Joker

Baked goodies

We stumbled upon a slice of heaven,

This is a rustic with a capital R sort of a place where you're invited to treat it like your own kitchen. Food comes on wooden boards or in chunky pottery and seating is on big wooden tables. Breakfast is muesli or as much toast as you can eat and there are big bowls of butter, jam and their own peanut butter on the tables. Lunches are soup, filled focaccia or bake and there's a trestle full of sweet things. Frankly I could have stayed there all day.

We had an impromptu stop due to wailing child which lead to exploring of the woodpile and an escaping dog (really must work on that recall).

There are woods just by our holiday cottage and the dog has made them his own. Most days he brings the mud back with him but it was relatively dry today. He looks quite obedient and picture perfect Lab here.

And look he will come back when called at least some of the time....

Isabel is continuing her quest for the great outdoors and takes great umbrage if anyone steps outside without her.

There are signs of spring all around, it's lovely.

Portland Bill

We're having a cold time in Dorset. Portland Bill was fun though.

What we've been up to...

Danna came for a few days and brought the knits she's been working on - colours chosen by Isaac. Photos of them together are always very hit and miss - to get this

we had lots of these...

Just before Matthew left we went out for lunch and ended up with an impromptu carry with Isaac in the rain - scuse the sloppy wrap job.

Good job the brolly was see-through.

We reached the 11 month mark. I'm sure she thinks she's 3 though as she wants to do everything her brother does.

Every few days the cry goes up that he wants to go and play in the to shop. We rarely buy anything but we do lots of trying out...

We do daily (many times a day) train tracks. I really don't mind building them buy pushing a train around them is boring when you're 37 - I guess I'm just not as imaginative as Isaac.

The piano is Isabel's favourite thing at the moment.

The boy is honing his portraiture skills.

And erm... 'smiling' for the camera

Isabel is at the stage where everything is 'in'. She climbs in every box, basket or bath and dips things in and out of mugs, bowls and any other receptacle she can find - well it is important to clean your stone before you suck it....

Outdoor play always ends the same way...

Finally mended

Well that was a bit of trial. The day Matthew left for a 10 day trip the computer died and despite my best efforts he beat it back. We are finally reunited and there's a lot of catching up to do.

Thankfully the weather has been kind to us and we've been spending a lot more time outdoors which always ends up with small children in the waterlogged sandpit and then a warm bath - more of which another day.

But for today there's some fun on the bikes.

If in doubt as to how to get on your bike, this is how it's done when you're 11 months...