A crochet blanket for Ezra

I started this blanket back in January as a project to keep me sane while doing the afternoon homework’s. Having already created one for Mj and Lj, it was Ezra’s turn. It probably should have been a red blanket as ‘red’ is definitely his favourite colour. How an ever I liked this colour combination and had some of the colours in stock to get started.

It is based on Attic 24’s Dalhia pattern.

With home working becoming full time since March, it has been completed quicker than normal and has been a welcome companion while building train tracks, playing kitchen and building duplo.

Ezra’s 4th birthday

Ezra was convinced that all his friends were coming to share his cake. No one could convince him otherwise. But when the day arrived, the distraction of presents to open and new toys to play with seemed to help him forget that all his friends were not coming over!

We did however manage to organise a zoom call with his cousins and grandparents. Who even knew that ‘zoom’ existed two weeks ago?!!

M helping to build a Lego gift!

Cake and ‘Happy Birthday’ on zoom.

A visit to his favourite puddle!

Trying out his new rocket toy.

Completing his pirate treasure hunt with some help from Lj.

March, Lockdown begins

Oh my, what a difference a month makes! I just flicked back in my diary to the start of March when we were blissfully unaware that Corona virus was beginning to circulate. I can’t believe it is less than a month. How life inside and outside the home has changed.

With the sun shining and no where to go, the spring clean begins in ernest.

The table tennis table which was only used as a layout space for me has been dusted off and is in full use again. A UPB, an unexpected pandemic benefit, as my friend has coined.

Our last visit to McDonalds drive thru. The following day, even the drive thru closed. We wondered how we were going to cope, not having somewhere to go on a little trip but it is amazing how we can adapt to change.

Home schooling begins. Lj dressed for her first lesson in a Greek chiton!

Ezra’s nursery teacher is keeping him busy with all sorts of activities to complete. Lj helped him to make a farm for his animals and machinery.

We found a huge puddle we could walk to and play in. With no rain for over a week, it was beginning to dry up and yesterday when we visited it had completely dried up so I think we need to discover a new daily walk route.

Calvin has his own hiding place...I could do with one of my own at times!

Making memories for future days

I once visited an elderly lady in her home. I will never forget the walls of her lounge where she spent almost all of her time unable to get around like she used to. She lived a full life when she was physically able being a missionary with her family in Hong Kong and Singapore. The walls of her lounge were adorned with photos, paintings, prints, fabrics, landscapes and Chinese texts. Even when she was too tired to read, listen or watch and had no visitors to talk to, her heart must have been warmed by all the memories that those images invoked. 

My Granny turned 92 this month and in her words she has had ‘too many birthdays’. Her body is not as strong as it used to be and her memory is letting her down. She loves to travel and was fortunate enough to travel the world with her late husband, when she was physically able. Now when she is too tired to read, listen or watch and has no visitors to talk to she pours over her old photos albums, reliving Kenyan safaris, the Canadian Rockies or the Australian bush. 

Often I fall behind posting photos on my blog and often I wonder if there is any point in doing it at all but I keep going because I can’t help remembering Grace with her memories on the wall or Granny Jean with her memories stored in albums. Memories which their natural, aged minds would have long forgotten are brought back to life and time that passes so slowly for them these days passes quicker as they remember!

So here’s to storing memories of the everyday!

Saturday morning baking

We had a morning of baking. The boys love making and cutting out gingerbread. Lj made brownies for dinner at Nana’s this evening and I made flap jack for this weeks packed lunch. All supervised by a hungry rooster at the window.

February half term

Half term in February in Ireland is probably not the wisest idea. It was wet, windy and cold. It was difficult to keep the little ones busy so we spent a lot of time in soft play. Thankfully we had a weekend away booked at Centre Parcs, Longford and the weather wasn’t quite as bad as we were expecting. Centre Parcs suits us a family so well at the moment, it is relaxed, comfortable, safe and lots for all ages to do.

Train quilt for Filimon

My Mum asked me to create a personalised birthday present for a new baby from Moldova. She wanted it to have a picture of a ride on train which is special to the family. Regrettably I took the last picture before I had completed all the hand stitched stars and then forgot to take a final pic before it was wrapped up and sent off. #alwaysforgetthefinalpic