tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390218663965012742024-03-13T00:39:24.679+01:00Three Sons LaterOn building a happy life, being a parent, cooking, crafting, making & baking.Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.comBlogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-82006782452206796502016-12-01T07:00:00.000+01:002016-12-01T07:00:02.055+01:00Pine Cone Christmas Crafts For Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Last year our kindergarten made these cute little pine cone angels and Christmas trees with the children and hung them in the windows. The are so simple that toddlers can make them and are fun to decorate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You will need:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Pine cones (obviously!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Paint</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Glitter in silver, gold or red</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ribbon or coloured string</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Small wooden or polystyrene balls</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For the Christmas Trees:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Paint the pine cones with green paint. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle the tips with glitter. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Leave to dry then glue coloured beads onto the tips as the baubles. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Finish by glueing or tying a lenth of coloured string or ribbon to the top so that you can hang your decoration.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">For the Angels:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Holding the pine cone flat side up, dab the tips with coloured glitter glue or with glue and sprinkle with glitter. You may want to balance the pine cone in a small cup to keep it steady and allow you to use both hands.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Draw a face onto the wooden or polystyrene ball and glue it to the centre of the flat surface, as in the photo. Next cut some lengths of wool, string or ribbon for the hair and glue it in place. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Fold the doilie into quarters and then cut out two quarters. Glue them to the back of the angel, gold side facing outwards. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Finish by glueing or tying a lenth of coloured string or ribbon to the angel so that you can hang your decoration.</span></div>
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-51652780969813389602016-11-26T07:00:00.000+01:002016-11-26T07:00:01.648+01:00A Festive Jar Of Walnuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is a simple but very effective way to brighten up a shelf, ledge, mantelpiece or windowsill for the festive season. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Just fill a kilner jar with walnuts (pine cones or chesttnuts would work either), tie a gingham ribbon round the neck of the jar and place it on a surface with a backdrop of holly, ivy and other greenery of your choice.</span></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-14802714101359452772016-03-08T11:57:00.000+01:002016-03-08T11:57:05.298+01:00We've Moved!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hello lovely readers,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thos of you who follow me on Twitter, Instagram or anywhere else may already have noticed this, but for those who haven't, WE'VE MOVED!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yes, the blog has migrated to Wordpress and has a nice short address now</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://threesonslater.com/" target="_blank">http://threesonslater.com</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Please do pop over there and have a look at the new design. All the old posts and images have migrated too, so you won't be missing anything.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Looking forward to welcoming you at <a href="http://threesonslater.com/" target="_blank">threesonslater.com</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Fionnuala & the boys x</i></span></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-62595762580399789822016-03-07T07:00:00.000+01:002016-03-07T07:00:03.095+01:00This Is Motherhood #023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-33664728202051871432016-03-06T17:15:00.000+01:002016-03-06T17:15:45.661+01:00Counting Down To Easter With Kids - Coffee Filter Bunnies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eh8UXdg4TMQ/VtwXNLqHLeI/AAAAAAAAGZk/hEUqlb8ThOA/s1600/IMG_20160217_144416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eh8UXdg4TMQ/VtwXNLqHLeI/AAAAAAAAGZk/hEUqlb8ThOA/s640/IMG_20160217_144416.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Over the last few years I have seen these coffee filter Easter bunnies made by our kindergarten kids and by the school children at our primary school too. I find them really cute and they are quite simple to make. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When making these with small children, your best bet is to draw and cut out all the pieces first before getting the children involved. Thier patience probably won't stretch to watching you prepare the paper shapes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For older children (4 years and upwards), let them draw their own rabbit ears, head and paws. They will probably need help with the eggs and the basket. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What you'll need for this activity is:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Paper or card</b> in various colours - brown, beige or grey for the rabbit fur, pink or white for inside the ears, brown for the basket and whatever colours you like for the eggs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A <b>pencil</b> for drawing with</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A <b>black felt tip pen</b> for drawing the face</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A <b>scissors</b> for cutting out with</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Glue</b> for sticking </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A <b>coffee filter</b> (or some card or wallpaper cut to the right shape) for the body</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwbmjwdp70/VtwW0GEKplI/AAAAAAAAGYs/xcFzv1vPVkc/s1600/IMG_20160217_133054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwbmjwdp70/VtwW0GEKplI/AAAAAAAAGYs/xcFzv1vPVkc/s640/IMG_20160217_133054.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 1: Draw the head, paws, feet and ears on the colour of card you will be using for the bunny's fur, as shown in the photo above. Then cut them out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 2: Draw the inner pieces of the ears and a little heart shape for the nose onto another colour of card and cut them out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 3: Draw the basket (a circle with a smaller semicircle cut out of it) and some eggs and cut them out. The eggs look very pretty is you cut them out of patterned paper.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 4: Assemble all the parts, as shown in the photo below.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uDS2JZSzqo/VtwW0reVx8I/AAAAAAAAGY0/MLKMf5a9FD4/s1600/IMG_20160217_134621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uDS2JZSzqo/VtwW0reVx8I/AAAAAAAAGY0/MLKMf5a9FD4/s640/IMG_20160217_134621.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 5: Before gluing the parts to the coffee filter, draw a face onto the bunny and draw two short strokes on each of the paws, as shown in the photos below.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 6: D</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">raw a woven pattern onto the basket, as shown in the photo below. Then turn the basket over and stick the eggs in place.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 7: Glue all of the parts together. Now your bunny should look something like the one in this photo.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BzqWY_0U3dM/VtwW_hcbAdI/AAAAAAAAGZA/A0TPFPdVC3w/s1600/IMG_20160217_143523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BzqWY_0U3dM/VtwW_hcbAdI/AAAAAAAAGZA/A0TPFPdVC3w/s640/IMG_20160217_143523.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Step 8: Now you can decide what to do with your bunny. They look quite nice as a window display, attached to the window with tack or double-sided sticky tape. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Alternatively you can stand your bunny up by cutting a toilet roll insert in half and placing the open coffee filter over it. </span><br />
