fraise lachrymose

Leap Day at Aunt Sandra's

2012-03-01T15:27:00.012Z

A few weeks ago my uber-beautiful friend K told me about a Radio 4 article that suggested using the whole free extra day of 29th February to do something you've been meaning to do for ages. So I took the boys, and the suns, to see Aunt Sandra's Sweetie Factory.

It's there, as tiny and as Aladdin-worthy as apparently it was in 1953 when it opened. When you walk in you have to stop and breathe deeply of the baked sugar before you can quite concentrate on the floor to ceiling array of it all!

Obviously you must have a golden ticket to proceed and obviously Uncle David is actually Willie Wonka's cousin.

He demonstrated the pouring of candy...

...the moulding of candy in their one hundred- year old machine...

...and the stretching of candy- can you hear it pop and creak and fizz?

We really could not decide what we should bring home. (Though a careful head-count was done at the door.)

In the little factory we lost count of shamrock lollies getting ready to traverse the globe, which made the Willows feel quite the experienced travellers.

And so home, laden with wonderment (and much baked sugar). We drove in the car. Toad beat us by half an hour on Aunt Sandra's moped. I don't think he forced any caravans off the road?

Postcards from the Edge

2012-02-29T10:58:00.009Z

Dear Pom Pom,

We have settled most satisfactorily into our latest little home. I have found a book with a whole section on water! Oh the rivers of Ireland, Pom Pom, are fine and flowing things. One is so black and so deep and so sleek that it reminded me vividly of dear Otter. Mags says that the salmon leap there, and men seek their knowledge. Close by we visited the spectacular Giants' Causeway, and Mags held on tightly to us, so heavy was the rain becoming and so shaken were we all by Mole's adventure. I'll let him tell his own tale. Hope all is well and happy with you? Our own book is a wonderful thing to behold now!

Well, Pom Pom, greetings from Ireland- it is certainly very agricultural and in places suburban. But there is exciting potential- do you see the title of this book? It has been done! Round Ireland with a fridge! I say! Mags' own fridge seems quite too permanently installed to be of use, sadly.

I must complain, Pom Pom, of Mole's behaviour recently. He has become quite, quite ridiculously unpredictable. Careering off into the dark without a word to anyone and causing all sorts of fuss and panic. Do send him a word of admonishment. Who knows what will become of us if he keeps this up- we have a quite a way to go, you know.

Mags took us to the very edge of the land at the weekend, and it was most pleasingly grand. Don't you think I am looking remarkably dapper after all this globetrotting? Shame Mole can't say the same, ha ha!

Dearest Pom Pom, how are you? Congratulations on the latest addition to your most lovely family. Mags showed us the photographs. I fear I gave her the most dreadful scare at the weekend, but secretly to you I can confess what a thrilling time I had!

I know she didn't at all mean to drop me from her bag. She was really quite preoccupied at the time. She was hurrying from a shop where she had spent quite some considerable time, and was talking to her (fine) husband on her phone and rummaging for her car keys at the same time. I am hoping to spring clean that bag sometime soon.

All was well in the end. I didn't lie in the middle of the street for too many hours, and it wasn't Mags' fault that it started to rain. Some of the local Wombles did shuffle along after dark to ask if I wanted to join them in their burrow for some hot berry juice and a nice forty winks, but I trusted that Mags would return. And she did! And really, I'm sure those lovely volunteers at the Corrymeela Community had much better things to do than worry about me, but I was very touched by their kind concern.

Best wishes to you and our faraway home. Please pass on our deepest, most humble thanks to all the wonderful families who have hosted us thus far. We are having a fine time!

Emily, USA; Emily, Canada; Catherine, Germany; Matt, USA- thank you!

Greatitudes 498 - 527

2012-02-27T09:08:00.010Z

This week I am very grateful for Lent. The time where you clear a space to find more of God and He rushes straight in and says, "I'm here for you." Thoughts rush in too and so many of them are shared through Floss. This is a very special, and a very tangible, result of bloggisme! Thankful for pancakes and a husband who'll make them continually all week!

There is progress on the blanket, and it is slow and erratic, but as some of you so beautifully pointed out, where's the rush?! Its width is the perfect length for a sun who stands above my shoulder and it is now just deep enough for him to snuggle under!

However, today I am overwhelmingly grateful to Cooking Catherine for an invitation to join her on a duty weekend at the Corrymeela Community. Living in community fascinates me, because I am so bad at it! But in the Croi for worship, looking at the cushions so intricately laid out on the floor, I was struck by how they lay cheek and jowl, jostled by each other, rubbed by each other, uncomfortable maybe with each other. But there they were, laid out before the cross, and fit for purpose, getting the job done.

"Come for a weekend of peace and quiet," said Catherine. "Come and get your head showered." (Interesting Northern Irish? expression for clearing the mind- no doubt linked to climate!) So I took my crochet and my book and my Lent journal. And barely touched any of it- so much noise and bustle and tea to drink and food to eat and volunteers to chat to and jobs to be done and tea to drink and food to eat and noise and tea and food..... I had the most fun, genuine, belly laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh fun that I have had in ages!

I did also walk lots and lots yesterday and there was much time to breathe and look and stand in awe. This is a wondrous land.

Now. Confession. I am deeply, deeply grateful that he who was lost has been found! Bedraggled, paint that has run, bit grubby from his ordeal. Oh dear! The full sad tale will be told tomorrow- but Mole has had a real live dark and scary adventure!

Valour

2012-02-26T19:28:00.003Z

I thought we were starting with valour, and had already decided to find a Rend song to go with each of the Cardinal Virtues this Lent. So here is Cost! In apology for using all these Youtube steals, I would state that we have bought both albums, and you should too! Pay special attention to the wonderful Northern Ireland pronunciation of "counting"!

Poor Ratty

2012-02-25T13:16:00.006Z

He has Toad on one side telling him that this is not at all suitable accommodation for a toad of his standing and brave Mole on the other organising lists of tidying and dusting and washing and ironing and sorting and mending and fixing and...

Maybe they're just a tad tetchy after their long flight, though Frances did ensure that they had fabulous reading matter! I'm taking them away for the rest of the weekend. Giants await!

The Willows (may) have landed!

2012-02-23T15:40:00.010Z

It is so spring-like today that the down jacket has not been out of the house and I wore shoes instead of boots for the first time since September! So, for their third country and second continent I am deciding that we can call this their third season of travels! I think the Willows may be on the island of Ireland! As I was out today, however, I missed the nice man in a van from Royal Mail who left his calling card. The only package I'm expecting is one full of a Grand Tour of the Whole World so I shall be going back to my nice friend on the hilltop tomorrow.

Hopefully a night's incarceration will not seem too much of an anti-climax after a trans-Atlantic flight and their daring escape from North Carolina- but I fear I will have much making up to do! Oh the pressure- below the highlights of their American Adventures- with joyous thanks to their hostesses!

Fast cars and a loose (Barbie) woman in Canada.

Churning butter in Oregon, amidst palatial splendour.

Back to beloved willows- but in Minnesota they are mystical ancient swamp willows!

Pooh Sticks in Appalachian mountain streams, and another charming young lady.

Fast cars and a glimpse of home at DISNEYLAND, FLORIDA for Christmas.

Held hostage in North Carolina. Biblical nature of escape most pleasing! For a full reminder of their adventures hitherto click on the links at the top right of fraise. Look out, County Antrim- here they come!

Greatitudes 471 - 497

2012-02-20T21:16:00.014Z

Pussy Willow a month on. Generous friends with cosy house in Bushmills. Beaches, sand dunes, rusted old rail roads, tunnels, rock pools, FUN. Husbands, wine, gas fires, quiet nights. Friends, children of friends, coffee and colouring and cakes. Family feasts. Progress and unexpected stars hiding in balls of wool. Angela, bondaweb and Ikea. Adventurous families who will drive with you into the higher hills for THE PRIZE!

2012-02-19T22:34:00.003Z

It has come quickly upon me this year- too much worrying about snowlessness to see it coming! But it's time to dust off the brume and walk into the desert, signing up with Floss on the way, and onward.

Grumpy giveaway

2012-02-17T20:53:00.006Z

Even the Wombles are mocking us now. Tonight's chapter was The Snow Womble: It was a really beautiful morning, with the sun just up and the snow almost blindingly white except where it was in the shadows, where it turned to deep blue.

I had been saving this book for our snow. I was ready for an un-white Christmas, and could happily console Jo. It always snows in January, I was thinking confidently. Ha!

So before winter is no longer with us, and given the profusion of hot cross buns and tulips in my local multi-huge national supermarket, I shall just have to offer you this now. I can no longer bear to look at the tantalising snowflake on the cover.

I must be clear. I am aforewarned by Angela's recent post. This book was given to me a whole snowy season ago, but it remains unread- it may be set in France but Mosse's deep caves are far too scary for me! So comment at your peril- one intrepid reader will be chosen next week. Bon courage- you might want to share some little anecdote of your snow with the poor snowless of the ironically frozen North!

And to you too, LHH!

2012-02-14T21:21:00.005Z

Well, I'll tell you what. I may well have suspected all manner of mischief on the Willows' Grand Tour of the Whole World, but I did not for one minute envisage just what might befall them from the hands of others! I will trust that they are indeed now leaving the Land of the Free, and there's an irony for you, keenly to be welcomed on the Emerald Isle.

I can only recommend that you recap on their American Adventures via the links to your right. I will do my best to put up an overview of a whole season of travels but I'm too busy tonight. Now. Damson cheese in a jar...

Happy Valentine's Day, Banksy and Lisa R!

2012-02-14T21:06:00.005Z

Prince Charming bought me a Banksy diary for Christmas. I was impressed. Provoked, interested and more than a little challenged by the cover, but exceedingly impressed! It's good to think, and even better to be made to think, I think.
I'm sure that this week's image was very deliberately placed, and it was the only one that I just couldn't live with! Could not bear the thought of the girl losing her love! Very painful memory of a balloon escaping from boot of car and small boy crying and small mum racing round block in exercise of utter futility!
So, in homage to Lisa R, here is my amended image of the week. Lisa does amazing things. Like Banksy. They make me think!

