The British Homemaker - One day at a time

 If you saw my post a couple of weeks ago (which I've since deleted), I apologise that I didn't upload. I have been wrapped up with a trilogy book I am writing and every spare minute I get, I spend on it. My deadline is fast approaching and the panic is slowly setting in.  However, amidst the craziness of my life, somewhere between college runs, food shopping and homemaking, I have managed to do draft a post that I've scheduled for this coming weekend. It's a collection of autumn slow cooker meals, batch cooking and some homemade granola balls.  For now, I'd like the thank Frankie and Mary for sharing this blog, once I get it set up as part of my routine (I have set work hours because I work from home) there will be some fun and useful stuff that I'll share.  If you aren't following my Facebook page, what are you waiting for? Hop on over and give it a cheeky like! All my blog posts will be shared over there and I plan to share lots of other things that may n...

Life has been somewhat chaotic of late.  The biggest thing to deal with has been my moms cancer. Whilst she is now recovering and doing profoundly well I have to admit that it does still play in my mind of the usual thoughts 'what would I do without her?' So I've buried my head a little. As well as working away at the business to get it as established as I can. Then dealing with the arthritis. Plus remembering that I am a full time mom too. So in all, my attention hasn't been on this blog or the Facebook page but now I'm willing to try again to regain some momentum with it. So, I thought I'd share some tidbits of what has been created. I very much got into crocheting. We grew strawberries. Charley learned the chain stitch on one of our trips to the Midlands. We made sweet ice pops! Many, many boy camps! We made cake in a tin. I spent hours in the patio, reading and relaxing. Breakfast date. Charley an...

Yesterday I talked about my decision to homeschool my 9 yr old. Today I want to share a few thing that I've learnt along the way (though I know I have so much more to learn yet) in hope to assist a couple of my friends who are also considering this move with their own children. We each make this decision for different reasons yet from what I understand the majority of us struggle to make the transition without 'beating' ourselves up, doubting our ability and being unsure what is available out there to prevent our kids being 'held back'. A few check points to consider: * We start our schooling at 10am * We have a timetable that guides us, not dictates * We cover 2 elements of numeracy and 2 elements of literacy a day plus reading * We've set our basic subjects as numeracy, literacy, reading, religion (not just Lds), arts & crafts, homemaking (no surprise there, eh?!) * I set up a jar where any questions Charley has on other subjects get written down...

A couple of months ago I made the huge decision to homeschool Charley. I confess that I'm not a believer in homeschooling based on the fact that I'm  one of those moms that likes to divide up my time to equal a balance, with the kids in a school it's meant I could work, do the momsy stuff or other stuff. I also think it's healthy for the separation. But , given that the new school is currently in the process of being built right on the development site I live on and the fact that the school he was at was as helpful and supportive as a wet roll of tissue paper it was the only choice I could make and keep some of my sanity. The first peace of advice when I asked around other homeschooling parents (both UK and USA friends) was to 'relax', 'de-school', 'take control of how you want to educate'. After 21 years of having at least one child in school, let me tell you the 'de-schooling' was the hardest thing I found. The whole routine of bedti...

For as long as I can remember I've been easily able to count my blessings in the darkest of times through life, I learned that to be able to do this keeps challenges in perspective, no matter how hard they are. It's also healthy in many other ways to find a positive in a tough time, for one it keeps insanity at bay. I don't mind admitting that I still have tough times accepting my arthritis, how quickly its set in and all the ways it has robbed me of independance. Some days all I want to do is cry with sheer frustration and pain and while now and again I do give in to it, I do pick myself up and carry on. The alternative isn't an option and lets face it, it's not a condition that is terminal, it's just never going to go away so its a life long adjustment process. In 7 months I've gone from limping with knee pain, swelling and weakness to hold myself to being in a wheelchair. Lets talk about this a minute... Getting crutches was the difference between ...

It's a good job no-one is perfect! I know I'm far from it. It plays on my mind when things are wrong between me and another if they wont be up front about things with me. After all, what do they think I'm going to do? I've always maintained if I am causing you to be unhappy come and talk to me, let me explain, apologise and/or put right. I don't like contention yet I find it a lot within the one community I expect it least and by not talking about it is more damaging than anything because the natural inclination is to jump it up out of all proportion to the point where you loose sight of what the original issue was! But I can't fix everything. I'm not everyone cup of tea and I'm ok with that. I pray for many people, whether I like them or not. Liking someone is not a requirement but a respect is. If I don't like someone I have two choices, tell the world or keep it to myself. I choose the latter but I will always be respectful to that person, just...

