The weather here is not pre-summery. Unless summer is lots of rain, hail, very cold nights and no roses on my fairy. It’s not even warm enough to be spring!
So today will be a time out day. Roast in the oven, catching up on recorded tv, stocking and reading stories with M.
Hope you all have a lovely day too!
It’s Saturday, Saturday, hey hey it’s Saturday…
Yeah, nah. Today I plan to:
There are no TAB odds as to how much will actually be achieved. Food and scrap metal yes as these will match Si’s priorities but the rest is family dependant. But I brought myself some time – this was written & scheduled yesterday 🙂 while at work too – tut tut!
I’m currently reading “The Lady in Red” which is a biography about Lady Seymour Worsley, who was the centrepiece of a major Georgian trial in February 1782. Seymour was a contemporary of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire (yes, that Duchess as in the movie) and until I got to page 141, I didn’t realise her antics far outstripped that of the Duchess. I’d resisted reading any further than a brief synopsis on Amazon, so imagine my eyes popping out of my head…
I started reading as an offshoot of my Tudor reading (Seymour’s husband was a direct descendant of that Worsley) and because I’ve always liked Regency/Georgian history. What I didn’t realise is that this bio is like a train wreck – you know someone’s made an absolute mess of things but you can’t stop reading.
The centrepiece of this is a Criminal Conversion trial against a Maurice George Bisset by Sir Richard Worsley and also Sir Richard’s movement to restrict his wife further, after she had gone against convention and run away with his fellow officer, Bisset. Picture this – Worsley is screened from view in the open court forum of the Court of the King’s Bench. His four lawyers have presented what seems like a water-tight case of adultery and “crim. con.” against Bisset, and he can feel that the jurors are on his side (he was asking an almost impossible sum, twenty thousand pounds damages) and soon all the embarrassment will be over.
Then the defence lawyers, namely one Edward Bearcroft, drop the bomb. As Justice Mansfield has stated, “If a Plantiff encourages, or is privy to, or consenting at all, or contributing to the debauchery of his Wife, or joined in it, he ought not to recover a verdict.”
Bearcroft then starts to reveal Seymour’s marital history. “Prior connections to such an extent that the idea of seduction by the present Defendant was totally done away”.
So this is the bit that I am now up to. Annoyed that I have to put it down and return to my spreadsheets! Altho it is starting to sound a bit like a Women’s Day or Slater/Whale Oil salacious “news” article, ick.
Non-affiliate link: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Red-Eighteenth-Century-Scandal-Divorce/dp/B0071UN9CI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412622484&sr=1-1&keywords=the+lady+in+red
If you like the thought of this one, also try my absolute fav, the biography of Jane Digby (the cover is coming off, and yes, I actually kept the print version!) http://www.amazon.com/Scandalous-Life-Biography-Jane-Digby/dp/1857024699/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=15DZ27YSD4HTTVPVCWCX Anything by Mary S. Lovell is well worth the hunt.
On other news, tonight is Date Night. We’re off to see Gone Girl (hopefully) dependant on Si’s physio appt.
Stitching – still on the mermaid and I haven’t picked up Stargazer in weeks, if not months. I’m so tired! Yesterday got given some meds and discussed further treatment options. A couple of choices ahead. What is apparent is that I can’t keep up with having an iron level as low as it has been. I didn’t even dare tell the doctor about the dizzy spells.
Stayed up late Sunday to watch the Rabbitohs thump the Bulldogs. WOO HOO! One of the best Grand Finals I’ve seen in a while, courage on the field and little dirty play. The ref also didn’t decide the game, the players did, which is an improvement on some of the season’s games. Mase now wants me to buy him Souths jammies when we go to Sydney later on this year, while B is telling me he was only wearing his Bulldogs gear because it was all he had (cough). Yeah, right.
Project Life – caught up on June, July & August. Need a few hours each weekend and that is hard to find!
Gardening – got all the seedlings out and the weather turned nasty. Resigned to re-sowing the tomatoes and cucumbers. Some basil & Italian parsley that I had on the windowsill are thriving in the old coffee cans. Can’t wait to make my own pesto. The rosemary cuttings that were on the windowsill are doing ok too, out in the pot on the patio. Starting to plan how I will plant out the top end of the section but this is a little restricted, given the stormwater drain running along the fence line.
http://fabrilicious.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/october-1st/
So, let’s start with just a single word for today’s prompt. It is open to a number of interpretations – and that’s the best sort of word 😉
Yesterday’s word was: DATE and as Myfanwy says, it raises a lot of images/thoughts.
