Does anyone else detect the merest hint of spring in the air? The birds are singing before sunrise and after sunset, the frogs are sploshing into the pond in the evening if I venture into the garden and there are crocuses and even the odd daffodil. Also, the middle boy had a birthday (13!), and that signifies the end of the winter around here.
The littlest boy's class had a tea party for parents today to raise money for toilet facilities for communities in third world countries. Scones with jam and cream, ginger cookies with ALL of the decorations on them and, most popular of all, a chocolate cake piled high with chocolate balls, chocolate biscuits, chocolates and chocolate flakes. It had a definite theme.
The boys wore bow ties and served us nicely, although the littlest boy spoiled the effect slightly by constantly pushing himself over my shoulder to get to his giant ginger cookie after he'd served me. You don't get that at the Ritz. But it was generally lovely, helped by the thought that there are less than six months of the chaotic joy that is primary school left for him, and for me.
It degenerated happily into a balloon fight/football game between the boys, which is how it should be. None of the mums were crying yet, but I can feel it building. Secondary school isn't in the same league, although I did once have some very sophisticated fizzy orange juice on the lawn while being serenaded by the steel pan band. It lacked the unrestrained joie de vivre of ten year olds let loose with five balloons though.
The dog has been skating on thin ice again, eating things he shouldn't. He managed to get hold of a disposal glove on his walk the other morning, which impressed his friends, but me, not so much. I flushed it through with an oily sardine and thanked my lucky stars when it, well, I won't lower the tone, let's just say all is well, for now.
He had his hair cut today, so he is all velvety and smooth. His bestie will be surprised when she sees him tomorrow morning. She'll be all, 'Bert, is that you? For the love of dog what happened?' And he'll be all, 'I know. But don't worry, I'll roll in something in a minute and it'll all be good.'
Hope all is well out there. Any spring where you are? Scones? Or are you flushing yourself through with an oily sardine?
All is well here.. we're so enjoying our little Mocha girl. We had snowdrops and daffodils up before we had snow come again. I hope they're still okay. So.. an oily sardine will flush me? I didn't know.. thanks for the medical advice! LOL!
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)
You have such a way with words - I loved the 'flushing it through with an oily sardine'! My girls went to a school which went from age 3 to 18, so there wasn't really a huge transition between primary and secondary; they just moved along the building a bit. Just as well really, I'd have been awash! It's certainly staying lighter for longer isn't it. We have snowdrops, but no daffs yet. I'm getting the urge to spring clean though, but so far am fighting it valiantly! I hope Bertie's valentine appreciates his fur do. xx
ReplyDeleteDear CJ, all is well and we are having nice weather at the moment instead of those days when you thought you were living in an oven. Its still too early to not have more, as we could have very high temperatures till the end of March and even April. Hopefully they will stop soon and Autumn will arrive. You can usually tell of its arrival when there is a slight hint of coolness in the air in the early morning and evening. Looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteIts been a long time since my children have been in primary school and as I don't have grandchildren, I've forgotten some of the childhood exuberance which used to happen around here. I do remember one primary school presentation night when my daughter was awarded a prize, and the man who presented it said that he thought children who won that award must have great parents!!!! That made me sit up and listen to have our parenting skills praised!
Since my visit to hospital with my heart I have begun to eat more fish and I have really enjoyed having tinned oily sardines on a sandwich at lunchtime. Who thought that such a cheap tinned item would be doing so much good for my heart? I can't vouch for you know what you mentioned, not wanting to lower the tone of the comments.
Would love a close up of the debonair Bertie before he rolls in too much ...... give him a cuddle from me.
Regards, Robyn
I love the photo of two of your boys with Bertie tucked right in beside them-one of the gang but a bit shorter. jean /winnipeg
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not sure if it's Spring yet but for the first time in weeks, the driveway is snow-free, and we even had a few rays of sunshine yesterday. Husband is circling his bike eagerly, and I'm dusting off my courage and giving it a good brushing up because I'm going to need it soon (going to driving school to get my bike license) and want it to be in tip top shape then.
ReplyDeletePerfect here too, what a difference a drop of sunshine makes to the day. Glad to hear that the sardine did the trick.
