Thursday 28 August 2014

Let's Sit and have a Cup Of Tea


...maybe a day late, but let's spread the treats out. Today's a new cake day! and I'm delighted to have a slice to share with Abi of Creating Paper Dreams, and her Let's Sit And Have A Cup 

It's good timing. I'm glad you're here because...sshh...can you hear it? Thought not. Today is the first day back at school and the peace is...perfect.


Oh, yes, you're right. I just caught the sound of the shed door opening too. So I suppose the lawn mower will be starting in a minute. But I can hardly complain. The (Not So) Small One might have headed off to school, but her brother has another week before he is back to the Law and he's making himself useful until then.

Back to school! She's starting the Sixth Form today - striding out in her new grey skirt and the blazer with the shiny buttons. Years ago we Country Girls used to come up to the city to see a play or go to an Open Day and we'd spot those shiny buttoned blazers (and the nylons and the stilettos) and we'd think..hardly schoolgirls, more supermodels. We didn't do high heels, we did white knee socks. It's strange, watching it from the other side. I hope she's having a good day.

I hope she comes back with a smile on her face, just as she did on her very first morning, twelve years ago now. Twelve years! I spent those hours in Waterstones, that reliable refuge, being calmed by the books, then I went to Gap and bought a jacket I still wear, before going back to collect her. Funny, the things you remember. But you are here today: better than a trip to the bookshop - honestly! What have you been up to?

We've spent the last week trying to pack in all the super-fun, creative, bonding activities we haven't been doing all summer. We've made beery bread, with a bottle of beer as a raising agent and some rosemary from the garden on top. That worked. We've put her bedroom back together again. And that worked. And then there were the pompoms. Which didn't work. Not really. Not in any beautifully decorative, bedroom transforming, life enhancing way. Not my finest paper crafting hour. Look...

No..don't.


I'm going to have another go tonight, see what I can salvage. And then I might try doing them a completely different way. That would be one which doesn't involve overly complicated instructions and two rolls of double sided tape. You need lots of tape to get the honeycomb effect, which is nice, but not two rolls nice...

So that's what we're at here. It's been lovely to chat, but I think I can hear that lawnmower starting up now, so I'll wrap you up a couple of fresh doughnuts for later and wave you off. Same time next month? Thanks Abi!

27 comments:

debs14 said...

Before you know it you'll have two at uni - time flies! I hope she's having a good day , 6th form is so different to Year 11 isn't it? I bet you are making the most of having that boy of yours home. Mine is packing up today ready for the big return at the weekend. Where did those two years in Edinburgh go?

Lizzy Hill said...

It's great she was happy to trot off....they love seeing their mates, don't they? Your pompom thing reminds me of a giant newspaper accordion rosette thingy I tried after seeing a small one on Mitra's blog. It failed. Dismally & I used SOOO much paper. Never mind, it was a learning experience...to never tackle one again!!!! Love the tea time idea...snuck on over & had a look-see:)

Barbara Eads said...

Although I was never one of those moms who couldn't wait for their children to go back to school---I totally "get" what you mean about the quiet and calm. I always said I was going to go back to bed once they were off. But, considering I'm a morning person, that never worked for me! Enjoy your last few days with the tall one! Breaks go by all too fast!

Theresa said...

well, I think those pom-poms look fab - reminds me of Christmas decorations we had waaaaay back. Had to look up a recipe for beery bread - might have to give that a go, but I'll leave the pom-poms to you. My son went back to school on Monday, it has been sooo quiet since then - especially today when we had a 4 hour power cut, not even the sound of the radio to fill the emptiness (although to be honest I'm glad to have my days back, might even be able to return to blogging).

Louise H said...

Enjoy the peace - I used to love having the kids at home for the summer but my teenage boys (or at least one of them) gets bored and teases his sister until we are all wound up. We have just a few days left now, and my youngest is starting secondary - where have the years gone?
Love the pom-pom flowers but they do look mighty complicated to make!

helena said...

the phrase 'new cake day' transported me to the smells and warmth of my Grandma's kitchen on baking day - thank you. 2 rolls seems excessive although they look great

Karen said...

From the photos, those pom-poms look pretty fabulous! Hard to believe how quickly our children grow up. It's only a couple of years before we'll be sending grandchildren off to school; unbelievable! Hope your daughter had a great first day of school!

ally said...

Love those poms poms. Thank for the catch up

scrappyjacky said...

The pom poms look great from here...love the colours.

Ruth said...

The Boy Child is back to school next Wednesday ... how can TNSSO be in the 6th form? Mind you, my nephew just started this week as a High School Senior in Texas! Gulp!
I like the idea of beery bread, is there any left?

Jennifer Shaw said...

Love these posts! Best of luck to your daughter for a great school year. Those pompoms look like they would be complicated to make.

Unknown said...

I will raise a cup to peace and quiet. I'm still enjoying the holidays as I think they finished later, they don't go back until the middle of next week and one of them the week after. I suspect I will be more than ready for shiny new shoes walking out of the door by then.
Good luck with the pom pom's and have a good weekend.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

I hope your girl had a lovely time being back at school. And I was pleasantly surprised to hear that you made those tissue paper honeycombs! Wow! I want to know how to do those!!! And I love the soft colors you're using.

Abi said...

I love those pom pons! Beautiful! The colours are gorgeous. I hope TSO enjoys her first day in sixth form. I loved sixth form. More responsibility and more of being treated like an adult. Thank you for stopping for tea with me again Sian!

Anonymous said...

The pompoms look gorgeous in those soft colours but 2 rolls of tape - yes that is a bit much. School here starts next Tuesday for the non-private school kids while private school is the week following.

Jane said...

the bread sounds yummy, lovely to catch up with you x

Lea Lacoste said...

you just reminded me I need to grab the new issue of Mollie Makes. even though I decided I would stop buying magazines for a while. huh. tough life.

Lou said...

I hope she had a smile on her face too. those pompoms look good Sian..what you've shown us of them!

Lou said...

meant to add..before i sent my comment. that they (the pompoms) remind me of christmas decorations we used to hang each year when we were kids.

Sandra said...

I hope her day went well ... Gotta say, the Pom poms look good from this end :)

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

The pom poms look pretty impressive to me. Quite a faff to make I would imagine and two rolls of tape? I think I'll give them a miss! They remind me of Christmas bells my Aunty had, that folded flat to store away. I hope your girl had a great first day. Mine go back on Wednesday and Thursday this coming week. Enjoy the rest of your time with the TTO.

Nathalie said...

It was lovely to catch up with you this way :) i am sure that I was more nervous about back to school earlier this week than my boys were...

Haddock said...

with a smile on her face, just as she did on her very first morning, twelve years ago..... some memories are for keeps, you don't need a photograph on the mantle to remind you such small things.

Anonymous said...

Well, you might be disappointed in how the pompoms turned out, but they were certainly an appealing invitation to one of my favorite memes (not that I participate, mind you, but I do like the virtual visits!).

Anonymous said...

Well, you might be disappointed in how the pompoms turned out, but they were certainly an appealing invitation to one of my favorite memes (not that I participate, mind you, but I do like the virtual visits!).

alexa said...

So how did that first day go? The end of August sounds early to me! And your honeycomb pompoms look soft and ethereal - I'd not have guessed they were held together by loads of tape! Lovely to pop in for tea ...Thank-you!

Beverly said...

I know the silence even though mine are grown. The Pirate started his first real, out of college, grown up job today and yes, indeed I got up to see him off lol I hope they both have wonderful years, enjoy this last few days with TTO.

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