change

 Its crazy how fast plans can change. Yesterday I had things all figured out, today.... well I still do but there different than how I expected.
Yesterday I found out two of my main day care kids are moving interstate.... at the end of next week! It was a sudden decision for their family and one that I completely understood. Ill miss them but i'm happy for them all.

There is the issue of my pay being halved all of a sudden and a wedding in 6 weeks with things not yet paid off. I admit that I was freaking out a bit. I called Benny sounding rather dramatic and told him what was going on. His reply- 'oh that will be fine, it will work out! I thought you were going to say Bitey (his pet gallah) had died, this isn't so bad". Yep hes awesome. He takes everything in his stride. Id be so lost without him to make me instantly calm in overwhelming situations. We've figured it out and all will be fine with the wedding.

There may be a silver lining anyway. The other week my friend was talking about how much the child care center she and her mum work at is struggling to get experienced workers. I wished I could help but had enough on my plate. Now I suddenly have a lot less on my plate.
So change is OK. Ill be happy with less work or ill be happy with new work. The new work is in our new town which would be great and it would be fun working with them for a while. Ill still be starting A B Day Care as soon as I move but but extra work in the meantime would make things a bit easier

 anyhow, here are some photos of the little girls picking flowers and peas. I'm going to miss my 'little girl Thursdays'. That's something I didn't imagine saying any time soon. It was so full on to start with having the three littlest girls (plus 3 year old) all at once that I admittedly didn't look forward to Thursdays for a while there. Now that they've grown that little bit, two have just turned two and everything's so much more relaxed and I adore having them all together. I've even been taking them all for little walks with no pram now that they are all good with holding hands across roads. I almost feel a bit cheated (not by anyone, just by life I suppose you could say) that I put so much effort into getting this far with them, getting them all used to sharing, playing gently, sleeping together in one room and all sorts that's been hard work, but don't get to enjoy the long term benefits of all the work. But that's life and it was going to happen soon with the move, just I wasn't quite ready for it yet. Its hard letting go of children that I've spent a lot of time with and love so much but I know good things await me too. I think my day care will be pretty much full right away. I've got 8 kids on my waiting list and 2 more 'maybes' so as long as they haven't found other care by the time we move I will be all set. This is definitely a relief as it took a long time to get enough work to start off with where I am now. I'm so impatient to move but enjoying the now too. This morning was one of those mornings that just goes completely perfectly. 8.30 the first two girls arrived and the next two weren't coming until 10. We went out to the veggie patch and the two girls got completely into their imaginary play, playing doctors, baking muffins and all sorts.  Its so lovely to hear them chattering away to each other while I weeded. Once the others arrived we made muffins and then stayed outside until nap time It was windy so it was especially fun playing with play silks and throwing them up to be blown about. We munched on peas and sang songs on the grass It was lovely warm spring weather until we came in and then all of a sudden the clouds opened up and it poured and poured. All that rain made me feel so lucky for the perfect warm morning we had

Anyhow, this post is feeling awfully rambling already so THE END:)

peas, beans and house hunting

 Yesterday was the nicest day. My cousin Lil visited with her friend Elle and another friends baby that she looks after. We sat and sipped tea all morning and it was beautiful and spring-like outside. After they left I went out and puller out loads of knee high nettle plants. I always forget how much the warmth makes me want to be in the garden. Slowly the weeds are getting under control and I can see more and more plants that I had forgotten were hiding beneath them

 Afterwards I picked peas and spinach for tea. I could have sworn I picked each plant bear but this morning Angus wanted to take peas to playgroup and we managed to find another big handful. I suppose they like the warmth too!

 Its only the end of August and were not meant to start looking for a new house until after the wedding (mid october). Once the wedding's over we will be able to afford to rent two houses for a short while so that I can get the new house approved for my Family day care before I finish working here.
But already I've found one that I so badly want. I've been eyeing it off for a little while but I thought it was across the road from mcdonalds. What a waste of a perfectly wonderful house I thought, as I had no intentions of looking at mcdonalds every time I left my house. Well anyhow, I had it mixed up with another house and 'my' house is actually in a completely lovely spot.
So now I need to cross my fingers that it doesn't get rented out in the next two and a half months. If it does i'm sure something else nice will come up, just like this one did after my last favourite one became unavailable, but i'm crossing my fingers all the same.
 Its a lovely old place with beautiful polished floor boards, big windows, fire places, a wonderful garden full of pink evening primroses, climbing vines wraped around the poles and fences. A big shed and under cover barbeque area  for Benny. Sigh, so perfect, I want it!
Truly though were not very fussy so I know we'll find something perfect. I love looking at houses that we might move into, its so exciting! Its so much fun, dreaming and imagining us in all the houses

