River Walk

At the suggestion of the friend we were meeting up with yesterday we went for a walk at Manor Farm. Despite visiting the farm once with my dad, nephew and T many years ago and taking T to a couple of cub activities that way, we have never gone for a walk there. Something we had planned to do as a family with a picnic in tow, after our walk round Burseldon a couple of months ago, once the weather had become warmer. After our 2 and a half hour walk yesterday the children can't wait to go back there taking G with us next time.


I have a feeling this is the bridge which could be seen in the opening credits of Howard's Way.

The children enjoyed playing on this tree for a while, clambering over it's long, horizontal bendy branches.

The mud was so thick, deep and squelchy that wellies would definitely have been lost had anyone been so inclined to step in, so instead of seeing who could throw a stone furthest into the water it was who could throw it furthest into the mud making a very satisfying thwump noise at it hit the surface. A couple of finds made good nose replacements before they got thrown!

There was lots of green lushness everywhere we looked. The views of the river were just beautiful.

T and S found a little stream to paddle in on the way back to the car. The paddling turned to splashing which turned to soaking. They laughed and shrieked and giggled and it was a delight to hear. Leaving the car park T turned to me and said 'thanks for a lovely day out mum.' That made my heart sing I can tell you. And again just as we were saying goodnight he thanked me for a lovely day. A perfect end to a fabulous day.

Paper Plant Pots

Making paper plant pots and then popping in a sunflower seed was one of the free activities on offer at the Spring event we went to on Saturday. S made one of these, although hers was already made up to stage 8 before she completed the folding. As so many of you liked the eco garden ideas last year I was a very good blogger and photographed the instructions to share. The chap making these with the children suggested that once made they could be placed inside the cut off bottom of a plastic milk bottle or tetra pak for watering purposes and then once ready to go in the soil the plant can go into the earth in the newspaper becayse that will just biodegrade. Happy folding!

Spring Into Action

With T staying up in Salisbury with Grandma because he was taking part in another charity sponsored swim and G at work it was only me, S and my mum who went up to the local park for the annual Spring into Action event. As usual there was plenty to see and do and we spent 3 lovely hours eating our picnic and wandering around. The city parks had a display of photos showing previous entrants and winners of the City's 'In Bloom' competition. I liked this idea of the colourful wellies.

There is a organisation which appears regularly at these events which brings along farmyard animals for the children to get up close to but it's the first time I've seen this model of a cow which you could have a go at milking. If you look very closely you can see S did manage to get something out, but it was water, milk would have probably got pretty pongy!

Another regular is a chap who brings along more exotic animals. Can't remember what type of stick insect this is

but it's this little one I feel in love with, it's a tenrec from Madagascar. So cute.

A quick trip to the nursery next door and I came home with one of these plants. I have always liked them and now the garden is getting a bit of attention I thought it was time I bought one.

The park always looks lovely, not matter what the season but the star of the show yesterday was definitely the tulips. Lots to colour feast the eye on.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun.

I Spy

with my little eye somethings in my garden today beginning with C.

Cat no.1. Melvin looking very majestic.

Clematis buds so near to bursting into full bloom.

An old colander waiting to be planted up.

Cat no.2. Malcolm looking thoughtful.

Cherry blossom, lovely and frothy against a

clear blue sky.

Cat no.3. A new cat to the neighbourhood who came to visit and tried to make friends.

Colour, lovely springtime colour.

And a ladybird, it doesn't begin with C but it's to cute not to be included.

R E C A P

A recap of the last few days... I was more than Ready for more work in the garden on Sunday after I had donned my new wellies, a most fantastic Mother's day present from T and S. Strangely enough polks dot wellies featured on my Spring board.Isn't the clour of these just so ZINGY. And as if they weren't fabulous enough on their own stuffed into one was a packet of Maltesers and Minstrels in the other. On Saturday we put down a tonne of gravel in the back garden and yesterday we did more clearing and cutting and tidying and boy oh boy it's looking so much better out there. A long way to go yet but this weather has meant we have made a good dent in the jobs that need doing. So I was feeling Exhausted when the alarm went off at 6am this morning as I had to take T to the hospital for an MRI appointment. He had one of these last year and didn't enjoy the experience but today he was an absolute star and just got on with what needed to be done. I am very pleased with the subject of this next photo because it's proof that I can now (sort of) Crochet. Stop laughing Clare! I know it's a bit shall we say uneven, but with practise I hope to improve.

Last Thursday I went into town to meet one of my friends as we had arranged to go to the Andy Warhol exhibition which has just started at the Art gallery. His work doesn't float my boat exactly but we did have a laugh trying on the different wigs, sunglasses and clothing in the room decorated in homage to his Factory.

On getting home from work on Friday I was delighted to find a Parcel waiting for me. I was one of the incredibly lucky winners in Mummy Boo Bear's giveaway at Stitchery Pokery and inside the parcel were all these goodies. A cute card, a UJ postcard, a chocolate egge each for T and S and two wrapped packages for me.

I had won one of the fabulous British @ Heart cushions, lucky girl that I am, doesn't the red, white and blue look so fresh and jolly.

The second parcel was the cutest little heart shaped keyring MMB had hand painted, she is so clever! Thank you again MMB for all the things you sent us.

A rosy glow

Today is the birthday of a very special friend.

We've known each other since 1980 when we started senior school together.

As you may remember I do like to give themed and for hers I chose roses.

A pair of silver rose ear-rings, rose patterned socks, a rosy scarf and of course there had to be chocolate and the obvious choice there was a mini box of Roses.

When I spoke to her earlier she told me they were eaten quite quickly after the parcel was open, sensible girl.

March Scavenger Hunt

A collection- my bracelets. I made a this from covering a small cork board I bought in a charity shop covered with an old pillowcase I bought at a jumble. Something green- brussel sprouts in Sainsburys

Peeling paint- iron railings around a cottage in Hythe.

A shadow- the shadow of a lamp post reflected onto a white wall at Hythe marina.

A rainbow- no real life rainbows spied this month. This is taken from one the children's books about weather.

Something as old as you- I found this book last year at the local plant nursery. They are a charity and sell books to help with raising funds. It was printed in the year I was born. 1968 in case you were wondering.

A lamb- snapped in John Lewis whilst out with Clare and Diane.

An empty chair- so pleased with this one.

On the way to S's swimming lesson a couple of weeks ago she said 'mum what's that chair doing over there?'

' I have no idea but it's fantastic that is it,' I replied as I whipped out my camera.

A fancy gate- this one I am the least pleased with. Struggled to find one and this probably comes under the catergory 'was fancy once.' Another picture taken on our day out to Hythe.

A ring- love this one as it reminds me of a snail's shell.

Something sentimental- my dad ALWAYS had a hankie on him. Now I always carry one of his inside which ever bag I am using.

A lion- there's a few here to choose from!

Can't wait to see everyone else's photos for March.