Saturday 23 May 2015

Happenings










Today I'm joining in with Annie Cholewa and listing a few happenings in my world at the moment.

Looking forward to a week with no school.  I know it will fly by, I hope we make the most of it.  And I hope it's warm and sunny.  Too much to ask?

Hearing sedge warblers and reed warblers.  They are at the wildfowl and wetlands place, and they're easier to hear than see.  Me and the biggest boy have been listening to their songs on Youtube so that we know the difference.

Smelling those stocks I put by the kitchen door.  Fantastic.  I shan't go a year without them again.

Tasting some odd pale green/blue ball sweets that the littlest boy got in a party bag.  Weird and foul.  Who invents these ghastly things?

Holding hands with my littlest boy.  Oh he is so sweet and affectionate.  The bigs don't hold my hand any more.  I'm making the most of the one hand that will hold mine.

Hugging the bigs though.  They can't stop me.

Talking all sorts of nonsense over the meal table.  Oh how boys love to talk about ridiculous things.  They make themselves laugh and laugh.  It's infectious.

Making a blanket.   Yes I am.  And I'm on the home straight of a quilt.  Watch this space.

Giving a little to the people of Nepal.  I try to teach the children a bit about current affairs and try to explain what these people have lost.  I'm not sure they can fathom the hugeness of it though.  How could they?

Gathering delicious young salad leaves from the garden.  Lettuce, rocket and mine and the littlest boy's favourite,  French sorrel.  I must sow some more, it's in its second year and it's running to seed very quickly.  We call it Lemony Leaves and we love it.  Sometimes we even call it Lemony Snicket Leaves, see Nonsense above.

Finding a little time to write.  Just a little.  I need to find more.

Losing a bunch of library cards.  Literally a bunch, they are on a key ring type thing.  It wasn't me who lost them.  I'm hoping they're here somewhere.  Library cards are very important in this house.

Sitting outside in the sun.  Glorious.

Standing at the park this afternoon fielding in a game of cricket.  It's our new best thing.

Walking tomorrow?  Maybe, let's hope so.  Or on bank holiday Monday.  Nothing lifts my mood like a walk in the countryside, and at this time of year it's gorgeous.  All of that cow parsley and fresh green leafage.

Playing chess.  That's our other new best thing.  The middle boy has an electronic chess set that he plays if no-one wants a game.  He's getting very tricksy and has beaten all of us at one time or another.

Watching the fruit and vegetables swelling down at the allotment.  Strawberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, radishes, onions and artichokes.

Noticing how the littlest boy copies the things I say about the gloriousness of the countryside, the loveliness of a sunset, the beauty of a garden.  I hear myself in his sentences.  I'm so glad he notices these things too.

Hoping you all have a good couple of days.  CJ xx

44 comments:

  1. I miss that little boy silliness. Now when we visit with our son, it is mostly business talk. Steve and Stephen both work in the avionics industry. I hear way too much about the things that fly. LOL

    I still get hugs though. Hugs are good at any age.

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  2. I miss that little boy silliness. Now when we visit with our son, it is mostly business talk. Steve and Stephen both work in the avionics industry. I hear way too much about the things that fly. LOL

    I still get hugs though. Hugs are good at any age.

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  3. Have a great week. Not sure about tomorrow, but hopefully dry after that?

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  4. Matt still likes a hug - I hope it stays that way! :) I'm making the most of it - just in case though.
    Looking forward to seeing the completed quilt.
    Wishing you all a great bank holiday weekend, with lots of walking in the sunshine. x

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  5. I love your photos and the things that are happening with you at the moment CJ. It's lovely to record these little moments that mean so much.
    Jacquie x

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  6. I just hugged my "baby" and he just turned 39! And every night before he goes to bed he shakes my hand. :-) But he lives here now. They plan to look for a house starting November. It will be 2 years that they have lived with us. It's been going well. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. Ah Cj!!! Your boys see and appreciate nature because you have so much passion!!! And I will be watching this space for that blanket!!! I love that your little guy holds your hand....precious moments indeed! Teaching children about giving back is something we all should do. bravo to you for teaching such an important lesson. The world would be a better place if we all did a bit more. And the watching of all that glorious growth is outstanding! So glad to know you through this space!! Happy weekend you! Nicole xo

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  8. What a lot of lovely happenings. I'm envious of your gooseberries and artichokes and want to try some Lemony Snicket leaves! I can't wait to see your blanket and quilt either. Here's to a sunny half term. xx

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  9. My 16.5 year old daughter held my hand IN PUBLIC last week. Think it had more to do with the fact she had high heels on, but I'm not complaining! Love the news from the allotment and here's wishing you all a great half term x

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  10. wonderful happenings Claire xxx

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  11. Indeed, wonderful happenings. Moments to treasure and remember. Your photographs are so beautiful, I am always in awe of your talent. Wishing you a great bank holiday and half term.

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  12. I thought you were smelling the socks for a minute until I had a closer look! Have fun.

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  13. The countryside is beautiful at the moment it's wearing it's best Whitsun clothes.

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  14. The silliness of boys (and girls)... I love those conversations over the dinner table (when they're not kicking each other underneath it). It sounds as though you have a lot of joy going on. Wonderful. Have a good half term. Sam x PS I love that little green shed. Super photos.

