the hedgehog's balloons.

the_cross_rabbit

Finally found my diary, had major trouble trying to log in and then it hit me today that it could be linked up to an email address I very rarely use and hey presto I'm Back. Life has certainly changed a lot since I last wrote, everybody is home schooling, my mum did move in but has now returned home since she can visit us in the garden, the hubster has been furloughed and his work has talked about redundancies. DD1 has missed the opportunity to take her A levels which she is seriously p!&+$d at (strange child - I would of been mega pleased) and now wondering how her course at uni will be run. DD2 adapted really well to home schooling before lockdown and then all and sundry were back in the house and it went to pot. She has major concentration issues plus my mum kind of took over a bit which was difficult to negogiate with us all under the same roof. DD2 did manipulate the situation to be honest , so we often was only doing mornings. I also found the whole situation quite overwhelming at times as the hubster is an asthmatic and my worry was him catching it. Home schooling is up and running full time again and we've got quite a bit done this week. Her new projects are an upcycled art project for the garden and health and safety within the home after an accident she had this week. Although it was a small accident it could of been a lot worse and a trip to A and E.
 Well hope you are all well and keeping the wolf from the door. Off to do DD2 physio
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Walked Miss giddychops (dog) to the allotment yesterday (2 hour round trip). Thought it was a good idea as killing 2 birds with one stone but after my 2nd dowsing I arrived home dripping wet. I however did harvest a massive bag of broad beans which we sat and shelled yesterday afternoon, well thats to say me and the hubbster shelled and DD2 shot them all over the room. Apparently her grandad taught to shell by pretending they are bean shooters. After retrieving umpteen beans from under the dog's bed, the dog's bowl, the book shelves, plant pots, under the table she did mange to get her aim sorted. We'll be finding shrivelled up beans for months. Movie night was a bone of contention between the girls as one wanted to watch lion king 1 and 2 (DD2) and the other (DD1) wanted to watch all the marvel movies in chronological order (yipee -  ) and felt watching lion king 2 would ruin her childhood memories of the orginal lion king. I personally felt she was using a load of fancy words/pyschology to get her own way.  So marvel it was and we watched Captain America which she drooled over, a bit too chiselled for me . 
We've not done a great deal so far today other than visit the allotment to put in some fennel, pot on some savoy cabbages, plant the cucumbers and pick yet more broad beans. Waitiing for the rain to clear so I can take the dog out whilst DD2 and the hubbster finish off some English work for her flower project, and she puts another coat of paint onto her art project. Nothing else planned today other than to take down DD2 hand print rainbow she did for the front window, it'll be nice to see daylight in the front room. Oh and of course pod some broad beans.
SPENDS
£4.55 - french stick and 2 newspapers.
Well hope you all manage to dodge the rain if you go out and about today
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Walked Miss Giddychops to the allotment again today but didn't pick broad beans as sick of the sight of them at the moment. Spent most of the day upcycling various bits and pieces. We've had loads of string off the veg boxes so made a spool of string ready for DD2 art project and then took apart an old sun tent we used when the kids were more interested in staying in one place on the beach. Thinking of using the material to make some produce bags for when we harvest veg etc to protect my bike paniers. Other than that not done a great deal today, which is probably due to the mega lie in I had this morning. The hubbster cooked tea (almost unheard of) so a relaxing day in general.
SPENDS
£0
Off to watch TV hope you've had a more exciting day than I've had.
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Not been a very productive day from a homeschooling point. DD2 very emotional today, thinks it might be TOM even though she doesn't have that pleasure yet! Always makes me smile when she says that. After several melt downs about reading her book, we abandoned it in favour of reading a news article and researching some more of her flower project. Yes I know its reading but in her head its not, go figure. Then after lunch she started on her upcycling project and then moved on her bird drawings (although this was accompanied by another meltdown over been unable to draw a robin). She has drove me up the wall to be honest, as I'd showed her how I draw birds - by looking at what shapes birds are made up from. She then phoned her PA and she repeated exactly what I described. Most days she has a tendancy to discount my advice which I'm OK with it as been through it all before with DD1 (without the meltdowns), but some days I find it very frustrating. Today she drove me to chocolate. Managed to sow basil, january king cabbages and beetroot, then potted on cauliflowers and kohl rabi whilst meltdowns were in progress.  The Hubbster and DD1 have driven over to a friends (charity) project to collect the off cuts of wood and bark chippings they don't want which wil be used on the allotment.
SPENDS 
£15 donation for wood off cuts/chippings/ 2nd hand books
£2 pocket money for DD2
POSITIVES OF THE DAY
1) Chocolate makes it all better
2) Upcycling project is underway
3) Lunch was partially supplied by the allotment
Hope you have all had an enjoyable day
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Been to the allotment for a couple of hours as a famiily and managed to fit in a picnic up there as well. Picked lots of broad beans which has taken me 2 hours to pod and will probably take another hour to shell them out of their second skin. Mum called for a garden visit which was nice as we've all missed her since she left. DD1 has made chocolate and cherry brownies as DD2 won't like the cake I'm making for my birthday in a couple of days. Other than that not done much.
SPENDS
£0
Positives
1) The bean mountain has been climbed and conquered
2) DD1 cooked tea
3) The sun came out to play for awhile whilst podding beans.
Take care
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Didn't come on yesterday as I felt mentally drained after I'd been to see my sister who is going through a really bad time. She is struggling to deal with things that happened in the past and can't see a way forward at the moment plus feeling very anixious about covid 19. She's been to see the doctor who has given her medication and referred her for counselling that has over a year's waiting list. We talked about how she could deal with things, speaking to work to see if she can get some counselling, writing a letter to the people who were involved and she doesn't have to send them (doesn't know where most of them are anyway) and possibly looking at changing her job. I'm really concerned about her as she seems really fragile and when she's been depressed in the past she's always been able to talk to me about it but today she really struggled to express how she's feelings. Came home with a massive migraine and had to go to bed for a couple of hours.
 On a happier note the kids managed to make my birthday cake today without killing each other.  DD2 gave a dance performance, so a double birthday surprise. Mum came over too as she is part of our bubble as she is on her own. The kids enjoyed giving her lots of big hugs even though she only returned home a week and a half ago. It made me feel quite emotional as the hubbster's parents haven't been able to hug him or the kids since late March. The hubbster made a fantastic cooked breakfast and then after opening my cards and presents, I went back to bed with a drink and my book. DD1 has offered to make me a cheesy beanie for tea mmmmmmm. The kids made some lovely homemade cards and DD2 made one for her dad as he been unable to go to the shops. Definately will be keeping those and the rest will be recycled except the ones with glitter. I've been given some money from relatives and currently wondering what to buy as I want to get something to keep but jewerlly isn't something I'm interested in. 
Went shopping yesterday and had a veg and fruit box delivery today, hopefully that will last a couple of weeks. 
SPENDS
£195 food (2 weeks worth-hopefully)
POSITIVES
1) A supportive and loving family
2) the kids are old enough not to need to be entertained
3) Birthday cake
4) Books
Hopefully the rain will stop soon. Take care.
CRx

