I've been back at Daughter 2's in London, trying to help out a bit while her husband's in Birmingham rehearsing for a Christmas musical play about Sherlock Holmes. It was Littlest Granddaughter's October week's holiday, so I looked after her for a few days. Here, a black cat and I went to a pottery painting place not far away from where they live.
For Hallowe'en, Littlest designed, and Daughter 2 cut, two fierce pumpkins.
Here they are in the house window.
On Saturday we went to a children's farm / play place, where we had more fun.
There was a huge marquee filled with big building blocks, so she and her mum built a palace with a stable for a donkey (which was also there, for some reason). This took quite a long time.
The Essex countryside is rather pretty.
At home, Littlest built a Lego shop that sold potions. See all the bottles on the shelf?
And this was a blindfold guess-the-taste session.
So it was lovely to be there. But now I'm home again.
We went to the Botanics yesterday. Here's my favourite tree, the bald cypress, with my favourite old chap standing beside it.
Everything was looking lovely in the autumn colours.
Pity that winter's on its way...
I hope you had somewhere to sit, or at least lean ,while the Lego stable was being built.
ReplyDeleteOh yes.
DeleteReally like the cat tail!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice Grandmother you are helping out with your littlest grandchild. Spending time with our adult kids is such a joy too. Autumn colors are like a last minute gift to hold us over until spring, I think.
ReplyDeleteI wish I were at the Botanics with you, enjoying the beautiful flowers and colors, then a cup of coffee. (no more Irn Bru--LOL) What a joy to spend time with your Littlest! Is Halloween becoming a big deal over there like it is (too much) here?
ReplyDeleteHallowe'en originates in Scotland, so it has been observed for a very long time although it's relatively recently that people have decorated their houses and so on. When I was a child it was more modest: costumes made from items from the dressing up box, turnip lanterns (harder to carve: sorry Dad!) and traditionalmgames like dooking for apples (in a bowl of water) and trying to eat a treacle scone (or a jam sandwich) suspended from a string, without using your hands. We did go guising (roughly like trick or treating) and children still do. Traditionally you would sing a song or tell a joke to earn your treat. We often used to get nuts and oranges or even money back then - now it's all sweets!
DeleteI actually quite approve of the house-decorating, so long as it's not too ghoulish (sometimes it is!) It does give an idea of which houses will welcome you if you ring the doorbell, and which won't. When Big Grandson and Granddaughter were little it was harder to tell and sometimes they were disappointed if neighbours didn't answer the door!
DeleteThat's excellent to know! I remember your mom talking to me about guising. What you describe sounds like what Halloween used to be here. Now it's big business with outlandish decorations and much too gory figures on houses. Here if you have your outside lights off, it's a signal that you aren't participating in the festivities. Or in my boyfriend's case, he's too cheap to buy candy!
DeleteI would like to recommend one of the most respected spiritualists of our time. He is a man who has helped many people in the city during difficult situations.
ReplyDeleteSome people even call him a “mini god” because of his powerful spiritual abilities and the way he helps those who come to him for guidance.
You can message him on WhatsApp: +2349046229159
Please speak to him politely and explain your situation clearly, and he will do his best to help you.
He offers spiritual guidance and support for different situations, including:
• Love and relationship issues, including helping to reconnect with an ex.
• Restoring troubled marriages and relationships.
• Spiritual prayers and rituals for protection and breakthrough.
• Herbal remedies to heal HIV, cancer, herpes.
• Fertility prayers and spiritual support for couples who want to conceive in few weeks.
• Ritual and prayers for instant wealth.
• Spiritual help in difficult situations such as court cases, recovering lost property, and other life challenges.
Many people have received help and guidance through his spiritual work.