We Are Doing Stuff

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We Are Doing Stuff

Our big & small adventures - just a blog but feel free to nab ideas!

28/08/2023

School is back - six hours of the day are covered 👌

Here are some outdoor activities we will be getting stuck into after school, at weekends, and during holidays 👇

When we have planned our activity, we will post it here and anyone is welcome to meet us and join in 💛

24/08/2023

We had a gorgeous day in Huntly following the "bite on the side" trail!

Conceptualised by Norma D Hunter, it's a foraging trail that begins at Battlehill all the way round to the Meadows, with a guide detailing what you can find and where 😍 (download the PDF online)

You can walk the whole route or pitstop at various car parks like we did, because little leggies amirite? 💛

Along the way, there are two great play parks, Huntly castle, the river Deveron, and the Nordic Ski centre to mention a few - plenty to do!

Here are a small selection of our favourite snaps of the day 💛

18/08/2023

🐛🏢CATERPILLAR COMPLEX🏢🐛

Our Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars are approaching their pupation so they have moved into their own apartments!

Now that they're separate, we can finally name them without getting confused 🤘

Thank you for all of the wonderful name suggestions!

14/08/2023

🎥 WATCH 🎥
WE FEEL LIKE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DUDES!

We filmed a timelapse of one of our caterpillars in order to catch it changing colour and we were not disappointed! 😍

The wiggling at the beginning is the process of shedding, and then you'll see its new clothes ☺️

13/08/2023

MASSIVE transformation!! 😱

Two of our Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars have taken on their classic deep brown and black colouring 😍 this happened in less than a day!!

Unfortunately, this guy saw me as a predator as I opened the tub to clean them out and give them fresh leaves...but it was an amazing opportunity to see that incredible defence mechanism!

Here you can see that he has retracted his head (sort of like a snail into its shell) and inflated its neck to appear like a snake!

If I were a bird, I'd have flown away before you could say "VIPER!!!"

10/08/2023

THEY'RE GETTING THEIR SPOTS!!! 😍

These eye-like spots help Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars ward off predators.

When threatened, they retract their head and inflate their "neck" - the "eyes" bulge and this makes them look snake-like... pretty darned cool! 😍

But not for the birds, who were hoping for a tasty treat instead of a sssssneaky snek 🐍

07/08/2023

💚🐸💚
Mummy WAD made a froggo friend today

She can't tell for sure, but she gets a strong vibe that its name was Luciano

07/08/2023

✨ANOTHER MOTH UPDATE✨

Our Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars are very healthy! Chomping away, getting bigger, pooping a lot and we discovered something neat (and slightly gross)

These caterpillars shed as they grow, leaving behind a white substance - but what we didn't know until we observed it is that they eat their sheds!

We manage to capture the munching on video, and in our opinion it's quite cute the way it noms...but don't watch if you don't fancy watching a close-up of a caterpillar going to town on its old skin 😅

03/08/2023

Did you know that, on average, kids spend over 1000 hours in front of screens every year?

1000HoursOutside is a global movement focusing on balancing that out with valuable time outdoors.

It doesn't have to be a hikes, camping trips (although those are great!) - any outdoor time counts in this tracker!

Here is ours 👇 we started the tracker on the 19th of last month and aim to finish by the 19th of July next year 💪

We have accumulated 35 hours (not counting sleeping outdoors) as a family all four of us

But our extra challenge is to only count the hours that Rannon can do, he spends time at school and with his dad and we don't want to count hours without him (considering he's the member of the core group!)

If you fancy starting it yourself, 1000hoursoutside.com has a selection of printable trackers, a welcome pack with lots of ideas for activities, and we will also of course have our ideas updated here if you need further inspo!

Drop a comment below if you're going to take the challenge on! And this doesn't exclude adults - if you're less than chuffed with the amount of screen time you get vs hours outdoors then the challenge might be a choice for you!

