dottyspots

…. but I’m not complaining, because TBH I prefer it that way!

I’ve been busy updating Ninny Noodle Noo (although I’ve not finished yet), setting up Donny Nutters with Sarah and also building Hearth and Home Education which I’m hoping will be a useful resource for Pagan HE-ers in the UK - although I hope they’ll be useful stuff on there for all families

If anyone would like to submit any articles for Hearth and Home Ed. please do!!! They don’t have to be Pagan-based, I’m also looking for HE resources, gardening, household tips, breastfeeding and cloth nappying stuff (and Infant Elimination Communication), health, etc. It would be lovely to include some stuff from children and young people (poems, drawings, writing about flowers, etc.)

Photos etc. are also welcome. Please send any suitable bits and pieces to me - thanks!

My little girl went all the way to Highfields on a bus and a train (and walking) and back again without a nappy and didn’t have any accidents! I’m so proud of her!

…..will I be forgiven for not blogging much?

Where does the time go? Lots of vomiting children made for the days flying by! Everyone seems on the mend now and we’re trying to get back into the swing of things. I need to get some rhythm back into my life as the past few weeks seem to have been a hectic whirl which has left me feeling rather wobbly. I’ve been taking stock and really need to get my bum in gear and get more organised if things are going to run smoothly as it’s set to get much busier as this year goes on!

I’ve a meeting on Monday, I’m planning to get over to Highfields next Tuesday (will have to see how I get on), another meeting on Wednesday, working Thursday and Friday - an it’s been like that for the past few weeks (broken up with the spells of vomiting children). In a way I’m happy, to be so busy - I do like it, but I MUST get my orgo-planner head on (now Ned is a couple of months old) if I’m going to cope with busy.

The allotment has a shed, some raised beds surrounded by paths made from dumped sleepers and bits of concrete (left on the lottie) and there’s plastic down on the rest killing off the fast growing brambles and nettles. Two window-sill propagators full of chilli seedlings (dh has a *thing* about chilli) and one of herbs and I really must look at some more vegetable based seedlings ready to plant out - because I’m convinced better weather is coming soon!

I woke up this morning to the dulcet tones of child throwing up in the bed next to me. Nin is ill, she has spent the past couple of hours throwing up and now she is asleep. Poor Nin.

…. But then I have been really busy in a so much to do so little time way. R. is still plodding on with his Ancient Eygpt project - I *still* haven’t caught up with my book (I wanted to make one too), especially as the map drawing with his new aquarelle pencils looked so much fun – but I’ve got a few knitting projects that need to be done if my children are going to have clothes to wear (as I should really use some of the yarn I’ve got rather than buying them jumpers!)

I’ve made a kaftan for Ned – it needs an iron (as you can see in the photo) and I’m going to embroider around the neck and cuffs. I’ve almost finished the front of a chunky cabled baggy jumper for R. (who feels the cold and needs thick jumpers) and Nin is fast outgrowing all of hers, so next on the agenda is a cardi for her.

Sarah & co. came round on Saturday. It was Sarah’s birthday so we ate home-made pizza, dips and chocolate cake We spent a lot of time discussing life, the universe and everything and also business plans that might make life a little easier for both of us.

Rik built the fence at the allotment on Sunday and we all had a bit of a clear up there. It’s looking a lot better but still needs A LOT of work. Feeling all inspired though! There are three propagators sitting on the windowsill in the dining room – one of herbs, the fennel, parsley and time are sprouting already and two (!) of chilli peppers (Rik has a *thing* about chillis). Kris had some garlic from us as it desperately needed planting (we’ve some planted already in the back – but what was left wouldn’t keep for our allotment) so we’ll divvy that up when it’s grown (dh also has a thing for garlic – we’re going to stink for the rest of the year It was lovely to see her and Tea and Piglet after such a gap.

Off on a tangent, this is where the road leads that we live off:

The lane you can see peters out not much further on and from there there is a track to the next village (which is cyclable – if I had a bike).

A photo of the woods (which are to the right of Erk in the photo above):

There are what I think are quite a few hazel trees, but I wasn’t able to check in the autumn (the nuts would’ve confirmed it, I get a bit confused between hazel and something else – i.e. I sometimes think it’s a hazel tree but there’s a similar leaf on something I typically can’t remember off the top of my head now – but the nuts clinch it), so will keep returning until I’ve confirmed whether that’s the case. There are some hazel trees in the other wood - I saw unripened nuts on them, but wasn’t physically able to pick them later in the season, but it’s nice to know of as many as possible so there’s a choice when picking.

The fungi that I mentioned a few posts ago:

Anyone know what it is?

The boys finally decided they wanted to read Harry Potter:

And a pic of Ned, he’s 8 weeks tomorrow and weighed 12oz 12lbs when I got him weighed last week!