BBQ

The sun was blaring down. 

Mum made sure everyone had plenty sunscreen on, checking every few minutes.

Joe was quite happy playing under the umbrella with his new rattle.

Dad was more than happy in his shed tinkering about.

Mum was doing a spot of gardening, making sure all the flowers had enough water and there was no pests trying to eat them.

Mary tried a bit of everything, gardening with Mum, then some tinkering with wood and screws with Dad, Joe’s rattle was really annoying so Mary didn’t bother with that idea.

It had been a long time since Mary last played on the swing, Mary tried to remember, the swing never looked that interesting when you could be out on an adventure.

But now, it was perfect, relaxing lots of fun in the sun.

“I know,” declared Mum, “let’s have a barbeque for dinner.”

And with that she disappeared into the kitchen, Mary followed to see if Mum could use any help, and a possible taste tester.

“OK Mary let’s make some burgers first.”

Mum found the mince, onions, some mushrooms, a tin of beans and some green herby things they would need.

The onion was sliced ever so finely, Mary just watched, the knife was very sharp. 

Next it was time for the mushrooms and the tin of beans after being drained in the sink they were all put into the bowl with the vegetables and the herbs.

Lastly it was time to add the mince and mix it all together.

Mary liked to help; it felt all gooey between her fingers.

After a good mix they were ready to be portioned up into burgers for the grill.

Mary made some small ones just for Joe.

Next it was time for some salad, Mum made potato salad first as the more time the flavours were together, the better it would taste according to Granny.

Then the coleslaw, Mary and Dad’s favourite.

Lastly all of the vegetables needed to be sliced so they would be easier to eat.

Mary helped wash all of the peppers, carrots, tomatoes and lettuce so there was no dirt left on them, and Mum chopped.

Excellent there was a feast ready in no time. 

Mum took the burgers out to dad who had been setting up the barbeque while Mary and Mum had been in the kitchen.

Joe was bored of his rattle and had taken a little snooze in the shade.

The burgers smelled wonderful as they cooked,

Mum laid out all of the salad so everyone could choose what they wanted.

The buns were sliced and ready for the burgers.

Dad or Mum just had to check the burgers were cooked all the way through so no-one had a sore tummy the next day.  Mum cut one in half to make sure it was fully cooked and it was.

Now it was time to feast.

What a brilliant end to a lovely day.

©joannehepburn 28.8.16

Dog sitting

The next door neighbors were going away for a weekend.  

Mum and Dad had offered to look after Moss the dog.

Mary loved to play chase with Moss on sunny days or just sit and stroke his back and face when they bumped into each other, but now they could go and explore.

Dad took Moss’s things into the house to make him feel a bit more comfortable and at ease in a different place.  As well as some extra treats, and the lead for extra long walks.

“Walkies” shouted dad, Moss’s ears picked up with a swift move he was already out in the hall ready, while Mary put on her boots and picked up her jacket (better to be dry and comfortable, than wet and grumpy on this walk).  

Off they went.

Joe and mum were going to sit this one out, they had things to do at home.

This was an adventure walk with Dad, Mary and Moss. 

Dad handed Mary the lead so she could try and keep up with Moss.

Moss was interested in everything, the grass, each rock, flowers even the mud.

“Why is he sniffing at everything?” wondered Mary.

“Well you know how we see everything very clearly; well dogs make up some of their sight with their nose.  That’s why the police use them to find things."

“Oh so if we lost my hat or your gloves, could Moss find them again?”

“Possibly, he might need some training on which sent to look for but I’m sure he could.”

All this talking and learning while going further and further into the woods.

Now they were at a lovely cool burn, Moss wasn’t sure at first but soon enough both Moss and Mary were stomping about in the water.

Mary kept to the shallow bits, she didn’t want soggy socks for the rest of the journey.  

While Moss was quite happy jumping and playing with the water.

Dad found a nice comfortable rock to sit on while these two were having fun and burning off all of that excess energy.

After a good while dad stood up, “who fancies some lunch?”

“Oh, I do, I think moss would like some too dad.”

“How about we head back and see what we have in the house?”

“OK, come on Moss,” advised Mary climbing out of the burn with Moss not far behind.

Just as Mary go back onto the grass bank Moss jumped up and shook all of the water from his fur over everyone.

“Oh Moss,” exclaimed Mary and Dad at the same time, as they stood their dripping.

Moss just carried on sniffing and inspecting the surroundings.

Mary and Dad just looked at each other and laughed.

They giggled the whole way home.

Mum saw them coming up the garden path with big grins on both of their faces.