28/07/2023

✨MOTH UPDATE✨

🐛THE FIRSTBORN ARRIVETH🐛

😍 Name suggestions please! 😍

(yes, names are pretty pointless for this, but it's the experience that's fun, not the logic 😅)

24/07/2023

New mini WADS! 🐛

Our wonderful friend Kat so very kindly gifted us some Elephant Hawk-moth EGGS! 😍

If you've never seen such a moth before, there's one below next to our teensy green eggy boiz which will hopefully hatch in the next week or so 🥹

The caterpillars will eventually pupate and we will overwinter them in the fridge so that they can emerge next year as the temperature and natural food sources will be optimal for their survival 💛

So it's a long project, but a beautiful one! Of course, updates throughout their lives will be provided here ☺️

INTERESTING THING ALERT - Elephant Hawk-moths have pink and green colouration, this helps them blend in with rosebay willowherb, their preferred yum-yums 😍

23/07/2023

The WADS have returned from camping with tired eyes but happy hearts 💛

Highlights reel 👇 all captioned if you want to read 💛

10/07/2023

RADISH GALORE 😍

The WADS trooped off to the allotment today to find ALL of the radishes ready to harvest 😍

Grandparent WADS should expect some deliveries soon 😅

18/06/2023

We were joined by our friends at Cullen beach!

Honorary WADS Sam, Morgan, Cash, Beau, and baby on the way! 😍

WAD 1 lost his water shoes in quicksand, much digging and rescuing went on 😅

WAD 2, the smallest, somehow managed somehow to employ another child at the beach to fetch his spade every time he chucked it into the sea 😂

Daddy WAD did an excellent job of digging holes for the kids at the beach, as per usual ☺️

And mummy WAD allowed WAD 1 to push her under the water after she launched him and got salty water into his brain 😅

Successful day 💪

15/06/2023

First time at Boyndie Visitor Centre* for mummy WAD 😲

And a cheeky 'Soy visit because we can't not 💛

It should be illegal for schools to be open on beautiful days like this 😩

* Free to visit by the way - there's toilets, a cafe, and an absolutely excellent gift shop PLUS all the wonderful plants in the greenhouse and garden 😍

08/06/2023

Vaguely sticking to the theme of free and cheap things to do...

Our strawberry plants were being targeted by birds...

If this is an issue for anyone growing things at the moment, have you considered...

The Thorny Rose Branch Cage 3000?

Spent zero pennies, plastic free, and it's imitating the natural environment 😅

02/06/2023

I've just got to say it - we WADS are very appreciative of the community-led allotment site at Banff Castle 🌱

Laid-back gardening fun with family and friends, it's a real treasure for the area 🥰

The kids have a great time together - the site is walled all around with a high latched gate, so we can rest at ease knowing they can have fun without wandering off 💚

Not only that but we have already seen positive effects on our mental health - gentle work, seeing each step of our progress, and basking in the joy of seeing those plants poke through 😍

Spaces like this are important, especially in a small community where we all benefit from working together 😌

30/05/2023

WE HAVE RADISHES!!!

Okay, I know, tiny little green boiz at the moment BUT

When you've overhauled an allotment and planted and watered and panicked - all growth is amazing 😍

27/05/2023

Mummy WAD had the absolute honour to accompany Rannon on his big day out at Cleanhill Woods for Deverantics! 9am to 5pm!!!

A huge survival activity event for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and Leaders!

So so much fun was had, with great skills learned! Pictures of just a FEW below!
And CHECK OUT the size of that badge!!

For reference, it covers about two thirds of Fox's face 😂

Amazing day had by all, thank you to everyone who made it happen, and a MASSIVE well done to all kids/teens!

25/05/2023

Got most of our planting done today! 🌱🌱🌱

We have potatoes, radishes, kale, parsnips, broccoli, and runner beans! 😍

Just need to track down some onion sets and some strawberries! 🤔

Mummy WAD is beyond excited 😁 thank you very much to nanny WAD for all the teamwork 🧡

24/05/2023

Flower folklore!

These two fight each other in the land of folklore!

On the left is Red Campion which is said to protect areas where fairies live, making their homes invisible to the naked eye.

On the right is Germander Speedwell and conversely, it is said to aid vision and allow you to see fairies!

