Gardening

My attention for the last 6 months has been focused on decluttering the contents of the house. Things have slipped in the garden. The place is a bit of a jungle. There's weeds everywhere!

I'm going to employ the strategies that have worked inside the house. The primary one is working in specified chunks of time. Fifteen minutes worked well in the house, but in the garden, it needs to be ten minutes. There's so much low level work my knees and back can't handle the bending for more than ten minutes at a time.

The garden consists of a brick terrace with various planters and pots. I don't think there's anything in the garden I wish to keep, apart from the pots and planters. The weeds, plants, contents of the shed, mirror and broken bench can all go. The plan is to start at the dining room window and work my way down the garden. At the weekend, I'll empty out a couple planters and pots, and ask the Beloved to take the garden waste to the amenities site. The load will be topped off with unwanted items from the garden shed. 

Bit by bit it will get done.  And when it has been done I'll start planning for ways to improve it. It would be good to have a garden to grow things, rather than just a place to dry washing.

Sea Foam Shawl in Drops Kid-Silk

The socks for Elder and Younger Offspring have been completed and handed over. It's time for a project for me now. My choice is a shawl in Drops Kid-Silk. It's a variegated yarn that takes about 50 metres to go from the darkest teal to the lightest. It has to be said the darkest teal isn't actually terribly dark, but it's the darkest colour in the ball.

Normally, the thickness of the yarn informs the size of needles used. However, with mohair it is common to ignore this. Mohair has a bloom, an aura, and it needs space to show.

Company: Drops

Yarn: Kid-Silk

Composition: 75% mohair, 25% silk

Colour:  Sea foam (25)

Dyelot: 7619

Pattern: 

Needles: 5mm

Balls used: (expecting to use 2 balls)

Cast on 11 sts. Knit two rows.

1. K3, yo, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, yo, k3.
2. K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. (All even rows.)
3. K3, yo, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, yo, k3.
5. K3, yo, k6, yo, k1, yo, k6, yo, k3.
7. K3, yo, k8, yo, k1, yo, k8, yo, k3.

Continue in this manner until there are a multiple of 36, plus 7 stitches on the needles. For my shawl, this was 223 stitches. Finish with a purl row.

1. K3, yo, (PM, k3, (yo, k1) x6, k3,) yo, k1, yo, (PM, k3, (yo, k1) x6, k3,) yo, k3
2. K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3. (All even rows.)

Week 29: Decluttering the Bedroom

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #29: Master Bedroom

Tuesday: Declutter nightstand

Wednesday: Clean out and declutter under bed

Thursday: Declutter top of dresser

Friday: Declutter dresser drawers

Saturday: Declutter jeans and pants

Sunday: Declutter t-shirts and tops

As with last week's decluttering tasks, it's all already done.

Bye Bye Chest of Drawers

Whilst helping the Younger Offspring to declutter their clothing I realised they have so much!  So very much. We brought down a second wardrobe two weeks ago and this helped greatly, but I realised they didn't have a good storage solution for sweaters and bulkier item. 

The Beloved and I found we didn't need all of the clothes storage we had, so a decent sized chest of drawers in our room was swapped for a small bedside table chest of drawers from the Younger Offspring's room. We can but hope this will enable the Offspring to keep their bedroom a little tidier.

When we were last at the amenities site getting rid of various bits of rubbish, the nursing chair and various cushions, we picked up a simple bench for the Offspring's bedroom. The arrival of the chest of drawers meant the bench had to go. Today, more rubbish left the house. We noted the nursing chair and cushions had been claimed by someone(s). We hope the bench can find a new home too after its little holiday with us. Also picked up were two books, and a brand new paint roller.

Green Mann

Nicola Dixon is a Manx artist who lives in Peel. She was recently commissioned to design a set of stamps for Isle of Man Post. The image above is one she created to accompany the stamps. At CeltFest, I bought a print of the picture and also a mug. A lovely way to spend birthday money.

I love the Manx-ness of the images and that they have such a strong Celtic influence. The colours, landscape and animals are all the ones I see on my little island.

Rent!

Last night was the final production of Rent. The Younger Offspring has been rehearsing in this production for weeks, and it has really paid off. The show was brilliant. There were several times when the tears were just flowing from my eyes. "Will I lose my dignity" set them off big time. The cast brought together the words and the emotions. The layering of the lyrics and the harmonies were sublime. I am at a loss to know how these young people managed to pull of such emotionally charged performances.

I was reminded of my thoughts and feeling when AIDS made its appearance in Scotland. Initially, I fell for the inhuman, amoral, no immoral, rhetoric being spouted by many. There was an overwhelming lack of compassion. The overwhelming noises I heard were 'It's a judgement on sinful lives.' Utter bullshit! It's a disease, and a terrible one. Thankfully, I soon learned to be more compassionate and to see the person, and the utter hypocrisy of the line on sin. Sheer hypocrisy!

The song 'Will I lose my dignity?' brought back memories, not of the ravages of the disease, but of the way in which people with HIV and AIDS were treated. They were stripped of honour, of respect, and shown such disdain. It wasn't a case of losing dignity, but having it violently ripped away.