the_cross_rabbit

Another rainy day. Visited the allotment this morning and harvested asparagus, spinach, lettuce and mint plus watered greenhouses. Did take up a potato plant but they are still the size of marbles so will delay harvesting for another week or 2. It was nice to just sit and listen to the birds and watch the rain whilst drinking a hot cup of tea up there. Nobody really about except roofie's wife. The hubbster and DD2 went out on their nature walk and got to the furthest point and the heavens opened, but like all good boy scouts the hubbster was well prepared with umbrellas etc so they weren't too wet when they got home. They've just finished sitting in the garage watching the birds on the bird feeders - (homeschooling- maths). They are hoping that the weather will improve as they need to do it everyday for the next week and then we can use their data for our next maths project. 
I've made asparagus and spinach soup, never made it before. Starting to look at alternative uses for asparagus as I'venever got to the stage of been sick of it, but I am now and we've had loads of it this year. Picked another load of broad beans and double shelled them. Think we may have planted too many plants this year and definately getting sick of preparing and eating them.
Today is the first day of no alcohol month. Since lockdown we've been drinking most nights and although I've not put any weight on, I think my liver and kidneys could do with a rest. I really need to increase my exercise and eat more healthier and then I might shift the extra weight I'm carrying. At 11st, I need to lose 2st which will bring my BMI into a healthy zone. Just realised I've already had a piece of birthday cake. I do have an obligation to eat it though don't I  since the kids made it?????
SPENDS
£0
POSITIVES
1) Focusing on health and happiness
2) Lunch was compliments of the allotment
3) Birdsong
Well best put my best foot forward and get the dog out for a walk. Take care
CRx 

the_cross_rabbit

The sun decided to put his hat on today which was lovely. After another meltdown from DD2 I decided to take Miss Giddychops up to the allotment so I could have some alone time. Think I've done really well to last this long.  Spent a happy couple of hours weeding, sowing some carrots and harvested the garlic. The garlic unfortunately hasn't done very well due to  it not been cold enough (needs the cold to really clove up) and been so dry through spring. They had got alot of mould on them, so out of 50 plants i've only manages to salvage 15 bulbs and they really aren't great. So instead of drying them off,  i'll have to freeze them as they potentially will just rot if I don't. Enjoyed my picnic and read my book for an hour and then walked home the long way. Had a very chilled out couple of hours. Even bigger bonus was when i got on the scales this morning it turns out I only need to lose 1st and 11lbs instead of 2st (miss the jumping up and down emoji).

SPENDS
£0
POSITIVES
1) Alone time
2) tea
3) Sunshine 
Hope you've all managed to enjoy the sunshine.
CRx

themadvix

It sounds like you needed the break CR - glad you could get away for a couple of hours. Not so great about the garlic, but it’s not the end of the world.

I love your positives!

greent

No suggestions for the asparagus (I only ever eat it plain or chopped into pasta with cream and ham/ bacon) but have you considered broad bean dip - it's similar to houmous in that you can eat it with crudites, pitta etc. Have never frozen it, but houmous freezes ok, so wonder if bb dip would too? x