come with us to Bluebell Hideout

In the woods yesterday we found a huge pile of logs. An old tree cut down and left in a heap. So we built ourselves a den: Here it is, welcome to 'Bluebell Hideout'.

Come through the entrance,

There is even a microphone for concerts and songs.

The view isn't bad.

There is a table and five chairs.

and often a snack on the table: a cake, biscuits and sandwiches.

High, vaulted ceilings.

Plenty to eat (Benny feasts on wild garlic)

and places to practice balancing.

lots to explore and discover.

What a wonderful place to have to visit, and I'm sure we'll have lots of adventures here :-)

sunshine

It's like summer here at the moment, it truly is. I keep pinching myself that it is still only March. I even went up to the attic yesterday to unearth what we have in the ways of summer clothes (hmmm I have a fair bit of sewing to do!)

But it has been glorious enough for shorts,

eating dinner outside,

coffee and real snail mail (oh I am rediscovering the pure joy that is proper letter writing, and so it seems are many other's)
It has also been hot enough for sunhats. The kids have outgrown theirs from last year so I sat at my machine last night, pushed aside the dolls clothes and made these:

I made up the pattern using these directions.

Benny's is using some of the wonderful parcel of cowboy fabric we got from Nicole.

Rebe's is lovely and summery and they are both really delighted. I was so surprised how well they came out, they took an hour each, and are reversible, bright and light.

Lovely sunshine :-)

Buddies ~ Scarecrow

***In September 2011 6 families got together and started Buddies Home School. Each week we meet in each other's home and follow a simple rhythm: movement and music, craft/ baking, snack time, free play and story time. Each part of the session is led by a different family. We are sharing this week's session with you here...***

This week at Buddies it was all about scarecrows.

We started our session, as always, with movement and music. Music: we sang our welcome song and then we added a new verse to the Hop Little Bunnies song that is so dearly loved by all the Buddies. We sang 'Scare little scarecrown, scare, scare, scare' and made appropriate scary faces and hands :-)
After that we headed outside for a dressing up game.

2 teams and 2 piles of clothes: each team had to dress one of their buddies as a scarecrow.

coats, hats, gloves and scarves

they were pretty great scarecrows!

no crows here... and definitely none here :-)

Zoe led our craft activity and helped us to make a real life scarecrow. She had prepared 2 large sticks in the shape of a cross. Over this we tied an old shirt:

and secured the bottom with twine and then vigourously stuffed it with hay.

Old trousers were also stuffed with hay for his legs.

His face was decorated by E and E on an old pillow case.

and also stuffed with hay

The head was then put on the top of the stick and the bottom of the pillow case stuffed into the neck of the shirt and bound with more twine.

The upright pole went down one trouser leg and the waist of the trousers was tied to the shirt.

We named him Brad and finished him off with an old hat and scarf and placed him in the vegetable patch.

No crows here now!

snack in the sunshine

and our story outside too, read by Susan. It was sweet and lovely and full of spring joy :-)

spring sunshine

Oh my, how beautiful the weather is here at the moment. Blue skies morning til night and with the clocks changing we are really get the best of it. Out in the garden as soon as we have got dressed, watching the fishing boats come and go.

Snacking outdoors

Always time for a bit of doll making here and there though.

I had to take Joa to the nurse for some vaccinations this morning and while we were in town I had a peep into the charity shop and found this sweet little dress for this sweet little girl:

It's got the perfect pockets, you'd be amazed how much she can fit in them!

After Joa's afternoon nap we popped up to the green at the top of our road for a run around.

Benny took his comet ball (which he can nearly throw into space) and Rebe her kite.

Unfortunately there was NO wind and flying a kite with no wind is very hard work and can make you feel very sad and grumpy and cranky...especially if you simply won't give up and do something else.

But she kept trying over and over bless her.

and Benny got hold of the camera...

mama knitting

comet ball after re-entry

watching another kite attempt

more knitting and more tantrums...

In fact poor Rebe got so caught up in her emotions she ended up on the grass in floods of tears. I had to take the boys home then come and give her a cuddle and bring her home herself. A bath, bear rub and an early night for her.

Still it was a beautiful spring day tantrums and all :-)