dottyspots

Pitter Patter Raindrops

As the rain keeps on falling here I thought I'd bring a little sunshine to my blog and upload the pics from our trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park a couple of weeks ago (whilst my mum was visiting).  It's only a few miles away (cycling distance if I had a bike) but I'd not been before.

 

We were able to walk through the wallaby enclosure, getting right up close.

We were also able to walk through the lemur enclosure (which was one of my favourite parts - the Black & White Ruffneck lemurs were *very* friendly)

There were also some Ringtailed Lemurs

The African Hunting Dogs had a rather nice enclosure with trees and ferns for them to skulk in, but they were more interested in lazing in the sun (naturally that was one enclosure people weren't allowed in ;) )

 

One very snoozy Raccoon Dog and possibly my favourite of the day - Meercats!

They were so very friendly, coming right up to the walls of their enclosure (I think given half the chance they would've much preferred to have been sitting on the walls getting as much attention as possible!)

It's a small place, but the perfect size for little ones as it's quick to get around so they're not overloaded with things to see and do.  There's also a little playground there and a cafe.  I think older ones might get a little bored, but Nin and Ted thought it was fantastic.  The other useful information I found was that the Park accepts volunteers from 16 years which means that R could volunteer there from next year (he really likes animals and would be able to cycle there) - so that's some fab news for him.

And also, in the meantime we've had another birthday.  Erk turned 13.  Where does the time go?

 

He insisted on 13 candles placed on the cake in the shape of the number 13 (he did that himself - the candles, not the cake).

Now back to watching the rain fall outside.

Happy Beltaine

Yes it's a little belated, but we were very busy yesterday! I've been having some health issues for a while now and was back at the hospital having various tests done and I'm back again on the 22nd. We then went off to the woods for some play and pond dipping. There were a huge number of tadpoles, more than I've ever seen before, the water was black around the edges with them!

So with Erk off to a Beltaine camp with friends, Nin, Ted and I went to the annual Faery Hunt at Brodsworth Hall with a couple of other families (no photos of faeries I'm afraid).:

 

Ted & a friend and a tree full of beautiful blossom (there were many trees laden with blossom and some Japanese tourists were busy snapping photos).

A herd of bullocks who ambled over to say hello.  The pale one to the fore came closest (much closer than he is in the photo above), but then got a little frightened and stood, knees shaking a little, unsure as to whether to come even closer.  It was strange to see such a large animal really not sure of such small children.  I did feel a slight pang at the thought of where they're going to end up, they looked so peaceful lounging in the sun.

The Rose Gardens (above and below) - give them a couple of months and these will be absolutely beautiful. I'm planning a trip back for the smell!

Wishing at the little waterfall in the Brodsworth Hall Grotto.

Brodsworth Hall Grotto

 

Some very unusual trees (they almost look 'false') and wonderful Bleeding Hearts.

 

Ted doesn't look hugely impressed - but he had a wonderful day tearing around :)

So all in all I think the day was a success for all concerned.  All faeries were found and the children collected a sticker and chocolate at the end.  Nin loves the Faery Hunt - she remembers it and I think now waits for it to come around when we reach a certain point in the year.

Whilst I'm on here, a few photos from a recent trip to the park at the end of the village.  We have a few different parks here, I have to differentiate between them somehow, so there is the "park at the bottom of the road", "the Horsefields park" (because it's by fields with horses in), "the park next to the Children's Centre" and the aforementioned "park at the end of the village".  There is another one in the village, but I've never visited it, so haven't had a chance to name it yet.

  

 

The photo above is taken from the same location (roughly - the house in the photo below is also above, just not as easy to see) as the one below (taken in September last year).  It still amazes me how much the colours change from season to season.

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Spring has sprung!

And as a result I've been rather busy.

