Before I start today's adventures (although that word might be a tad misleading!) I need to address a couple of comments left yesterday. There seemed to be consternation about some missing chickens. I was referring to a "bunting pattern" that was in the middle of the stash but I have a separate picture here. (sorry I cant rotate it). The idea is to make the chickens and then hang on the newly painted dresser - rustic / shabby chic!So - onto today. Truthfully I am shattered after several short nights (cant get to sleep, wake up early, long day yesterday) so could really have done without Katie barking at 6am. However I got up, showered and dressed and then cleared around - leaving me time to sit in front of the Create and Craft sewing show at 8am. Last night I used my new light box to trace a design and so enjoyed some hand sewing time. Sadly, however, it looks as if there might be a problem - the recharging batteries do not seem to be recharging - so that will mean a phone call tomorrow.
Then it was back into the conservatory to listen to The Archers whilst scrubbing and cleaning. We have now reached the stage where half the floor is glistening clean and therefore I can start to move the sofas back into place. I just want to wash the windows before blocking them up. (In case you don't know the conservatory is 8m long by 3m - quite large. I only mention that in case you think that I am spinning this job out a tad too long. That plus the recent warm weather does not always make the conservatory a pleasant place to work in.
After lunch and an afternoon nap (well I did say that I was tired) I was off outside to mow the lawn before reconciling the church finances ready for their meeting tomorrow afternoon and then walking the dogs. Finally it was time to clear the dresser and sugar soap it - ready for the first coat of paint tomorrow. I am sure that I didn't work this hard before!!
Finally - a challenge to get your brain cells ticking. As if I don't have enough to do I thought that it might be fun to set myself a challenge every week. Nothing major or costly - just something that you can look back on and say - that's what I did this week. For example I have never done a McDonalds drive through so might give that a try this week when I go to the pictures. Or I might try writing a shirt story and see if I can get it published. Perhaps I can make a number of items for charity using the helping hands page on facebook - you see what I mean. So - over to you for ideas - Challenge Lynda! I already have a list of over 30 ideas but want 52. what can you come up with? I, however, reserve the right to ignore the challenge if its too difficult / unreasonable!!!!
I just love that chookie! She does indeed have attitude! I always feel inspired to sew something when I see what you have made...and I guess the reason I love blogland so much is because it is so full of inspiring people and brings so many new ideas my way.
ReplyDeleteSugar soap....hmm...didn't know we needed to do that first! Perhaps when you do start the dresser you could put down the different stages so we can learn from you? My idea was just to paint it!! We recently painted the pine cladding which has been in the kitchen since we moved in many years ago... I never liked it , but taking it out was going to be too big a task, given the mess we would have to sort out underneath. So, very unusually, I suggested we paint it white. I am not usually keen on painted wood...however...it has really brightened the place up and is what gave me the idea to paint the dresser. My hubby likes to do a thorough job (unlike me who lives to whip through things as quick as I can and get on to another project.....an American friend called this way of doing things "by golly by gosh!") He decided the best thing to do was sand down the cladding first, as he didn't feel the paint would adhere to the varnish. However....it meant, even after three or four coats of paint, the natural oils from the wood were seeping through :( We ended up buying a primer to seal the wood, and then, hopefully, yesterday the last coat of paint went on. It made what we hoped to be a one Saturday job last about a month!
I cannot believe you have not been through a drive thru McDonalds!!! Its such a brilliant way to do things! Infact I took my daughter through last week as we had no time to come home at lunch time and needed to be several miles away pretty quickly. As I placed my order I said to her " this is such a brilliant, stress free way to get a McD's, only the Americans could come up with such a good idea!" We do not live on such treats...but if we are on a long journey they are our first choice ( so economical and with the right choices not too bad health wise...for fast food!) I can recommend the pineapple and mango smoothie they have at the moment.
As for any other challenges...I will get my brain in gear and see what I come up with :)
Well done you for spreading your wings during this exciting year!
The sugar soap was the advice from the shop where I bought the paint - but she said that I didn't need to sand the dresser - who am I to ignore her advice - it just makes the job soooooo much longer!
DeleteIn terms of McDonalds I have always avoided the drive through because I tend to have a fresh burger - ie one with no toppings etc - perhaps just a slice of cheese - I always thought that, since this order would have to be cooked from scratch, I wouldn't be able to use a drive through (not that I go to McD's that often anyway. However a friend says that they just ask you to pull over to let others past and then bring it out to you. loving the idea of a pineapple and mango smoothie!
you tend to have such off the wall ideas so I am looking forward to seeing your list of challenges!
