Simplifying Life

mary43

Well, pleased to say counselling session yesterday went very well and I felt quite positive about things..though feeling little bit worried that I'll fall back after my next and last appointment next week.........but then thats not a positive way of looking at things really is it ?
Haven't yet got paint for Dads tray...............life got in the way as they say and today I've been to visit a friend I've not been to see for a while.........she has her own problems, really much harder to deal with than mine but between us we had a good day and laughed our way through till tea time. I really must see her more often. She's a good friend, gives me a reason to get out of the house and I'm trying to get her into de-cluttering some of the stuff she has just hung on to for memories sake. She just needs abit of help to start 'getting rid' .
Tomorrow is 'getting the paint' day now..........I've promised myself that very firmly............tray is sitting here ready and waiting for a new lease of life and I know I'll feel better for doing it.
Photo albums have been on my mind as they're such a muddle and finding the right kind of albums to suit isn't easy................so, I think I'll opt for some really nice ring binders..........I can stick the photos on paper,slide them into plastic wallets and add more as I go along.

OH has been doing some more work in the garden and is much more motivated since I've felt better...........I hadn't realised how much I'd dragged him down poor soul, and he'd be the last one to mention it.

So, at the moment, life isn't bad...........apart from the drop in temperature and we have no control over that do we.

Take care

ceridwen

Well Mary - you must be "getting there" - now spreading the word to a friend:D . One action by a person spreads out to an action by another person spreads out to an action by another person.....ad infinitum.

mary43

Well I get the feeling that if I can help my friend to de-clutter her life a bit it might then rebound back to me and I'll do a bit more...........can't preach what I don't practise now can I ?..................lol

Think it'll still take me a little time to really feel 'in control' but at least I feel better about myself and thats more than I did before.
My friends problems are far far worse and not things that she'll ever get over but little by little she's beginning to live with them instead of letting them crush her which is what they were doing not so long back.
I've sadly neglected her I know -been so wrapped up in myself and it's not like me to be like that. Time I made some space for others.

Oh, have seen foster daughter...........very cheerful she was and has gone back to work today to try and get a bit of normality back into her life. Good comes from bad as she's getting the whole house decorated which she didn't think she would as the fire was upstairs.........so there's a job of work saved for her. She was smiling and like her normal self which made me feel tons better.

Well, off to have quality time with OH and the tele..........:o

mary43

Cup Final !!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

Oh well, at least I made a start on Dads tray...........was a very drab dark brown looking ply wood thing...........three coats of paint later (sort of mint green -very pale,I mixed myself using up what I'd got instead of forking out for more). Next stage is the stencilling..........thats where I get the shivers.Haven't done it for so long so think I'll have to practice on paper first............lol Don't want to mess it up now I've got this far.
Have to admit though housework has gone to pot.......trying not to notice the carpet and resist the temptation to write my name in the dust...............lol It's not so important is it ............not really in the grand scheme of things..........well not in my book anyway.
So, now I'm off to get out my stencil book and study it for a bit before I go any further..................lol

ceridwen

Oooh...found enough reading to satisfy my voracious bookworm appetite for a while:

http://www.homestead.org/

Right - one kettle to get on for a sustaining drink and its off for some self-sufficiency daydreaming.....:whistle:

mary43

Kettle on :?Sounds like a good idea..................I've been playing with stencils and paints and not doing very well. Practised on some paper as I don't want to muck up Dads tray...........not now I've got this far............maybe a cup of something will clear the brain a bit...........don't want this positive feeling to turn into a negative one just because some painting went wrong..................lol

mary43

Well, painted some more (only practising on paper) and not happy with it. Found it easier to draw round the outline of the stencil and 'colour in'.....thought it would be such an easy little project but its not. Done final practise bit and OH says it looks ok (I've got doubts) .........but I'm leaving it till another day now..........no point in rushing it just because I told myself I'd finish it this weekend. In the grand scheme of things its no loss if it waits a while -except its cluttering up my room !!
So, had a bit of a non- productive day really........OH on the other hand has been going great guns in the garden planting up his runner beans and tomatoes (we'll end up making chutney we've so many been given us) and generaly tidying up...........well a bit. Still seems loads of c**p outside........plant pots etc. Still, he's had a satisfying day and, well so have I in as much as I've worked out what I'm going to do with this tray (which is started to be as much a headache as the dreaded plant trough was ! Still, that got done in the end)
Case of all things come to those who wait

