A New Look

 

 

I am at a season in my life where I am quite unsettled!  So this week I took myself off to a local trampers (hikers) trail and lost myself in the quiet unspoiled beauty of our native bush.  Several hours later I emerged, happier and determined to stop my procrastinating about changes that I want to make in my life.  A lot has changed in my life over the last couple of years and I was trying to carry on as normal.  But lets face it, sometimes we have to accept the changes and reset our lives.  I think my lack of motivation was mirrored by my blogging - spasmodic and jumping about allover the place. I started this blog with the intention of blogging about a simple life in preparation for my retirement.  

At the beginning I achieved this then I learnt to crochet and I became obsessed with it and I just blogged about crochet.  Over the last year or so it has just become one of my hobbies along with gardening, cooking, art and reading.  Also, I am retired now.  I have actually found it quite hard to adjust, to slow down and smell the roses.

One good thing about lockdown was  that I did learn to stand still, appreciate the small things and take stock of my life.  Now that we are out of lockdown I am finding it easier not to be bustling about after other people, it is quite astonishing that you find out who your true friends are when you start to say "no" to requests. Like the friend, when I said no to helping her with a task as I was not feeling well, sent her husband around to mow my lawns.  That's a true friend, not like another when I said "no" who muttered and sighed and hasn't been in touch since!  I think that when I retired, I replaced work with running around keeping busy as I had all this time to fill!

Anyways, this morning while I was reading a blog that I follow I saw that she had changed the look of her blog and a bell went off in my head!  So I headed to themes and came up with this format, I think it needs a few tweaks, but I like it as it looks fresh and clean - no clutter!

Talking about clutter, that is something I have to work on seriously!  First on the list is my crochet supplies, I have wool and cotton stuffed everywhere!  I need to go through it all and decide what I will use and the rest be donated.  Second are my cupboards in  the hall, laundry and bedroom, likewise they are stuffed with odds and ends like old china, appliances, art materials, magazines, books, clothes you name it, I probably have it.  Thirdly, The Shed! 

So today, my first task is to attack the hall cupboard I want to turn it into an extended pantry over the next few months.  I am not a prepper but I want to have the security of knowing that I have a backup of supplies if we go into another lockdown or if I am ill or there is some other emergency.   I will do a post on this later.

 So here's to a new start......

 
 
 

The Garden


 
 
Spring has arrived, although it doesn't officially start till 1st September.  The garden is springing into life and the daffodils and jonquils give out their scent and bring a smile of the pleasures to come.

 

 

There is a lot of tidying in the garden  waiting to be done.  Planning of the summer vegetable garden.  There is still some goodies from the winter garden to harvest, mainly kale, silverbeet (chard) and some broccoli, along with the herbs coriander, parsley and rosemary. There is still plenty of squash and pumpkin stored away.

 This year I have bought 3 packets of wildflower mixes to sow.  One for the shade, one for the low borders and the other a more traditional mix for my wild garden down the back.  The other evening I was on U Tube and happen to notice the video below.


It is a tour around a glorious cottage garden in Sweden, it is so beautiful and the accompanying music is gentle and calming.  If you like visiting gardens do watch it. 

A miracle has happened, 2 days ago I got out my crochet hook and I have  started to crochet again.  I will post a picture next time. But for today I want to get into the garden.

Back Again!

Hi there, its been a long time since I posted last.  A lot has happened in my life and in the world!

I wont go into what has happened to me much as we all have our trials and blessings, and we all know what is happening in the world, lol.  I just hope that everyone is safe and well and as we say in NZ  "kia kaha" meaning "be strong".

I have not picked up my crochet hook for a long time due to an accident where I tripped over a dog!  I hurt my shoulder and elbow and it is taking ages to heal. But we are getting there. Slowly but surely.

Even though no crochet is being done I have decided to carry on blogging as I miss it, but my focus will be on the home front, cooking, gardening and other bits and pieces affecting my life, in  other words a diary.  And just maybe crochet one day will creep back in.

One sad piece of news is that my cat Ambrose has passed, one week shy of his 19th birthday. It hit me hard even though I was expecting his passing for the last few months of his life, he was my shadow and companion for all of those 19 years.

I want this post to be a tribute to Ambrose and the happy years he gave me.

Always the gentleman


Loved to snuggle up in crochet blankies

Favourite pastime finding a cushion to sleep on


With his sisters Peggy Sue and Lucy


He could never resist helping with crochet


With his best mate Peggy Sue
 
Rest in Peace Ambrose

Some simple things

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