BIRDS AND THE BEES, MONKEYS IN THE TREES

Well there's not actually any bees in this blog, but I rather liked the title. Anyhoo, these are some of the pictures from the rest of our Summer hols.

Beautiful, majestic and a bit wobbly, this sea eagle at Warwick Castle was just amazing! Apparently they don't reach sexual maturity until they are about five. The Hawker bloke was brilliant, so funny. This was the first time an eagle of this kind had ever flown in the UK. It was wobbling all over the place, as it hadn't flown very much.
Trentham Monkey Forest is worth a visit. You go in where the monkeys live, right up near them. The babies are too cute, the adolescents hilarious and the adults, well, a bit grumpy with the younger ones at times (no change there then). Really beautiful surroundings and some funny squirrels.
Another Monkey in the tree!

Desford Tropical Bird Gardens are just great. Loads of the birds roam free around the gardens. I wish they all did, then the place would be perfect.


There is a part in the gardens where you can get so close to the birds.
Occasionally too close. Jonny got his ear bitten by this one. He also seemed to have a penchant for his necklace and the inside of his t'shirt!

HOMEMADE JAM

My first furore into making jam. Started out with loads of berries (mostly blackberries with some strawberries to sweeten it) and ended up with not very much jam! Definitely needs some tweaking. I think my pan was too big, as I just could not get the temperature up to 220f, however high I turned the gas and for however long I boiled it. I put the lid on in the end and only made it to 215f. I think I boiled most of my jam away, but heh got to start somewhere and it sure tastes yummy!!!

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

Ru went off to his new school yesterday. He has been really looking forward to it. I'm so glad, it makes such a difference to his feelings about his last school. He has had many positive changes happening recently. New school, more pocket money, his own house key, trips to the nearest town on the bus with just him and a friend. He's growing up so quickly!

HURRAH! I'VE FOUND A UK STOCKIST!

At last I can now get Altered Couture and Artful Blogging in Britain. Rather expensive, but I hope it will be worth it. http://www.rainbowsilks.co.uk/ sell them. You can have a subscription and get free post and packing or try single copies with postage. They sell lots of other stuff too!

Poorly Pawed Pooch

Poor Hubert. Took him for a walk and when we got back to the car, I noticed he'd ripped the skin right off the bottom of the main paw pad! Ouch!!

Took him to the vet and he was bandaged up. He is now Hop Along Huey. The vet thought he looked like he had burnt it, as the skin hanging off was completely dead! Can't think how that could have happened other than it being a friction burn from when he chases his ball?? He can't go for a walk for a few days and has to have a plastic bag on his foot when he wants to go in the garden.

Wouldn't want to laugh at his afflictions but he has done some pretty funny things since he had it wrapped up. He was waiting for his tea, sitting there staring at me whilst I was on the phone to my Mum, willing me by psychic eye contact to feed him. He suddenly started waving his poorly paw in the air round and round in windmill motion and then later flapping it out to the side like a penguin.

Ruan seemed to think he needed extra feeding as he had hurt himself. Extra food and no walks doesn't sound the best combination!!

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN THEME WORKSHOPS

Facilitated two workshops based on Ancient Egypt using recycled materials. Boy, did I have to get my brain in gear to plan out some ideas that would work well and quickly using recycled materials. Certainly gets the creatives juices flowing! I was quite pleased with what I came up with in the end and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves.


Here are images of the children's work. I love children's artwork. They look at your idea and then just do it in their own very special way! Usually far more colourfully done as well.

They made Canopic Jars, Egyptian Collars and Shabtis.

SUMMER FLYDRIVE!

My, the summer's gone quickly. We haven't stopped. Just dropped Ru off at the airport with his Aunty Rose. They are off to Spain for the week. He looked a bit worried, but I'll bet he has a great time and gets spoilt rotten!

He's only just come back from France with my side of the family. He had a good time, but said he didn't want to go away without us again. Which is weird really as he spends a lot of time telling us we are boring and cycling off to his friends whenever he can!!!

Anyway, our summer has gone thus: Walking , jumping, climbing and paddling at Bradgate Park wearing my very practical pink boots!?!

Shivering on Skegness front and seeing the extremely cute seals and penguins at the seal sanctuary.

Stealing Nain's slippers in Wales and looking very guilty about it!

Camping in Cornwall.

We've also been down to Essex to look after Buster the dog, down to London to see Rose and Del and too'd and fro'd in Leicester. Still two weeks to go!