Aril

Hello virtual friends:j
Woo hoo it's my 1000th post and couldn't choose a better place to post it could I:beer:
Everything seems to have quite busy of late although so far the course has gone well and I have been given an exemption which drops the workload by a fifth:D I've returned to the decluttering again having had a few weeks break. Now got a big bag for the charity shop and the small person's paddling pool has been freecycled. It's funny at Christmas I had such a major turnout that I'd have sworn there was nothing else to go but looking at things with fresh eyes I still have items that I largely ignore and I think would be better off under new ownership.
It's been a busy weekend but the small person and I thoroughly enjoyed a free herbal walk we out on yesterday. He had a thousand questions for the lady leading it and thoroughly enjoyed being in charge of the magnifying glass that she lent him [can you tell she's got 3 children of her own:D]. However, he was less impressed by the nettle and burdock tea she gave him to try at the end. Ah well at least he tried it I suppose. We were taken out for a very posh lunch by my boss last weekend as a thank you and he very kindly treated the small person aswell who quite happily ate wood pidgeon breast followed by red mullet:p His attitude, when going out for a meal, is not what would I like but what haven't I tried before which means that he gets to try all sorts and seems to enjoy pretty much whatever's put infront of him [except potato].
A short but rather poignant quote which seems to sum up much of what seems to be around in the news at the moment:
The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.
Gandhi
Hope you all have a great week....I'm off on my much anticipated trip to Canada this week and shall have the excitement of whale watching along with many other new experiences to look forward to.
Aril

mary43

Hi Aril = Congratulations on your 1000th post :beer:
Love the quote - very apt for this present time.

Glad to hear the course is going well - it is amazing how this de-cluttering never seems to end................every time I look at a cupboard door I picture stuff inside it that I know we don';t need anymore and its just a case of getting around to it. Two lots of plates we never used could be of use to someone else along with all sorts of other stuff that lurks at the back of the pantry.
Can't face doing that at the moment, though I've given myself a dealing of 9th June. We've got time off then for two weeks when baby grandson is coming to spend his first birthday with us and then we've off to Liverpool for the city of culture experience and MIL's birthday. So, I'd like things reasonable ship shape (well for me anyway) when son comes up.
Counselling is not only doing me good........seems to have spread to OH and he's gardening away, planting seeds here and there and generally getting more to grips with life. I hadn't noticed before how down he must have been till he started actually doing things like that. We now have runner beans, potatos, endless tomatos, chilli seeds on the window sill..........he now needs a couple of courgette plants and some herbs and he'll be a happy chap.:j
Last counselling appoinment and I have to admit I'm a bit worried that I'll not have her to 'lean on'as it were. But, there has to come a time when I must cope on my own and I've a very good friend I can always turn to.
Done no more to Dads tray.............didnt want to spoil it so hanging on till I know it'll be right. Where I'll put it when its done I've no idea at the minute but its special to me so I'll find a home for it.
Ex foster las called this afternoon with his girlfriend and they've lightened my load a bit.I kept all his paperwork for him when he was suffering with his mental health, plus existing literacy problems, and dealt with it all on his behalf. They've now taken it all away as his girlfriend is more than able to sort things out that he doesn't understand. So that's eased my over filled brain a bit.
And a lady on freecycle wants wine bottles for her winemaking so that's saving OH a trip to the bottle bank and it'll get them out of our way...............lol

Some of my Dads stuff is now on the local history site and its lovely to be able to look at it without having to manage it, if you know what I mean.

So, despite the fact that carpet needs hoovering,and I could probably write my name in the dust , all is well in my little world......................:T
(for now anyway...............)

Enjoy your trip to Canada

mary43

Had my last appointment with my counsellor............felt a bit daunting but I can always go back and see someone else if need be. I'm trying to keep positive and OH is a great help especially now he's more 'together' himself so I think I'll be fine.
Still not finished with dads tray but I've decided to have a go at painting the flowers on it myself...........always enjoyed it but haven't done any since Mum was ill and I think its time I got back into doing the 'theraputic' things I like.
So its fingers crossed and I'm telling myself to be more positive about life in general........I've had so much help from people here, so many quotes to give me a nudge if I have a bad day and of course,my five blessings.
I get the feeling this week will not be a good one for anymore sorting out.........builder due back tomorrow and I shan't feel settled until he's been and I can then sort out what was our 'indoor shed/building site'.