They said Darcy was on her way, they were right, she arrived. The expanse of icing sugar carpet across the homestead is stunning and pretty much unspoilt. Blondie thought she’d be instagramming some spectacular feature shots and movie clips when she went walking out in the dark with our four-legged man mountain last night. She was out for all of 4 minutes…then the house phone rung and obviously we guessed it was her and there’d been an incident of a kind… She screamed down the phone “He’s got a mouse, it’s tail’s sticking out and wiggling!” Of course she had my sympathy, but it was difficult to tell because of the laughter coming from the indoors end of the telephone line. At the back of the homestead, through the window, we saw her hurtling up the garden at the only speed the deep snow would allow; slow and difficult. By the time, we’d got to the back door to let the squealing Blonde one indoors, the Golden One had caught up with her to show off his prize. Think he was wondering why he hadn’t been congratulated on his catch of the day, up until that point, he’d only managed a couple of lengthy twigs and a plastic tub that was once a useful garden accessory; no more.
Once the Blonde one had manage to extricate herself from the wellies which had only done half a job because they were only half a pair (well, a whole pair that only came halfway up her leg). Obviously if we’d known Darcy was on her way, we would have rethought that useful Christmas gift and bought her a pair that actually did the job of keeping her feet dry as opposed to filled with snow and ice…all the way up!
Mr G saved the day; he usually does, and wrestled the now, still jerry from the GO’s unrelenting jaws and sent it on its way down the food chain for another wild beast to find. Think that’s the end of the Blonde One’s late night film career, she can’t handle the excitement, to be fair, not sure we can either.
Bliss…..
Saying goodbye (ish) to our bathroom fixer today. We made it back into our own room and bed last night…means the ibuprofen doesn’t need to come out both before bedtime and once again during the night. WoW, WoW, WoW, we have the comfiest mattress in the whole world, even The Merrion in Dublin’s fair city would struggle to compete. What with the best mattress ITW and the freshly washed linen, we were both feeling born again by the time our heads hit the pillow last night.
The ‘Art’ful Dodger
Well, our very own Banksy, who’d have thought it? Before our very eyes, planning and then executing the extraordinary (not quite what his mum called it), mural on the feature wall that he had assumed was waiting for him to pop on by, readily equipped with all manner of arty paraphernalia. The mum in question tried to release him for adoption later that day, only for her to realise his cuteness and inability to say sorry and mean it, makes him a liability to the outside world- everybody would go soft in his company… “ Sowwy”.
Slow motion and motionless..
In these unusual times, can’t work out how the weather has left us so grounded. The snow upped and left and left behind it rain; a lot of rain. Prior to the snow, which we’ve experienced a fair few times at this time of year on the homestead, we were still venturing out, restrictions allowing of course. Then the white mist arrived and quite literally stopped us in our tracks. Apart from the fact it was difficult to get anywhere fast, the snow fast tracked to ice and we were marooned…
Things…. like a walk in the park…
Waiting for baby news has been exciting and mood lifting; exactly what we all need to take away the misery and anxiety of Lockdown. Daily phone calls for twinge updates and “what’s for dinner” conversations ( I always ask). 23rd Feb was a walk in the park (a literal one), late midwife appointment; “head down, ready to go” and then back home for mum to be’s ‘fancy’ of steak, mash and broccoli. “Enjoy” was my parting call as I left them to it. Not too many more of evenings on their own in front of the fire with dinner on their laps….
YaY!
Insomnia filled the air and an early shower and tea in the kitchen early morn was interrupted by house phone. “Where’s your mobile? Said he. “On charge” said I. “Go and get it” he said impatiently. So I did. Excited at the thought they were on their way to hospital and hopefully we’d be hearing news sometime in next 24 hours. “Oh my God” long pause “Oh my God” shorter pause followed by tears, lots of tears and then Mr G checking out the commotion. And there they were. Our new little family, actually 3 people on screen. One of them tiny and snoozy and the other two probably feeling snoozy but elated, and filled with smiley happy faces. Welcome to the world little one. You have brightened our lives in a matter of moments. Can’t wait to meet you!
Mashing it…..
Mum to be didn’t get to eat her fancy of steak and mash, much to the Blonde One’s lament when she eyed it up about 16 hours later…..”Poor mtb”, she sympathised, “Looked like good mash.” Can’t help thinking she might have downed it if she’d been on her own, but no, she held back and raided the fridge for chocolate cake instead; would have been rude to leave her eating on her own; that was very good cake!
Have you seen my Crocs? 