Weekly round-up

... an 'action shot' of the kids performing their Easter play at Monday Club, at the church... a photo taken on the sly, and just of Bubs and Spike as not really meant to take pictures of other kids...

 ... the Tuesday Group at church had an Open Day this week, for Mission week, and they displayed some of their handiwork that they've worked on at the group and at home... a small section above. Bubs had some of her needlework on display on the table - she's really enjoying doing cross-stitch.

... I had the privilege of hosting an evening for some ladies to look through the 'Created Gifts' from Tearfund... a lovely lady came out with a selection of the jewellery and other items for us to pore over... it's so much nicer when you can actually SEE the items for real, and not just in the catalogue. It was fun, and I felt so very grateful to be able to open up my small lounge and share this house the Lord has given us...

... a couple of pics of the kids!...

... this is what it did lots of on my birthday (1st April!)... we were treated to a lovely blue sky first thing in the morning, and then it pretty much poured for the rest of the day! April showers and all that! It was a lovely day though... I felt so blessed...

... finished my cross-stitch this week... I'm very pleased with it...

... it doesn't seem like we have done much this week... but it has been a very emotional and really quite stressful week as Spike has been starting to have some time at his new school (special Language Unit)... it hasn't always gone to plan, but we've got there in the end... now it's the Easter Hols and we shall start all over again in a couple of weeks time!... in the meantime, I need to catch up on some sleep!

Weekly round-up

An odd week... quiet bits and rushy-around bits!

... walk and play at the Wyre Forest...

... Spike all dressed up and ready to tackle the school!... taking it slowly, easing him into the school day... he did well in the week and seemed to enjoy it... it really is a lovely Language Unit...

... and since that's just about our week summed up... here's some pics I took of Spring starting to burst forth in the garden...

... roses leafing up...

... rhubarb really starting to sprout forth... hoping for much from this plant!...

... bluebells waiting... a promise of wonderful colour to come...

... tulips appearing...

... and several random shrubs Springing forth... names I do not know - I'm more of a wild flower person and cannot grasp the names of the garden plants!...

... and not forgetting my lovely willow... the catkins are bursting now...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY,  Monday 22nd March 2010...

Outside my window... no idea! curtains are closed... so, obviously, it must be dark... but I don't know if the stars are out, or if it's cloudy...


I am thinking... far far too much at the moment! I have been feeling really overwhelmingly sad... there are changes taking place in our family and I'm finding it hard to find as much joy in the changes as I have had in our journey thus far. The more that I find myself toeing the party line, the more acceptable we seem to become to others, as if we were foreigners before but now, finally, we recognise our place in society... it's not that I doubt the Lord's ability to take us through this time, or even that I doubt this is indeed the Lord's will for now... it's just harder than I thought...


I am Remembering... how steady and comfortable and rhythmic our weeks have been.. until last week when we seem to have started to be rather dis-jointed... and that doesn't fit well with my personality! I guess we'll get the rhythm back again, once we get used to the new way of life... things take time...


I am thankful for... Time... and the endless possibilities for ways to fill it... although, there never does seem to be enough of it! I hope I can learn to truly redeem my time...


From the learning rooms... a mish-mash of things... with 2 weeks of interruptions of various kinds, we're mostly concentrating on the 3Rs with some other odds and ends thrown in...


From the kitchen... today, usual Sunday fare from the freezer (because we missed it yesterday with being out all day!); Tues, baked potatoes, salad, tuna mayo/cheese; Wed, roast chicken, roast pots, veg, gravy; Thurs, Pasta with tomato or cheese, veg; Fri, slow-cooked beef and pasta casserole; Sat, Fish, veg; Sun, frozen of choice, or soup and rosemary/olive soda bread...


I am wearing... trusty old denim skirt, maroon coloured t-shirt, navy fleece, bare feet...


I am creating... a cross-stitch picture (see a picture of it part done on post about Hartlebury helpers club)... I've been much enjoying it! It was going to be for a friend, but I'm liking it so much that I think I'm going to have to keep it for myself! Also trying to start to make some inroads into some quilting I started a long long while ago... I think this needs to be a year for finishing projects, not just starting them!


I am going... to definitely try and get back to having earlier nights this week... I seem to be getting later again, for no particular reason apart from the fact that my mind is pondering on so very many things... but I'm getting o so very tired, so I must get myself in order once more...


I am reading... Praying the Names of God and Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends (hmm, we have some on-going issues!)...


I am hoping... Spike settles quickly at the school... I really don't want him to be unhappy... I'd rather he were at home, but this seems to be the way forward for the moment...


I am hearing... tumble drier drying, central heating clunking, computer humming, clock ticking...


Around the house... all is not too bad... though I really wish I could figure out how to sort Spike's bedroom so it looks less cluttered and so the toys aren't on the floor all the time... sometimes I peek into his room, then run away again and leave the dusting for another time!


One of my favorite things... clothes drying on the washing line...


A few plans for the rest of the week... a quiet week I think, as the weather is not to be at its best... Spike will be going up to the school for an hour on his own this week too, and Bubs and I will nip and do some errands to fill the time... I would also like to actually get to tick off most of my 'to do' list this week! I'm getting there!


A Scripture... "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Romans 13:14 (NASB)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

 precious children...

Click here to read more from "The Simple Woman Daybooks" posts for today.

Hartlebury Helpers Club

Hopefully this will not happen much, but today the kids were asked to take part in a 1930s themed Houseparty with their history club at Hartlebury Castle and Museum.

Bubs was a Maid... Spike was an apprentice Garden Boy...

... the Gardeners at work... it was a glorious day for them!... Spike did so well and seemed to really enjoy himself...

... the servants at work... they had far too much fun I'm sure!... they chopped and ground herbs and spices and made stuffing and apple dumplings (unfortunately, due to the dreaded Health and Safety regs, they couldn't actually cook anything!)... and pretended to scrub and wash...

... and they all got to have a go at some 1930's toys, under the supervision of the school Ma'am...

... so I browsed around the old Bishops Palace, and saw the lovely 1930s car in the carriage circle (and the owners wife graciously posed inside for a photo!)...

... and had a lovely couple of hours to sit in the cafe and cross-stitch and think and drink far too much coffee (which probably accounts for my brain now being more active than it should be at this time of night!)...

Weekly round-up

... lots of this... I'm very proud of Spike as he has been persevering over this game (Lego Battles) which is quite something... yes, he could possibly be pretty obsessed with it at the moment, but this is the most effort he has ever given to any game!..

 ... and this...

... and this to try and get rid of hiccups... needless-to-say, it wasn't successful!

... and we went for a lovely walk at Hawkbatch, up to this viewing point where we looked down on the lovely Trimpley reservoirs...

... and we made the most of the lovely weather by going to the tennis courts and having some fun there attempting to play tennis...

... before moving over to the basketball court to, er, play with the tennis balls...

... and then on to the skate park to, er, play with the tennis balls... but if the ball goes down in the big hollow, it sure is further down in there than it looks, and much harder to get up than imagined! I have NO idea why I have my coat on on such a lovely day! (I think it was probably something to do with being easier to wear it than carry, what with all the other stuff I ended up carrying!)

... on the way home we watched a canal boat go past... lovely...

... and then we had a good old clear out of the DS games and took them to trade in...