And The Bug Hotel Begins!

Well, the sun was shining yesterday, and I finally decided it was time to put Project Garden into action (if you want to see my ridiculously over ambitious plan for our garden, you can see that here - it really is a shining example of my optimism, naivety and 'nothing is impossible' mentality.)

Heidi was asleep in her Moses Basket upstairs (she is full of the cold and really struggling with it at the moment, bless her. She slept upright on me on Sunday night as it was the only position I could find where she wasn't choking on all the gunk built up inside her!) and Ava and I were clearing up our breakfast things when I took a look outside and saw the sun shining... The prospect of outdoor fun was irresistible, and so we donned our wellies and coats and headed out into the sunshine.

After a little bit of research into how to build an insect inviting habitat, and a fair bit of consideration into the type of creepy crawlies we want to attract into our garden, I drew this...

I've decided against the hollow sticks level as it attracts solitary bees, and while I know they are going extinct and also good for my garden, I don't really want to be attracting them with two Bubbas exploring out there... So it's been axed from the final cut!

So here we go...

First off, we identified a spot in the garden which was fairly sheltered and shady, but still had a good bit of greenery going on around it...

Second, we laid the first level of the hotel. The more natural resources you use, the better your hotel will withstand the elements, and the more welcome your creepy crawly guests are going to feel! I used some leftover bricks to form the walls and then we laid some small plant pots inside filled with sticks and leaves, perfect for attracting those lovely little ladybirds.

We separated off the second level with some more little plant pots, and filled that level with a broken clay plant pot that I had in my craft shed (don't ask why I keep that kind of thing!) This level should attract some woodlice and also provides an extra layer of stability to the structure.

My little builder was in her element, plodding round the garden collecting dead leaves and merrily stuffing them into her hotel...

I need to stock up on some more bricks before we go any further... We still want to add millipedes, beetles and lacewings so we still have a fair way to go, but someone's very proud of our hotel so far...

I hope to reveal the finished product next week, so watch this space!

On another note, this April weather is finally starting to look up... I was feeling a bit depressed that my 12tel Blick photos look practically identical! Seriously... our apple tree should have some blossom on it by now!

At least that little pink person can now play outside, even if its not exactly sunny!

Here's hoping that my May shot will be a bit brighter!

Over and out!

I've hooked up with Tabea at 12tel Blick... Watching your garden through the year!

12tel Blick

I've been shortlisted for the BIBs "Inspire" category. Thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked! If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. Just put a tick in the box beside "Clarina's Contemplations" under the Inspire category! THANKS!

You can place your votes here.

Honour...

Last night I finished reading "Honour" by Elif Shafak. It's the book I was sent to review as part of the Britmums book club, and I've really enjoyed reading it! Set between Turkey and London, and following the story of one family over 2 generations, "Honour" is a story of identity, misunderstanding and the tragic consequences for many of one single decision.

Shafak's character development is masterfully done - strong Pembe, proud Iksander, lost Adem, sensitive Yunus... the characters are loveable and yet realistic... Each having their own role to play in the unfolding events. Shafak draws her readers into the story with an unusual story structure which jumps between Turkey in the 50s and London in the 70s. While some may find this "flitty" structure frustrating, I actually found it helped the suspense and added to the sense of uncertainty which many of the characters themselves were feeling.

All in all, I found the book to be a gripping and enjoyable to read... It made me think about cultural differences, and yet the consistent and unchanging aspect of human nature.

A great read and one I highly recommend... Looking forward to next month's book already!

***

I've been shortlisted for the BIBs "Inspire" category. Thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked! If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. Just put a tick in the box beside "Clarina's Contemplations" under the Inspire category! THANKS!

You can place your votes here.

Saturday Song...

This weekend I was invited to a songwriting meet-up. Its been a few years, and I don't think I've really written anything since the girls were born. Time isn't so readily available as it once was. But songwriting is something I love and although I can't make the meet-up this time, I'm hopeful to be able to throw ideas around and work with some of these guys, and of course learn from them.

