We'll do our best to keep him, since flocks with a male head are meant to be happier and less prone to bickering. But he'll have to keep his head down -- or our neighbour has offered to take it off!

Autumn Border

Not many months ago this borden was scrubby, bare and forlorn. Now it's putting on a lovely show of autumn colour, with Japanese windflowers, geraniums, forget-me-nots and salvia in bloom. To my satisfaction, every plant here has been grown from cuttings, or taken as a self-seeded baby from the manor's garden.

Now my mother's looking at buying a heat bed -- which means we'll have a failproof way to raise our own annuals. Imagine -- hundreds of pansies, asters, larkspur and vegetable seedlings -- for the cost of a packet of seeds!

Evening Light

Handball Champion of Kindergarten

Look at that concentration!

And those tricks!It's little wonder that Eric received an award at assembly this week for winning the school handball competition in the kindergarten age group.

I didn't realise that he even knew the rules -- but it seems that his wonderful year 5 buddy, Liam, had elected himself as Eric's coach, and the two had been training every lunchtime for weeks. As well as a certificate he won his very first handball -- which has since been admired and tested out by every member the family (except of course Adam)!

Blowing out the Candles