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-88038327484312987532016-03-03T10:00:00.000+01:002016-03-04T22:57:45.464+01:00Counting Down To Easter With Kids: Grow Your Own Easter Grass<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You know when you look on Pinterest or in a magazine and you see beautiful Easer displays with lush-looking, thick grass? And you think, doesn't that loook gorgeous? And then you look outside and see the miserable excuse for a lawn that your children have trodden to bits? And you sigh and flick to the next page, looking for inspiration for decorations you are more likely to be able to reproduce for Easter Sunday and that you could maybe involve the kids in?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Well stop right there. Here is how you can grow your own lush and juicy looking grass in just two weeks with very little effort. In fact, you can get your children to do it for you, it is that simple. And it grows so quickly, they will love how they can almost watch it grow, hour by hour.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Here's what you need:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A flat-bottomed container, preferably shallow or made of glass (I'll explain why further on)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Wheat grains like these are what you need to start your grass off. Don't be concerned that they are dry. So are cress seeds or any other seeds you buy. The wheat grains I used were bought in October and, in our house at least, usually get milled and and added to brown bread when I bake it. They have worked perfectly for grass.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Day 1: Place a layer of grains into a wide, flat-bottomed dish. Water the grains with just enough water to dampen them. Keep the dish somewhere where it gets lots of light. I keep ours on the landing under the skylight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The reason you need a shallow or glass dish is to allow plenty of light to get to the grains to allow them to germinate and grow.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It doesn't have to be the dish that you intend using to display the grass in when it is grown. Once the grains extend roots, the roots intertwine and form a base beneath the grass stems.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Day 2-3: Water </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">with just enough water to dampen the grains. Keep an eye on them to make sure that they don't dry out completely. The first of the grains will start to sprout. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Day 4-7: By now most of the grains should have sprouted and the blades of grass will grow quite rapidly. Keep watering the grass daily with a small amount of water.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Day 8-10: By this stage the grass should look something like the photos below. Keep watering.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Day 11-14: By the time two weeks have passed, your Easter grass should be looking long and thick, and be a nice bright shade of green.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">All that remains to be done is decide on how to decorate. Adding little chicks, foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies, painted or dyed eggs, snowdrops or miniature daffodils are some pretty ideas you could try.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">I'll be posting more photos as and when I set up my own decorations. But for now here's a sneak peak at a version I was working on the other day. </span><br />
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Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-49251194734936020182016-02-29T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-29T07:00:30.960+01:00This Is Motherhood #022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-57488129997176276722016-02-28T21:52:00.004+01:002016-02-28T21:53:56.044+01:00It's Not So Bad Really, Gardening<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This weekend we've done a big clear up in the garden. During Autumn all our time was taken up with raking leaves and picking up fallen walnuts, so we never got round to tidying the garden before the weather got bad. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The combination of a dry weekend <i>and</i> having no plans led to us deciding yesterday morning that we would attack the garden. Literally attack it. We have been hacking away at bushes and trees as well as burning off-cuts of heather and sage. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I am no garden expert. I wouldn't even say that I particularly like gardening, but I do love being in the garden. And the work does give me feeling of having done something good and useful. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Breaking for a cup of coffee to be drunk outdoors while reviewing the work done and to be done. Holding an impromptu picnic by the pond, wrapped up in our wellies and fleeces. It feels so good. It tastes so good.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Yesterday while cutting back lavender and sage and ripping out dried up marjoram, I enjoyed the scent they gave off and left on my hands. Raking up walnut shells and leaves revealed vibrant green moss beneath. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The clumps that got stuck in the prongs of the rake got set aside for decorating with and for the children to play with. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">That's another one of the things about the garden that makes me happy - us all being together, but doing our own thing. Working, playing, getting creative or just sitting down for a snack outside. Easy, unforced, old-fashioned family time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">As the Bavarian chopped branches off the kiwi tree in an attempt to tame it (it grows 4m long tentacles in summer), I gathered up the ones that had become intwined in one another and separated them, carefully twisting them apart and ending up with curly wurly lengths of branch, perfect for a wreath or some Easter decorations. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Ah, full days outdoors, at last. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I suppose it is not so bad after all, gardening. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For more snaps and stories, follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/three_sons_later/" target="_blank">Instagram (@three_sons_later)</a></span></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-66449142559946105712016-02-26T12:00:00.000+01:002016-02-26T12:00:15.236+01:00A Day For Making Plans<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It is a day for making plans and lists. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have decided that just now. When things are going wrong, the best thing to do is try make them better. </span></div>
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For weeks now, life just hasn't been right. It is never going to be perfect, even through there are perfect days now and again. But lately it hasn't even been particularly good.</div>
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There are the small things, like the weather being miserable. Not proper Winter and not proper Spring. Snow falling but not sticking. The sun coming out but disappearing before we get our shoes on to go outside. I can't change that. No one can. </div>
