The chippy lady, tired children and a meal at the table.

The lady at the Chippy in Nottingham today was so friendly and taking such good care of her customers --she warmed my heart - some of them didn't even need to speak, she knew what they wanted and how to make them feel like the most valued customer in the world...even if they spent pence rather than pounds. If only all customer service could be so fantastic.

We spent the day at Nanas house. My children were happy, and entertained by little more than bits and bobs she had thoughtfully put by for them, glittery purses, wooden horses and plastic bracelets. She was like a mother hen today and helped me look after them perfectly. They slept all the way home and said the best bit of their day was 'Nana's'.

Will, R and I sat together and had a summer meal despite the weather. After a chippy lunch, roasted veg and salad was just what was needed. We all talked. And laughed. And reminised. We wouldn't have done if we had been in the other room with the telly on. I love what the telly being off, does.

The hardest part of doing this...

Is, so far, only summing stuff up in 3 posts! I have a 4th, perhaps just this once, perhaps not....My stepson came to stay today, we have only seen him once since Christmas and it is so lovely to have him here, with his view on the world at 13. He is cross with his school, loathes (his words) his teachers, but LOVEs (his words) the beef and onion pie I have made us all, complete with pastry cows on top. To hear him comment how much trouble I had taken to make it warmed my heart and made me ashamed I nearly asked his dad to stop at the fish and chip shop on the way home.

Not the egg and washing dancing

The joy on discovering what I just seen my spainel run into his kennel with in his mouth was not the newly lain egg I had just placed on the table, but a plastic yellow lemon my son had dropped. This can be washed and returned. The egg is needed for a neighbours weekly order.

The wind contines to be my friend today. I have cheated the rain clouds so far and have done 2 loads of washing just for the sheer heaven of hanging it outside on the line so that I can see it dance and smell the freshness next time I wear some of it.

Moles and windmills

It is raining and the wind is blowing so hard that the plastic windmill I have stuck in the latest molehill is whirling like a spinning top. Hopefully the mole will be packing his bags.

clean floor, new words and lambs.

I managed to clean my floor today. No mean feat in this house of dogs, children and mud. Sad to be satisfied by such mundane-ness (or is it?).

J my 22 month old son is beginning to utter a few words here and there. Today we had 2 lovely new ones -- out of nowhere, ditch and cheese.

Walked with a friend and her 2 children to the farm down the lane and saw lambs for the first time. Felt lifted. Spring must be on her way.

A new start!

Inspired by the fantastic 3 Beautiful things blog spot, I have decided to start counting 3 blessings every day. A mum of 2 toddlers (2 and 3) who is trying to study (antenatal education), look after her livestock (hens, 9, dogs 2) and her partner, life is hectic and sometimes I forget to see the best in each day. That will change from hereonin!