Busy with my boy!

I know. There hasn't been much creativity around here of late has there? So I'm cheating by sharing with you these beauties made for me by my lovely friend Mrs Bobobun. You can see her post about them over here.They are perfectly cosy and warm and the perfect colour for a girl who loves to wear green!
and I can't help thinking there's a missed opportunity here Mrs Bobobun! Burlesque knitwear?!
The boy has been keeping me busy.... and freezing! Another wonderful day out sharing his love of birding and wildlife....
He is getting quite the little expert ....do you see what we saw here? Can you see? It's there if you look hard enough.....
Yep! Another Bittern sighting! The beautiful boy and I were treated to a close fly past and then 15 minutes of sun basking on open mud flats! A rare and special sighting indeed! Even as we watched closely the clever rarity was playing 'now you see me, now you don't' through those reeds! So much so that the boy is now convinced that the Bittern is not rare at all....
...just very good at playing hide and seek! You think?!
And there's been a lot of this too!
19 Jars of yummy Aga Marmalade to keep us going for another year!
And another lovely gift out of the blue from Viv over at Hens Teeth. The most beautiful map of the East of England including our home patch up in Norfolk. We love to ponder over old maps. I love the feel of them, the colour, the smell.... mmmm. Hours of fun here! Thank-you lovely Viv! Such a treat to receive gifts just because.
Another freezing day was spent here...
The day arrived with a coating of snow and ice cold sunshine. But we wouldn't have missed a tour of Chris Skinner's outstanding haven just because our beds were cosy and warm! The sights we saw are rare and it was a privillege to enjoy 600 Goldfinch, 300 YellowHammer and a breath-taking 2000 Linnet! For me, more than seeing these numbers of birds, the real experience was the sound of them. It made us realise just how quiet our countryside has become; how little birdsong we hear on a day to day basis compared to what would have been commonplace just a generation ago.
Every aspect of this farmer's approach to wildlife and nature conservation is inspirational. We also saw a male Sparrowhawk, deer, foxes.... it was a magical day well worth the freezing early start! The boy came home with renewed determination to make his bird feeding station world class - although I'm hoping he does not aspire to Mr Skinner's £15,000 per annum seed bill!!
Another lovely surprise arrived in the form of an ENORMOUS parcel for the boy from his new friend Steve. It has been a source of great creativity and lots of banging together of pieces of wood and metal - a protege is born!
and tucked away amongst the fascinating selection of wooden offcuts, metal treasures and old tools were these two cheery lovelies for my barmy shelf! Thank-you Steve! x
And now it is half term so more time for.... you guessed it .....
...as the geese came in to roost we made our way back along the boardwalk for hot chocolate at the visitor centre before whizzing around the coast for dutch pancakes on board the Albatross.....and a hot chocolate with Bailey's for mummy!
I'm sure when I thaw out there will be more stitching and making. But for now I'm enjoying quiet contemplation under Norfolk's big skies whilst the beautiful boy nurtures his love of the world around him.
I haven't forgotten the February giveaway! I'll get to it next week! I hope those of you with little ones are enjoying special times too. It is such a short holiday! t.xx

Comments

Could you possibly be busier, have more things to do & see, amazing!! Gorgeous post, so much to look at, learn & read!! Love Posie
Unknown said…
I think it's just wonderful that you so obviously enjoy spending the time with your son and he has such a great interest in something so healthy and educational .
Shannon said…
That marmalade looks amazing! And the edging on your wrist warmers is simply lovely. What a kind friend you have! I hope you and your son find many new and unusual birds during your holiday. :)
Clare Carter said…
Great to hear from you lovely lady and I'm so glad you're having a good time with your boy.I'd be thinking that with all that walking you can eat that yummy marmalade to your hearts content ; )
xxxxxxxxxx
KC'sCourt! said…
Lovely post and what a lovely hobby your son has.
A time to dance said…
That is sooooooo spooky...I had just happened upon Mrs BOBO Buns blog then jumped over to your and there is a post and the most amazing hand warmers which I now want to knit immediately.....what do you do when the little man (although not so little these days) is beady eyeing birdies? I should take my knitting...by the way we have a very large bird reserve near my place of work called Fariburn Ings...would that entice you to visit....
Goosey said…
Lucky you to see a Bittern, we have one on a pond near where I live but I have never seen it! I have waited and watched but No!
Love the glove things too
pinkfairygran said…
We have a collection of old maps of Norfolk too, especially our corner of NW Norfolk, close to the bird reserve, and the fabulous beaches. I love to see how areas have changed, though it saddens me to see so much that has been lost, villages, the train service to Hunny from Lynn, not to mention land taken over by estates of boxes all the same.....
pinkfairygran said…
A quick PS to ask if you have ever been to the Shell Museum at Glandford.. it's a delight, full of all sorts of interesting things apart from beautiful shells. Just thought it might be somewhere your son might like?
Serenata said…
How wonderful that your son has such a love of nature. Norfolk has a lot to offer doesn't it? (Even if it is freezing cold at the moment)

The wrist warmers are lovely - so pretty.
melanie said…
You have been busy!
I bet your marmalade tasted absolutely delicious! I always mean to make some myself but never get round to it. :( xx
Anonymous said…
Hot chocolate and Baileys - yummy!xx
How wonderful the farm sounds. I have been watching goldfinches here too. (Not in the numbers you saw them, I hasten to add. Maximum number on our tree one day was fourteen, so I was very pleased). My other half (who H.A.T.E.S kitsch) has a little cow similar to those you have shown. If only that little ornament could talk....... I would love to know what her "history" is, I gather it was to do with a first love... :O)

Loving the Boy's feeding station!
x
Lark said…
Loving the barmy shelf. Barmy is a good description. Good. Hope you are ok, my dear, I envy your snowy cold days from here in the heat! xx
silverpebble said…
Booooooom. Just saying hi to Mister Bittern.

Those are especially gorgeous wristwarmers - lucky lucky Mrs B!
Twiggy said…
I've been busy with my boy too, isn't half term fab ??
twiggy x
Sal said…
Love your Jersey Cows...and the hand warmers are pretty good too!!! ;-)
vanessa said…
I'm finding myself thinking, well, he's very well brought up, and not going to go off the rails if he's a bird watcher! I think there's something very respectable and admirable about bird watching, it shows a very caring side, don't you think? Love Vanessa xxx (do you mind if i knit)
Anonymous said…
I have the 'Knitting Little Luxuries' book and the fingerless gloves have been my favourite for ages. What a good idea to make them into wrist warmers, really pretty. I love your birdwatching pictures, but I have to admit to feeling very cold at the same time! Maybe it's as well my half term days are behind me! Have you got to rescueing stage yet? My #2 son was very into birds(still is) at about your boy's age and we had a lot of anguish involving abandoned birds, chopped worms(!) sleepless nights and tears. Great success with a mallard duckling tho' which made up for it all (I think there's a blog post there sometime!) love Pennyx (Planet Penny)