Cliff Walking

The warmer weather is approaching, that can only mean one thing..... PICNICS!!!

After church today we packed a picnic and set off for the cliffs of Burton Bradstock.

Oliver surveying the picnic from above!

Jacob wondering who is throwing stones...... Oliver !!

I am often told that my wife can be hard as stone!

Run for the cliffs... yes even Rebecca is running and enjoying it!!

Our walk was halted by this torrent river

and Burton Bradstock Canyon

Bethany found her first fossil

Daddy and Rebecca trying to avoid the sheep mess.

Some of the culprits

Up on the cliff!

sea glass beach

A trip to the "sea glass" beach as we call it, because fairly obviously it is full of sea glass! Earlier that morning we made apple streusel muffins so sat on the beach eating! Our favourite occupation joined with our favourite place!

Jacob took this picture of the rock in the sea that was our pebble throwing target.

Abbotsbury Barn

Term has started and Abbotsbury Barn is now open until October, so Jacob, Rebecca and I took a picnic and went off to enjoy the sunshine. It didn't pass without rather a lot of heated discussion before school about the fact that we did do things like that on week days with Oliver and Bethany when they were little. I even suggested that Jacob and Rebecca may get a little bored if all they did all summer was the school run and nothing else, but for one of the older ones this morning that seemed like a much better option than going while they were at school!

We went anyway.

Jacobs low point was when we were standing in the aviary and a cockatoo landed on his head! He has quite enjoyed telling everyone about his very scary experience though!

Stroking the goats while trying to stop them eating our clothes!

It is a guinea pig despite the unusual shape!

Loving the guinea pigs.

Swinging with Jacob always sends Rebecca flying off into space.

Jacob had that in mind all along!

Lulworth Cove

The last day of the Easter holidays and we decided to go on a mystery tour. My siblings might remember going on mystery tours when we were children. The children decided which way out of Weymouth we were going and from then on I drove where they told me to go! They each took it in turn to tell me left, right or straight on and in a bit of a roundabout way and completely by luck, they brought us to Lulworth Cove. We had a lovely day out and as luck would have it we keep buckets and spades in the car boot.

The walk down to the beach is beautiful but a bit scary with four excited children in tow!

A view from the top of the cliff.

Lulworth Cove with one of the two remaining fishing boats that catch Lobsters and crabs from the bay. There are Oyster beds here too, but we didn't find any pearls!

Ahoy there!

Sorting pebbles.

Pink and green sea anenome. Bethany was very impressed!

Oliver desperate to show you all the stones with crystals in, and was quite disappointed that they didn't sparkle on camera.

Within minutes of being on the beach Bethany said she wanted to find a stone that looked like a hot cross bun. Before you ask,I have no idea. But she did actually find one!

It takes a lot of concentration to become an expert fisherman. Bare feet are absolutely essential.

A bucket tree in someones garden.

The Arne Story

Once upon a time there were four little piggy Hammond's who fancied leaving home for the day, so they contacted the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and were taken to Arne Nature Reserve.

So the four little Hammond's set off in to the wilderness of Arne.

The first little house was made of sticks.

Along came the big bad deer and tossed them out!

So they huffed & puffed..... because it was cold!

And decided to have lunch like the famous five because they could not think on empty stomachs!

They decided a picnic on the beach would help them to think!

The second house was very wet according to Bethany, so they moved on!

The big bad deer was watching their movements very closely!

Things were not looking good as the third house was completely full of wood ants!

They eventually came across a penthouse tree.

Bethany surveyed the estate.

Oliver enjoyed the possibilities.

After the survey report things were not looking good, so because their Mummy and Daddy missed them so much they decided to come back home, where hot muffins and ginger beer were waiting for them. "God save the Queen" squawked Kiki the parrot. ... The End

Easter Holidays

The second week of the Easter holidays and the first time I have remembered the camera! We came to Nothe gardens today to feed the squirrels and birds. The squirrels were all very young ones and not used to being fed, so the children had to use every ounce of patience and managed pretty well! By the end of the summer they will be running up our legs for monkey nuts!

Bethany and Rebecca watching a successful feed.

Oliver wishing he could take a squirrel home.

Once the squirrels were full we walked down to the harbour to catch the rowing boat to the other side so we could go to the beach. The thing about rowing boats is that I don't like them very much but I do not like to be shown up by my fearless children, so we went on it anyway. Actually it's not that bad and the view of the harbour from the water is beautiful.

Oliver and Bethany trying to entice me into trailing my hand in the almost below freezing water.

Who said anything about it being pleasurable?

Bethany is the little white speck in the distance trying to find the sea.

Busy boy.

Bethany making a shelter for the birds as it was so windy.

Rebecca decided she couldn't / wouldn't dig up sand herself to make a sandcastle, so she instructed Jacob to get some for her.

I didn't make any comment as I was interested to see what he would do. Here is the evidence! Oh Jacob, Jacob!

Abbotsbury Barn at Easter

Weather was nice again and Abbostbury barn has just opened for the summer, so off we all went!

Playtime at the barn followed by a treat of dining out at the Priory house restaurant, 4 children's lunch boxes, 1 goats cheese salad and 1 Mediterranean flan with vegetables. yummy!!!

Jacob & Rebecca dive bombing each other

\

Who can hold the longest.... watch out for the crocodiles!

Baby goats having a siesta

Playing hide and seek