Disappearing girls, and the sorry shin saga continues...

A's friend 'E' arrived on Friday :-)
We met her at the train station, then I took the two girls, along with another of A's friends to see the new Harry Potter film, which we all enjoyed.

This is the cake A made as a welcome for E

The girls seem to be having a great time, and as the week goes on I'm seeing less and less of them. The weather was good for a couple of days, so off they went on the bikes down to the beach, or the park. Its not so nice now, but they still seem keen to get out of the house. They reappear every so often for an outfit change (!) then they're off again. I'm really pleased, particularly that they're not spending much time on the computer. I do feel a bit redundant though!

These two have known each other since they were 4, but haven't seen much of each other since E moved away a few years back - its so lovely to see that their friendship has remained strong despite the time and distance apart. Its also interesting to see them together as almost-teens, all my memories of them together (and they used to spend LOTS of time together, as E's Mum is a great friend of mine) are of little girls playing. They don't 'play' any more. They both seem much older than they are, although there is the odd hint of the little girls they used to be :-)

This is the state of the bedroom at the moment

I have been trying to use the time and space they have given me to do something constructive, ie some clearing out. Yesterday I decided to start on the HE 'stuff' - all the 'evidence' I've kept of A's education, waiting for the day when someone wants to check up on us. Tempting as it was to chuck the lot, there are far too many wonderful memories amongst it all, so I went through it all and filed a lot of it away to keep. Quite an emotional afternoon!

Some of the treasures I found:

• lots of amazing art work - I have a whole box of sketches and paintings




• sheets and sheets of maths work - many with "I hate maths" scrawled somewhere on the page!




• a flow chart entitled 'Why its not my fault' - I want to frame this, such a brilliant example of A's creative logic




• the script of a comedy sketch we wrote together - brought back memories of trying to record it, we had to do loads of takes as we were laughing so much




• many poems and stories - some about herself and her early childhood which were quite sad, amazing insight into very complicated adult situations




• A's hilarious approach to writing up science experiments




• several home-made magazines, focusing on popular culture/fashion/make-up (or rather "mack-up")

I'm so aware that a lot of the child-like aspects of A's character are disappearing now, or transforming, and I feel going to school will just push her that bit further down that road. They are all struggling so hard to be more grown up. Its inevitable, and in some ways very positive as she's becoming a lovely young woman rather than a lovely child (not biased at all ;-)) but for a parent it does evoke mournful feelings too.

So, shins.
Went for my second excruciating session with the sports physio today. She thinks I might benefit from special insoles for my trainers, apparently I may have a slight pronation that wasn't picked up when I went for my shoe fitting. I'm feeling more and more despondent about the whole thing. Its costing me money and causing me pain. I went for a very gentle, very short run this morning, and while my shins weren't too bad I feel like I'm back to square one with my fitness level and stamina. I just ran round a field a couple of times (alternate run-walking) and I felt like I was going to die. Is it worth it I am asking myself?! Somewhere in my memory is that great feeling I got from a good run when I felt I was progressing, I need to find that.

More drama, sore shins, and zombie cupcakes!

Thats drama as in performances - not real life ;-)

Tuesday was end of term for A's Inverness drama class, with a 15 min show for parents. I really enjoyed this one - the humour was quite dark, with some quirky little touches. But A has decided not to go back after the summer. She's enjoyed the class in some ways, but I think she feels a bit old for it - its for 9 -12 yr olds, and is mostly 9 and 10 yr olds. The other drama group she's in is for 12 - 16 yr olds and she fits in much more easily and happily there. She did ask if she could go up to the older group but was told she'd have to wait until she's 13, so that means 2 more terms in the younger group.
On Wednesday we went to see one of our HE friends perform with her musical theatre group, which was lots of fun. I was amazed at how tight the performances were, the kids must have worked really hard.
And on Thursday A went to see a drama show at the school she'll be going to, which some of her friends were in. She said she enjoyed it and may join that group (which would make up for leaving the Inverness group!)

I didn't go to the show at the school, as it was my first night at the running club. There was a woman I know in the beginners group, which made it easier as we ran together. I really enjoyed running with a group, more than I thought I would. It was great having someone else to time keep, and I felt it was just the right level for me. BUT - my shins started hurting again after the run, and are feeling really sore today - AAAARRGGH!!! This is SO frustrating! This is what happened before - just when I started getting somewhere and increasing my running times the shins flared up. I'm feeling very despondent about it, as all I want to do is get out there and RUN! But all the advice about shin splints says "stop running" :-( I'm thinking about going to see a sports physio I know, maybe she will be able to help.

