Marston Magna

"I remember, I remember the house where I was born,

The little window where the sun came creeping in at dawn..."

This is Marston Magna Manor, the house where I was born, along with my brothers and sisters. My father bought the house after WWII for a song, and had 1,000 pounds knocked off for the church bells, and 1,000 pounds knocked off for the pesky ghost!!!! We lived there for about 45 years: carefree childhood, village life where everyone knew everyone, family butcher just round the corner, the brook that ran in front of the house in which we paddled and collected tadpoles and sticklebacks, the graveyard where we spent many happy hours playing pirates on the graves, and playing leapfrog over the Moore brothers' graves!! When we lived there, the front of the house was covered in climbing roses, and the heavy, oaken front door was always open, held ajar by a wrought iron lamb. The windows, too, were always open, and 2 cherry trees graced either side of the front gate...I remember, I remember!

Spider In The Bath

Here's the cartoon that goes with the blog.

Spider in the Bath!

I like bunny rabbits, I like frogs.
I like pussycats, and I like dogs.
Talking to a tiger is like falling off a log.
Being friendly to the animals is easy!
I've got a couple of hamsters in the garden shed;
One's called Sebastian, and the other's called Fred.
I've even got a teddy bear I take to bed!
Being friendly with the animals is easy!

chorus:
But, a spider in the bath, a spider in the bath!
A creepy crawly, creepy crawly spider in the bath!
I know he's only there because he wants to have a laugh!
With hairy legs and beady eyes that terrify and tantalize!
But, a spider in the bath, a spider in the bath!
A creepy crawly, creepy crawly spider in the bath!
I know he's only there because he wants to have a laugh!
I thought I'd put it down the drain but now he's climbing up the chain!
Spider in the bath!

I like elephants, and I like mice.
I'd take a lion cub at any price.
I've even heard that crocodiles can be quite nice.
Being friendly to the animals is easy!
I like caterpillars. I like snails.
I like a lizard with a very long tail.
I'd even go swimming with a big white whale.
Being friendly to the animals is easy!

chorus

I've a horrible feeling that the spider's still there!
He's hiding in the bathroom, but I don't know where.
But bath time's over now, so i don't care!
I thought I'd put him down the drain but now he's climbing up the chain!

Spiders! Eugh!

Daffidowndillies

"I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud" - William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay;

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed...and gazed...but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

New Life

How lovely to have all the kids come home for Easter...I'm still reeling! The nest of alabaster eggs is still on the table, reminding us of the beautiful weekend. It hardly seems possible now, but we had 86* F. temperatures on Saturday...followed by a beautiful Sunday...all to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus, the Christ! From death to life...a second chance...softened hearts and opened eyes. New life given so freely. Life at its best!

Here's Sapphie all dressed up in her beautiful new Easter dress from her Noni Kouri...

Oh, Happy Day!

A hike down to the river with Emma and Sapphie, Hannah, Sadie Dog, Cooper Dog, Moses Dog and Cabot Dog, and my joy was almost complete! (Soe, Colin and Kevin were up on Jay Peak, enjoying a day of Spring skiing and boarding.) This was the first time down to the river since my knee surgery, and the silly knee works!

We made our way down to the swimming hole, but the river was still very full. This didn't daunt the puppies in any way, and they all went in after sticks, although Cooper missed one and ended up in the middle of the raging river!! A little worrying to say the least, but he's fit as a fiddle and was able to swim to shore, none the worse for wear. It was 86* Fahrenheit on April 3rd 2010! Wow!

Here are a few piccies taken on the hike...my favourite is the one of the tree nibbled by the beaver, but the tree became caught, so he had to leave it where it landed! All that effort!

The Easter Bunny

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hopping down the bunny trail

Hippoty hoppity

Easter's on its way!