Thinking about that meet-up, however, made me root back in my files and have a little listen to some of the stuff we recorded a few years back. I wrote this song, Amazed by Grace, the year before Ava was born. It was a season of life where I just felt God's hand of blessing over my life in a very tangible way, and yet was so conscious of my own failings and flaws. The song was born out of a realisation of God's utter goodness to me despite that. I am constantly amazed by his grace - wholly undeserved and oh so generously given.

I hope it is a blessing to you. Excuse the "live" recording!!

(This song, its music and lyrics, are property of Clarina's Contemplations and may not be reproduced without permission. Copyright 2010)

I've been shortlisted for the BIBs "Inspire" category. Thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked! If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. Just put a tick in the box beside "Clarina's Contemplations" under the Inspire category! THANKS!

You can place your votes here.

Happy Birthday Baby Brother!

Dear Alex,

Hard to believe that eighteen years ago, Kristin and I were blissfully unaware, reading 'Where's Wally' in bed when you made your grand entrance into the world. I remember so clearly the little details; the moment Rosemary came in to tell us Mum had gone into hospital, the pack of cards Kristin noticed were missing from the bookshelf (guilty Dad!), the phone call when we found out we had a little brother who looked like he was going to have ginger hair, the way we merrily skipped into school telling everyone we met that you were here, the clock watching and finger tapping that happened that day at school, arriving at the hospital and seeing you; teeny tiny and practically bald and thinking you were the best thing ever!

I have learnt so much from you over the years... In many ways, you taught me how to be a Mama - how to give a bottle, change a nappy, fold a buggy, bath a newborn, how to rock a little one to sleep. You taught me what it meant to be fiercely protective of someone, and showed me that looking after a baby is a HUGE responsibility and pretty hard work at times (you didn't regularly sleep through the night til you were three!) You were the one who confirmed my desire to be a teacher and excitedly joined in with your little friend Gabi to be the first class I ever taught! Thank you for your patience and enthusiasm!

You were always my little ally: fighting my corner, obeying my every command! Kristin got so frustrated with you for that... And you totally played up to it!

I watched you grow gradually, and then I left, went up north, and the growing seemed to happen much more suddenly... My little brother was becoming my big brother.

Then Dave came on the scene and we watched you morph your little eleven year old self into him overnight... The same hoody, the same chequered shoes. It was so cute.

Then suddenly you became a man. No longer my little brother, but my big little brother. You had your own taste, your own style and your own opinions. My protective mothering of you became a deep respect for you. I respect you for your independence, your wisdom, your strength of character and your walk with Jesus.

As you turn eighteen, and head off to uni in the not too distant future, will you take one more piece of advice from your little big sister?

Look always to the Saviour... So much has happened in the last eighteen years, and I'm so excited to see what the next eighteen hold for you... God has been so gracious to you in giving you our wonderful godly parents, a fantastic church, good friends, a great education and incredible opportunities. Don't waste those things: use them for his glory and use these next eighteen years to share the incredible news about Jesus with everyone you can. Whatever these years hold, trust him completely... he has proved his faithfulness and can be trusted like no other.

That will be eighteen years well spent.

Love you, (my not so) little bro...

Oh, and HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY ALBY!

Claire x

 HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY ALBY!

I've hooked up with...

I've been shortlisted for the BIBs "Inspire" category. Thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked! If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. Just put a tick in the box beside "Clarina's Contemplations" under the Inspire category! THANKS!

You can place your votes here.

Dangerous daydreaming in the sunshine...

The weather is glorious and sitting in the garden is ALWAYS dangerous. I start dreaming... dreaming about new projects, about what thing I would like to change, or improve or work on... and seeing as I was sitting in the garden, my new project became "the garden"

Oh dear...

The danger with pinterest and such like, is that you begin to dream really unrealistically.

For example.

In my head, next summer, my Dad and I are going to build this...

Courtesy of Mamaskram

Mamas Kram is my total inspiration when it comes to all things garden related. I just LOVE her combo of German/Scandinavian style (no surprises there!)

I made a start on beautifying the garden last spring, and this is what came of it...

Ava had a little tent that stayed up all summer long...

I started work on my trellis wall. I still have big plans for this...

