Well Hello October...

October is here already!

Oh my Oh my

Not only just here but almost gone!
The kiddos all went back to school, looking smart in their uniforms

I have kept these hands busy since littlest man started school...

the woodwork downstairs has mostly been glossed to within an inch {a horrible smelly and for me messy job but one that's oh so satisfying when done.}
Lots of 'Wet Paint' signs around the house

We went and we found conkers this year!

Enough to create our very own neighbourhood conkering tournament!!

Cupboards have been cleared, tidied and given new order.  

A trip to the local dump to recycle what we could and 'dump' what we couldn't.  

Boxes {oh lots of boxes} have been filled and my eldest has now almost cleared the house of her 'stuff'.  Funny how this 'stuff' was so important that we couldn't clear it previously but now it looks to be heading her way, to her own tidy little flat it is suddenly not so important!

I'm barely managing to pick up a crochet hook in, but, I have a blanket to finish, mittens for me to start and another blanket planned out in my mind waiting.

I have managed to make a few batches of delicious soups

We have also been making weekly home made pizzas, the dough recipe is from the Jamie Oliver 'Save' book, although I've used a mix of 50/50 bread flour and plain flour.  Really delicious, it's had the thumbs up from RV's friends, my older and younger kiddos and even Bob!  

It seems that this time of year is offering some spectacular sunrises and sunsets...
pinks, purples and shades in-between

Non of these images have been photo-shopped, just straight off the camera.

The air is nippy, some mornings on the school run it's been downright chilly.  Other days we've been walking to school in jumpers and home in short sleeve tops.  

The weather has been mild for the season {so far anyways!}

As you may have guessed the little computer came home, eventually after PC World managed to 'lose' it in their system for almost 2weeks.  But I'm too chilled to bare a grudge, I am just glad that it is home...

fingers crossed I will make a better job of blogging through November than I did for Sept/Oct.

Gearing up for 'Day of the Dead' {Halloween} and Guy Fawkes night.

Conkering...

For the first time in memory we have not collected conkers this year.

Our usual haunts are bare, the leaves are brown and falling and only the odd conker here/there.

Im not sure if it's the weather, all the rain we've had this summer or if the local trees are diseased but what I do know is that since Abba was tiny, we have collected conkers around this time of year...this is the first year that we've not managed to collect.

Heck I can remember going conkering with Gran as a small child.  She'd take her washing line prop with us and we'd wander the quiet roads of Beaconsfield giving promising looking trees a bit of a whack every now and then.

*sigh*

Sometimes change is not a good thing!

"""

But then sometimes change is a good thing...

On a chirpier note Fonzy started nursery yesterday!  

The nursery is attached to the school we hope he'll go to {the one where all the others went/go}

He went in with no tears on both days, I was really pretty surprised at that; I was sure we would have tears, but nope is was happy to go.

Perhaps once he realises that it is to be everyday and the novelty wears off things will change?

He was happy to see me at the end of the session, had lots to tell me etc
Making friends, enjoying the range of toys...just generally really enjoying himself!!

Let the good days roll...

on and on and on!!

Oh I have had such a great week

Thursday went a bit off plan as I had to go to college for H but we had time at home and Loopy did a bit of her new books.  Can't say she's thrilled with it but she is resisting to the idea of me wanting her to do work at the moment.  It's a bit easy for her but does go over in a more structured way of what we've already covered and will I hope pick on any gaps.

Thursday was also my lovely hubbies birthday and our 4th wedding anniversary!

{we've been together 21years though}

We stayed in had a normal evening but with cake and candles!

Fingers crossed if we can muster the energy we may go out for a meal tonight but I'd be happy enough with a nice curry and  film at home

Last night once the little ones had gone to bed I set about a tidy up of the shelving unit and home ed work space...very much overdue and needed.  I threw out a lot of paper for recycling {sad you can't keep all the scribbles} but kept an awful lot which have been put in the box.  Looking through the box was good too as I could see how much Loopy has grasped this past year and all things as they are I am happy so far!

I also found my phonics books and an old planner I did last year so have a few more ideas for activities and they have given me a little boost of motivation.

The clear up meant that I had space to get a few bits out for a Autumn shelf...our trusty little squirrels, cones from previous years, shells and special glass collected over the year as well as our Autumn/Winter fairy.

Fonzy spotted it all straight away this morning and came running upstairs saying 'oh thank you for all our winter things' {He's such a little heart melter}  We had a little look together at what was there and later in the morning he added his own special leaf

Today was RV's school assembly, he didn't have a big role but was as pleased as punch to see us there...I don't think the head was as happy as I had to step out twice as Fonzy is still a bit young to sit 'quietly' for more than 10mins or so

{hey ho}

After the assembly I made potato and leek soup and it was delicious!  What a shock that was, previous attempts at soup have failed...not sure why but today it worked.

So a lovely pot of fresh soup in the fridge for this weekend

I'm looking forward to....adding gourds to the Autumn shelf, rounding up a few of our conkers to go on there too, adding our little 'things that remind us of Autumn' card, creating a colour/letter shelf on Monday.

Hoping that I can keep the momentum up for either a bit of crochet or sewing

and find time to read through a few books to nourish the soul

and to use a few of these

Which will give me  the chance to have a glance over at my little shelves which always gives me a smile

I'm thinking apple pie...

***

Autumn table...

Is visibly missing this year in our home.

It just goes to show how far I let myself slip...I'm not out to beat myself over it but I have to recognise that 'it' aint what 'it' should be.

How many times can I say I'm in a funk?  What else can I blame it on?

Yes I am busy {aren't all parents?} but I was busy before and managed so why make excuses.

If it was paid employment I think I'd be either on a written warning or sacked.  If it were a contract I have not fulfilled my side of it.

The house is 'ok' floors clean, laundry is getting done, washing up is done and food is on the table in the evening but I've not been doing it with any heart.  Some people don't even pretend to enjoy homemaking and that's just fine, but it's not fine for me.

I DO enjoy homemaking, well I did and I would like to find that enjoyment again.

The home edding is there, we do our work at the table and I do enjoy it.  I find it hard to distract Fonzy so that he will let Loopy just get on with what she's doing but we're working on it.

She knows her letters pretty much now, I'm sure children at school knew them before she did but she learnt them and understands how they work together to make words.

I guess I just want to stop going through the motions, to 'feel' what we do together to make good memories with them and make a warm home that's relaxed and cosey not a free for all.

1st on the list is to tidy the shelving unit and go out and have some fun collecting bits for our Autumn table!!

***