John Barleycorn

We've been enjoying a CD of Celtic Songs for Children alongside our learning this term. One of the songs is a traditional English folk tune called John Barleycorn - about turning barley into beer - a subject close to the heart of Man of the House. In yet another moment of home learning serendipity I discovered this awesome book at the library this week.

The farmer would have a corn doll in a place of honour over the mantle. We made some corn/wool dollies today and I've put one on my mantle. Maybe it will ensure a better barley harvest for Hubby. Sadly, the birds got all of his last one.

We did have a good self-sown pumpkin harvest this year. I'm seeing soup and pie in my future.

We found this lovely mushroom specimen in our garden this morning too.

Autumn Knits

A gorgeous group of girlfriends gifted me (howzat for alliteration?) this stunning yarn as a pick me up after a recent bout of ill health. See, I'm smiling - it worked! They even matched it perfectly to my current WIP (Work in Progress) ink;-) Of course I had to use a pattern designed by one of them. Scrummy, scrummy, scrummy scarf for winter.

I'm trying to perfect my "gazing thoughtfully into the distance" look but am really thinking about how badly I need a haircut after being housebound for a weeny while. My Finished Object is a jubbly winter cardy. I am such the cardy gal so am super pleased with how this turned out. Not too big, not too small - JUST right!

The weather has turned and so have my thoughts, to planning my Winter Knits.

Procrastination

Um, yes. It's amazing what urgent and important knitting projects you can find when you have other jobs you should be doing around the house. I have named him Procrastinatowl.

First Stitches of Last Child

The girls and I made a field trip to Craft 2.0 yesterday. We were tasked with choosing a little something for Mr Six. I quickly realised that six year old boys are not the target demographic of many of the stall holders. We were rescued by SuperVery who sold us a very cute Sock Owl kit. Easter Sunday is damp and dull here - perfect conditions for parking the kids on Mum's bed for some stitching, fueled by Easter chocolate.

Didn't he do well on his first stitching!

Crafty boys need their very own needle case for their supplies so Mum had to oblige.

Easter

With life as it is at the moment, my Easter crafting has been done FOR the kids, not WITH the kids.

Tiger, Tiger

My son's hair out-tigers the tiger.

School's Back!

Back into it for another year. We started as we mean to go on during our "first week back". European Masters exhibition at the museum, beach picnic, Foxton Fizz 'spiders' at a cafe by another beach, scoping out a new bike for Mum, big city library, then local library, a horse riding field trip, another beach picnic, coffee with friends, swimming. I'm not convinced I can maintain the high standard for fun and outings I set this week! It was interspersed with lashings of read alouds, cracking open brand spanking new workbooks (yes, we use them!) and stationery.