Blogogram to Frances

2012-02-10T00:00:00.004Z

Release the Willows Three. Stop. Ransom dispatched. Stop. Amazon don't do damson cheese in a jar. Stop. Will belated reward for November's daily blogging do instead? Stop. Photographic evidence of Willows' well-being required. Stop. Immediately. So STOP hanging around drooling over sausages!!! Stop.

Pretty you, appreciative me, joy-full possibilities

2012-02-08T23:05:00.008Z

Here comes a gush. Stop me if I run to sycophancy! It is simply that I cannot help being moved by blogs and their bloggistes just lately.

It is Pom Pom's fault tonight. Her latest pretty, appreciative, joy-full post makes me wonder why I don't revel in the lovely little bits of everyday.

So this month I am resolving to enjoy pretty you, be a more appreciative me, and explore all the joy-full possiblities that must surely lurk on dusty shelves?

Or maybe even behind closed doors! Happy hearts for February. Gush over. I'll leave you alone for a while- half-term next week. I'll be exploring the joy-full possibilities of chaos....

For Mise

2012-02-07T21:00:00.009Z

Mise has, as always, pronounced le mot juste in the her commentary on mon petit bloggisme. I wasn't thinking of cake stands per se, except that obviously subliminally I was. I am delighted!

Maybe if any old subbing money ever leaves County Hall and discovers the location of my non-Swiss bank account I'll get the Portia cake stand. This would be suitably appropriate after a part-time month of coaxing Year 9 through A Merchant of Venice.

This is the cake stand I'd send to Mise. Elegant perfection. Cake only to be served by lady-at-home in hat to match surrounded by an intelligent but still cake-appreciating circle of fine acquaintances.

Or perhaps we need something for Valentine's Day?
If a cake stand did appear, and actually, what a fine idea, it would perhaps be one of these.
Which one do you want? I'll ring County Hall tomorrow...

Greatitudes 451- 470

2012-02-06T23:17:00.005Z

Oh dear, 'twould seem 'twas November last when last I moved through blessings bestowed towards the one thousand goal. This is not good. And really I have a cosy home, a breath-taking family, interesting friends, much to do and the health with which to do it.

And also. Over the last month, suddenly and slightly overwhelmingly, I have been asked to sub. In two schools over five weeks now, and I have even been able to choose how many days I want to do and which ones. I have turned days down, and still been rung again. This is more than I can comprehend, and to be honest it is certainly more than slightly stressful, but nonetheless, I have discovered that not only can I still speak French/understand Shakespeare/know a paragraph from a parenthesis, but also teach it, and I do not dissolve into water at just any blast of teenage hot air. Oh no, it takes more than one blast of that. I get wobbly after five...

So. There we go! I am deeply grateful to Angela for all encouraging advice on the life of the substitute teacher. I am deeply, deeply grateful for the procession of local friends who enthusiastically offer school runs and for the willingness of grandmothers to spend a whole hour toasting pancakes and resolving conflict. I am tearfully grateful for a Prince Charming who will leap into action as the phone rings and pick up the slack, and will appear unexpectedly at the leisure centre straight after the latest phone call just when the thought of organising logistics as well as sitting through a swimming lesson is just too much!

Back at the strawberry ranch I am grateful for the excitement of a new slow cooker toy with which admittedly I have played only once, for tulips from HB and a very cheery cherry cake, for a super night at Book Club last week that resulted in a great idea for next time (see next time), and a homework that called for strawberries.

Finally, do you still have snow? I am determined to be thankful that we haven't had to clear our paths, grit our drives, rush outside with sledges and tubs for snowfort bricks. I am trying hard to remember that my parents can get around safely, that roads are not treacherous, and that it is gorgeous to bask in warm sun in February. However, I am also very grateful that Jo has "In the snow" as one of his reading books this week. Living vicariously is better than living entirely without!

Hooks amid books

2012-02-04T22:49:00.005Z

Is it snowing where you are? Gosh, the weather from England does look wintry! But still snowless here. Lots of cold rain and grey skies, I gather from the safety of windows, not having been out all day! Did I ripple? No. Did I read? Well, yes, a bit. I finished The Blessing this morning while men were at rugby and I had gone back to bed with two croissants and a refusal to open curtains. Mostly since then I have avoided the presence of copious boys and school-friends playing hide and seek all over the house!

My utter lack of ripple progress was plainly seen on Wednesday night. Three of us are crocheting at breaktime now. Patricia is our guru, and Heather Boss claimed to be the novice. However, I think we can agree that I am sternly in the catch-up category, given that HB's blanket (hanging below my sad attempt) is now finished and she was that night working on its successor, and Patricia's blanket is actually her third project since we all started hookery in the bookery shortly before Christmas.

Come on, Mags, give yourself a shake!

A wool shop and Wexford

2012-01-23T22:00:00.008Z

This is where I was on Friday morning when I should have been at home packing for a weekend in gorgeous Gorey! Hence the dusk departure from the city!

Too warm for snow. Too cold for surf. It's definitely turning into Jo's winter of discontent!

One wedding and a marryoke...

2012-01-16T22:05:00.005Z

Barra and the book of snow

2012-01-12T16:35:00.005Z

This is Barra Best. He is our BBC weather man and I love his name. He did warn us, Jo. He did say that those who were hoping for another white Christmas would be disappointed.But we still are. One of us cries if the word itself is mentioned. Now, don't feel the need to burst our snowball. I believe that nothing divides us like snow. Not politics, gender, class or even our opinion of Cath Kidston. It's just that, in the immortal words of our Mick Inkpen, "Kipper was very positive about snow."
So instead of Amazoning times tables and time: the telling of, I am looking at all the lovely books about snow. Some I might even read.

But this one, this one we are reading night by breathtaking night. It's our snow dance. I think the fascinating author would approve...

Just to say

2012-01-03T23:14:00.002Z

My goodness- here we all are in another year! Just to say anything other than what I have said before to have a new thing to glance at when I arrive here to read what you are saying! Incoherent? Yes, I fear so- too many late mornings, late nights and much too much food and vin to fit into the dress hanging upstairs for the Big Family Wedding on Thursday.

No great philosophy here yet on the old new year thing. Need to get past boys' new term tomorrow, Wedding on Thursday,and then maybe I'll try some coherent thought at the weekend. In between taking down decorations- I have promised Mattman that we can wait until after 6th to see if we turn into goblins. I think my transformation may already be underway...

Have you seen Frances' quilt, read Scarlet's recent posts, counted down through Different Drum's list of books? And it's nearly time for the Willows to go European- no time for resolution in the face of such inspiring distraction!

...and a Happy Hopey Hooky New Year!

2011-12-31T14:40:00.003Z

Is it a terrible sign of aging that you feel slight fear at the thought of another year, or simply cowardice? I am endeavouring to remember Hope today! May 2012 bring you lots of blanket moments to cower/comfort/rest/rejoice under as the coming life-filled months may require!

A Merry Christmas to all...

2011-12-23T19:03:00.003Z

I'm having a quick and gorgeous run round all your fabulous and festive blogs. But might I also recommend Mise's post to anyone who hasn't read it yet! I've had another amazing year of you! Thank you. May your Christmas weekend be full of fun and smiles and food and flurries of nothing but joy. And for a very exciting excursion, if you find yourself at a loose end of ribbon or foil, join the Willows on the trip of lifetime- or at least of a Christmas! Merry Christmas to you all- and to you all a good night!

Crave indulgence

2011-12-20T20:52:00.005Z

Sorry folks, not that sort of indulgence! I need yours for a day- I am taking a break from Christmas! Childlike will be here tomorrow (it's still Tuesday here) but just for today I need to know that normal life will resume after Sunday! SO!

Crochet. I'm on to what I am affectionately deeming Stage Two of The Ripple. Stage One was the sample, in Rico Baby Gruen- the main colour, I think.

Satge Two, tonight's project, was to chain the 199 needed after measuring Sunday night's sample. I was appalled at the thought of accurately keeping track of this, so marked every set of ten loops! Bemused arm belongs to long-suffering Jo who has ball of said Rico Baby stuffed down the front of his shirt to keep it out of the shot!

And finally, I have made a start on my Beatrix Potter reading- well, I read the first one. All I can say is that if a single parent of four children, living in a sparsely furnished cellar, can take herself off to the bakery for buns while her reprobate son runs up another bill of anti-social behaviour in a neighbour's garden, and still be sane enough to cook any sort of supper and provide medical ministrations- she's a better woman than me! (Me at BP's Lake District house in July 2008!)

Fourth Sunday in Advent: Love

2011-12-18T23:48:00.004Z

Not in that poor lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
We shall see Him
But in Heaven
Set at God's right hand on high

..Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart..

It's been a busy and lovely Christmas filled day today, with a busy and Christmas filled week ahead! Pausing and pondering!

Thrifty Thursday's two-in-one Childlike Christmas!

2011-12-15T17:37:00.010Z

Thrifty bakes more at Christmas than usual. Only the love of the notion of the Friday Cake Bake spurs her more! She can never quite believe how much more for your money you must get from packets of everything falling about snowily in the baking cupboard. Or indeed quite how many people you can feed at Open House time!

Hopefully baking is a farily established part of my children's Christmas. Admittedly Joshua did have That Year with This Icing...

But generally all is much better managed come Christmas Eve, when special preparations must be made!

Spot the well-loved Farmer Duck, now out to pasture.

Our traditional GH gingerbread made, and spoons dutifully licked.

And even sometimes rolled out again when invited to a New Year's Eve party! (See how long it is since I've successfully managed to get to one of those!)

Third Sunday in Advent: Joy

2011-12-11T22:05:00.006Z

I am pooped. I am a candle burnt down to its very wick!

Far too much joy about the Land today- much mulling, eating, laughing and apparently lots of sharing too!

I'm sure there were many moments, probably in the dark and cold of the night, when it didn't feel very joyful on that first journey down to Bethlehem. Tired and weary not conducive to joy. I remember being too preoccupied to be conscious of joy on my labour dash to have Jo, and I wasn't on the back of a donkey. Thankfully, this hope, this peace, this joy, this love doesn't depend on how I feel. Tired and happy, tired and weary, tired but looking forward to the coming time. Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus; ex Maria, virgine, gaudete!