They often grow in the same area!

DISCLAIMER: I am not recommending you forage and consume either of these - some say go for it, others say give them a wide berth, if you want to gather some of these for personal use, do so with caution and make your own mind up 🧡

And as always, never consume/use anything in the wild if you are not 100% on the identification!

21/05/2023

A Day In The 'Soy

Highlights:
💚 Allotment 🌱
💛 BEACH ⛱️
❤️ Picnic 😋
🧡 Daddy WAD taught the birthday boy how to fish! 🐟
💚 Park 🛝
💜 HECKIN' ice cream 🍦👌

17/05/2023

🌱 INTRODUCING: "TROWEL & ERROR" 🌱

Thanks to some very kind friends, the WADS have a plot in an allotment!

Today's mission - clear out!

Foxy did an excellent job of planting his "potatoes" (stones) while mummy went into battle ⛏️

Daddy joined us at the very end to carry the mountains of nature to the compost heap 💪

Next up, a final sweep of the weeds, a pH test, and adding some more topsoil and compost! EXCITED!

09/05/2023

🧡Journey Sticks 🧡

When you get out for a walk with the kids, it's fun to tell stories about your journey - but kids sometimes have a hard time remembering all the things they saw/did!

Enter the Journey Stick! It can help them tell their stories (which is an awesome skill)

You will need:
- A stick!
- Several pieces of string/yarn, long enough to wrap a few times around the stick (different colours are awesome but not necessary)

Recipe: Give your kid(s) a stick and tell them to collect cool things they find on their walk as they go along

It could be a shiny stone, an interesting piece of bark, a funky leaf, a fallen petal, a sycamore seed, a feather - get creative! (try to grab only fallen items, try not to pull up growing things)

Each time they find something, take a length of yarn, knot it onto the stick, wrap it around and while you wrap, tuck the item in and let some of it hang out, then tie another knot when it's secure. Use a different colour for each item if you have different colours!

Start at the bottom or top of the stick and work up/down in a line so that the story will have a natural progression as they recite their adventure to grandma/uncle/friend/sibling/teacher/anyone!

A cool piece of bark might remind them of the awesome tree they saw nearby, a fallen petal/flower might remind them how the area smelled, a feather could tell the story of an epic bird, have a think as you go.

By the end, they'll have their journey/story stick to keep safe or hang up outside!

Take the journey stick to school for show and tell, scouts/brownies/etc, tell your storyyyyyy!

Bonus points for decorating with craft items when you get home - feathers, bells, glitter, stickers, more dangly string, paint, whatever you have/can think of!

We will be completing a bunch of journey sticks this year, especially now that the outdoors are filling with beautiful things!

Can't wait to do a beach one - seaglass, dried seaweed, driftwood, marram grass, yessssss!

ALTERNATIVE VERSION - piece of wood or cardboard with a strip of double-sided sticky tape (easier for smaller kids!)

08/05/2023

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Time to ourselves, twice in one week?? 😳

This place was BEAUTIFUL ✨

Free entry, map of the place is £1 or you can just follow the signs around the place (although I do recommend you get a map, the place is massive 😂)

Couple of cafés throughout the gardens so you can refuel 🧡

Glasshouses are currently closed due to maintenance but there is still TONNES to see

Truly wonderful day ☺️

02/05/2023

Our advice for any adventure:
Always capture the moment 📸

We do like to disconnect from technology from time to time, but more often than not we choose to take photographs to look back on ⏳

To remember all of our adventures, to be able to compare over the years how we have all grown, it's a beautiful thing 🧡

Technology has its downsides, but it can bring light to our lives for years to come 🧡

30/04/2023

A mummy and daddy WAD day out today 😍

Beautiful trail in the Fetternear Estate by Kemnay, absolutely chuffed to see a red squirrel taking part in some Kung Fu under a tree 😂

Ending with a heckin' tasty feast supplied by Yak & Yeti Grill in Inverurie 🤤

21/04/2023

Our little 5 minute foraging video 🌸🧡

To be on the safe side: always do your own research and be 100% sure of what you're gathering - this is not a "How to identify" video 🧡

21/04/2023

Mummy WAD is excited! 🥳

We are attempting an outdoor walk this afternoon (gentle and NOT backbreaking)

We are FINALLY going to start our 2023 foraging!

