The green goblin

IMG_1008It’s been a few weeks since POD was let loose with anything really messy. The temptation to smother my plaster cast in paint for example would have proved too great.

Today is the most beautifully sunny day, there’s barely a cloud in the sky. The POD Father is busy coating the recently purchased playhouse and our toddler is itching for outdoor entertainment. It’s time to get the paints out.

It’s the best thing in the world watching POD get stuck into something, I love to see her facial expressions. Whether it’s running around the garden or exploring nearby farms and woodland.

IMG_1030She loves the wind blowing in her hair when she’s on her swing, flying backwards down her slide or making pretend food for her dollies in her wooden house.

POD adores getting creative. She nearly exploded with excitement when she was presented with an old sheet, paper and a selection of paints. We toyed with leaf painting but she wanted to decorate a foot first. She takes painting very seriously as you’ll see from the concentrated look on her face.

Having taken a short break painting on paper, her focus was firmly back on painting the other foot.

Poppy & JPD painting FINALWhen POD had finished painting her feet green we chased each other round the garden. We dived in her tent. She swung on her swing – at times she looked like she was in the sky. This from a toddler who was so apprehensive of baby swings until very recently.

Our little green goblin then insisted she help Daddy coat her playhouse.

We love discovering the best places to visit in Surrey but there’s something brilliant about getting creative in your own back garden.

We’re linking this post up with Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse and Country Kids at Coombe Mill. If you have a special moment you’d like to share, click on the badge below.


Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Pigs, goats and ice-cream

IMG_1367Bank Holiday Monday saw the Doves venture to the Surrey County Show. Held annually at Stoke Park, it attracts around 40,00 visitors and offers 40 acres of shopping and crafts. It’s a fantastic family event and the largest one-day agricultural show in the country.

We’ve been once since we moved to Surrey. It poured with rain but I have fond memories of sampling delicious sausages, delectable cheese and chomping on chips. We’d returned home with a whole host of goodies including the obligatory cake.

There were enormous queues to get in this year but it was a beautifully sunny day. We know to order our IMG_1234tickets in advance next time.

Once in we saw the monster trucks including Big Pete, the World’s only real monster truck, and the Grim Reaper which jumps an impressive 15ft in the air. We then explored the shopping malls which comprised of 350 trade stands selling everything from tractors to wellies to garden furniture.

POD got to experience a trampoline for the first time. She’s not quite mastered keeping her feet together when she jumps but she enjoyed bouncing up and down all the same.

IMG_1260On the roundabout her curious face was replaced with smiles of pure joy when the ride started. Much to everyone’s amusement, she shouted “hello” and grinned every time she went round.

The Surrey County Show is infamous for attracting top quality animals from all over the South East. There were cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry on display. Horses are also a big part of the show as is Grand Prix show jumping.

We enjoyed a delicious ice-cream before POD was let loose on the local fire brigade. She enjoyed sitting in the front of a fire engine before raiding all the paperwork in a nearby fire truck.

IMG_1389In the food hall we were tempted by an array of delights including cheese, meat and cakes. Master chefs shared their expertise in the food theatre and a farmer’s market showcased ingredients for home cooking. We *might have* sampled some toffee vodka before we left. Necessary fuel for our walk home I think you’ll agree.

We’re linking this post up to Country Kids over at Coombe Mill. If you have a post to share, click on the badge below.

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

 

Saturday is caption day!

On one of the gorgeously sunny days we had recently, we decided we’d get creative outdoors. This is POD aged two years and five months let loose with paint.

Can you caption the photo of her?

 

How does your garden grow?

IMG_0830It’s been a bit emotional in the Dove garden this week – in a good way though. POD’s belated birthday present arrived. With help from family we got her a playhouse on legs with steps on one side and a slide on the other. It also has a swing. She was two on Christmas Day so we postponed giving it to her until now. It stands where our beloved willow tree used to be and POD loves it.

We made the decision to rip up some decking at the weekend. We have three decked areas – one of which is lethal when it’s wet. I slipped and broke both my wrist bones on it 18 months ago. Having had surgery for the second time a few weeks ago, I was pleased to see it demolished. We were hoping to discover Victorian gems beneath the decking but it wasn’t to be.

IMG_1415Over the coming weeks we’ll pave or gravel the area. It’s shady and just outside the back door so ideal for breakfast when it’s warm.

It’s been a funny week weather wise as you’ll see from the slideshow. The glorious sunshine resulted in POD sitting outside and painting her feet green while The POD Father coated her new house with Cuprinol. When the heavens opened, POD paid a fleeting visit to her house and I took some photographs.

The Fuchsia has taken a bit of a battering recently as POD keeps popping the unopened buds. I have to admit I did the same when I was younger. The temptation is too great – a bit like sticking your finger in a Venus Fly IMG_1420Trap or squeezing bubble wrap.

The pot plants are coming along nicely and I hope the Iris will flower this year. Buds are appearing in the other pot plants and the daisies are looking perkier than they did.

