The Allotmenting Begins! (by sarah)

So we kind of didn't get to the allotment in Nov, Dec or Jan except to pick up brussels for Christmas. At the weekend we popped down there to a) pay the annual fee and b) to check out exactly what needs doing.

I picked the last of the cabbages and pulled a leek and eyed up a few of the other things that are supposed to still be there and was very please. Yes it is not neatly rotavated like a lot of the other plots but when I think of what it looked like when we took it on!

We also put out boundary string back up and started forming plans 🙂

I am hoping that it will be good weather this coming weekend so that we can spend one or two hours there again as at the very least I want to move my worm juice stock there (the liquid I drain out of the wormeries is basically plant food and good to mix in with the water for some crops).

The drawings we did on the chair have all come off which is no bad thing as it simply means the girls get to do new fresh designs this year 🙂

Yes that's the little dragon from the weekend Symmon - he is coming on outings and being photographed for some Wiggly Pet Blog stories 🙂 Here's a closer shot.

World Poetry Writing Month (by sarah)

Every year I help coordinate a poetry writing challenge called WoPoWriMo or World Poetry Writing Month - in Feb. On the site there are writing exercises and ways to get around being blocked, plus inspirational words from other poets.

There are also reviews and events listings.

If you are a poet or a writer of any kind, then has become a good resource - I know I helped build it but I also use it - alot!

Also for those of you who are local to Gloucestershire, I shall be organising a couple of meets through out the month, were I will bring the stickers and some extra bits along for you all 🙂

For those of you who want to read my actual poetry - then go to Turquoise Monster.

Day 17 – the Queen of the Fairy Godmothers (by sarah)

The queen of the fairy godmothers visited the climbing centre today and told off a very naughty elf who would not share the Chocs and spoke to Father Christmas about all the good children and told stories about a little mouse and enjoyed the crafts very very much.

Also my mum phoned me up to tell me I look like my great out Sylvie, this made me smile - the skirt is made out of head scarves and wraps some of which are my nan and great aunts scarves 🙂

I did discover that cutting out the poetry at the beginning is actually the wrong thing to do as it get the children settled, it was a fab day 🙂

(phone photos)

Day 11 – Advent (by sarah)

This water colour was me trying to catch the the feeling of winter sun rises - though we haven't had snow for the last few winters it is something that had us frequently snowed including one year for the two weeks around Christmas.

I was thinking furrows in the fields etc...

Also not sure if I mentioned what I've been doing for the girls for Advent - I've been taking old graze boxes and covering them in wrapping paper - as in glueing it to the out side and the in side. I then put a craft project in it and decorated the outside with on of my drawings and the corasponding story title.

They both love this idea! I think I also have just enough kids stories ready for it as well 🙂

I also felt a huge sense of relief when the graze boxes decorated for Christmas came through the door so now I am using them instead of having to paper ones myself 🙂

Day 10 – Snowman’s Christmas (by sarah)

I have written the beginnings of a story with this picture and a couple of the others and I plan to have a picture book sorted for at least my family and friends next year 🙂