Bits & Bobs

So I had a nightmare two nights ago. This is very unlike me. In it, a giant Gingerbread cake was stretching over our entire driveway. I yelled at M (who immediately leapt out of bed and rushed to the window, but had no idea why because he was asleep) to get rid of it, only to wake up properly myself and admit rather sheepishly that the likelihood of there being an actual giant gingerbread on the drive was quite low and I had probably dreamt it.

I can only conclude from this that I have become too emotionally involved with The Great British Bake Off and need to Back Off.

J is coming home tomorrow before heading off to uni on Monday. There have been Last Minute Panics (as predicted) but thankfully, she's got through them all and sorted herself out. I'm giving her the Wisdom Tin tomorrow. It has grown all by itself and now contains her dad's favourites quotes as well as mine, some silly jokes, a just-in-case tenner (thank you Jane for suggesting that) and some sketches of favourite Winnie-the-pooh scenes I've done for her. I feel you can't go wrong with Winnie-the-pooh when you're far from home. 

I'm wishing I had been more organised and thought to get contributions from the whole family to put in it. My ma in law is an accomplished artist and could have done a small water colour, my father in law could have imparted Fish Wisdom, my ma a recipe, my step father advice on how to build a two-seater aeroplane in your back garden (I kid you not), the boys how to win at Grand Theft Auto, my sis advice on riding the perfect dressage test, her hubby how to put out fires (he is a fireman), and my nieces pictures of ponies and insects, my sis in law how to complete a half Iron Man, my other sis in law how to make perfect Dutch biscuits and the littlest cousins could have provided instructions on how to ride a sheep successfully in Sheep Rodeo. My bro in law is such a terrible artist that his 'man fishing' is a firm family favourite and one he is often asked to repeat. I'm really wishing I'd thought to get him to do one for the tin too. Never mind - our boys will benefit from those ideas instead when it's their turn to go off to uni (or whatever they choose to do).

 

Hopefully she will like it.

We're all back In Routines here now. Work, School and more-or-less uni for me. I start my new job Officially next week and have the group all to myself the following week. It's not teaching, but 'facilitating learning' :o) I'm also giving a Dormouse lecture to the second years next week which should be fun and the Cover Crops project is moving along too, so there is Plenty To Do. 

I'll leave you with some pics from around the garden. I'm feeling the warmth of the last few days edge over ever more into Autumn with the nights in particular feeling a little biting here of late. We even lit the fire this week, seems early but it was freezing.

Buff Tip (moth)

Plant Pot Pop

Brimstone

Bluetit

Bugloss

Cosmos

Cuc

Gatekeeper

Toms

Cobweb

Spider spinning his web

And of course the obligatory Teddy and Poppy pics. The chewed shoes are courtesy of Pop who has been indulging in Sofa Infringements recently like there's no tomorrow :o)

Meant to add a welcome to New Readers- thanks for following, be it here or on Bloglovin. I have tried to reciprocate where I could find your blog but if I've missed anyone please let me know.

Wishing you all a peaceful Wednesday,

CT :o)