I've not heard about the job yet. I phoned to check and apparently there is a backlog, so I just have to be patient...

Thought I should put some photos in to brighten up this post, so here you go:

I'm very pleased with how my fruit is coming on, although I did chase a blackbird away from my blackcurrants earlier, so will have to pick them soon I think!

We had a shopping trip today, and along with all the school-related items I bought (this school malarky is proving expensive!!) we found this wonderful book - combining my love of cake and horror - perfect :D It contains such marvels as:

Shattered Glass

Blood-stained Brains

And my personal favourite -

Bleeding Hearts

YUM!!!!

Hecticness

I don't know if that is even a real word, but it sums up life round here lately!

There were more celebrations for A, and of course - more cake:

All went extremely well, the sleepover was very chilled, and it was nice that I had a friend here to hang out with too. The only annoying bit was the ice-rink inexplicably closing an hour early, so the girls only got about 20 minutes on the ice, but even that didn't seem to bother them too much (it bothered me - I had paid for them all!!)

It was great for both me and A to reconnect with our friends who came up from Glespin, we don't see them very often but they are important people to us. They ended up staying until Monday because of car problems, so we got them for an extra day :-)

Then, it was my birthday! A much quieter affair for me, we were booked to go to the ballet with the HE group on the actual day, so that worked out well. It was Cinderella, which we hadn't seen before, the set and costumes were pretty wild! At the pre-show talk we went to there was mention of influences from Andy Warhol and Vivienne Westwood, all very colourful and glamorous.

We seem to be doing loads of activities at the moment - A has started a new drama class at the big theatre in Inverness (as well as still going to the local one), and is keeping up with Guides, writing group, ice skating and guitar lessons. While I am continuing with Italian class and pilates, and have taken up Bhangra dancing and boxercise! Its all very exhausting, but in a good way ;-)

Our new HE schedule kind of went by the wayside for about a week, while all the celebrations were going on/being prepared for, but we are back on track with it all now. Granny has been away so A has had to put up with me ignoring her on my work days, which has been fine really. I give her an idea of what I'd like her to work on for the day (mostly stuff she has already chosen as areas of interest) and she gets on with it.

We found this fabulous book - well actually the librarian found it for us and ordered it in - as A had said she wanted to look at the different states in America. The book is so good we have decided to just work through it, covering American history/geography/politics/culture. We've also been playing this game to try and learn where the states are.

Something else we're quite taken with is the Brian Cox series 'Wonders of the Solar System', I had recorded this when it was on TV last year and we've just got around to watching it. Brilliant programme, we are big fans!

Happy Birthday!!

A is now 12 years old! This is the cake we made - chocolate sponge with fudgy frosting, mmmmm.

After opening of presents we went off to the cinema this morning to see Animals United, which was ok - some funny moments. We then went into town for a bit of shopping, including a new hat for A :-) she has quite a collection of hats now, definitely a hat girl.

Altogether a lovely chilled day together. A is gearing up for some proper celebrations next weekend, when our friends arrive from Glespin. She'll be going ice skating with a couple of mates then having a sleepover with them back here. She'll also be getting her hair specially done for the occasion, with some pink streaks, very exciting!!

Happy Easter!

- not that we celebrate Easter, but A will shamelessly feign enthusiasm for any religious festival if it involves chocolate.

I made these gorgeous looking cupcakes in honour of A's lovely mad Auntie and her equally lovely (but less mad) partner who are visiting us later today. I still haven't decided whether or not to have one myself as I am currently on a diet (how sad am I?). There will probably be bullying and arm twisting, I don't think it will take much.

I am - most definitely - back

OK, enough with the blog break. It didn't work. Even if no one reads it or wants to know what I think or what we're doing, I have to blog.

I have been motivated today, by some positive news on the work front, to give myself a good kick up the arse and stop being so lazy. I cant use the 'not enough time' line as an excuse - there is NEVER enough time to do everything I want to, thats how my life is. Truth is, I like blogging, I enjoy it, and I've missed it.

I think there may be changes in the way I blog, it has evolved along the way in any case, its bound to. I'm toying with ideas about changing the name and how it looks, but am not sure yet. I think a slight change in perspective may occur, posting more about me and work, but then my life is still predominantly about parent/home ed stuff, so not that much of a change perhaps.

I am going to try to be more honest here. I think I've held back on a lot of issues because I'm not sure who's reading and don't want to upset anyone. A bit ridiculous really, why should I care? Its my blog.

