Pick You Own Fun

Inspired by last week's post by Coombe Mill, and a few others in the fabulous Country Kids Linky, I decided to seek out a local PYO farm.  I haven't been to a Pick You Own since I was a kid myself, and have fond (mostly) memories of gorging myself on strawberries until I was fit to bust.

Good old Google brought up one not too far away ( Grove Farm near Leighton Buzzard) and I raised a smile at the statement on the website:

"To sample one or to fruits is acceptable but anyone excessively eating will be asked to leave."

With mutterings from the Voice of Doom about how we'd need a chest freezer to make the trip worthwhile and to cover the petrol, and we'd better damn well eat all this and not just leave it to go off in the fridge we grabbed a wheelbarrow, bags and punnets and set off across the fields.

The plot was massive and Ruby enjoyed following the chalkboard signs directing us to each field of goodness.

What a fabulous way to get kids interested in food, encourage them to eat healthily and to learn about how things grow and where our food comes from.

It wasn't just 'pick your own'.  It was also 'pull your own' and 'dig your own'.  Forks are on hand to dig spuds and scrabble about in the mud unearthing the potato treasure.

We came home with garlic; onions; potatoes; beetroot; cucumber; rhubarb, peas; french beans and raspberries, as well as 6 beautiful fresh eggs.

That evening we feasted on a dinner of prawn, pea, cucumber and mint salad followed by roast cod with french beans, chorizo, olives and tomatoes, then fresh raspberries and greek yoghurt. Food doesn't get much fresher.

Wheeling a barrow across a field was so much more fun than pushing a trolley round the supermarket!

See Dora live!!

Ruby loves going to the theatre, and seeing age appropriate shows is a great way to introduce littlies to the experience of live performance.

What better than a show featuring one of her all time favourite characters?  

Expect singing; dancing, puzzle solving; exploring and lots of fun in this performance featuring Dora, Diego, Map and Backpack.  Get ready to shout "Swiper no swiping" too! 

We're off to see it in London at the Apollo later this month, but you can catch it now at Blackpool.

Before going on a national tour next year, 'Search for the City of Lost Toys' is appearing at:

Globe Theatre, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Dates:                                                              10 August – 20 August 2012

Performances:                                                  Monday – Sunday 10.30am/1.00pm

Ticket prices:                                                   £12, £14, £17 (£2 off for children)

                                                                       £50 family ticket

Address:                                                         Globe Theatre, Pleasure Beach Blackpool

                                                                       525 Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1EZ

Box Office:                                                      0871 222 9090

Website:                                                          www.pleasurebeachresort.com

and

Apollo Theatre – West End

Dates:                                                              28 August – 16 September 2012

Performances:                                                  Monday – Sunday 10.30am/1.00pm/3.30pm*

*Please see full performance schedule on the website for dates with no 3.30pm performances

Ticket prices:                                                   £12.50, £18.00, £25.00

Address:                                                          Apollo Theatre, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue

London, W1D 7ES

Box Office:                                                       0844 412 4658

Website:                                                           www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.nimax.com

Disclosure: I will be receiving a family ticket to attend the show.

Camps and Dens

Yesterday we had Ruby's cousin round for a sleepover.  Ruby desperately wanted to take him to the woods and make a den and a campfire, so we packed some essentials of off we went.

We're so lucky to have a beautiful wood just ten minutes walk from our house, and they spent the short walk collecting 'fire wood' and dried leaves.

Through the kissing gate - you do know there's a LAW which says you have to kiss when passing through one of these gates don't you?  Well, maybe not a law, but I'm pretty sure it's in the Country Code.

We wandered through the woodland paths, the dappled sun guiding our way.  Before you start congratulating me on my den-building prowess, I must confess, this was already here.  We merely squatted for a while.

They lay out some cosy blankets inside and they set about building their fire.  I'm not TOTALLY irresponsible, it wasn't a real fire, but we made it look realistic with some light sticks and tissue paper for flames.

They had great fun hunting for sticks and twigs to feed the fire, and pretended to light it scout-style by rubbing sticks.

I found a comfy log a safe distance away, and let them play.  Is there anything better than listening to kids in their imaginary world, just chattering away?  They spoke to each other on imaginary walkie-talkies, with lots of 'over and outs', before finally snuggling down for sandwiches and hot chocolate.