I used to think about this blog all the time. Note everything I wanted to share, photo things just for blog purpose and even wake up at night with ideas. But I lost the will to keep it up. My readership stats are quite good but as all bloggers know, comments keep you spurred on. So I'm hit and miss with it all now, even though I am 'in talks' with someone to do a joint come back in November. Nothing is finalised yet though. However, here I am, chatting, again :) SJ, my puddy tat,  has the moves for my words. Chill. Relax. Enjoy. I'm not living a fast and furious lifestyle anymore. I don't work 50+ hours a week (probably around 30-34 now including the middle of the night sessions!) I don't race round making my house all spotless and magazine worthy, I don't have a to-do list that grows with daily must-do's. I also don't stay up till midnight making sure every inch of woodwork is shining. Nope, I do what I can each day, the Teen does her...

I meant to post this on 1st December to see if it could be added to and/or altered for other fun crafts. My teen isn't huge on crafting but the dude is, he will sit for hours making, drawing, designing, writing, colouring and creating something from almost nothing. Add that to the fun of Christmas crafting and it makes for a happy mommy! Every year we have our own little routine in preparation for Christmas, quite simple really and it keeps the kids happy on the colder days and longer nights. Goes something like this: 1st - Tree goes up and decorated 2nd - Decorations around the house From here on we have a rough sketch of what we want to do each day up to Christmas Eve: Make window decorations paper chains operation Christmas child boxes {between 2 ad 6} paper bunting felt ornaments bread and pastry goodies soap/hand lotion gifts teacher/church teacher gifts salt dough decorations personalised baubles chocolate and marshmallow chocolate gifts cookies, cake...

Week three and my little dude is still sick, week two and the teen is also sick... I am assuming that when they are both recovered I will be sick. I have an irrational fear of being ill. But that's for another day. On the 'up' moments with Charley he has been getting down and crafty with my cricut machine. He came up with an idea, I simply followed his directions... An A3 canvas board was covered with some thick fabric then Charley placed his strips of cardstock and numbers exactly where he wanted them. I added a bit of blitzy glitter glue to the push pins {he chose that way to secure them to the board} and job done! He's very impressed with his idea, I a so proud of him for getting something so awesome from his wonderful little mind! Forget the other two advents he has, this is the best....and if he says that over Moshi Monsters then that's the final word!!

What? It’s October? Sheesh! Who moved September then? Is that how you feel to? I think the whole of 2012  has whizzed by. I’m sure it was only last week we were about to sign for the keys for this house, enjoy a stress free Christmas {probably the only one ever !} and looking forward to re-creating a home for us all again. Now, as I plan for Halloween and Christmas I can’t help but cast my mind back to the wonderful things that have happened this year. I know this is a pre-mature kinda post but bare with me, all will be revealed... * January saw us in our new home, hardly able to believe we were on the way to becoming settled again. It also saw us ill {3 weeks for me!} There is nothing in the world that prepares you for being homeless, no matter how it comes about, but more than that, nothing prepares you for the time you know you can lay your hat again and allow the inside unfold...it took quite a while for us all to deal with th...

Time flies eh? So many plans were scheduled for this 6 week period but with the loss of my little Billy-Norman life has taken a couple of twists and turns I didn’t expect. The alternative hasn’t all be bad though, just unplanned! Taking up bike riding to replace the car has been fun {so far} Charley loves our night time rides out where he can just chat, chat and chat some more. Having this time with him has been priceless, listening to him talk about his day, his friends and see how he’s developing his opinions and boundaries is refreshing. The dude is totally my kid! So using pictures and a few words, here’s a little how it all went.... Kirsten doesn’t do well in the heat but she does enjoy being in the garden so this little ‘tent’ was ideal for her and Jake to chill out....odd pieces of fabric, a few canes and plenty of cushions made for a happy teen! Of course, Charley had to follow suit but he wanted something a little less ‘made up’, if I could have made a cave...