Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Day 1 of 30 days wild (we couldn't wait so we started 31st May !!)

Common Blue Butterflies Out

So, we get it...it's 30 days of spontaneous random acts of wildness to back the Wildlife Trusts Campaign that starts the 1st June. However, We have a journey up to Gloucester onwards to Snowdonia planned that day and planning isn't too spontaneous with small children travelling. Sooo.. We started a day early and I took the three boys on half term out in the sunshine to a much-cherished local patch: Speltham Down in Hampshire. We counted butterflies, checked out Elder Flowers, climbed and swung on trees and generally had a great time. Even after the natural playground the boys wanted to go to the small playground in the nearby village of Hambledon. This is small, local and there are no public toilets. Mummy is aware of this so we head over to the lovely pub aka "The Vine" where the boys can go to the toilet and Mummy buys a lime soda to drink in the courtyard garden. Happily this post ends on a butterfly note. You only need to pop into this pub to see Holly Blue butterflies dancing above the holly bush in the courtyard at the moment.



Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Loving our home





Something inspired me to get back to my blog: my six year old son. Last week he told me he'd learnt about the world last week. He couldn't remember which countries though. Today I asked him if he'd learnt about the world. He answered "no mummy ..I've been learning about the deep sea creatures" His face lit up on further questioning "I learnt about the Dumbo Octopus, the blob fish and micros that glow in the dark". So here I am a poor mummy has-been marine biologist who barely has had time to watch Planet Earth or any t.v thanks to baby teething and I'm googling these creatures. To my surprise they really exist they are not just cartoon names. I don't remember learning about them before: I specialised in shorelines. Thank you so much to my son for taking me to the deep sea. I feel so at home now since we returned from Baby Art's first trip across the sea to France. I'm not sure he thought he was ever coming back and to see his little face as he recognised home was wonderful. Here are some photos of mainland  "home" nature. Watching my son's pond dip at Hillier gardens, as excited as me to be shown a newt. Baby Art having a walk in backpack at Bracklesham Bay the weekend before Easter. The Best thing we explored nearest our home: an ancient yew tree near Boarhunt Church where people have sheltered over a thousand years. Home.