Autumn list

Well it was the last day of the summer holidays today, so what did we do? We had a mega fun day meeting up with some friends in sunny Eastbourne where the kids happily played for 4 HOURS!!!!! at Treasure Island on the beach, followed by ice cream at our favourite place 'Thayers' on Seaside Road, then onto the beach for a bit of stone throwing and a carvery on the way home. I have 3 VERY tired out children...YIPPEE. We all had a fantastical day and all the kids have enjoyed their summer holidays....lets just hope they wake up eager to get back to school.
I have managed to fill a whole page already of things around the house/garden that I need to concentrate on this autumn. As the diva is starting school this September, I will apparently have SOOOO much time on my hands and when will I get a job?? Well, when I showed my husband my list he shut up!
Apart from all the interior bits there is the garden.... I really really want to make a nice composting area. I know, it is not the best job in the world or one that everyone will see and say wow that's amazing!....it's a compost heap! But judge for yourself......this is our current arrangement/mess:

It needs a good sort out then I want to build a three bin system out of crates or something. We shall have to see how that goes and I will be reporting....however there are loads of other things that re on my list that my husband will appreciate more!

Lots more Runner Beans!

It has been drizzling all morning today, however we have still managed a 2 hour trip to the favourite local park, complete with picnic and a meet up of friend there! The kids have also made a start on the three tea towels I am getting them to decorate as part of the grandparents presents this Christmas! 

This weekend it was lovely weather though.(or I thought so anyway) It was sunny but with lots of clouds every so often too! And this meant that although we have had loads of runner beans already and here is a picture of the diva with ANOTHER bowl full! We have 12 plants all in the one raised bed that I made earlier in the year and despite the fact that they are now at a horrendous angle due to the strong winds we had a week ago they are still producing masses of beans. The kids all love them, the younger two still believe my story that they are called runner beans because they make you run faster and so always try to have more runner beans on their plates than each other....how long will they keep up like this???

The eldest knows that is not why they are runner beans but still likes to join in the bid for the last runner bean!

We have had them on our plates 5 out of every 7 days this holiday! I have even frozen a few having blanched then in hot water first.

 

I think runner beans will be on the list of  veg that we grow next year too! You can never have too much of a good thing....and if you can you can always freeze the excess.

Summer fun!

Whoops....keep missing days of posts! Am sooooo sorry. Still...we went to a Beavers fun day earlier in the holidays and they had a great slide...it was a really long piece of shiny tarpauline type stuff that they kept on a bank and put soapy water on every so often and the kids all had a whale of a time jumping and sliding down it.

So, I decided to try and improvise my very own version of it on my crafting tablecloth (which needed a good clean anyhow)

First we placed it on a little slope that we have about halfway down the garden and you really had to jump hard and land on your feet in a skidding position...(the eldest was the only one who was any good at this!) 

But, not to be discouraged, I moved it to a slightly steeper hill in the garden......oh yes....And added a slide to the mix....

They all managed this one, even though they all got utterly soaked in their clothes doing it! They loved it! Yippee...I love it when a plan comes together....especially when it gets my crafty table clothe cleaned at the same time!

Now as it's due to rain today a bit I think we will try some junk modelling as the kids put it on their list!

friendship bands

I really enjoyed a Mums Crafting night a couple of days ago...I decided that I really need to get rid of some of my crafting stash, and thought that it would be a nice idea to get a few mums around one evening with a bottle of wine or two and see if they could make a dent in the mass of crafting bits and pieces.

They all really got into the spirit....although to be honest not a lot of my stash got used up! I still had to put most of it back away...the reason for this...only one of us knew how to make those old friendship bands...not loom bands!  So the one knowledgeable lady decided to teach the rest of us as I had so many embroidery threads.

As you can see my first attempt is not brilliant. I could not somehow manage to keep it even....too much vino??? However I did manage to finish this one for my eldest son in Brazilian colours and he was delighted with it. We all had a huge laugh and great fun, it was a nice cheap night out!!!

I think I will be doing this again soon.

Medieval Day Out

As you know I was just the tinniest bit excited about going to Hurstmonceux for their re-enactment day. The kids lasted the journey down well and then had a fab day. First we enjoyed the grand parade with the King and Queen of Hurstmonceux in their horse drawn carriage and dragons, drummers, knights etc.

They were fascinated by the re-enactment scenes in front of the castle with cannons going off, arrows being fired and sword battles amany. Their cousin kept turning around to ask me if they were only pretending ok because the real knights are in heaven yes?

The jousting was great fun and loved by all the children.

As was the Jester.

Mesmorised....

and the Pentacle Drummers!

We all had such a fun day...and I actually remembered to take some photos! Woohoo. Their Grandma actually brought each of the cousins a really nice wooden bow and arrow set to play with in the garden.

It reminded me how, about 3 years ago, I had said when the children are a little older I would like to join the local Bonfire Society...maybe now is the time.......?

Treasure Hunt

Oh my Gosh! I cannot believe it is Friday again....the week has whizzed by....I must apologise about my ad-hock posting throughout the holidays here....we are trying to fit SOOOOO much in....and the kids keep coming up with others things to do as well as their bucket list....Colouring, Hama beads and loom bands are a fav. As is visiting the local library, they are all reading so much this holiday....even my middle child is sitting and reading his library books to himself! I never thought I would see the day!!!

Here is one random thing that my middle child who is 5 1/2 now  came up with,  this wonderful treasure hunt for Mummy to do. I was busy making supper and he was nice and quiet at the table. I did not realise what he was doing at all. He spent quite a long time writing out all these clues and drawing me a 'prize' picture. 

Then he suddenly dashed off around the house and kept telling me not to look at what he was doing or where he was going. Once he had hidden the clues he told me what it was and gave me the first clue. He was SOOOO happy and excited as I went around solving his clues and finding the next ones. It was just the cutest. 

It also inspired his older brother and the Diva to make their own treasure hunt for Mummy to complete later. And when Daddy got home.....guess what they made him do?!?

Hurstmonceux Castle

Yippee....I think I am slightly more excited than the kids at tomorrows outing to the castle.We are meeting one of their aunts ( my sister) and her two children too. Will have to remember to take lots of pics and post next week... there is jousting, archery, a parade, dressing up, face painting and oh so much more....the excitement!!!