Anyway, here is a little update on some of the things we've been up to:

• went to the science festival at a local college with our HE group. A bit stressful for me as I had been the contact for the group, so lots of emailing to and fro, but all went well on the day and we learnt about volcanoes, made solar power models with K'nex, and met lots of creepy crawlies.

• went for a loooong bike ride in the sunshine.

• watched and discussed a programme called 'American Hate' about the Black Panthers - their history, and the current 'new' Black Panthers. We're going to watch the second part, about the Ku Klux Klan, sometime soon.

• A wrote a letter and drew a picture to send to the African child her Granny is sponsoring

• A created some more fashion designs for her label

• We discussed and researched setting up our own shop on Folksy - watch this space!!

• Talked to Nonno and Nonna about our plans for Italy next year - they are taking us to meet some of A's family out there.

• Lots of maths, English, piano, drama, art, singing, laughing, eating of cake....I could go on...

OH NO!!

Received this in my viva parcel yesterday:


I can see that my new year weight-loss plan (for when I've finished all the chocolate I've ordered in for Christmas!) is just not going to happen!!!

Happy Birthday Dad

My Dad would have been 72 today, so here are a couple of pics of the lovely man.


Above: very young and handsome looking - possibly in the '60s (before my time anyway). Cant believe those sandals, what were you thinking Dad!?!

Below: having a drink and a laugh, how I like to remember him :0)

We are going to mark the occasion by - can you guess?? Yes - baking a big cake! How predictable we are.

There are a couple of things going on just now which are a bit too personal to blog about, for now anyway, so I may be a bit quiet for a while as they are taking up much of my headspace.

Baking

We had a baking session on Saturday (after a loooong lie-in!) and made these beauties, both recipes taken from my VeggieHealth magazine. We used strawberry soya yoghurt in the vanilla sponge as we couldn't get hold of any plain, delicious.

A went for dinner at my aunt and uncle's, with Granny and her friend on Saturday evening, while I went off to the pub as my friend up from Lanarkshire was singing there.

Sunday was very chilled, spent at Granny's: a bit of badminton, lots of tea and cake :0)

We are now having a happy Monday, various Maths & English type stuff went on this morning, and A has spent the afternoon creating fairy personas, inspired by Fae magazine, which I bought for her recently. I have lots of beautiful photos, but she has asked me not to blog them. Fairy-nuff.

A foodie post

Mmmmm...
A vegan version of millionaire's shortbread, heaven. We had a lot of fun making these, I'd never made caramel/toffee before, and was convinced I would ruin my pan, but it was all fine. Will definately be making these again!!



And just to prove we do eat proper food sometimes, and not just cakes all the time - a lovely meal I made of roasted carrots and parsnips, roasted cheesey leeks (I used tofutti 'mozzarella style' soya cheese), and a tahini & tomato sauce. As A kindly pointed out, the sauce does look a bit like sick, but it is delicious.

Lots of other stuff going on. We started our 6 week astronomy class last Thursday, think we are going to really enjoy that. We've been looking at a few things online, including this, which is free to download and great fun. Also got some books out of the big library in Elgin with my home educator's card (I get to keep them for 3 months!). While we were in Elgin for the day on Monday we went to the Moray_College Fine Arts BA 3rd year's exhibition, some interesting stuff there. We also went swimming, which was a big mistake as it was half term so the place was packed. I suppose we're spoilt - when we usually go in term time its often practically empty.

On Saturday we attended a 'laughter clinic' workshop - hmmm... It was ok, the lady running it was lovely, but it didn't seem to flow, or come together (cant think of how else to describe it). I'm glad I went, as I find these sort of group workshops really hard and intimidating, so at least I feel I've achieved something in going at all. I don't think A got a great deal from it, but it was an experience!! Maybe I'm just too much of a miserable git to have got anything from it!?!

Other than that we are REALLY missing my Mum's car, doing a lot more bussing and walking (I walked about 3 miles to get to my pilates class last night). The sooner we find somewhere in the town to move to the better!

Crochet, cooking and cakes

I have been spending a lot of time recently making these lovely objects, for a project we are doing on A_Crafty_Blog. It took me a while, but I got there in the end!


A has shown a renewed interest in cooking, and cooked me this (sorry - a bit blurry) the other night. Its stirfried carrot and mushroom with Linda MacCartney sausages, and mashed potato. It was lovely! She has decided that she wants one day a week to be her cooking day. I reckon thats fine, so long as she learns how to wash up too - not always so good at remembering to do that.