 My broad beans have been flowering for a few weeks now but still no beans. I always forget just how long broad beans take, so much slower than peas but worth the wait for sure

 I planted a lot of broad beans this year, my Oma loves them so I planted plenty enough to share. I think of this as my mini broad bean field:)

 Im always pleased to see the bees doing their job, keep going little bees, we want loads of beans please

lavender and bees morning circle

 I've tried without luck a few times to start a morning circle in the past but I just didn't manage to catch the children's interest. Well to be honest I was a little bit doomed from the start... I have a little boy in care that right from an early age hated music. Weather it was music playing, me and other children singing or even his dad mentioned he demanded each birthday that people stop singing 'happy birthday' to him. I'm not sure if it may be to do with him having possible aspergers? It was one of a few challenging quirks but we adore him:) He would make a fuss about any singing within earshot and the other children would follow and decide they hated singing as weal.
Anyhow, the girls I have now all adore music so I sing with them often and he would ask us to stop. I would tell him that  he was welcome to move away if he didn't feel like listening. By now hes older and much more able to cope with things so to begin with he find a toy and play in the sleep room and now he isn't bothered. I even over hear him singing as he plays now and then:) Its so sweet and its been so nice to see him grow and develop into a big clever and chilled out kindy boy. I've had him since 6 months old. Wow I am getting off topic, anyhow...

 So now that we all like (or at least tolerate:) music I decided to have another go at introducing circle time. The first few times they liked it to start off with but the 3 little girls (recently turned 2) lost interest quickly. I thought about ways to make it work. Here's my tips for anyone else wanting to begin a circle with little ones

*I decided to keep trying it for at least a week to give them time to get used to the new songs. Children love repetition and I know with books the more times I read something the more they love it.

* I started small with two songs and i'm building it up. If they're still with me and enjoying it i add a bit more. It varies from day to day

*The original songs didn't hold their attention because the movements were too much for them so I did easy and repetitive movements. They love ring around the rosie so I included a song with the same tune and movements but changed the words to fit the theme I wanted. They love it

*I chose a theme relevant and familliar. Our lavendar is blooming so theyre always picking flowers from it and where there's lavender there's always bees- which make a fun sound- double points!

*lastly,and I think this has really helped, I tell them a bed time story about 4 children (who evers in care that day) Coming to Apple blossom and looking forward to their special circle time. In the story I talk about how they wait patiently with their 'toes on the purple' of the circle mat, they watch carefully, try their best to make their bodies move just like Karen's and how they all enjoy it. I sing the whole circle time except in a slow soft 'bedtime tone' rather than the playful upbeat morning singing. The day after I begun the bedtime story there was a new enthusiasm. I think it really helped them 'get' what circle time is and understand how they could take part. It also helped the songs become familiar to them and helped me practice which means I do a better job leading.

This all seems like a lot of effort but its been worth it. Now that its established the hardest parts done and I plan to introduce new songs one at a time, swapping old for new until there is a fresh circle so at all times the songs will be mostly familiar. It's been a fun challenge to figure out how to make it work and were all enjoying our circle time.

 Heres our songs at the moment-
sung
Good morning dear earth
(sweep your hands downwards in a semi circle motion)
Good morning dear sun
(make a sun above your head with hands)
Good morning dear trees
(put your arms up like a tree)
And the flowers every one
(gesture flowers in front of you
Good morning dear animals
(Pat a pretend cat on your arm)
And the birds and the beezzzzzzzzzz
(flap your hands like a bird upwards and then one finger wanders down as a buzzy bee. I land the buzzy bee on each of their noses)
Good morning to you
(gesture hands towards group)
And good morning to me
(hands over heart)

Spoken
Buzz buzz buzz theres a litle buzzy bee
And what does he see?
He sees the children....

Sung
Picking all the lavender and putting it in baskets,
Picking all our lavender and putting it in baskets,
Picking all our lavender and putting it in baskets'
All around the bush!
Were picking all the lavender and putting it in baskets,
Picking all our lavender and putting it in baskets,
Picking all our lavender and putting it in baskets'
And making a lavender wreath!

