Carrots and Clock Towers

It's been a while since we last wrote and I've probably forgotten most of what we've been doing ! Nan has gone back home now for a well earned rest. We had a lovely time with her - we had a day out with the other Quaker children at a pottery painting workshop followed by a picnic in the park. We visited Hill Top Farm a few times to fly Ella's new kite and go on the swings. We went to the park at Birdingbury and a school festival to see some vintage cars. Nan told us all about Lauren's fabulous performance in Chicago too.

Bob and Jan were away for a week, so we fed the pheasants every day while they were away. All nine of the eggs hatched, but unfortunately we didn't get to see the baby pheasants. They were hustled quickly into the fields behind the house.

Ella and Karl also went to wind up the church clock while Bob was away. There is a fantastic view from the top of the church tower, but Ella didn't want to go out onto the roof. She climbed all the stairs to the top though. Here is a picture of the clock mechanism in it's glass case.

Imogen had a birthday last week, so we were invited over for birthday tea and a play.

Yesterday we went to the school in the next village for their fete. We also visited our friend Nora for a cup of tea and a chat. It's her 82nd birthday in a couple of weeks, so we're planning a birthday lunch for her.

Tom is in fine form. He is enjoying our temporarily open plan kitchen. Here is a picture of him emptying the dried pasta onto the floor, encouraged by his sister...

The vegetables are doing well - we've harvested our first lot of carrots, which are delicious. The courgettes have flowered today and the potatoes look ready to flower soon. Ella and Tom have been enjoying the strawberries and last week we made a pear and blackcurrant crumble from our blackcurrant crop.

Today we are travelling to nanna and bampa's for a fortnight's visit. The kitchen is being knocked apart next week, so we're leaving Karl to it !