We have a new seasonal table stand on the seasonal table. We have a very nice wooden stand, but I fancied a change.  This painted wooden one is from Erzi and injected a bit more 'spring colour' into the table.  The candle is handmade from Brighter Blessings.  I knitted some eggs, but most went to the Seven Hills Steiner Initiative Parent and Child group, I only made a couple for here, in a little knitted dish with some wooden and a marble one:

I made a purse for Ted.  I don't do very much sewing and on reflection the mouse's tail could be a little longer, but he really likes it:

 

I also made a little knitted and beaded rose for Nin, but she squirrelled it away before I could take a photo and now can't find it *sigh*.  Doubtless it will turn up and some point.

We've done some cooking - Erk making a salad for lunch).  Yes he lives in Clash t-shirts (he's wearing a different Clash one in the photo further down - it's becoming a bit of a standing joke here):

Some digging.  We now have 2 blackcurrant and 2 redcurrant bushes in, plus broccolli, radishes, lettuce, carrots, spring onions and various flowers.  I've been given a rhubarb plant by some friends, so I really need to get that in soon too.  All I'd like now are some raspberries and gooseberries and I'll be set (give me bowlfuls of raspberries over chocolate any day!)

 

We continued making papier mache shields - these aren't happening fast, but one day they will be done.  Erk has been busy making a papier mache model of a geyser (he's been learning quite a bit about volcanoes and geysers I now know more than I was ever really that interested in knowing ;)

Attended the Easter egg hunt and various crafts at Longshaw (my youngest children are now convinced that they could possibly find a chocolate egg *anywhere* if they look hard enough).  Erk peeled one of the eggs before dye-ing it blue, then tried to eat it (yuck) and very quickly spat it out (but not before having dyed his teeth blue).  I think I might suggest a more natural approach to dye-ing next time around!

Below Ted has a peeled dyed egg (just the shell dyed on this one) with complementary bit of egg stuck to his lip. Erk is doing a 'bored teen' pose whilst helping Nin and the other little boy isn't one of mine (hence the back shot).

 

And Ted found out what happens when you go upstairs to play with your sister: she insists you are a princess and must wear a dress (whether you want to or not...)  Note the blue ink stamp on his forehead as well.  He was not impressed and ran downstairs to escape the attention. I've also finished the lace scarf (it needs blocking) and have nearly finished the knitted and crocheted top (was going to be a dress, but will now be a tunic) for Nin - it seems to have taken forever with the various other projects I've done inbetween.  I also felted a few bowls ready for the new kindergarten and have also worked on a shaped knitted head for the little bendy dollshouse dolls I make. I also had a birthday (yesterday), I'm not a big birthday person, so enjoyed a quiet day finishing the aforementioned scarf. When this cold has subsided I will record a few more songs that we have been using in our April story time. One about Spring and one about rabbits.

The other fairly big news I have is that I have now officially applied to do the Foundation Degree in Steiner Early Years Education at Plymouth University.  I should hopefully hear sometime in July whether I have been accepted or not.  So, in two years time I could be a qualified Steiner Kindergarten teacher, with the option of doing a third year and either doing Steiner teacher training or going for Early Years Professional Status.  I am really excited about starting the degree (especially the craft and music side, plus the opportunity to learn something about Eurythmy). With Spring it seems quite a lot of change is in the air and life seems pregnant with possibilities :)

I know I've been quiet

I don't know where the time goes! 

I've been so very busy recently, knitting up Easter Eggs for one of the local Steiner Parent & Child groups, finishing my spring lace scarf (still not finished), knitting a cardigan for the doll, crocheting bowls to felt, knitting a little flower as a present for Nin and sewing a little felt purse for Ted (pictures after I've given the presents to them tomorrow).

I've also been working on a website for a group I'm involved with (when it's finished and the group is happy with it I'll post the link up). I've had to deal with dead baby rabbits courtesy of Gilbert - who may look like butter wouldn't melt, but is a stone-cold killer given half a chance.  I really don't like having to clear up dead rabbits, but he's only being a cat and he very dutifully presents me with his gifts (and, I have to admit, they less offensive than the half eaten dead fish he left in the dining room for me to narrowly miss stepping on with bare feet as I pottered off to bed *sigh*).

