Back on Track to get things sorted

 Okay, so life is re-establishing some sort of normal, albeit a bit different to before Mum went into hospital. I've caught up with cleaning, washing, ironing, Substack posts and all that, although inroads into the ebook I'm putting together and the pile of craft stuff to do remain fairly untouched.

I've started a bit of a digital sort out too. I couldn't find a number of photos and documents and realised that the folders on the laptop, phone and hard drive were in a real state. Having begun reorganising it all I've noticed how much needs decluttering and deleting. I've written all about my intended path through my digital muddle on my Substack so I'll leave out the details. Suffice to say it's taking a while, but is really satisfying. I've begun labelling folders coherently and cleared loads of room on all my storage meaning that my devices seem to be operating much faster!

Of course all that has led to one or two headaches. There's only so much staring at a screen that the body will take. It made me think about the chat with the doctor about health, blood pressure, relaxation and stress. A while ago I had a problem with my feet - too much tennis and not replacing my shoes early enough. I bought a massage ball at the time.

It works like magic. Firstly rolling it around under the balls of my feet released the tingling sensations and went quite a way towards dealing with the pain, then I tried it up and down my calves after tennis and running to massage the muscles - brilliant.

So now I've been employing it around my shoulders and voila! Soreness and much of the headachey feeling have gone...

I did think thought that a break from the screen was in order so I whisked out the sewing machine. For a while now I've been considering doing a series of 'how to' makes or showing how I've recycled one item into another. I'm sure I've mentioned it before. During my digital show down I found lots of photos I'd taken over time of projects step by step. All I need to do now is to find the time to write the instructions! One step at a time though.

Having sorted through a number of mum's clothes that no longer fit her in order to make room in her wardrobe I've got a bag of bits and pieces that weren't good enough for the charity shop/selling online. There were some nice petticoats with the odd mark on them and so I've mass produced a load of scrunchies.

both from the slips and from some spare cotton fabric...

They can go in my box ready for selling at a craft or Christmas Fair later in the year..

Planning ahead - not that's really getting things sorted!

In other words...

 

For the end of the holiday here's a couple of activities could start back in the library. One uses words from another language and the other the children's own words about their break.

Month 8 - Bite 29

Just to keep those thoughts of holidays and more exotic travel alive (even if you didn't venture abroad) how about learning some words or phrases from another language?

Our library has a selection of languages and methods to choose from - books, DVDs, online videos. Choose your medium and let everyone have a go. You're not looking to become word perfect or grammatically wonderful. The idea is for each of you to learn and remember a number of helpful phrases or interesting words.

Having started with the most basic 'hello' and goodbye', 'please' and thank you' see what they would like to be able to say. It might be that you did get away to a different land and found that there was something you wish you'd been able to say. Well, now you can try it out ready for another time.

Don't forget there are plenty of short video clips, online courses and ebooks that you could try too.

Who knows, it might lead to the whole family going even deeper into a foreign tongue and taking a course to learn more. Doing this together means you'll have plenty of people to practise your conversations with too.

Month 8 - Bite 30

Our library also has a lot of local interest pamphlets advertising some of the attractions and events around here. Have you noticed a rack like this in yours? or in the local tourist information office?

You could round off the holiday by providing the wherewithal for making brochures or scrapbooks about some of the places you've been or events you've attended or things you've done together over the break.

Pictures, writing, photos, downloaded information - they can all go into your family's very personal brochures of their holiday.

While you take the time to create these it will provide the opportunity to chat about everything you've done and to find out what the favourites were. It could be surprising to see what comes out on top. Was it the most expensive outing or the most creative day or just the longest time you had to laugh and have fun?

Photo Shoot

 Month 8 -Bite 19

Time for a walk again! And once more a camera will come in handy...

You can either just go for a walk to see what you can find to shoot and collect as many photos of your trip as possible - the more unusual the better. Try not just taking a picture of a tree for example, try and get a real close up of the bark. Or go window shopping with your phone/camera to see what's on display around you.

The other option is to choose a theme before you go out - rather like the other day's bug safari. Anything goes - you could even try to take some snaps that don't show the whole object so that the viewer has to guess what they are looking at...

If you can't go out or the weather isn't being co-operative you could complete your walk indoors finding things to snap around the house ...

Got plenty of images? Then it'll be on to ..

Month 8 - Bite 20

Now it's time to turn your photos into a story. Pick the photos that you want to use and then put them into an order that helps to tell your story. It could simple show the route you took, or be a 'what is this?' quiz if you took some close up or different angle shots. 

