Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles

beanielou said:

Despite everything you sound happy.

Hi Beanie.  I'm trying to do something I love every day just to keep my spirits up.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Ooh, what a lovely day Fortune! 

We too have had a nice day, although I didn't sleep for long enough last night and have been rather tired. Took a car load of rubbish to the tip which felt very satisfying, then drove up to a little place we often go to a cafe - it only has a few tables, all outside, but they've all need removed now and it's takeaway only - we got a cuppa and a far-too-sweet cake and sat by the canal. And we got quite a bit of house sorting done, and a thorough clean out of the chicken run. 

We're not a bad team either, oddly enough the more time we spend together the better we get on, which I suppose is a good thing at the minute! 😮

Interested in your runs for the county show! Have you done that before? I am planning on having a go at something for a show at some point - never quite figured out what mind as my baking leaves rather a lot to be desired 😂 But flavoured alcohol I might be able to manage... roasted pineapple sounds intriguing!

Hi Cheery

glad to hear you're still able to have your little treat.  Sounds as though you're being very productive.  We generally get along well but I think the current situation has brought us closer.  It makes you appreciate what you have more - and think about what you could loose.

I've made gins and vodkas before but not rums.  These were my first try.  If you want to give them a go, I'd start with what you have in your garden or freezer.  Berries are generally quicker to infuse than stone fruits and rums flavour faster than gins and vodkas.

Let me know how you get on.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Two in a row

A fabulous day today.  The sun shone all day and there was only a light wind.

We spent almost the whole day in the vegetable garden.  Mr F dug compost into most of the beds.  I planted broad beans, chard, spinach, radish, parsley and hyssop and did some general tidying.  We even sat outside for our lunch for the first time this year.  Just leftover tart and a slice of cake but it tasted all the better with a dash of sunshine and fresh air.

After lunch I painted up some swatches with my paint testers.  We think we have a winner for the dining room and another for the kitchen.  The greys for the cloakroom and utility cupboards look promising too.

Then I had a long, hot bubble bath with candles and a glass of baileys with ice.  In the middle of the afternoon!  What decadence!  I rarely have time for a bath so this was a wonderful treat.  This self-isolation isn't all bad.

Supper was leftover chilli with tortillas, cheese and sour cream.

• Today I am grateful that Spring is finally here,
• happy we have the space to grow our own
• and my moment of joy was the bath... definitely.

Hope you've all had a good weekend.

Fortune x

Bargainhunter30

Hopefully this situation will start making everyone appreciate the small things in life. Definitely sounds like you are fortune, enjoy x

rtandon27

...mmm B@iley's...
What a wonderful idea Fortune!

Fortune_Smiles

Bargainhunter30 said:

Hopefully this situation will start making everyone appreciate the small things in life. Definitely sounds like you are fortune, enjoy x

I'm definitely looking for simple pleasures at the moment Bargainhunter.  It's making self-isolation more bearable.

rtandon27 said:

...mmm B@iley's...
What a wonderful idea Fortune!

I've given up the diet RT - now is not the time.  We are having a slice of cake with our morning coffee and a small glass of something in the evening.  Simple pleasures to keep our spirits up.  I suggest you do the same 

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Routine

I'm trying to establish something of a routine to my 'working' week:

• walk FDawg (the lanes have been empty up until now so we'll class this as our hour a day of exercise)
• shower
• coffee
• housework
• lunch
• creative space
• gardening
• walk FDawg (frisby or games in the top field)
• supper
• paperwork.

I'm off to a good start 

I'm also livening up the dull bits.  I started a new audio book whilst cleaning the dining room and listened to music whilst cooking.  We are having a slice of home-made cake with our morning coffee and a small glass of something after supper.  My creative space was a new upcycling project.  The previous owner left a very dull mirror in the bathroom.  I painted the frame a dark teal and intend to decorate it with the outlines of squid, octopus and jellyfish.

We had lots of deliveries yesterday.  Mr F had ordered a new pair of gardening boots as his old ones are leaking.  The dog food arrived.  The cold frame and compost turned up but not the seeds and seed trays.  I'm hoping those will arrive soon so we can do some more planting at the weekend.

If we are still able to, we'll order the paint today.  I'm going to use my dentist budget to meet the cost    It'll be another couple of months at least before we can come out of self-isolation so I'll be able to claw the costs back from another budget by then I hope.

• I'm grateful that we have the funds to self-isolate
• happy to be achieving some goals in spite of the situation
• and my moment of joy was spending some time being creative.

#StayHomeSaveLives, #ProtectOurNHS.

Fortune x

beanielou

Take care xx

Cheery_Daff

Good idea to have a routine Fortune! I've been thinking about one but not quite got there yet. Trying to be a bit more consistent with housework and standing up from my desk... it's a start...

Love the idea of having a little bit of something with your tea!

rtandon27

Fortune - loving your list - structure is always good in uncertain times!

We as well had a little something to sip yesterday evening & probably will again today!  Took the edge off and left us feeling a bit more mellow
Also found some cake in the freezer - had even forgotten it was there, so tomorrow it will be cake with our afternoon tea