Friday Cake Bake

2011-12-09T18:10:00.004Z

It's a bit of a very amateur festive baking bash here today. But it's all for Sunday, so here, sit down in the blue chair and talk to me. Have some tea and a supermarket doughnut. How was your week?!

Thrifty Thursday's Top Tips for Christmas

2011-12-08T13:35:00.002Z

Well, Thrifty's Christmas shopping is done and wrapped and is sitting under her tree. It all came in well under her usual spend and this year for once doesn't sprawl out from under the branches and threaten to be trampled to fragments before distribution to relevant recipients.

The reason for this pleasing phenomenon is quite simply that she didn't buy very many presents! She knows this sounds Scrooge-like! But when she took from last year's list the presents that are really quite rubbish, because they fall within a budget that doesn't buy very much for the teenagers/distant relatives/people she doesn't see but has always bought for, suddenly the whole business was transformed. The cumulative amount for her was vastly more significant then the token sum on an individual level.

This was openly discussed with the folk/parents of folk concerned, all of whom were (mostly) in very enthusiastic support. And in some cases Thrifty has been making presents with materials from the box under the bed. And that has certainly been giving her much fun over the last two weeks.

It all stems from here, and culminates in her annual Mince Pies and Mulled Stuff bash on Sunday afternoon, when time and presence (and yummy things) will be offered to friends instead. So, that's Thrifty's confession, in lieu of an actual Top Tip!

Pom Pom's Childlike Christmas

2011-12-07T23:28:00.007Z

Forgive me; I still haven't visited all the Pausing Posters and will be later still with all you beautifully childlike guardians of magic. But...

I want to talk about presents. Louisa's Jo knew that Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without any presents. Strawberry Jo didn't at all enjoy Arthur Christmas because, "Mummy, everybody knows that isn't how Santa works". I'm afraid that for all my thinking and framing and positioning, presents are a huge factor in a truly child-like Christmas.

So with last week's tree and next week's baking, "I bring you gold!" (Mattman's first Nativity line as a king aged 3...)

Second Sunday in Advent: Peace

2011-12-05T12:45:00.005Z

I went on thinking about kneeling places after last week. This time last year all was perfect peace on a weekend away from it all, literally kneeling at beautiful Nativity scenes. We love santons at Christmas and before the creches there I was struck at how I could as a little teacher kneel with the millers and the shepherds and the mothers and the angels, all bringing themselves and their lives and their roles to the child.

Every year when I set up our creche I arrange the santons to be seen by on-lookers. And every year the suns come along and turn them inward. It's one of our unspoken traditions now, and it makes me glad! However, this year what struck me was that when you might be on your knees anyway, struggling with whatever demon/worry/setback you have, then where better to be on your knees than with other kneeling folk? And there you might find some peace?

The Grand Tour Itinerary: finally...

2011-12-03T15:39:00.004Z

I have eventually bestirred myself from the strawberry sloth and sludge to look at the generously long list of Willowistes. It is a little incredible to note that in all their adventures hitherto, they have only been to the first four stops on their journey! It looks very much as though their tour of the States will mirror everyone's journey to Bethlehem- and to think that originally I imagined them back home with Pom by Thanksgiving!

Profound and very genuine apologies if I have you in the wrong order, or worse still, have left you off the list- please let me know!

I considered finding a soundtrack of "In the Deep Mid-winter" as an accompaniment to the Itinerary, but they seem to be having too muchly a jolly time wherever they go! It is funny though to think that by the time they get to Australia and New Zealand, we may well be coming out of winter, while the Willows will perhaps be flying towards another Autumn!

I only have links in the sidebar to blogs already visited- and the links go to just one of the posts from that place. There will be other posts before or after, so do browse around!

Thrifty Thursday's Top Tips for Christmas

2011-12-01T21:40:00.005Z

Angela will be very proud of Thrifty this week. She has two Top Tips and both are very thrifty indeed!

On the first of December have a Prince Charming or equivalent who will take you on a surprise excursion to your local converted-Mill-now-Council-HQ. Stand in the cold, dark air to sing carols, admire Peter Corry, see That Man arrive in a vintage car with a sack of red hats for all, wander past all the sparkling trees through the (artificial) snow and wrap your hands round a cup of mulled wine. (Last bit not so thrifty, admittedly, but the rest was free!) Very magical!

Now this. This is superb! It comes from ...the sight of morning... The original idea is to give it as an Advent calendar, but Thrifty is going to adapt it as presents for Sunday School teachers, and theme it for the Twelve Days of Christmas. The little tags will be print-outs of the twelve gifts in the song, and she is going to pin on hot chocolate and cappuccino sachets as well as speciality tea-bags. She does need to purchase the sachets and mini-pegs, but remains muchly, muchly excited about the gorgeous simplicity and loveliness of an achievable project! If she has enough "ingredients" left over, Thrifty may even hang one up for herself, and sequester a few stolen moments every day to sit quietly and sip contentedly!

Pom Pom's Childlike Christmas

2011-11-30T22:42:00.006Z

Pom Pom says that this was their tree last year. It really got me thinking about trees for her Christmas blog party.

This time last year I was getting ready to fly off to Paris with Cooking Catherine to stand awed beneath this beauty in Galeries Lafayette. But actually, my clearest memory from my own childhood Christmases is of sitting under our tree with my brother. I was telling him Christmas stories; I may even have been telling him The Christmas Story, such a serious little thing was I!
What I most remember is the very real awe that the lights could be so beautiful, that such a varied range of decorations, from ancient and gleaming and spinning Santa to peacock in some authentic feeling down, could become festive characters in whatever tale you wanted to invent.

So my first ingredient for a childlike Christmas is any tree, with any lights, and an assorted range of hanging things, preferably with a story, real or imagined!

First Sunday in Advent: Hope

2011-11-27T21:30:00.003Z

This Advent the strawberries are hoping for: snow, happiness, answers and inspiration, and kneeling places...

In Search of our Kneeling Places

In each heart lies a Bethlehem
an inn where we must ultimately answer
whether there is room or not.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
we experience our own advent in his.
When we are Bethlehem-bound
we can no longer look the other way
conveniently not seeing stars
not hearing angel voices
We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily
tending our sheep or our kingdoms.

This Advent let's go to Bethlehem
And see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.
In the midst of shopping sprees
let's ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.
Through the tinsel
let's look for the gold of the Christmas Star.
In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos,
let's listen for the brush of angels' wings
This Advent, let's go to Bethlehem
and find our kneeling places.

Ann Weems Kneeling in Bethlehem

Pause in Advent chez Floss

Home from Preparing for Advent

2011-11-26T21:59:00.008Z

I brought my globes home from our third annual Preparing for Advent morning for mums. I have my Advent words written in the one on the bottom left, and will therefore fear no stress!

I brought my craft home, although actually Ingrid made mine- I was having too much fun with the wire clippers.

I brought this year's Christmas recipe booklet home.

I brought my berry branches home,

and our wedding candle.

Coping with Christmas by G. R. Collins

And there were in that same country, children keeping watch over their socks by firelight. And lo, Santa Claus came upon them: and the glory of his presence shone 'round about them, and they were sore enthralled. And Santa said to them, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great gifts which shall be unto all people (with money to afford them). For unto you is cooked this day in the oven of your kitchen a turkey, which is surrounded by pudding and cakes and presents: and this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the gifts wrapped in sparkling paper and lying in a pile under the tree.

And suddenly there was with the children a multitude of earthly relatives, praising each other and saying, "Thank you, this is just what I wanted." And it came to pass as Santa and the relatives were gone away into their own homes, the parents said to one another, "Let us now go even unto bed to avoid this mess which the kids and guests have made known unto us." And they came with haste and found peace, quiet and rest lying in a bed until morning.

Pause in Advent starts tomorrow!

Thrifty Thursday's Top Tips for Christmas

2011-11-23T22:34:00.004Z

Thrifty highly recommends that you get your hands on a copy of this book before next Thursday. A certain Internet auction place has 65 copies ranging in price from 99p to £24.99, and some even have this cover, which is by far the most satisfying edition because of the embossed cover and the gorgeous pictures inside.

Thrifty bought this in December 1997, and bought copies for all her friends that year. She spent the whole of Christmas Day devouring it, and was consequently late for dinner at her fiance's family gathering. Thankfully he still married her.

Last year these two read it in installments for the first time to their children who raced to bed all month to be ready for the next chapter. Even on Christmas Eve was this the main reason for bedtime!

It is the story of a magical advent calendar told in 24 chapters so that the book itself becomes a magical advent calendar. You can read little bits here and here and here.

Another Tracing Rainbows production!

Preparing for Advent

2011-11-19T16:28:00.004Z

Next Saturday morning Cooking Catherine and I will be running our now third annual Preparing for Advent, which is exciting! I can't even pretend to be nervous, though I should be, because it has become my main point of reference for the "whole Christmas season"- Grinch semi-quote there. And Angela is running her Top Tips again, thank goodness, as well as sharing a very fine cake. And Pom Pom is doing Child-Like Christmas starting this week, and Floss is wonderfully hosting Pause in Advent again. It's an exciting time to read blogs! But I also like to keep in step Advent Conspiracy, because it pretty much sums the whole thing up for us here.

This week's Sorry

2011-11-18T16:51:00.002Z

Goes to Royal Mail. Last Thursday they delivered a package, but I wasn't in. Who knows why? They took it away again and left the standard note- too large for letter box; collect at Mallusk.

Well, obviously we've been busy with exciting things. I go to Mallusk on Wednesday. It's cold up on that hill! I wait and wait and wait for nice, young man to look in package room. It's not there. He looks in other package room. Not there either. I remain calm. I tell him it is a Jamie Oliver cookbook ordered as part of a wedding present. Sympathetic noises. Ring back tomorow or Friday.