You might want to make up a story with the photos illustrating the narrative.

These could be linked together as a presentation to entertain the family or take into school to show what you've been up to. You could add music or a commentary and text. You could have plenty of fun together creating and directing your own piece of artwork!

Bug Safari

 Month 8 - Bite 15

Back outside again now.

Time to become a hunter - your prey will be small and your weapon will be a camera (phone) or paper and pencil.

Go for a walk to see how many bugs you can spot...

They might be decorations in others' gardens ..

                                             

Or the real thing in the park or your own patch...

Record what you find in some way and see if you know the name of the creature.

If you don't try looking it up online or try tomorrow's task for some help!

There are also regular surveys and counts that are advertised to help naturalists and other scientists to gauge the health of our bug (and other creature) populations. Earlier this month there was a butterfly count. It's worth looking out for them and many have their own apps or downloadable resources so that you can find out more about your hunted subject...

Of course you could also do a bug safari at home.. and I don't just mean counting spiders hiding around the place. See if you can track down images of mini-beasts on cans, covers and books as well as magazines, comics and toys. They really are everywhere.

AAaarrgghhh... Just when I thought I was on top of it all...

 Oh well, the best laid plans and all that.

I was doing so well with little catch-ups and getting most of this blog rolling without too many gaps until - well, it had to happen really - the dreaded COVID got me! Luckily not too badly, but with enough brain fog to stop me writing too much...

So this month might be a bit truncated (handy for an elephant theme don't you think?). I'll get all the bite ideas in, but they may well be a bit crammed. Mind you, that's a bit how the summer feels for our family with so many birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations.

Okay, let's get started...

Month 7 - Bite 3

When you get to a certain point there's a problem in that you may well not need superfluous presents. I'd argue that you probably never need them - anyway there still has to be a way to mark and celebrate milestones and in the last few years we've had a few of those '0' birthdays - 30ths, 60th and so on. Actually next week sees my mum's 90th.

A while back we started clubbing together to get the number of presents to match a significant year. Some of them were 'present sized costs' while others were simple things that the recipient liked. My sister's 60th was a real planning episode with a spreadsheet and multiple messages as we all piled in with ideas and actual buying. The gifts ranged from her favourite orange chocolate and photo fridge magnets of the grandchildren to vouchers.

It was great fun (even if I had to witness it through video link because of the pandemic rules at the time!)

And there was a lot of love and thought put into it all.

Mind you, I don't now whether it took more planning or less than my niece's 30th previous to that which involved getting all 30 presents to Italy. Now that was a suitcase I was hoping they didn't want to open and examine as it was all wrapped and ready....

Month 7 - Bite 4

Of course, such present buying has to avoid descending into silliness and wasting money and time on stuff that isn't wanted or needed so the biggest factor with presents is to get what's wanted. The simplest way of doing this is to ask! 

I think I've mentioned before the trick of messaging each other exactly what any of us have our eyes on with links to where to get it, or sending photos of the desired items - especially with the children. We try to co-ordinate our efforts so that there aren't 'doubles' of any gifts too.

Month 7 - Bite 5

We also enjoy a good voucher. That doesn't have to be shop bought or specific either. Sometimes a handmade voucher to accompany the cash is rather nice. Thankfully the laptop and printer make that particularly easy. During the pandemic when getting to the shops or going out to choose was difficult there were vouchers promising sports gear or the like to be redeemed when the situation improved.

Month 7 - Bite 6

As well as voucher to buy things we've also enjoyed experience vouchers to be redeemed - that afternoon tea that I wrote about. Spending time together doing something we all enjoy and making memories are really precious.

Using pictures and screenshots helps to make the voucher more unique especially if there's some pictures of the intended destination or activity.

                                          

Sometimes it's a voucher promising meeting up for tea and cakes or lunch or even for a reflexology session or a manicure. It just depends on  the recipient... oh and the giver gets to go too!

Partytime

 I know I haven't been burdening this flow of posts with a specific time of year, but as I type it's just about the busiest time of year in our family for birthdays and celebrations! So, here we go with some suggestions and ideas for the fun times ahead that will have a positive impact on my purse (I hope). Some of the ideas will be prompts for me to try out while others will be tried and tested, so let's go!

Month 7 - Bite 1

Couldn't resist this particular party animal elephant in her festive frock, even if she does look a little unstable after celebrating!

