A FROG a week equals a special treat!

Lizbetty

Monnogran, you put me to shame with your gardening! My idea of gardening at the mo is letting Jimmy (our giant weed eating machine rabbit) out to eat the dandelions between the pavings slabs

I agree that having time to have hobbies would be lovely. Hobbies are something I buy books about and never get round to doing. Once I'm organised I plan on becoming accomplished at sewing and will make my children's clothes. Truth is, I had the machine out at the weekend to take up some ready made Ikea curtains and made a right mess of them Even my mum said I should have used the iron on hemming tape instead of trying to be a smarty pants. I just can't do things that need patience and well, talent! :rotfl:

Facebook has been switched off. :j I can start to concentrate on real life instead. Damn facebook. It was a lifeline when I was at home with the kids, but now they're full time I need to start seeing people in real life! And sorting my house out. :T It's great for keeping up with folk who I don't get chance to see, but they all have my email address anyway. And my phone number, not that I ever answer!
Lucy xx

monnagran

Dear Lucyeff. I started to get a warm glow when I read that my gardening put you to shame. Then reality kicked in. Let me tell you that my compost heap shines like a good deed in a naughty world. The rest of the garden is APPALLING.:(

As for hobbies........! I bought an embroidery machine a couple of years ago. The idea was that all Chistmas presents would be embroidered towels, pillowcases, bags etc. etc. And I would customize my denim skirts and the like. I will confess that the instruction manual is still in it's cellophane wrapper.

Card making......I have done one or two cards but a couple of Christmases ago the vicaress bought me every card-making gizmo under the sun, it must have cost a bomb. I don't even know what half of it does or is. How many cards have I made since then? Zilch.

Drawing........ I have always been longing to be able to draw and have books on it, stacks of paper and every sort of pencil from BBB to HHH, still in their untouched boxes.

The only thing I do is knitting. I can do that while watching telly.

I did far more when I was working full time.

where does the time go? Playing on these forums that's where.

Now I am going to start the day and try harder to get my frogs under contol.

dannie

Doing this reply is now a "froglet". My first attempt that took quite a while "went missing". However, I will be pleased when I get up to date again.

Yes, it does feel nicer when everything is clean and clearer. However, it is short-lived due to every day life. Also, sorting out one task often causes more. When I mentioned things looking clearer, I meant certain places. It would mean absolute decluttering to be more clear such as my reference to the unfinished hobbies. Some were started last century and have sunk into massive insignifance which is partly due to no time. Consequently, they could be eliminated or streamlined. I've read about theories how the mind is represented by your house. However, I know of a lady who has spent all her life, all day everyday moreless, cleaning with very little time for anything else.

Yesterday was a reasonable day whereby I tackled the garden. I view this task as a "froglet"; damp and rainy weather being uninviting. The reward was the amount of edible items that will make nutritious meals. Another two "froglets" were e-mail related which were a reply and tracing somebody by enqiring at a library. After these doings, I created some favourite simple recipes. Anyway, I will now continue with new "frogs" as much delayed!

Mumof2_2

Morning frog eliminators! It's very grey and grim looking outside but not actually raining so my friend is coming around at 10 and we're going to walk my Jack Russell - Pip. Hopefully we won't get too muddy! Mustn't stop on here long ...

Today's Frogs:
* Try to finish off listing for weights on ebay - it wouldn't let me put the photos on yesterday for some reason. List on Netmums too (tadpole)

* Take off cushion covers ready to go into next lights wash (tadpole)

* Email lady re getting DS on Beavers waiting list (tadpole)

* Bag up stuff for CS (tadpole)


That's it - shouldn't take long. Will do it this afternoon. Reward will be more guilt free knitting time. Oh, need to confess too, ended up my reward yesterday was not only knitting whilst watching Despicable Me but I also ordered a Dominos pizza to be delivered - yummy!!! Hey, food is my only vice !

Catch you later.

Football_Widow_2

Good Morning all

Well I could have been reading about myself re hobbies monnagran! I get really excited about something and then do it for a little while then move on to something else. It has been cross stitich, Fimo modelling little characters, plaques (did a nice one with darling daughter for father's day), tried card making (not very good!) and at the moment I am really keen to 'Gifts in a Jar'. But I always think that's a great idea I could sell those (or whatever) then I am overwhelmed thinking about them until the next thing comes along. The only thing that has been constant is my piano lessons (even my piano teacher is impressed). Sometimes the practicing doesn't get done, but I still enjoy the lessons. The other thing I start and don't finish is Courses - I have started 4 and never finshed them. Onto my 5th and desperately trying to get motivated to do it!!!!!!

Well done Luce for giving up Facebook - I think you have done the right thing! :T How lovely to have a cockeral! Hope he settles in nicely.

My rabbit Winston is a great gardener but he does do a little bit too much pruning and I have lost a couple of plants to his gnawing, but I like him to have the freedom of the garden. The guinea pigs do the grass, I have 4, 2 boys and 2 girls, the boys do a better job as they are so greedy, just got to train them to do the edges!!

Mumof2 hope you enjoyed your walk!

dannie you always sound so lovely a calm. I wish I was - I seem to have no patience at all x

Anyway I have done a wall in DD bedroom -two coats. It looks ok! I'm going to do the window wall today, after I have done a couple of frogs

*Finish BK work upto date
*sort out birthdays - Dog and DH!

