Skylarks of Spring

Spring is here - just heard the skylarks in the field for the first time this year. I managed to get a quick glimpse of one and then my eyes failed tracking it. We also saw a buzzard chasing off another buzzard and the kestrel flew by a few times. I can feel the sap rising in the trees as the wind blew through the empty branches.

Book of Trolls

We just read d'Aulaire's The Book of Trolls in a big reading aloud time. ~Springy found it rather gruesome but nevertheless enjoyed it, especially the bit where the trolls look in the mirror with their children. Springy's now watching It's Me or the Dog (as she is going to be a canine behaviourist) and I'm about to start my Deutsch homework.

Phantom Menace 3-d

Went to see Phantom Menace in 3-d - enjoyed the film although found some of the 3-d blurry (but did jump a few times). I so wish I could move like Darth Maul (and I went into a bit of a dream state whereby I wondered if I could will myself to spin across the seats in the cinema and then have a light sabre appear in my hand, using the Force of course). One of these days I want to learn kendo and capoeira. :) Springy hasn't seen Star Wars before now and was okay with it. I've been doing Jar Jar Bink's voice for Springy's bunny rabbit toy ever since we got back (I love Jar Jar Binks - he's so adorable).

Snow ice cream

It snowed last night.  Springy got very excited about it as it was the first snow she has seen this year and indeed this winter (which has been relatively mild in comparison to the past 2 years).  This morning she got out into the garden at 8 a.m. in order to gather the snow, that was already melting, and to make snow icecream (which she has had a recipe for since Christmas).  She is getting much more independent in terms of culinary skills.  A few weeks ago her daddy C showed her how to make a very delicious cheese omelette; he supervised her but she did the actual cooking - it was to professional chef standard and I had a tiny bit of it.  Yum!

This afternoon we picked up our 'new' car - it's secondhand and 8 years old but has less mileage than our current 10-year old vehicle.  Also, it has a steering wheel that you can turn (unlike the Merc which is more like going for a gym workout as the steering column is in a bad way to the point that it is painful to turn a corner); it has air conditioning (the Merc has this too although it's called opening a window); and the interior lights don't act as a feature at night (unlike the Merc which has interior lights that come on and off as you are driving at night in a rather scary way); it doesn't have a 'safe mode' (unlike the Merc which has a so-called safe mode that means either your engine cuts out altogether or cuts the speed down to 30 mph, even if you are on the fast lane of the motorway); its water stays put (unlike the Merc which involves a water check every time you set off, even on the same day, as the reservoir leaks badly)...so fingers crossed it will not try and let itself down.

Bathroom tiles and angles

This morning was a manic rush around the house with a protractor to measure angles - we wrote on bathroom tiles and the bathroom mirror to remind ourselves of how many angles in a right angle and a circle and discussed when using angles in everyday and work situations would be essential. Laying bricks and tiles were discussed and also explained to Springy how in physio and (for me) massage therapy we need to know ROM (range of movement) to assess. Took Springy through some movements involving anatomical planes and did some abduction and adduction of the shoulder girdle.

German bears

Studied loads of German today and also did quite a bit of German with Springy with her teddies doing the talking. ;) C and Springy also had a walk around the harbour with Lily; Lily met some other dogs (we don't think she fully understands she's a dog) and got to play with one on the green. Poor Lily keeps trying to make friends with the swans too ("Wow - big hens. Hello!") but all they do is hiss at her and try and peck her.

Springy made her own cheese omelette this morning for her breakfast. It tasted and looked amazing - proper omelette (not scrambled at all) and under the supervision of trained chef Daddy. We did a charity market  - can't do it again as a stall holder as it cost us more than we made (didn't make anything in fact) but Springy had a great time and even did an impromptu Irish Dance which made £6.32 in tips which she donated to the charity.