Way back in Month 1 I made a list of dates and anniversaries and in Month 2 I started looking at making one or two things to keep in store. Now it's time to ramp up the efforts. I'm going to begin adding to the list suggestions for each of the occasions. I know what particular sweets certain family members like or puzzle books or bath stuff so I can put those into the list. There are other things they've mentioned that they'd like to try - that afternoon tea the other month for example - so those experiences can go in too. The main thrust behind this is to make sure that I don't get caught unawares with no thought in my head of what I might get, do or make. That's the fastest way to waste money that I know and doesn't necessarily mean that the recipient ends up with the best present for them - or perhaps one that they even like...

Month 7 - Bite 2

Card making is next on the list. Here's a selection of various cards I've already made for friends and family. I keep photos of them to spark off new versions - although it's a bit tricky sometimes making sure that I don't re-send copies to anyone!

This one features a handmade ceramic button on some wet felted fabric I created.

A special sewn card for a milestone birthday.

Okay, the original photo in the middle is a magnet created by my niece's husband and his camera, but the pebble photo and composition is mine!

More stitchery onto card.

I just found this ladybird button and knitted a background square.

I've made ice cream brooches from felt before and had a spare that became a card topper.

It's amazing what you can do with some card, an envelope and some scraps of fabric, paint and paper...

I also like to photograph any good ideas I see to help inspire me for the future - that includes stuff I see in magazines or shops too.

I'll add an extra mouthful at the end of the month with some more easy designs....

Money, Money, Money...

 And Finally...

It's back to my notebook and cash records for the end of the holiday....

Month 6 - Bite 29

Having recorded all the spending as I go through the holiday it's time to total up where we spent what and how. 

The cash totals help me to work out what we'll need in terms of currency next time and the credit card purchases provide a guide as to how much all the other costs come to.

This time it had been so long since we'd travelled abroad that I took far too much! Mind you, I'm dithering about changing the spare back as a quick check online shows exactly how much worse off I'll be if I simply go and change it back into sterling. Patience is needed for this one as it may be that the conversion rates change, in which case I'll get my cash converted. However, if I think the hit is too much I'll keep my Euros for the next time or until I know someone who is going abroad and would like to buy them from me at a rate that's fair to both of us!

Month 6 - Bite 30

This is something I keep meaning to do and never have, so now's the time. Today's the day to research an easy access account with the best possible interest rate to open. This account I want to keep separate from my other finances and it will have a target too. The target is going to be the total cost of our holiday so that next time (even if I don't reach the full target) financing it will be easier on the day to day household budget.

So, that's this month all sewn up...

My favourite holiday saying though is a true money saver and helps the planet too.....

Take only photographs, leave only footprints...

Don't know who said it, but, boy, were they right!

Read All About It

 Month 6 - Bite 13

A bit of an add on this one following the previous technology post.

We have in the past had a good read of guide books before going away, just to help with planning and so that we know what we want to see. Generally they are from the library or even as freebies on the e-reader.

This time there was an added attraction in using our phones. Taking a quick snap of the legend at points we wanted to remember, or read up on later, or to refresh our memories about (especially when trying to remember where a particular photo was taken) meant that we could do this at leisure or do some further reading back at the apartment.

Another big bonus was the QR codes on most of the explanations and at many of the sites. Some were straightforward reading and information while others provided free guided tours on-site - brilliant!!

Funny what you can find lying around...

 First a bit of a quick result...

Having found and downloaded an app for selling photographs I managed to upload one or two to see if they were interested and lo and behold they've accepted a few.

These for example...

A random collection I know - or is it an eclectic mix, well anyway let's see what happens!

Month 3 - Bite 21

While carrying on with the sorting and throwing I have come across some old technology. There's a digital assistant, a very old personal notepad thingy (so old that I don't know what it's called) and amazingly a phone...

Today then I need to find out if any of these have any value and then pop them off to wherever will take them!

Only just - must be tired!

OOoohh nearly missed the Monday deadline - I'm going to blame a long journey home and tiredness for being a bit late this week (I like to get this done first thing, before I start on a new week's work and play!).

The long journey was after a really nice Mothering Sunday trip up to see Mum, my sister and two nieces. I decided to gp back to cross stitch for the card this year and was quite pleased with the result. I didn't finish the lacy cardy that I showed you previously, but measured the completed back against Mum and that seems to be fine so I must push on and finish it!

