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| spot the tadpole |
Joining in with Amy and Five on Friday.
1. The Easter hols are rolling to the end far too quickly, although sometimes just keeping up with the demands for food is quite overwhelming. There's a bit of a Rubik's cube mania here at the moment. Before that it was juggling. I made them all three little bean bags each, and I'd have taken a photo if I could find them but they seem to have mysteriously disappeared. We had a crafternoon yesterday and made some cards and things with stamps and copious quantities of ink. I like to give handmade cards, even if they are a bit rough and ready.
2. The frogspawn in the garden is rapidly turning into tadpoles. They are mostly huddled together at the moment, but the braver ones are having little swims about.
3. On a grander scale, I watched a programme about the gardens at Buckingham Palace the other day. They are absolutely phenomenal, organic of course, and teeming with wildlife. Apparently there are 85 different birds that visit and 10 times more fungi than in the surrounding parks. There are royal beehives there and wild areas and ducklings on the lake. I'd never seen it all before and I was absolutely blown away. I would like to be the Queen after all. Or even the Queen's gardener.
4. I've been trying a little calligraphy in the evenings. It's something that doesn't come instantly, more of a long slow process. Late at night I write things out in a sort of unwinding way. I'm not really sure where to start, but starting somewhere has to be a good thing. I'm tired by then and I can't always be bothered to find a quote to copy so sometimes I just write lists of words.
5. Do you imagine it will be warming up any time soon? I'm hoping for some lovely picnic weather soon. I've just about adjusted to it not being winter any more and I'm bracing myself for all of the outdoor work to be done. But it seems unseasonally chilly. I nearly froze at the park on Wednesday. I'm feeling the need to wear a t-shirt and sit in the sun for a bit. The littlest boy is dallying with shorts already of course. Although today he wore the evacuee costume with sunglasses and an odd hat. Anything that will persuade him to change out of his pyjamas.
Wishing all a good weekend. CJ xx
Your calligraphy is stunning - you've inspired me to have a go as my handwriting is shocking! How I would love to do a supermarket shop with a list that looks so pretty. The weather here is quite chilly too - I keep seeing photos on blogs of lots of blossom and we hardly have any yet. Love the idea of your boy wearing his evacuee outfit - my daughter has lots of PJ days too; apparently, it helps with the revision! Have a great weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteLove the calligraphy. What pen do you use? Do you have an instruction book? Smiled about the small boy and his pyjamas. My grandson would spend all day in his. But we have a rule that he must dress for lunch. He doesn't see the point but obeys with good grace.
ReplyDeleteI'm using a Lamy pen at the moment, just a calligraphy fountain pen, size 1.1 I think. The text was copied from "Calligraphy" by Gaye Godfrey-Nicholls which is a really gorgeous book. CJ xx
Deleteloving your calligraphy. x and laughing at the pj comment, my laundry basket this week was almost entirely pj's. and the camping stuff....... 4 loads of that.........
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of the Palace gardens. I wonder if I could find that programme on catch up?
Love your calligraphy and I too hope it warms up soon. We have braved it and had 2 BBQs so far with blankets to keep us warm and yesterday we braved it with hot chocolate at snack time and sat outside again with blankets...
ReplyDeleteI do like your tadpole photo, and your calligraphy is very good. We had a very warm day last weekend here when I wore a T-shirt in the garden but since then it has indeed been chilly. I'm sure that warmer weather isn't far away.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
your calligraphy is AMAZING! what a fantastic hobby. I hope you have a Wonderful Weekend,
ReplyDeleteAll the Best
FAST-SoS
What a wonderful example you set for your children. Inspiring!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how the Rubic craze keeps returning! Love the calligraphy, must be really therapeutic. Not sure I would have the patience . Yes definitely need the layers to be out in the garden at the moment. Hopefully a warmer weekend ahead. B x
ReplyDeleteI have ordered some picnic weather for next week, when I am off with the kids .I'll send some your way. I hope to do some crafting but I seem the only one interested, my little creatures have ants in their pants and the big ones are too cool now. I love your calligraphy, it looks neat and beautiful and soon you'll write the most beautiful shopping lists in England. Oh to be the Queens Gardener. It is more tempting than being the Queen, she won't have time to enjoy the garden with all the commitments she has. Have a lovely weekend. x
ReplyDeleteYour calligraphy is beautiful. I'm afraid I don't have the patience for this!
ReplyDeleteLiz
I was blown away with your calligraphy, it is beautiful you have a real talent. I am not sure I would want to be the Queen or indeed her gardener that would mean working and I quite like retirement where I can please myself.
ReplyDeleteWell done with the calligraphy, looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe Queen's gardener would be a cool job, although I suspect a tad demanding. Your calligraphy is beautiful. You could design your own gardening and allotment diary, or something like that. Here's to a milder weekend with some warm spring sunshine. S x
ReplyDeleteYour calligraphy is very good. I used to be very interested in it and took books out of the library to try to teach myself. The one thing I didn't have was a proper pen, so it never really worked out for me. I have watched the same show about the Buckingham Palace gardens. I've seen it twice now and I loved it even more the second time. I hope you have a good weekend, CJ.
ReplyDeleteA nice post and good pictures. Regarding number five I do hope so as we could certainly do with it being drier, sunnier and warmer. Enjoy your weekend. Flighty. xx
ReplyDeleteI read 'spot the tadpole' as 'Spot' - the tadpole & thought how cute, she names them when they're young. ooooops.
