Planning for September.

That is what I am doing...I want to be a bit more proactive this month instead of letting it race by without any particular achievements or enthusiasm like August has been.  In May and June I did some journalling and quite enjoyed it, so thought I would set up a new journal.

I used an 'Apple' book last time, and have a few of these books made from apples so thought I would use one again - rather than buy - use what I have.  The pages are a bit thin, but that doesn't really matter, what matters is actually using it and having something I can look back on and say I 'achieved this'.  I have started setting up the pages, they are a bit plain at the moment, but it will be a work in progress that I can add to as and when I want to.

A poem for September

I've ruled up a calendar and like May and June, I will record the temperatures and weather.

Some pages set up for 'Goals and Ideas'

Books Read and Music Played or Listened to.

Programmes watched.

I have a few ideas of what I would like to achieve daily so will write these in here.

I have a few more ideas and goals that I am thinking about  - I don't want to make it so that I feel like I have 'failed' if I don't achieve them, so thinking about them first before I commit them to paper.  

I am hoping to get back into my art again and saw this book recommended by a friend and thought I would try it.

I have also enrolled on a free 'A Year with my Camera' course which starts in September.  I figure being free, if I don't manage to complete then I haven't lost anything.  I know my commitment/see things through levels are not the best at the moment.

This book arrived today.  I read this book last year when visiting my Dad and really loved it.  I had tried to get the original version, ordered it last year but it unfortunately never arrived - lost in the post?  Who knows, but I was refunded.  Anyway I have been trying to find another original copy but haven't been able to so ordered a new one instead.  I feel like reading this gentle book again.

We took my MIL out for lunch today and stopped off at a local Vintage Emporium.  They had a sale on in one of the units and I bought a couple of records.

I do enjoy listening to my records.

Oh and my husband came home with a dozen roses last night...

Day Thirty One - The Month that Was.

Photo of the Day:

Art Prompt: Own Choice

Raven in Flight

Gosh it is the end of the month already!  It really does seem to have zoomed past ever so quicly.

Looking back at October....

At the end of September I made a goal to clear my sewing studio by the end of October, thinking that having whole month I should be able to achieve such a task.  Well I failed - although I am going to try not to look on it as failure, but rather progress as so many other things have also happened over the last month.  I have made real headway on getting some actual treatment for my existing pain and also the pain that has plagued me since April.  Whether this treatment will work, is yet to be determined, but I am hopeful and that is a step in the right direction. Because of this I have had MANY trips into London which of course take up time.   I HAVE started clearing my studio, but to the outsider it wouldn't be at all obvious as it is still a complete mess in there, and now our dining room is a mess as well with stuff I have sorted to sell!  Perhaps it will be cleared by the end of November?

Over the last 21 days I have made 13 Ebay sales which amounts to 24 items, so that is progress in itself.  I also have a pile of boxes and bags that I need to take to the charity shop which I hope to do this week.  I have more items to list as well and hope to get them done in the next couple of days.


I managed to take part in the 'Photo a Day for the Month of October Challenge' on Flickr.

Here is a mosaic of days 1 - 30, with today's photo being at the top of this post.

I have also completed the 'Every Day in October' Art Challenge, although this has been a bit more difficult to keep up with.  I went back to art, but have to stop while having my acupuncture treatment as unfortunately this is on the same day.  I will try to find out if there is another group I can go to on a different day.

A Mosaic of Days 1 - 30 with today' picture at the top of this post.

I have quite enjoyed this challenge, although some of the prompts were really not my thing.  As someone who doesn't 'do' Halloween, quite a few of them were orientated towards that.  All pictures have now also been added to the appropriate day as I had missed uploading some.  Some of these I am not at all pleased with, others I am.  But the whole idea was just to go with the prompt, not take too long over it and I think I have achieved that.

'We' have started stripping the wallpaper off the walls in our master bedroom, and hopefully that will be fully decorated by the end of November.  We have had to change our plans slightly as we were going to get someone in to do the whole job, but due to my medical expenses, we have had to change that, so now hubby is doing the stripping and prepping of the walls and the painting and we will get someone in to do the wallpapering, IF the price is right.  Otherwise it could be along time before it is ever finished!  Of course doing this has meant that now the lounge is full of stuff that we have moved out of the bedroom!  So I hope we don't have any visitors for a while as the house is quite frankly a mess.  We have also had the floor measured up for carpet, so now just have to go and choose some.

One week into October I decided to start going on the elliptical trainer/exercise machine (as well as the walking the dogs).  I have managed to go on it 13 days out of 23 (56 %) so far which isn't too bad, as some of those days I had to go into London and have various tests etc...  I have also started the physio exercises, and do those daily.  I am now on Day 4 of those. 

