Episode 33 - The Orangery - Tea anyone?

[mistlethrush]

The tearoom has traveled back to the Orangery for another visit. There are bluebells in the nearby woods, and Mellors has Earl Grey and Lady Grey ready for some excursions. Mellors has, indeed, been overwintering away from Canada for some reason - I think he's been helping Maud out in the garden. There are tulips out in urns outside, and there are a few tables out in the sunny courtyard for use between showers.

Whether you have one child or several, pull up a chair and share a or a . The only rules remains no fisticuffs.

I know Scout - they grow so fast. I think most people find it scary at times, I know that I do. The YD seems to get bigger and older so quickly...

spent this afternoon making a new pair of school shorts for boy ( cut down trousers), he likes long shorts, the shop bought ones are a bit shorter this year than last.

Also made him a red/ white/ blue decorated T-shirt for non uniform day on friday. He thinks it great having his initial on the front in union flag pattern fabric, and a diamond of same fabric on the back. Made simple bandanas for boy and best mate , and a hair band for me.

Now waiting for DH to get home from cricket. I will be late for pub quiz, grrrr. And DH ended up in A&E mid match thanks to a ball in face and lots of blood. That will be a very mucky cricket kit Again.

Happy Sunday everyone! I have Pimms on the go if anyone would like one?

Unis, as always I am in awe of your sewing skills. I found the lazy mum's answer to fancy dress this year when I discovered cheap packs of t-shirt transfers. Step 1: print off appropriate picture (union jack, The Queen, Kate Middleton, favourite book character). Step 2: iron onto plain white t-shirt.

Scout - I know what you mean about them growing up. Small Bean had shorts on for the first time this week and he seems to have developed Boy-Legs instead of Toddler-Legs . All very sad really although he told me today 'mummy, you can always have a kiss and a cuddle whenever you like!' - I will hold him to that when he turns into a stroppy teenager.

Donki - lovely to see you! I laughed at YD and the suitcase locks - exactly the sort of conversation we have! Hope all is well in Donki-land, did you sort out your Olympic ticket dilemma?

We have a crowd of people over for lunch next week for the Bank Holiday. I don't want to BBQ so do any wise Tearoomers have suggestions for good outdoor-lunch type food?

hello my dears! went to the woods today and made Smores and thought of you Scout and all other scouty type tearoomers!

bean I would not cook outside, that is the key, cook in and carry out, then do anything you like! Chicken in buttermilk; sausages, tiny burgers; halloumi cheese; salad; quiche and then just take it outside

getting excited about the weekend, wonder if the Jubilee picnic for OxBoy requires fancy dress or just red white and blue- UniS you've got me thinking!

I'm having to balance lots of Bah humbug from DH with lots of keenness to be part of the jubilee entertainment from DS... complicated by the fact that we're going away that week. I have promised DS that we'll do something, even if we have to leave the bah humbug monster to look after the dog for the afternoon.

Bean
I discovered that it was possible to get a train from Porthmadoc to Cambridge. Well, two trains and 8 hours in each direction. The important thing being that it does not involve more driving.
The YD has decided to come too - but has been warned that if he complains halfway round the cross-county course that he is bored, I will be very cross indeed!
So we drive to Wales on the Friday with one set of friends. I get the train to Cambridge on Sunday with the YD, leaving DH with friends. Go to London/Greenwich with my other friends on Monday, get the train back to Porthmadoc on Tuesday, collapse in a heap for 2 days in Wales, and then drive home again...

If I am not mad now, I will be by the end of our holiday!

Yay yay yay - mn is big enough on my phone to read it!!!!!! How is EVERYONE????

We are enjoying The sun and numerous May bank holidays... Yoooooopppppie, yooooooow - daaaaarkinks - it is just toooooo lovely this orangery !!!!!!!!. Champers anyone????

How's Milk?