Me...off the wall?? I don't know what you mean ;) Your friend is absolutely right...there is a special designated area for waiting for freshly made orders...we almost always have to use it if one of the kids orders fish fingers.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what your food preferences are, but I usually order the mayo chicken...its 99p and with no fries of course so no temptation to over indulge!
Some challenges for you to consider:
ReplyDeleteBecome a volunteer for the library, choosing and taking books once a month or so to someone who is housebound. I did this for sometime and got very attached to a lady in the next street until she sadly passed away. She rarely saw anyone so always looked forward to my visits, am sure there are many housebound in your district who would enjoy seeing you and maybe hearing about what you get up to. Its something you can make as big or small a commitment as you want...just drop the books off or stay and chat.
http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/searchResults.aspx?qsearch=1&keywords=housebound+library&x=0&y=0
Become a blood donor.....my father in law was able to spend longer with us during his battle with leukemia because of the regular transfusions he received.
Create a weekly gallery of colours collected from things you come across each day, and upload them on your blog for us all to enjoy...choose one colour each time. When teaching my son his colours that was the way he learnt...just focusing on one colour each week and making a display of things we found of that particular colour. It was fun for us both!
Memorise a piece of poetry. I visit a bedbound 92 yr old each week...invariably during the conversation she is reminded of a poem and recites most of it word perfect. She is amazing! If she forgets part of it, I come home and google it and then print it off for her to reacquaint herself with.
Research some of your local history and "publish" your findings for a local paper/parish magazine. The more unusual subject matter the better.
Choose a "PostPal" to write to, how regular you write is up to you, you can include small gifts too, a little homemade something...some freebie you didn't know who to give to etc. These children have life limiting illnesses and the regular postman visits really brighten their day.... and also their parents.. My daughter did this for a while and received lovely replies from parents.
http://www.postpals.co.uk/
That should be enough to keep you going :)
There are definitely some new ideas here. My only concern is starting something which is a long term committment. I wouldn't like to start anything that I couldn't continue. But thank you for the ideas.
DeleteI'm exhausted!!! I to love the chicken! (sorry I meant too). You certainly get a lot of things done in a day. I will try and think of a challenge for you, but you seem to have a lot to be getting on with. Xx
ReplyDeleteSorry, hadn't intended them to come across as things you had to commit to, am sure only doing them once or twice in the coming year would make a difference to someone.
ReplyDeleteHad another thought earlier...how about getting up for the dawn chorus and recording the different bird calls/songs you hear? Take it a step further and research whose songs they are.
Choose a project from BBC Springwatch "SOS" for your garden
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/9894a933-ee26-47d0-bdd7-4b7d7da37a33
I've checked out post pals - interesting. Not sure that I can get into bird song though - they wake me up early enough as it is!!
DeleteReally! Ahh...its the sweetest music ever for me...no matter what time, something about it is so soothing and they are always so happy and chirpy first thing in the morning!
ReplyDeleteChris suggests doing a run for life race, buy a Bonnie and learn to train it, breed chickens, get up each day (she is starting to struggle now), make a set of nativity puppets and film a nativity putting the results on you tube, make vegetable based jams, learn to play a musical instrument, knit yourself a Christmas jumper, knit Phil a doctor who jumper, knit Graham a Leicester City jumper, Ian a Portsmouth jumper, Matthew a monster jumper etc
ReplyDeleteChris is struggling to get up each day? I can definitely do that one and already have a race for life in my list. Like the idea of nativity puppets and making a film for you tube - might be a laugh. Some of your other suggestions do miss the point though - can they be achieved in a week? Making you a jumper in a week? Really? Keep thinking though!
ReplyDeleteHow about baking a cake every day for a week and leave them on the doorsteps of random people in your village?
ReplyDeleteOr try and enter as many competitions as you can in a week (can you beat 100?)
ReplyDeleteNow you're motoring - keep going. Just 9 more to fill the 52 spaces.
ReplyDeleteHow about spending £10 at a car boot sale and see what profit you can make by selling those items on eBay? Or do seven acts of random kindness? Produce your own craft web site?
ReplyDeleteIf you look on Google it lists the top 20 things to do in Louth - why not see how many of them you can do in a week.
ReplyDeletePick one country from each of the seven continents and learn to cook a meal/cake from that country.
ReplyDeleteOr sort out seven craft packs and send them to seven people with no instructions and see what you get back (or get seven people to send you a craft pack with no instructions)
ReplyDelete