Didn't properly finish off the blogging for last weekend. On Saturday evening M started practicing some of the food he will be cooking for Christmas this year. This will be the first year we host a Christmas lunch and M is keen to impress.

He tried out some treats and a starter, I shan't give any more away than that, suffice to say, they were delicious!

On Sunday, we had a relaxing day at home, it was nippy and I was a bit worried about Space Baby never having any clothes on so I made her a dress...

M continued practicing his cooking...

and I collected up and bottled the last of this years peppers from the greenhouse...

On Monday morning, I let Fidget practice drinking from a cup with the leftover milk from breakfast, it was a little messy...

So now to this weekend, despite some overnight rain, Saturday was a lovely bright day, so we headed out to Westonbirt arboretum to enjoy the autumn colour. Fidget was unimpressed over the options offered to her of walking or going in the pram. She felt that being carried was definitely preferable.

After rather alot of whining and shouting to disturb the peaceful scene, Fidget found a puddle. We popped her wellies on, but she found this change in footwear disorientating and ended up on her backside in the puddle, so back to the crying again...

At which point she found she got her wish, with Daddy picking her up and carrying her.

We all enjoyed looking at the trees and collecting up interesting fallen leaves.






The Japanese Maple Grove was particularly beautiful, Fidget found an interesting pine cone...

While M took some pictures with our other camera, a proper SLR which takes film, blimey. The hope is that we can get a picture nice enough to blow up large size for a wall. But of course, not being digital we will just have to wait and see what comes back.







After our walk in the Silk Wood, we went to the cafe for lunch, Fidget shared a shepards pie and veg thing with cous cous. We had forgotten her bib and didn't have a spoon for her, but with a napkin and plastic tea spoon she got stuck in, even attracting comments from the next table on about how well she eats.

After lunch we did the seasonal trail in the old arboretum. Fidget found that even better than being carried, was to go on Daddy or Mummy's shoulders. From this vantage point, she could grab hold of trees, Daddy's glasses, or Daddy or Mummy's hair.

Fuelled by a good lunch, Fidget was really starting to perk up....

enjoying a good run around...

spotting trees...

and then, best of all, puddles!

I think all in all, the verdict was "thumbs up!"