A Full House

Tani's parents have been staying with us since last week...

The children have been cocooned in a loving embrace of adults over this last week. I can only imagine how warm and safe it must feel for them to be surrounded by so many loving arms.

It feels very natural to live in a communal way with extended family and all generations close to one another.

Although we don't speak the same language, some things just don't need translation...

A smile, a hug, a cup of tea, the binding ties of children and of course lots of  laughter.

 

A Beautiful Day

We spent a lovely day at Belvoir Lodge.
The girls enjoyed meandering  around the extensive gardens and pretending to get lost. Except for Nola who really truly nearly got lost. She is into suddenly charging off at the least expected moments and as this beautiful garden is somewhat of a labyrinth there were a few "catch your breath" moments for this Mama.

There is the most beautiful west facing rose garden which glows like gilded gold at dusk! It also has wonderful views over the vale.

The giant bubbles "below" were a huge hit although it took quite some time for the younger girls (and their parents) to get the hang of it. Luckily our lovely scout leader was on hand "always ready to help" to demonstrate the technique!

 

The girls were all emamoured by the stalls.
There was a craft stall, a book stall and plant stall and a cake and pastry stall.
The cake and pastry stall got the best of the girl's pocket money.
But there was a little left over for two sweet handmade bears and the book below, which is a bit of an ambitious read for a girl who can't read yet but Seraphina wanted it so badly.
She has spent the last week carrying it around making up the most wonderful story as she "read" it to us. Actually the lady at the book stall was so kind.
She saw that the girls were really interested in the books and told them they could each pick one for free! I thought this was such a beautiful thing for the girl's to hear.
Kindness is infectious.

At dusk we made a procession for evening mass. It was a really beautiful walk.

This cross stands on the ground where King Henry VIII burned down an ancient monastery during his reign. The ordinary monks were killed straight away with the abbots and priests being taken to London to be hung drawn and quartered if they did not renounce their faith. It brings me to tears and makes me shudder to think of it.

This cross is a stark but poignant reflection as the sun sets and we pray for those who died and who still die for their faith (whether Christian, Muslim, Jew, Pagan, Hindu, Buddhist or anything other faith) .

The Mass was celebrated by two monks "very exciting"!!! You don't get to see real, live monks that often any more :)

The Mass was one of those Mass's that just give you warmth, even though it was a properly cold and chilly early Autumn evening!

As twilight approaches we head back home.

A beautiful day.

this moment

Last Remnants of a lovely Summer

Favourite Summer memories from this year:

Nola being a real part of the gang, saying "come on guys" all the time and sticking up for her sister's or comforting them when they are sad.

Sitting in the tent in the back garden with my knitting and listening to the girls play and potter in the garden.

Spreading a blanket out in a quiet, unknown little spot at our local national trust park with a book or my sewing watching the older girls build a hut from willow branches.

A hut that many children have come to play and have fun in during this Summer.

Borage flowers from our garden prettily littering salads, soups and the top of cakes.

Nola searching for bugs and slugs beneath my tubs and pots!!!

Taking quiet, small, incremental moments to help the older girls to make their own small Waldorf dolls!

Boo winning little Maeve from the amazingly talented and generous Jenny Wren.

Helping Granny to move into her new bungalow!

A small break with cousin Era and Auntie Lida in a quiet spot in the middle of a wood.

Boo being chosen by a street artist to feature in his performance in Covent Garden.

Exhilarating visits to  the Parrot Zoo and cleansing visits to the sea.

Midsummer nights dream open air performance with strawberries and sparkling wine we pretended was champagne for our picnic.

A very VERY  big secret that I can't wait to share in the next few weeks but must keep very quiet about at the moment!

And this is not all, but it is a list of all the first things that came into my mind that made me smile :)