A muslin full of cherries

Babin and I were having a leisurely wander through our local park yesterday, marvelling at the ducklings and goslings, the sticks on the ground and the park in general, when we noticed a man picking things from a tree. Upon enquiry he told us he was picking 'bird cherries' and handed us some tiny, dark cherries - and ate some himself. They were juicy bursts of tart sweetness and Babin and I both got covered in the purple juice.

Not one to miss out on free food I suggested to Babin that we could pick some, and she began reaching for the tree to do just that.

We didn't have a bag, so I bunched up a muslin, and slung her on my hip (in my very lovely NM Girasol Ringsling) and we merrily picked cherries for half an hour or so in the beautiful sunshine.

At home Babin carefully washed the all cherries, and I washed our pink-stained hands. They were a feast fit for queens as we sat in the paddling pool and ate cherries and spat the stones into the garden to see if we can grow our own tree in 10 years or so!

Take one box...

How much fun is a cardboard box?!!
We've made it into a supermarket checkout, a cave for Babin's bear, a boat, a place to hide, a table for a tea party, and who knows whats in store for it for the rest of today! Her imagination is limitless and its a pleasure to watch and an honour be taken along for the adventure.

Singing the baby

It occured to me today as I was singing the Babin up to bed that she may grow up feeling we are living in a musical:

We have a song for:

• Waking up (good morning, good morning from Singing in the Rain)
• Brushing our teeth (this is the way we brush our teeth to the tune of here we go round the mulberry bush)
• Climbing stairs (climb every mountian from sound of music)
• washing hands and face at the end of a meal (rub a dub dub - technically a rhyme!)
• Getting in the bath (if you're happy and you know it)
• Washing her body (wooah! Body wash! to the tune of that old bodyform advert song)
• Going to sleep (Lulla lulla bye byes)

Not to mention repeated renditions of if you're happy and you know it, wind the bobbin up, wheels on the bus, various songs from starlight express and anything else going round my head.

Mind you there is some american research into neuro science and development that suggests that singing helps to regulate breathing and calm anxiety, and aid learning not to mention my own urban barefoot research that its a fabulous distraction from potential dramas and is fun to do together, especially if there are actions!

So onwards with our urban barefoot musical, and any suggestions for new songs please let me know!

ps. particularly if there are any for shining my sink. x