I ring today. Same nice, young man. No package has turned up. Given number to ring. Automatated answer machine. Only result will be claim form sent out for compensation. Mags rings nice, young man back. Lengthy, frank and open discussion on how hard it would be to get guys further up hill to look under bench in the van. Passed on- which transpires to mean note on yellow sticky on office window for next shift. None of whom work further up hill with vans. We discuss emotive nature of missing wedding present.

Drive PC to town. PC answers Mags's mobile. Nice, young man has found missing package. Nice, young man has taken on mission of salvaging wedding present on feeling the shame of no-one being available to check under bench in van.

And if Margaret wants to come up and collect the Kelloggs free cereal bowl that her children collected vouchers for all summer then it's here at the desk for her now...

More from Oregon

2011-11-17T13:09:00.002Z

Apologies to No Spring Chicken for blatantly poaching this picture, but she has the most delightful Willows post today, so do nip over!!

Reflections on actually meeting a bloggiste

2011-11-16T22:46:00.003Z

I have had a most interesting and fabulous weekend! There wasn't the slightest trace of apprehension beforehand, and not even the daunting task of making room for an esteemed guest could diminish the excitement. I think because Ang gives so much of herself in what she writes, and because she is so generous of her time with emails, meeting her was like picking up a thread of conversation that had been but momentarily on hold!

At the start all was just so deeply, deeply interesting- being able to hear more, learn more, share more, laugh more. It is blogging at its pinnacle, I think, to move from a friendship that happens in sporadic episodes into a face to face encounter that joins the dots and fills the whole with colour.

Then it struck me! I was no longer composing little vignettes from a nearly fictionalised land. These were my real boys, this was my very real house, that was my altogether real and fallible cooking! And so I felt humbled, not in a negative way, but certainly the weekend gave me a new perspective on what I put down here in fraise.

So thank you, Angela Almond, for visiting us in the Land of the (sometimes as you now know tearful) Strawberries! Thak you for all that amazing treasure pouring forth from your suitcase for us! Thank you for the just as amazing treasure of words and encouragement and wisdom that poured forth on me! Thank you for letting me see us through your kind eyes! It is good to visit the edges of your land in safe company!

Keeping Ang out of trouble

2011-11-14T23:23:00.006Z

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge crossed.

Giant's Causeway admired.

Corrymeela experienced.

Crochet mastered.

But there will be a prize for the one who can most accurately guess what on earth she is doing here!!

We're tracing rainbows

2011-11-11T23:48:00.003Z

The angel has landed! We have done St George's Market, City Hall, the Spinning Wheel, Avoca. We have been soaked to the skin and beyond at the school gates and taken refuge in the Cosy Chair. We have made Egyptian bowls, eaten beef and Guinness stew, because Guinness is good for you, and drunk more tea than even I thought possible. And we have been to the Lyric to see not one but two plays, one of which turned out to be a school reunion. And now we are most definitely going to bed! It has been a day fabulous beyond expressing.

Sorry!

2011-11-10T09:39:00.001Z

About the Advent in August thing. I have a lot on my mind! Cleaning the bathroom mostly. I shall do that now. Forthwith. Tout de suite (see Frances, French is terribly useful...)I wonder where the spare duvet is?

Greatitudes 442 - 450

2011-11-09T22:54:00.004Z

There is very muchly a lot to be thankful for this week. The Willows have arrived in Minnesota. They are snuggling in front of a wood fire drinking precious tea, when not out in ancient Willows, photos of which I find thrilling! Thank you, Lisa, for taking them so much to your heart!

My North American Geography is transformed by this Extremely Grand Tour! And I will post the Itinerary soon; I'm just so afraid of getting it wrong!

Our aeronautically clever Prince Charming informed us this week that the MTV A-Listers would have paid £30,000 per day for parking their private jets at the city's airports. Just one, very big, reason among other very big recession-beating reasons to be excited that such a big show came to such a small place! But we here in the Land of the (sometimes tearful)Strawberries have another visitor reason to be thankful...

On Friday VIV arrives, the Very Important Visitor for whom I may have to resort to doing some cleaning, tomorrow! Yes, we do actually really have Angela coming to stay in the Frozen North! Expect rainbows!

Cooking Catherine was drinking coffee here this afternoon (always something to thankful for at around four in the afternoon), and we were discussing this impending treat. And we marvelled at how bloggisme creates a very real community- of stimulation, encouragement, humour, thought, and ultimately friendship that would just never have been possible in any other way. This is very special, and thank you to all who share a part of their journey here in the shifting air of Broadband.

The reason why CC was here this afternoon comes down to the joyous fact that it's that time of year again. The one we all look forward to. The morning filled with meaning and laughs and food. This year's Preparing for Advent is just 17 sleeps away! (OH!) So, if anyone will be in the Greater Belfast area on Saturady 26th August, let me know and I shall email you an invitation- and that includes you, Lovely LE from the school gates- I haven't managed to see you yet! More delicious cooking with CC, another two Christmas crafts with this year's resident expert, and fraise, doing all the little bits inbetween!

Friday Cake Bake

2011-11-05T17:20:00.009Z

When I got in from work at 10.10pm on Thursday night PC had made two apple crumbles and the aroma on coming through the front door was very ood. (That's good really.) I am quite sure that they qualify as Friday Cake Bakes since it would have been breakfast time in Australia.

We're having a very quiet and mellow weekend here in the suburbs of Belfast, during which I have given in and started my Christmas shopping. One drive across the City required, and the traffic was strangely busy.

Today PC and Mattman cycled up and round and down through our local wood, while Jo and I continued the leaf raking process. It's good to keep energetic young men gainfully employed, I am discovering.

We're cosily ensconced this evening, with candles lit and a warming curry on the hob.

And no doubt we'll do the usual round of Sunday things tomorrow, with school back after the half-term break on Monday. All very homely and ordinary.

The soft voice of the radio weather lady said earlier that tonight will be cold, but with star-filled skies. Well, that will be nice for Belfast!

2011-11-02T19:55:00.002Z

I knew that bloggisme was a truly fabulous thing! All that sense of something brewing and there you all were! In November Philosophy of Lists will be sitting outside EVERY day drinking tea. Angela has discovered that A Frugal Mrs is decluttering three things EVERY day. And to crown it all the (should be bottled for the mental health of the universe) Left-handed Housewife will be blogging EVERY day.

I am inspired. All will be well. By the end of the month, with all this new energy, I will own a pair of stripey tights, have started a ripple blanket and run our third Preparing for Advent Day. I will, I will! And I will have thought of something appropriate to send to Frances as her prize!

1st November 2011

2011-11-01T22:25:00.006Z

I typed "portentious" into Google Images because I have been thinking all day that today had a most portentious feel about it. Significant in a muchly important but inexplicable way. However, 'twould appear that portentious is all broody and bad. So I typed in "potential" instead.

Now this is a word that I am coming to Despise, and will happily correspond thereon with anyone who has absolutely nothing else to do, even ironing. But the above made me Laugh Outrageously (if silently because I think they're all in bed now- why? Don't they know how portentious it all is today?)

So then I thought I'd try "Blessings" because that's what Angela always finishes with and she's so great. I think I'll just go to bed now too!

Greatitudes 434 - 441

2011-10-31T22:43:00.010Z

Kind codes. Something to look forward to.

Oh, a new washing machine. And Freegle to keep the old one hopefully out of landfill.

A messy, long task to keep housebound sun busy. Medicine for housebound sun!

Fun!

Happy Whatever You're Celebrating tonight! After another nice evening with more wise friends I'm saying Happy Perspective!

Friday Cake Bake: Pumpkin Pie

2011-10-22T23:01:00.002+01:00

Sorry, Nedboy et famille. I know we weren't very talkative tonight. I know we planted our children in with yours in front of a DVD. I know we planted ourselves in front of the wood burning stove in your front room. I suspect that I may even have dozed off at some point?

But thanks for the couscous. And the cheeses. And the fire! (And PC says thanks for the wine!)

Autumn, while it still lasts

2011-10-19T23:17:00.008+01:00

There has been a great deal of decluttering going on in this (sometimes tearful) Land. One result of which is my new resolution to read the Complete Collection of the Original Tales 1-23 now that Beatrix Potter has been unearthed from the back of their bookcase.

This seemed a fitting thing to do given that Sunday was Apple Press Day at Ardress in Armagh. (Putting our NT membership to maximum use this year!) The ancient art of apple cultivation and use- one millenium old- celebrated in this C18th farmstead. The latest re-incarnations of the Armagh Rhymers were there, which is always good!

I first heard them when they led a torchlit procession up Navan Fort one Hallowe'en Night! It was in County Armagh, many seasons ago, that I realised that my favourite colours were blue and green.

All in all a very appropriate time to be catching up with Peter Rabbit.

We didn't quite see Mr McGregor in the orchard, but we certainly filled our boots! Indeed, the small sum we paid for our bag reaped its own harvest because...

...we even swapped some Bramleys for a pumpkin when we got to Cooking Catherine's house, which was rich with the smell of roasting chicken, squash and potatoes. Much nicer than Peter's supper of camomile tea!

Friday Cake Bake

2011-10-16T22:45:00.003+01:00

This was Homecoming Apple Pie, made with the last of the windfalls. It was served with a choice of three ice-creams, and lasted right up to this evening's episode of Spooks. Perfick!

The Willows Grand Tour of the States!

2011-10-13T16:52:00.002+01:00

They are here! From Ontario to Oregon- No Spring Chicken with Autumn Mole, Ratty and Toad. Thank you, Debbie, and good luck!

Letters to Prince Charming I

2011-10-12T21:39:00.003+01:00

Dear PC,

I bought a mug today. I know that it's the Year of Living Small and that we don't need another mug, but really, it spoke to me! It is also the same colour as Jo's money box, the base of which he found. It was inside the money box. It must have got lodged there in your haste to get me some loose change for the hospital car park. So there's another of life's mysteries solved- along with the disappearing dinner ticket wallet, found by Jo again, in your car actually. So there's an advantage to my driving your car this week!

I got my car back from the garage today, by the way. Cost a bit more than I had expected, but that's ok because the men who came last night to unblock the drains cost a lot less than I thought they would so that's alright too! Mum gave them the check in the end, because I was at the emergency doctor with Jo. He's much better today, and Matt is well recovered too.

