half term

• I knew we would be spending half term week at home as there was building work aplenty to supervise.
• I knew I had a huge washing pile to demolish - built up as  a result of a frozen washing machine due to the recent cold weather.
• I knew three of the follies would be accompanying Mr Folly to a 'bring your child to work' day.
• I knew there were orthodontist and hair appointments to fit in.
• I knew the eldest Folly would be off for an activity weekend with her youth group.
• I thought we would be spending much of the time crafting and baking close to a roaring fire.

Things have turned out quite differently. 

• The warmer temperatures have tempted us outside on much longer walks with Bess. 
• The chicken house has had a bit of a spring clean.
• Friends have taken pity on the younger follies and they have been invited out to multiple sleepovers.
• I have managed lunch with a friend at her new home.
• We have not managed much in the way of making at all.
• I have been taught the first stages of nordic walking.
• Builders in the kitchen has meant limited baking and cooking.
• Builders in the kitchen has also meant they are making their own cups of tea just now.

A ROOF!

Thursday morning saw me celebrating with tea all round as the roof was completed. YIPPEE! Just in time for the snowfall Thursday night.  Now by the standards of those living in countries where snow lasts from November to May this was an insignificant amount, but even so I was relieved that we were weatherproof before snow fell.

On another positive note, we have windows along the upstairs hall corridor and windows in the two new bedrooms. 

The studwork for the new bathroom is also taking shape which reminds us that we need to choose and order our bathroom suite.

I can see the makings of a storage cupboard.  There are electric wires now trailing across ceilings indicating placements of light fittings and switches.







The negative side to all our gains is a dodgy phoneline. As slates progressed across the roof our telephone connection became intermittent. Finally things settled down and we were left with internet, the capacity to receive phonecalls sounding as if on apparatus from the early 1900's and the complete inability to  telephone out. Outward calls necessitate walking out into the middle of the field behind the house and using the mobile. In this chilly weather it's making for some very succinct conversations.

dancing sunday

with three of the young follies taking dancing lessons, when exam time rolls around it’s a full day.

there are ballet buns to make

the use of copious amounts of hairspray

a modern style half bun to master

ballet ribbons to sew

theory questions to memorise

ballet shoes to clean

it’s a good thing that my disorganisation meant we arrived super duper early at the exam venue rather than the required 30 minutes before the exam time.

Brrrrr

… the temperature’s dropped here in the south of the uk and coincidentally we have just had the roof removed from the whole of the house.

When it was time to think about joining the roof of the new extension to that of the old house it became apparent that the whole house needed a new roof!  Decisions, decisions – do we forego the kitchen and get the roof or wait and do a little patching until we have saved some more.  In the end we went with the sensible, though not exciting option, of a new roof and the kitchen will have to wait awhile.

So up with more scaffolding at the front of the house as well as the back.

Off with the old slates and on with the new felt and batons.

Next week we should see the new slates over the whole roof but until then we have to turn up the heating and hope the snow holds off.

hello february

I am rather pleased to see February.  It isn't the weather so much that bothers me - which is a good thing as this week is going to be a chilly one. No, it's the light. I struggle to get out of bed in a morning whilst it is still dark and dread the fact that we barely get home from school pick up and it's dark again. There just isn't enough time to do everything!

The lack of light doesn't seem to have effected the productivity of our chickens we have had a steady of eggs throughout the winter. 

With the arrival of February I feel we are getting towards lighter months again and the month is a short one (though a leap year this time).  

Of course February also brings half term so I need to get thinking of some fun activities for the week - any ideas?

a new job

with the start of the new year I also started a new job as an outreach worker on the Thomas Project.  The job is turning out to be just my thing - not only do I provide information and support to families and pre-schools, but I have to buy and more frequently make the resources myself.  I am allowed full reign with the making as others on the team are not quite so excited by this aspect of the job.

On thursday I made a choice board for a 3 year old boy.  This board is quite specific to his interests and will be used as a starting point to perhaps move on to a timetable or schedule.  Such choice boards can be used at home with any child struggling to communicate but are a particularly useful tool for those working in pre-schools or within a pre-school language group.

The objects or symbols need to be relevant and meaningful to the child. They are a visual representation of the choices available and avoid the need to simultaneously think about possible options, whilst also trying to make a choice. In this instance the 3 year old already associates nursery rhymes with these small soft toys and so these can be used as symbols.

First I cut out an irregular shape from an A4 plain piece of card and laminate the card to make it longer lasting.  Then I stick pieces of velcro to the card ensuring there is enough space between each for the symbolic objects.

 

Next I stick the corresponding soft side of velcro to the toys.  I found that the velcro did not always stay on the fabric and so further secured this with a stitch or two. The glue on velcro is extremely sticky so after several attempts and gunky sewing needles I managed a few stitches along the edge of the velcro.

The toys now stick to the board and can be chosen and pulled off by the child thus communicating his choice of song without the use of language.

This choice board was quick and easy to make but now of course I have to put it to use and see whether the creation is successful.

looking back

Looking through my photos, deciding which ones to use on the blog made me realise that we spent an exceedingly chilled out family Christmas.  As we are well and truly into 2012 I decided I needed to record the family moments before they slipped from all our minds.  Here are the much belated photo snippets of our family Christmas.

Christmas Eve always entails our family walk around New Alresford.  We even remembered bread for the ducks this year. The route we follow is very short but it is a walk we began when the children were toddlers and have maintained every year since. 

We stop off at Caracoli for hot chocolate, coffee and snacks.  The coffee shop has such a festive feel. It was a warm Christmas Eve - just look at those tables set outside.

The nativity scene close to the Christmas tree in the square is always made by children from the local primary school.

As dusk begins to fall it is time for the follies to make our way home.



Christmas Eve continued with a meal and charades and then it was time to put out the stockings, milk and mince pie for Santa - not forgetting the carrot for Rudolf.  Even though the youngest Folly is now 9 there is never any suggestion that we omit such traditions.  I have to admit that now the Follies are getting older the chance to stay in bed until 7.30am is very welcome, but even teenagers cannot contain their excitement longer than this.

The holidays seemed to roll on smoothly with lots of family time and leisurely activities.

It all seems such a long time ago now and already there seems to be spring in the air as Folly 4 and I noticed the snowdrops out on our walk.