Kimmeridge

At Thomas Hardy's cottage

Bit of retail therapy (and more) - MrsL style

First stop of the afternoon was my wonderful tip - yielded a good haul as usual :)  3 books - an old household encyclopedia (not sure of date, possibly from beginning of 20thC,Women -An illustrated Treasury (paintings of women and quotes from women), Silk Dreams, Troubled Road (travel book).  next in the pot was a terracotta breadwarmer and a silver toast rack (destined for selling) , 4 wee teddies that I will remove the terrible clothing from and knit them wee Fair Isle sweaters and sell them too, a bamboo mat for felt making and a big box of gem tumbling equipment, complete with various stones, but requiring a motor (shouldn't be too hard to find) - all for the princely sum of £2! I then went into the library intending to hire a film for the weekend, but came out with half a dozen books instead.* It's been so long since I've been in there, though, that my card wouldn't work, and I had to get a new one - books on making sausages, making all sorts of bread, feltmaking, watercolour painting, and Nigel Slater's Kitchen diaries. Next stop was the garage for an ice lolly lol, before the doctor's appointment, which went better than I thought lol. Then it was on to the Co-op to do some shopping, bagged lots of reduced stuff and a small bottle of Jura malt whisky- my sort of shopping! On sitting down with a much needed beer, I perused the Poultry & Livestock  section of our local paper - I'm off to pick up 8 new-to-me chickens on Sunday to replenish by badger ravaged stock.  A thoroughly good haul I think :) Should have gone to Specsavers - I picked up a free copy of what I thought was Nature Times, turns out it's Mature Times lol  No matter, I will still read it, do the prize crossword and make it inot fuel for the stove.  Free is good :)

It couldn't be done..................

By Edgar Albert Guest 1881–1959 Somebody said that it couldn’t be done       But he with a chuckle replied That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one       Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin       On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing       That couldn’t be done, and he did it! Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;       At least no one ever has done it;” But he took off his coat and he took off his hat       And the first thing we knew he’d begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,       Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing       That couldn’t be done, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,       There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you one by one,       The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,       Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing       That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it. Share this text ...? Twitter Pinterest

I like pretty things................

...........  especially lovely wee notebooks :)

Drying rose petals

Drying rose petals on the Rayburn; it's on 24 hours a day, so costs nothing to do so. The rack was acquired at the tip for a few pence a long time ago now, and has done sterling duty for my drying exploits.

Watercolour..............

Just arrived - a few new fresh tubes to add into my collection. Been far too long, looking forward to getting back into the watercolours.

Maiden, Mother, Crone...........

She is Maiden, Mother and Crone In one… You will recognize her because she makes genuine eye contact with whomever she meets… ... She is not afraid to be direct and honest about how she feels She charts her own course And is willing to meet whatever comes Because she has faith in her journey She’s aware of her own strength She delights in enabling the wellbeing and the empowerment of others But she refuses to subject herself to energy drainers… She sees through bullshit instantly She knows how to protect herself She is obedient to her own inner knowing, She is willing to break the rules made by others in order to be authentic to herself Her truth comes directly through her heart She uses her mind as the servant to manifest it She is inwardly and outwardly aware She responds more than she reacts She no longer waters illusory drama She no longer feels the need to control what is She is deeply connected to her creative source She is her own work of art in progress She can create beauty from whatever is in front of her She is in tune with her intuition and instinctual body She lives in the present Because she is willing to relinquish the past And allow the future the space it needs to unfold She understands that life is an ever changing flow from one moment to the next... She willingly goes with it. She feels deeply connected to the earth and stays close to nature, She recognizes that she is not separate from it... Being connected to nature is essential for her health and wellbeing She has simplified her life Released the non-essentials so that she can be spacious and free She values her aloneness, She waters her soul with it But she also values quality time with like minded souls She doesn’t need a man to complete her Her relationships are on an equal basis of respect and sharing Unbridled sensual pleasure… She has no time for gossip She’s invested in raising the sisterhood up rather than cutting it down She celebrates the beauty and power in other women She celebrates the beauty and power within herself She is just as willing to receive as she is to give She fills her own cup for herself and overflows it for others She understands the futility of unsolicited advice So she shares her wisdom through living it She envisions the healing of the world She offers her gifts as a contribution towards it Love is her religion Unity is her gospel Laughter is her grace She loves to play through her inner child Sing and dance through her inner maiden She nurtures her body mind and spirit daily through her inner mother Others seek her for her wisdom Are irresistibly drawn to her unpredictable mystery They feel seen and accepted in her steady gaze… Peaceful in her sacred space They are shocked by her irreverent humor But secretly inspired, uplifted, Given permission to be themselves She is Maiden, Mother and Crone In one She is Goddess Caroline de Lisser

Buying British...........

Been away from the blog for a few days arranging a funeral. part of this was doing the flowers, both for the coffin and the house. I was thrilled to bits to be able to buy British-grown flowers, which even had the grower's name on them, like the fruit and vegetables do in the supermarket. Just beautiful, and for all the work and expense taken to grow them, a very good price I reckon. Pleased that British flowers are now so easily available, and they knock spots off the scentless, intensively grown imported roses and such with their baggage of airmiles.  :)

Thought for a Monday..............

Little peg loom project

These pieces were made on a small 8 peg loom from rainbow coloured merino tops. I gave them a quick gentle fulling to keep the weave together, and it will be fulled again when they are made up into a small pouch bag.

Sew sew..............

It's been a long while since I did any dressmaking; I'd forgotten how enjoyable it is. I set to this afternoon to make a simple pair of trousers out of some very beautiful floral cotton I bought from e-bay along with a pattern for a dress. I originally decided to make a dress, but changed my mind just before cutting out, so I now have a pair of trousers completed bar the elastic, and the hemming. I'll enjoy the hemming as I love hand-sewing; the bottom leg hem is finished in a very pretty vintage blue bias binding just for something a bit different - will post a pic of that when they're completed. Have a zillion sewing ideas in my head now, ofcourse!