A little herb garden... this has been SOOO well used!

A little bit of Holland... you've got to have a few continental touches!

So that was last year... and this (below) is the result of my dangerous day-dreaming in the garden this week...

Yes, that does say playhouse, art station, bug hotel... you also are correct in reading veg patch and scarecrow. And yes, stone kids tic-tac-toe is also written there.

I blame Pinterest! (You can see my garden board here)

I'm not actually sure if any of this will come off the ground. I have a tendency sometimes to dream big and then need a little help with the getting there (which my poor Dad always bears the brunt of... but hey, if you're a DIY superman, what can you expect?? I inherit my optimistic dreaming big from him anyway, so he really can't complain!!)

Last night, I made my first little imprint on my plans for my developing trellis wall... and decided to make a sign. Again, Mama's Kram was my inspiration...

Photo courtesy of Mamaskram

All you need? A bit of wood, a lick of paint, and a permanent marker that is waterproof.

Photos of the sign in action to follow...

Just a little step at a time, and maybe, just maybe, by next summer my day-dreaming will have actually amounted to something!

Do any of you ever dream big?? Do you actually get your plans off the ground!?

I've been shortlisted for the BIBs "Inspire" category. Thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked! If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. Just put a tick in the box beside "Clarina's Contemplations" under the Inspire category! THANKS!

You can place your votes here.

Garden Detectives...

We are LOVING this sudden change in weather. As Dave said at the weekend, it's almost as though we've skipped spring this year and gone straight from winter to summer... the weather forecast for next week doesn't look so good though, so we are making the most of the sunshine while it lasts!!

Ava loves the outdoors. Every morning, after breakfast, she pulls her shoes on and heads out into the garden, walking her dolls up and down in her little buggy, rides her trike and looks for cats, examines flowers and draws on the patio with her street chalk. She loves the outdoors, and its something I'm really keen to instill in her, whatever the weather!

Yesterday, after her nap, I thought it would be nice to encourage the little explorer in her, and do some outdoor learning (yes, the teacher in me does pop out every now and again!)...

All you need is...

* An egg box
* Paper
* A pen
* A garden to explore...



Step 1: Cover your egg box
We covered the box in some coloured paper and then drew boxes over the top to show where the separate containers were. In each "container" box, I drew an object I wanted her to find in the garden, and wrote the word to go with it. Her challenge? To find the things and put them in the right section! The two "extra" sections with the question marks were for her to put interesting things of her choice...

Step 2: Let your child loose in the garden
And off she went... she needed some help in figuring out what the pictures were of... flower, leaf and twig, she figured out for herself... but the stone and sand were a bit too tricky! She very quickly caught on to the idea and would toddle off, returning with the item! We found a spider, but unfortunately he refused to stay in his section of the egg box, so we let him go again!

Step 3: Chat about what you've found
Ava had a great time finding all the bits and bobs, and then enjoyed showing her Papa later that evening. We talked about the special things that she had chosen for the "question marks" section, and the activity also provided good opportunity to talk about taking things from the ground, but not picking straight off the tree etc. She was also able to name all the objects and recognise them, so it was a good little vocab exercise too! What a wonderful opportunity, too, to talk about God's creation - about variety, and the different elements that make up the natural world!

Wouldn't it be a great activity to set for the kids if you're heading off on a woodland walk?

I'm off to enjoy some more sunshine!

I've been shortlisted for the BIBs "Inspire" category. Thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked! If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. Just put a tick in the box beside "Clarina's Contemplations" under the Inspire category! THANKS!

You can place your votes here.

Sew Pretty...

Last week, my wonderful Mum looked after the girlies while I whizzed into town to get some new materials for my little business (check it out here...) I was in and out in an hour and a half (its amazing how quick you can whizz around town when you aren't lugging a buggy and bored children around!) and one of my stops was my favourite place in town... the fabric shop! I stocked up on a metre of each of the cottons on the left (only £3.49 each!) My aim? After avidly following The Great British Sewing Bee, I had decided to sew an item of clothing for Ava.

