OHC - Wildflowers

The countryside is just blossoming all around us at the moment. Each time we go for a walk I spot a new delicate little wildflower which just delights my soul. I thought that we would spend some time looking at our native wildflowers for one of our OHC this month.

Cowslips

 Our chosen afternoon to set out was just glorious. We've had plenty of rainy weather of late but we do get spells during the day when the sun comes out and everything simply glimmers in its warmth. We decided that we would take along out nature journals and paints and work al fresco.

Armed with this great little book to help us identify the wildflowers...

we set out on the trail. As always, discovering new paths and peeking through hedges at little scenes like this...

added to the joy of our outdoor hour time.

We collected wildflowers along our walk and then settled down in a warm sunny field to identify and read up on...

...and spend some time sketching and painting them.

Some of the wildflowers we found:

*Cowslips

*Speedwell

*Buttercups

*Dandelions

*Bush Vetch

*Ground Ivy

*Herb Robert

*Queen Anne's Lace (Known as Cow Parsley in England)

After working in our journals we headed down to the lake to get some more pond water and a few more tadpole friends for our flourishing tadpole at home. I made a note-to-self to get the girls to update their frog pages in their journals. Our last entry was frog spawn, since then we've had successful hatching's :o) and I want to sketch the tadpoles before legs and arms start sprouting.

Our Wildflower pages...

Miss V-L age 15

Miss J-L age 13

Mama's pages :o)

New Curriculum Choice Review Out Today

A quick note - I am reviewing the A.C.E curriculum over at 'The Curriculum Choice' today. Please do pop on over if you are interested in knowing more. I have also added links to all my Curriculum Choice reviews on my sidebar for quick reference.

For those living in the UK who might be interested in A.C.E, you can find out more through TEACH (The European Academy for Christian Homeschooling).

Looking Back at the Week...

Today I am linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In My Life This Week...

I turned 39 this week! I really don't feel like am am on the cusp of 40. It was wonderful to celebrate with friends and family. I have also been 'grounded' as of yesterday as my little car is very sick! It was making the most awful noise all the way to Sheffield and back (about a 40 minute drive each way). I have to admit to being very nervous at the time. Our mechanic came over to have a look and declared that both wheel bearings had gone and recommended against driving it at all until he fixed it! Eeeeep - the good Lord was certainly watching over us!

In Our Homeschool This Week...

DH did some science experiments with Miss J-L for which I am very grateful. I really do not feel confident in this area and have often had my experiments flop with the children - which does not exactly inspire confidence or prove any points that I try to make! We also managed to get out and do our nature study today which was lovely - more on that in an OHC post. 

Helpful Homeschooling Tips Or Advice To Share:

When you have reached the end of the week and the children are irritable with one another and you with all the bickering; getting out in nature for a change of pace and scenery is the best medicine - rain or shine!

My Favourite Thing This Week was...

My birthday gift for sure! DH spoilt me with a new sewing machine. When we left South Africa for our new life here in England I sold everything as we were limited on what we could afford to bring over. My sewing machine was amongst those things. We casually said, 'oh well, we'll replace that when we get there' - it's taken two and a half years! 

My Children's Favourite Thing This Week was...

Our nature hour yesterday. It was so lovely to be walking in the sunshine and sitting sketching in the fields

Things I'm Working On...

WIP - I'm working on my Shalom Cardigan and just loving the feeling of the yarn and loving the result so far! I tend to stay away from knitting for myself as it never seems to fit properly, but I have a good feeling about this one :o)

I'm Cooking...

Lots of lovely new recipes! My healthy diet eating plan is working and I have lost 1.4kg so far and I am loving the tasty, healthy meals - and so is my family :o)

I'm Grateful For...

My husband who works so hard so that we can stay at home and live this lovely learning lifestyle.

Something I'm Ogling or Have My Eye On...

Fabric of course :o) Now that I have my new machine I am eagerly looking at stocking up on my fabric stash. I have a million ideas buzzing about in my head and am desperate to get sewing. I'm hoping to be able to get out to our local fabric outlet over the weekend. 

A Photo, Video, Link, or Quote To Share...

My eldest daughter upon seeing all the bright yellow rapeseed fields as we drove to Sheffield this week said, 'Oh wow! It looks like God has just spread butter over his toast'. *smile*

Quick and Cute...

I love having flowers from the garden displayed in a little posy indoors. However I always find myself short of vases and it is often not something that goes to the top of my shopping list. I often have an abundance of jam jars lying around and wondered how I could use these as little posy vases but still have them looking sweet. Here is one little idea I came up with...