(Walking around the circle pretending to pick and put into imaginary basket, at the end join hands)


Ring around the rosie
A little bush of lavender
the little bees the little bees they all jump down
The bees are in the flowers, drinking all the nectar, 
and when theyve had enough they fly back to their hive
(same tune and actions as traditional ring around a rosie)

spoken
they got back to their hive just in time 
they looked outside and what did they see



sung
Rain is falling down, rain is falling down
pitter patter pitter patter, rain is falling down
Rain is falling down, rain is falling down
softly gently, softly gently, rain is falling down 
('twinkling'fingers from up high to down low throughout song)



Soon to be added (spring is just around the corner in these parts:)

spoken
As the rain cleared up the faries came out and what did they say?

spring is coming, spring is coming

birdies build your nest.

weave together straw and feather

doing each your best.

spring is coming, spring is coming

flowers are waking, too.

daisies, lilies, and daffodils

now are coming through.

spring is coming, spring is coming

all around is fair.

shimmer, glimmer on the meadow,

joy is everywhere.

(with simple actions, 

As you can see from the photos above I planed an activity to make our circle time come to life (and our play room smell exceptionally good:) Today we really were Picking all the lavender and putting it in baskets, and making a lavender wreath!

rainbow angels and more wooly leaves

 today on this sunny and beautiful day I was playing with silk rainbows again

 making some angels to softly spin above our heads

 To float harmoniously above

 Now they just need a ring to hang from. Ill weave one from grape vine tomorrow

 My wool leaves blanket is coming along nicely. It won't be long until its finished. It almost feels as though ill miss it, the rhythm and flow of the counting, increases and decreases... but there's always a new project around the corner...

 This is how i'm knitting it flat. I use two sets of circulars

 I love love love this pattern. I love knitting it and I love the way it looks. I have no idea how ill block it flat though, any one know how to block a blanket?

friday

 Every time I sit down to knit I have a helper. Its handy using two separate circulars to knit this blanket, not only for it to be able to sit flat on my lap to keep me warm as I knit but also maddy can use the 'other end' needles for her own 'knitting' (she weaves the knitting needles through the lace holes:) I'm thinking it might be about time to introduce her to some finger knitting

 the play silks have been heading outside with us each day

they love climb high

 and hope the wind catches them on the way down!

Ive just started using my Apple Blossom Family Day Care Facebook page and would be appreciative if you would pop past and like it. I'm planning a give away of a rainbow play silk which I will announce there next week. Once I get to 50 likers I will draw a name and the winner will receive one of my hand dyed rainbow play silks!

 After all that play its time for morning tea

 They were sitting there and Maddy said in such a concerned way 'but dolly doesn't have anything to eat' so they each share their muffin with him

 peas peas and more peas will soon be upon us. We have a few peas growing elsewhere in the garden. When I first gave each child a pea I think only one said he liked them and a few other tried them. Yesterday I remembered this, now 5 of the 6 apple blossom children love them, the other carries them arround and does have the occasional nibble. Its amazing how seeing something grow tempts even the pickiest eaters to try. Tomatoes were the same in summer. There still asking when the tomatoes will be back

Here's the very first pea on our pea cottage!

rainbow dying play silks- part 2

 today I have been continuing on with the play silk dying. Some of the colors were patchy so I re-dyed and I also dyed a few more

They are so nice to watch flowing in the breeze and with the wind we had this morning they took no time at all to dry!

 I had two of these large silks but unfortunately I scorched a hole in this one on the hot stove. I knew the hole would tear easily with play so instead i hung it over our book corner. I'm planning on re dying it to be a bit brighter as I think it looks a bit washed out against our white walls but once its a bit cheerier I think It will look nice.

 At least this one can still be for cubby houses!

we also have 'rainbow bridges'

my helper rinsing the little silks. She loved swirling and playing with all the wet coloured silks

 I cut up one silk into 16 small squares and dyed them different colours. All those years ago when I bought our first silks I wanted to make one of these mobiles but I didn't have any silk to spare so now finally I can! I have a spare set of colors plus a few white squares left which i'm sure ill make good use of in future craft projects

 here are the squares freshly ironed

 I also dyed a long skinny piece

 I love it on the play kitchen but i'm tempted to cut it into strips and hem it to make these (obviously not as long as awesome as that one but they would be a nice size for the little toddlers)

I also attempted to dye this silk purple but as you can see it didn't turn out as planned. It's still nice though