October holidaying

For at least some of last week's October holiday we had beautiful weather.  On Wednesday we had planned a walk with V and her two boys, one of whom is Finn's best friend, and the day turned out to be perfect.  We spent most of last week staying at my parents house (they are back in South Africa, so we are a two dog family for the winter again but do get to use their house as our 'country residence'!) and we set off for for the walk from there.

 
When we got to the North Pole (*hang on for explanation) we set the kids to finding sticks to make a fire and John found green sticks for making into skewers.  Once we had enough wood for heating up our, already cooked (safer that way), sausages he showed the kids how to sharpen a stick each - then we all skewered our sausages and sizzled them on the fire.

*The North Pole is one of the first places we walked to when mum and dad moved to their current house.  Its a little promontory where the river Tyne meets the sea at Tyninghame.  The feel of this tranquil spot with pines on a little hillock reminded me of pictures in the Winne the Pooh stories and especially of the adventure to discover the North Pole - and the name has stuck ever since.  It has caused some confusion amongst the children's friends when we have told them we're holding birthday parties at the North Pole.  One little boy was rather worried about meeting polar bears!

As with much of the coastline of eastern Scotland, where there is a flat shoreline, there are huge big concrete blocks which are fantastic for climbing and jumping on.  I loved them when I was little too.  They are relics from WWII when they were set up as anti-tank defences.

 Sandy le Oobee peeping into the moses basket - can you spot her tail?
I received my special parcel from Australia.  It came from Leslie (onegirl) with one of her very special Oobees.  This one is called Sandy and is made from vintage linen.  I think Leslie may have a few more in her shop (which is only restocked every few weeks or so) and she makes the most amazing quilts too so do have a look.  The parcel also contained one of her baby blankets which is being used every day in the pushchair - it is very snuggly and soft (the quilt I made is too big just yet). 

Sandy is perfectly at home in Katie's vintage (almost 39 years old) moses basket..........mum bought it when I was a baby  - rather a long time ago now!  At the time they lived in Kenya and it was bought from a market there along with a mini one which was used for my dolls and now Islay's.  It was used for me, then one of my brothers, not my youngest as he was born in Australia, and has since been used by Finn, Angus, Islay, my niece and nephew, and now Katie (the mattress has had several changes before you worry about hygiene!).  I think it is rather special and love that a new generation of children are spending their first few weks sleeping in it.  Mum re-lined it when Finn was due as I think the original had seen better days.  You may spot the cat net folded back over the hood too - that's to keep Charlie cat at bay.  He loves nothing better than snuggling around your neck for a snooze which, while lovely, isn't really so good with very little people.

 Vintage moses basket!
And in case you were wondering and, even if you weren't, here's some photos of the current basket user.  She is the sweetest little girl.  Ever so happy and content and will smile just about all day long.  She loves her brothers and sister and it is lovely to see them enjoying talking to her and their delight when she smiles and wriggles back at them.
Katie - 4 weeks
She's a very sleepy little soul too but reaches the point of over-tiredness really quickly without really showing any signs and then struggles desperately to drop off.  I'm working hard to get better at spotting just when she needs to have a sleep - but I'm still not getting in right all the time. 

 Katie - 5 weeks
I'm working on a commissioned quilt this week and am enjoying spending some time sewing.  I'm also back in niece and nephew child-minding mode.  Today is the first day back with my nephew and we have been having a lot of fun as he toddles around on wobbly feet (he's 15 months) and from next week I'll have a day with my niece each week too.  I'm keeping cooking really simple and trying to be sensible about what I plan to get done each day and, mostly, its all going really well.  Especially when I get those lovely chubby smiles!

Katie the chubby smiler - at 6 weeks