We've been on 2(!) Easter egg hunts (well one was for little chocolate rabbits).  One in the woods at Sandall Beat - and the sun shone down and we were joined by some teen girls who just happened to be hanging out at the park.  They were very helpful in supporting the little ones to find chocolate - really lovely! The second at Longshaw, where we decorated eggs and Nin and her friend ran off to her friend's 'den' and found some chocolate eggs in a nest in there that had been hidden in advance of the hunt.  Nin and her friend came rushing back, so excited because something had 'laid' chocolate eggs in the nest ;)  We had to distract them from finding any more before the hunt began!

This time some woodlands animals and these should be arriving over the next couple of weeks. If you are celebrating this weekend, I hope you have a wonderful Easter-time.

Lazy blogging

Because I don't really have the energy to write much, so instead I'm posting some pics of a visit to Sandall Beat Woods (last week).

 

We went on the bus whilst Erk cycled (the daftness of this trip is that Sandall Beat Woods is only around 5 miles away, but the easiest way to get there, if you're not driving or cycling, is on 2 buses.  I wish I had one of those lovely Dutch/Danish trikes that carry children, I'd save quite a bit on bus fare *sigh*)

We walked into the woods, seeing lots of squirrels as we went, usually too fast for me to catch on camera, but I did manage to take a photo of this little chap:

We met up with Erk and played on the wind pipes (you have to stand on the wooden beams in different places to make sound):

And then we discovered a roly wheely thingy which for some reason we'd never noticed before (which is a bit bizarre as it's only just down from the playground, etc.)

 

It was a bit of a challenge for Nin to get up onto.

 

Feeling confident now...

 

And off!  And straight back on again.

You can make little bells inside the wheels ring when you moved your feet, Nin thought this was fabulous and spent quite some time on it.

What you can't see on the ground beyond it is the wonderful daffodils and irises.

And on the way out, just as the weather was beginning to turn, we saw a peacock in less-than-auspicious circumstances (next to rusty old baths in a farmyard):

Quite a bit else happening atm, so will hopefully have some time to blog it tommorrow (also trying to get some knitting done as I've had a lace scarf *for me* on my needles for a while which keeps getting cast aside for knitted easter eggs and making clothes for dolls).

I'm still here!

Been a bit busy, y'know how it is :D

We've had a lovely quiet festive season with quite a lot of biscuits and some marzipan dipped in chocolate (made by the children - yes they were covered head to toe in chocolate, I couldn't take photos as I was too ;) ).

Here are a couple of bits and pieces I've made, although I still need to take a picture of the hobby horse, coat and hat and scarf set.  I'm not a confident photographer and I just couldn't get half decent photos of them this morning. I have, however, finished Ted's doll's cardigan, some dungarees (couldn't get a decent close photo of them) and socks to match the cardigan.  For Nin's doll I finished a pair of stockings:

 

Aside from that it's been brisk cold walks with the dog (and some extra teens, I seem to collect them in this house...)

 

The last photo is where we do most of our blackberry picking in the autumn, it looks so cold and bare now.  The camera ran out of batteries at this point (which was a shame as we went to the playground and Erk took off his hat and put it on the ground next to the swing and the dog grabbed it and made off with Erk in hot pursuit, much to everyone's amusement - the dog was really, really pleased with himself).  Oh and guess what?  Ted did the whole walk with NO NAPPY!  Yes, my little boy is now wearing pants in the day :)

Anyway, hopefully I'll get some photos of the hobby horse and other bits and pieces I've made soon (I'd also like to also get them posted up on Ravelry).

More knitting, crochet and brrrrr

Along with the felted hobby horse and dollshouse cowboy I'm working on, I'm plodding along with a knitted and crocheted dress for Nin.

It's going very slowly because there's just so much of it to *do*!  At this rate it may stay as a long knitted top.  I still need to add a band and tie at the back as it's made loose to easily go over Nin's head.  I'll be adding some sort of purple picot edge to the sleeves, hem and also edging for the band.

