today's been a day of kids. we had a nice sleep-in, and then got the bead box out to sit around in our pyjamas with coffee (in m case) beading away. I was mostly dismantling old and broken jewellery that's been sitting around for yonks, all good, repaired a few things which was also good, but got some made and got started on the crochet-project. ( Read more... )

I have booked ElderM into a trial yoga class next week. While I was there I noticed that they're running beginners' classes over a fortnight at a time - I was sorely tempted, but the next run is while Himself is doing special training, and of course on the same night, and the one after that is when I'm a single parent. Probably not a good idea to ( Read more... )

Anybody want two kids ( Read more... )

Right. the early part of the plan worked. As in, Himself returned from the hire shop with a sander. He started up at 8.30.

Pretty soon though, things went downhill. The existing varnish on the floor turned out to be that same glue-like substance we had upstairs.  Suddenly the time limit of noon went out the window. So phone calls, and an excursion ( Read more... )

YoungerM has just purchased an aquarium. ElderM has had fish for a while now, and YoungerM decided that she would be happy spending the $79 on a 'learner set' from the petshop. The girls are currently scrubbing rocks and shells from her extensive collection to ornament the tank, and then we'll fill it up and let it stand for a week. The set ( Read more... )

the girls made dinner tonight. sushi. aren't they clever?

So, progress is happening, but it's slow. The dust is insane, it's so fine, and everywhere. At least the Metservice was on crack yesterday, so we got stuff done. I spent a couple of hours in the garden, continuing the cleanup around the side and bottom. I've suddenly cleared quite a large area now available for winter planting - except I have ( Read more... )

This morning's gardening project was to plant another set of broad beans at the bottom, and turn the compost heaps over. The first one is almost finished, when I lifted the cover there were plenty of surprised wrigglers flailing on top. It's nice, black and a little fibrous. But dry. I watered it and covered it up again ( Read more... )

We went to the op shop today on the way to the library. We took six shopping bags of outgrown and otherwise discarded clothes and one of patterns that have been cleaned out of the sewing room ( Read more... )

"Goodnight, mum"
walks towards the steps

THUMP!

THUMP!

silence

...........

No, she was fine. The pile of shopping bags at the bottom of the steps broke her fall. The silence was the shock. She's in bed with a wheat bag on her slightly pulled back. I think I'll have a brandy now.