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Sunday, 26 July 2015

July 26th 2015 - rock pet

July 26th 2015 - rock pet

Yesterday when we went to the rock pool beach lil man picked up a rock and said was bringing it home to make a rock pet.  We didn't get as far as doing it yesterday so we have made it this morning.

I have had to use UHU glue as pva wasn't strong enough.  We have put googly eyes on it,

Then I glued a small feather to a piece of pipe cleaner and glued it into the crack in the stone as a tail.

Lil man then found a camo button and asked for that to be stuck to its back.









He then asked me to put on some diamantes and he has called his rock pet "Diamond".


We have talked about how he needs to look after his "pet" and come up with some "rules".  Here they are:

* "pet rocks" are lazy and do no not need exercise and they don't like to be thrown at anyone or anything.

* "pet rocks" are not known to eat food and can survive without any.  Nor do they need any water to drink.

* "pet rocks" are clean pets and don't need baths or to go swimming, infact they don't need to go anywhere near water as they will sink straight away.

* "pet rocks" are already trained they know how to "sit", "stay" and "play dead", they don't know how to come when called and wont answer to it's name.

* "pet rocks" don't need to be brushed as they have no fur or feathers.

* "pet rocks" can be left unattended for long times and will not cause problems or make a mess.


We hope you can find a relative of Diamond and make your own rock pet and have fun like we are.



Saturday, 25 July 2015

July 25th 2015 - Parton

July 25th 2015 - Parton

I was on a mission today, I needed 60 smooth, small pale coloured rocks for a kids craft activity linked to Badger Day Camp.  They are going to make noughts & crosses games from lolly sticks and small stones of which they can decorate, they will then be going into a fabric pencil case that they can also decorate.  There is no way I am paying for rocks!

10mins drive down the road is Parton Beach, it is 98% rocks and rock pools and 2% sand.  Now you would think with this information that I would be able to find what I was looking for very easily - errrr no!  There are rocks every where but trying to find those that matched my criteria was not easy.

Hubby and the 3 boys went off to the rock pools and the edge of the sea and were trying to see what they could find - a few dead crabs, a dead seagull (decomposing), a pair of mens trousers, some shrimps and a few fish!  And they left me collecting rocks and shells.


 Whilst I was looking for the smooth rocks I found some that had lots of shiny/sparkly bits in that seem to be a type of crystal, there was a lot of this as well, in various shapes, sizes and colours.  I brought a few pieces home with me, the only 1 I can identify is the red cornelian.

My youngest son decided  that he wanted to bring a rock home and turn it into a rock pet, we are going to glue eyes on it.

Friday, 24 July 2015

July 24th 2015 - Bath time

July 24th 2015 - Bath time

Today is Bath time  for Starla my kitten.   I didn't want to bath her but had no choice as she has fleas and as only 7weeks old isn't big enough for flea collars or sprays.

She absolutely hated it!  i'mnot sure who was most traumatised me or her - me for all the scratches I have received on both arms, my shoulders and chest or her for getting wet!  Once I got her out I had her wrapped in a towel and placed a hand warmer under it to warm her back up, she seemed to like that.

At least she has forgiven me - she has laid on my chest and snuggled and nuzzled me and given kisses before going to sleep.

This is funny and pretty much the look I got from her. 

Thursday, 23 July 2015

July 23rd 2015 - Lolly stick photo frames

July 23rd 2015 - Lolly stick photo frames

As part of the Badger Day camp we will be taking a photo of them near the "campsite", it will then be printed and laminated ready for use later in the day.  That is when we will be making Lolly stick photo frames to fix the picture to.  This has the image that gave me the idea.

They are very simple to make, but I have had to do some of the early work by sticking them together as PVA kids glue isn't strong enough and I have had to use all purpose glue to do them. 