I am probably more likely to journal here than make this into an art journal as per the hints but a little writing is better than none!
Yesterday was also the first visit from the clinical therapist for B & his concussion. Gave light to a few things and I’m happy that we are getting some answers. I did make him walk and walk last night and I have no idea if he wandered last night as I slept thru! The night before was a bad one; he was unsettled and I lost count at 15 times. I will try to get him a Polar Loop like mine as then we can monitor his sleep & activity a lot easier.
Cultivating a Good Life is not stressing about finding the perfect balance but realising that I am good enough – Selena Sorensen as seen on Becky Higgins’ blog (my capitalisation)
I wrote this yesterday.
Another busy week, just doing normal stuff then preparing for M’s Pirate Party. S hired a bouncy castle from his work and that enabled plenty of playtime – we only used one planned game and left them to it for most of the time. No fights, which I was grateful for, as the kids came from different places, and no injuries other than a graze, which I am also very grateful for. The house is super, super tidy – as evidenced by this morning’s search for wallet and keys.
Rediscovered my love of swimming. The glide though the water and the self-challenging episodes.
I am reading new-to-me Rosalind Lauer, who came up on a search for my current fav, the Amish romance. There is a lot of peace in these novels and I’m enjoying the slower pace. I finished A Simple Winter and am up to A Simple Spring.
Stitching a TW medallion, the lion from her Fantasy Sampler. I’m planning a fairly ornate background, texture in the stitches. I have plenty of the Semco evenweave to play with, after all. As it is a very artificial fabric, you can see thru the gaps so any ornie needs a background fabric then the stuffing, so I feel easy about experimenting. Not colouring within the lines!
INTERUPTION I have just read on the NZ Herald online that Robin Williams has died, likely by his own hand. How bloody tragic and wasteful. I have loved most of his work – at one stage I could quote most of the Genie’s lines thanks to L’s Aladdin phase. And Mrs Doubtfire – classic laughs!
In his own words about addiction: You can’t [deal with it on your own]. That’s the bottom line. You really think you can, then you realise, I need help, and that’s the word … It’s hard admitting it, then once you’ve done that, it’s real easy.
I feel very, very sorry for his family and friends. Obviously it isn’t “real easy”.
Prompt 38: Paint your page any colour you like. Then… make a list of things that are in the contrasting colour (the colour on the opposite side of the colour wheel). You will have to concentrate – or did you find it easy?
I can’t do this online but my first fav is blue, and I think this makes the contrast colour orange? So therefore yams, oranges & other citrus, pumpkins, squash, burger rings, that moustache M wore Sunday after he’d snuck some orange fizzy…
Prompt 39: What is your favourite crafting technique?
Have you not being paying attention?!
Prompt 41: You have just written your first novel. What is it called?
How To Survive Your Kid’s Childhood Without Going (Too) Barmy. Lots of tips, like baby wipes should be brought in bulk and are fantastic for cleaning nearly every mark on the wall; to direct some of your salary to a savings account BEFORE it gets to your main account or otherwise you will live with your child forever; to buy the good wine, you will deserve it. And lastly Nigel Latta’s Ladder of Certain Doom is the bomb. Best Parenting Tip Ever.
Prompt 42: Do you collect things in your purse? Rummage through your purse or your bag and find some receipts. Tell us about at least two of them.
My bag has to hold at least the following items:
I tend to clean out the receipts daily as I wait for reports to run but there are multiple library check out slips and the last spend at Rebel (footy boots) and Briscoes (frame for a cross stitch).
Prompt 28: You always keep a well-stocked freezer. Today is the day you organise your meals for the week. However, on searching through your stores you discover that ‘miraculously’ all your frozen food has been converted into melon balls. What do you do?
I’m going shopping, that’s what I am doing. I’ve outgrown the Midori phase.
Prompt 43: List 5 things you accomplished yesterday!
This last week has been a bit of a rush. I clearly didn’t take on board the topic of forgiveness and not holding a grudge, as I was awake all Saturday night so angry at my SIL, who often makes quite derogatory comments very casually and without thought. I had to vent but that went horribly wrong, with me screaming and throwing things at the other half. Not cool. I need to call her on it but I didn’t want to rock the boat at M’s birthday dinner. I’ll have to develop some techniques but right now I have no idea.
The youngest has turned five and LOVES school. He cuddled in last night and went over his homework – hey mum, I get to do this at home too! – and this is a blessing. He got a new, larger, scooter in his haul and wants to ride to school, ‘cause everyone else does (read: five other people in his class do). Grandma will be getting some intense exercise keeping up! I’ll have to take him to the waterfront path at Te Atatu, wide concrete paths and you can see for miles.
