Maggie Rabbit and Allergies

It's been an emotional week, E had her trip to see the allergy specialist, it is never nice going back over her previous allergic reactions and wondering how she will deal with the skin prick test and blood tests. I didn't need to worry about her at all, she was a little star and took it all in her stride, no tears just very interested in what was going on etc, so very happy Mum. Skin prick test showed no change and this time I remembered to take some fruit with me for them to use, as they obviously can't have everything in the clinic. They have confirmed what I already thought that E has been having biphasic reactions, which for me makes her initial allergic reactions even more stressful as I have no idea if she will have another reaction later. We talked through the last one she had after the Easter craft club and they have said, that if she ever gets like that again, even if her wheezing is very mild and I am doing the do I, don't I call an ambulance, not to hesitate, call an ambulance and give her the adrenaline, as next time the antihistamine might not work. When I then sat and thought about this in the car on the way home (never a good idea) we should of called an ambulance 3 times now, this really knocked me and is rather too much of sobering thought for me. I know she is fine and still with us and I normally trust my gut instinct but on all 3 of these occasions I have got to the do I, don't I and clock watching to see if the anti-histamine will work. Hopefully there won't be a next time but who knows and that horrible Mummy guilt think kicked in big time.

On a more positive not, I came across these really cute toy rabbits on Frontier Dreams blog, which I just new E would adore, she just loves rabbits, not sure if our rabbit really appreciates her love and attention though. They reminded me of a toy rabbit I had when I was little called Mrs Rabbit and I just wanted to make her one. Then I discovered that Posie: Rosy Little Things not only make complete sewing kit for Maggie Rabbit but they also do a downloadable PDF. Instead of making the rabbit in felt I decided to make her in linen fabric, which shouldn't irritate E's sensitive skin, just cut out each body piece with an extra 5mm to allow for seam allowance.

She adores her, there was a lovely part halfway through making rabbit, had just sewn on the arms to the body and was putting a little stuffing into the head. E spotted what I was doing and wanted to see, she knew it was a rabbit and took the half made toy and pretended to make her hop around the house leaving a little trail of stuffing behind her. It was one of those lovely cute but funny moments as she was completely unawares of the stuffing falling out behind her.

The rabbit's dress is nearly the last of the material from an old maternity dress I made myself years ago. I have managed to cut it up and make the rabbit ears and dress and a dress for E.

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams

Chilten Open Air Museum

On Tuesday, we had another lovely day out, we are making the most of the sunny weather, not sure how long it will last but very happy while it does, enjoy it we will. Anyway we had a trip out to Chilten Open Air Museum, which is charming place to go. O decided not to join us but the girls had fun exploring the different buildings from lots of different periods of times right back to a Celtic round house. Here are some of their favourites.

Inside the RAF briefing room, you could try on uniforms and gas masks etc. M half tried on a gas mark, really hated the feel of it and we talked through why you would of had to wear.

We all enjoyed looking round the Amersham prefab, each house had tour guide, who were very informative and interested in what they were talking about, my photos from the inside weren't that good and it was rather busy but if there are some good photos here of the inside. The one thing we came away with from this house, was the suitcases the children had when they evacuated, they were so small, I know I've seen them in various documentaries but it hadn't really sunk in that this is all the children would have had taken with them from their home, to were they were evacuated, very little maybe a change of clothes and night clothes if they were lucky.

This is Leagrave cottages, a barn conversion into 2 small cottages. One side was done out as 18th century and the other side early 20th century

 18th Century bedroom

Early 20th century cottage, bedroom and kitchen area.

Inside the Celtic round house, G feeling the temperature difference inside their "fridge"

G realising just how hard it was to use a quern to make flour

especially when your little sister is trying to help!!

Toll house, photos of inside, we were told that a family of five would of lived in this house, though lovely looking, it is very small, only 3 rooms, front room/office, bedroom and kitchen. I always enjoy looking round houses and always come away from trips here or to Weald and Downland Open air museum, with lots of ideas or things to think about, sometimes crafts to try again, the amazing journey technology, farming, house building etc have been on. The trial and error, scientific process to preserve food etc, never ceases to amaze me. This time I came away with the feeling that, we are incredibly lucky to live now but we seem to over complicate our lives with too much stuff. The fact that I can craft, dress make as a hobby, just for the joy of it, the same for growing vegetables, it isn't a necessity or the hardship that it would of been

G and E also had a lot of fun with the old toys. G got the hang of rolling the hoop

and E didn't want to be left out but needed some help. She was happy for a while with her sister helping but in the end wanted to try and do it all by herself, which didn't work. But she wasn't to be beaten and in the end, after much effort decided to lie the hoop on the flat and the floor and walk around it with the stick with a very pleased smile on her face.