… went berry picking, followed the same day by jam making, and then by jam eating!
Despite my best attempts I’ve misjudged it again and this year’s batch is definitely soft-set jam. Still, it tastes good and we had fun.
Category: general stuff
summer hols
Well, you’d never think it by the weather (which has been far more March flavoured than July) but here we are again at the start of the long summer break. This one is slightly different as it marks a major transition point for Amy, who says goodbye to junior school today and is getting ready to be a senior from September. I’m so grateful (and relieved) that she’s incredibly excited about it.
As usual we’re not having a family summer holiday because it’s just too difficult with Toby so I’m whipping up a little summer holiday kit for Amy including a batch of summer holiday vouchers – lots of little fun things that we can do together while Toby is at summer clubs or being looked after by H. I had thought Amy might have grown too old for these but she informs me she’ll never be too old for them and it wouldn’t be summer without them! This year treats include regulars like camp out in the garden, berry picking and trip to the farm shop, shopping trip with £10 spending money, lunch at a restaurant, trip to the cinema, picnic with a friend, trip to a museum, sleepover with a friend etc.
If you’d like some to use with your own family, you’re welcome to print some off from here
Anyway, there have been a few breaks in the cloud today so I’m off to spend the last few hours of peace at the end of the garden with my one-a-day blankie which continues to grow slowly but surely.
Wishing everyone a good summer/winter depending on your hemisphere. Will pop in here when I can, so see you soon x
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PS: Thank you so very much for all of the kind comments on the previous post. Comments I’ll treasure and am very grateful for. I hope I didn’t make anyone who has simply asked about patterns for the animals feel bad for just asking – that was not my intention. I just wanted to explain some of my thoughts and feelings x
my little helper
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the wonderfully wise comments on the previous post. I suppose I was looking for a little reassurance that my parental compass wasn’t completely out of whack! It is incredibly reassuring and heartening that so many people feel the same way about raising children. I loved reading all of the comments especially since they were from such a diverse group of women and yet echo the same strong maternal instincts to protect and nurture. Thank you again x
Amy’s enjoying stretching her wings gently and has been out for a bike ride with friends over the weekend – it’s good to give her freedom to do fun stuff with her friends that doesn’t involve wearing too much make-up!
Over the weekend the temperatures here have soared and since this comes hot-on-the-heels of a rainy week, everything is growing well in the garden. I expect the first harvest of french beans in a week or so and we’ve been enjoying fresh picked lettuce for a few weeks now. The strawberries are also at their best and I’ve been picking a delicious bowlful every few days.
Thankfully I’ve got a little helper living in the strawberry patch who has been keeping the slugs in check for me. Isn’t he a sweetie?
little cotton rabbits 