Thursday 20 October 2011

Peas Not Trees

Uncle Dave has been a bit quiet round here lately, don't you think? He's busy writing his book. Or so he says. If I ask him how many words he has managed today, I just know he'll try to distract me with another one of his stories.


He's close to home now, but Uncle Dave spent many years living in Los Angeles; and he is still a bit more Hollywood than we are used to round here. Take the other night:

"Dave?" asked The Tall One. "What's that strange mark on your jacket?"

And Uncle Dave smiled patiently and said This jacket was brushed past by Elizabeth Hurley's chest once, at a party in Beverly Hills. It hasn't been washed since 1998..."

But wait. As Uncle Dave himself wuld say, I'm losing my narrative thread. That wasn't what I was supposed to be telling you about. So I'm pulling us right back to the dinner table and Uncle Dave's lack of vegetable enthusiasm. The only vegetable he is really prepared to consider is a serving of Birds Eye Frozen Peas. And it's catching on. I'm starting to sense rebellion. I've spent years training them up to eat their veg. (The Tall One again circa 1997 "I don' like the little trees" That's broccoli to the untrained ear) And what am I hearing every evening now?

Peas, not trees. Peas, not trees...

It's catchy. I'll give them that.








44 comments:

Amy said...

Speaking of Elizabeth Hurley, did you know she is engaged to our 'Shane', as in Shane Warne the best spin bowler to ever live? We, and I am being brave and making a huge genralisation, are all shaking our heads and wondering what has happened to our overweight, beaked bean eating, beer swilling, cigarette smoking balding cricketer? It certainly looks as though she has encouraged him to eat both his peas and his trees ... probably a first!

Ruth said...

I reckon living with all of you at High In The Sky is a constant laugh a minute! Got any more room?
BTW ~ the word verification is roses ~ cyber Interflora from me to you!

Jimjams said...

Oh dear, don't you just hate it when the favourite uncle gangs up with the kids against you?!?! We get round that by serving peas/carrots with everything and small quantities of "skinny" beans (actually broad to outsiders), "tiny trees", parsnip, sweet potato, mushrooms etc etc Not actually *working* very well mind you LOL

Cheryl said...

great circle repetition on a page made about tiny spheres :-)

Jane said...

I have a son like that!

Lynn said...

Yes - I think they would chant that in our house too! The husband does not like many vegetables too which does not help. Love the page - all the greens are lovely.

Ladkyis said...

Exsqueeze me? I see nothing wrong in a dislike of vegetables. I eat them sometimes but I like chips. Mr M once told a waiter "Bring the vegetables in a separate dish, it will save her time if she doesn't have to scrape them onto my plate"

I will eat peas and trees. 6 year old emily has trees with everything.

Anonymous said...

Love the card!

Irene said...

Gorgeous page. Almost thought Spring had taken me by surprise. So refreshing! Great story too. Luckily, our lot like the trees though I dare say that will all change as they grow up.
Thank you so much for your kind words yesterday. Have sent you an email.

Fiona (angelfish) said...

The first thing that came to mind when I saw your page was Orla Kiely. Lovely. My two always call broccoli little trees too, but my small one would be saying trees not peas!

Lou said...

Its Trees not Peas in this house!!! lol!
Fantastic subject for a layout and to use the peas in a pod chipboard and paper...love all the green x

Suzy said...

Fiona is right - very Orla Kiely

Why is it that the little ones always go for peas lol. I sympathise as one who spent years encouraging two kids to eat veg while all the while they wanted to know why their Dad didnt eat any! What can you do.

alexa said...

Time to stop feeding him, I think - and them, come to that! Rebellion? I bet Sis/Mum could show them a thing or too. Mind you, if it results in such a delightful page and post, I am loathe to see your sources of inspiration disappear ...

Cheri said...

I never liked trees unless they were smothered in something like cheese sauce... and since having my gallbladder removed can NOT eat them at all! No loss. If they will eat anything green you are a step ahead of me. The only "veggie" (not even) my kids will eat is sweet corn.

Jo said...

Great story and stunning layout

laurie said...

at least no one can argue with the beautiful "greens" on your page! if only they contained visual vitamins. :-)

scrappyjacky said...

