Homework

As promised I am showing the results of our Art homework that was set for Thomas over the summer hols. I cant tell you how much “research” and hard work went into it. The original brief was to  construct a sculpture fro any materials he liked of an item of food. Thomas decided that he would like to make an ice-cream

.Not one on a stick

 

 

One in a cone

As you can see the research was thorough and at times tiring but we carried on.

This is what we came up with. T’s in card and paper, mine stitched.

Note the chocolate flake. Nice one Tommy, quite yummy.

All my efforts would not be complete without glitter and I have a thing for cherries at the moment.

 

Homework was never so fun. Thanks teacher!!

Tourists in our own town.

I have just returned from a most pleasant outing with my lovely son!!!! I know, there is something that I don’t often say. Heres another… He really enjoyed himself!!!!!!!!! I mean REALLY enjoyed himself. Wow.

I had decided to write a post in the style of Louise and Alice. They have recently posted about the area in which they live and what they were doing there. Ordinary and at the same time very special. I so enjoyed reading them as they add colour to their personalities that I am coming to know.

To that end I informed the young ‘un that we WERE going for a picnic and a stroll. So off we set with table and chairs, butties and fruit (which has come back incidentally!)

We parked by the river and walked along it a bit.

 

Many of the houses are built into the rock.

Tere is a huge viaduct that the train goes over to Harrogate.

 

Cool willows

Then we climbed the rock,

For the wonderful view.

 

To get to Knaresborough castle

It was market day so we had a mooch around.

 

This is a statue of blind Jack o’ Knaresborough, who despite his disability is famed for building roads around here.

 

Many of the houses have black and white check patterns on them which I have no idea of the significance of although it may be something to do with another famous resident of the town was the Hag (witch) Mother Shipton. She lived in a cave and Made predictions about the future

Carriages without horses shall go,
And accidents fill the world with woe.
Around the world thoughts shall fly
In the twinkling of an eye.
The world upside down shall be
And gold be found at the root of a tree.
Through hills man shall ride,
And no horse be at his side.
Under water men shall walk,
Shall ride, shall sleep, shall talk.
In the air men shall be seen,
In white, in black, in green;
Iron in the water shall float,
As easily as a wooden boat.
Gold shall be found and shown
In a land that's now not known.
Fire and water shall wonders do,
England shall at last admit a foe.
The world to an end shall come,
In eighteen hundred and eighty one.

After all that we picnicked next to the river and I played hooky while T read Marvel comic books. Ahh bliss

 

We are having a break now before we start on his art homework project. I will show you that next because I have had a go at it too. The research for this project has involved lots of this.

Biggus stickus (say it quickly and don’t tell the children why you are laughing)

I went to York on Saturday as my lovely son had decided that his long hair needed cutting. “No no “ I said “Long hair is cool” Do you see the crazy parent logic working there? Reverse psychology or some such. Anyway there we were in York, we go often as its not far and we know it well as we lived there for 6 years when we were first married . I went to see the newly reopened wool shop on the shambles, its well worth a visit and you can combine an educational, historical visit with a “hey waddaya know there's a wool shop”  I bought this……………….

OMG as the kids say!!! I told the woman in the shop that I didn’t have a clue what to do with it but I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT . Its a beast!!!!

As you can see I tried with it. I think I made a fishing net.

While there the lady in the shop was explaining that she was involved in a fundraising activity for cancer research uk. A group of gals were trying to get people to knit 2832 scarves, enough to go around the city walls of York, these will then be auctioned or sold in the wool shop. I went and met the ladies doing just that and what a lovely bunch. Needless to say I have started a scarf and if any of you feel that its something you could squeeze into your day then I’d love it if we could do this together. Here is the blurb…

Hi Knit a scarf and "Join in the fight for women's survival" We need 2832 scarves ready to wrap around the 2.5miles of the York wall by Sunday 21st November 2010. Help by knitting a scarf (15cm by 150cm long) in any shade of pink or colour or design. The scarves will then be sold to raise money for Cancer research UK's research into breast cancer. Or you can donate money on this page to help the RAW Team to achieve their target We will be taking our knitting around the world with us including Mount Snowdon, India and around the world so come on can you help me! Yes you can! Thank you so much Love and hugs Rachel Speight RAW Team xxxxxx

They do need to be dropped off at The wool shop Ramshambles and I can see that being a logistical prob. Let me know if you want to and I will work something out. It would be an excellent task for a bored child during the hols…. just a thought….

The Chilli Post (one of the ones I tried to post while on holiday)

Now I am not a fan of spicy food. (Audible gasp from readers) I do however have  thing for the fiery little devils and this year grew some plants. Now that they are going red I think that they look like Christmas tree lights. They are so pretty. Well you may be asking, what will I do with them all given my wimpy taste buds. Well I have high hopes of drying them into a garland which will “look good” in the kitchen.

I already have these……

I do like to eat chilli however, this is my fave recipe.I used braising steak and cooked it for 3 hours @ 130oC Yummy it’s more fragrant than hot.  chilli con carne

Anyway here is the beast at the start of cooking along with the recipe. Well Yesterday I harvested my festive chillies and tasted one to see if it was ok. First lick was ok ,tentative nibble revealed sweetness, cocky bite nearly blew my head off. Oh dear. Anyway the garland looks pretty in the kitchen.

Oh poo

Hello friends and thank you for the messages as I have been absent. Just away on hols, no drama. I had scheduled 2 posts for while I was away but I now know that my computer needed to be switched on for them to have gone live. Such is my ignorance I am afraid. I intend to share them anyway over the next few days while I wade throughout the mountain of laundry plus a few details re the holiday in Ibiza (definitely not clubbing)