just another morning here

Having had yesterday in the office pretty much all day, then cello lessons and MSG in the evening (yes I’m *still* doing it!), and knowing that the following couple of days I’ll be needed at work as well, I declared today a housework day, meaning I got to stay at home and work. It’s been beautiful weather for it, too, warm and sunny and perfect for drying floors and washing! The kids helped by making a good effort in their rooms before going off to do their thing

Determined to make the most of it I left the computer upstairs for all of, ooh, 40 minutes before bringing it down to start blogging

Hung washing out and cleaned the kitchen while listening to a really ancient Amy Grant CD. So ancient that I remember which side of the cassette the tracks were on I love listening to CDs that I know really well every so often. Those that you are pretty much word perfect on, not to mention being able to sing the introduction to the next song in the right key, you’ve listened to it so much. Or is that just me Anyway, housework generally has to be done to that sort of CD as far as I’m concerned. Went from Amy Grant to Madonna’s Immaculate Collection, to another really old MWS album, then on to Green Day … no comments, please!

Other stuff I managed to achieve today:
• popped into town to pick up that game I’ve been lusting after since the weekend. As a result have had to be very self controlled but I haven’t even got it out of the box yet! That’s tonight’s treat
• mended a hairband – superglue + 3 clothes pegs made short work of that
• washed and dried another two loads of washing
• finished unpacking bags from the weekend
• hoovered the house and cleaned what needed cleaning along the way – funniest part was Josiah’s bed, which was just a huge pile of books – I’d roll my eyes only I’m really proud of him for being such a star when it comes to reading so I can’t complain! On a small reading tangent for a minute, actually they’re all three doing brilliantly with their reading at the moment – they’re not into classics or anything but all three are *enjoying* the reading they’re doing, which is a state I sometimes wondered if they’d ever get to! Anna’s been reading Harry Potter and finished number 4 last night I think. Abbie’s in a Rainbow Magic phase, we’ve done rainbow fairies, pet fairies, and are now on weather fairies – Merry, if we were sensible here we’d arrange swaps of the different series! and Joe’s just reading whatever he fancies, from picture books to the Rainbow fairies as well!
• swept and washed the kitchen floor (well, I knew Robyn was coming over!)
• stopped at 11.30 for a coffee then decided to have lunch at the same time, cheese & spicy mango chutney sandwich if anyone’s interested
• chatted to Steve when he came home for lunch
• weeded and dug over the veggie bed in the garden, spurred on by the great Butternut Squash Seedling Giveaway at the weekend – I needed something to jolt me into action in the garden
• attacked the grass with the lawnmower – Steve helped. Most of the grass is cut, and the rest of it is at least flattened a bit
• planted some seeds. Better late than never! Not sure they will be any good though as they’ve been hanging around in the shed since last year, so I might have to go and investigate that garden centre marquee thing they’ve put up in the Sainsbury’s car park! I need a bigger pot for my avocado tree, too, I’m sure it’s stopped growing because it’s outgrown its current one.
• Attacked a few bushes with the clippers, everything is somewhat overgrown as usual!
• Texted Steve’s sister first thing to see if she wanted to pop over sometime during the day and she was doing similar domestic stuff so came over for a cuppa with Robyn this afternoon. Finally gave Robyn her birthday present! Nice to see them as usual
• Brought in the washing, folded it, added to the already huge ironing pile. Aiming to do the ironing in front of the Apprentice this evening.
• Remembered to go and pick the kids up from school! And there ends the housewife bit for the day, the rest is just normal spending time with them/cooking tea stuff. Feels like it’s been a productive day though

Since being home Anna’s been playing the piano (Music of the Night in every sound the keyboard can offer Wish she’d learn another piece!) and the other two are playing outside with Mollie. Later on Anna has Stage by Stage and Josiah has his violin lesson so it’s feeling pretty busy here

Got up early this morning to make the most of our one half-day in the week of being together, had croissants for breakfast (well, they all did, I had a banana & strawberry smoothie ), and got up to Dartmoor by about 10am.

I still don’t see the attraction of Dartmoor, I must confess. It is beautiful in a strange sort of way, I suppose, but it just seems a bit bare, to me. The children absolutely loved it though, went running from rock to rock and generally had a brilliant time, I can see it becoming a habit – especially when we can easily go back to the van for soup & rolls (and the obligatory toilet break) rather than coming home. Carrot & Almond today again – one of our faves, will post the recipe later for you, Emma

Of course this term we are still coming back for Anna’s Stagecoach – if nothing else I’m glad she’s changing stage-school things because of the awkward timing of this one! She went off to that for the afternoon, Abbie did some piano practise then went off to play with Joe and Mollie, and Steve & I attacked the two-foot high mess that was our lawn … now looking neat and tidy, hopefully that will be it for the winter.

Rog & Ruth and their girls popped round for the rest of the afternoon – we chatted, children played, Anna came home, and we had dinner together which was unexpected but really nice.

Since they’ve gone we’ve done violin practise and baths, now Anna and Steve are improvising together on the piano which is really nice to listen to

Now completely and utterly knackered – but about to go out to a Home Ed friend’s cocktail party!

So pleased to have finally got rid of the archway to nowhere (which now is in the veggie patch ready for next year’s beans to climb up. Now, what can we do with that lovely (not) fountain thing?!!!

We decided we ought to do some gardening today!