Today has thankfully been a very ordinary day, so far not one trip to a hospital, let alone two. I have been able finally to sort out new glasses, go to the supermarket and drink lots and lots of tea, some of it from my new mug!

We hope you are well, and awake, and adjusting to the time/language/luxury difference. At least with two queen size beds in your room you'll have lots of space to relax! I'm about to pack school bags and tidy up and sort out paperwork for the three things on the list for tomorrow, and then to bed, which feels like a two queen size ones when you're on the other side of the ocean!

Two sleeps,

Your strawberries x

material materialistic

2011-10-04T17:26:00.002+01:00

Brother, do we know we are in P5 now! More Dictionary Work for homework- three pages of joint writing and more than an hour later! Poor Jo had long since done his P3 homework, his fabricated subtraction work, and then even some fabricated handwriting practice, and had been sent off to play with new birthday toys that didn't make huge, screaming race track noises.

materialistic - ADJECTIVE Someone who is materialistic has the attitude that money and possessions are the most important things in life.

Jo reappears perplexed. "There are too many things in this house to know what to play with...."

The third and by no means final chapter of The Chronicles of Ms Thrifty Thursday

2011-10-03T13:20:00.005+01:00

Thrifty has been being thrifty, this being the Year of Living Small and all. She just hasn't been blogging about it, given the lurgy that has struck her woolly and flat!
When finally she sent her giveaway to the fabulous Betty the Wood Fairy, she re-used the box that had previously come from Princess Pom Pom, which pleased Thrifty immenesely, because obviously all the Pom sparkle and love went down the chain too!

Thrifty also has been experiencing the great delight of living large being a direct result of living small- one very small act on her part had huge and really very lovely consequences for a wonderful young woman, whose dad (Nedboy) appeared next day with a more huge bouquet. And another very small agreeing to help has resulted in almost daily deliveries of home-grown tomatoes and windfallen apples. Rumble crumble!

Also on the subject of seasonal harvest, Thrifty did some good old-fashioned bartering and exchanged one of her pots of damson jam for a pot of crab apple jelly. The satisfaction of this was immense!

All in all Angela's School of Thriftiness, was a source of great inspiration for the year ahead- these were wise woman of experience and good sense. Thrifty does not promise to achieve so much, but will continue to emulate! Aided and abetted by Ms Efficiency Everyday with whom Thrifty has been going supermarket shopping and splitting Good Deals, and also sharing buttermilk to prevent waste. Happy sigh...

Wind in the Willows II - Their Grand Tour!

2011-10-01T21:53:00.005+01:00

Well, Mole, Ratty and Toad have arrived in Canada! They appear delighted with the welcome that awaited them there- and so they jolly well should be, given the delicious home-baking, of which you too can have a slice, as the wondrous Different Drum has thoughtfully provided the recipe! Keep visting Deborah to see what they get up to over the next few days!

We have some new visitors to Strawberry Land as well. Jo is seven today and his worm farm is in full swing! It's all terribly exciting!

The Wind in the Willows II - Their Grand Tour

2011-09-17T22:01:00.002+01:00

"The open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs! Camps, villages, towns, cities! Here today, up and off to somewhere else tomorrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing! And mind, this is the very finest cart of its sort that was ever built, without any exception."

Thus spaketh Toad on his first empassioned journey of Willows- and he remembered those words with glee as he hopped into his envelope in Denver today and snuggled down with Ratty and Mole for the first leg of their Grand Tour! The whole world really is before them this time!

The suns and I have just been spinning our globe and looking at all their stops- it's quite something to consider as we snuggle down into Autumn here, with routines and school runs and homeworks and swimming and BB and piano and conkers and blackberries and hats and gloves that will definitely be coming out before I go to rugby practice again!

At least these three little characters will eschew the train train quotidien for a train train poop poop of merriment and wide open skies. Ratty is just remembering some of his own past words, in case the hilarity gets a bit much,

"O bliss! O poop-poop! O my! O my!" "O stop being an ass, Toad!"

(Their full Itinerary will be posted soon- so that everyone can check where they are. Still time to invite them to the adventure that is your place!)

Friday Cake Bake

2011-09-16T22:04:00.002+01:00

Leftover Lemon Cake. Actually Luscious Lemon Cake in the Cranks cookbook, but in the Year of Living Small we're taking as our departure point what must be used up! Followed the instruction to cut into squares, well, obviously not entirely literally! This did, however, have the most pleasing effect of disguising the complete failure of the thing to do any rising in the middle. At all!

We had better results in in the jungle this evening- ten cheeky monkeys ready to go! Though I'm noticing now that they could have been more diplomatically arranged to hide the much lovedness of our table!

Mellow mornings

2011-09-14T10:11:00.002+01:00

We love that series of books that starts with The Man who Wore All His Clothes. We laugh and laugh and laugh at the messages from the fridge and the doormat. Which is why I smiled to myself when I reached for my cereal this morning. You have to like a cereal box that says quietly, "Hello!" when you are just back from walking up the hill and have a very great deal of cleaning to do before you walk back down!

The Chronicles of Thrifty Thursday: Chapter 2

2011-09-12T00:08:00.006+01:00

It did not begin well as Thrifty set forth on the second week. Cycling down to The School for Sun 2 in stormy windy weather, she was blown from her bike! Hurt, beginning with damage of least importance, was sustained to her ankle, her trousers and her pride! The huge hole in her only pair of jeans remains a challenge to the rules of Thriftiness...

She was, however, highly successful in following the previous week's suggestion that no food should be bought until all existing food was used. This led to fabulously innovative meals, and an evening of hilarious entertainment- banana buns by Mum, cloud scraping decoration by Jo. She even began her Waste Not Exchange project with Ms Efficiency Everyday and handed over the half of a butter milk carton that remained from the baking of said banana buns.

Thrifty had been much impressed by blogtales of chutneys and jams and preservings of all wondrous imaginings. She knew, however, that rushing out to buy ingredients, not to mention a technical thermometer thing, would not at all be in keeping with The Year of Living Small.

But wondrous Nedboy of the country manoir has supplied another harvest, and Thrifty can feel a little bit thrifty after all!

Wind in the Willows II- The Grand Tour

2011-09-05T22:27:00.005+01:00

You see this beautiful copy of WitW? Well, this is Pom Pom's copy. Ha ha! But soon it could be coming right to you! Due to spectacular demand, Wind in the Willows is back, but for a whole season, not just a week!

Pom Pom will soon be posting her copy on, and the book, complete with Mole, Rat and Toad will be going a Grand Tour of the blogging world. We will have an official launch very, very soon, but this is your invitation to have a think! You don't even have to read the whole thing, or even be a great fan- and I know some of you were interested last time, but weren't totally enticed!

The idea is that you will stamp the passport, for there will be a little passport, and then sign the inside cover giving dates and place, and after that you can underline, annotate, illustrate to your hearts content! And even slip in some leaves, little fancy from your corner, and you would post it on- we'll work out the Itinerary from the comments that express interest here or at pompomsponderings.blogspot.com

Oh go on, it'll be something fun and frivolous to take us through the Autumn- they all need to back with Pom Pom by Thanksgiving hopefully, when they'll have a great homecoming party!

Sign up below- full instructions will be given in the Official Launch and will be included with the book on its travels....

Treasure and spies

2011-09-03T22:28:00.002+01:00

We got our last day in the waves today, and there was even sun! It was quite simply the best body boarding I've had, and there have been many excellent days in the sea this summer!

But the most exciting thing was also most unexpected! Treasure!

Well, a hunt for treasure! As the three of us were alternating supervision of four sand drawing children, we noticed another trio of very fascinating folk. I could only imagine they were parents out with their sixth form son, engaged on some intricate Geography or Art coursework. Why else would you be measuring out very precise distances from the posts in the sand with a long piece of string, then digging deep holes, peering into them and then filling them back in.

Eventaully we could stand the curiosity no more. I was despatched.

"I'm guessing it's Geography or Art coursework, but we can't decide!"

Man looks warily around, "Yes. It's a treasure hunt. We're searching every beach from Ballycastle to Benone (that's the whole of the North Coast. We have been working out the clues and doing quite well. But some people aren't working out the clues. We're being followed by people who are watching us. There's a car quite close by that is watching us right now..."

Mags looks warily around, "Oh. Good luck with that then!"

Help! Drafts!

2011-08-30T23:22:00.003+01:00

I should be blogging about- apple cozies that are ready to go, Betty's box that is nearly ready to go, Angela's Thrifty Thursdays and how amazing that is because of the Year of Living Small, the Year of Living Small.

However, I am having more and more difficulty posting anything, admittedly since this new machine arrived in all its slick, quick flick of a technological hooray.

I can't get photos to download first time for sure- they disappeared completely from a post last night, literally when my back was turned, and were only retrieved when I went into Drafts.

I can't publish by hitting this orange button at the bottom; it just doesn't respond at all. I have to publish by going into Drafts.

I can't highlight text to put in a link- I got Mise's link in last night, but then couldn't at all highlight the next thing I wanted to link through. Not even in Drafts!

And now I'm going to go and watch the rest of the fabulous French series thing with Jack Dee and Adrian Young Ones. So clever, so beautiful, and tonight so Provence!

2011-08-29T21:42:00.006+01:00

I want to have a bright and light-filled entry to Autumn like the one that Mise has chronicled! But it continues cold and grey and damp in the frozen North! I don't actually want an entry to Autumn at all just yet- for the last two years at just this time we are on Portstewart Strand for the summer's last swim and a bit of wistful looking ahead to the suns' next school year!

Instead we have been coaxing less ill little strawberries out into fresh air, and tramping through the glistening grass below the High Tower just across the way. So it would seem that it's conkers instead of vast sand stretches and dusky clouds this year round! Back to replenishing pencil cases, then!

Glastobirthday

2011-08-25T00:23:00.005+01:00

All summer long we have been delighting in the anticipation of Patrick's and Neil's and Rowan's joint 21st and 18th birthday celebrations- a mini music festival, a secret garden party, a seriously enforced and stylish dress code! The power of the beauty of youth was palpable- but you might spot a middle aged interloper with her crocheted daisy chain headband!

