Week One

This is week one of the holidays for us. OK I am a bit previous because technically it is the eve of the first week. Maybe that indicates what a challenge this has been. It is always the same. Day one you think horray, then something happens and you think huh? then Day two and it's a complete disaster and you think, is it me? and then Day three you realize that, no it isn't you and freedom is over as you know it for the next 3 months and two that the kids need to acclimate to the new regime, in this case, Mum!

 

Now don't get me wrong, I love my children very much and they are wonderful but changing gear is hard for all concerned. I think we are through the initial teething and onto, 'yes I know you are bored but...........'. Actually Isaac has a stack of books to read and Louie has almost finished his summer reading already!

 

It is funny though to have this complete change if gear but I think it is safe to say that all of us need some occupation! (as I type this Louie is using his rail ticket punch repeatedly, which is a surprisingly annoying activity as the punch could do with some wd40! and now he is onto tap dancing and now onto singing..........ah he has stopped and now is reading....he is actually waiting for me to read to him, currently we are onto Bill Bryson although Lou does laugh hysterically when this is read to him, it might not calm this giddy kipper down! for sleep..........)

 

Talking of occupation, I have started on the project promised to boys, the Dr Who scarves. This is for Christmas presents but as it is a number of years since I have been knitting, this could take a while, for me to do two of them, so I decided that I would begin this in the summer holidays. What I have learned from this project so far, is that I need glasses! Not too dire, just a small prescription but enough that I notice I need them and they are on their way as we speak. Need to see! But here is scarf number one, so far

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Isaac is very excited about the scarf knitting and just grins like a maniac every time he sees me knitting! I suppose this isn't bad progress for two days of knitting...........

 

Now onto a more random subject. As I was winding down for the summer I happened to be strolling in the garden and looking at the Beech Tree. I noticed with some alarm that it is oozing.........agh not more tree problems!!!!!!!. It really doesn't look nice at all, so I decided that I would email dear George.

 

Dear George is George Hudler from Cornell University who studied Beech Trees for 10 years with the advent of sudden die back appearing in them and effectively killing so many of them. His study has been so helpful and has  actually found ways to halt the disease and save many, many trees. (Amazing what the net can give you!) So when I first noticed that our lovely Beech planted 1876, looked like it had sudden die back, I contacted George and he gave me invaluable information on what to do, mostly he was a voice of reason and calm and practical advice (that for the record, seems to be working).

 

When I saw the oozing, I again contacted him and he told me that this was quite normal for this time of year, sap is at it's highest flow and that the tree probably sustained cracks from Hurricane Sandy. These cracks are very small and the flow will slow and maybe even stop altogether, as we go into a hotter drier season. So phewee for the Beech and we just continue to watch her. Dear George we do love you!!!! What I love about this is that he has taken the time to explain it to me every stage, that I come across and is never too busy to respond and he often does it straight away. Really nice I'd say! I am certainly learning about trees, completely fascinating!!

 

On an even more random note, there really isn't anything as queer as folk. (This is a UK saying and not about sexual orientation but about how strange people are!). So the other week I dyed my hair and you saw some of the results and heard the stories. Well the upshot is that it lasted all of a week and 5 days! It was meant to last longer. Obviously I have Teflon hair and coloring it, isn't for me or rather it! So now I am back to how I was, just rakishly short hair and groovy minus any color around the sides and mixture of grey/white/dark on top. Since the dying incident, I have been complimented on my hair and how I have managed to dye it grey/white and sort of darkish! (too dumb founded to respond to that one) Wow is my reply this is just natural, to the commenters surprise and amazement. Then I am treated to a long explanation of how they would never let the dye out of their hair, well not at least until they are 70! But it's fine on me as it is SO white not a yucky grey........herm I think that is a compliment. Then there are those that didn't comment on the blue hair but now that it is not blue any more, they are disappointed that I have stopped coloring it, as they liked it better! See what I mean about folk? What's that my dad says "you can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people, all of the time........................" It is astounding that hair can be such a talking point!

 

I wonder what fantastic delights week two has in stall for me! I'm sure you can't wait to hear about it all.........I might even leave the children in a daring manner and let their Dad find entertainment for them. Oh the joys of summer, how can we stand it.!