A little ribbon and a crochet rose. These little roses are really simple to whip up. Here's the pattern...

Crochet Rose (UK terms)

Crochet Abbreviations:

UK dc = US  sc

UK tr = US Dc

UK htr = US hdc

With 4mm crochet hook and chosen yarn (dk) make 27 ch

Foundation Row: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end of row. 26dc.

Row 1: 3ch, 5tr into 4th ch from hook, sl st in next dc

(5tr in next dc, sl st in next dc) 4 times

( 5htr in next dc, sl st in next dc) 5 times

(5dc in next dc, sl st in next dc) 4 times.

Fasten of yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing up. Carefully roll petals into a rose shape and stitch securely using the long tail.

Have fun...these little roses are addictive!

Yarn Along

This week I cast on for a new project - despite the fact that the socks are still on the go! Oh my, why do I keep starting a new pair of socks when they struggle to hold my interest? Perhaps because they feel so nice :o)

I have had my heart set on making Shalom for a little while now. I have been inspired by the many woman who link up at Yarn Along who have knitted this cardigan. I don't usually have a huge amount of success with knitting up cardies for myself but have figured out why. I usually ignore the whole gauge thing - duh! Why would I do that? I don't know - but I have. Not this time. I am determined to get it right as there are many lovely knits on my Ravelry list at the moment.

My yarn arrived on Friday. I chose Drops Andes. I really wanted to use lovely yarn for this project and was thrilled to see that Wool Warehouse is running a special on their Drops yarn. I bought two colours - Light Grey Green and Heather. It feels heavenly! So soft and warm. It is going to be perfect for those cool autumn days. I bought some really cute buttons while I was about it...

aren't they just adorable?

I am loving this project so far. I love how quickly it knits up. I might end up making another - but with long sleeves. But we shall see how this one turns out first. I really am a bit nervous due to my lack of success in the past.

Reading: In the Left Behind series I have reached book number 9 - 'Desecration'. These books are a riveting read and once again I find it hard to tear myself away. Another book that I have just taken out of the library is 'Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet' by M.C Beeton. These books are always a light read and alternate well with my 'heavier' read of the Left Behind books.

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for today's Yarn Along

May Wreath...

Finally... it is finished!

After what seemed like a never ending marathon of crocheting little leaves, flowers and roses, my May wreath is finished and hanging in the conservatory. I just love it! It is perfect for this glass room and already my head is swimming with ideas for more such pretties :o)

linking with Linda at Natural Suburbia 

 and Ginny at Small Things

May's Garden...

The hedges are greening up, the trees now showing a lovely cloak of green, the cowslips nodding their pretty heads in the meadows and along woodland paths, yes, Summer is creeping closer with every passing day.

Closer to home, May's garden is coming along. Our newly dug kitchen garden is beginning to take shape. We have added to our singular strawberry bed over the past two weeks - thanks to my dedicated husband and all his back-breaking work! The broccoli, beet, cauliflower and leeks have all gone in and are establishing nicely. I have planted a second set of each already. Yesterday the peas went into their freshly dug bed. New frames put up for them to trail over and a row of sunflowers along the middle of the two frames. I am looking forward to seeing this bed in the height of summer!

Carrots and parsnips were also planted out yesterday, along with various herbs. I was so tempted to plant all my bedding plants yesterday, but a little caution from Alan Titchmarsh on the radio on Saturday has kept that task on hold for another few weeks. I am hoping that I haven't jumped the gun on planting out my peas and am ready to dash out and cover them with cloches should frost threaten.

As for the rest of the garden, Tulips are still flowering and some late bloomers are just about to open. 

The Camellia's are looking lovely... I think my grandmother must have had these shrubs in her garden while I was growing up because every time I look at it I am reminded of her and my childhood!

And I have two trees in the kitchen garden in full bloom. I am hoping that these are apples! I have had a go at identifying them - but I am never too sure. Time will tell.

May's garden has also seen a full rainbow stretching overhead. I'm afraid this is the best shot I could get on my humble little camera...

and some flying of some homespun kites :o)

Today May's garden has seen lots of good soaking rain - just what all the plants need. Although living in England you would think that we are wet just about all of the time, and that was certainly true of last year, this year has been quite dry up until recently. I have actually had to water my garden myself on three different occasions! Shocking I know -LOL.

Anyhoo - that's about it for today. Hope to see you here again soon.

A Bluebell Walk

Well it's that time again - the Bluebells are out and nodding their pretty purple heads. As has been our custom since arriving in England, we make our annual bluebell pilgrimage and go and tiptoe among these pretty little British beauties.