Prompt 36: List 5 things you intend to do TODAY
Prompt 26: The answer is ‘Yes!’ What is the question?
Do I like to read? Do I flit from project to project? Do I procrastinate on the housework? Do I love my family? Do I have plans for our house? Do I want a new car? Do I want security around my job (I’m on a maternity contract)? Do I like Calvin & Hobbes? Do I like art? Do I like music? Do I need music and art?
This could go on forever.
Prompt 29: List 5 flowers that you love. Are they in your garden? Will they be in your garden? Have they been in your garden? Why are they your favourites?
I’ve always loved the old roses – you know, the ones that SMELL and grow like mad things. At the old house I had an Alberic de Barbier (1900; have to get a cutting) that bloomed from September thru to May every year. S hates it as it has thorns and does grow massively every year. I’m thinking that I would like this on the fence at the front right of the house, at the end of the parking space and spreading out over the shed. The shed might need reinforcements tho.
http://www.rosesnz.co.nz/category-1/50-alberic-barbier.html not the best photo but a good price.
I also have a Fairy rose that I was given when L was born. It’s repotted every few years and I had thought it was dead one house move ago but as I procrastinated (thought of it as housework J) and left the plant alone, a shoot popped up in the garden next to the pot. So it doesn’t look very pretty and I think I should probably just plant it in this garden. Not sure where tho!
Magnolias & Gardenias – I have recently become aware of the beautiful colours and scents. Thinking a magnolia out the front then gardenias along the fence line in between the fruit trees.
I don’t really have other favs. I do not like orchids, or carnations, or lilies and anything else I can pretty much take or leave. Altho I just remembered cherry blossoms. We had a gorgeous tree at Otumoetal and when the wind blew, the petals would float around like confetti.
My planting list is becoming quite large.
Prompt 33:Sand in your toes and grit in the sandwiches. How do you regard the beach?
Beaches for me are cleansing. By the time I’ve walked along the sand, dipped my toes in the sea and just enjoyed, whatever has been bothering me is gone. As I’ve said before Bethells is my favourite “me” beach, but as a family we also enjoy Waiake/Torbay, Cheltenham (very safe for little ones) and the Mount.
Prompt 31: Set 3 goals for next month – these can be home/work/art/journal related – or choose another aspect of your life.
Three – right. Should be easy but I am surrounded by indecision!
Good thing S found my printer cable again. I can’t wait for the android Project Life app – it’s quite tempting to get an iPhone just for this app. Wonder if I could pick one up cheap of Trade Me?
Prompt 35: A Haiku is a simple form of poetry. Three lines – 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 syllables. Write one about Summer – this summer or any summer.
Sand between my toes
Wind rippling in my hair
Gulls cry surrounds me
The youngest started school this morning. Yay! He was pretty excited, ready to go, and kicked me out before the bell went.
Looking forward to hearing all about it tonight, even homework!
Prompt 20: Do you have a favourite colour? Paint it on your page and write about it.
I can’t paint this page blue but it’s my favourite colour in nearly all the shades. I love those perfect days out on the water (sailing or kayaking or just lazing around) where sea and sky meet.
House walls are often Resene Half Spanish White or from their Karen Walker range, Butterdly White. I love the paler shades as everything else “pops” and Resene paint is just so easy to use, low smells and cleans up with baby wipes.
Click to access Karen_Walker_Chart.pdf
I think I’d like to try Half Robin Egg Blue or the darker Clouded Blue in my bedroom, but that would also require a carpet change and that isn’t till later on in the Five Year Plan.
Prompt 22: What was the most amusing thing a child has said within your hearing?
Z was just five when I found out I was expecting Mase. It was a surprise pregnancy (I’d been told I could never get pg again years earlier, which triggered a massive time of uncertainty & pain). I experienced 3 migraines in as many weeks when normally I’d get that many in a year, so our GP ran a few tests. It was Christmas Eve and we’d broken the news to the kids and rather stupidly I took them grocery shopping at the supermarket. In the checkout line I was talking with our old neighbour and across a few lines to a friend when Z suddenly piped up in that annoying loud voice kids only have when you don’t want to hear from them – Mummy, what did you do to get pregnant? Cue a moment of silence then roars of laughter.
Last year Granddad II said that he would buy the older boys laptops for their homework. I was quite reluctant but one of the winning arguments came from B (then 13). He earnestly promised me he wouldn’t use it to find prawn (porn)!
