Raspberries

It was a tough day of homeschool where frustrations ran high, which was a pity because the weather was glorious. Hot. Perhaps too hot. Perhaps it was a day to take a break from writing and maths. The ugly mess in the middle of the day was bookended by blissful adventures: early morning fun in the row boat and an after-supper stroll across the field to the new castle and back along the lanes where there is a hedgerow brimming with wild raspberries. We harvested a tinful and gathered some nettle stings and ant bites. Next time we will leave the Birkenstocks at home and wear clothes that will protect us from nettles, brambles and bugs! Wounded, the girls winced and hobbled home. L instinctively seemed to know that it was time to share me with A. On this walk she gave us some distance, and it was A’s hand I held as we ran down through the field laughing and chatting. A, who is homesick and desperately missing Jon, needed this additional connection with me.