Of course with the weather warming up we could not resist paddling in this sparkly little creek.

When the girls saw this tree with 'eyes', they immediately brought to mind Enid Blytons 'The Magic Faraway Tree' :o) 

Isn't this little gate set in the typically English dry stone wall lovely?

We have previously done an OHC on the Bluebell. If you are wanting to do your own study you can visit my post for some lovely free downloads and links. This year I found these cute little bluebell knitting patterns. I'm quite keen to give them a go, although those little flowers look rather fiddly! I do love how each season brings something new to the beautiful British countryside. Just lovely!

Swallows, Amazons and Knitting Needles...

Today is a cool and wet day. We have had some of the most glorious weather over the past few days so this rainy day is appreciated for the sake of the garden :o)

I am still busy crocheting leaves for my wreath, nearly done. I had hoped to be finished by now but life has been busy. I am also busy finishing up another pair of socks. I have been busy with this pair for months BTW - I started them off, then lost interest and started something else... you know how it goes. But I am determined to finish them off quickly as I am itching to start new projects.

I am reading 'Swallows and Amazons' by British author, Arthur Ransome, to the girls as our read aloud at the moment. This is such a lovely book and the girls are loving it so far. I first heard of this book - and author - on a local program called Countryfile. The little sail boat in the book, the 'Swallow', was based on Arthur Ransome's favourite sail boat, 'Nancy Blackett' - which has become quite famous due to the success of Arthur's books. I was intrigued upon watching this particular episode and decided that it would be our next read aloud in our home school. Funny where you can pick up new books for your on-going book-list isn't it? :o)

Joining Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along

The Homeschool Mothers Journal Weekly Wrapup

Today I am linking up with The Homeschool Mothers Journal

In My Life This Week...

Well it seems to have been a busy week for some reason. I'm not really sure how that happened as my planner for the week reflected very little in the way of busy-ness, but it seemed that the week gathered momentum as we progressed and now here we are - Friday. Whew!

I have been meaning-to, wanting-to, but have repeatedly-forgotten-to,  link up each week with The homeschool Mothers Journal. In fact I had intended linking up way back in January, bookmarked the page and then promptly forgot about it! As I was going through my rather disorganised bookmarks I decided that there would be no more procrastinating and dived right in. Oh - I have also reorganised my chaotic bookmarks :o).

In Our Homeschool This Week...

The girls have been diligently working at their lessons which is always a good thing. Tests written and passed, new PACE's begun and a new month seen in. We also met up with our local home ed group in Sheffield. One of the amazing moms has arranged a series of walks over the next few months. 'Walks with a Purpose' the are called. This months walk was a historical walk around Sheffield. I was so impressed with the amount of research she put in and equally impressed with how much history is attached to this city! We learnt so much and got some great exercise while we were about it.

The Queens Head Pub - dating from Tudor times. Can you guess why it's called the Queens Head? Clue: Henry  VIII

Places we are going and people we are seeing...

This week-end we are entertaining a whole lot of friends, we are celebrating DH 50th. Although he turned 50 last week, work commitments meant that celebrations had to be delayed slightly. 

My favourite thing this week was...

Definitely seeing the hedgehog in our garden again, and the wonderful warm sunny days we have had!

My kiddo's favourite thing this week was...

Same thing - how could it not be? :o)

Thinks I'm working on...

I'm still working on my wreath. I have loads of little flowers and leaves already - only a few more to go before I can put it all together and reveal :o) I do have my heart set on starting the Shalom Cardigan. In fact, I know that I am going to be wanting to knit at least two as there are so many beautiful variations on this pattern. For this cardi I am going to splash out on some lovely yarn - still decided on what colourway to go with.

I'm cooking...

Ooh- sensitive subject at the moment! This week all my feelings of discontent with how my body squeezes into all my clothes of late came to a head. I have decided that enough is enough, joined up with a weight-loss program that is practical and 'real' and dashed out to buy a scale. It was standing on the scale that almost caused me to weep! I am 12kg over my ideal-for-me weight. I have never been 12 kg over so just as well I have finally got me A into G and started doing something about it! So - lots of careful plan following going on here. I must say that I am loving the meals that have been set out. They are easy to whip up and delicious to boot! I am hoping to see the pounds melt away...

I'm grateful for...

Where I live. Today I went on a 'vigorous walk' - part of my new exercise diet routine - and was just blown away but the views. And to think that I don't even have to get into my car to reach them, I just walk a couple of yards to the end of my road and I am walking in the countryside...

And so ends my weekly wrap-up. I'll see you back here again very soon :o)