 

 

It was a really nice day with just the five of us.. Rebecca's husband was busy out on a photographic job at a wedding in Kew Gardens, lovely backdrop, shame about the weather!  He's a really good photographer - his website is http://www.romahoneyphoto.co.uk/ and he also does walking photographic tours once a month for Culture Club workshops in Covent Garden where he teaches people how to get the best out of their cameras.... all that and a day job too! Perhaps I need a bit of time with him to sort out my shots for this blog??!

 

We ate over at Jenny's (my youngest niece) - both the girls worked on our mini feast - Italian style and very nice too.. with cake and cream for pudding - I'm very lucky to be able to gatecrash every year! The journey up and back in a day is do-able, but yesterday the entry to the M5 to the M4 was closed which lengthened proceedings somewhat.. Still got home safe and sound that's the main thing!

 

 

I asked Jenny for a few words for today's blog - she reckoned 'Eat cake and be merry' was about right.. Which nicely ties in with the next book I've got to write notes for...

 

 

Followed by...

 

Then when I've finished this spell of writing it's back off to Wales for the end of the week... I'll be able to take that cardy with me for evening-in-the hotel-knitting as I've now finished the scarf I made with the sari silk waste that I spun a while ago... still didn't get enough alpaca spun up to add too much to the blanket I'm doing - I did enjoy having time out last week to spin though...

 

Think that just about covers this week! Now I've just enough time to dive over to Handmade Monday to see what everyone else has been up to before I get some of my writing off for proof reading!

 



Flowers and Showers!

Hi again!

I've no idea where time has gone again, I didn't seem to have much to post, but I think I've caught up a bit now... I'm still not quick enough to whip the camera out I suppose..

Last week was fun - I got the train up to visit my mum and sister and had a nice relaxing journey finishing these flower brooches... 

I was going to make some red, white and blue ones for June's craft fair on the way home, but I just flicked through some magazines and gazed out of the window drinking coffee instead!  So I'll have to make them later along with some of these cross stitch bits that I've started...

I finished the last of the teaching materials I was writing on a book about Everest climbers - it gave me plenty of time to look at some amazing video clips about expeditions, climbers and so on.. very interesting and thought proviking.  It's also left me with a nice clear desk, so I can catch up with lots of non-work stuff - getting straight is one of my favourite feelings!

Saturday saw the Grecians relegated, but I guess that just means next season will be a promotion push and an excuse for another party!

Yesterday the rain stopped.  We took a trip to Otterton Mill Craft Centre and I got some shots of the flooding around the mill.   This is the car park!

It's difficult to believe that around this time last year I parked just where the water is the deepest and sat outside with my mum, sister and youngest niece in the sunshine munching scones..  I took this one from the bridge you can just see the bench that's usually sitting high on the bank, almost submerged now.

Then just as I was snapping away, I remembered that this phone takes videos!  So here's my very first attempt at phone filming.. sorry about the bumpy start and any seasickness feeling induced!

Then after lunch in town we trundled off to Bovey to the Devon Guild's Craft Centre for more indulgent browsing - well it was my birthday!


Oh and then last week I started running again with my friend Karen.  We did really well last year, but sort of lapsed so we've started again on Tuesday mornings - there's no excuse really, the area round here is so runner friendly with plenty to see along the way and lovely views to keep you going.. especially as you run down towards the sea.  Anyway this morning's run was the first anniversary of our successful Great West Run last year.  I'd always hankered after doing a long, public run, having completed one or two 5ks (it's great to be able to say 'I was in the same race as Paula Radcliffe - even if she did finish the whole race just as you were completing the first third!).  I didn't think though that I'd ever do it, and still can't work out how I said yes, but anyway, I did and we both finished the 13 miles around Exeter before they reopened the road to traffic!  Slow, but successful...


Hey ho, enough from me.....
Enjoy your week....

A Challenge (or two) ....

As I mentioned I borrowed a fabulous book from the library and this is it...

Now I've set myself not one, but two challenges!!

Firstly I'm going to try and make all the gorgeous suggestions in this book - both to have some fun and to use up my never-ending stash of wool.. in fact I've already knitted up four of the projects - although they're not completely sewn up/stuffed/stiffened yet.  When I've got them finished hopefully I'll feel brave enough to post some photos...

Secondly having uploaded a couple of photos both here and elsewhere I've decided that my skills are very basic -  nothing like I'd want. I look enviously on those who can get things in focus, well lit and so on.  So I need to practise more .. especially as I've started on an exciting project and need to take some decent photos...

I do know a super photographer - he's my niece's husband here's his website if you fancy a peek....http://www.romahoneyphoto.co.uk/ .

Now it's back to work - those teacher's books on my desk won't write themselves!