30/52

"A portrait of Asa & Jasper, once a week, every week, in 2013"

 

Drawing & Colouring

Jasper - Sat quietly drawing the burnt out tractor which still sits in a near by field

Asa - Has spent hours this week colouring in his summer holiday project book, yellow is his favourite colour to use by far

Natalie

Burnt

This burnt tractor has been sat in the fields near where we live for a week now, nothing sinister, just an accidental fire but everyday my boys have asked to go and look at it. We sit and stare at it discussing what happened and why. They are transfixed by it.

Today I stood and photographed it, walked over the once melted and now hard and cold road edge where the fire happened and tried to capture it. The beauty of it.

Natalie

My boy - end of Reception

Miss Pearce

Beginnings and endings

So you have done it, a full school year completed. Well done Ace, Mummy and Daddy are so proud of what you have achieved and for the boy you are. 

Natalie 

A midsummer nights dream

On the last day of term I booked a surprise for Asa, Jasper and Barry to mark the end of Asa's first year at school. Newark Park, our very local National Trust property had The Pantaloons production of A Midsummer Nights Dream. We picnicked, drank raspberry lemonade and all enjoyed the show.

 

I was amazed at how the boys followed the story so well and did not need me to keep explaining what was happening, Jasper was belly laughing and I will never forget Asa's  not entirely appropriate comment to one of the actors at the interval. Thank heavens for Winstones ice cream to keep them out of any more mischief!

 

Natalie

29/52

"A portrait of Asa & Jasper, once a week, every week, in 2013"

 

Last day of school

 

 

Asa - tired but happy on the last day of school, ready for a summer of fun

 

Jasper - enjoying his second ice lolly on the hottest day of the year

We went for our third swim of the week at local open air pool, so refreshing after a hot day

Joining in with the 52 project

Natalie

 

Weekending - The New Forest

While Daddy was at a motorbike festival last weekend the boys and I went to our favourite place, The New Forest. Our favourite people live there

Our first visit to Lymington salt water Lido

"Watering" grandmas garden

Swimming & cycling at Highcliffe beach

Playing in the stream

Apart from breaking down on the way home the weekend was heaven. I love you Mum, Steve and Rachel, so much

Natalie 

28/52

"A portrait of Asa & Jasper, once a week, every week, in 2013"

 

 

Beach

 

 

Asa - So happy being pulled along by papa

 

Jasper - playing with grandma and examining seaweed

 

Joining in with the 52 project

 

Natalie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brothers

Looking back at my photos over this last weekend I am struck by all the images of my boys, brothers together. Mischievous, cheekier by the day, tricksters. Conversely they are protective of each other, gentle, understating, good listeners and friends. Allies. We all need an Allie

Natalie

Gooseberry and Elderflower preserve

I came across this recipe on Delia's website, a great idea to mix this classic combination in a preserve which can last the whole year.

We are very lucky here to have a farm shop with it's own pick your own fruits. We collected our gooseberries after school and I was able to whip this up the next day when both boys were at school.

Recipe taken from Delia's website

Ingredients:

900g Gooseberries
4 tablespoons elderflower cordial
900g granulated sugar
2 small plates placed in the fridge

Method

First of all take a large, heavy saucepan and smear the base with a little butter as this will help prevent the preserve sticking at a high temperature. Then top and tail the gooseberries into the pan and add 5fl oz (150 ml) water. Next bring up to simmering point and simmer very gently until the fruit is tender – this will take about 15 minutes.

After that add the sugar and stir well, then, keeping the heat low, wait for the sugar to dissolve completely (about 15 minutes), testing the liquid with a wooden spoon to make sure that there are no little granules of sugar left. Now turn the heat up to its very highest setting and let the preserve boil rapidly for 8 minutes, then take it off the heat to test for a set.

Spoon a little of the preserve on to one of the cold saucers from the fridge, and let it cool back in the fridge. You can tell – when it has cooled – if you have a 'set' by pushing the mixture with your little finger: if it has a really crinkly skin, it is set. If it is not set, boil for 5 more minutes and repeat until the preserve is set.

When set, stir in the elderflower cordial and allow it to settle for 15 minutes before pouring it into warmed sterilised jars. Seal with waxed discs, put the lids on and label when cold.

Natalie

27/52

"A portrait of Asa & Jasper, once a week, every week, in 2013"

 

Nibley

 

 

Asa - laughing with his friends at this years Nibley Music festival

 

Jasper - loving the play dough in the craft tent, a relief from the sun

 

Joining in with the 52 project

 

Natalie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poppies

On our way to a wonderful little pub on Sunday we drove past many beautiful fields, oat, wheat, rapeseed, and then a flash of red. 

So beautiful, we spent a time watching the beauty of the poppy flowers moving in the wind. I hope these small moments are teaching the boys to appreciate the little things in life and that they are fleeting

I picked one single poppy to take home with us, it wilted within 8 hours 

Taking part in Lou's nature in the home

Natalie

Elderflower hunt

 

 

Over breakfast on Sunday we all talked about our plans for the day, the boys wanted to make bows and arrows, Barry wanted to go to a motorbike meeting and I wanted to pick some elderflowers

While Barry was out Asa, Jasper and I went on a hunt, we walked the Cotswold way. It is a beautiful walk but we only did a small section as it is over 100 miles long! We managed about 3 miles from the top of the valley all the way back home, the views were breath-taking and we did indeed find the sweet smelling flowers we were after

Natalie

Three/52

Asa
18/52 On our holiday in Paignton,my happy boy. I will always remember our mini trip to Torquay
11/52 At Grandma's big birthday party, we kissed. Oh such heaven
5/52 Just like his Daddy in so many ways, always wanting to do better and a really good teacher

Jasper
15/52 You found a den and played in the damp woodland with your brother pretending I was the dragon
17/52 Enjoying mumma's ice cream, rhubarb crumble. I will always give you my icecream forever
18/52 My smallest boy, you played for hours in the waves, building little stone towers and letting the sand run through your fingers

Halfway through the year, I cannot get over how my boys seem to grow everyday. I love them more each day

Natalie