The young people last night were amazing. They reminded me, I need to speak up for those whose voices are being ignored, and for those whose dignity is being ripped away.

Le Creuset Heaven

For around 25 years, on and off, I have lusted after Le Creuset cookware. This was brought to a head once again whilst watching a cookery programme where the Hairy Bikers were using a beautiful purple skillet. However, as always, the weight of cast iron was too much for my joints. When we were in Gloucester visiting the Elder Offspring, I visited a shop selling Le Crueset and found the skillet above was sufficiently light for me to lift.The skillet can be used on the hob (gas or electric), in the oven, and under the grill. It was added to my wishlist.

So far, it's proved to be very useful in risotto-making and chicken and cider stewing. I've also used it make pancakes, and it was okay, but Ill be using my pancake pan in the future.

It was expensive, one of the most expensive kitchen presents I have received. I'm rather overwhelmed to receive such an expensive gift, and for having that amount of money spent on a skillet. However, it is something that will last and last, and will be used again and again. As items wear out the decision will be taken whether to replace them or no. If we decide to replace, they will be replaced by an item that will last. Buy once, buy well.

Bagels and Hot Chocolate

Oh my goodness! I am loving my new toaster. This morning I had toasted, butter bagels with hot chocolate. It was utterly wonderful.

The family toaster is is gluten-laden, and I can't use it for fear of contamination.It's years since I've had a toasted bagel at home. I've had bagels warmed in the microwave, and they've been fine. But toasted bagels! It's a moment of pure joy, the hot crunch, the slippery, butteryness, and the softness inside.

This toaster has a frozen bread function, and it produces perfect bagels. I tend to keep my gluten-free bread products in the freezer as I don't eat them terribly frequently. Perhaps that should be 'I didn't eat them terribly frequently.'

Many Happy Returns!

Surprise celebrations can be a bit strange. I knew we were going out to dinner, and I had suggested we change the date. The Beloved told me it was not going to be possible, and I could tell something was up, but he wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn't push it. My friends stopped talking to me. My husband was a bit weird, and the Offspring asked a few difficult questions whilst I was in the room. I ignored it all.

The plan, as far as it was told to me, was to go to my favourite restaurant for dinner. When we arrived I saw my friends, F, L and B. I wasn't surprised, but I was very happy. My happiness continued to grown when the Beloved explained to the waiter the table was too small. Another five joined us.

To state it simply, it was wonderful. All the people (on the island) I care most about were there. It was so good. So good I needed to borrow the Beloved's handkerchief  because my eyes were leaking a little. They sang 'Happy Birthday' in with harmonies.  I love these people.

Thank you, my Beloved. You did an excellent job, and I understand how difficult it was not to tell me about your plans.  I love you.

Week 28: Wardrobes and Chests of Drawers

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #28: Master Bedroom Closet

Tuesday: Declutter clothes you don't like, fit into or are out of style 

Wednesday: Declutter hanging clothes

Thursday: Declutter formal wear and dresses

Friday: Declutter closet drawers/shelves

Saturday: Clear and declutter closet floor

Sunday: Declutter and organize socks and underwear

'Tis all already done!

Marshmallow flowers

Some of the cakes from Friday were decorated using marshmallow flowers. 

Place a third of a cup of granulated sugar in a ziplock bag. Add some gel colouring on the side of the bag. Close the bag and work the colour through by massaging the bag. Using scissors, cut marshmallows in half, and add them to the bag of coloured sugar. The cut surface will pick up the coloured sugar crystals. If you make the petals the night before the food colouring seeps into the marshmallow a little, tinting it. This gives a rather lovely effect.

Use the 'petals' to decorate a cake, and mini Smarties or M&Ms for the centres of the flowers. Pipe a swirl of butter cream onto the cake and arrange the petals and centre.

Summer Cleaning

Over the last few weeks I've been trying to get into regular habits of cleaning rather than the random, hit and miss system I have been using. It's starts off with a deep clean, and then regular top ups. So far, I've been doing a daily wipe and swish in the wee room, and a weekly clean in the sitting room, bedroom and bathroom.  The kitchen is wiped down every day.

We have visitors arriving tonight, and it was a perfect opportunity to finish off the deep clean of the bathroom and the shower room. We have also been working in the Younger Offspring's bedroom (where the visitors will be staying), the front porch and the front of the house.

My aim is to establish cleaning routines and for them to be so routine I don't have to think about them, they just get done. I don't like cleaning, but I like the results.

There's been a mild spot of decluttering. The low nursing chair has gone. It was the one I was nursed in as a baby, and was given to me when we moved into a house (rather than a one bedroom flat) when the Elder Offspring was 18 months old. The springs had gone on the seat, and we have not used the chair in at least 6 years. Various cushions have gone to the amenities site along with the chair.  It might be someone else might find them useful. But we don't need them.

Baking, Baking, Baking!

The Beloved has agreed to a cake sale at his work tomorrow. This is to raise funds towards a production of 'Rent' at the Youth Arts Centre. So far, there's lemon drizzle, vanilla sponge, chocolate marble cake, chocolate cupcakes, and Snickers crunch. 

