Teaching each other

Teague has just started piano lessons.  It was something he suddenly decided he wanted to do and he seems to be really focused on practicing

Annis would also like piano lessons but we can't really afford two lots at the moment so Teague has started teaching her, and he is a wonderful teacher.  More patient than me (that might not mean a lot!)  and they don't seem to bicker at all while they're learning together.

I think this is one of the nicer things about home learning.  Sharing their skills with each other seems so much more meaningful than simply showing me what they can do. 

and we don't have to pay for a second lot of piano lessons yet ;o)

Falling like dominoes

that's what is happening to the peeps in our house at the moment

first one then the next then it all seems to start again.  So much coughing!!

We're all stuck in the house on sunny days driving each other mad

So I took a trip around the house 

Annis's disturbing and yet sooo cool gallery.  I wish I could paint like this I just love them

a post card from friends we miss living far away from us

Teague's strange little stage with a solitary actor

a gorgeous cake plate my nanna has given me because she doesn't really bake anymore, which is sad because my nanna's baking is part of my childhood

a lovely sandwich plate from J's mum because she had too much pottery

two pretty fairtrade glass bowls that Annis and I bought before christmas to make the table look prettier

and three men in a boat, reminding me that summer is on it's way and we won't be ill forever, even if it feels a bit like that right now. 

And now soup making is called for

Just reading

and so quiet

books and books and more books

Reading is just about all that's happening in our house at the moment.  The weather has turned grey and cold so all we want to do is snuggle up and read

I should be writing an essay on Orlando but instead got caught up in Hermione Lee's biography of her. 

This is our book club book.  The children voted to have book club once a fortnight so I tend to read the book to them, otherwise we would have to get two copies.  And I am enjoying this one.

Annis is reading the time wreccas which she has just started and says 'it's funny and I like the names of the characters, snot and scratch and killjoy'.  Ours is a library copy, for some reason the copies I found on the internet are hugely expensive but maybe it's awaiting a print run.

Teague who cannot be photographed is reading Clive Cussler The Chase which is an adult's detective story set in 1906.  He really likes the historical aspect of it and finds it exciting. 

Did I miss two days?  So early in February?  Hmmm I think so.

Stuff we're enjoying right now

Every year around this time we seem to get a lot more reading and bookish learning done.  Today in particular it has turned colder so we don't mind staying in and cosying up with a good cd

and this is a great one, it's entertaining and informative enough to make us want to find out more.  Today we listened to the piece about Galileo and it has inspired us to look for a galileo telescope kit so if anyone knows of a good one please let me know

I have begun my Open University course and am back to reading and then reading again, oh and then reading in a bit more detail!  But I'm enjoying Chekhov ( I can't say I have ever read or seen his plays before).

and Annis has bought a fabulous Julie West embroidery pattern from Sublime Stitching that is so cool and funky, that coupled with gold thread... who could resist.

oh and there's nothing I like to see more than a teenage reader.  The oldest (now at college) enjoyed reading but it's been a bit more of a struggle with this one.  Percy Jackson and the lightening thief seems to be doing the trick though.

and Annis has been crafting all by herself (poor thing) with her autumn finds from a lovely walk this morning in Morrab Gardens.

What are you finding to do now it's getting colder?

what to do with all the strawberries

we knew it was about time to go strawberry picking, the hot weather had been putting us off.  So we set off for Trevaskis farm, a wonderful farm shop, restaurant and pick your own farm.  We went a little crazy with the strawberries

of course we tried to eat more than we picked but it just wasn't possible.  We even picked a few raspberries too (which were quite delicious).

there was even time for a lovely father daughter moment

when we got home there was only kitchen time, we had picked so many strawberries!  Some have been frozen, some have been made into jam, some....

were turned into a delicious delectable strawberry and cream cake by Teague.  And of course there are still a few left over in the fridge for picking at.  Don't you just love strawberry picking time?