How to keep a 5 year old busy

 Molly helped mix everything together for soaking the dried fruits, she helped weigh the dry ingredients, tried to zest the lemons and oranges and gave the fruit a good stir.

 

Tuesday was a day of crafting, I got a few packs of air-dry clay in lovely colours, Molly and Will played, then daughter and I joined in. Wills creations are on the left, Mollys are at the bottom, daughters are top right, I made stars to use for hanging, I have some pretty string.

Molly was very good on her sleepover, I did let her stay up later knowing she would be quick to settle, I think we wore her out, she woke just before 8am, after a lazy morning, a walk to the village we did things in the garden. Wednesday was a bright sunny cold day, more importantly dry. Two indoor bulb pots done.

First of my big pots done, this one red and white tulips with snowdrops and daises, which Molly chose from the market. Molly loves her unicorn hat, sadly it's getting a bit small for her, she always wears her gardening gloves. 

Molly was very happy to sleepover, she is constantly on the go, always interested in everything, George had fun with grandma,  daughter took Will to the cinema, she had a long lie in on Wednesday morning, which was a treat for her.

It became very quiet once Molly went home, she had already helped tidy her bed and pack away the remaining craft items, I had purchased a book with loads of templates in, Molly took a couple home as we ran out of time to make them. We spent an hour looking at my blog books, Molly loves to see herself and brothers in the books, we also looked at mummy and daddy's wedding book, she understood she why she was not in it.

Tomorrow is housework day, mainly downstairs, it won't take long, then I hope to do some sewing, later I can read, I've started another good book.

End of October

 A new author to me, I saw this book in a few places with great reviews, from the beginning you know Jo has another agenda, she is focused, the delivery of her secret is brilliant, which leads to a good ending, and like so many great books a final chapter once the story is finished. Book 86 read this year.

Another clever plot, a baby is found, DNA proves the mother is a local woman who disappeared 4 years ago. Chaos follows as the search is on for the mother, old reports are reviewed, people interviewed again, the police have to find her this time. A new author to me, this is the start of another DCI series. Book 86 read this year. 

Sunday was a cold bright day, just one quick storm, still very windy. Will and George were here whilst Molly went to a birthday bash at our local kids soft play venue. We spent the time inside, just to cold to play out, I got them party food for lunch and probably a few too many sweets, neither boy goes to too many parties, so we had treats here..

We changed the two clocks back an hour on Saturday night before bed, the rest reset themselves, our car will be done next time we are out in it, later this week, when it's in a local garage. I lit real candles on Sunday evening, we spent the whole time reading, we are not watching Strickly this year, we may pick it up nearer to Christmas. 

Monday was dull and wet when we got up, Lilly was again inside, she hates the rain as much as we do, I did get some sewing out, just at the cutting out stage, I have had my trusty note book out for a while, working out patterns. I will do a post when finished.

Today we have daughter and children, her car is on a garage recall, Molly is on a sleepover, George is at Grandma's, they popped in collect him from ours, tonight daughter and Will are having an evening together. 

Our house is warm and dry, I have no inclination to go out, we had planned a trip to the huge Asda store, but it's half term, so we can wait until next week, hubby has now given me a suggestion for his main Christmas gift, I have already chosen a new handbag for him to gift me, we do also get another small surprise gift, again this year we are not doing our stockings, they are expensive to fill and way too many edible treats go in them.

Wet, wet, wet

 Oh boy has it rained this week, almost non stop since over night on Sunday, I'm not complaining our gardens and the ground water for our water supplies needs this rain. I emptied this container on Sunday evening. By Wednesday teatime we had 25 ml, Thursday morning almost 30 ml. I've emptied it again to see how much rain we get with the coming storms.

So Austen and Boelo have whizzed through, the garden is quite protected and therefore nothing was damaged, I like a tidy garden so everything was already packed away, the cover came for our outside table, so it's now protected. As for rain, by Friday morning we had 28 ml, and here was the measure on Sunday morning, totalling 40 ml.. The average rainfall for here in Hampshire for October is 76-105 ml.

Just a fat pigeon, not seen the hedgehog for a few nights, Lilly is not out after 10pm, which is very pleasing and means she doesn't come in contact with the scary big black tomcat.

I am not a dahlia lover, I got this one because it reminded me of the bright red pompoms my mum grew in her garden, it is the star plant at the moment, full of blooms and buds.  

Thursday after overnight rain it was blue skies and dry, we had to pop out so we stopped in town for lunch and a quick look in a few shops. I've not done much reading it has been a busy week, and will be busy again over the weekend and into next week.

Friday I slept over at daughters, she had a lovely night out, all three children were so very good, bathtime and bedtime were easy, they each enjoyed one to one time and settled quickly. Will I let stay up later, he went to bed at 9.30pm, again happy. Molly now sleeps later, she woke up just after 7am, George just a bit later, Will stayed in bed much later.

We have had a week at home, no popping out for coffee, daughter was busy on Friday morning, I have had my annual blood test to check cholesterol and diabetes, results should be on my page by Monday. Lilly went back to the vets, she was not happy, the vet checked over her back leg and nothing found, she is walking better. We paid for a dose of flea, worm and parasite treatment, just over £50, with the foxes and rats next door, it's best to keep on top of everything, this treatment will last for 3 months, then we will go back to using the lesser over the counter stuff each month.

New titles

2025 blog book has arrived, I am really pleased with it, it looks the same as my others, just different date and photo's on the cover, in all the years the company Blurb has never changed the size of the book.

Over the years I have created my system to input each post, I do love the top line of every page to be at the same height, I always pop the date at the bottom of each page, the rest is fitting everything on the one page, occasionally on two pages if I have interesting photo's. More information can be seen in this post, which has a couple links to other relevant posts.

I made another book, this one is much easier, most of it is pre-set, just adding names and their cartoon image, it has a few busy pages themed like Where's Wally, they have to find themselves, both adore the Where's Wally books. This is for early December, so they can enjoy the build up to Christmas. After receiving the first book I have created another similar second book, so they have one each.

Will asked for an atlas for Christmas, he is very much like his mum, he loves information, we gave him a child's atlas a few years ago which Molly now reads. This is huge, so many different facts for him. We will pop some more money inside as well.

This was a huge book over 700 pages, I did struggle at the beginning, too many people with glittering careers, all on top of their game, I stuck with it. Not at all my normal read, it was an enjoyable plot, I guessed a few things, I'm not sure if I will read another. Book 85 read this year.

I have very mixed feelings regarding my blog books, looking back over 2026, we have had some standout moments, should I record them. An idea is forming, rather than do another year book, I am thinking I could do one last book which spans over a few years, so instead of almost 200 pages for one year, condense down to 60 to 80 pages each year, putting coming years together making a book the same size as my others. Recording nice moments and not mundane bits and bobs, I suggested this to hubby his reply I knew you would keep going, oh well, he does know me.