Tuesday 22 September 2015

Wonder Woman and the Giant Peach








"Help, can't breathe."
Misty mornings, dewy spiders' webs and crane flies.  It's that time of year.  I've been going at things far too slowly I think.  I'm ready for the new term at last.  I feel that bit of determination and the need to be organised circling in my brain.  I could make New Year's resolutions today, and I've finally come up with a word to live the year by - "Productive".  That's what I need to be, productive.  I want to be Wonder Woman.  I was talking to a busy friend who was still working at midnight the other day.  I need to put more effort in I think.

I had all these thoughts this morning.  After lunch I found myself in the garden, weeding and tidying.  I often end up gardening that way.  One minute I'm walking along on my way to the bin at the end of the garden, the next thing I have a trowel in my hand and I'm rooting out weeds.  I got rid of the tomatoes in pots on the patio as well.  They weren't a success.  Tomatoes in my garden like to be in the soil for some reason.  I picked a load the other day and made sauce for the freezer.  Winter spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce, love it.  The remaining tomatoes are ripening very slowly.  In the cold dripping early mornings they look quite sorry for themselves.  A tomato should be basking in the sun shouldn't it.  There might be a few more to be had though.

There's a giant peach in my oven.  The children's school love to torture parents with regular dressing up days.  This week it's Roald Dahl Day.  Apparently James of Giant Peach fame just wears regular clothes, so if you have a giant papier mache peach you can wear what you want.  The littlest boy and I tackled the project after school.  We sellotaped a balloon down to make it rounder, more peach less balloon shaped, then stuck on strips of newspaper with 50:50 flour and water paste.  I was sat there with it dripping from my hands, trying to grip a slippery balloon and smooth out the paper nicely, and the littlest boy said, "Gosh, it looks just like a giant peach!".  Not a hint of sarcasm.  I do so love his happy take on life.

The first couple of layers are drying out now.  I've popped it in the oven, and every so often I turn it on for a couple of minutes to keep it lightly warm.  If I forget to turn it off, which is extremely likely, the balloon will go bang and I'll just have an oven full of soggy newspaper sticking to the walls.  If all goes well and I end up with a peach I understand it needs to be decorated with insects.  Anyone know anything about that?  I haven't read the book, but I've seen something about bugs and seagulls.  There are some scarily professional ones on Google Images.  I'm not sure I'll rise to seagulls.  When we've perfected the giant peach, we will be moving on to giant ears for the BFG.  Wish me luck.

40 comments:

  1. Because schools are instruments of torture for young boys and craftily disabled parents.

    Did the peach explode? And the BFG ears work? Can we see photos of afterwards?

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  2. Oh good grief, I am sweating slightly at the thought of all this intense Roald Dahl activity. Blimey. But gosh your photos are gorgeous today CJ! The mist across the trees, the spider's webs - so incredibly beautiful. You really captured that early autumn feeling so well. x

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  3. OH you make me laugh CJ, but I I am so glad those themed days are well behind me. As if we aren't all busy enough. Really beautiful landscape photos, they could be paintings.

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  4. Is a giant peach in any way similar to the giant pumpkin? Apart from size?
    Wonder Woman has a way to go to catch up with you CJ.

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  5. BFG? Oh my mind came up with some rather naughty words but I've no idea what that meant. You crack me up with the teacher torture... but it's true. Love the webs strung with crystal beads. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. Mercy! You are a good mom, CJ, and I do wish you well. [Check Wikipedia for a summary of the book?] xx

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  7. Hilarious..memories for sure here..although I cannot claim to love R.D. Most favorite memory of an art project for my youngest, Brendan, involved the drawing/painting of Jack the Giant..All I could see were his legs and feet. When I asked him where the rest of Jack was, he looked at me as if I were totally clueless. "Don't you know Ma..he's too big to fit on the paper."
    Well, perhaps I have mentioned this before..if so, forgive me.

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  8. I loved that book but I found it very creepy and I still do. Actually, I find all of Dahl's books somewhat creepy. I've never put papier mache in the oven, does it smell like anything? I'm going to try it. We don't have much in the way of papier mache projects around here but now I'm intrigued.

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  9. My department (English) at school are all expected to dress up Roald Dahl-style this week. Just as I was wondering who on earth I should be (and how on earth I'll make a costume), I remembered we're going to my oldest's graduation and I won't be at work that day - phew! My son dressed for primary school as the BFG once with false ears, nose, cape, suitcase and trumpet and spent most of the day explaining that he was not Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter (in the end he took his ears and nose off because they were uncomfortable). You are working so hard for your son, I'm sure he'll be delighted with his papier mache peach. It's many years since I read that story, but the seagulls sound familiar. Hope it all goes well.
    Cathy x

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  10. Beautiful, beautiful photos. I just love your take on things - schools torturing parents - so true!
    Years ago (my sons are both now late 30s) I overheard my sons' headmaster say to a colleague that he wished for a school of tone deaf orphans! Good luck with the ears!

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  11. I remember the lengths my mother went to, to turn me into a blackbird. It involved miles of black crepe paper.
    I haven't yet learned to love daddy long legses but your picture is stunning. Just seen the crushed teddy! Ha!