This is NOT something that I ever thought I'd have the guts to do. I love sewing, but more the sit around the fireplace hand-stitching a little decoration for the home, or an advent calendar or something along those lines. Dressmaking? No! Far too scary and too much like hard work! But I've been so inspired by the contestants on that programme, I thought it was finally time to face my fear and give it a go. So I asked my lovely Mum to pick up a simple pattern for me and this is what she came back with...

Scary looking, eh? It felt it anyway. But after getting it out and carefully reading through all the instructions (yes, I am one of those who needs to read the instructions!) I started drawing and cutting the pattern during the girls nap on Saturday afternoon. By the time the girls woke up, everything was cut, and I just needed to sew... This was the bit that scared me!!

After putting the girls to bed, I faced my fears... I started at 8ish, and stopped at 11.30pm. It was full on, but I did it, and it wasn't so hard at all (patterns are brilliant!!) As long as I did what the pattern told me to (yes, sometimes I had to read the line 3 times with a frown on my forehead!), it seemed to work. It's not perfect, but I'm so chuffed with the final result.

It's a late night photo, taken bleary-eyed on my ipad at near midnight, but here you have it...

My first attempt at dressmaking!

Walking amongst giants...

I was happily browsing Twitter on tonight, when I saw that Suzanne, over at 3 children and it, had excitedly announced she had made it on to the shortlist for the BIB awards (Brilliance in Blogging) I moseyed over there, knowing I had been nominated, but with absolutely no illusions that I would have made it to the final 16... Although I've been blogging for nearly 5 years now, the whole "blogging community" thing is fairly new to me, so I'm still relatively unknown. So I thought.

I nearly fell off my chair.

There in the line-up for the "Inspire" category was "Clarina's Contemplations"

WHAAAATTTTTTTTT?????

I literally did a double take - make that a triple take - before I said in a somewhat astounded voice; "Dave, I've made it to the shortlist..."

Looking at the names alongside mine, I feel TOTALLY humbled. These guys are incredibly inspiring. Many of them have gone through incredibly tough times and many are still living day by day with incredibly difficult situations. They are the epitome of inspiring, and I feel honoured, and slightly out of place, being among them.

Thank you to those of you who somehow feel this little blog of mine is worthy of being labelled "inspiring". I'm so thrilled to think that my daily ramblings may encourage someone else to do something new, risky or just to live life to the full. As I say in my "About" page;

This blog is not meant to boast about my life and my achievements; as Paul says, in Galatians 6: 14 "May I never boast except in the Lord Jesus Christ."

So thank you SO much to all of you who nominated me... I am utterly humbled and grateful... and slightly gobsmacked. If you do like the blog and would like to vote for me in the "Inspire" category, you can do so below. I won't blame you if you don't - I've voted for someone else as I just couldn't justify voting myself in the light of the others in the shortlist!

You can place your votes here.

Poxy Spots and Giggly Moments...

We were back to being the girls last week, as Dave returned to work on Monday, and amidst the chaos, its been a ton of giggles. Those funny/cute little moments that are so easily forgotten, but just make you stop and want to savour the moment while you're in them. Those little memories I want to snapshot so I don't forget them when my girlies are big and grown and out in the big wide world!

Here's a bit of what we've been up to this week...

Getting trapped...
FINALLY I am able to lift Ava again. My six week recovery period is over, so I no longer need the bathroom stool, the large chair and Ava's mini-chair in order to assist her in and out of her cot. However, someone has clearly enjoyed this climbing business! I was changing the bedding on our bed last Monday morning and started to hear this whingy cry. I finished what I was doing and went into her room, expecting to see her struggling to get some toy out of her cupboard, to discover this...

Yes, the little numpty had climbed into her cot and then discovered that she couldn't get out again. Trapped! I had to work really hard not to laugh out loud and cry in a loud voice "Selberschuld!" (It's your own fault!)

2. Learning to share
Ava is showering affection and love upon her little sister at the moment. Honestly, she is so sweet with her, I only hope it lasts... this week she has been running up to Heidi at every opportunity and saying "Schau mal" (look!) and showing her all her toys and books. One evening last week, after dinner, Ava was keen to make sure Heidi had enough toys to play with...

