Wonder full: something for the senses

Something to hear, something to see, something to smell, something to taste, something to touch, or something to know....

Something to be thankful for.

Our girl sitting on the steps of Sacre Couer with her face painted like a tiger, holding the first rose she has ever been given watching and listening to people busking in the sunshine.

Paris in Autumn

Last week: 
We landed in Paris, well, not so much landed as slowly navigated in jolts and lurches with three patient and tiring children. 
It's all you imagine. Dada cruised off with our friends/hosts to their favourite fromager (cheese shop) to buy too much cheese (that will no doubt be consumed within too short a time.) I wandered the streets with three little people and a teenage helper on the hunt for Pain au chocolat, alas none was to be found but we did find warm baguette and giant chocolate macaroons and a small grocer with finches in a cage out the front.

The following morning was icy. Thermals, coats, beanies and mittens and still too cold for our unaccustomed littlies. However, we saw walked. A lot. From where we were staying to Notre Dame (across this bridge covered in padlocks (we're not sure why, but interesting to look at), past the rugby field set up in central Paris (pre-World Cup Final) then on to Angelina's for lunch and the most amazing hot chocolate that needed whipped cream to soften the sweetness. Seriously. 

Then we spent the afternoon at the Louvre.
Watching the lift (elevator) at the Louvre is interesting also....

Let me reassure you, three small children at the the Louvre is not an overly relaxing experience but we did some searching for a dog with brown spots, a red flower and other things and they were amazing...and sometimes asleep. We were with friends and this was a wonderful help. 

We had earned our cheese and a little glass of champagne that night.

Wonder full: something for the senses

Something to hear, something to see, something to smell, something to taste, something to touch, or something to know....

Something to be thankful for.

The chance to spoil family that we don't usually have the opportunity to. 

Hydrangea

I've always thought Hydrangea to be a lovely flower but I have a new found admiration for it.

We have seen many since we arrived, in so many places, in fact in one place we went there was a Hydrangea Valley. 

The simplicity of shape. The diversity of colour. Even on the same plant. And the some how perfect bouquet shape each head forms all draw me in every time.

Like a flutter of butterflies.

I hope you like them too.

And today with two poorly babes, one without a voice, we head to France. So we may be absent from this space for a week or so. Be sure to update as soon as we can.

Bonus

Today we got an unexpected treat. Dada had taken the littlies across the road feed the horses, again. But today the owner of Charma was there. 

I was called over a few minutes later to find this.

I think she must've been on that pony for almost half an hour. She smiled a LOT and had a go at a little trot and then managed to hold on when pony did a little buck. A natural. 

And there was someone else who waited, and then requested a ride. He did so well.

This lady, Jo, was so kind to share her time and knowledge for nothing but the joy of being there when two very interested and keen children got to do something that was out of their ordinary. 

The kindness of strangers.

The other side

We are having a wonderful time. But those things that make up the majority of parenting hours play as big a role as ever. There are nappies to be changed and toilet training happening, often in the most challenging and diverse of environments. There are constantly changing hazards and boundaries. There are disagreements. There is getting lost. There is illness and visits to the doctor. There is broken sleep and musical beds.

It is tiring. And much as we're loving being here, we are now looking forward to being in one place for more days than the fingers on your hands. The almost weekly packing of this family involves a number of stages. Firstly, there is the gathering of the items from all over where ever we may be. For this one must keep your eye on all those, sometimes tiny, precious items that are used and dropped or tucked away 'safely'. The sorting of these items and then the packing. We travel with the standard young family paraphernalia; cot, high-chair, pram, nappies. But we also travel with a toy bag, wet sheets, a medical kit, laundry kit, small pantry and dress-ups. We are becoming quite good at packing at the same time as becoming ready to stop doing so. 

And we miss our family and friends.

The only constant for the past few months, other than ourselves, has been the car. We've spent a fair share of this holiday in the car. Everybody has become very good at this travel. when everything is settled in the back and I'm not twisting my body in strange ways to feed, entertain or settle children, I knit. This car time is good talking time too. We smile at each other when we hear 'Wow, look at that view!' come from the back seat. A favourite car game is 'See that? Oh, doesn't matter it's gone now.' Because although the kids have never seen The Castle they know that Darryl Kerrigan says 'The faster you go the more you see.' Oh, how we laugh when this cry comes from the back unprompted.

And there are more moves ahead of us. 

This thought of packing does not excite me but....

...the thought of the fairy lights on the boulevards in Paris does....

tiny tea leaves

This was finished whilst we were south by the sea. (Ravelry Link)It was an immediate hit. She's been waiting for this one. 

There were a few hiccups along the way. I had decided to do the cardigan with full length sleeves and three buttons, however I didn't think about needing more wool than the pattern suggests. I ran out of wool with the button bands to go so I called the shop I had bought the lovely Madelinetosh from and they had no more. Arggh! So I bought some from the USA and crossed my fingers it would be the same dye lot. Thankfully I think it might've been and the colours look just dandy. If I do say so myself.

Then the beautiful buttons I had chosen were too large despite three redo's of the button holes. So there was searching for new buttons and, you know, when you've been sitting on the perfect buttons for the whole project it's hard to find something else that completes the picture in the same way. However, with a little input from the lady herself we chose these mother-of-pearl flower ones and I think they're just fine.

This pattern is so clever and simple. It shapes itself. She loves it. It fits good and it seems to like doing the things she likes doing so they make a good pair.

Eden Project

We visited this place (Eden Project). It was educational and inspirational. It was also very busy and a little challenging with the three little people in our party. Never-the-less there were some things that caught the camera's eye.

Inlet

I must begin this post with an apology for being away so long. It was certainly unintended. We were lucky enough to be travelling with a group of people from home for a few weeks and then had another good friend come to stay with us. The thing is, when we are in company I find it difficult to withdraw myself and visit this space. Partly because I feel rude but also because it's just so lovely to have friends around and I soak up as much of their company as I can.

So...what've been up to? In the last week we shared with the group of 17(!), including us, we were south and by the sea. The house was on a tidal inlet.

As the first to arrive at the house the kids obviously thought it was their duty to find any dangers and see to them.....

Hence the small, mildly distressing, incident within the first twenty minutes. See, that mud was so inviting to small paddle feet. So out they went within sight and with warnings and boundaries set. Never the less, the need to explore took over and when Dada was unpacking and I was tending to little Winter they ventured a little further. A minute later I came to check and that sweet boy had lit his distress beacon. He had sunk up to his thighs in the sucking mud and with each wiggle trying to get out was going in deeper...

Any how, I got there quickly, got him out and covered in mud the three of us made our way back to the tap and cuddled. All was ok. But it certainly gave this Mama and her boy a fright. Below you can see what the inlet is like when the water is in. Very deep.

Spring calmed herself with a little snail maze making.

And when our friends arrived we welcomed the company and a relaxing drink.

With magnificent and unseasonal weather we visited the beach. We found hermit crabs and sat on the terrace and ate sardines, mussels and prawns, then Cornish ice cream.

Morning walks were enjoyed by all.

And the next day, that weather, it changed. White cloud stayed all day and our beach attire was a little different. We visited the 'sister' island of Le Mont St Michel, St Michael's Mount.

But most of all last week was the end of a fun few weeks we have spent with a group of people from home. A few of them were friends, most of them we had never met. They welcomed us and we have shared many new and amazing places and meals. Laughing and working together to make a group of 17 work. 


Thank-you all. We all enjoyed your company and the caring friendship that you offered to each of us.