Little Cotton Rabbits

Heartwarming

Thanks so much all of your kind comments on toilet training. Reading about other people's experiences makes me feel better about where we are with it all and I'm happy to think that writing about our experiences here may help others to feel less alone in their own difficult situations. That sharing of ideas and experiences is definitely one of the best things about blogging, thanks so much for being part of that.

It's been a busy few days here full of final trips to the post office, chrismas preparations and most importantly school plays. Amy did so well playing her violin and singing in her school concert - she made us very proud (and a little misty-eyed) but that wasn't the only thing that has brought a tear to my eye this week. I've been so touched by the kindness and generosity of others as the postman has been knocking quite a few times on my door this week!

Firstly there was such a sweet parcel from Kat with a beautiful handmade lace cuff, gorgeous handmade cards and a little magical butterfly for Amy

and then a lovely parcel arrived from Laura at Robson & Mason with ribbons galore, buttons and pins

I was really touched when this parcel arrived from Zoe. The beautifully wrapped package was temptingly squishy and on opening revealed the most gorgeous Posh Yarns (I shall be making a beautiful scarf with these)

And then, as if I wasn't spolit enough already, a large and mysterious box arrived. Having seen the Sweet Nellie return address my fingers couldn't open it fast enough and inside was the very handsome Hershel sent from the incredibly generous and thoughtful Shawn Mary. Of course Hortense is swooning with delight at her new beau and they look so wonderful sat closely together.

Many, many thanks go out to these kind and generous people and to all of you who have sent lovely messages recently. Blogland is a truly lovely place and really does warm your heart.

a bit of shhhhhhhh...

... I'm just taking a little quiet time to make the most of the calm before christmas. Be back soon!

Thrifty finds

I love a good rummage in charity shops and luckily the little town near us has 3 very good ones. It's quite satisfying sifting through everything and maybe once in a while unearthing a few treasures which can be picked up for pennies, leaving enough change for a sticky bun!

I found these the other day and they're still making me smile. A lovely little earthenware jug decorated with roses and some wonderful books from the 1930's. I find old household manuals like this fascinating, stuffed as they are with a peculiar and amusing concoction of advice on cookery, etiquette, family health, gardening and household cleaning. Here are a few excerpts:

Breath tainted by onions - Leaves of parsley, eaten with vinegar, will prevent the disagreeable consequences of eating onions.

Deafness - Take 3 drops of sheep's gall, warm, and drop it into the ear on going to bed. The ear must be thoroughly syringed with warm soap and water in the morning. The gall must be applied for three successive nights. It is only efficacious when the deafness is produced by a cold. The most convenient way of warming the gall is by holding it in a silver spoon over the flame of a candle. The above remedy has been frequently tried with perfect success.

Sewing machine oil has an objectionable way on occasion of falling on white material, Rub the spot with a cloth dipped in ammonia and wash. Clogged oil is a fruitful source of trouble in a sewing machine. It may be dissolved with the application of paraffin oil.

The white of an egg, well beaten with quicklime and a small quantity of very old cheese, forms an excellent substitute for cement, when wanted in a hurry either for broken china or old ornamental glassware.

Uninvited guest. It goes without saying that it is a breech of good breeding for a lady to take an uninvited guest when accepting an invitation at another friend's expense. An offer to pay for the interloper would not right the error of taste.

The writing style makes me smile and conjures up visions of ladies in felt hats, taking afternoon tea and discussing the impropriety of Mrs Fitz-Smythe's youngest daughter. All very Evelyn Waugh-ish, and a lovely snapshot of social history.

neighbourly apples

Another reason why I love this time of year - apples from our neighbours tree (gifted, not scrumped) for an autumnal apple and cinnamon pie. Perfect for warming the cockles after a wet and windy Remembrance Day parade with Amy's Brownie pack.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

PS: scrump, Verb. Brit dialect to steal (apples) from an orchard or garden [variant of scrimp]

back to routine

We've had quite a fun half term break with much excitement at the snow that arrived on wednesday and the spooky goings-on that halloween brought on friday. I'm glad to get back to term-time routines though. I found myself flagging at the end of the week and my good humour drained by the mopping up of too many wee puddles (toilet training for Toby is still very much a work in progress and when I'm able to laugh about it I'll write more about our adventures!)

So it's back to the familiar and comforting routines made all the more fun by walking to school through the fallen leaves in the early morning autumn sunshine.

I do like this time of year!