Advertising, Ann and Andy, and Amazon mail

You may have seen this sign on some of your favourite blogs, but I wanted to do some advertising as well. The Quilt Shoppe is organizing a Spring Fever Bingo for everyone to join. You have a couple of days to make it, as it starts on Monday and you must email your "coupon" before that. I have never been in a bingo, so I thought this will be my last chance!

Ann and Andy were playing again. Parents should be careful with what they tell their kids from their own childhood. We are having a new fireplace installed next week, and Mr. K made a concrete foundation for it. I remembered how my big sisters and brothers jumped in the wet concrete when our house was being built. I was too young to join them, I couldn't climb over the edge of that big wooden container. All I remember from the incident is a) mother was giving her LOOKS, b) father was not too pleased, and c) all their legs got scratched, red and infected, and mother had to put Medidryl cream on them, lots of it. I told this aloud, and of course the little ones have the biggest ears, and here  is what happened:

They were sitting on the cement bags to wait for the fun to begin.

They even tried how deep they could sink in the bucket.

Andy was curious and wanted  to watch Mr. K. mix the concrete in a wheelbarrow.

And finally he really was trying to climb into the bucket, but his arm was stuck (luckily!), and I sent him in.

He even dared to mutter something about his aunts and uncles, but I can give the LOOK as well, and he stopped muttering. Good for him.

Today I picked up a BIG LETTER from the post office. I usually call them parcels, but of course a box is big for a letter and can't be delivered to the mailbox. Melanie sent me a surprise. We have been reading Swallows and Amazons books by Arthur Ransome since Christmas, and the books inspired Melanie to put together all this for me:

Her letter was all in semaphore ABC, and it took me some time to decipher it. The Swallows and Amazons communicate fluently using the signs in all books. The  Frank Cooper's Original Oxford Marmalade appears in the book I'm currently reading, The Ovaltine and the Kendal chocolate bar are standard provisions of our heroes. Christmas pudding was bought and served by some younger heroes and members of the Coot Club, who protected birds on their lake - see the bird panel Melanie sewed on the tea towel! Some "parrot" (budgie) feathers were included for Mr. K.'s fly-tying. No birds were harmed. Thank you so much, Melanie! Playing with you has made me decades younger. We don't need to grow up just yet.