Happy Halloween / Urban Sketchers

First things first, HAPPY HALLOWEEN,I hope you have lots of spooky fun planned for today? I have a whole day of cooking and cleaning ahead of me, in preparation for Oscar's halloween tea party later (expect a post all about it tomorrow).  But I wanted to tell you about a sketching group which I have joined. They are called Urban Sketchers and the title clearly speaks for itself. I had hoped to become a corespondent about a year ago, but at the time they required you to be part of a 3 person group and despite a facebook shout out, I couldn't get 2 other local sketchers willing to commit. 

They seem to have changed that now, and if you are part of the Flickr Group, there is a chance you will be scouted as a correspondent.

If you decide to join up yourself, do let me know, the turnover is so fast its easy to miss sketches.

Valerie

This Week

Things have been ticking along here this week, as we get ready for Halloween. I think I may have mentioned before, Oscar has a predisposition for Gothica (HERE), so as you can imagine the sudden emergence in his 2 year old little world, of all things ghastly and ghoulish has been very exciting for him. I even took him on a wee walk around the 400 year old cemetery.

I have finally made a decision about nursery for him, and he begins 2 mornings a week on 7th November (unless I chicken out before then), and he has a place for Nursery School booked for next April (when he will be 3..............3!!!!).

Its not all been fun and ghouls this week though, Daddy has been poorly and Oscar slipped in the bath and burst his lip.

Valerie

xxx

A New Path

Yesterday Oscar and I went on a nursery visit. At the time I was fairly happy with the nursery, but today I am having doubts. I cant tell yet, if it is the nursery itself, or if it is my feelings about separating myself from Oscar.  I am going to arrange a visit at another nursery either today or tomorrow, and then I may be able to tell what is causing the doubts.

For the majority of us, our babies are the shining star in our universe around which we orbit, exclusively for the first few years at least. Having 2 older children, I have experience of this already, but its amazing how we forget. As a mama of a 2 year old and a 22 year old, I can tell you without a doubt, the first time and the last time is the most difficult. The first time our little precious is left with daycare is heart-wrenching, but make no mistake you will feel exactly the same when the are all grown up and leave home for good (even if they are off having a lovely/drunken time at Uni, just like you did).

Oscar ran off into the nursery yesterday without a backwards glance, and he stayed in the dining room and then the playroom while I had a tour. He did not ask for me once. I am taking this as a good sign, but I also know the novelty may wear off once the penny drops, (mum is not staying here and I am).

Anyway, it was a busy little day yesterday, with the nursery visit, a trip to the museum toilets (funny how toilet trainers need to go to every toilet they have ever been to as soon as they see it), a wander around the blustery cemetery, The Howff, which is featured in a great book by the way Witches Blood, and a bit of shopping.

At 5pm we scooted home to the cabbage and ham in the slow cooker. Daddy came home at 6pm and Mama, for the first time ever, went out in the evening, to my first life drawing class in 15 years. I had a wonderful time, and it has resolved in me that its not just Oscar needing a new adventure, I do to.

I wouldn't say I was 'proud' of them, but I am proud of my effort. I look forward to improving over the weeks/months.

Valerie

xxx

Family Fun

On Saturday we spent ages trying to think what  to do for the day. I spent an hour on the laptop looking at the 'what's on' section with no luck. Oscar was looking a bit tired and anything overly energetic would not have been a good move. We decided to go out for lunch at the very least, and since we are not keen on taking the little guy into pubs, we went to the art gallery/museum, (at the recommendation of a friend).

The lunch was very nice, with a good selection of children's choices too. Afterwards we allowed Oscar explore the building. He has been to the galleries before, but it was about last year at this time, so he does not remember. This time, he thoroughly enjoyed the paintings (and especially the ones with little phones beside them, explaining  the work), and the display cases, with artifacts from all ages, including a viking longboat and an Egyptian sarcophagus, right through to 1970's fashion. The bones of a whale hang from the roof in one of the rooms, and I remember as a child being in awe of them myself. Oscar was no different, and it was lovely to know some things never change.

There is a Cecil Beaton exhibit running just now, and in honour of it, a family photo workshop was open. Oscar was able to draw pictures of us, look through old photo's and finally have his photo taken in (a weird mish mash), costume of his choosing.

The Mcmanus Art Gallery and Museum is free, and we spent much longer there than we had anticipated. I would highly reccommend it to locals.

The following photos are a bit blurry because they were taken on my phone, but I thought they were worth posting anyway.

Shades Of Autumn

Shades Of Autumn

This weeks colour is orange, but due to a combination of rain and wind (so not getting out) and living in the city (which is mostly grey), we haven't managed to collect many orange themed images. So I give you.............Mama's Little Beats squash collection.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Valerie

xxx

Chilly

It sure is chilly around here. There was ice on the paths and snow on the Sidlaws which overlook us.  Oscar and I managed out shopping for a while though, and it was a welcome change from the wind and rain imposed imprisonment. We even managed a wee Halloween Biscuit from the bakery, possibly the nicest bakery we have. Just the ticket for a weight watching Mama






Valerie

xxx

A Green Home

We finally started decorating last week, and despite the paint smell bothering me (it is apparently low VOC, but has a distinct farmyard odour about it!), it has been a welcome change. The last few lounges I have had, have been cream with red or red with cream, but the HUGE lounge window brings in so much of the green from outside that it seemed only natural to carry on the colour inside.

In the daytime, most people in the lounge spend their time looking out of the window, so the wall colour is secondary, but its nice to put my own stamp on it. I did well though, 6 weeks of white, that must be a world record for me ;)

Valerie

xxx