Getting Crafty in the Park

We've had a fab day today - no Friday 13th bad luck here. Went to pick up Emily's friend Maisie this morning on the way to Normanby Hall. We had a picnic lunch, fed the (completely stuffed and definitely not hungry) ducks, then went for a huge woodland walk collecting nature bits along the way. Back to a tree stump (or worktop, lol) to dig out all the arty crafty stuff I'd taken along: wire, beads, coloured tape, wool etc. The girls had a ball making beaded wands and "painting" on pieces of bark using crushed up fallen flower petals. We also had a go at twig weaving in a huge Y-shaped branch, which turned out very nicely indeed.



Emily and Maisie also played on the climbing tree and fussed over the resident cats. The playgrounds were absolutely packed, despite the less than briliant weather, so we didn't stay long in those bits. Emily still hates crowded playgrounds, and even Maisie with her school experience wasn't that keen. Had a brief "oh dear, if Emily was at school she'd have learnt to push and shove her way in like all the other little darlings are doing", but that was swiftly followed by a "thank goodness she's not at school and thefore *hasn't* learnt to push and shove like that". After all, when exactly is she going to need that skill? When was the last time we as adults had to jostle like that, refuse to let others take turns, screech, shout and physically yank younger and smaller people out of the way? Seems to me that kids at school learn exactly the sort of "social skills" that they then pretty soon have to *un-learn* if they're going to behave like civilised adults.

Anyway; after several hours at Normanby we headed back to ours, where the girls played in the garden, neopet-ed and played with Emily's Harry Potter figures. At one point Emily got a bee stuck in her hair (????) which was quite traumatic, but other than that I think they had a great time. When we dropped Maisie back home a little while ago her Mum, who has yet to get used to the resourcefulness of home educators ;-) was astonished to be greeted with beaded wands. I'll settle for Maisie telling me I'm apparently a "really fun Mum" which I thought was sweet. Mind you, she also told me I was completely crazy. Probably a compliment. I think.