Such a gorgeous afternoon.

Linking up with Country Kids over at Coombe Mill.

Specs Appeal

So I finally got myself some glasses.  No more bumbling around like Mr Magoo.  No more squinting at people waving to me across the street, trying to figure out who the hell they are.

I managed the persuade the Old Man that getting cheapo specs was a false economy as I wouldn't wear them unless I loved them.  What do you know, he agreed!

He has now turned into the spectacle police now though, constantly checking I'm wearing them.  So if he asks, I have them on, right?

The one downside to designer glasses, is the bling-tastic case they come in.  I'm not a labels person, and fail to see why I should advertise someone for free (ha, that's the blogger coming out in me!).

So I asked the lovely people at Boots if I could have one of their plain cases (as well as - hell, I'd paid for the designer gear, so may as well get the freebies right?).  They gave me one of theirs gratis.  Nice, but a bit... well meugh hey?

Last night, in front of the tellybox (yes, I was wearing my glasses), I got my Decopatch out, and turned it into something much more me.

Nifty huh?

Linking up with Ta-Dah Tuesday.

Magpie Monday - Knitting Novice

This week my charity shopping again seemed to follow a theme.  I don't know why this happens, but it often does.  It's like some strange magnetic force that draws me to similar items, or things that match.  Is it just me?

Anyhow, I was happy with these lovely mohair balls of wool, in tonal blue shades.  My knitting skills are remedial to say the least, but I'll be happy making pompoms in these colours, maybe for another poncho or a wreath.

I did a happy dance at finding these wooden knitting needles too.  I know, I know, I said I can't knit, but I have a bit of a thing for old wooden needles and always seek them out.  I find them things of beauty and have a huge vase of them on display. I love to think of the hands that have worked them and all the precious garments that have been made with them.

You generally have to ask for knitting needles in second-hand shops.  They're oft hidden under the counter like some kind of charity shop p orn.

Finally, I picked up this great DK kid's needlecraft book.  I say 'kid's', but I think it's about my level in the knitting department so maybe I can graduate beyond pom-poms after all.

Is there anything so smug as the face of a tween knitter?  I think not.

Did you get any second-hand bargains this week?  Grab the badge and link up. x

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Pimp my Pumps!

If you're looking for a creative activity to do over the summer, then I can wholeheartedly recommend pimping your pumps!

I reckon it would be great for kids to do with their mates on a play date, or even as a unique party activity - instead of the ubiquitous party bag, they could take home their own individual hand-crafted shoes!  Course, you'd have to get their shoes sizes first, but just ask it on the invite - simple really.

You will need:

A plain pair of pumps (mine cost £2.50 from Primark)
DYLON 3D paints (choose from Puff; Pearl or Glossy)
An apron to protect clothing

At only 4 years old, Ruby did get a little frustrated with herself to start with.  The application of the paint requires the right amount of squeezing of the bottle whilst drawing - a bit like icing a cake.  Older children will have no problem with this, and Ruby did get the hang of it after watching me.

I kept my design simple, following the lines of the stitching, then adding some dots.  I love the 3D effect of these paints - the dots look like little jeweled studs.

Ruby is still at the ages where 'more is more' so her design is a little...err...freer!

She loves her ones better than my attempt though and has proudly gone off to nursery wearing them today.  Who says the left and the right shoe need to match?!

How would you pimp yours?

Disclosure: for information please see my disclosure page.

Linking up with Ta-Dah Tuesday! and Kids Get Crafty

Cool Kitchen Conversion Chart

I dunno about you, but every time I am using a recipe book and need to convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade, or work out how many ounces the are to grams, I have to boot up the pooter.

Well, I think I've found the answer in the form of this funky, retro, free printable chart.

I just love the typography, the retro colours and the whole vintage feel.

It's perfect for crafting with too - imagine it printed onto a canvass for some kitchen wall art, or use some image transfer to make a tea towel. You could get some specialist paper to print it onto and make shrinkie fridge magnets, or decal paper to funk up some plain mugs.  So many possibilities...

It's produced by Everest (the double glazing people) who are of course fronted up by my mate* Craig Doyle, so what's not to love?!

What do you think?  Cool huh?  Any more suggestion on what I could make with it?

* May not be true, but cue gratuitous shot of me hugging a sleb.

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. I just thought it was cool and wanted to share it with you. x