“Looks like I missed all of the fun,” smiled Mum, “I’ll let you dry off before lunch, how does a picnic out in the garden sound? “

“Perfect.”

©joannehepburn 21.8.16

Holiday

Such a beautiful morning.

The sun was up and ready to wake up the world.

Mary was exited today was the first day of the summer holidays, Joe was as smiley and giggly as ever.  

Mary didn't know what she wanted to do either today.  That was before she remembered.

They were all going on holiday!  

Dad was going to drive them all up to a new place they could all escape and see what it was like in a different place, and check if the weather was better there too.

Mary though it best to take some colouring books as well as some reading books so there would always be plenty to do even if the weather didn’t want to stay sunny.

Mum made sure everyone had everything they would need while they were away, as well as packing a few extra snacks so no-one would feel hungry on the way.

Dad packed up the car and made sure the neighbours could take in the mail while we were away.

And we were off.

It was a beautiful day for a drive.

The hills were all full of color and blossoms.  The fields all filled with crops or animals.  Mary liked the ones with horses i the best.

Streams and rivers looked all glittery and pretty but we’re not ready to stop yet.

Mary noticed lots of waterfalls and secluded wee perfect picnic spots on the journey, taking note or drawing a picture so she would remember for next time.

The landscape kept changing. 

Sometimes they were in the wilderness of nothing but fields and grass, other spaces they were driving in crowded built up streets with flats and guest houses lining the pavements.

It felt like they had been in the car for a really long time, everyone was starting to get a bit bored and grumpy so dad thought it would be a good idea to take a quick break to stretch the legs and pick up some treats. 

He came back to the car with an ice-cream for everyone.

It was the perfect remedy to put everyone back into the holiday mood.

Mary could see the sea now and all of the cliffs, even a lighthouse.

The roads became tighter with so many corners.  

Traffic became less and less.

Mary thought they were on the road to no-where but then she spotted it along the end of the road right beside the coast. 

They had made it.

Mum and dad unloaded the car.

“We’ll get all of this put away so we can enjoy our first new adventure tomorrow,” advised mum.

Mary found her pyjamas and toothbrush.

Dad tucked Mary and Joe into bed and told them both a quick beach adventure bed time story.

Mary might have fallen asleep before Joe but there was too much fun to be had tomorrow to care.

©joannehepburn 14/08/2016

The bus to town

Mum, Mary and Joe were heading into town today. 

It was a rainy day today, so they decided to take the bus.

Joe liked the bus, so did Mary. 

 Mary liked to watch the world go by while she sat in a comfortable seat.

Mary stepped up onto the bus, while Mum paid the driver, Mary went off to find the seat with the best view.

 Mum came over to join Mary with Joe.  Now they were all seated the bus began to move.

As the driver pulled away from the bus stop and into the road the bus let out a loud

“SSSHHHRRREEEEKKKK” as it turned!

“What was that?” asked a shaken Mary?

The bus turned and moaned again before mum could answer.

“Is the bus alright?” asked Mary, “It sounds like it’s very poorly.”

The driver overheard and could see Mary's concern. 

“The bus is fine, all of the drivers make sure their bus is in tip top condition when they park it up at the end of the night and always give it a good check every morning before they take it out. It was a cold night last night and this poor bus has been sat still all night in the garage, it just needs a wee stretch to let its gears warm up and loosen off.”

“Its just like us if we sit still for too long, we get all stiff too” advised mum.

“Oh I don’t want to get all screechy!  I'll make sure I do lots of stretching too,” said Mary as she moved her arms about.

The bus started to quiet down as the gear oil headed up, loosening the steely grip on the cogs. The bus moved through the streets collecting more and more people. 

This wee bus was quickly filling up; everyone wanted to go to town today.

Mary thought the more people the bus picked up the noisier it would be.  But the longer it was running, the more the gears loosened up, it was motoring along nicely. 

No sore ears from the harsh painful noises of the gears, just all of the whispered chit chat from the other passengers.

Mary thought it was funny all the same conversations, always started the same with the same replies.

Mum always said it was polite conversation.

Mary didn’t understand, why would you say the same things every time you saw the same person, even on different days? It didn’t make any sense?

They were almost in town, mum told Mary to stay put until the bus had properly come to a stop.

Some people started to get up while others stayed put, they were going to wait for the hustle to rush off so they could take their time.

Mum and Mary thanked the driver as they carefully went down the stairs and got off the bus.

Joe just giggled as they headed into town for the days shopping.

What new treasures would they find today?

©joannehepburn 07.08.2016

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