A Day in Hospital

No pictures to go with this post just yet I'm afraid.  I'll upload some later

We flew to A and E on Tuesday morning.  I thought Annie had downed a bottle of Calpol.  8 hours and several blood tests later and it appeared that neither Annie or Bea had swallowed very much Calpol - they must have poured it all over the floor?

How on earth did they open the bottle???

Bea is a very determined little girl - more so than even I realised.  When they say, 'keep medicines out of the reach and sight of children' they aren't kidding.  I thought it 'was' out of reach and sight, but when you're Bea and you pull a chair up to the bench then put a child's chair ON the bench nothing in the cupboards is out of sight.  Once you have the Calpol and you prise the child proof white plastic bit off the top there's only a screw top underneath - nothing for Bea!  This did not pose a problem to her what so ever.

Where was I when this happened?

I was in the shower washing my hair.  Blissfully unaware

A and E was an adventure for them and the children's ward even more so!  The playroom was FANTASTIC!  The downside was having a canula fitted and being the subject of lots of prodding and poking.

All's well that ends well though, eh?

My Annie

For the last two weeks dad's looked after Annie while I've taken Sylvie and Bea off to French.  It seems they've been having fun with photos!!!  Here are some of my darling youngest...

I can't wait until her hair grows a bit.  She cut it herself hence the raggy edges! 

Allotment Bank Holiday

I should really be working today, but instead I've been to the allotment with my dad!
He wants to imprint his knowledge of working the land on me before he pops his clogs so he got me to take a series of photos all about planting potatoes!!!!

I'll be going through these with the girls later and I'll be encouraging them to plant their own potatoes and peas tomorrow!  We also need to set some salad seeds off in pots so that should be fun!

Here are some pics, including a few of the 'rebuilt' poly-tunnel.  The wind took the plastic clean off the outside of the tunnel so dad's rebuilt it and remodelled it.

Inside the door of the tunnel!  My coat hanging up and lots of tools waiting for action!

Dig your trench and put some manure in then put your tatties in about 9" apart. 

Lay your board a foots width from the tatties then dig the soil on top of the tatties. 

Clean out your new trench and start all over again!  Oh yeahhhh.

Mark went along to the allotment to help move the manure when it was delivered.  He said the pile was bigger than two cars parked together.  Excellent!  Co-operative movement of horse and cow crap was the name of the day!  The pile was shared out between a few keen gardeners.  

Lovely blueberry bush.... 

Father in his super mario outfit...  erm, yes. 

Frankentunnel after it's wind blown make over!!!  I'm sure it'll still do the job.  Gaffa tape is fab! 

Pots to put the herbs in!  I love how dad has built a shelf into the side of the polytunnel - it offers loads more growing space and aesthetically it's just right! 

Mark's just phoned to say that he's at Jesmond Dene with the girls.  I wish I was there too but instead I'm sewing like a mad woman trying to finish my March orders!  I know, I know, it's April already...  

Batteries!

The home ed crew came to my house today to learn a bit out electricity!

I found some good stuff on these websites... 

www.topmarks.co.uk

www.switchedonkids.org.uk

... and also some stuff from the energy company E-On but I can't find the link!

First of all, did a bit of reading about electricity and discussed where it actually comes from and what it is!  We talked about energy in general and about 'fossil fuels'...  Miriam rolled her eyes at me a couple of times as I got my time line in a mess but all in all the children seemed to enjoy the question and answer session! 

We then made our own batteries!

Sylvie and Abigail worked together to make a lemon battery that powered a small watch and the boys worked together to make a penny, foil and paper battery!  Sadly, we didn't have enough pennies so the battery didn't work, but that's the point of an experiment, right?  Some times you mess it up and you have to do it again!

The pennies came out of the vinegar and salt solution lovely and sparkly!!!  It's made me want to clean up all of my copper - just like magic. 

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4491841_make-battery-out-coins-foil.html gives you all of the instructions you need!!!!!  

We did a few worksheets, as you can see in the pics then we had some lunch and a play in the garden!

The children seemed to enjoy the session.  There wasn't too much talking from me - just a brief introduction which included questions and answers then straight to it!  They settled well to do the worksheets too which were quite easy, yet made them think!

All good! 

Abigail squeezing the juice out of a lemon that had been used to power a small watch!  I didn't have my camera ready for the actual experiment! We used zinc and copper to make the battery!  All good... check out the links above for more info. 

Piles of pennies cleaned in vinegar then dipped in salt water and layered with wet paper and tin foil ...  this battery didn't work.  We think it's cause we didn't have enough pennies! 

Doing a few work sheets about what uses power and what doesn't. 

Sylvie enjoying her work sheet.  Yes, enjoying!  She didn't complain once!

Miriam building the penny battery again - it still didn't work 

Spotting the dangers in the house of electrical horrors!!!!!  Next time, Penshaw Monument! 

Classical Architecture what what

Miriam's turn to show us some classical architecture...  Doric, Ionic and Corinthians...  Yes Miriam, I remember...

Everyone had a really good day, especially when it came to making the temple at the end of the session!
Miriam has suggested we go for a trip to Penshaw Monument sometime soon to check out the neo classical architecture on offer.  Now all we need is for it to stop snowing!

Maps!

March 2013

 We went to Hayley's house to learn about maps!!! Some photos from our day...


 

Goodbye? Not yet

I thought about ditching this blog and starting a Wordpress one ONLY about home ed but it's such a faff that I've changed my mind! I'm not thick, (usually) but I haven't got a clue how to create posts and stuff using the Wordpress site. It's doing my head in. So, we're staying here and focussing on home ed instead of blogging about 'everything'...

Although I may change my mind.  It never looks the same when going from draft to published view... the photos are all over and so is the text.  It's really annoying me!