Another thing I have started to do is practice my clarinet again as I just miss it too much to not play anymore.  It still hurts a lot, but the pleasure I am getting from playing is almost counteracting that.  So although early days yet, I will see how I go. I have played 17 out of the 23 days, so have achieved 74%  - not bad, especially again considering some days I haven't felt like it, or have had trips into London.  I have tried to play before and I think I managed about three months before I had to give up again.  Hopefully with the treatment I am getting I will be able to continue.  Mind over matter as they say.  I worked too hard for too many years to throw my music away. 

I finally got round to banking some cheques, only to realise when I was paying them in one of them had been written out incorrectly - the words and numbers didn't match up.  Now our bank no longer has a branch locally it is more of a hassle to have to go to the bank as it involves driving, paying parking charges etc...  Such a nuisance our local branch is no longer.  Seems crazy as the population in our town has increased!  I hate to think what the older people do now - perhaps they have changed banks, I do know at least a couple of people who have done this.

Because I had to drive to another town to do the banking and pay for parking I figured I might has well have a look round the charity shops.  They don't tend to interest me as much as they used to, not sure if I just feel I have enough now, or because you can't get the bargains that you used to be able to get.  I did find one thing though for my 'old people' collection that sit on the picture rail that runs down the length of our hallway.

I haven't seen this one before.  Love the donkey!

November tomorrow!  The nights are already drawing in, and it was definitely a lot colder today than it has been.  It is pitch black outside already and it is only 5 pm.  Brrr...I don't like these colder darker days. 

Day Thirty

Photo of the Day:

Our house really does look like a tip now - can hardly get in the lounge as I have moved a load of stuff from the bedroom into it to clear some more space for hubby so he can strip some more walls.  

Because the walls are so uneven we are going to have to wallpaper instead of paint.  I have hung a couple of samples up.  The one on the left is embossed, the one on the right isn't, but perhaps the bumps in the wall wouldn't be so obvious with that because of the patterning?  Not sure yet which we prefer...the one on the right, although having a darker background does reflect the light.  

Both feature roses, which seems rather appropriate. 

We had the flooring people out today and it wouldn't really be suitable to have a wooden or laminate floor put down due to the curved bay window and again the unevenness of the floor, so looks like we will have to have carpet after all.  He has measured up so when we go and choose a carpet we will be able to find out the cost straight away.

It was a beautiful morning today and it has been a lovely day, although I have felt very much out of sorts...for a number of reasons (including worrying about my Mum and Dad) ...and also because the mess is completely overwhelming me.  Still I just have to remind myself that progress is being made.  The car boot is loaded up with some stuff to take to the Charity Shop, so will hopefully do that tomorrow.

Have a good week!

Prompt for the Day: Own Choice

I sketched Jeremy, otherwise known as 'Jay'

Day Twenty Nine

Photo of the Day:

It turned into quite a nice day today, and this afternoon the sun cast pretty dappling shadows through the leaves.  The dogs enjoyed a walk this afternoon, as did we.

We had a pleasant morning walking around a Vintage Fair held at Ware Drill Hall. 

There was a good range of stalls, from glassware, jewellery, clothing, knick knacks and bits and bobs, china, woodwork and small furniture items.  There was even a really lovely antique Singer Sewing Machine that looked to be in immaculate condition, but I walked away, telling myself I don't really need any more as I am supposed to be downsizing my Vintage Singer Sewing Machine collection.

We had a pleasant cup of tea and cake in the 'vintage tea shop' that had been set up while we listened to some music.

 I saw a teapot I really liked which my husband kindly bought me, and on the same stall I also saw a lovely tea cup trio and the lady kindly discounted it and so that also came home with us.

The tea pot  is Burgess Ware and I think it dates to the 1930s.

This pretty trio is Tuscan Bone China, and looking at the stamp on the bottom, it dates from c1936. 

I will have my morning tea from this tomorrow along with the last slice of Christmas Cake!

(I have added my daily art piece to yesterday's post, and hopefully tomorrow I will add the rest to the previous posts that I have missed, and also today's post)

Art Prompt:  Black Cat

Day Twenty Eight

Photo of the Day

A surprise Marigold bravely trying to flower.

Whilst out in the garden today I had a walk round and took some photos of what is still flowering.

Not as nice today as it was yesterday - it has remained damp and overcast most of the day with a bit of wind.  It feels decidedly cooler as well.

Quite a few roses are still going strong...

A few Hebe flowers

A lone Fuchsia 

Inside the house...

Hubby is slowly stripping the wallpaper in the master bedroom...he only seems to do a little at a time, but it is hard work as the wallpaper was super glued on by the looks of it!

Lots of hole filling needed and still lots of glue remnants on the wall.

We popped out for a little while to day to look at some wallpaper in Bunnings.  I have bought home a couple of samples I quite like.  Will take a photo of them tomorrow when it is lighter.

Listening to:

A surprise gift from my husband.  Nearly all the pieces I have played with the Jazz band I used to belong to.

Art prompt: Fox