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  12. I hope Mr Ted recovered from the guitar incident with no lasting damage. I definitely think pictures of the finished peach are in order. We once went to a 'come as something beginning with M' fancy dress party and my M made a match head out of papier mache which he wore with a beige t shirt and some tights (don't ask). He was furious when everyone assumed he was a malteser. I'm sure your peach will not be mistaken :o) XX

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    1. Sorry to butt in, but that just made me laugh! Xx

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  13. That took me back and made me smile, I have had some tortured days myself many moons ago with fancy dress outfits for school. It will bring back lots of lovely memories for you and them when they are grown. My daughters and I often laugh at some of the things we did. Beautiful web photos.

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  14. Lovely seasonal photos. Making the peach looks fun, I'd never thought of using the oven to make paper mache dry more quickly.

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  15. Lovely seasonal photos. Making the peach looks fun, I'd never thought of using the oven to make paper mache dry more quickly.

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  16. Lovely seasonal photos. Making the peach looks fun, I'd never thought of using the oven to make paper mache dry more quickly.

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  17. Isn't homework or home learning fun ... just great to do things together like this.
    Lovely photo's, the spiders work is so intricate.

    Enjoy your Wednesday.

    All the best Jan

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  18. I hated these sort of dress up days when my kids were young, I used to cheat more times than not and buy them a costume. I don't remember having them when I went to school, my mum had such an easy life. Hope the costumes worked out.

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  19. I live in fear of costume days. It is cheaper to buy something than to cut up our best sofa, I tell my daughters. Money no object! But no!

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  20. I remember Alfie had a Roald Dahl themed day in year 3. I had a two month old Olly, so plunged the duster into his school trousers, made a very dodgy mask that didn't fit properly, and declared him to be Fantastic Mr Fox. He's never forgiven me.
    Leanne x

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  21. Lovely autumnal pictures. Good luck with the giant peach. Good luck with the BFG's giant ears. Flighty xx

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  22. L once had a Roald Dahl party and we made a James and the Giant Peach cake. Early Learning used to do a plastic tube of minibeasts which we used - not sure if they still do as ours closed down! Love the mist and spider's web photos; very appropriate for the equinox. xx

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  23. I love the photos, Roald Dahl and your peachy project. Most of all I too love getting a glimpse of the world through the littlest boy's eyes. His happy take on life is such a good reminder, that it is there. At the very least in him! This makes me very happy ... you see? It's infectious in the best way. Wishing you both a very successful project, but honestly it already sounds like a huge success to me.

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  24. We usually opt for Charlie in Charlie and the chocolate factory. We do poor very well. I am in a continuous argument with our school regarding those torture projects. I once sent a note that life was too short to spend it on making a castle, we'd rather be outside enjoying the sun thank you very much. I am not a popular parent. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous, capturing the autumnal vibe really well. Have you switched the oven off? xx

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  25. Lovely post, reminded me of the things I did when my three were young. Enjoy every moment it doesn't last long enough.
    Hope we get to see the peach when it is finished.
    Briony
    x

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  26. Just this morning I rushed out to take some similar pictures. The yard was covered in mist and I knew there were spiderwebs everywhere! Love your son's peach comment - at least it should have relieved the frustration of the moment.

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  27. Love that giant peach! You are wonder woman to me--you manage to take all these pictures, write blog posts, tend to a garden, and still fill your boys' lives with wonder and adventure. You're doing great! I often find it hard to focus on the things I do get done and always think about those things on my to do list that never seem to get crossed off. These days, if I get a shower I think I'm doing good among all the feedings and diaper changes:) Can't wait to see how that peach turns out:)

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  28. Beautiful pics of the dewy spiders webs! I hope that all goes well with your peach! I seem to remember seeing pictures with a caterpillar - or maggot...... - poking out, but I have never read the book so I cannot say! At least you don't have to make a little boy sized peach! xx

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  29. Lol I read paragraph 2 as something like "I had all these thoughts in the morning. Then I found myself in the garden weeping"
    Well if I had to make a giant peach I'd probably weep too.
    Jillxo

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  30. I remember reading James And The Giant Peach with our kids. Whau it doesn't seem so long ago but my oldest is 32 now.
    We never made anything using papier mache method. Your peach looks great!! I looove that spider web photo with the rain drops.

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  31. With five children I was constantly on call for 'projects'. And living 23 miles from town there was nothing like a small person telling you, right after bedtime prayers, " tomorrow I'm supposed to bring....................."
    Over the years I've helped make Shakespeare's Theater, an erupting volcano (it actually worked), giant eggs ( your balloon method;-)). The best one ever was Washington's Birthday (President's Day, USA) when I had to furnish treats on very short notice. Spooned cherry pie filling on sugar cookies, topped with whipped cream - instant cherry pies!
    Looking back it really was a lot of fun...

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  32. I used to dread those days of preparing costumes for school. Your peach looks fantastic! Sarah x

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  33. Oh my I could not stand dress up days for school, it is agonizing for the parents. Hope the peach looks peachy. By the way I think you do very well keeping up with that very busy family of yours, the allotment, schooling for the boys, all of their activities, your home and a million other things, be easy on yourself.
    Hugs,
    Meredith
    Meredith

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  34. I'm like Sarah, one of the things I'm most grateful for, now my kids are grown, is no more fancy dress costumes to make!

    I do hope you didn't explode the balloon.

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  35. Such evocatively autumnal photographs, and a giggle in the text, made my day, CJ!

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  36. sounds to be like you're already wonder woman xxx

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  37. These photos are absolutely stunning CJ !!! You should enter a photography competition they truly are beautiful!

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  38. Wonder Woman, you are for sure. The peach looks perfect. I can't wait to read on for what happened next. The spider web pictures are fascinating and so beautiful. I love them even though I do not love spiders.

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