This is part of our trek into town, which we do most days. We've been thinking about what we will miss when we move, in a way I will miss this walk, we have some interesting discussions and games along the way, but I wont miss it in the rain!

We looked at two flats on Monday, but neither had a big enough garden for the trampoline. A is saying 'lets just get rid of it', but come summer I think she would miss it. I would. So we'll keep looking...

We made these lovely lemon cupcakes today, I don't think they will last long! A has had a couple of friends round, so a few have gone already.

Lots of 'learning' has been going on, as always. Since the American election A has become interested in the black civil rights movement. She heard the quote about Rosa Parks, which led to discussions about what Rosa did and who Martin Luther King Jr was. I also found an old book of mine called the 'Piccolo Book of Heroines', which included a chapter on Angela Davis, so that brought in the Black Panthers, and fitted in well.

We have started our Italian course, I think its going to be a slow process, but we are having fun with that.

We are going to miss Neil Oliver and his History_of_Scotland on Saturday nights, really enjoyed these programmes. We did watch Charles_Darwin_and_the_Tree_of_Life with David Attenborough on Sunday, and enjoyed that very much too. It introduced some important concepts to A in a very accessible way. The following day I caught her singing 'All Things Bright and Beautiful', weird, I thought (we're not really a hymn-singing sort of family); then I heard her finish with '..and Darwin discovered them all' :-)

I'm going to let A watch Pollock tonight. I got it out myself to watch, assuming it wouldn't be suitable for A as its rated certificate 18, but having watched it I cant understand at all why it was given that rating, I've seen films rated 15 that are much more explicit. If anything I think she might find some of it a bit boring, but I know she'll love the scenes that show him working on his paintings. She really does love Pollock's work.

Winter Solstice

We decided to have a solstice celebration. I had bought this book some time ago, and we also found some other poems and verses to read to each other. We got down our globe and using A's head to represent the sun demonstrated how the northern hemisphere tilts away from the sun to give us winter. We lit loads of candles, and the fire. We also baked a sun cake, which became a birthday cake for our friend who unexpectedly came to stay for a couple of nights. It was a really lovely time for us, so peaceful and reflective, worlds away from the stress and excess of what Christmas has become for most people. I think I'll give up celebrating Christmas and just stick to Yule (no, I don't think I'd get away with that actually!).
Didn't get a picture of our lovely cake (its long gone now!), so here is one of the fire to warm you up:


We also had our home ed group Christmas party on Wednesday - a huge turn out for it. I was a bit nervous when I walked into such a full hall, but soon relaxed and chatted to a few lovely people. Lots of faces there I didn't know, but I'm starting to get to know a few people a little bit now. The kids had a fantastic time, someone came and did some games with them, which worked really well. I'm so glad that such a strong network of HEers exists up here.

My party food offerings - delicious (even if I do say so myself)

A very strange party game (thats A wrapped in toilet roll!?)

I had an energetic end to Wednesday as I went to see the Levellers play in Inverness. Danced like a maniac the whole night. I need more of this stuff in my life!!

Pink stew

This is my lovely lentil hotpot - one of my favourite winter dishes, so warming. I put beetroot in this one (as you can probably tell from the gorgeous colour!), but its basically fried onion & garlic, then lentils, chopped tomatoes, loads of veg and some stock. I even managed to sneak some kale into this (which A usually refuses to eat). Very nourishing - and delicious too!
We also baked a chocolate cake, just to balance things up a bit ;o)


We had a great day Monday, did loads of fun stuff, including finally getting round to looking at the learn_Italian CD-ROM someone gave me ages ago. We discovered that the book is missing, which was a bit disappointing, but we had a great time playing word games on the children's disc. I think we'll pick up a lot of words quite quickly, but may need another resource for developing sentences and phrases (Nonno perhaps).
We've also been working on our craft Christmas project, making little presents for various friends and family members. We'll need to get them finished and posted soon!

Another project we completed was the 'quiz box' (see below). A had designed a detailed set of intructions for this a little while ago, so we set to work and created it. Then we spent a while drawing up quizzes for each other - I did one on the human body, A did one on the solar system - using books from A's bookshelf. I think she did better than me on the quizzes in the end!
The box seems a bit pointless to me (as a boring adult!), I didn't say that to A of course! But the action of putting in the tick or cross, rather than just saying 'right' or 'wrong' makes the whole thing much more interesting for A, which sums up her visual/physical approach to most things.