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Then there are the bigger things. The worse than usual fights and arguments between the children. The struggles between us and the children. Not just the ordinary ones, like having to ask five times before they put their shoes on. I mean the struggles where you as a parent come across as the bad guy ALL the time and there seems to no logical explanation. </div>
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The sulking kids, the crying, whingeing, complaining and storming off. The door slamming. The "I hate you" s and "You don't even like me" s. The "I'm not eating that" and the "I won't do what you tell me. I am the boss of me". </div>
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It is tiring and draining and hurtful. I know they don't mean it to be. But it gets to you, you know?. </div>
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So today is a day for plans and lists. We're looking at what we need to change to be happy again. A list for each of us and a family list. I'm hoping that there will be some easy fixes and I know there will be some big things too. </div>
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Number One is getting older and more independent. He needs to feel he can choose things for himself and we have to find ways to let him do that. We are not prepared to push out the boundaries as far as he wants us too but hopefully we can compromise.</div>
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Number Two has grown so much so quickly that we easily forget he is only five. We expect too much of him and that has to change too. He still needs us a lot. He needs individual attention and more focus on him and what he wants.</div>
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Number Three is galloping towards little boyhood at an astounding rate. A Christmas he was still a baby. A walking, climbing, babbling baby, but a baby nonetheless. Now, turning 18 months old next week, he is most definitely a toddler, demanding attention, shouting out words and taking only one nap a day. We have to adapt to his changing needs also.</div>
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So, wallowing in self-pity is banned and positive, life-changing plans are getting made. Will they work? Who knows. Is it worth a try? Yes.</div>
</span></span>Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-80416881662700310312016-02-26T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-26T08:13:02.584+01:00The Toddler's Guide To Successful Toddlering<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If you are reading this, you are probably between 10 and 36 months old and are doubting your potential to be a successful toddler. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Let me guess? You see other toddlers throw themselves on the ground and behave as if the end of the world is nigh only to be scooped up moments later by a parent or minder and given the thing they want? You want that too but you haven't been able to achieve it? You parents are not driven entirely crazy by your behaviour but all your friends' parents are losing the plot?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Don't worry. You can do it too. By following these simple rules, you can reach your potential before it is too late. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>1. There is no phase: </i></b>We've all heard the muttering between parents when their toddlers seem impossible to manage, "It is just a phase". Don't let them fool you. There is no phase. YOU are in charge. YOU have the power to decide whether or not you get what you want out of todderhood.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>2. Learn from your mistakes</i></b>: Your first attempt at a tantrum was scuppered by a know-it-all mother who fooled you into calming down? So what? Learn from your mistakes. Now that you know her tricks, you just have to repeat the performance and stick to your guns. She has been lulled into a false sense of security and believes the same tricks will work on you again. Oh no, think again lady! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>3. Repetition is key</i></b>: Remember, tantrums are not your only weapon. Repetition of what parents consider unsuitable behaviour is a powerful tool. Climbing onto the kitchen table when no one is looking, emptying the cupboards of their contents, playing with the toilet brush - these are all examples of easy-to-perform activities which, if repeated often enough, will drive your parents to the levels of frustration you always hoped to achieve. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>4. <i>T</i></b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>rust your instincts:</i></b> Don't listen to the contant cries of "No" and "Don't do that!". Remember that you were born to be a toddler. It is a natural progression from babyhood. All that lying around in your pram wasn't a waste of time. It allowed you to gather information, to soak up the behaviour of the adults and children around you. It has allowed you to learn which buttons to push to get your way. Trust your instincts and go with what you feel. If </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">you can get near a phone or tablet,</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> disable it in some way. Your mind will guide you and let you know the exact combination of buttons to press to set i</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">t to a foreign language or turn the screen sideways. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Following these guidelines will set you on the path to becoming the kind of toddler that other mothers gossip about. Goody two shoes pre-schoolers may even look to you for inspiration. But don't underestimate the amount of work involved. At first it may seem not to be worth it, but once you get a taste of getting your way, you won't regret having put in the effort. </span></div>
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Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-85570613406041575322016-02-25T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-25T07:00:12.902+01:00Easy Peasy Easter Art for Toddlers<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Toddlers love sticking their fingers into stuff and making a mess, so why not let them at it and make a bit of Easter art out of it? This is how easy it is.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZblA99NBNQ4/Vs2tq0X0GdI/AAAAAAAAGVA/YhzG_TfQ07Q/s1600/IMG_20160217_145738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZblA99NBNQ4/Vs2tq0X0GdI/AAAAAAAAGVA/YhzG_TfQ07Q/s400/IMG_20160217_145738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You will need:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A small amount of water</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At least one child</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A waterproof fine point black marker pen</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 1: Get out some paints (poster paints are good but even those little watercolur sets work too) and a little plastic cup of water. Put an apron or bib on your child to avoid them getting paint on their clothes when they inevitably wipe their hands on what they are wearing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 2: Lay a few sheets of paper on the table. White or pastel colours show up the paint best, I find. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 3: Have your child dip their index fingertip into the water then into the paint. If you are using poster paints it is a good idea to put a small amount onto a plate. If you are using watercolours, get the child to rub their wet finger on their chosen colour of paint until it is well coated with colour.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 4: Make fingerprints scattered all over the pages, reloading the fingers with fresh paint as needed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 5: Leave the paint to dry. Wash the child's hands and put away the water and paints. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 6: For chicks - draw eyes, beaks and wings on the fingerprints</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Step 7: Now you can decide what to do with your little works of art. The ideas I like are:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">- Cut out the best creatures and make Easter cards</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZc3Ahpmscc/Vs2trL37ruI/AAAAAAAAGVE/DMQFVLFTf30/s1600/IMG_20160217_145839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZc3Ahpmscc/Vs2trL37ruI/AAAAAAAAGVE/DMQFVLFTf30/s400/IMG_20160217_145839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> - Cut out some of your favourites and glue them to little paper bags. You can then fill these with chocolate eggs and give them as gifts at Easter. As an alternative, you can do the fingerprints straight onto the bag, as we did here:</span><br />