Dusk fell, as did the temperature! Layers required!

Far left, past the power of the beauty of youth- PC besuited and behatted and playing well into the night!

The final proof of the power of the beauty of youth- I taught two of these young women...

And the winner is...

2011-08-18T18:11:00.002+01:00

Betty the Wood Fairy! I ran all your lovely names through a most reliable thing and Betty was The Chosen Wood Fairy One. I shall be in touch to ascertain the leafy bower to which we should send our little box of little things.

I am very grateful for blogs today: reasons not to feel disappointed that I forgot to watch The Great British Bake-Off this week, and reasons to believe that boys will be boys!

Never mind, there is now only one sleep until Glastobirthday and I really must find out how to get photos back on here because we are all very excited!

Late as ever

2011-08-06T18:23:00.012+01:00

If you had asked, I would have said with absolute conviction that I started blogging in August two years ago- wrong again! Happily Ever After, still one of my favourite posts, appeared in your superior midst on 30th July 2009!

Oh well! There'll have to be a little anniversary giveaway, obviously, though I haven't given that any thought at all- if you'd like a little random fraise feast do leave the customary comment below!

Much has changed since that evening on the stool: Jo is six and no longer four. The suns are now old enough to say wedding, instead of happily ever after day, although I ruefully miss that! Not only was that dishwasher replaced, but its replacement also went the way of most technology in this house, and so with our environmental hats on we just fervently wash the dishes now! Well, I just fervently wash the dishes now, with sunny drying assistance! It's all still worth every minute on the corner stool, and possibly more so.

The biggest number of comments came in response to Cooking Catherine's guest post on picnics in the Wind in the Willows week that we all did! And indeed the next biggest came after the invitation to that same week- that was way back in January when we were all mostly snuggling down into mole holes; maybe we should do an Autumn one? And indeed the wet weather here today starts to usher in the cool undertones of crisp leaves and comforting scarves!

Any old how- Happy Second Birthday, Fraise, and thanks to those of you who call in to see us in our sometimes tearful patch!

Camping is...

2011-08-04T23:17:00.004+01:00

You know when you put your blogs down the side of the thing and the Internet magically updates the titles? So all you have to do to get everyone's latest posts is to click on the side of the thing? And everyone gets to see that you do honestly read them too?

Well, when I got in there from my SECOND night out without any strawberries this week, I read down through the list of latest posts:

Camping is = Crabapple jelly, sorting sheep, and the perfect summer's day.

Now I can honestly say that none of these things would appear in my definition of camping. Which is relevant here tonight because as I got in from my SECOND night out without any strawberries this week PC was googling away on the search for some suitable accomodation for the week he is taking off soon, and unimpressed by results he said, "We could just go camping?"

This is fine. I love camping. We did say that we were taking a little break this summer. But camping is fine. There's just never an absolute guarantee that in the frozen North there will be crabapple jelly, sorting sheep or even the perfect summer's day....

(Still no pictures here in Strawberry Land, so no shots of glamping or even google snatches of The Guard- both of which I would most highly recommend!)

Greatitudes 418 - 433

2011-08-02T10:10:00.005+01:00

First of all a resounding thank you to Prince Charming and to the Provider of Provision for a new computer. Our long cherished and much upgraded machine died exactly as I was reading an email that was important and urgent and crash, there it all went. But my wonderful no drama needed PC went out last night and sorted a replacement PC with great aplomb and characteristic wisdom. Which means that his wife can go on blogging instead of cleaning his house. Most gracious man! And in case you're interested in the technical details, it is black.

And the main reason why I can be blogging instead of cleaning the house this week is that, apart from available technology, suns are shining away at tennis camp every morning this week. Oh the sheer relief and bliss of a respite oasis in the middle of the dry and parched land- which it isn't, by the way, because normal summer weather has returned to the frozen North!!

We are (PC is) slowly reconnecting bits and retrieving what we (he) can from the machine wreck, so no photographs yet, but we are all very grateful for a most exciting weekend of glamping! Cooking Catherine informed me that this was in fact what we had just spent two night doing when we arrived at the latest fabulous Cooking family birthday party at the Giant's Causeway on Sunday afternoon.

We thought we had slept in a glorified garden shed, spent days on the beach with bodyboards, a surfboard, and buckets in which to catch crabs and minnows, and had breakfast on the last day in a nice hotel simply because of the amazing offer they were running- but no, it seems we have joined the Cath Kidston generation at last! (There will be more to come on Cath Kidston, when I can psyche myself up enough to reveal what I actually, really, unfortunately think...) Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to prove our foray into contemporary culture!

I am extremely grateful for blogs and more importantly bloggistes. Fraise is nearly two years old and I feel a time of evaluation settling upon me. What I do know with great certainty is that reading the thoughts and journeys of women across the planet has been a great revelation, encouragement, stimulation and privilege. And when you discover that you do actually know someone you would never ever have met, to whom you now email and with whom you now share and for whom you now care deeply, well, that it is a use of the Internet that is wholly holy.

Aspirational Holiday Reading and the Reading Revolution?

2011-07-24T23:48:00.006+01:00

Last year I had a very great deal to discuss. This year it is all a very great Work in Progress!I noticed when I opened Ulysses in Cork that my first and last attempt had managed 150 pages out of its 933. I thought I could read it in the week before arriving in Dublin- I'm up to 100 now, a week after arriving in Dublin! We did that hop on hop off tour of Dublin this day last week, and were right beside the very witty guide who asked if anyone had read Ulysses. Of course I said that I was trying to! He was most encouraging and I could hear him announce incredulously to the bus as we eventually got off, "She's reading Ulysses!!"

It helps if you've been to very Martello Tower which opens the thing, and once even swam in the bay where Daedelus and company swam. That was in a former life though- this trip consisted of rock climbing, if you can spot the scrambling strawberries..

I don't mind the stream of consciousness, even though I do have to have to re-read at least a page every time I pick it back up. I like the falling into and out of thought, place, memory, must-do list, smells, dreams. I find it reassuring that the chaos of unordered thought can be enshrined in literature, as a talisman for all unordered thinkers! And it does include the most fabulous descriptions of the sea for anyone on an Irish beach holiday!

Now. Confession time. When asked what I had wanted for my birthday I had reasonably, I felt, requested the DVD of Fergal Keane's Story of Ireland. Instead I got- here it comes- a Kindle! Oh! Controversial! So all the rest of the books I am either reading or trying to read have been downloaded via Whispernet (oh but you have to LOVE that word) to what officially comes up on my non-reflective screen as Mags' Kindle.

I am loving Robinsoe Crusoe- chose this one a: because the original Crusoe- an adventurer called Sedgwick, set sail on that voyage from Kinsale, and b: out of copyright it can be downloaded free, gratis and for nothing as can many, many other titles, like Pride and Prejudice which was my first ever Whispernet arrival.

Is it possible to impregnate prose with one more charged syllable of dramatic irony? I think not. If you have ever struggled to teach this, as I have, look no further. Chapter 1 of RobCru. Or practically every other sentence in all the chapters I've read so far (these amounting to two and a half..)

When done with that set of voyages and strange islands, I'll be straight into another with Travels into Several remote Nations of the World in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships. To give it its real and very full name. a: Because we were all around St Patrick's Cathedral and the house where it was written and b: because being out of cpoyright.... And to my shame, c: despite having lived and worked in the city of Saints and Scholars, close to Gosford Castle where Swift holidayed, I haven't ever actually read it.

And this is the next on the contemporary list- downwhispered to Mags' Kindle to demonstrate to Cooking Catherine how frighteningly easy it is to spend money when your Kindle already holds all your details in its little Amazon cash register! Also because she highly recommends it, and Cooking Catherine is never wrong about books! She's actually never wrong about anything as far as I can see, but she is very good on books!

So, off to bed for another page of Ulysses, not including the one I'll have to read again... And that will leave only 832 to go!

Friday Cake Bake enters The Twilight Zone

2011-07-22T23:12:00.002+01:00

Just to say what time it is. PM. I am on to my second attempt to make Strawberry Verjuice Tart, which while high in effort did nonetheless manage eventually and successfully to exist last year!

I also feel the need to tell you that the suns have only just set. They did also set at their allotted time much earlier; did the whole lovely blonde haired boys thing of listening to their nightly chapter of Enid Blyton with Dad.

But then they decided they couldn't sleep and would build with blocks while I ignored them in determination to overcome collapsing pastry. Build with blocks, read books, talk nicely to each other- all things they have steadfastly refused to do during the day.

We did manage to start their summer Maths Revision booklets, walk to the post office (with bundles), write a thank you letter on time, and go to the cinema to see Kung Fu Panda 2. But why are the busy days often the worst? If we had just lain around and not fought the evil technology fight, I bet they would have been in bed dreaming of Finder Outers and my tart would be in the fridge right now. And I would be in bed too!

Do you ever find perfection?

2011-07-21T21:20:00.012+01:00

I am catching up on all the truly splendid blogs you truly splendid bloggistes produce. Really. Gorgeous images, words, minds and hearts. It is perhaps more striking after a break, but nonetheless, there's glorious world of thought out there where you are right now!

I'll content myself with thoughts of the perfect holiday. Beach, potter round Kinsale, Monopoly, bed. Beach, potter round Kinsale, Monopoly, bed. Maybe a little change today? Potter round Kinsale, beach, UNO, bed. Beach, potter round Kinsale..... Edited highlights below!

This six year old was standing up on his surf board by the end of the week!

Look of disgust on face of very competitive thirty-eight year old at consistent speed with which child three decades younger can bankrupt the lot of us!

Babette Cole's riding companion, Babette Cole being just to right of shot, arriving on horseback with Dame Cole to her story-telling session at Kinsale Arts week!

The Tutankhamun exhibition in Dublin- Mattman has us all deciphering hieroglyphics now!

A tiny emporium dedicated to every width, colour, fabric and style of ribbon conceivable- A. Rubanesque in the Powerscourt Centre, Dublin. (Ric-rac in two candy shades, two metres. Very restrained and disciplined ten minutes of delight!)