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  15. Wonderful things going on!!! You cannot beat the fragrance of stocks can you! xx

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  16. I hope you find those library cards CJ, going to the library and coming back with armfuls of books when the girls were little was a Saturday morning ritual for us. Sadly, it looks as though we are going to lose our local library now because of cuts in funding. Your allotment looks wonderful, full of good things, I bet you can't wait to start harvesting. I'm useless on birdsong, I would love to be able to identify them, I hear so much when out walking - I might try the Youtube route too. Watching the blanket and quilt space ... have a great weekend xx

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  17. What beautiful sunny photos and all those lovely things to be harvested from your allotment in due course. Hoping you enjoy the rest of the weekend - not sure about the sun though! x

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  18. My boys still manage lots of silly conversations, and they're all grown up. Sometimes they let me join in. And do your crew have those 'what if' moments ... what if there were really flying pigs, what if my feet never stop growing, what if cabbage tasted like icecream ... my gang used to love that game when they were smaller.

    Stocks by the back door ... what a fabulous idea.

    I did enjoy your happenings :o)

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  19. What a lovely post. And although I miss that little boy silliness even now all four of my boys are very big (we have a 30th birthday tomorrow) there can be some pretty silly conversation when we all get together.

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  20. A gorgeous post today CJ.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  21. A lovely smiley post and wonderful pictures. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Flighty xx

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  22. Gorgeous photos, all so green and full of life and goodness. Angus will still hold my hand unquestioningly. Bella will if she's not thinking about it, but then she remembers that she's "too old" (her words) for such things. I really enjoyed reading about your happenings and hope that you get your sunny half term and countryside walk. xx

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  23. Your happenings are very lovely! I love your allotment shed - it's very photogenic. My young 'uns all liked to hold my hand when they were little. Now two of them are adults - we all still like hugs though. Hope you have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend :)
    Cathy x

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  24. Awww, lots of lovely happenings. I found myself nodding at lots of things in your post, boy's silliness, the stopping of holding hands, smelling stocks (though I misread this as socks at first), sadness at Nepal and playing chess. I remember buying one of those electronic sets for Daniel as I just couldn't keep up with his demands for a chess partner when he first learnt to play.

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  25. Your "noticing" is so sweet. Just have to watch what you say though! My husband recently said that we should start playing chess. Yeah, in all of our free time. It is good that your boys are learning though.

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  26. Gorgeous greens in your photographs again - you capture the vibrancy brilliantly. I love your list of happenings - I can identify with many of these (especially having a youngest to hold hands with - I'm hoping this lasts for a little while longer with mine).

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  27. At first I thought you had written smelling the SOCKS by the back door ... time to update the glasses prescription I think!

    Such gorgeous greenery in your photos - don't you love green leaves against a blue sky? I do. Also holding the hand of a little one, though I don't get to do that very often. Enjoy it as much as you can! Hope those library cards turn up soon. They are probably hanging out with all the missing socks in that other dimension that swallows up household items. :)

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  28. Lovely happenings, we still enjoy little boy & big boy silliness though the little boy is growing up fast! I do still get hugs which is good. Yay for stocks & half term. Hope you have a fab half term week x

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  29. Gosh I love your posts, they just remind me to savour the little things and be very thankful for what we have. I used to think I was very easy going, and had plenty of time to enjoy the moment but too often I get caught up in the stress of feeding, cleaning and protecting the children that I miss out. Thanks again for the reminder, it's lovely to dip into your blog. Have a great half term, Antonia x

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  30. How lovely, the veggies are looking good, and your weather! Good luck with the blanket. Enjoy :)

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  31. I mis-read your stocks as socks!

    A lovely list of things. We talk a lot of nonsense in this house, can't go a day without it, it keeps us all sane :o)

    Have a lovely half term, whatever the weather xx

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  32. Lovely post CJ, I really enjoyed reading this. Glad you found some time to write. We once got vomit flavoured jelly beans. I am not joking! Hope you find your library cards. Enjoy your week of, may it be sunny and warm. xx

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  33. Lovely photos and blog, doing these type of lists make us stop and think about what really matters x

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  34. Such beautiful photos! I misread what you wrote and wondered why you were so happy "smelling those socks", lol!!! Enjoy the artichoke - one of my favourite veggies.

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  35. I'm so envious of that allotment! Although we do grow sorrel here. I'm the only one who'll eat it, which is fine by me...
    I don't want to think about Joe getting big and not holding my hand. Enforced hugs though - yes, even at his tender age. Particularly when he's angry. Is that perverse of me?
    Anyway, I hope you're having a lovely week and the weather's kind.
    S x

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  36. Just so jealous of your garden. Love these photos and all the time you spend outside. I'm actually going on a walk right after I finish this comment! They are the best and I hope you go on a long walk soon. We walk 3.8 miles around a beautiful river almost every day and it's the best part of my day.

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  37. What a lovely post, hope your having a lovely half term there! I have some giant red mustard seed growing from last year, it's spicy like rocket and has required no work from me! X

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  38. Beautiful images and thoughts! Hope you have a wonderful half term and your library cards reappear. it would be a disaster here too! Your allotment is looking wonderful. Sarah x

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  39. Beautiful photos, so lush and green. There's lots of silliness here too, and there's bound to be loads of it with half term upon us. I hope you have a great week, CJ xx

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  40. Love your happenings, full of new life. What a great shed, I need a shed like that :)

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  41. It's lovely to still have a little boy who'll hold your hand. My boys are all grown up though they still give hugs.

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  42. Your littlest boy sounds like a treasure - I hope his hand-holding and nature commentary lasts for a good while longer. Do you get letters as well? I still have a few treasured notes from when my boy was little, they're priceless. And I still get the occasional hug from my now grown up boy (usually when he wants something!) xx

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  43. I hope you are enjoying the week off with the boys. I'm glad you have these nice things in your life. This list makes me happy too. It just makes me think about all the simple pleasures. It also makes me look forward to parenting. So many people seem to focus on the overwhelmingness of it all when they offer me advice, but the perspective you provide is comforting.

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