A pic of poorly Ted (although he's much better now).  Poor little mite curled up on the living room floor on a small cot mattress.  He was really so ill!

I've also finished a cardi for Nin's doll and am now working on a cabled version for Ted's doll. In addition I've just finished crocheting a cover for an old plastic head band which I'm now going to embroider with a vine, leaves and some flowers. So much to do, so little time if I want to get them finished as presents.

 

We also had a trip to Sandall Beat Woods for the HEDG (Home Education Doncaster Group) meet yesterday.  I met a couple of families from Sheffield at the bus station to show them the way, which was a nice addition to our small group.

 

Again I took the camera, but shortly after arriving it began to rain, then hail, sleet and finally snow, so we all retreated inside the Visitor's Centre for warmth, shelter and ashared meal of home-made cheese scones, jam sandwiches, carrot cake, pumpkin pie, carrot sticks, raspberries, bananas and satsumas, washed down with either water, herbal tea or traditional lemonade). No chance of a circle time in the slight chaos of a change of routine and the craft activities I brought (saws and a drill for the older ones to cut up fallen branches to either make buttons or for later whittling) and weaving on twigs (gods-eyes) went by the wayside as the weather wasn't conducive to collecting what was needed.

Some fudge, a dog and playing in the woods

It's been a busy week and naturally I have some pics, although less than I might've done as my camera ran out of batteries whilst we were in the woods.

Erk has gone off on an outwards bounds trip in the Peak District with a group of home-educated teens and R. is back from boarding school for half term (having turned 14 in the interim). We had a bash at making some fudge:

Whilst we do quite a bit of baking here, I'm not a natural-born cook, it's something I have to work on. 

Erk and his friend B have recently discovered caramel hot chocolate (courtesy of one of the cafes in town - I was rather surprised to hear that at 12 they choose to visit a cafe, but I'm rather pleased that they choose to do that than some of the other possible choices for refreshment in town, but it does seem rather sophisticated in comparison to myself at the same age).

They wanted to make caramel, but I wasn't so sure, so we ended up making fudge. Erm, the first lot was burnt beyond repair and there aren't any photos as we rushed to salvage the pan. We did successfully make fudge on the second attempt, but they ate it before I could take a photo ;)

We've been to Sandall Beat Woods, twice.  Home-educators in Doncaster seem to be a rather disparate bunch.  According to the local authority HE advisor there are some 200 children being home-educated in and around Doncaster (although I think they include children being tutored by the LA at home and Roma and Traveller families in this number). I've no idea where they all are, I've come across a small fraction of that number.

Still, a few of us have finally got together and organised a regular meet-up in Sandall Beat for some chat, a play, crafts, singing and a shared picnic.  Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries after a couple of photos, but a good time was had by all!

A pic before other families turned up (we arrived first).

Ted having a climb.

It really is a fantastic location for a home-ed meet up, lots of space, fresh air, places to explore (yesterday a group of children were busy building with stacked branches whilst parents had a discussion with the park ranger, who told us that the pile of branches were always moving from tree to tree as various groups of children leant them up against trees to make shelters). 

We've been organising a monthly meeting led by the park ranger for the older children (7+) to start in March (they're pretty booked up until then).  For more information please visit the relevant entry on the South Yorkshire Home Education Communication (SYHEC) site.

I'm going to be running a circle time there which I'm really looking forward to doing again, lots of reading through my books and getting ideas for dancing songs to do, plus memorising of more verses and stories.

Erk has been busy doing a project on the Vikings.  Whilst I have a passing interest in the Vikings (obligatory perhaps for someone with Scandinavian heritage) I never realised that the Vikings also moved East to trade, I've been learning so much whilst working on this with Erk.

Whilst playing with the Brio trains Nin asked, "Why don't the magnets like each other?" and of course she's been busy painting (this time some beads for making more jewellery, although where we're going to keep all of her creations I'm not too sure, perhaps I should make a chest like Elfie and Me, however I have a feeling mine wouldn't look as beautiful.)