Unexpected

2011-07-20T20:28:00.003+01:00

I had two blog posts all lined up in my head for coming home from deepest, downest, most fabulous Cork- one on holidays (which would have to include a description of the utter failure of the workhouse intentions!) and the next on books.

Now and again, however, I rave about Ann Voskamp, and here I go again. Her post today goes so much further down the sandy beach path that I've been on this month. Love, patience, living fully for her where I'm thinking through living freely. Wonderful things.

Tomorrow blog posting of holidays and the real posting of the first two trans-Atlantic bundles...

The Apple Cosy Collective Experiment III

2011-07-08T00:08:00.004+01:00

We went to the wool shop today and bought: 2 more balls of our cotton DK, one in a pink that will hopefully be reasonably appropriate for Mise; 2 skeins of embroidery thread that is slightly thicker than last summer's hair braid thread that I have been using for daisy chain prototypes and may well therefore prolong my eyesight; 2 metres of ribbon to complete the paper bunting (that will be coming to you, Gretchen Joanna!); and two buzzy bees- well, the suns had been incrediby patient and it seemed like a small price to pay!

So, I planned to tell you all that I was retreating to the workhouse to make apple cosies, finish bunting, and maybe even fly on with the daisy chains (which are incidentally very exciting, if incredibly hard on the eyes!), but then I stumbled on the above.

Belfast City Workhouse mid-nineteenth century. Still standing in large part and amalgamated into Belfast City Hospital- its orange tower block is a big part of the wider Belfast skyline, and where my mother spent lots of time in the lachrymose year whence cometh fraise's name. Irish famine meets pre-gold rush underpopulation of Australia with disastrous consequences for many young girls sent forth from this densely over-crowded workhouse.

No joking, then, but there will be a buzzy bee period of Internet silence here! A hooky retreat- your last comment strangely appropriate, Angela, if you follow the link! I need addresses for most commenters on my last post- could you email them? And Gretchen Joanna too?

Happy strawberrying!

The Apple Cosy Collective Experiment II

2011-07-06T23:13:00.006+01:00

If five or less of you would like an apple cosy:

Give £4.59 or equivalent to Christian Aid here and I will post you one!

If more than five of you want an apple cosy, those from six on can send me £4.59 (I have no idea how this would work from the States or France or New Zealand or Australia) and I will take out the postal charge and give the rest to Christian Aid.

If hundreds of cosyless apple eaters want one I shall open an etsy shop and make like a real crafter, with Paypal and everything, and Mise's magazine people will flock to my stall to source this new must-have commodity.

If no-one wants one I shall delete this post, slink away with the biscuit tin, and watch TV instead... (And put the ribbon on my paper bunting and finally sort out that giveaway before even thinking about doing another one!)

The Apple Cosy Collective Experiment

2011-07-06T16:47:00.006+01:00

So. Last week Angela emails me a link to the fabulous http://www.clothkits.co.uk/ where they are selling OUR APPLE COSIES for £9.19. I know! (Click on the photo to proceed with clothkits, but you should probably read on first!)

So. What with the proliferation of cosies of all shapes and sizes for all types of fruit, I propose that you get yours right here or at Pom Pom's for half the price. Guaranteed!

Mine will shortly be sporting leaves as well, because I'm working on leaves for my daisy chain project. And Pom can obviously cater for the bespoke fruit market. Although, Mise, I'm still working on designs for the cherry cosies....

ps We are running into translation troubles, which appear to favour cozy in the Land of the Free and cosy in the Frozen North. Just to clarify!

Greatitudes 405-417

2011-07-04T23:35:00.007+01:00

It's been a happy, clappy strawberry weekend! And sunny, sunny, so sunny, so not typically northern Irishly sunny but lovely! So obviously we rushed straight to the beach with wetsuits (sunny, but water still and always glacial) and suns' first bodyboards, bought in preparation for The Approaching Annual Adventure.

Then later we left the house without suns. I know! We dropped past Cooking Catherine's with small birthday things, on our way into town with neither plan nor purpose! So fifty percent of them came too, and we ended up eventually, after a meandering through the fabulous cathedral Quarter, at Bert's Bar. Driver's No-jito- you have to be here drinking this before the turning of the next millenium.

And all day yesterday we pottered around Ireland's biggest Christian festival- not quite Glasto, but actually there will be more of Glasto-ness later in the summer- plans for crochet daisy chain headbands are afoot/ahand/ahead...

Happy, clappy, sunny strawberry weekend- oh the sheer joy of listening to the Rend Collective Experiment. We've just downloaded the Organic Family Hymnal so will be listening to them indefinitely!

Bean Birthday

2011-07-01T14:27:00.008+01:00

The last things I made for 30 days of making were three little felt brooches to take with me to the Coffee Bean Deli yesterday. I have a group of three truly fabulous friends who are there most days, and I try to be there once a week, because life is definitely better when I do! We loosely describe ourselves as Bean Craftin' because sometimes we bring out our projects.... Mostly I drink green tea and admire their projects!

When the relevant time comes along we celebrate Bean Birthdays, with bunting, cake and present tailored to the individual Beanie. Thursday was for moi! My birthday is not quite yet, but the absence of in-school strawberries makes for a more relaxing time!

Cupcakes everywhere. Red velvet ones, and excellently good ones at that. Apparently the ingredients were a compilation of various recipes but the technique is all Jamie Oliver, from the summer magazine. Queen Niqi in charge on that one, so obviously very high standard achieved! Thank you to all!

Dedicated to Sainte Angela du Nounours Habillé

2011-06-30T22:34:00.002+01:00

Reims 2009. God is on our side!

Day 30: It is finished!

2011-06-30T15:00:00.005+01:00

Phew! Thirty days of making things- I'm sure it didn't at all count if you just made lots of the same thing over and over again, but some of us just don't have Angela's versatility of craft!

We were all very pleased with the results, however! I would hasten to add that there were nearly as many bottles of wine as apples, and we went clinking into school this morning in a hideously inappropriate way for the nice, local Primary School!

Other things are finishing with the month as well. I think that being a very part-time term-time Information assistant at the nice, local University library (it's a nice, local suburb, really!) disqualifies you as a REAL stay-at-home mother, but there will be no more structured (regularly paid) teaching for the foreseeable future.

What I have loved about crocheting masses of apple cosies, has been the reassuring sense of moving gently around and around a growing reflection of the turning earth, the revolving seasons, the time for everything. My first attempt in the month of making was an attempt to recall the possibilities in creation from someone who most assuredly knows what He is making. My last attempts will be showcased tomorrow- one month over, the new one starts.

Most importantly, it's the holidays for us all as of 12.15 today, which can only mean one thing- down to the library for this year's Summer Reading Challenge!

days 22 and 23 Gift tags and radio and TV!

2011-06-23T22:45:00.001+01:00

This has been a very exciting week, dear readers! And for reasons I shall discuss tomorrow, it shouldn't have been so at all!

We were interviewed at 8.40 am on Good Morning, Ulster, and then all appeared on BBC1 Newsline at 1.30pm. Our road safety campaigning group- three walking buses coming down the road with 200 of our pupils and their parents. Three count stations, media coverage, our local Stormont MLA- bless you, Alastair Ross, and sunshine for the first time all week. I don't believe in coincidence!

Lots of gift tag making for teachers just now, for two establishments. Must get back to the ribbon. If you'd like to hear a squeaky middle aged woman ranting in the voice of an irate 8 year old, move the Radio Ulster timer on to 2:05:30....

Days 20 and 21: Solstice

2011-06-21T19:17:00.004+01:00

So it's the longest day. Last year Prince Charming and I were enjoying this, but this year we are enjoying torrential rain and all is grey!

Black and white photography is definitely not grey, when it looks like the above. Darragh Casey, photographer and parent at the suns' school, has started the visual campaign. So, between making a difference and making apple cosies, and the usual, the making month goes on, the earth turns, and life revolves.

Darragh's website is fabulous- in the Exhibition section there are very beautiful portaits of poets and authors alike. More than enough to brighten a grey night!

Days 18 and 19 An apple for each teacher

2011-06-19T23:36:00.008+01:00

Do you know when we got to town yesterday we walked straight into an empty space on the pavement on Royal Avenue just in time for the Lord Mayor's Parade to go drumming, dancing, waving past? And I can't tell you what a joy it is to hear the loud, booming beat of drums other than the old ones resounding through those streets!

Anyway on Days 18 and 19 I made three apple cozies. Three down, nine to go. Because not only is it an apple for each teacher (and they're both in job-share classes), they also have two classroom assistants each, and then there's the school nurse (who worries about inhalers and epipens when I don't have to), the school secretary (who is worried by me), and when they saw the things taking shape they thought of Mr W Principal who apparently eats an apple every day in the dining hall, and they'd like him to benefit too. They each want him to benefit too.

Thankfully there were also bright cheery cherries, and lots of them! And thanks to Gladsome Lights, and Pom Pom, and the others- yours looked/sounded luscious too!

A cherry challenge for a cheery weekend!

2011-06-18T09:54:00.003+01:00

Pom Pom has a big bowl of cherries today, and Gretchen Joanna has just bought some too. I'm heading into town with everyone soon, and now have cherries on my list as well! I think we should all eat cherries today and post luscious pictures! I'm buying mine in Sawyer's, my favourite tiny speciality shop in my favourite tiny speciality street where maybe we'll even eat lunch in my favourite tiny speciality cafe. Mmmm- have a cheery cherry weekend, bloggistes!

Day 17: I made it!

2011-06-17T23:47:00.008+01:00

I made it to the end of today- this is cause for great celebration; please have even a little whoop of something on my behalf! After work we made gingerbread men. (The flying elephant is so Chagall, n'est-ce pas? Not to mention the dancing Matisse lady on the right!!)

Then we played Junior Scrabble, and I made it to the end of Divorcing Jack in between goes! Then I made it eventually to Book Club, Divorcing Jack ringing in my ears as I drove. Not quite hot off the press- in fact, when we met Colin Bateman last night I felt quite sheepish when he asked which book we were reading for tonight, and we said Divorcing Jack (published in 1994) and he said, "Oh. The first one."