Around the garden the Rhododendron is looking glorious and our bay tree is sprouting. I even spotted a snail on an unnamed shrub when it was wet. The Magnolia tree is showing signs of life as is the Acer. A pile of logs at the bottom of the garden has been invaded by Goose Grass, and a few tree branches with Ivy, so there’s some work to do.

IMG_1402Out front we now have a hanging basket of Petunia’s which has added some much needed colour. You can’t see much of the front garden as we’re the corner plot of an L-shaped road. The green we overlook was used by a resident’s theatrical group the other day. That’s something we never saw when we lived in South London!

We’re linking this post up with How does your garden grow? over at Mammasaurus. If you have a garden post to share, click on the badge below.

A special surprise

IMG_0881POD’s second birthday was on Christmas Day. We decided to do something different and postpone the main present giving.

Through the generous help of family we were able to purchase a playhouse for her. With December not the ideal time for outdoor play, we decided to surprise her when the weather improved.

That way she could enjoy her playhouse rather than gaze at it through the window.

The playhouse comprises of a house on stilts with steps leading up to it on one side and a slide on the other. There’s also a swing attached. Perfect for a toddler obsessed with climbing.

IMG_0813The plan was for the playhouse to be installed while POD was at nursery. The idea being she didn’t see it until the next day when she’d be able to play on it for as long as she liked. It didn’t quite go to plan. The two chaps installing it were still beavering away when she returned from nursery.

The obligatory “hello man” was shortly followed by “look anodder man” and “what’s man doing?”. I’d love to say POD waited patiently for it to be finished but like any toddler she was itching to be set free. Once the house was stable she was off.

Here is a short video of POD exploring her playhouse for the first time.

IMG_0758The following day POD was up the steps, in the house, down the slide, up the steps, in the house and down the steps. This was accompanied with cries of “Not Mummy Daddy house, my house”. We altered the big girl swing so she could sit on it herself and she’s adapted to it like a duck to water.

An old Habitat rug was put in the house along with cushions, a blanket, a chair and her wooden kitchen. She’s spent ages in there with her dollies, serving them plastic onion and courgette. Every now and again she’d come out, say “I come out of my house” before disappearing with “I go in my house”.

Initially POD tried to brain herself jumping off the swing when it was still moving but she’s got the hang of it IMG_0738now. Even asking Daddy to push her really high – so much so it almost looks like she’s in the sky. She has the most infectious giggle when she’s on the swing, I love hearing her laugh like that.

She’s already climbing the steps of the playhouse at great speed and finding different ways to go down the slide; like backwards on her tummy. Napping in the new house has proved fruitless despite the hopeful signs “I need a sleep Mummy, put blanket on”.

POD absolutely loves her new playhouse, she wants to be outside all the time now – even when it’s raining. She came close to squealing when she first saw it she was so excited. Such an amazing moment – no doubt there will IMG_0734be many more to come.

We’re linking this post up with Country Kids at Coombe Mill and Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse. Click on the badges below to find out more.

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Shoulder to Shoulder to Day

Most of you are aware the blogging community is doing a major blog hop from 22nd May to 23rd June to help cheer up fellow blogger Emma Day. Emma blogs at Crazy with Twins and has just undergone a particularly high dose of internal radiotherapy.

She was discharged from isolation on Friday and she’s back home but she cannot go within 1-2 metres of another human being. The estimated dates she’s working to for family cuddles are 5th June (her husband Jon), 11th June (her six-year-old) and 16th June (her one-year-old twins).

Emma’s positive attitude and sense of humour have been an inspiration to many. As well as the support of the blogging community, her story has already attracted a wealth of media attention thanks to Sarah at Mum of Three World. Emma’s been on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, BBC1 Points West News on the TV and she’ll be in the Gloucestershire Echo early next week. You can read all about it in this post on Emma’s blog.

You may not know this but Emma has a list of 30 ambitions she’d like to fulfill before she reaches her 30th birthday. You’ll see from the list below she’s already tried water ski-ing/wakeboarding, completed a first aid course and attended a blogging event.

I thought it would be a nice idea to revisit Emma’s list to see if there was anything else she could cross off. As it happens there is. So far Emma has raised over £400 for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life (you can sponsor her here). She’s a finalist in the MAD Blog Awards and in the BiB Awards. She’s also completed payment plans for two of her long standing store cards.

It may come to nothing but I decided to contact a few brands to see if they could help with Emma’s ’30 before 30′ list. For the ballet and an opera; The Royal Opera House, for flying in a hot air balloon; Virgin Balloons, for going ape; Go Ape, for zorbing; Red Letter Days and for afternoon tea at The Ritz; The Ritz.