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-82308697556716680942016-02-24T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-24T07:00:11.778+01:00Projektschmiede Second Hand Wonderland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Last Friday, in <a href="http://www.threesonslater.blogspot.de/2016/02/fionnualas-february-five-for-fiver.html" target="_blank">my 5 under €5 post</a>, I mentioned my new favourite second hand shop. Anyone who is a regular reader will know that </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">anything old is my kind of thing. So, finding a new place where I can look at and buy old stuff is always a good thing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Projektschmiede in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany is not so much a shop as a warehouse. We have been in Rothenburg dozens of times over the past ten years but never noticed Projektschmiede until the weekend before last when we were in town to watch our nephew in a football tournament. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Now, I am not a sports fan but I have never been happier to have been to a football match than I was that day! Having spotted the warehouse while stopped at the lights on the way to the sports hall, I waited till a gap in matches and snuck off with Number Three to check out Projektschmiede.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Before I even got in the door of the place, I was thrilled. Outside the entrance was shelf upon shelf of jars in all shapes and sizes. But when I turned around and saw all these plant pot holders arranged by colour, I knew I had found a special place.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Inside I was not disappointed. First of all, there was the building itself - huge arched windows letting in tons of natural light, a red brick vaulted ceiling and a maze of rooms. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In the first couple of rooms the walls are lined with white shelving stacked with china and glassware of all kinds. From soup tureens to serving platters, sherry glasses to dinner plates, it is all there. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I didn't buy this cute little tea set but I wish I had. €5! A steal.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">There were more glasses than I have ever seen before in one place, and such pretty ones. I am definitely going to back. I simply <i>could not </i>decide which ones to buy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What I really liked about the place was that the staff seemed to enjoy working there and they cared about the way the goods were displayed. Just look at this coffee pot display. (I admit the photo is not the best, but I had a toddler struggling to get off my hip as I took it). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The next room was bursting with furniture - a whole mix of stuff, a lot of it not my taste. But there were a few really nice pieces with potential - these wardrobes, a set of chairs with woven ratten backs (€24 each), a set of bedside lockers (€40 each).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">There was even one room of toys, which included this gorgeous cot. It is actually a baby cot rather than a toy and, while the veneer was damaged in a few places, it had beautiful paintwork. €28 is all it cost. I had a difficult time not buying it, I can tell you. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The book section was laid out like a library with aisles of shelves stuffed with books, sorted properly into categories. There was even a wood-burning stove lit to cosy the place up!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This bookshelf caught my eye. I can imagine that a few coats of chalk paint in a smokey blue-grey, it could be beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">I am so pleased to have come across this place and am going to have to set aside a little budget for my next visit. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk/" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="“HomeEtc”"><img alt="Home Etc" br="" src="http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/HOME_ETC_BADGE.jpg" /></a></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-77468725357903142792016-02-22T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-22T07:00:07.320+01:00This Is Motherhood #021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FBJvnj3TXdI/VsoNLB3A1qI/AAAAAAAAGSU/UHkRaNPxSX4/s1600/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FBJvnj3TXdI/VsoNLB3A1qI/AAAAAAAAGSU/UHkRaNPxSX4/s640/021.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-8823069856915426722016-02-21T10:24:00.000+01:002016-02-21T10:24:29.865+01:00Heitmann Egg Decorating Set Giveaway<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I woke up this morning feeling generous and decided I would hold a little Easter giveaway today! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Having spent the past week thinking about Easter crafts and what new things to try this year, I thought I would share my favourite egg dye brand with you, because I will <i>definitely</i> be using it again this year. I have already bought several packs in preparation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We have used Heitmann egg dye for years and years now and have always been really pleased with the results, not to mention the fun we have had deciding on the colours and techniques to use.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The set contains five dyes. All you need to do is dissolve the dye tabs in water and vinegar (the instructions are on the back of the pack in several languages) and then the <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2015/03/german-easter-egg-decorations-photoshoot.html" target="_blank">fun starts</a>. You can create all kinds of <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2015/04/a-few-photos-of-this-years-egg.html" target="_blank">patterns and designs</a> on your eggs <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2015/03/easter-crafts-with-kids-2-decorated-eggs.html" target="_blank">using simple techniques.</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So here is your chance to win! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Just enter a comment on this post, letting me know your favourite Easter craft and you'll be in with a chance to win one of these little sets. Feel free to share the giveaway details on Facebook, Twitter, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If you want to leave a link to your own craft ideas, please do. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'll choose a winner on Monday 22nd. Good luck everyone! I am excited to hear about your crafts. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv7xSViL_wE/VRxPQYcwx5I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/gA10rcO5OwA/s1600/IMG-20150331-WA0013%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nv7xSViL_wE/VRxPQYcwx5I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/gA10rcO5OwA/s640/IMG-20150331-WA0013%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">Some of our favourites from last year</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/search/label/Easter" target="_blank">Click here</a> for all our <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/search/label/Easter" target="_blank">Easter posts</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><i>[Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I bought and paid for the Heitmann set myself and the idea of the giveaway is all my own. All words, opinions and photos are my own too. I am just in a generous mood today.]