Infrastructure Work - More Gates

At the top of our land, runs a footpath. Generally this is a positive thing, as most people are friendly and nice. But in the past we have had issues with dog walkers dogs attacking chickens or just running onto our land and juumping up on the children. 

It seems very few read the "keep your dog on a lead" sign.

So a number of years ago (2014) I planted a hedge across the top to give a wide access to a tractor but to also separate the footpath off. This has given us loads more privacy and made things much better.

Like all good jobs though, I hadn't finished it!

Children Imitate

Our children often imitate us, it's how they learn. 

Sometimes I worry about what they'll learn from me, it's impossible to be how you want to be around these little people all the time. When I loose my temper or shout I often wonder what they have just learnt or how I could have handled the situation better.  

Days later I might hear them use a phrase and think to myself that's not what I want them saying or thinking. 

But then there are times when I think that they see and copy something really positive.

This morning is a perfect example of that. I help run our local playgroup on a Monday, my son comes along and helps set up and pack away whilst playing with his friends. Part of the routine is we put out snack for the children and then they all sit round and whilst they're eating I read them a story that I bring along.

I love being a man in a playgroup like this, I think it's great for the kids to see a man doing this role and also I love reading children a story (I'm strict on the parents and don't allow talking either!)

But when I finished today I went to take something back to the kitchen and when I came back my son was sat on my chair, in front of all the children, with a story book that we was "reading" to them all.

I was so proud of him, my heart melted a little bit! Such a strong little character, I know he'll go far.

Making Presents

Presents are always something I struggle with. I'm terrible really. I leave everything to the last minute and then can never come up with a good idea in time. 

With my wife's birthday approaching I decided to do an idea I'd had for ages.

For the first time in what seems like a long while I was going to make her a present!

Unfinished Plumbing

### This is a Collaborative post ####

We live in an unfinished house and I fear it may be like that for sometime... 

Nice place for a bath...

The cobbler’s children go barefoot and all that…

I’m not too bothered about it (although my wife might think otherwise), and I am slowly working my way through the list of jobs. Although the list does tend to get longer rather than shorter.

New Workshop Roof

As I mentioned in my last blog post, the workshop roof has been leaking for weeks now and has been slowly driving me mad.

It only seems to drip when I'm stood under it, and then it only hits my neck! But seriously it needed sorting before something bad happened and water got into the wiring or wrecked my tools.

False Spring

The warm spell of weather we had a few weeks ago lured everyone into a thinking that spring had arrived, but it seems we're a long way from it yet with the weather we've been having this week. 

But I love this time of year and all the prep that goes into the spring that's just around the corner. Everything is just getting ready to burst!

World Book Day

Today is world book day and there has become a tradition across schools where the children dress as their favourite character or person from a book they love. 

I think our girls saw this as a challenge. No one would be guessing who they were! They decided who they were going to be with no input from us! We might have gone with people a little more mainstream. 

Young Crafter

If you read this blog then no doubt you'll have worked put that we're a practical family. 

Both side of the family are practical, On my side my father is a farmer and an agriculture engineer, my mother was a flower arranger but is also trained in soft furnishings and does many other crafts, my sister designs fabric and wallpaper for a living and my brother is a tree surgeon. 

On my wife's side her father is a mechanic, her mother and grandmother are both amazing knitters and her brother is a car sprayer. 

So it's no wonder that our children seem drawn to anything practical or craft based. 

Sewing is certainly one that has grabbed my eldest daughter attention. She is fascinated by it. She loves anyone spending time with her showing her how to make something and picks up the skills really quickly. If any clothes break or tear she is the first to say she'll fix it!

Garden Tool Organisation

The weather has been amazing this week so I've been spending as much time outside as possible. 

I've even managed to dry some washing on the line!

My workshop and carpentry tools are pretty well organised. I know where everything is in my workshop, other than a pencil or tape measure which I can never find when I put them down! Everything has it's place and has somewhere to go where it's protected from damage. In this way I can also see if something is missing.

Cut to the garden and it's a different story. My garden tools haven't exactly been looked after over the years. When the weeds are running wild its hard to even find where I've left them at times! Although it pains me to admit that...