Bean - depending upon weather I would be minded to do lots of summery things - I've got some nice summery quiche recipies which are great with a salad and perhaps a bean salad with them - you might want new potatoes or rolls, depending upon appetites and tastes - if you did something like this that you can basically get done before friends arrive and have in the fridge (or even oven) so that you can socialise with them before the meal and not have to mess around doing lots of preparation, that's the best bet.

Tea! Wonderful Car - and I see you've got Mellors giving it a quick polish already . Champers would be great, its lovely to see you!!!

Yes - since dear ol' Beer went off exoloring Brazilian bushes Mellors has been especially attentive What-oh scout???? Milk .... Oooooops..... and Eccles -

Beer has gone off to explore Brazilian bushes?

Is this a new phone Tea? Will be good to have you back on a more permanent basis. How's milk doing at school?

JM I think that you're probably barking up the correct tree.

'nuff said JM - Re new phone - no... Funny... I just clicked onto mn for a usual struggle and all is readable!!!!! Yaaay!!!!!! It is stionking, here - shall we fall into the apple orchards put up some fairy lights and dance under the sun and then stars... Barefoot???? Xxxx

:o

mwah mwah tea.
champers it is my dear. what ho.

JM - I love you even with your weirdly bleeched brain .... It is fun to be in here again -

Today we were in the woods walking the dog - Milk was up trees, under leaves inspecting ants and ladybirds, identifying stinging nettles and hovering around them in a "dare I touch them" way... fab stuff!!! Milk is a Daisy now (rainbow) so oaa all the way from now on LOL

Unis - yaaaaaahooooo xxxx

m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=FR#/watch?v=BshxCIjNEjY

Stupid gardening question: Ladybugs don't eat plants, do they?

TEA!!!!!!! mwah mwah hello darling!
Sorry Bean I meant to post about food for the weekend - or did I? I am feeling the symptoms of the "know you're tired" thread. What about some cous cous salad with road veg on top, old Delia recipe but tres yummy

Ladybirds eat aphids and save plants as far as I know....

Donki - loving your olympic madness

Ladybird larvae (which look like a completely different creature altogether - they're sort of small black crocodile shape but insect obviously) are very keen on aphids so a very positive thing to have in the garden - as are hover flies too.

MT is also good at identifying stinging nettles. Luckily he is also pretty good at identifying dock leaves that are regularly required as a result of failing to spot the nettles because he's not looking where he's going. It sounds as though, one day, we'll all have to make a date to have a day out somewhere and let all the children romp together - based on all the children I've met it would go swimingly. There would be much tree climbing (and boosting of smaller people into trees no doubt) and general crashing around and a whole lot of tired, happy kids at the end of it.

Iced coffee and strawberries anyone?

Thanks for the info re ladybugs. We got a ladybug house yesterday and I had wanted to put it near the big flower pot in the front, which is on the edge of the jungle known as our "flower garden" (builders put in all of this stuff and we have no idea what it is and it is a real jungle so we just leave it alone with the random trip once/twice a year).

arrrrghhh, MEN. well to be precise, DH.
I have 2 days work coming up. I will need to use a car. DH's car sharer has been off sick.... DH won't make the phone call to his car sharer to say " are you or are you not driving to work tomorrow"... that all I need to know, do I have our car or not, I can hire a car if I do not have our car, its not the end of teh world, I'd just like to KNOW...

I have just booked hire car "in case". Cost's a little more than a days childcare, but I've got childcare covered on favours so not tooo badly financially hit.

Best go and sort out my tools, waterproofs and boots.

At short notice friend has said she and her kids (TS's "big friends") could watch Toddler tomorrow while I go to the hospital for an MRI (if it was a normal consultant appointment I'd take him with me) since friend who was going to watch him can no longer. I had some chocolates for friend who was originally going to babysit (she's a Guiding friend who I regularly give Mars Bars to for various things, including keeping her stocked at camp, since those are her favorites). Now I'm wondering what little token can I give other friend and her two as a thank you for having Toddler for a large portion of the afternoon while I go for tests. Any suggestions?

UniS, you have my sympathies -- MrScout is the same. I regularly can't even get answers to where is he staying overnight on the day in question. ARGH indeed!