The thing I was most impressed with was the set of instructions. This is one of the many wonderful artistic and creative designs A comes up with when in bed at night. It has just hit me this week how she is such a 'night time' person (a bit like me really). Up until now I had been regularly returning to the concern that 'A needs more sleep', and trying to encourage her to get settled and lights out (or dimmed at least) by a certain time each night. The reality is she is getting as much sleep as she needs - she's not tired or grumpy during the day - so I don't know why I'm so obsessed with this idea. It occured to me that what I'm actually doing is trying to limit her most creative moments. So what we've decided is that she will usually go to bed at about 9, but after that its up to her what she does (until I go to bed when all the lights go out, but she's always asleep by then anyway). I pointed out that if she stays awake very late all the time she will feel the effects during the day, especially if its a day we have to get up early and have a lot on, but she'll work that out herself anyway. It feels right to be allowing her a bit more autonomy, she's growing up really fast, and responds well to more responsibility.

We've been continuing the maths and English workbooks, and A has just completed the Smelly_Spelling one, she was very proud of herself, and I think she's more than ready for the next level up. I ordered some more as they seem to be going down well with A, and they are also very reasonably priced! I'm still just using workbooks for these two subjects, we've got more than enough resources to cover whatever else she's interested in learning.

A busy weekend ahead now - A has a friend sleeping over tonight, then the two of them have drama tomorrow morning, and then A is off to Nonna and Nonno's to be taken to see the Pantomime at Eden_Court and stay with them the night. Not sure what I'm doing with my night off, we've been looking for something exciting going on but will probably end up at the pub, then in front of a DVD. Sounds exciting enough for me - maybe I'm getting old!!

Clava Cairns

We (me, A and Granny) went to a brilliant event today - part of the Highland Archaeology Festival - led by 'Dr Indiana Bones': The Magic and Mystery of Clava_Cairns.

Lots of interesting information about this Bronze Age burial site, some of it delivered by characters from that time! My favourite was the barefoot Shaman (he must have been freezing - we all had coats, gloves, scarves, woolly hats etc). There were five different 'activities', and in groups of about 10 we spent around 20 minutes at each one, which worked really well as there were all ages present.

We three thoroughly enjoyed it all. Afterwards we went off to the cafe at the Culloden_Visitor_Centre to warm up. I love it there as they have a variety of vegan cakes and biscuits - a real treat for me, as at most places I'm sitting with my black coffee watching everyone else stuff their faces with cake!

By Popular Demand...

Here is the recipe for those delicious cakes:

Basic Chocolate Cupcake (makes 12)

8floz (230ml) soya milk
1 tsp vinegar
5oz (140g) caster sugar
3floz (90ml) vegetable oil
1&1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4oz (125g) plain flour
1&1/2 oz (45g) cocoa powder
3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350F/175C/gas mark 4 and line muffin pan with paper cases.
Whisk together soya milk and vinegar in a large bowl and set aside for a few minutes to curdle.
Add sugar, oil and vanilla extract and beat until foamy.
In a separate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, bicarb, baking powder and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain.
Pour into cases, filling three quarters of the way.
Bake for about 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Eat while still warm, or allow to cool completely and ice with chocolate 'buttercream'.

Chocolate 'Buttercream' Icing

3oz (115g) vegan margarine
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6oz (170g) sieved icing sugar
2oz (55g) sieved cocoa powder

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mash with a fork until smooth and creamy.

* we added dark chocolate drops on top of the icing, as they weren't quite chocolatey enough for us!!


OK, so its not the healthiest snack, but we all need a treat now and again ;-)

Chocolate heaven, mmmm

We baked these lovely chocolate cupcakes today, using a recipe from a leaflet that came with my vegan magazine. VERY naughty, but also very delicious!!!

Its been a nice lazy day, long lie-ins, a bath, a leisurely breakfast, and a little TV. A then decided to cut a pair of her jeans into shorts, and make a waistcoat out of the offcuts, I was quite impressed. We then had to rush to make the cakes in time for her to take some with her to Nonna and Nonno's, where she is staying this weekend - again! Its very unusual for her to go two weekends in a row, she usually goes to stay every couple of months or so and we both go over for dinner every couple of weeks, but there were events on which Nonna wanted to take her to last weekend and this. A will also get a chance to see her younger half siblings and their Mum, which she loves.

I get to spend the weekend working on my OU essay, not much fun, after so many years of studying you'd think I would be better at time management and not leave it all to the last minute. To be honest I've not enjoyed this current course as much as I thought I would, not sure why as its an interesting subject, but it will all be over in a few weeks and I can rest my brain. Still, at least I've got the cakes to keep me going!