</i></b></span>Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-74417498761540731842016-02-19T11:30:00.000+01:002016-02-23T14:44:47.039+01:00Fionnuala's February Five For A Fiver Friday<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">...or 'How Many Fs Can You Put In A Blog Post Title'.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I have made a few really lovely purchases over the last week or so and that has motivated me to join in with <a href="http://rainbeaubelle.com/five-under-5-february/" target="_blank">Julia from Rainbeaubelle's linky</a> 5 under 5. I'm working with Euro rather than GBP but the idea is the same.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So, here are my five:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A glass jar for holding bits and bobs, candles or for use as a vase, €1.50</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Intricately painted real eggs, 80 cent each</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A tea set for four, €5.00</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Tulips, €1.98</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A baking book, free in exchange for baking a cake</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The glass jar, the eggs and the tea set were all finds from my latest discovery - a second hand warehouse not far from where my in-laws live. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">How I hadn't noticed it before, I do no know. Apparently it has been there for 18 years, but it seems to be a well kept secret. I have a feeling I will be a regular visitor.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">The tulips were a treat to myself when doing the grocery shopping on Saturday. I adore tulips. They are one of my very favourite flowers and, at this time of year, I often buy myself a bunch as a little reward for doing the grocery shopping. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The baking book - 1 Dough, 50 Cakes - was a present from our wonderful local independent bookshop. Every year the shop holds a bake sale in aid of a local charity. To encourage us to bake (as if I needed encouragement!), the shop offers a small range of baking books in exchange for a cake donation. I have taken part the last couple of years. I find it a really nice idea.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I've baked a few tray bakes from this book already (photos below) and they worked out perfectly. Tomorrow I will be handing over my cake donation and buying a few slices from the range on offer. I may even make tea in my new tea set to go with them.</span></div>
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-59816901810662317802016-02-19T07:00:00.001+01:002016-02-19T07:00:33.552+01:00Having My Political Say<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This week I have been on The Irish Times website again, this time with <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/generation-emigration/should-ireland-extend-the-vote-to-emigrants-i-vote-no-1.2536737" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">an article on emigrant voting</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You may or may not know that Ireland, unlike most European countries, does not allow emigrants to vote by postal vote. Emigrants are kept on the electoral register for, I believe, 18 months after leaving Ireland and may vote in elections in that period if they return to the country to do so. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">With the rise in emigration, particularly among young Irish people, since the end of the boom as well as the presidential election, general elections and the same-sex marriage referendum, there has been a lot of discussion in recent years on the subject of further extending the vote to emigrants.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I, as am emigrant, obviously have some thoughts on the issue and The Irish Times was kind enough to <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/generation-emigration/should-ireland-extend-the-vote-to-emigrants-i-vote-no-1.2536737" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">publish them this week</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; text-align: justify;">At the time of writing this post there were 96 comments on the article. My views are, apparently, not shared by many. But I'm happy to see such a discussion going on. I've even made it to 4th place on the "Most Discussed" articles on Thursday.</span><br />
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-28502417059742901082016-02-17T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-17T07:00:12.563+01:00Upcycling A Metal Framed MIrror<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Some time in the early 2000s, I bought what I considered at the time to be a pretty, metal-framed mirror with a candle holder at the front. I can no longer recall where I bought it or how much I paid. Several house moves later, it has found itself in the cellar, no longer a suitable match for any of our other belongings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A couple of times I almost donated it to the charity shop or brought it along to sell at a flea market. But something held me back. I thought I might spray it gold or change the beads. I just never had that aha moment.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">That is, till now. Recently I signed up for a surprise parcel project. The other day I got the list of likes and dislikes of the person I am to send a parcel to. It turns out she likes shabby chic, white paint and crafts. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">After a little careful consideration, I decided to get my chalk paint out and see about giving the mirror frame a little makeover. It turned out to be incredibly quick and easy, but with a great result. Hopfully the lovely-sounding recipient will like it as much as I do. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 1: Remove the mirror and wipe the frame clean to remove any dust or candle grease.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 2: Give the chalk paint a good stir and then apply one coat of paint to the front of the frame. Leave to dry. Rinse the paintbrush well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 3: A</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">pply one coat of paint to the back of the frame, being careful not to apply the paint too heavily. You want to avoid lumps and bumps of dried paint on the front. Leave to dry. Rinse the paintbrush well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 4: Repeat step 2 and step 3 twice. It took at total of three coats of paint to cover the black metal frame completely.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 5: Using a small piece of medium grade sandpaper, sand the areas of the frame that would get most wear and tear. This will give the frame an aged, worn, shabby look. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Stand back and look at the full piece a few times. Try to create a realistic pattern of wear, e.g. corners, edges, hinges would get most handing and would probably get worn sooner than the more decorative elements of the frame. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 6: Dust the frame with a cotton cloth, such as a tea towel, to remove any dust from the sanding. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 7: Polish the mirror and insert it into the frame.</span><br />