It has been a veritable rollercoaster of a day in my land- I do hope your weekend is beginning with much more peace and tranquillity! And speaking of peace and tranquillity (Yeats reference alert) tomorrow I must arise and go then, and go into town to find a fabulous Father's Day present. No. I'm not making one! If I make up the paper bunting for my giveaway I shall be extremely satisfied- last chance to comment here!

Day 16: Additions

2011-06-16T22:35:00.007+01:00

Tonight I made an addition to my small but perfectly formed collection of signed by the author books.

And then when I got home Saskia had visited the strawberry patch and I made a new addition to my list of just unbelievably colourful, upbeat and amazing blogs.
It's been an interesting evening!

Day 15 Lanyon made Queen's, and how!

2011-06-15T21:46:00.005+01:00

Charles Lanyon was the architect of the stunning main building at Queen's University, Belfast, which is where I studied after A-Levels. Four blissful years reading English Language and Literature, and French. Mostly in the Lanyon library just to the left of this Gothic college. For lunch we went to the Great Hall, immediately right inside the main door. It never looked this moody, but was continually beautiful, and for the Troubles generations, at least the ones who didn't form part of the much discussed Brain Drain to the mainland, it was solid and mind rich.
I was around there today, partly at the University Bookshop looking, in vain, for Divorcing Jack by Bateman- more of him tomorrow and even Friday! When all jobs there were complete I made myself sit down before the afternoon sun-rush. Green tea with jasmine in the quad, and silence! Alma Mater comes to me, speaking words of wisdom...

Days 7,8,10 and 14: Making a difference

2011-06-14T23:52:00.004+01:00

There haven't been many waking minutes this month unfilled with thoughts of road crossing possibilities! Out of my Lent thinking, and especially out of that day away I did with Cooking Catherine came some meetings and lots of emailing and an impressively accessible range of elected folk and even a facebook group called Cross the Jordanstown Road! Do join us! So far we're a fairly friendly bunch!

Over the next week we're announcing our desperate need for a lollipop person in local church services on Sunday, and trying to pull together a Big Morning Out next week- hopefully with media coverage- wow! If you're on this side of the Irish Sea, you'd be be most welcome to join one of our walking buses!

At our first meeting, the local station master described our route to school as a country road with motorway traffic, so, when no post appears to say otherwise, a difference in how hair-raising it can be walking less than a mile will be what I am trying to make!

Day 13- crazy lady on beach at sunset

2011-06-13T22:19:00.004+01:00

This is also supposed to be my Monday Greatitudes post, so here goes! This month of making things is really quite good. A bit of focus and pressure to cut through the daily getting on and getting through and generally enjoying it all, but not actually knowing what you've achieved, if anything!

Today I made the rest of my Mollie Makes episode 1 felt phone pouch. I had started last night with suns cutting and sticking too, and all was mellow and jolly. I finished it today in the Bean, and that was really very nice! Weekly-ish green tea and chat is super enough, but working on a little thing as the world goes by and you have ADULT company- better again!

Out and about with Niqi for a little while after, and I realised that magazines don't appear in episodes, but issues! But I'm sticking with episodes for Mollie Makes- it's like an episode of a jaw-dropping lifestyle programme in your bag. En plus, I found one last copy of episode 2 in the newsagents.

Otherwise I'm extremely grateful that I live in a country which will give lots of money to the third world, that people came to the meeting last week about which I have yet to post, that many fine people call us friends, and that we are booking downward and upward very nice stops for our holidays!

I'm always thankful for holidays! Number 3 in my three favourite things! (Excluding human beans.) I'm quite excited about this one- no intense packing of the car with camping equipment required, not in July anyway! A house on a beach- hence the title of my phone pouch: crazy lady on beach at sunset. Greatitudes 389-404; approaching half-way!

Day 12

2011-06-12T20:09:00.007+01:00

Today I made hot chocolate and croissants for our Sunday School class who had a quick field trip chez nous this morning to celebrate the P7s moving on next year. PC, however, well,

PC made the music at the local churches' Pentecost Barbecue at Loughshore this afternoon. Photo taken before torrential rain!

He even managed to change a string al fresco mid-set. Photo taken before torrential rain!

I made myself as comfortable as possible. Photo taken before torrential rain!!

Day 11- bunting and pie!

2011-06-11T22:44:00.012+01:00

In the first episode of Mollie Makes I was particularly fascinated by Lola Nova's Happy Little Garlands. She used up charming strips of material left over from gorgeous sewing projects and stitched them onto card, then cut into pendants. I, obviously, don't have the same strippy stash! However, as I wanted to make bunting for the Mothers' Union noticeboard, I decided to recycle old MU magazines.

Also, being that sort of teacher who likes nay obsesses about displays that are as creative as they are instructional, even when she has taught only very part-time for ages and won't even be doing that for more than a fortnight now, I decided that the bunting might as well have little snippets of MU life!

I am very pleased with my meagre efforts- not least because it means that I have made something real in June, instead of messing about with metaphysical alternatives! Now I just need to find creative and instructional material to fill the noticeboard! All suggestions on noticeboard use will be very graciously received!

More than graciously received, but indeed extremely joyously received was the amazing toile de jouy that arrived yesterday from Mise. Oh my! I am instructed to make something pretty therewith. Well, the ribbon now holds the bunting, but My Marvellous Mother has not laughed at the suggestion that I could make a dress. We shall see!

Finally, I made an apple pie. The stunted holly leaves are supposed to represent Pentecost's tongues of fire! Interesting conversation that provoked- suns have never batted an eyelid at the idea of Jesus healing and coming back from the dead. But that His Spirit might make everyone speak in different languages? "That's impossible. Jo, you would be able to speak French. That's a miracle!"

ps Blogger, which won't let me comment chez anybody, also won't let me see who has arrived at the Patch to bring the Strawberry Pickers up to fifty. But apparently there are fifty wonderful, generous folk who call now and then to see how tearful things are! So, to say thank you and gosh, thank you again- I'd like to offer a Happy Little (Mothers' Union/National Trust magazine themed) Garland as a giveaway. Leave a comment and one will be picked!

Day 9

2011-06-09T11:45:00.004+01:00

I've been working hard on making a difference, which will be my post every soon, justifying a seeming blank for the last few days, but in between that I'm enjoying making Googlemusic! Will it only be there for today?

Greatitudes 378-388 on Day 5

2011-06-06T21:51:00.008+01:00

I finally made time to start climbing this mountain- with the Doctor and the Gladiator as climbing companions.

And I made time to read at the strawberry patch. With a blanket, because it was cold!

And then this evening I made time to read A Holy Experience, which I always put off because Ann Voskamp's words need time and savour and thought. And I was so glad I did, because her photos, better than mine, more profoundly meaningful than mine, were still a bit like mine!

And I am making time now to be thankful again on a Monday, for blogs that point you always in the right direction and that sanity-salvation high. For a husband who keeps you between the hedges, and even cuts the grass there too. For ironing that is finished! For the plight of the garage door that finally answered a question (that is admittedly an obscure one, GJ, sorry!). For bright, shiny, octane powered suns who demand time, but time in the right place. For the amount of "Behold" in Revelation, and isn't that what Voskamp is talking about today- looking for it now, expecting it now. And I was going to say this month that is nearly over, but then tomorrow isn't, as Jo postulated earlier, the last day of June and there is much to be made before the end!

On Day 5 I made (second edition)

2011-06-05T20:56:00.006+01:00

Jane Brocket scones. For tea. On a rainy Sunday evening after two circuits of skipping (most therapeutic) round Botanic Gardens Playpark, and a quick scoot round the Museum. Nice!

But then, later this evening, my friend Anne called to show me the AMAZING quilt that she has finished. Twelve months of the year in intricate artistry.

I liked July best- birthday girl gets money while being told, "Be honest" and the material behind the words is adorned with tiny, juicy strawberries!

Day 4

2011-06-04T17:02:00.004+01:00

We've just this minute made amazing discoveries: Master Martin has put PC on Youtube! Mise is sending me the toile! Real things will obviously have to be made now, but this may well remain the most exciting of the 30 days!

Days 2 and 3

2011-06-03T23:09:00.008+01:00

Well done, E, for your 69 out of 97 on that French exam! That makes me very happy today! Such are the little things that make me happy in general just now! Which is my justification for ignoring the real creativity of all who surround and pushing on with the thought that I can make things too in June!

Therefore can I state that on Day 2 I made my vote count for the boyfriend of the daughter of my friend Anne! He is in the Next model competition, and is, apparently, very handsome...

And today, being Day 3 of 30 days of creativity, I made what I make best- tea for friends!

A bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils!

2011-06-01T22:27:00.009+01:00

They're for a small group of Special Needs Year 10 folk who have found themselves disappointingly on the cusp of a summer exam in French! Instead of tracing rainbows they'll be colouring them in, following French instructions. That's the plan!

I think after a long break I'm following Angela here with trepidation! Day One: I've made a cartoon!

Mollie Makes

2011-05-14T15:31:00.004+01:00

So from what I have understood, lots of sublimely beautiful and influential bloggistes, like Dottie Angel, have published a magazine. It's four hours of blog-wandering without switching on the computer. I'm having an aspirational Jane Brockettish read. Found Issue 1 quite by chance in a newsagent's last night, waiting for PC to buy his clutch of mountain magazines.

Inside today are small boys and friend; outside intermittent deluges of torrential rain- so I've chosen apple cosy over the felt kit to start with and have a contented little smile on my face! Bon weekend!

Les Incontournables 3

2011-05-05T11:15:00.002+01:00

The rain is back (with lazy morning bowls of porridge), so no more journal sur l'herbe for a while! Never mind- we'll be up and out to vote. Eventually!

Les Incontournables 2

2011-05-02T22:35:00.003+01:00

I think I must have decided sometime in the last fortnight that a time of illness could herald the ideal opportunity for an identity crisis. So you may have to ignore another few days of sifting through my quotidien fabric for the essential threads. Disconcertingly, food seems thus far to be the main focus...