ReplyDeleteTis said that 'each day is a present', that being said - I would like to return or at least exchange yesterday.
Today can only be or get better! =>¡<=
Your calligraphy is wonderful. I tried it some years ago and it's difficult! Well done with yours. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteWow, really lovely calligraphy. Have you come across Zoe's blog on Wordpress called this blessed plot. She writes and illustrates an allotment journal, I think you might like it. Boys and their voracious appetites... My son's gone back to university today, thank goodness! BP gardens are amazing, a really important and, as you say, organic green lung in the heart of London with the most incredible active compost heaps thanks to the Royal mews. I wish everyone gardened organically. Unlike choosing to buy organic food or clothing or beauty products it doesn't cost a penny to be an organic gardener. Have a great weekend CJ.
ReplyDeleteJuggling, with just 3 things I can do it, any more and it's a disaster. Never could figure out the Rubik's Cube.
ReplyDeleteI think juggling and Rubic's cube solving are great for the kid's dexterity and minds. How fun that you have tadpoles.. do you have a pond in your home garden? One thing about our pond is it's circulating and filtered so we don't get tadpoles in it. But we have the occasional frog! I was happy to see you practicing Uncial! I just printed up a Uncial project that I want to try. I saw that program on the Queen's garden and was enthralled. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely moments from your week. Your calligraphy is beautiful isn't it!! So much lovelier than my scruffy handwriting. Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteI love your photographs and enjoy reading what is going on in your life, your garden in the last post and your latest creativity, beautiful caligraphy. There is a wonderful continuity through your blog and I enjoy reading it very much. thank you. from Iowa , USA
ReplyDeleteGreat capture of the tadpole in that photo. Your calligraphy is lovely. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteI admire your calligraphy, CJ! I so far have not been successful in learning how to do it properly...one of the many skills I need to practice. I hope your weather warms soon. We have finally had two wonderful warm days this week and my adult children are making hamburgers to eat outside tonight. Happy Weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteI( still have a Rubiks cube and a Rubiks barrel shaped thing - must see if I can still do it.
ReplyDeleteLovely calligraphy. I've always admired people who have beautiful handwriting. Youngest daughter is one of them. She is left-handed and writes almost upside down, but at incredible speed and with beautiful script. Love your youngest's style in clothes!
ReplyDeleteI'm incredibly happy to have found you this morning. I'll be joining in next week and until then, I think I've a week's worth of reading new blogs to keep me busy.
ReplyDeleteYour calligraphy is lovely. And the tadpole, a nice sight. The ice went out on our pond yesterday and the peepers and wood frogs haven't started yet. Soon!
Audible squeak when I saw that adorable tadpole! You are so lucky. And a adore your calligraphy, I just don't have the patience and with my double vision I can't write in a straight line at the best of times. Thank you for also being a daisy fan, they aren't always weeds ;)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos as always CJ and I'm loving your calligraphy, it looks like such a therapeutic thing to do. Is that a flowering currant in the last photo? It's a lovely colour, mine is a brighter pink. I know what you mean about the cold, I hate it and I've got worse as I've got older! Have a lovely weekend. Jane xx
ReplyDeleteI took a calligraphy course in high school with the old pens and ink bottles, it was so much fun.
ReplyDeleteLove your post today.
Meredith
Dear C.J. beautiful images from your garden, the tadpole is so cute and your calligraphy is very impressive.
ReplyDeletexoxoxo ♡
Another lovely post cj,the vegplot looking good,we have to sow and plant a month later than you "UP ERE ON THE WEST COAST "we had a very hard frost last night ,The calligraphy looks lovely ,what pen do you use ? enjoy the weather today,the sun is shining here today xx
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely post cj,the vegplot looking good,we have to sow and plant a month later than you "UP ERE ON THE WEST COAST "we had a very hard frost last night ,The calligraphy looks lovely ,what pen do you use ? enjoy the weather today,the sun is shining here today xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a Lamy Joy calligraphy pen Michelle, size 1.1. Chilly here too last night, although not quite frosty. Surely it will warm up soon... CJ xx
DeleteI watched the Buck House programme too and was left wondering how much of it the Queen ever sees. If it were me I'd be spending all day by the lake but I somehow doubt she has the time!
ReplyDeleteYour calligraphy is amazing! It looks so neat and professional, I am really quite in awe. Beautiful work. Yes, it's a bit nippy isn't it? What with all this building work (doors always open, windows missing etc) and the using the garage as the kitchen I am permanently shivering. xx
ReplyDeleteThe royal parks sound wonderful I will have to catch up with this programme. It only it would warm up the wind here yesterday was so strong and cold in amongst the April showers. I love your Calligraphy, once upon a time I used to enjoy doing it too. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteHey C,
ReplyDeleteI read this post over the weekend, but haven't been able to comment until now. I fear the food thing is much the same here. With all three home, I was reminded how often I pop to the supermarket. And they aren't shovelling rubbish into their mouths (although I'm sure they'd happily do that too). Whole packs of ham and whole blocks of cheese disappear overnight. And the milk and cereal they consume is staggering. I'd like to watch the programme on the Queens gardens. Where would I find it?
Have a great week. Gorgeous calligraphy btw.
Leanne xx
I know what you mean about the pyjamas, my children have to be crow-barred out of theirs during the holidays. I'm hoping it'll warm up soon for picnics. It didn't stop us on Sunday, we had one anyway at a NT place. I'm admiring your calligraphy, it makes even a grocery shopping list look enticing :-) xx
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