Kids talk ...

Two recent conversations with Reuben that made me smile ...

After breakfast Reuben asks, "Can I have an ice-cream?"
Mummy answers, "No Reuben, we don't have puddings after breakfst, we'll save it for later."
Reuben "Well could I just hold an ice-cream?"
Mummy replies " No! It would start to melt."
Reuben " Well if it starts to melt, then I'll lick it."

After seeing piglets being born, Reuben had a converstaion with his Dad.
Daddy "Reuben, do you remember when the piglets were born and they came out of their mummy's tummy?"
Reuben "The babies didn't come out of the tummy they came out of the bottom!"
and then he continued "First they were all boys and then the next day they'd turned to girls!"
His observation of the disappearing umbilical cord.

I'm so glad I'm not missing any of these special moments with the kids. Before we started home educating I read an article where the author wrote, 'You're not going to get to your death bed and think "Gosh I spent too much time with the kids"' and it's true isn't it.

Although I can't remember thinking this when my darling Rosebud was having a huge tantrum and not wanting to get in her carseat!
x

Courgettes, peas and a handful of berries

Finally by Sunday, we had warm weather, well actually it was too hot for most of the day! But by evening time it had cooled down enough to go and spend some time in the garden. Recently whenever we've attempted to go up to the garden it's rained! A couple of weeks without weeding around the flowers, sees brambles and Raspberry canes sprouting up all over the place. So today I cleared a path round to the rose arch, which is still smelling sweet. I've always loved wild gardens and yes, I've finally got one...


The Summerhouse with it's ornamental bed, which is now filled with raspberry canes.

Chinese lanterns

We are pleased to see so many plants shooting up after last year hash winter

Many of the lavenders have died over winter, but this one is going strong and smells wonderful.

One of my favourite flowers, stargazer lilies,
I had them as button holes at my wedding almost 12 years ago.

And on to the fruit and veg...

The gooseberries are almost ready to be picked. The birds got most of our redcurrants, hope they don't get the other berries too. Maybe we'll put netting over next year.

I almost composted this wilted straggly looking plant, then noticed it had blueberries on it!

Peas and cornflowers

We are eating fresh peas raw everyday. The children love podding them


and we are getting so many courgettes. Ratatouille most days. Thankfully today the girls found new recipes...

Courgette and cheese Savoury muffins

and courgettes dipped in batter and fried (nice with stir fry).

Potatoes almost ready. Boiled, and then a dressing of red pesto, I think!
In the poly tunnel, the grape vine is growing, but we wont have grapes until next year.

Sweetcorn and runner beans at the back.

onions

looking forward to tomatoes.

Sadly one the black orpingtons died.

classic cars & a classic Lego van

I love this post from Immy's blog...

http://horseridersdiary.blogspot.com/2011/06/classic-cars-classic-lego-van.html

Our traditional camping trip to Robin Hood's Bay

When the weather was warm we began getting the camping things out, our first camping trip with four children. "Where are we ..." Imogen stops in mid sentence and realises, "... don't tell me, Robin Hood's bay!"
We've been going to the RHB folk weekend for a few years now. The weather forecast was unsettled, but we decided to go anyway.

Luckily we managed to put the tent up in fine weather, some years Geoff and Jemima have put the tent up in pouring rain.
We always camp at Middlewood Farm in Fylingthorpe, a little village above Robin Hood's Bay.
The children spent ages watching the cows: it's amazing to see the peristalsis of their necks as the water goes down.

Middlewood is a working dairy farm, so twice a day the ladies go off to be milked. Our journey sometimes takes us through their midst as we cross the fields

and down the wooded glen to get down to the village. On the way, maybe a quick lesson from Geoff naming trees.


But definitely the first thing we do on every camping trip after putting up the tent is to go down to the village to eat fish and chips on the quarter deck.


On the Saturday we always...

visit the coast guard centre, but HORRORS, it had been refurbished, new exhibitions!!! and some of our favourites had gone.

But the children really loved this model that demonstrates the tides. Reuben watched the model and then went to the window to watch the real waves come in.

Next traditon: Dollies ice-cream shop

Farm made ice-cream dipped in the chocloate fountain.

Contented children

and with a front row seat for our next tradition: watching 'the dancing ladies'.

Look blue skies, time to hit the beach

The beach is great for rock pooling and collecting fossils.

"blob on a cone, crab in a cup ..."
(Julia Donaldson illuminating our world as ever - this time from 'Sharing a Shell')

and we watched the tide come and talked about the pull of the moon.

Once the the beach had vanished we headed up to 'the boat' playground.

The evenings were so cold and rainy. We played a few games of mapominoes (which I am totally addicted to) then we had a drive around to warm up before bed.

The view was spectacular and I love the line of cloud.

Sunday's are abit more flexible! we explored the narrow winding lanes

So many pretty cottages

Lots of seagulls had nested on the rooftops and were feeding their young.

To feed our young - another camping tradition - Heinz Tomato soup!

Gobstopper from Dollies

We found out about the history of the bay in the museum.

A tree to climb and swing on in the campsite.

We usually go home via Bempton Cliffs, but we decided on a change and went to Rievaulx Abbey instead.



The visitor centre is very hands on, with models to demonstate early building methods.

And after three nights of camping in the cold and rain, this is how I felt!