ReplyDeleteThat transition from big boy at primary to little boy at secondary is a real life changer. How grown up they’ll all be to be at secondary. Time flies eh :). B x
Yes things a springing here too. Your posts often remind me of My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell that I read years ago. I must admit when I started teaching there was far more joy in primary schools. The National Curriculum and targ ets watered things down. We used to do the ‘academic’ stuff on a morning and ‘crafty’ stuff every afternoon. Upper primary and secondary started to merge more.
ReplyDeleteYes it's very spring like at the moment, let's hope that it continues. The tea party sounds like it was fun. I laughed at Bert's latest antics but thankful that I won't be eating sardines, oily or otherwise, any time soon. xx
ReplyDeleteA lovely day today. I went all maverick and wore no socks, just my clogs! A little bit longer to go but still exciting to look forward to. Jo x
ReplyDeleteDefinitely signs of spring here this week. I even walked the dog without a coat on this evening... and saw some daffodils!
ReplyDeleteOh good Lord, Bert! Was it pre-revenge for the hair cut I wonder? I think I must be the only mum who sighed relief when primary was over and didn’t cry. All the transitions up here have been good. Just university left now 😳. Wishing you a lovely, Springfull weekend xx
ReplyDeleteYour tea sounds wonderful, boys in bow ties serving their parents is the best. As for your sweet pup all trimmed and beautiful, hope he stays out of all things dirty and nasty.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to read this. I so enjoyed it. Glad all well with your household, sons and dog. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteYour morning tea sounds wonderful. I do miss the school fundraisers too. The best I could do this week was morning tea with a bunch of old girls! We did have fun though. I think Autumn is in the air here as I noticed the Morning Glory vine is starting to turn red. I will be happy to have some cooler weather.
ReplyDeleteWe're nearing end of summer here and the signs are all around. I don't mind; I love all the seasons except the worst heat of summer, which will be headed your way before you know it.
ReplyDeleteI have a Great Dane who needed surgery three times for diverse objects he swallowed. The most expensive dog in the country. The vet once told me to feed him a huge amount of raw liver if I suspect that he's eaten something he shouldn't. Apparently, it compacts dramatically before it reaches the other end of the dog and pushes the foreign object ahead of it. So, there's another remedy you can try if you're in doubt of the oily sardine's efficacy.
I woke up to bird song the other morning - still dark but what a welcome sign of good things to come it was! Jack once ate some colourful balloons. We didn't know until there were splashes of colour at the other end. I he knew that sardines are good for expulsion purposes, he'd eat a lot more unsuitable foods! I have moved on mentally to secondary school and have avoided school fundraisers at the little people's school lately because 14 years of primary school fundraisers is my absolute limit. We have one more year to go.... can't wait. Have a wonderful weekend xx
ReplyDeleteOh C.J., I so enjoy your writing. It takes me back to when mine were littles! (The youngest is now 36!) I love that you are so in love with your boys. The posts about Bert are riot. Love you all much.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing to say on the subject of spring. What's that? Well, except there was a raven sighting yesterday morning -- s/he sat on the edge of the old nest shouting -- so there's perhaps the tiniest, fleetingest glimmer of perhaps-maybe-possibly it'll arrive eventually.
ReplyDeleteBertie, Bertie, Bertie. Perhaps he has aspirations of being written up in international veterinary journals. There isn't much that a good oily sardine can't fix, though. Canned pumpkin is good, too....lots of fibre there. ;)
Our elementary school fundraisers were blissfully of the absentee variety -- plant sales and the like...and you know I can get behind a plant sale. xo
It's very spring-like here too - though I'm not sure it will last. We all know what the British weather is like. Could be snowing next week!
ReplyDeleteOh yes I do, in fact I've just drunk my coffee in the garden! Crazy weather for the time of year but I'm not complaining. I like the sound of your afternoon tea, what a lovely idea. I wish our school would do something like that.
ReplyDeleteGosh your photos are amazing! I came to you from your comment oN Merediths blog. Our dog ate a box of easter chocolates while he was on steroids. My sis is a vet, thank god. She told us he'd have to have eaten more than a box of chocolate to cause an issue. Phew. She went into great detail about how much chocolate is dark and light and how they are just coating the fillings.......cats are easier in this way I think.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I understand the fleeting feelings of youth. My son sees it on my face and he says, you feel like you're losing me. And I say, yes and no. I secretly look at his younger photos and I hear that laugh and giggle with wild abandon and joie de vivre.
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