Adoption is so many things. I’m hoping to use this space to share some of my thoughts and experiences from our journey with our four children; two by birth and two by adoption. I believe adoption starts with brokenness, and ends with hope. The brokenness and pain of a birth mum unable to care for her… Continue reading Brokenness and hope. May 2018
Middle Ages – our learning. May 2018
I have to begin by admitting that I was reluctant to learn about the the Middle Ages with the girls, as it was the one period of history I didn’t really resonate with, when I did it with the boys. However, I think they enjoyed it as we covered battles, plague, bad kings, more battles,… Continue reading Middle Ages – our learning. May 2018
Playdough
Ingredients: 2 Cups Plain Flour 1 Cup Salt 2 Cups water 2 Tablespoons oil 2 Teaspoons cream of tartar 1 dessert spoon powder paint or few drops food colouring Instructions Cook mixture in a pan over a medium heat, stirring all the time to prevent sticking. Remove from heat when mixture comes away from the… Continue reading Playdough
Salt Dough
Ingredients: 1 cup salt 1 3/4 cups warm water 3 cups white flour Instructions Dissolve salt in the water. Add the flour and stir. When too stiff to stir, knead until smooth. Can use immediately, or store in fridge for up to a week. Shape dough then cook at 250°f or 121°c for 1-2 hours… Continue reading Salt Dough
Stinging nettle soup
Stinging nettle soup/get your own back soup. Making this is one of my childhood memories, and we now make it most years. The early nettle leaves are best; it’s apparently nutritious, and it feels good to get our own back after all those stings the previous year! And it doesn't cost a lot....so a winner… Continue reading Stinging nettle soup
Last minute chick pea curry
I'm not very imaginative about cooking the everyday meals. For many years, until I finally succumbed to planning our meals, I’d get to 5pm, realise I had to get everyone fed quickly before the evening run of activities started and find any meat I had was frozen, and I'd no idea what to do with… Continue reading Last minute chick pea curry
Gloop
My boys tell me this is called ublek...so sure you could find some fun videos on you tube...source of all useful information. I just call it gloop. It's great fun, and can be very messy. I unadvisedly left the girls playing with it while I did some geography with the boys, and came back to… Continue reading Gloop
27 May 2018
We’ve made it to half term! Our time seems to have mainly be consumed by Lanky Dude’s EPQ and impending A level, and Rhythm Dude’s chemistry exam. I have sometimes pined for the pre exam years when we could all bundle into our van, complete with picnic and audio book, and head out for… Continue reading 27 May 2018
Kitchen science – 25 May 2018
We’ve always enjoyed “speriments”, whether this is creative mixing of ingredients (Sparkly Eyes’ current craze for making slime), or more structured kitchen chemistry. The girls rediscovered and old Usborne book which I had for the boys, and spent an industrious morning performing some of the experiments, while I was helping prepare Rhythm Dude for his… Continue reading Kitchen science – 25 May 2018
21 May2018
Its our twentieth wedding anniversary this week, and we are celebrating with a much anticipated child free weekend, staying by the sea. This is possible due to the kindness of Auntie, Uncle and Granny, who between them are looking after our children. As I sit now in the sunshine, looking out over the sparkling sea,… Continue reading 21 May2018
Mothering through the seasons 