Simplifying Life

mary43

Well I stuck to my plan today..............this morning I started making my Christmas cards (yes I know its only June but I don't want a last minute panic& I know what I'm like.........bit of a 'tomorrow' person)
Washing done, hung on the line............shortly be fetching it in.
Quick tidy up............felt I'd earned some 'me' time on the internet then did a bit of gardening with OH. Not a lot as my back won't permit it but I potted on a geranium that was gasping for more space and helped with a climbing rose that got battered by the weekend winds................so, all in all, not bad for me. Haven't done much I know but I did what I set out to do and so often that just doesn't happen.:T

Aril

Hello virtual friends:j
Thanks very much for the link to beansprouts blog- I thoroughly enjoyed her entry and yes you're right I did celebrate the Solstice. Sorry to disappoint though I was very flaky and chose to stay in bed until 7am rather than get up early [my excuse was that I had a day lined up with loads of chores [or should that be challenges:D] for the day]. I got together with my small group of 4 friends and we did a lovely simple ceremony and then tucked into a spread that we'd all contributed to.
My simple pimple life continues. I've done a bit more rejigging and have freecycled more stuff and sent a big bag off to the charity shop collection. I am trying to slowly go around my house and clean/sort out a small area every other day or so otherwise it all seems a bit too overwhelming and I'll never get started. OH fitted the first part of the new work surface in the kitchen which has made a big change and I feel things are moving forward again after a very manic May.
I have finally got around to dusting off my old bone shaker which again I've been intending to do for ages but somehow I either seem to make those journeys on foot or in the car. The rising fuel prices and my conscience have finally given me the kick up the rump I required:D Anyway the old girl's 25 years old now [I had her from my parents for my 16th birthday] and other than being a bit squeaky isn't doing badly. Can't think why I didn't do it before....I love cycling and the freedom it gives me.
Tonight's quote is a bit of a leveller and reminds me to keep my ego in check:D
"You are of the same decaying organic matter as everyone else and we are all part of the same compost pile"
Chuck Palahniuk
Aril

Charis

Aril wrote: »

I did celebrate the Solstice. Sorry to disappoint though I was very flaky and chose to stay in bed until 7am rather than get up early

I don't think you missed much Aril. I have a friend who lives on Midsummer Hill (!) here in rural England. She told me she set her alarm for 3 am, stuck her head out of the window "And it was chucking it down and blowing a gale, so I went back to bed" she told me. She almost always goes to the top of the hill on Midsummer's Day, together with a small crowd of intrepid sun spotters who live around the area. :cool:

Re Freecycle, I put two lots of items on yesterday and had an instant response to both. I gave both my phone number so they could arrange collection but neither has got in touch since. :mad: One was very peculiar and it was only after I had given her both my phone number and address that I began to think that she just enjoyed the thrill of being offered the stuff, like winning at eBay. When I re-read her emails she never actually said she wanted them, just where could she collect from (although the town was in the header). There are some very odd folk out there in the real world, and some of them are quite rude. One request just read "can i have them?", not so much as a capital letter or a 'please'. He got not so much as a reply :rotfl:

mary43

Hi Aril -sounds like your life is really getting sorted out ...........and once more a super quote.

I've come to a stand still at the minute. My finances (or lack of them) seem to be at the front of my mind though I'm sure it'll work out in the end.
We're starting to think about what winter veg we can grow in containers....don't normally bother except for this time of the year but with food prices on the 'up' every I feel we must do as much to help ourselves as is possible.
The lad we've got at present will be 18 in August........a time when the 'powers that be' say.......time to leave. He's desparate to stay even to the point of offering to do out our garage and live in there !! Meanwhile we're fighting battles to try and get his placement extended.....he desparately needs that extra time to give him stability and enough confidence to go it alone........something he doesn't have at the minute.

Charis - youve just reminded me I ought to put some more stuff onto freecycle..........MIL insisted we brought a set of plates back with us that we don't need, plus 6 books that I won't read -didn't want to offend her by refusing so they're currently in a carrier bag on the floor ! If I really delve into the drawers in the spare room (currently home to all the stuff I've hoarded for christmas/birthday baskets) I know there are curtains, pieces of fabric etc. that would be more use to someone else that stuck up there.
Hope I don't have problems.........but have to admit that sometimes, after I've given my phone number so that collection times can be arranged its taken ages for them to reply and meanwhile the stuffs still sitting around my feet.
Got ex foster lads girlfriend popping up today.......maybe she'll get me motivated into a mini-de clutter................here's hoping. I need a kick up the backside at the minute

lightisfading

mary43 wrote: »

