A bit of culture

The weather last week was perfectly lovely - warm, springlike (as I remember Spring should be) and uplifting. On Sunday (Mother's Day) we took a trip to a National Trust property - Greenway. Greenway was Agatha Christie's summer home which she bought before the war for the princely sum of £6k. (massive home overlooking the river Dart with 33 acres). My how we all did spit with envy. It was all very beautiful:

Naturally, the weather took a turn back to it's Global Warming norm on Monday and it is bloody freezing again.

Made muesli the other day - have done this a few times from Nigella's 'Feast' book - very readable book this is. It tastes lovely and I do feel very wholesome eating it.

Talking of food..... horror of all horrors, I had a phonecall from Masterchef. Instead of hanging up immediately when the chappie introduced himself, I heard myself feebly muttering 'ooh, hello...' anyway, I must have come across as a real drip as I went blank on the question 'what would be a typical 3 course meal you would cook for friends?' I toyed with the idea of telling him that I didn't have any friends but he was pretty determined. He also asked me if I had ever worked in a pro kitchen to which I spat out (with some venom it has to be said) 'Good God no'. Barely managed to refrain from adding that I would rather pull my own teeth out but he had moved on to the next interrogation. Apparently if I am 'lucky' enough to be selected for an audition I will hear pretty soon. Oh dear. I have never really been a 'lucky' person so the odds are I may yet get the dreaded summons. Really have got to knock this on the head.....

Oh - and a bit of scrapping. Unusually not for any challenge or Design Team, but just for me.

Having 'fun'

Got some layouts up on the SBS blog at the mo, so can pop them on here now:

Also finished my SLYMI week 11 - scrap with fabric, which scared me a bit. Didn't think I was that interested in fabric on a layout, but found some bits I like the look of and (not very imaginatively) used it like paper. Like the effect, and the richness of fabrics so would def do again.

Took Oliver to the Rainbow Fun House yesterday with a friend, which turned out to be a massive indoor soft play area in a converted church - it was a bit surreal, but what a fab idea. Surely God would approve..?

Oliver has been 'off colour' this week and after a day of stuffing sweets (bought by my friend incidentally) and running around, he was writhing in agony clutching his stomach making me panic a bit and rush him up to A&E where it was established he did NOT have the onset of peritonitis, but trapped wind. He is so his mother's son.

Bees DO only have six legs actually....

Yesterday morning I was awoken with the words that every crafty parent dreads; 'can we do some stamping and glittering today?' Obviously the extra half hour doze I'd had worked because I heard myself answering 'yes' in a very reasonable tone. In the event, it wasn't too hideous, but we did embossing instead of glittering (the cat is still wearing a fine coat of it from Christmas) and I even let Oliver use the heatgun without screaming 'mind your bloody fingers!' every two seconds. He seemed happy enough, so felt fully justified in laying down on the sofa afterwards for a little doze in the sun. Fell asleep and awoke with a bright red face and a bad temper. Think I have catnap syndrome.

I have finally finished my 'Spring Cottage' for the swap on UKS. I don't know why I insist on trying to be an altered art diva - it 'ain't happening. Here is the finished thing:

Oliver handed this drawing to me earlier:

It is wonderful and whilst explaining what is happening in the picture (as kids do) he told me that the big stripey insect is a bee coming down to the flower. I asked (with some incredulity it has to be said) how many legs this particular bee had, and he replied, with patience as if talking to a simpleton 'bees do have alot of legs you know'. To which I threw my head back and roared with laughter. He laughed too, especially when I told him that they only have 6, although I think he will spend the summer trying to prove me wrong. I didn't dare question why the person he has drawn has such knobbly knees and no arms at all.