Ziggy's history lesson ...

Guess who this is .. ?

...

.. any clue yet ..

?

It's Juliet Caesar of course!!

Now how did we all get to find that out?  Well we played under the mulberry tree yesterday and all grabbed a few green leaves to take down the back paddock to feed the sheep.   On our way, we stopped by the walnut tree.  Lots of green nuts had hit the ground and while we looked amongst them for open ones and half shells which are fun to play with ... or to take home to float in the bath,  Ziggy held up his two mulberry leaves.   He held one to each ear, took on an air of great dignity and authority with it and looked at the rest of us and announced, 'It's Juliet Caesar.'   I got it straight away and as Ziggy looked at the other little faces looking back at him with no sign of recognition anywhere ... he followed up his announcement with, 'Well he was with the Romans.'

The photo was taken at this point, when the authority and dignity had slipped a little after there was no sign from his friends that they knew who Ziggy was.

... and this happened at the end of a wonderful day where the miles were covered by Milana, Alessia, Anna, Ziggy and Orlando.    Bonds are forming beautifully already with the change of faces this year.  I think our time in the sand showed this beautifully ... 

A communal sand castle was made and it was so lovely to see the children all finding a really cooperative and caring way to do this together.

Milana and Ziggy were really interested in each other and both had a quiet deliberate way about them that seemed to match.   It brought them both satisfaction and joy.

Creating beauty

Carrying a load

Anna and Alessia got busy together.   Alessia was really animated with Anna.   Anna steady and attentive and really enjoying Alessia while they created together and had fun.

Orlando was a bit of an action man, here and there and narrating his every move back at the rest of the gang ... which you can see in his face in these pics ... great concentration and important information being shared here ...

Later in the day we played in the cool of the barn and Alessia entertained us all, much to the pleasure and delight of big sister Milana.

Orlando had a bit of a sing and a clap too ... as the day wound up for us all

Keeping cool ...

If you could sort of line yourself up with the tree trunk here and wrapy this photo around yourself, you'd get some sense of what it's like to be under the big Oak tree near the vege gardens at the farm.

This is where we spent most of Wednesday keeping cool ...

Jyra in the middle of telling me a story ...

Frankie and flowers ... of course!

Jyra and Frankie together

Samson finding himself very funny believe me ...

Oli

Kornelius just kicking back on a very warm day (actually laying against my lap hence the photo angle) ...



New cars ...

Phillip came to pick Oli up this week and when he arrived, Oli in his inimitable style said, 'Hey danella, do you want to come and see my new car?'

He has just got this turn of phrase where you know Oli really wants you to come along, that coming with him is the best thing in the world to do ... and why on earth would you ever think not to.

Just parked near where we were at the gate was the new car.  So I went to look with the other children and we were duly impressed.   Oli stood on the doorstoop in the back seat, proudly smiling and looking at everyone and with one hand waving an invite next asked, 'Do you want to have a smell?'

Everyone knows how good something new can smell right?  Yet Oli is the only person I know who would love it so much he'd invite you all right in to join him taking a whiff!

I'm still laughing over that invite.  Of course I obliged ... and when Oli noticed me taking it in, he just gave me an acknowledging nod as he looked straight at me as if to say, 'Pretty good don't you think.'

He is one very funny, very entertaining, smart dear little man.

Sweet whimsy ...

This little gem popped into my mind this morning ...

There we were in the Witches Garden two weeks ago, Orlando, Anna and I.  All getting to know how it felt to be together anew.

Orlando and Anna were enjoying getting to know each other immensely and chatting away very happily.   The conversation turned to animals and in a quiet moment, I asked Orlando if he had any animals at home. 

Before he could answer, Anna excitedly exclaimed, 'I have!' ... and as I looked at her little face all pink with excitement, eyes twinkly at us both, I asked, 'Have you Anna?' expecting to hear about her puppy or cat or fish ... then added, 'What have you got?'

She looked at me as if ready to melt and said, 'Butterflies, I've got butterflies at my house.'

How sweet is that ...

Sign of the times ...

Sign of the times one ...

Last friday morning, a text message came in on my phone from one of the mums ... one that needed a quick reply.   As I tapped out my reply, Luke appeared right beside me in a flash.

'What are you doing?' he said looking at the screen and ready to join me.

'Writing a very quick message Luke.'

His face dropped, 'Oh I thought you were playing a game.'

Sign of the times two ...

A little while later Ted called, 'Look at that!  Look at that!'  Across from the Peppercorn tree where we were, a big stream of water was shooting high from a sprinkler near the pig sty.

'What is it?' asked Ari.

Soon all the children were looking and making comments like, 'Look at the fountain.'   'Where did it come from?'  'What is it? What is it?'

I let them look and wonder for a bit and then offered, 'It's a big sprinkler.'

Perplexed faces looked at me ... and I was asked by a few wee folk at once, 'What's that?'

Last little tidbit to share, which is a 'sign of the times' with a more personal note ... one in Ari's life for sure.

Ari often has little stories to tell me that tumble out as fast as his excitement bubbles.   Last year anytime time his mum Jac was involved, he'd end up saying 'Jack-wigan' ... his version of 'Jacqueline'.   On friday morning, he mentioned her name and this time it was 'Jack-lou-in' ... said with such attention to articulation.   Almost as if her knew he was saying it 'properly' now.  

Very gorgeous to hear as it is full of Ari's love for Jac.