Hope you all have a good day. Mentally I'm a bit flat (didn't help yesterday that overheard someone talking about me in the playground! Wish she had turned round and spotted me!!!:mad:) C'est La Vie!

x

Mumof2_2

Mumof2 wrote: »

Today's Frogs:
* Try to finish off listing for weights on ebay - it wouldn't let me put the photos on yesterday for some reason. List on Netmums too (tadpole)

[STRIKE]* Take off cushion covers ready to go into next lights wash (tadpole)

* Email lady re getting DS on Beavers waiting list (tadpole)

* Bag up stuff for CS (tadpole)[/STRIKE]

Well, now got to add another thing to my list as need to contact ebay - can't log on to list my items. Managed to get together 2 black bags for the CS :T - will try to drop it off tomorrow.

Football Widow sorry you are feeling a bit flat honey. How horrid to hear people talking about you in the playground. Sometimes I think the school mums are the worst for that; I hate it and always keep clear as much as possible. Your little animal 'helpers' sound fab by the way!

Dannie want to come and sort my garden? I honestly won't mind if you do !

Best go. The children are going swimming straight from school and I have to finish getting their stuff ready.

dannie

Hi all,

Yesterday was another gardening "froglet" so the plants are becoming more "prepared" for winter. It was nice to get back in from the cold, get warm and have a warm drink. Mumof2, gardening is so time consuming the way I approach it. You would have to be a neighbour and have me in your garden a long time but a pleasing end result!

The other "froglet" was to sort out clothes in the wardrobe and the "reward" was selecting more suitable seasonal wear.

Football Widow - thanks for your reply. It was very nice and I'll probably never forget it. Sorry to hear about your experiences regarding health and also other people. Your animal friends sound interesting characters!

I know what monnagran means about time on this forum so now time to continue with the "frogs."

Mumof2_2

Dannie I wouldn't mind if you took a long time in the garden - it'd be worth it ! I'm hoping to go into the garden this afternoon with DS and attack the hedge (escalonia and scary pyracanthea) with the clippers; let's hope the sunshine stays.

Been productive already today:

* contacted ebay and sorted out the problem with my listing
* relisted item on ebay
* listed item on netmums

Now need to do my dailies (sort washing/beds etc) and my other jobs for today are:

* trim hedge a bit more (froglet)
* take photos of cushions and list on Netmums (tadpole)
* book DH a GP appointment for next week (tadpole)

Best get on ......

Lizbetty

Football Widow, I'm sorry to hear about what happened in the school playground. It sometimes feel like we're back at school ourselves with how some people are, doesn't it? Whatever was said, I hope that it's something you can shrug off. If not, there's always voodoo dolls maybe? I bet there's a knitting pattern on here for them!

I always wait in the car until 30 seconds before pick up time to avoid all the playground nonsense. I was talking to a friend today actually who also feels like an odd one out, we both agreed that whilst it's uncomfortable it's much better than making small talk with people we wouldn't choose to spend time with under normal circumstances. The only thing we have in common with most of the other folk waiting to pick their kids up is the birth process! :rotfl:

Anyway. Back to getting stuff done - was chatting to a friend for an hour and a half outside school putting the world to rights, I can't feel my fingers now (really!) as it was so cold

Today my jobs are:
Putting washing away - tadpole (I caught up and so it's not bad to do now!)
Sorting out drawers in hall and making sure we have winter hats ready and summer hats away or give them to friends with kids with smaller heads - froglet
Dust and vac bedrooms - froglet (as I'm up to date with those too!)
Maybe do bathroom - depends on time - bit of a frog that one.

Still aiming to get my flowers tomorrow but still have plenty to do, so better get cracking! Taking both DDs and eldest's best bud to Pizza Hut tonight for a treat (huge frog!), so gearing up for that. My two get a bit silly when they're with mates and so I will have to rest my voice in case I need to get shouty later Chest is still not right and full of cold too, which is rubbish. But staying positive, and getting somewhere with house at last. :T

Long way to go mind you.

Have a fab day everyone, stay warm!
Luce xxx

monnagran

Football Widow: When I was teaching we used to look out of the Staff Room window and lay bets on whose reputation the 'School Gate Gestapo' were tearing to shreds. There's always a gossipy group of parents in playgrounds, trying to make themselves appear better/more important than they really are by running other people down. They are SAD, SAD creatures and you really don't want to be accepted by those sort of wannabees, do you?

It's a perfect today for getting gardening frogs on the run. What a pity that I have other fish to fry.
However, did sort out a banking problem. Went to my local branch to raise Cain about a missing form. I was told that there was no-one available to see me, but if I liked to make an appointment........... I smiled sunnily, (at least I hope that was what it looked like) and said not to worry, I could wait, and sat down on a chair and took out my book. After about 10 minutes it appeared that someone could be made available and everything was settled fairly amicably. I was handed the form and promptly handed it back and announced that I was sure they had an envelope the right size and could deal with it themselves to make up for the time I had wasted. RESULT. I emerged walking on air, a face aching with smiling and a frog (and bank person) firmly and thoroughly squashed. So not a completely wasted day then.