Hope I don't have problems.........but have to admit that sometimes, after I've given my phone number so that collection times can be arranged its taken ages for them to reply and meanwhile the stuffs still sitting around my feet.
Got ex foster lads girlfriend popping up today.......maybe she'll get me motivated into a mini-de clutter................here's hoping. I need a kick up the backside at the minute

you're braver than me mary, i almost never give my phone number out on freecycle.. and i'm a big fan of it rather than one of these people who whines constantly about it!

out of interest where in lincs are you?

mary43

I don't give my number out in general only by e mailing the person concerned. Seems the quickest way to sort out collection rather than have to have stuff hanging around.
Are you in Lincolnshire ? I'm not far from Skegness

Greenshieldstamp_2

Hello everyone,

Back again after a mad few days. Hope everyone is well.

Tried to get my airing and linen boxes in order today, but still don't think I have got it cracked, despite having a look at an MSE thread on organising your airing cupboard. This was quite funny, as most people on it seemed to admit they got hit on the head by spare loo-rolls when they opened the airing cupboard door!

I am trying to keep my hands off one of the radishes that I am growing which seems to be way ahead of the rest. Have warned OH that if he gets only 1 radish for tea one night, then it will have been home-grown!

Had a look at a thread about growing winter veg in pots (before reading Simplifying Life) and found Mary43 had started it, so shall be following that one with interest Mary43. How is your summer gardening going? What is your favourite flower or plant in your garden at the moment? I loved the image of one of your geraniums gasping for space!

Thanks for the quotes Aril, I always enjoy reading them.

Hi Ceridwen,
How is the blogging going? I will have a look when I get a minute and if I can remember how to access it.

Best wishes and have a good evening
Greenshield

mary43

Hello Greenshield
Pleased you found the 'winter veg in pots' interesting. As for the summer stuff, well, all the veg is coming along nicely.........should have nice red strawberries for the end of the week -hopefully with a dollop of ice cream and some of my chocolate mint chopped up. The geraniums in pots -or pelagoniums - are ok though only got one in flower ! Don;t really have a favourite plant but I've got some orange flowers I had from Mums garden several years back that have gone bonkers seeding themselves everywhere -they look a treat and completey overshadow my wild geraniums that used to cover everything. Love wild flowers..........anything that will take a shine to my garden and grow is welcomed by me..........beats struggling to grow a plant that just for some reason doesn't feel quite at home.
Haven;t seen the thread about organising airing cupboards -but I don't have one anyway.......... The cupboard we have with the immersion tank in is full of .........well, the immersion tank !

Well, ex foster lads girlfriend called with her washing (they've no washing machine) so I never did get any motivation to sort out anything at all..........oh well, the best laid plans of mice and all that..................it was good to see her anyway and brightened up the day. Must have a bit of a tidy up tomorrow...........maybe once I get started.........who knows:o

Greenshieldstamp_2

Hi Mary 43

I know exactly what you mean about the plants finding their own places. We have started 'welcoming the rabbits from the field' and not worrying too much about what they eat. We have enjoyed watching the tiny new rabbits and do you know what, now we have stopped worrying the rabbits haven't eaten half as much as they did last year?

Last year they shredded all the new shoots, and this year there seems to have been enough for them and us, so it is much better.

I am still impressed that you hae started even thinking about Christmas cards etc. so don't be too hard on yourself about not getting everything done, as you are way ahead of the rest of us.
Take care

ceridwen

Greenshieldstamp wrote: »

Tried to get my airing and linen boxes in order today, but still don't think I have got it cracked, despite having a look at an MSE thread on organising your airing cupboard. This was quite funny, as most people on it seemed to admit they got hit on the head by spare loo-rolls when they opened the airing cupboard door!


Hi Ceridwen,
How is the blogging going? I will have a look when I get a minute and if I can remember how to access it.


Greenshield

I hadnt read that thread re airing cupboards - but can relate to the looroll storage in there - 2 packs of 10 loorolls per pack in my case!

The blogging - yep I'm still at it...blogging away. Do pop over again for a "visit". To access - theres 2 ways:

1. Click on the "ceridwen" name logo by this post and then scroll down to "home page" and click on that. You come to my homepage - otherwise known as my blog!

2. Click on the link below:

http://chezceridwen.blogspot.com/

I "tell a lie" in fact - I noticed t'other day that I come up on Google now too - so that makes 3 ways:D - think I just put "chez ceridwen" into google box and up came some of my posts on my blog (NB: There is one or two other ceridwen's besides me! - I'm the one that is obviously a British woman of a "certain age":D ).