Aside from that I finished Ted's mittens (I will take a pic eventually), started some mittens for Nin and frogged them twice. The beautiful Natural Dye Studio yarn she picked to have them made in just wasn't looking 'right' as mittens.  So I cast-on again to make her a floppy, lacy beret a la "Spin Me Right Round" by Solveig Engevold (Ravelry is such a wonderful resource - if you're a knitter or crocheter and haven't joined up yet, DO, you won't regret it!  I'm dottyspots so do seek me out and add me as a friend.  OK, maybe you will regret joining, but only because it'll eat away at your knitting time as you browse through all the lovely creations on there...)  The yarn is looking beautiful as a beret, if I hadn't've been so busy I would've finished it by now (a really simple knit).

I haven't finished Nin's dress as a little while ago I carefully rolled it up before going off to bed and when I picked it up again the next day the crochet hook had disappeared.  I can't find it anywhere and it looks like I need to order another one.

I've also taken a couple of daft dog photos:

Every so often he heaved a very heavy sigh...

I've known Irish Setters, so was fairly prepared for owning a Setter (Monty is a Tricolour English Setter), but didn't realise just how much Setters are lacking in the brain cells department (I don't know about last in the queue when the brains were being doled out, Monty wasn't even in it!)  Still, despite his abundant dippiness, he really is the most lovely, cuddly dog (even if he is still convinced that he's a tiny puppy that will fit on my lap *sigh*)

So, hopefully I will remember to get some more batteries for my camera, but in the meantime I know I can enjoy looking at other lovely blogs :)

*Sniff* and again, *sniff*

I'm sure the last bug put up a sign saying, "Co-tenants wanted."  Because now it's gone, it seems it left something else behind.  So I'm sniffing and sneezing and drinking alot of hot water and lemon. Still, it is an excuse (as if I need one) to make some lovely soup - carrot and ginger last night, followed by a tray of flapjacks (that didn't last an hour), but I haven't been online much due to the need for an early night. We've been to the park:

Had a go at making peg dolls:

 

Look at the look of concentration on Ted's face!

They also made some collages:

Not so bad really :) I also faced the fact that I am likely not ever going to get around to taking in the skirts I've been planning to for months and instead took the first one into an alterations place.  Part of me tells myself I really should've done it myself, but realistically with everything else I have to do, doing it would've been unlikely and so it's much better to just get it done by someone else (rather than the alternative of buying a new skirt!) 

Of course I now have to remember to pick it up from the alterations place (I've already forgotten to once...) AND I finally got around to co-ordinating a bulk-buy to Suma, so feeling far more virtuous now I've been all organised and ordered in some good flour and other bits and pieces, with a plan to bake everyday and hopefully get my diet under control again (not in a losing weight way, although that would be good to, but more in a general I've not been eating as healthily as I might recently). So I'm feeling rather smug and organised through the fug of head cold :)

Blackberry picking

Through the gate:

Past the way-marker:

 

Down the lane:

Stopping to show off (the doll MT is newly knitted and crocheted and Nin is really pleased with it and currently carrying her doll everywhere in it):

Just a bit further:

And finally: blackberries!

Not much of a haul at this point, we we did pick enough to make some blackberry jelly (the project for tomorrow, I was too tired today).  On the way home we stopped at another park (we have a few in the village):

And up and down again and again:

And a bit of a child crash on the slide (there's not many pics with my eldest son in):

I promised to take them a while ago, on a lovely sunny Sunday when we happened to pick a few sweet blackberries.  "We'll come back tomorrow."  I promised and then it rained solidly for a week - typical for this country (although it's also an important part of what keeps our countryside so green and beautiful :) )

Nin has been waiting patiently to go blackberry picking for quite some time now.  She's seen the apples budding and then swelling on the trees and she knows that's a sign that it's time for blackberries.  We're now waiting a little longer for the apples to ripen so we can pick some of them too.

The plan for tomorrow is to make some jelly from the blackberries (blackberry jam is a bit to pippy for my tastes) and perhaps an apple and blackberry crumble.