Simplifying Life - Mark II

mary43

Charis - not just me then...................and to top it all just had message from brother to say Mum not too well, difficulty breathing and keeps drifting.......if it keeps on doctor will be called out........what a worry.

Yes, I realised after my last post it had been a year......and I have to say this thread has been a great help to me with my ups and downs..........I wonder what I'd have done without you all and must say a huge thanks to everyone who's propped me up when I faltered and laughed me when things were good.
Lets hope next year, with what I've learned from you all I can de-clutter and stay that way, not just the house but in my head..............lol:j

Aril

Hello virtual friends:j
Just dropping in to wish all of you on one of my favourite threads a very happy Christmas and New Year:rudolf::xmassmile:snow_laug:santa2::xmassign::snow_grin
We're just pottering today after OH and I rushed around first thing getting all the housework done. Am now halfway through Tolkien's book of Father Christmas letters. It's a book that I reread every Christmas Eve as it sets off all the magic of the day for me.
I visited my Mum and Dad on Monday for coffee. They are now in a position where they want for little these days and don't buy much for one another other than things they need. This year my Dad was lucky enough to get a rocking chair from freecycle [usually they use freecycle to get rid of things] but it is something my Mum has always wanted since she was a little girl. Dad picked it up in a very sorry state- it had been kept in an out house for many years and had flaking paint and a foam backed seat on it which had seen better days. Dad has now stripped it right back, strengthened the frame and painted it a lovely Shaker type blue colour that she's chosen. He's now in the process of reupholstering it in the fabric she's chosen and once it's finished it will be her main present. She's so excited and he hasn't even let her sit in it..by the time she saw it he's already taken the frame apart! My Mum's 62 and it just goes to prove that you're never to old to give up on your dreams.
I'll leave you with a quote along similar lines that my friend Cathy emailed to me a few weeks ago:
If you want your dreams to come true, you mustn't oversleep
Anon
Arilxx

mary43

Aril - few years ago OH bought me a desk (only had a two drawer table at the time) Needed rubbing down and polishing up and I love giving things a new lease of life so spent the whole of Christmas making it look good. Very satisfying and Iove it. Not sure I could do something that size now though.
Love the quote............meaningful as always.
Hope you and yours have a happy time:j

2cats1kid

Last pop in from me before we head off for Christmas. I haven't being saying much, but I've been here lurking and pondering. Hopefully next year I'll have more meaningful stuff to contribute. (Oh, and on the subject of next year, my garlic and broad beans have popped their heads above the surface, so I'm looking forward to next year's harvest already.)

mary43

2cats - one of the things on my new years reslution list will be to be more forward planning with the garden......summer veg was fine -all except minute carrots.............lol .- but I didn't think about what winter crops to plant in pots until it was too late
Basically we need more pots so winter veg can go in some and summer veg in the others.

2cats1kid

Oops - it wasn't my last post then!

I am still pulling carrots from the bed near the back door. Got enough for another 3 or 4 weeks I guess, then hopefully the sprouting broccoli sprouts (that's due to be ready February-ish). I've got my seed for a January sowing of early carrots and lettuces, and the bed has polythene on to warm the compost up, so it's full speed ahead from there on.

ceridwen

That free e-book I mentioned has been put on the Internet today - its by the author of the ZenHabits blog. Its a 20-odd page length - so not too arduous reading. Bear in mind he plugs his pay-for book several times during it - its still worth reading. The main pickout point I thought was the 30 Day List - as in: when you want to buy something other than a true necessity (eg medicine/food) - put it on the list with date you added it and make it a rule that you arent allowed to buy it until 30 days later (if you still want it!). Well - I would think thats one to point out - as I do a sorta variant on that most of the time and it often works.:D

http://thepowerofless.com/2008/12/free-ebook-thriving-on-less-simplifying-in-a-tough-economy/

Reet...really must go....got a Christmas Lunch to think about.....

mary43

Hope you're all having a briliant day.Being a 'kid free zone' we're indulging in some peace and quiet................this afternoon is earmarked for looking at two dvd's eldest son has compiled for us about baby grandsons first 18 months........lovely gift to have andworth far more to us than anything he could have bought.
Youngest son, ever the supported of fair trade and recycled goods wrapped ours in a carrier bag made from newspaper !

Thanks for the linkceridwen - maybe give that a proper look tomorrow:j

pmorrisjones

After reading yesterdays threads ... I have worked for a few years with older people (and had lots of older relatives) and have found that you don't get to 80+ without learning something. I love to listen to older people even if to learn what not to do! Thanks to all older people for your wisdom (and foolishness!).:beer:

mary43

Certainly much to be learned from the older generation........but I've worked with teenagers for a long period of time and found there's also much to be learned from them..............in fact we all go on learning from each other whatever age.

Hope you all had a good Christmas.............we had a nice quiet one just for a change. Be good to get back to some sort of normality and my word do I need to de-clutter !!! I did it all last year with a lot of support from all here - just may need it again though ex foster lad is giving me a hand. Always helps I think if someone else makes sure stuff doesn't get clung on to.
I'll make a start once the christmas decorations are down.............promise:j