Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

Valli

Hello Slowies

I am at the paid stuff today, but i will take a break to go to the swimming session (outswim cancer) for my health.  No walking done over the weekend, both myself and my bestie, with whom I go walking, are redheads with delicate skin, so neither of us would enjoy that.  It’s our local Walking Festival this week; we’ve booked on a walk through a local cemetery to meet some significant (but deceased) locals; so i’m hoping it will be fine.
Saturday we had a takeaway and watch Eurovision (and agreed on the ventral winner).  Sunday I made a roast for the family, all plates were cleared, though I served smaller portions to the aged Ps.  so that was Sunday taken care of.  We watched Calamity Jane afterwards. 

So a nice, gentle weekend.

leftatthetrafficlights

@Brie - I hope you got to see the lights 🤞 

@Wednesday2000 - I'm not a Taylor Swift fan so haven't heard any of her albums, it's a shame you were disappointed with the new album though 😔 

@Florafauna - nice to have you back! 😁 Jury service sounds exciting - I hope it wasn't too traumatic a case 🤞 the next ten weeks will rush by with all the packing to do - I hope it all goes well 😁 

@kazwookie - you're obviously in my neck of the woods! 😉😁 That beach is just over 20 miles away from me - it's one of dh's favourite places as he used to holiday there as a child 😁 

@Valli - your weekend sounds lovely 😁 Calamity Jane is one of my all time favourite films - I bought it on dvd a few months ago so that I can watch it regularly! I hope you enjoy your walking festival 😁 

I had a lovely weekend until I decided to fall over the hosepipe on Sunday afternoon and land on the patio 🤦‍♀️ I ended up coming indoors and missing the last of the days sunshine then decided yesterday that I probably needed to get my hand and wrist checked out as I can barely move it - upshot is that I have a couple of fractures! 🙄🤦‍♀️

I'm seriously unimpressed, trying to do stuff one-handed is going to take some getting used to but the worst part is that I can't drive so won't be able to have my grandbaby for his usual midweek sleepovers 😢 dd is going to bring him over once a week after school so that we can see each other but it's not going to be the same 😔 

It could all be a lot worse though so I'm not going to spend loads of time sulking - I can still clean, read and write one handed and once the swelling goes down in my knees (yep, it was a full body slam onto the concrete 🤦‍♀️) I'll be able to do walks too 😁 

Valli

ooh LATTL hope the fractures heal well and you’re coping.  

Wednesday2000

Oh no. I hope the fractures heal well too.

I have a reflexology appointment today which should be nice. I was fighting off a migraine yesterday and reflexology treatment often helps me with them. It is raining, unfortunately, but it is only a short walk to her house.

Moorviews

That fall sounds terrible @leftatthetrafficlights and so disappointing when you have been enjoying getting on with things. Make sure that you rest though too, instead of just trying to do everything you possibly can one handed. I do hope that the fractures heal quickly for you. 

I really couldn’t help linking the fall and the Doris Day film in my mind! I grew up watching those films and wanting to be Doris Day - I can’t sing and am definitely not of her willowy build or cute looks! 

@Wednesday2000 - I hope the reflexology is effective in holding off the migraine for you. 

Wednesday2000

Yes. It was lovely. I feel so much better now. I was still feeling sick this morning, but I feel fine now. I just walked home and made myself some lunch.

I think I might have Indian Head Massage with her next time.🤩

mrs_slapshot

Ooh @leftatthetrafficlights that fall sounds really nasty - take care of yourself (and I can imagine how frustrating it is not having full mobility!)

Well I'm now a couple of weeks into my unpaid leave and have had a lot of productive time - and a lot of non-productive time (eg social media scrolling!!...). I've sorted out my shed and my son's and had a few trips to the tip. Also weeded my garden border which isn't very big but had a LOT of weeds in it - big ones too! I'm now starting to plan what I'd like in it - there are very few plants as it's a fairly new border and I'd like a cottage garden type border - on a budget! If anyone has any handy tips on how to stock one for as little as possible, I'm listening!

I've also joined a choir, which is good fun although we have to sing in harmonies which I am finding challenging....and I've done an online art class this afternoon too. I definitely want to get in touch with my creative side more. I also want to start to pick up my blog writing too which has been very hit and miss over the last couple of years.

I did the stocktake of my freezer and cupboards and now need to do a food plan to use up what I have.

One of the things I am finding quite challenging is stopping myself from needlessly spending money, so I think having some 'house focused' hobbies will help with that.

weenancyinAmerica

Oh my @leftatthetrafficlights - at least fractures supposedly heal faster than sprains according to my doctor. Rather have neither. Take it easy and don't try to overdue anything - it is only for a few weeks. Then you will be back to your old self. Or at least close to it. 

Calamity Jane is one of my favorite movies too. Of course, I like any of the movies with Howard Keel. My favorite has always been Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We just did a PowerPoint of our favorite things for a class I am taking and I included both movies as among my favorites (Court Jester with Danny Kaye for the third one) and Howard Keel as one of my favorite actors. It is interesting to see the differences between us older folks (several of us are in our seventies) and the younger class members (aged 20 - 30). The young lady sitting next to me listed her favorite WWE (Wrestling) players, her favorite exercises, and her favorite tv shows none of which I had ever heard of. Of course, she had never heard of my favorite TV shows either (Dad's Army, Last of the Summer Wine, and Yes, Minister - I much prefer British comedies).  

Moorviews

@mrs_slapshot - a lot of cottage garden favourites are good self seeders. Foxgloves, Granny’s Bonnets, Forget-me-nots, Lupins, Poppies and Marigolds for example. Now is a good time to sow them but if you have gardening friends they might have some spare self sown seedlings. Or you might find them on a table at a fete or garden stall. Some wouldn’t flower until next year though. The perennial hardy geraniums are also good as they spread in a modest way and can be easily divided up so people are often generous about sharing them. Avoid anything described as ground cover as your small bed will soon be taken over though. There are plenty of summer bulbs that can go in now. All sold in packets at the garden centre. Cheaper than buying them in pots. Dahlia tubers are also great value and you can get lots of cut flowers from them - they thrive on being cut. Grow the tuber in a pot to begin with so that you can protect the new growth from slugs, then plant out and feed and water well. I find that roses do well with low growing plants nearby and they make a nice gift request for birthdays. A tray or two of bedding plants can be good fillers while your flower bed is getting established. Some sweet peas or clematis on a wigwam of canes can add height and interest. Don’t forget to plant some daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs after the summer ends and give yourself something to look forward to next year. Buying things in flower in pots is almost always more expensive than the bulbs, plug plants, or seeds. If you do go for a potted plant then choose a well filled pot with the potential to divide the contents to create more plants. Once you are dividing your plants and potting on your seedlings you will be like most gardeners and end up with too many plants!
Sorry if that was a bit much - I got a little carried away 😂

Katiehound

^^^^^
If you have any gardens near you- I mean private house gardens! It pays to cultivate the 'I'm just admiring your  xxxx' because gardeners like other folk to appreciate their gardens. You can then chat & maybe beg a cutting or a small plant. I've certainly given plants away when I have been wedding and someone passing  has asked about a plant.

Look on the 'sales' table or the yellow label stickers. Sometimes a plant has been ignored/ finished flowering etc but would thrive with a bit of tlc- Morrisons used to have 'sad' cheap specimens

Buy spring bulbs when they are being sold off , or indulge in a s/m bargain sack of mixed varietites.
They'll still grow (unless they have been kept in an overheated place)

have fun