M makes me laugh nearly every day with his view of the world. I can’t remember anything specific just right now so I’ll have to edit later.
L used to mangle her words so we have an unique nomenclature – hobital, mazagine, serbice station and so forth.
Prompt 23: Light or heavy! What are you reading? What do you like to read? What is the most interesting thing you have ever read?
This prompt was clearly written just for me! Thanks, Myfanwy!
Like I’ve said before, I am an avid reader and if pushed, will even flick through fishing or hunting magazines if nothing else is present. I don’t read trash such as “women’s magazines” as I have an aversion to gossip and bollocks, and I won’t touch the 50 Shades genre but I will devour a lot.
Current read is deeper – Robert Hutchinson’s The Last Days of Henry VIII. Next will be lighter but I added over 50 biographies to my Sony this weekend along with the Skulduggery Pleasant series for Z on his. In physical format I discovered the GOT in graphic form, yay for libraries! Also yay for Kindle apps on my phone/tablet.
Prompt 24: Money can’t buy happiness, but what is the one thing that would make your life easier if you bought it? Maybe it has yet to be invented…
I’d love a house cleaner, but Si is too private for that. Or cheap, take your pick. And prescription sunnies as I’m not a candidate for LASIK and with my blindness, those things aren’t cheap. I could buy a small country for the price of those things. Interestingly the government i.e. my tax pays for contacts – which I then forget to renew as they are such a PITA to wear. Half the time I forget to put them in then when I do my eyes get so dry in the aircon. Glasses are easier.
I’m going to skip a few prompts as I just don’t have the answer yet for a few.
Prompt 27: Everyone starts the day in a different way. Do you eat breakfast or skip it as fast as you can? What was your first meal of the day?
On workdays breakfast is in the lunchroom with a consistent group of co-workers. It’s usually worth a laugh or two as we dissect the news (both real and imaginary) and generally take the piss out of each other. Usually muesli, yoghurt and coffee – I didn’t last too long when I tried to live without caffeine.
Breakfast on the weekend is usually solitary as it’s often my only quiet space. Toast and coffee (Copeland’s fruit toast is a fav) back in bed with my book or journal (if everyone else is up) or in the sunny patch in the lounge if everyone else is still asleep. I want this time to myself so much I even set my alarm early on Saturdays so I’m in a good headspace before sport takes over my day.
If you’ve got to the bottom of this, the reward is the beautiful Ella Fitzgerald and her song, Blue Skies. I used a couple of lines of the refrain in my title.
Lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/blue-skies-lyrics-ella-fitzgerald.html
Vocals options are also on that page 🙂
It’s been a really long day. Started by finding out the youngest’s league game was not cancelled, so we turned up, panicked a little as we didn’t have enough kids (it’s fifty bucks if you don’t) then the opposition didn’t show. At their home ground, on the other side of Auckland. The notification was at nine am. No points for guessing what time kick off was!
And we have curtains, finally, that each recipient agrees on. Rails tomorrow, and by noon I guess I’ll be completely sick of gathering but in the plus side, I’m not sewing!
Have dinner (lasagne) made, library books exchanged (Mase thinks librarians are cool, as she found him some Cars books he now has a hold on), washing done, floors vac’d…I deserve this drink. I do wish I’d had time to catch up with Zeb or go for a walk tho.
Journal to come. I need to catch up on three prompts now, fail!
something I read today that held meaning 🙂
I am jealous of those families that manage to work thru all the “steps” “haves” “have nots” and all the other day-to-day minutae of shared parenting. Unfortunately I didn’t get that option from my eldest’s father and while things all worked out for me, someone out there is missing out and I wasn’t able to protect my eldest from as much as I would have liked.
Disclaimer: This isn’t a post about stitching, although I suppose I could weave a stitchy metaphor into it, if I tried. 😉 I decided to post this here anyway, as it gives a glimpse of the person who holds these hoops in her hands and pulls these threads through. Read on, if you like. If not, here is a picture of my couch as it looks right now. Stitching carnage:
Background: My immediate family consists of me, my partner Pritts, and my son Eliot. Eliot’s immediate family consists of Pritts and I, and his dad, his stepmom, and his half-brother. Eliot is the link between our two little families. He lives with me and Pritts half the time, and his dad’s family the other half the time. Yesterday, with his dad’s family, he rode his bike without the training wheels for the first time ever.
Story: I…
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irregular updates on family life, books & cross stitch. Lots & lots of cross stitch.
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