You need:
8 natural lolly sticks for each frame
wood or all purpose glue (uhu)
4 clothes pegs
pens to write on the sticks
brown crayons to make look like wood
string to hang (optional)

1. Take the 8 lolly sticks, the glue and the pegs

2. Glue the first 4 together as shown and hold together with the pegs, you may need to squeeze them between fingers as well.  allow to dry (about 10mins) the move on to next step.

3. take 2 more sticks and glue in place, hold together with the pegs, squeeze if needed and allow to dry.   If you have more than 4 pegs you can continue if not you need wait until dry.  once dry remove all 4 pegs as they are needed for the last part.

4. Take the final 2 sticks and glue both ends off them and fix in place on the existing "frame" and hold in place with pegs.  you now have your square "frame".

it doesn't matter if its not quite square as its meant to be like twigs.

 Once its all dry you can decorate how you wish and add the photo to the back (stapler) and string to hang up.


Wednesday, 22 July 2015

July 22nd 2015 - Wellington Farm

July 22nd 2015 - Wellington Farm

Today was the last day my friend was going to be here and still the weather was bad so no beach again!  This meant we had to find something to do, preferably cheap or free. 

A friend had said about a local farm she had been to a few weeks ago not far from where we live, it's free to go round the animals etc and it served food and ice cream etc (you had pay for these).  I googled Wellington Farm in Cockermouth and found the location. It looked good and as free we decided this is what we would do as it was also the right way for my friend to get back on the road to go home to Scotland.

Although it was there it wasn't as big as the net seemed to hint it was.  The boys all enjoyed looking at the animals, they wern't keen on the geese that were making A LOT  of noise by the fence, and in fairness they did sound and look nasty!  They liked playing in the small play area on the bikes and tractors.  They couldn't go on the go-karts as we didn't have any cash on us as it was free place.  We did buy ice-cream in the shop which was lovely.  After wandering round the animals we went into the trail through the woods which was really good.









July 21st 2015 - Planet Play

July 21st 2015 - Planet Play

The weather still isn't great and my friend and her kids are still here, so we needed to do something to amuse them.  So we went to Planet Play, 1of the local soft/indoor play areas.

All kids love going to soft play and being able to run about etc.  My 3 sons and my friends 2 sons are no exception to this.  They loved being able to go off on their own and play in safety, they knew where we were sat and came back when they wanted drinks etc.







Pics showing my 3 boys playing in various parts.  There is a great pic of 4/5 of mine/mates kids all sat behind the netting and they look like caged monkeys!  I won't put on here as not just my kids, but it is good.

Planet Play is really big and has a lot for them to do.  There are a few slides, loads of climbing bits, a ball pit, a sports area with football goal and basketball net.  The play area is over a few different heights that the kids have to climb to reach.  The prices are good as well - £4.95 per child for 2hrs of play.  They serve food and sweet snacks and drinks, although we didn't eat there the food looked nice and wasn't really expensive.

We had a lovely time except for 2 10/11yr old boys who thought they would push the 3yr old over (because he threw a play ball and it hit them), spit in the face of one of the 5yr olds because he stood up for his 3yr old brother and then start on the other 5yr old because he asked to have a go on the giant bouncy balls they were on.  They wern't so big and brave when they met the 10 and 12yr old brothers and an angry mother!  Sadly we wern't able to speak to their mother as they didn't leave the play area.  However, when we left my son was reading "the rules of play" on the wall and 1 said about "no bullying" to which my son said shame that happens, loud enough for the manager to hear and asked what he was on about - so we explained and he said he would go and speak to them.

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

July 20th 2015 - Whinlatter Forest

July 20th 2015 - Whinlatter Forest

We have some friends coming to stay for a few days, and as the weather doesn't look too great we decided that we would meet at Whinlatter Forest.  This was only 15mins from the roundabout where my friend would need to turn to come to my house anyway.  It also meant that the kids could run around and make noise for a few hours.

We took our own picnic and sat in the car to eat it.  We then headed off to the slides and and water play and everything else.  The 5 boys all had a great couple of hours, all got wet and muddy and played really nicely together.