Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

savingholmes

Yesterday evening I worked on the garden - mowed the lawn, pulled out handfuls of a stripey grass I hate and got my new birthday gift of a waterfall working. I was very proud that I managed that myself - although I did discover that one set of outdoor sockets was no longer working - and I need the handyman to fix that. 

Today - I went to a garden centre for a lovely Sunday roast... I then got sucked into buying more beautiful plants and a couple of wooden (screw together) raised beds. The latter were £35 each which is a bargain. I was going to leave the latter for the handyman to assemble but with my new found confidence did them myself. Tomorrow I hope to buy some petrol blue paint to put on them before planting them up. I want them to go behind my outdoor furniture so it always looks pretty & vibrant. There's concrete there so I'm unable to plant directly into the ground. My parents gave me a spare gazebo the other day and suggested I put it there but I don't think I want to always block the sun there so it's still in its box for now.

Yesterday I moved some of my pots around to help screen the view of next door - especially as they are now hanging their bathing costumes in my line of sight every day!! It looks better already and the new planters will help further - as it means my plants will have height so be seen above the furniture without needing years to grow. I was originally going to ask the handyman to build something bespoke for me - but this feels a lot cheaper although it may not last as long as say sleepers would - they are also more easily moved if needed.

I'm tempted to buy more planters and possibly use them at the front so I get some plant screening while I wait for things to establish. My front garden is sloped so is tricky and I'm reluctant to put things in the ground at the front as I may be having the drive extended at some point and don't want to have pay for them to be moved. Now I know I can assemble them - the cost for the size of planter and it being raised seems very reasonable. At the moment I'm relying on lots of pots in the front and back gardens - and am just trying to move things around as different things come in to flower.

I bought a plant today that made me think of @TallGirlas it's called Golf Beauty - and has golden balls of flower. I bought 2 of those they are kind of perennial as long as it doesn't freeze too heard. I also bought 6 variegated coleus that I may plant up as mini house plants for my son - and perhaps just keep 1 or two. Some white agapanthus. Some cosmos in white and pink. Red salvia. Some purple flowering spikes of flower I can't think of the name of... A fairy copper bell chime with green and yellow wings. Some sweet peas. I also got some sea holly which I love for how it attracts bees and butterflies. It needs to go at the back somewhere though as it can look a bit scraggily when its not in flower.

When I was at the hairdressers the other day - I met his builder and he's going to come and quote here. Judging by what he's quoted my friend for his place his prices are a lot more reasonable. I saw the handyman in town yesterday and met some of his family. Given I only know him and my direct neighbours it felt weird to meet someone I knew - but made me feel more at home in the town. From what he said, I doubt he'll be with me next week but perhaps the week after. That may be just as well with my recent spends. I haven't posted my pensions form yet - and if I am likely to have the garage conversion etc done - may hold off at least another month - while I find out what his quote is and whether I'm likely to go ahead.

I referred to this in my earlier post - but nearly 3 years ago now I decided to get divorced and I'm finally starting to feel more myself. Like I'm recovering some of my muchness. I need to ensure that I don't let my perfectionist tendencies get in the way of socialising and even dating. I delayed dating with the excuse that there was no point dating someone when I was about to move. I now feel more settled nearly 4 months on from the move so maybe that's something I can start to consider... I'm in danger of wanting to wait until my house is done, or is cleaner, tidier, or I'm slimmer. DS however said something the other day that helped me see it differently. He mentioned the opportunity cost of waiting - and that people who are available now, perhaps wouldn't be if I waited... a lot to think about.

That being said... with no cleaner for a few weeks my house looks ravaged... so there would be something to be said for making at least my front room look more respectable again... 

savingholmes

lucielle said:

That’s a really lovely post to read and sounds so positive.   

Clothes sound nice, love Roman clothes. A holiday abroad sounds like a great starting point, are there foreign art courses you could do?
L

That's a really good idea Lucielle. I'll think about that as an option and explore... Could look at art or writing holidays... 

