Could this be it?

The school holidays are quickly approaching and I think for the first time in what seems like forever we may actually have a summer the kids can enjoy.I know they are getting a bit de-mob happy. Every morning for the past few weeks I've been met with the same question " how long do we have to go now?" The glorious weather has been tantalising and everyone and everything seems to be preparing for more good days ahead.

I was able to re-stock the pond recently ( the local Heron had all but wiped it out over the winter ) as the water temperature had risen. The fish are still fairly timid but seem to be enjoying their new environment. Their activity has created a certain amount of interest from at least one member of our household.

There should be more than enough cover for them to hide under,safe from the prying eyes of predatory birds and curious canines. The warm weather seems to have spurred on the water lilies and they are covering most of the surface now. The first full bloom appeared this morning. I always think they almost look fake in their perfection.

Yes, this is definitely shaping up to be a good summer. Fingers crossed!

To work or not to work.......

Yesterday was one of those days that just didn't unfold the way I had planned in my head. After morning chores I was paid a visit by my good buddy 'Ormolu' (or Motoring Mama as she may now be called) She arrived in her shiny new vehicle, testing out her rediscovered driving skills on our challenging driveway, and a very good job she made of it too.

Anyway, after a bit of a blether, and once she had collected some display material that needed revamped before our craft fair at the Hawick Highland Games on Sunday, she went on her merry way and I settled down to work.

By this time it was well in to the afternoon and it was such a glorious day that I just didn't have it in me to shut myself away in my work room behind my sewing machine. That's when all that Blue Peter training comes into play and I turned to something I had prepared earlier. I had put together these i-pouches a number of days ago and they were just waiting to be sewn up.

So I sat outside and sewed while listening to the curious little wildlife noises around me. A 'plop' as a frog in the pond jumped for a fly and landed back in the water, the odd whirring/clacking sound the damsel flies make as they chase each other around. The under growth rustles as birds of one sort or another scrape up tasty morsels while a rather more industrious thrush can be heard tap tapping away to crack open a snail shell and take its contents back to the nest.

I had to stop a few hours later as my other life as mum re-asserted itself. While I hadn't produced as much work as I had planned for the day I had at least achieved something, and in doing so I had taken time to appreciate the day, an opportunity I will always be grateful for.

Some completed i-pouches

Birthday Bag

My neighbour had a 'significant' birthday recently. She's a bit more than a neighbour, we rely on each other for childcare when the need arises as well as tea and sympathy when necessary.

I really worried about what to get her. She is intelligent, creative, attractive and extremely stylish (and if it weren't for the fact that she is also a really nice person the insecure woman that lives within me would love to hate her) I hummed and hawed over various ornaments and soft furnishings, but discarded that idea, after all its not the kind of gift you give to someone who specialises in staging for show homes ( duh! )It was turning out to be a trickier task than I thought.

And after all that woe and angst and woey-angst the problem was solved. By my Husband. As usual.

" Why don't you just give her that bag you made that she's always liked?" he says.

So I did, and she was delighted, and now he is insufferable!

In for a penny.......

As many of my friends will testify I have no difficulty talking but I have to say this writing business terrifies me. I've never been very good at keeping a diary. I always started out with good intentions but after a few days I lost the impetus and it always became more of a sporadic journal, usually full of deep, pondering questions ( well as deep and pondering as an early teenager can manage )

So I can't guarantee that this will be any more regular or philosophical but all I can say is I'll try my best, and if not I'll get monkey to do it for me as I'm sure if a room full can come up with Shakespeare one will manage my sparse offerings