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Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-88287794985940524432016-02-16T07:00:00.000+01:002016-03-01T20:49:02.905+01:00How To Make A Springtime Table Runner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This easy-to-make springtime table runner will brighten up your table for Easter, or on any other Spring day for that matter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Step 1: Begin by drawing a leaf pattern on the green felt. Then cut out the leaves using a very sharp scissors to give them a neat edge. I used two shades of green.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBO5jxO1M3w/VQrZR257rWI/AAAAAAAABuw/NXTxV-MQYDc/s1600/20150318_083045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jBO5jxO1M3w/VQrZR257rWI/AAAAAAAABuw/NXTxV-MQYDc/s400/20150318_083045.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Step 2: Using the green embroidery thread, sew a vein up the middle of each leaf, as shown in the photo below.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwCtobsNyY8/VQrZwHeQTXI/AAAAAAAABwY/QwXt1zzqdNQ/s1600/20150318_110815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwCtobsNyY8/VQrZwHeQTXI/AAAAAAAABwY/QwXt1zzqdNQ/s400/20150318_110815.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; text-align: justify;">Step 3: Draw petals on the coloured felt and cut them out. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new";">I used
a star shaped cookie cutter as a template for the outer petals and the lid of a
bottle as a template for the centre of the flower.</span></div>
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in the photos below, placing a button in the centre of each. Sew each flower
together using embroidery thread in a contrasting colour.</span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eTI4LL-tcEI/VQrZvDELqWI/AAAAAAAABwQ/dR9bzqwOD-o/s1600/20150318_105716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eTI4LL-tcEI/VQrZvDELqWI/AAAAAAAABwQ/dR9bzqwOD-o/s400/20150318_105716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Step 5: Lay the oblong strip of felt out
flat and arrange the leaves and flowers on it in a pattern of your choice. You
could bunch them all together in the centre, lay them in the form of a wreath
or in a straight line down the centre of the runner. I chose to scatter mine
about at random, leaving room to add dyed eggs as an additional decoration on
Easter Sunday morning. </span><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Once you have decided on your arrangement, use a hot
glue gun to fix the flowers in place. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Alternatively,
you can sew them into place. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then simply spread the runner along your dining table and admire your good work!</span></div>
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Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-65406634772230132592016-02-15T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-15T07:00:19.204+01:00Multicultural Family Life - Meet An Imperfect Mum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: start;"><b>Because of the fact that we are a family made up of two nationalities, I am always interested to hear how other families in similar situations live their lives. And I thought you might be too. </b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: start;"><b><br /></b></i></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: start;"><b>For this month's installment of </b></i><span style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i>Multicultural Family Life </i></b></span><i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px; text-align: start;"><b>I asked a fellow expat blogger to share with us how she, her Dutch husband and their children manage their multicultural family life.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Catie blogs at the <a href="http://www.diaryofanimperfectmum.com/">Diary of An Imperfect Mum</a>. It is a parenting and lifestyle blog with a twist. There she writes</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> features about her family life, parenting, and craft ideas with some reviews, quotes and photography (one of her passions) thrown in. The twist in the blog is that she has a son with autism, so some posts cover issues relating to having a child with special needs. She describes her parenting adventure as taking the scenic route but with lessons that are very relevant to all families.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">1. To start with Catie, please tell us a little about your family's background - where you're from, where you've lived, where you are now.<u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I am a 40 something expat mum, wife and teacher. I was born in Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England but since 2005 I have lived in Holland with my Dutch husband. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">We have two boys (born in July 2006, and February 2009). They are mad about computer games and animals and are bilingual. I work part-time in an international school teaching children English. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2. What languages are your children exposed to and how do you juggle these? Do you have a family language you speak at home or does each parent have one language they stick to?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">English and Dutch. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">We use the one parent one language (OPOL) approach but hubby and I speak English together. Despite working in an international school (English speaking), we choose for our children to attend Dutch school. We did that because we plan on staying here and because we wanted them to have friends in our small village.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">3. What have you noticed about your children's language skills? Have they picked up on both languages equally well?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Before the boys started school their main language was English as they spent most time with me (papa worked in the UK from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1477757003" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span> until <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1477757004" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday</span></span>). When they started school they began speaking more Dutch. The school reported a <i>taal achterstand</i> (language delay) based on their vocabulary assessments until around age 7. I do not like the term language delay and would strongly argue that the assessment they use is not relevant or fair to bilinguals.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">At this point we decided that my husband would change jobs to one based in the Netherlands to ensure the boys had more Dutch input. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">Both children speak English and Dutch and switch easily between the two.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I would say that my oldest son is stronger in Dutch now but when I ask he says he has no preference. It is difficult to assess this as he is autistic so has some specific language problems relating to his autism. We were advised to bring our eldest son up as a monolingual because of his autism but we choose to <a href="http://www.diaryofanimperfectmum.com/2014/11/why-i-ignored-professionals-advice-to.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ignore this advice</a> and I am so glad we did!<u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">He demonstrates the same language problems in both languages e.g. misunderstanding figurative language. But it didn’t stop him from learning either, in fact I would argue that having 2 languages has given him a larger frame of reference and therefore better understanding.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">For the future: I am conscious that my boys are spending more time speaking Dutch now, with friends and at school and that is why hubby and I have chosen to continue speaking English together to give them more exposure at home. We also watch quite a lot of English television and read English books.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">4. Do you or your other half have any of the stereotypical traits of your own nationality? Has this had any effect on your life in The Netherlands?