I adapted one of my Mam's recipes, Lemon and Coconut Slice, and made Orange and Coconut Slice instead. It worked well, but the base needed a bit more of something to hold it together more. However, it proved popular.

Friday
£80 was raised at the sale.  The Younger Offspring took some of the leftover cakes along to Rent rehearsals and added another £5 to the total.

Laa Tinvaal Sonney Diu! Happy Tynwald Day!

The fifth of July is Manx National Day. It's a public holiday.

At the beginning of the day, there is a church service in St John's. When the service finishes, the members of government and guests process to Tynwald Hill. There the new laws are promulgated in Manx Gaelg and also in English.  It forms part of the normal sessions of Tynwald. It is the oldest, continuous parliament in the world. 

After the formal proceeding, there's music, dancing, a Viking village, craft workshops, a Global Village, kipper baps, displays, stalls, demonstrations, meetings of friends, etc.

Reach Up High!

We have reached high, the coving and picture rail have been dusted and wiped down. Then it was down low, and the skirting boards done. Everything has been dragged out of place, and cleaned behind. The sitting room has also been dusted and swept.  I would like to do wash down the door. 

Clothes Decluttering

On Sunday, we brought down a second wardrobe into the Younger Offspring's bedroom. There had been piles of clothing on their floor. Clothes were brought into my bedroom, and we went through them all. The criteria for keeping were 'Do you love it?', 'Does it fit?' and 'Does it need mended?' We categorised everything and the Younger Offspring decided which items to keep and which ones to ditch.

There were a few items past their best, mostly underwear. We ditched the worst and ordered new undies. When they come the Younger Offspring will review their underwear and decide which items they want to keep. Underwear was also ordered for The Beloved. It was something we identified he needed when he was decluttering his wardrobe.

The Younger Offspring's bedroom is looking considerably better, but even having the second wardrobe is not enough to contain all for their clothing. The sticking point is the drawers on the wardrobe are not deep enough to comfortably house their woollens. I suspect we need to buy a new chest of drawers. With the woollens moved, there will be more space for t-shirts and leggings. 

The Socks Near Completion

The heel has been worked for the first heel, and I'm half way through the second heel. After that I will need the Younger Offspring's feet to work out the length of the sock. This will ensure a good fit.

Week 27: Linen Cupboard

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #27: Linen Closet

Tuesday: Declutter towels and wash cloths

Wednesday: Declutter sheets and pillowcases

Thursday: Declutter blankets, throws and comforters

Friday: Declutter pillows

Saturday: Declutter rugs and floor mats

Sunday: Declutter broken objects 

The linen cupboard was decluttered in February, and again last week. It amazed me how much decluttering I could do in a decluttered space! The cupboard is looking much tidier, and it's so much easier to find exactly what I want.  In this recently bout of decluttering I moved the extra toiletries into the cupboard along with bathroom cleaning supplies. The bathroom is looking tidier too. 

We only have two rugs, one in the sitting room, and another in the bedroom of the Younger Offsping. Both are wanted.

We have been trying to deal with broken objects as we find them. They are either mended or eject from the house. An exception is prescription sunglasses. The frame has broken, and I would like to see if I can get a new frame for them, but I haven't been in town at a suitable time yet.  If this has not been attended to by the end of July I shall put them in the bin.

The Everlasting Socks!

not actual socks

One of the things I've been trying to do is finish one project of a type before moving on to the next one. This means one knitting project, one crochet, one patchwork/quilting and one other. That's up to four projects. Surely that should be enough to keep me busy, occupied and entertained. It seems not.

A while back I completed (as far as I was able) socks for the Elder Offspring. These will be fully completed when she is next over, and I have her feet available for a fitting. From there I went straight into socks for the Younger Offspring. I don't like the colour, and the design is almost exactly the same as EO's socks. I am bored, and I avoiding knitting them. 

Perhaps the time has come for bribery?! I'm normally good at bribery. Others have tried to tell me it's 'delayed gratification' and 'rewarding good behaviour', but deep down, I know exactly what it is, bribery.

And while we are about it, what's going on with having two patchwork projects running at the same time, and making a sample for a third?! Come on. One project, and only one project per type, at a time. Play nicely!

Clutter has left the building!

It felt so good leaving the amenities site this morning. We felt behind so much clutter.  Gone are loads of worn out t-shirts and other clothing.  Old study materials and notes have said 'goodbye', make up said 'farewell', and random computer bits said '01100011 01101001 01100001 01101111'.

I wonder, will the Elder Offspring notice a difference when she returns home in a few days?  A huge number of goods have left the house. Is it noticeable?

The Beloved was commenting on the house and the improvements he has been seeing. Sometimes I wonder if this is in part because he reads this blog and therefore knows what to look out for. If I didn't write about what I have done, would it be seen?

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It's been two months since our bedroom was decluttered. That's two months of tidiness, two months! It still gives me pleasure to see my clean, tidy, decluttered bedroom.