Chrystal said:

Lovely to hear you sounding so happy about things SH

Clothes sound lovely, and I agree it's a total moral boost to be able to buy things that wouldn't have fitted before. (((hugs))) XX

Thanks Crystal - it has given me a real lift - to a degree that surprised me. I think historically I've always spent on myself last to the point of almost neglect - so it's good to finally give myself rather than say the house/garden something... 

beanielou said:

What a lovely post 

Thanks Beanie.

I wrote it here so that I can re-read it in future and hopefully not lose sight of it.

jwil

Lovely positive posts!  Well done on the weightloss, a new wardrobe is definitely needed.

KajiKita

I’m with you on the self neglect of not buying new clothes for myself. I have that propensity too. Buying the dress I bought recently was really big thing for me. I think it’s partly because I spent so many years in debt and literally couldn’t afford to eat without help from my parents, so I really shouldn’t be ‘indulging’ myself with clothes should I ….
But, they have such an effect on our mood and self worth, and also how people respond to you. It becomes a truly false economy. 

I love that your son reacted like you did a ‘big reveal’ of your new self - that’s really lovely 😊 And a really strong validation too. 

Well done for getting the review form sent off. 🤞 for the outcome / response. The new builder sounds promising too. 

KK

Blackcats

It's really nice to read your happy post and it's evident how your confidence is growing.  You are the emerging butterfly.
will be interesting to see a different builder's quote.

SandyShores

Very positive post, you sound in a great place.  I can't believe where the time has gone, but you have done (and achieved) so much.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil, Sandy, KK and Blackcats

I'm thrilled with my weight loss - and hope I keep my confidence.

I got the bird app others mentioned and apparently among my other birds I have Dunnocks. Seen great tits, robins, starlings, dunnocks, blackbird so far today. In my garden on other days I have had sparrows, magpies and wood pigeons. It's fascinating to see the bird hierarchy in play. The starling bullying the other birds - and then a different black bird chasing off a starling. I have coconut shells with food in - in 3 places and then mealworms on a stake and often on my top border so they have other options if chased off one area. I'm loving getting into birds. There were some free books on Aud which ignited my interest.

Yesterday I painted my new planters and put them behind the outdoor sofa. I may have bought a few more plants - including a lot in the clearance section including 3 types of magnolia at £2 each. I put in a blue white delphinium, Alchemilla millefolium (red flowers), sweet peas, strawberry plants, blue lobelia, in both. In one I added an existing azalea from a pot and in the other I put a forest flame I already had. I added a red bellis to one. I also planted some plants in my side border - some sea holly, a white agapanthus, a red dicnentra, a white cosmos and a chocolate pink one. I added a red begonia waterfall plant to a pot with my mahonia in. I added some red salvia to some pots at the front. I planted on some coleus which may become gifts. In the pot I'd emptied I added a lapis lazuli agapanthus, split a campanula pot and added magnolia stellata. I potted on a blue agapanthus with no stems yet. I planted the two yellow golf ball plants into existing pots. I potted on a rudbeckia and a fushcia. I need more compost before I do anything else.

I updated my finances. I'm going to delay upping my pension another month to help clear some of my recent spending.

The weather was glorious yesterday but it is now raining hard. My house is currently too messy to be able to use the robovac - but I charged it yesterday. I'd misplaced my new hoover - and found it and used it a tiny bit today. I'll take it upstairs with me - and it's charger and perhaps do a bit upstairs in between other things. I had originally planned to sort the house this weekend but I made the most of the weather instead. I'm due to work today - so will finish this post and get to it.

jwil

The planters sound lovely!  I've got into watching the wildlife more since working from home and spending lots of times by my back doors!  I'm still pretty clueless what most of it is though.  We must have a blue tit nest fairly close by as they are constantly in and out of our garden looking for insects.  I love seeing them land in the most awkward places.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil - yes the birds bring a lot of joy.

I've made the painful decision to sell my concert tickets via the platform I originally bought them on. If all goes well I can then use that money towards a holiday instead. I finished work early - and spent a lot of the day looking for holidays!! Very little cleaning got done - although I have emptied some bins and the cat litter tray and the kitchen caddy. 

I'm potentially going to go on an all inclusive holiday so the concert £ will help towards that. The builder I contacted is going to come and quote at the weekend - so here's hoping he's far more reasonable.

skint_spice

Fingers crossed for a better quote!