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My husband is very laid back and easy going and I am the total opposite.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">5. How different, if at all, would your life be if you lived in the UK rather than in The Netherlands?<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We choose to live in the Netherlands because of the lifestyle here. Dutch children often come out top in the poll of the happiest children in the world*.<u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Everything here is orientated towards families. You see this most in the summer, as families finish work and all meet at the beach. If I could sum it up I would say the Dutch work to live they don’t live for work.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">6. Have there been any child-rearing differences between you and your husband based on the mentality of your home countries? <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Yes, my husband is far more relaxed, children are given more freedom to play outside in the street, walk or cycle to school or to a friend's. My husband’s approach is to trust the children to do the right thing and will say to them; “Dare to say no!” I find it much harder <a href="https://www.blogger.com/(http://www.diaryofanimperfectmum.com/2015/05/do-your-kids-dare-to-say-no.html)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">to let my kids go</a>. <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">7. Are there any Dutch customs you've adopted in child-rearing or anything else? <u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The biggest difference I have encountered in relation to child rearing was when my children were born. Firstly the Dutch do not readily give pain relief during labour. Secondly that when the baby is born you have a <i>Kramzorg</i> (anti-natal carer) who comes to your home for the first 8 days and supports you by helping you take care of the baby (including with breast feeding), cooking meals for you and your family and doing household duties like the washing and cleaning. It is amazing, I cried when mine left!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Secondly, initial schooling is different. Although children start the day after their 4<sup>th</sup> birthday they do not have to attend officially until they are 5. The first 3 years of school are play based and formal education e.g. learning to read and write does not begin until Group 3 (Year 2 UK equivalent or age 7). This has suited both of my boys and it is amazing how quickly they learn when they begin group 3 as they are ready.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We are lucky that English is a high value language here and the children will have English lessons at school and when they are older they could have the opportunity to go to a bilingual school.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i>Thanks for sharing your experience with us Catie. I lived in Holland as a student and loved it, but I didn't realise quite how family-friendly the lifestyle there is. </i></b></span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><i>The Kramzorg service sounds incredible. It must be a wonderful support in the first week at home with a new baby. </i></b><br />
<b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><i>The Dutch school system sounds similar to the German one that my children are going through, although here it is separated into kindergarten and school, with school beginning at six years of age. I was doubtful at first, but you are right. It is incredible how quickly six and seven year old pick up reading and writing.</i></b><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i>I am no expert on bilingual children, but I think you were right to raise both your sons bilingually. Well done for trusting your instinct and going ahead despite the professional advice.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: courier new, courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i>Best of luck to you and your family on your adventures in parenting!</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i>*</i></b><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mihal-greener/dutch-children-happiest_b_6676356.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" target="_blank">Click here to read more about Dutch children being the happiest in the world</a><b><i><br /></i></b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><i style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">[Are you interested in joining the series? Contact me on the contact form on the right. I'd love to hear from you.]</i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><b><i> </i></b></span></div>
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Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-18425130084572147672016-02-14T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-14T07:00:08.858+01:00Obsession<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: small;">My name is Fionnuala and I have an obsession with small bowls.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-59730117052871102952016-02-13T09:18:00.004+01:002016-02-13T09:18:58.182+01:00Pre-Valentine's Day Musings<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The Bavarian is not at all a Valentine's Day person. He never was. Until I met him I was mostly single on Valentine's Day and even on the ones I wasn't, it all felt a bit too much with the cards, flowers and meals. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It always seemed to be to be more of a punishment for single people than a celebration of love for those in love.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So we have passed a happy 15 years without feeling the need to splash out on one particular day of the year when everyone else is doing the same.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Isn't it much more romantic that The Bavarian brought me home a bunch of </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">green, white and orange flowers </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">on St. Patrick's Day? Or that I got to stay in bed for the whole day to recover from a sinus infection that happened to hit me one Valentine's Day? Or that he bought me Diarmuid O Muirithe's book 'Word We Use' as a surprise and for no reason other than he knew I loved that column in the Irish Times?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Today we will visit the town we married in, but we'll be there for a football match. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Tomorrow will be St. Valentine's Day and we will celebrate it just as we did on Wednesday when it was St. Scholasticaa's Day or in mid- January when it was the day of St. Paul the Hermit. We will be celebrating </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">a normal day as a couple and as a family. </span></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-63765788637212841782016-02-10T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-11T09:09:52.358+01:00What Lies Beneath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Generally speaking, tiles would not be my choice of flooring for anywhere other than the bathroom. Even at that, I found it very hard to find tiles I <i>really</i> liked when we <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2015/06/the-badly-needed-bathroom-makeover.html">renovated our bathroom</a> a couple of years ago. We settled on these wood-effect tiles in the end and I am still very happy with them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The only exception to my no-tiles-outside-the-bathroom rule is if the tiles are beautiful, original vintage tiles. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I love the look of 1930s or 40s hallways - a plain border and a geometric pattern in various colours along a narrow hall with the staircase on the right. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When we were making some changes to our house before moving in, we had a toddler, a newborn and a tight budget. We painted the hall and left the laminate floor as it was, since it was in good condition. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Soon after we moved in, our neighbours mentioned in passing that it must be nice to have a tiled floor. We, puzzled, said we have laminate. "Oh, they must have put that down over the tiles" they said of the previous owners. Apparently, there once was a nice tiled hall floor in this house. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In my grandparents house, which happens to have been built around the same time as ours, there is still the original tiled hall floor. I keep imaginging that there is something similar underneath our laminate. Something along the lines of these patterns would be fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a data-pin-do="embedPin" data-pin-width="medium" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/343540277806169783/"></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The curiousity has been gnawing away at me for years now. Every so often I bring up the subject of ripping up the hall floor with The Bavarian. He is curious too, but practical. The laminate is well attached. There is no option of pulling out a slat or two to see what is underneath. It is an all-or-nothing job.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What if there is just a concrete floor? Or ugly or damaged tiles? Do we really want to risk it when we haven't the budget or the time to deal with the disaster that may result?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For now, we have decided to leave the floor till the boys are older. It is the sensible parent thing to do, isn't it? The laminate is warmer than tiles and there is less chance of things breaking if they are dropped that if they were dropped on tiles. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">So for now I will dream of my <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2016/02/in-search-of-hall-doors.html">double doors</a> and original tiled floor and save for reproduction tiles in case there is nothing to discover beneath the laminate. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">If you are interested, pop over to Pinterest and have a look at the looks I am currently swooning over. </span></div>
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<a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="https://de.pinterest.com/fionnualaz/"> Schau dir Fionnualas Profil bei Pinterest an.</a><!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --><script async="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script> </div>
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<a href="http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk/" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="“HomeEtc”"><img alt="Home Etc" br="" src="http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/HOME_ETC_BADGE.jpg" /></a></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-31975910821895730622016-02-09T07:00:00.000+01:002016-02-09T07:00:01.496+01:00Why I am Not Posting Pancake Recipes<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I love Pancake Tuesday and would happily eat pancakes for each of my three meals today. I also love to cook and to share recipes. But you know what? I don't have a pancake recipe. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I put plenty of plain flour, a pinch of salt, an egg or two, a dash of sunflower oil and a lot of milk into a mixing bowl and whisk it with a fork until it has the right consistency and no lumps. Then ladleful by ladleful the pancakes get fried, tossed and served.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am a pancake purist on Pancake Tuesday. Spread with butter, sugar and lemon juice (from a lemon, not a bottle) and rolled up is the way I love them. My boys will eat them like that too, but if there is Nutella or maple syrup in the house, that's what they prefer to spread on theirs. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Because they are half-German, you see. They don't have that Irish love of sugar and lemon on a pancake that I have. In fact they are a bit lacking in enthusiasm for Pancake Tuesday in general. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Every year I tell them Pancake Tuesday is coming but every year it gets usurped by Faschingsdienstag, the main day of German carnival, which also happens to be the day before Ash Wednesday. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Pancakes just can't compete with the parades, the dressing up, the traditional eating of jam donuts and with having the day off school. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But I will not give up. There will be at least one meal of pancakes today. At least.</span></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-58579806789966671692016-02-08T07:39:00.000+01:002016-02-08T07:39:14.566+01:00This Is Motherhood #20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339021866396501274.post-41088837079575925992016-02-04T11:45:00.004+01:002016-02-08T20:24:20.664+01:00And Germany's Silly Season Begins.....<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">One of the difficult things about living in a foreign country for an extended period of time is learning how to handle their customs. Many European countries celebrate carnival for the week in the run up to Ash Wednesday, dressing up and scaring off evil spirits. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For the first seven years that I lived in Germany I simply ignored their carnival season. But since having children, I have had to get used to the fact that I have to get involved, if only for their sake. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The first few years it was all a bit of a chore - face painting a toddler, dressing him up in fancy dress, <i>dressing me up in fancy dress</i>, bringing him to a parade and faking having a good time just isn't my thing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The past four years though have found me looking forward to Fasching, the name used here for canival. I've found a role I am happy with - the role of amateur entertainment officer. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Each of the past four years has seen me involved in the <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2015/02/carneval-is-here-again.html">entertainment at kindergarten</a> as part of their festivities. I've dressed up as a spider and as a traditional Bavarian lady, I've made hand puppets for the <a href="http://threesonslater.blogspot.de/2015/02/carneval-is-here-again.html">Punch and Judy show</a> and I've even been a walking, talking sack of spuds. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Added to that there has been the creating of costumes for the boys - one each for kindergarten / school, one each for wearing to the parade, one each for the sports club Fasching party. It takes a lot of planning. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This year I outdid myself entirely and made a Gruffalo cake for today's Gruffalo-themed dress up day at kindergarten. Tonight will see me decorating the sports hall for tomorrow's Punch and Judy show and prompting my fellow entertainers if they forget their lines. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">By this time tomorrow I imagine I will be shattered and it will only be day 2 of the six day carnival. But for the sake of my little knight, my very own R2D2 and my little dinosaur, I'm happy to take on some extra work*.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">*Extra work that involves a lot of things I love to do, baking, crafting, sewing and lots of excuses to get out of the house, meet up with other mammies and <i>sometimes</i> share a bottle of prosecco as we plan the festivities. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.andthenthefunbegan.co.uk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="And then the fun began..."><img alt="And then the fun began..." src="http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag350/SamanthaP8/TheTruthaboutbadge_zps84f6dddd.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Fionnualahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03504461649253641010noreply@blogger.com13