What A Difference A Day Makes

Today, I am enjoying the peace and quiet.  Everyone is out.  Unlike other days, the furthest I have been is two doors down the road, to place the dustbin in pole position for emptying.

Yesterday, there were eleven people in the kitchen. 
Noise. 
Chairs moving. 
Plates passed. 
Food shared.
Sprout protests.
Ice cream served - toffee or strawberry?
Lego bricks dropped and retreived.
News and photos shared. 
Children redirected. 
Mr Men books read.

Today, there is just me and my thoughts.  Plates have been washed and stacked neatly away. I spend the day preparing for Tuesday's after-school club. Card is chopped, prototypes tested and refined, double-sided sticky tape is attached. Seeds are found. Self-adhesive sparkly shapes are counted, so I know how many to allow for each child, without running out. Resources are gathered and packed, ready for the morrow.

DH disappears on various missions, the pile of printed card grows. DH reappears with food shopping, grabs a sandwich, and disappears. I cut more card. Bright green bases for bookmarks. Bible verses are printed on bright yellow card. I check how they fit against the width of the base, and trim them all again. All seventeen.

Yesterday, G4 (aged 5) and G5 (aged 3) ran round and round the garden, jumping or striding from stepping stone to stepping stone. They are the perfect distance for G4 (aged 5) to rush around the garden. G5 (aged 3) being smaller in stature, was fine whilst jumping, but when running found her stride was too short.  G3 (aged 8) periodically joins them, before she is lured away to watch The Simpsons with the KHT.

Today, the birds and squirrels have reappeared now the garden is devoid of noisy small people and theirs are the acrobatics I observe.

Yesterday, the ground was dry, with intermittent showers that didn't even wet the ground, well until approximately 5pm, when the rain set in.  I checked the weather on my phone, and hurriedly rescued the towels before they were too wet.

Today it has rained almost non-stop, pausing briefly, as if to take a breath, before continuing its ongoing offensive. One path is flooded, there is standing water on the lawn.  The pond is full, patio awash, fences soaked.  The washing has been drying indoors, thanks to the dehumidifier!

Yesterday, the children bickered and protested, wanting the toy that another had.

Today, not even the squirrels are arguing with each other, or the cat. 

Meanwhile, in the pond, the orgy continues.  Snow is forecast for Sunday, but the frogs haven't watched the weather forecast, as far as they are concerned it is spring.