Enjoying the sunshine - while it lasts.

We have had exceptionally dry weather for the past week & a half - very unusual for us, especially after so much rain. It seems like a long time since we had been able to get outside without having to wear rain gear so we have been really enjoying the opportunity to get outside again after lunch.
Because it has been so dry we could make use of the whole playground, spreading out all over the place rather than having to worry about keeping some of the resources under the verandah area. So the big dolls house has been out & a new den & the big community playthings blocks. These really need a lot of space to enable the children to make full use of them & this isn't possible if they have to be kept under the roof. They just get too slippy if wet to be allowed out & they will also warp & basically these blocks are too expensive to ruin in the rain.

The children have loved being able to get on the grass/mud area without wellies & rain gear & have made good use of the willow dens & tree stumps, making lots of 'dinners' with the bark chippings & tree branches.

Sadly this lovely dry spell is to come to an end later this week & no doubt the mud will be back & we'll learn to embrace it again & to get all togged out in the waterproofs to enjoy the playground.