1) Watch a famous ballet
2) Go to an opera
3) Raise a substantial amount for charity
4) Buy a house
5) Try Water Skiing / Wakeboarding 
6) See the Northern Lights
7) Do a first aid course
8) Learn Greek
9) Fly in a hot air balloon
10) Go paintballing
11) Go Ape (the treetop assault course)
12) Take up some form of dancing
13) Do a cake decorating course
14) Go to a blogging event
15) Walk the entire Cotswold Way (102 miles)
16) Get nominated for a Blog Award
17) Try indoor skydiving
18) Go Sphereing and/or zorbing
19) Go to the races as a customer with a full hospitality package!
20) Clear all my debts
21) Improve my credit rating from poor to excellent
22) Go on a cruise
23) Get my poetry published
24) Go to Turkey & have a Turkish Bath
25) Start my own business
26) Take the family to Disneyworld Florida
27) Go to Italy by train
28) Have afternoon tea at The Ritz
29) Go to the Moulin Rouge for dinner and show
30) Visit Las Vegas, Canada, California & cross America by train

I’ll update you when/if I receive any feedback from the brands I contacted. In the meantime, whatever the outcome, I thought now was as good a time as any to highlight Emma’s ambitions. She’s not thirty until February 2016 so there’s a bit of time before she wants to have ticked everything off.

If you have an inspirational or amusing post you’d like to share with Emma, you can add it to the Shoulder to Shoulder to Day blog hop by clicking on the link below. Please use the hashtag #S2S2D and include @crazywithtwins in any tweets. Tomorrow I’ll be passing the host baton over to Vicky at Verily, Victoria Vocalises.

The Next Chapter

Many of you know I’ve had an arm in plaster these past weeks. Two surgeons made a new wrist joint in my arm. This involved inserting more metal in the wrist I broke 18 months ago so it no longer moves. Then removing some bone from my arm to form a new wrist joint. It’s a clever procedure and I hope in time it will make me bionic.

On Monday, my plaster was removed with a saw. The cast was taken off so fast I didn’t dare move. Or breathe. It was amazing to see my arm again despite its withered appearance and funny looking scar. The lengthy wait in x-ray afterwards resulted in unintentionally leaving a sea of dry skin that resembled red fish food everywhere.

After visiting my surgeon, I was able to give my hand and arm a good scrub. With soap. For the first time in 6 weeks. It felt weird as my wrist isn’t working properly yet but truly wonderful. The following morning I was able to have a shower without wearing a plastic sleeve. Amazing. I stayed there until I resembled a human prune.

Today I have forced my wrist over so I can type two-handed. I *might* be over compensating with my shoulder slightly. Being able to touch type when you’ve made do with two fingers is brilliant.

The last slice of joy comes courtesy of our toddler. Having had various uses for her potty over these past months, she has finally used it as it was intended. Some of you may have read in The Potty Nest post, she said ‘thank you your Majesty’ when I flushed her gubbins down the toilet!

We’re linking this post up with Mummy from the Heart. If you have some reasons to be cheerful this week, click on the badge below or upload your post to the Linky.

Reasons to be Cheerful at Mummy from the Heart

Click here to enter your #R2BC post and view the Linky Tools list…

Designing the perfect family garden

Planning your family garden can be a rewarding experience. The space once used for the occasional alfresco sausage can be transformed into a playground full of opportunities to explore and experience Mother Nature. Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Smaller gardens require more creativity, but as a rule of thumb there are key elements that make up the ideal family space.

The play area

Consider if there’s room for a trampoline, swing or slide. Storage areas can hide away clutter. Alternatives to a shed might be garden seat storage or under your decking. Create a play area in the shade, from a canopy or an umbrella.

It’s great to make space for ride-ons and push along toys – POD loves her pretend lawnmower. She also loves to dive in and out of her pop-up tent – an economical way to provide children with their own space.

Colour

Create a splash of colour, family gardens thrive on primary colours. This could be with plants and flowers or by painting walls or trelliswork. Incorporating stepping stones with letters or numbers works really well.

Plants and flowers

Great plants for a family garden include buddleia, which attract butterflies, one of POD’s favourites who are always greeted with a shriek of “butt-fly!” Stachys lanata (lamb’s ears) have soft leaves and Rosa ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’, a strongly scented thornless rose.

Children are fascinated by the growing process. Vegetables, like lettuce and beans, as well as sunflowers and nasturtiums are all great examples they can watch flourish. Some flowers and plants are harmless unless digested so it’s worthwhile checking before you buy. Teach your children not to put plants or flowers in their mouth.

The dining area

Make the most of the opportunity to dine outside. If you have a patio or decked area, choose furniture you can leave outside such as synthetic rattan wood or metal.

Outdoor lighting adds to the ambiance on a long summer’s night and allows you to enjoy the not so light evenings that little bit longer, I found a great selection here. With so many barbecue options available these days there’s surely one for all spaces and budgets.

Your ultimate goal is to create a safe and fun environment. POD adores being in our garden, playing, spotting insects and birds or helping to water the flowers. We’ve managed to create a space that allows us all to enjoy being together outside at every available opportunity.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for which I was compensated.
All views expressed are my own.