I'm pleased to say we all eat veg round here...though, of course, not everyone eats the same veg, just to make it more difficult....but,surprisingly,broccoli is a favourite and eaten by everyone!!
Perhaps Uncle Dave should be reminded of his guest status!!!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Cute story, great layout! I love the colors in this one. xo

Maria Ontiveros said...

Poor Uncle Dave - writing a book is really hard! Great layout.
Rinda

Mary B said...

Love that page the colours are so vibrant really sparkles
My word verification is Battr, perhaps they would eat the trees if they were cooked in batter?

Alana said...

Tell Uncle Dave that we hate fussy eaters and any rebellion at the dinner table results in gruel being served. Think of all the scrumptious food you will miss put on if you don't eat your veggies. Unfortunately you can't tell the TO that he won't grow big and strong because he already is. Love the Lo and the pea paper. Fresh and bright.

Susan said...

I have to admit I'd take the frozen peas over the trees any day. Great story and great layout.

Susanne said...

Fun layout - you can make a page about anything look good and contain a story. Cool beans. I mean peas! (And might that be the Cosmo Cricket you said you had pulled out?)

Clare said...

Hilarious, we used to refer to it as brocolli trees when the kids were younger, in our case I think it was the tree part that made them keener to eat it!

Alison said...

It's certainly catchy...and makes a great LO!
Alison xx

debs14 said...

This post takes me back to when the children were younger and I had a cookery book for healthy eating for kids in a fun way. I used to spend much time making meals look attractive and broccoli always featured when I needed a tree in the design!
The only veg I HATE is brussel sprouts - yuk! and yet my daughter absolutely loves them - with a huge pool of salad cream to dip them into ...

Carmen said...

My Phoebe used to call brocolli trees too :D Love this - am lucky, for the most part my lot love their veG1

Do so love your page!

Unknown said...

Hi Sian, a fab post. I have opened the layout several times as i literally no idea how you got to it?
I absolutely love it, but have no idea why as it is so different. There is something about your work that is so different and it works so well. This is how you can scrap peas and trees and it make perfect sense that we would want to emulate it. I never could so i will continue to marvel at your style and look forward to 365 :)

humel said...

Catchy - and catchING, from the sound of things! The only vegetable The Tomboy will eat is carrots. And they have to be raw. She reckons that they then don't taste of anything (though she still smothers them in ketchup in order to get them down...) Perhaps I should make a layout about that?! But I doubt it would be as lovely as yours! xx

Scrappi Sandi said...

Uncle Dave would be very 'at home' at our dinner table, I can tell you!! I love this LO & the tale behind the title.

Sandie said...

Sian, only you could scrap a page about peas and brocolli and make it work so well! This post made me smile... don't you just love Uncle?!

Julie J said...

Thats a great page and it's definitely peas AND trees here.

Nathalie said...

What a perfect collection to use with your subject + Thank you for the giggles! Uncle Dave sounds like a character! :)

Anonymous said...

What a great saying! I like trees better than peas, but I'll eat both happily. Love those Cosmo Cricket papers; so perfect for this layout.

Gem's Crafts said...

Love the LO :) definitely trees not peas for me! Have never liked peas!!!

Melissa said...

That is quite a catchy phrase - way to go getting it on a scrapbook page. I have to admit, for many years, I definitely preferred peas over trees!

Sue Althouse said...

Cute story! I love the playfulness of your patterns and design shapes. Great color scheme, too!

Ifa said...

LOL, you definitely make me laugh. I can imagine the banter in the kitchen/dining room over veg. Gorgeous LO BTW.

Ginger said...

I have to say I like both!! Your LO is lots of fun and... again... the stories you tell... LOVE them :)

Jennifer Grace said...

Oh, that cheeky Uncle Dave. Perhaps he'd eat more veg if you made them into a smiley face pattern? It might make a point at least?!

At least the predicament has inspired a gorgeous scrapbook layout. I love all the polka dots. x

Lisa-Jane said...

How cute are those little peas! I love the placement on this design and what a "sweet" little story to tell. This will be wonderful for them to look back on when they are trying to get THEIR kids to eat THEIR veg! ;-)

Wanda said...

A political commentator here in the States referred to Republicans as "eat your peas" kind of folks meaning, I think, that people need to do some things simply because it's the right thing, not the easiest or most fun thing. Not quite a ringing endorsement for peas though, huh?

Anonymous said...

Your layout looks great!

Rachel Brett said...

I'm afraid I'm in the trees not peas group! Great page Sian :)

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