Saturday, August 1, 2009

The best laid plans of mums and boys...

We'd planned a little daytrip today, as Ben is at his parents' house - just mum and the boys heading out the historic town of Auch, which is holding a Vide Greniers today, with a visit to the cinema to see La-haut! (the film Up!) in the afternoon.But Son 1's evening cough has turned just too grotty and he's been slightly weak and feverish over the last two days, so the trip is not to be. Our priority has got to be getting him fit for our camping trip, beginning on Monday. Thus we've had another day of pottering around at home, getting camping stuff ready, and doing other little things.
I used my new iron for the first time, having knocked the old one off the board (grrrr). The boys think this one is very futuristic, and are most impressed.
I ironed and needed to re-thread this sweet old drawstring bag. It was given to one of the boys as part of the ongoing Babies Need Books project - nice memories for us of our time in North Tyneside. I'm going to use it to store cooking utensils for camping. I tried threading it with this widget which had come in a job lot of sewing equipment from a Vide Greniers, but the space was too narrow - I guess this was for threading elastic in bloomers, given the number of bloomers one sees at VGs!
A bit of other ironing included one of my favourite thrifted pillowcases which has been acting as a cushion cover all summer. See the neat little hole? Apparantly Son 1 gnawed it in a fit of temper! I know you hear all the lovely stuff about them, but make no mistake, they gnaw cushions! (Once and once only, I have to say...)
It seems the perfect place to put Sarah's crocheted flower - covering up a multitude of sins, there - thanks, Sarah!
I've been having a look at this book, borrowed from my mum. A bit high-level for me, but still interesting.
The August edition of Avantages has a craft section dedicated entirely to recup!
I can't decide if I like this way to re-use dull old doillies (obviously I'd never use good ones) or if I hate it. What do you think?
There's also a section on turning old bedding into new, re-using the embroidery on new duvet covers and pillowcases. I think I like this picture best...
The boys have the weekend off from their holiday work. At first I was horrified by the way the French all go for this kind of 'keep your child working over the hols' thing - I don't approve of the equivalents in the UK, preferring to see children doing craft, enjoying outdoor activities and reading, as I know most blogger's offspring are doing in the summer hols. However, I quickly began to see why the French go for structured revision books - we really do have very long holidays, and the educational system is much more based on regular revision of rote learning - woe betide the children who knew it once but have forgotten it! Thus, especially as French is their second language, I do like to see the boys working through these books. Now that they are quite independent in their homework, it also gives me a chance to see how they approach a task, and help them to learn some good working techniques. Ahh, the teacher will out...
The teacher herself has finished 'I Capture the Castle' and loved it! (I stayed up far too late last night to get through it.) If you have not read this book, I seriously recommend it. I loved both One Hundred and One Dalmations and its sequel The Starlight Barking when I was a child, and the author of all three books, Dodie Smith, turns out to be a superb writer from an adult's point of view, too.
And now back to work. The camping stuff is mostly packed, and stored in our spare room, but there are always more things to find, and I can get going on the dry foods and the clothes, although the boys always pack their own now (sometimes leading to nasty surprises on arrival, I have to admit).
This is our spare room at the moment - I'll go and fill it some more.
We will have someone looking after the house, garden and cat when we go off, but this time (and for the first time) Raja will be coming on holiday with us! Wish us luck...

10 comments:

Lululiz said...

Very clever use of that pretty crochet flower from Sarah!

How long are you going camping for? Now you do have mobile broadband, don't you, and you will continue to post daily, won't you??? Ahem.

Have a great time, fingers crossed for excellent weather.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Have a great camping trip. I look forward to hearing all about it on your return

Victoria xx

MelMel said...

Thank you so much for the lovely comment....very nice to meet you on here, welcome to my blog, hope you enjoy reading back on my many happy times.....
I hope you will come back often...
I'll sit now and have a look at your happy blog....

Take care
Melx

Shabby Chick said...

I loved I Capture The Castle as well, I must re-read it again soon.

That crochet flower looks perfect there! A happy accident maybe ;)

Hope your eldest is lots better by Monday xxx

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Not being a knitter myself but seen a bit of it done, I'd say that gadget is a stitch holder. Nice to know it has other uses too though!

Very pleased to see the flower has mended such a beautiful bag and came in useful. I love that fabric.

Hope you son gets well in time and your camping experience is fantastic. Good luck with the weather also!

Thanks for your concerns with my daughter, but she just has an infection on her arm from some eczema. Is that how you spell it? Doubt it! She is a good scratcher.

Mary Poppins said...

What a beautiful Blog you have, we honeymooned in france and have very many happy memories :)

You keep going with the Freecycle thing, it is a wonderful community, I love it, the art of giving and receiving.

I look forward to visiting you again :)

X

Susan from The T-Cozy said...

Love your new iron! Have a great time on your camping trip. Thanks for stopping by the T-Cozy today. Happy Pink Saturday!

Anonymous said...

Hi Floss, enjoy your camping trip, I'm sure you will have a wonderful time.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, I really enjoyed reading it. xxxx

Olga said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Olga said...

Olga said...

After having read the preview this time here comes the second attempt for my comment :D : Get some good rest there, Floss, and of course wishing you the happy family moments! Raja must be so happy to be able to come ;)