... poor little button! This affection can, literally, be a bit 'in your face'!

3. Spotville
We have been enjoying the delights of chicken pox this past week. On Tuesday, when putting her pyjamas on her, I noticed 3 telltale blistery spots on Ava's back... by Thursday, she was literally covered from head to toe! I'm not joking when I say she probably had near on 500 spots! Bless her, she's been good as gold, and has barely complained at all. I have tried my best to keep her in the dark - what she doesn't know, can't hurt her, so she has been covered up head to toe in thick clothing and we have avoided mirrors at all costs!

Those nasty spots are all starting to scab over now, and I'm really hopeful we can re-enter the big wide world again in a couple of days... I love my home, but even I start to go a bit stir-crazy after being housebound for a few days!!

So what have you been up to this past week? Anything eventful?!

I've hooked this post up with...

Saturday Song...

Something to reflect on...

Loving Nate Tasker's renditions of some of these old classics - glorious words, beautiful arrangements. Praise God for the gift of music.
Happy Saturday everyone!

I am me

I love being a Mama... it is the most rewarding job in the world. However, I do have to admit, I don't always love everything it involves - the wiping noses, nappy changing, endless laundry, repeated questions and clearing up sick... that can be slightly less enjoyable I suppose. And sometimes, its good to remember I'm not "just a Mum". It is such an honour to be a Mama, but that is only part of who I am.

This week, I came across a post by Rachel at Three Years and Home. Talking about her decision to become a Stay at Home Mum, she wrote this post called "I am Me" and invited us to take part. So here goes...

I am a: wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, teacher, cousin, granddaughter, colleague, sister-in-Christ, child of God.

I am sometimes: chatty, excitable, creative, friendly, distracted, organised, messy, optimistic, emotional, control-freak, determined, bossy, happy, forgetful, positive, cross, head-in-the-clouds, a go-getter.

I like: time with my family, creating things, reading the Bible, coffees with friends, playing with my girlies, singing with my husband, writing, blogging, good books, dancing, sewing, getting post, changing seasons, freshly mown grass, building stuff, exploring the USA, Sourmix Haribo, reading blogs, writing to-do lists, teaching, organising, dreaming, deep and meaningfuls, going to church, songwriting, decorating for the season, babies, chic flicks, laughing with my hub, National Trust Houses, playing the piano, taking photos, takeaway food, talking about Jesus, board games, beautiful views, trying new things, baking bread, reading with my girls, buying cute fabric.

I dislike: when my girls are sad, when Dave's away, feeling under pressure, people being disappointed in me, cheating, letting people down, saying "no", scary movies, mushrooms, fish, being cold and wet, not having a project, post-pregnancy tummy, finding grey hairs, being misunderstood, feeling underappreciated, injustice, guilt.

That's me!!

Lovely little parcels...

Isn't there something special about post? Sometimes, when I'm in one of those reflective moods, I get a bit sad, thinking about the fact that it is slowly disappearing. These days, post for us is pretty much bills, money-off coupons and junk-mail. Will my girls ever write and receive letters? I have countless letters from my cousins from when we were younger.... We always laugh over them, because they seem to simply be a record of what we ate... But it was lovely. I was always SO excited to get something in the post.

And things haven't changed... With the arrival of a new baby, the post goes through the roof, and Ava has loved opening all of Heidi's 'Geschenke'...

This pressie was from my lovely friend Catrin over at Lovelife! Catrin is very creative, and had made this cute little crochet button and sewn it onto the front of a cute white summer dress. Can't wait to put Heidi in it... you can see Catrin's version of events here...

Then, as if the gorgeous gifts and exciting postal deliveries couldn't get any better, we received this GORGEOUS homemade knitted blanket that my lovely 12-year-old cousin, Beth, knitted for Heidi. She has been working on it for months (we were let privy to its existence in February) and it is so lovely... THANK you Beth. These gifts are so precious and I'm sure Heidi will treasure them forever.

So there you have it... lovely post is keeping me happy. Think I should go write someone a letter while I'm in the mood...!