The sunniest and warmest day of the year so far happily coincided with the tenth birthday of the middlest apprentice. My children spend a large part of their freetime living ’the famous five’ life so the opportunity to pack a picnic and go exploring was too good to miss. Salisbury is one of our regular haunts. There is usually [...]
Archive for the ‘family time’ Category
Five go exploring in Salisbury
Posted in drinks, family time, out and about, special places, tagged ginger beer, Mompesson House, Old Sarum, picnics, Salisbry, Treasure Trails on March 19, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Blazing into 2012 – part 1
Posted in family time, food for the soul, tagged candles, fireside activities, lights, wood fires on January 3, 2012 | 2 Comments »
I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions. If something needs to get done I like to get on with it rather than waiting for a special day. However the downtime between Christmas and New Year, the dark nights and the extravagant weather is a good opportunity for a bit of reflection by the fire about one’s [...]
Yule – logs, mistletoe, wine and stories
Posted in family time, feasts and festivals, tagged The Box of Delights, Winter Solstice, Yule on December 22, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Happy Yule to one and all! We’re quite ‘big’ on Yuletide in Wiltshire – witness the massive jams round Stonehenge at this time of year and as a Celt I feel honour-bound to celebrate the Winter Solstice in some small but significant way – but you won’t find me shivering in long flowing robes at dawn on any day. Ancient people spent [...]
Mandala magic
Posted in activities with children, family time, food for the soul, out and about, Special events, tagged Brigit Strawbridge, Harvest, mandalas, nature art, permaculture on October 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
In view of the fact that growing things is now very popular at my children’s school, the recent Harvest assembly was designed with local food in mind. In previous years they have focussed much more on global awareness with fundraising for Water Aid and sending cows or goats to African farmers. At other times they have taken [...]
Things to do in the Summer hols….5. Go on a scavenger hunt
Posted in family time, gardens to visit, out and about, special places, tagged scavenger hunts, Stourhead, summer holidays, summer hols activities, The Scraptors on August 31, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Scavenger hunts are right up my children’s street – on their own at home, as a party game with friends or to keep them going on a long walk when spirits flag. All children have a natural urge to explore and hunts have the added advantage of giving parents a perfect opportunity to teach their children [...]
Things to do in the Summer hols….3. Take a picnic somewhere special
Posted in family time, out and about, special places, tagged picnics, school holiday activities, summer holidays, Weald and Downland Museum on August 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
We are old hands at picnics – ever since I discovered that my children could be persuaded to try any food with equanimity and good humour if we put it in a paper bag and ate it out of doors. However there are times when a special picnic is called for and a visit to [...]
Things to do in the Summer hols….2. Take afternoon tea
Posted in family time, out and about, pudding club, tagged Jane Austen, lavender scones, Pride and Prejudice, proper afternoon tea, school hols, summer holidays, teatime cakes and sandwiches on August 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
The school hols is a great time for a change of routine. Some lucky families decamp in caravans or campervans, or go to beach huts or cabins in the woods for weeks at a time. The pace of life slows down and is lived almost entirely out of doors. That’s not us! But even if you’re stuck at [...]
Things to do in the summer hols ….1.Celebrate Lammas Day
Posted in bread bin, family time, feasts and festivals, stews, savouries and casseroles, tagged allotment party, Bonne maman, Calan Awst, easy pizzza dough, Lammas day, Lughnasadh, Sarah Raven on August 2, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
We love a party here and try to find something special to celebrate every month. For someone like me whose days involve spinning lots of plates, it provides a focus and routine, celebrates the passing of the year and I hope will give my children lots of good memories to draw on in adulthood. The [...]
Stepping into January
Posted in family time, food for the soul, monthly jobs, pudding club, Uncategorized, tagged January, Janus, St Clement's cakes on January 18, 2011 | 2 Comments »
So have you started off the year with all sorts of good intentions – less alcohol and cake, more fruit ,veg and exercise? New hobbies taken up; old habits dropped? I ought to be determined to blog more regularly and I will try. I have to admit I rarely make resolutions but January is a good time [...]
A day of firsts
Posted in container gardens, family time, out and about, tagged Bradford on Avon Flower Show, gardening with children, minature gardens on September 14, 2010 | 5 Comments »
Last Sunday saw the first Flower and Vegetable Show in Bradford on Avon for some considerable time and many of the active growing community proudly displayed the fruits of their labours for all to see and some to pass judgement upon. One of the apprentice gardeners decided it was time to make her first foray [...]