We will have some pics and videos for you later!

17/04/2023

We honestly didn't know this existed until now 😂

Apparently we've met quality, originality, and integrity guidelines *twiddles fake moustache* 🧐

Pretty cool for a wee virtual scrapbook in a teensy area in NE Scotland 😅

10/04/2023

The WADS bounce!
Well...daddy and Ranny WAD anyway 😅
Mummy and grandma drank coffee and supervised the speed demon that is Foxy

Some cracking facial expressions on the bouncers there 😅

09/04/2023

A full day of egg fun yesterday! 🥚🥚🥚

First stop, egg hunt and face painting at the toy museum in Banff, followed by parkour, then back to grandma and grandad WAD's house for another egg hunt!

39 chocolate eggs were discovered!!! The egg rabbit was feeling very generous 😶😶😶🐰

05/04/2023

After yesterday's exertions, we needed an activity that included a lot of sitting for mummy WAD...

So off to the cinema! Daddy and the smallest WAD went on some machines at the arcade while mummy and the second-smallest WAD went to see the new Mario Bros. film ☺️

Obligatory massive-mirror-in-the-bathroom-selfies 🤘

04/04/2023

Mummy WAD's first outing in four weeks!!!
Very gentle journey, our lovely Portsoy 🧡

Beelzebuddy was happy to get out - when your ice cream is taller than you, you know you're having a good day ☺️

Rannon finished off the day spending time with grandma and grandad in their hot tub and eating fajitas ☺️

24/03/2023

We haven't been getting out and about recently, mummy WAD has injured her back...

But daddy WAD, the smallest WAD, and nanny Donna got out yesterday and caught some fantastic photographs of waves in Banff, some were over 30 feet tall!

Mummy got a great Facetime of it too 🧡

And Fox and nanny got absolute drenched by a rogue wave 😅

15/02/2023

Second visit to Den Wood!

Some rather special moments captured 😅

14/02/2023

Result! 💪

The WADS get out metal detecting together and what did we find?

WAD 1 found thruppence!
Mummy WAD found a George V One Penny!
Daddy WAD found a Half Crown!
And WAD 2...wasn't paying attention to where he was running and fell into a ditch...😅

11/02/2023

Brand new skill learned today!!!

Mummy WAD had a blast at her lesson at Vanilla Ink The Smiddy in Banff making these three gorgeous stacking rings 😍

I love our weird amazing life - massive thank you to Nina and Mason at the smiddy for introducing this into into my life 🥴 you guys are the best and awesome tutors 😍

29/01/2023

Mummy WAD knocked together a reward chart today for Boy 1 ⭐

And she got a bit carried away, it even has a storyline that she will read parts of as he progresses 😂

Apologies for the bad light, our studio is patiently awaiting a glow up 😬

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Videos

🎥 WATCH 🎥 WE FEEL LIKE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DUDES! We filmed a timelapse of one of our caterpillars in order to catch it changing colour and we were not disappointed! 😍 The wiggling at the beginning is the process of shedding, and then you'll see its new clothes ☺️

✨ANOTHER MOTH UPDATE✨ Our Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillars are very healthy! Chomping away, getting bigger, pooping a lot and we discovered something neat (and slightly gross) These caterpillars shed as they grow, leaving behind a white substance - but what we didn't know until we observed it is that they eat their sheds! We manage to capture the munching on video, and in our opinion it's quite cute the way it noms...but don't watch if you don't fancy watching a close-up of a caterpillar going to town on its old skin 😅

Our little 5 minute foraging video 🌸🧡 To be on the safe side: always do your own research and be 100% sure of what you're gathering - this is not a "How to identify" video 🧡

Foraging for dead stuff on the way home from the school run! After school project materials 😬😬😬 What are we doing?

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