A Return to Simplicity.

 Although I am not quite retired (just doing a few casual shifts now in the wind down) I am finding it difficult to settle into a new routine at home.  I like having structure to my days and although I don't mind spur of the moment things I do LOVE routine! I think this comes from being a nurse when routine and time management are crucial to providing the best patient care you can. I am busy making my to do list that stretches off into the years, some I will definitely get done and some maybe never! There are plenty of things to do, some are bigger such as the re-organizing the craft room and some are just simple things that will be ongoing like cleaning out various cupboards.  A type of Death Cleaning!! WHAT!  You say.......  The practice arises from Swedish author Margareta Magnusson in her book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning : How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter . She explains the notion of döstädning, which translates t...

2022 Another new year has rolled around and I've decided it's time to begin again on the blog. I will have more time now to do the things I love as I head into retirement. There's no slowing down but renewed enthusiasm looking forward. Things like gardening, sewing, baking and taking time to read more books etc. As I sit in the garden every afternoon I look around and see lots of things to do and rather than becoming frustrated, I am excited to finally make a reality some of those Pinterest  ideas I've been saving. I also brought a new Air fryer cookbook while doing my Christmas shopping and am going to make my way through it during the year. I can't wait to show you what I cook.   I have already made Pizza in the Air Fryer, but it's not a recipe from this book.      From the sewing table there is a lot of wonderful fabric waiting to be turned into everyday items for around the home and for a little market stall I intend to have, as well as things for wearing...

  I love repurposing..........furniture, clothing, and any brick-a-brat stuff  really, and this shirt has seen better days. Picked it up from the cheap rack and turned it into an apron for use in the garden.   Of course you can't see the collar but the embroidered band on the top of the apron came from the collar of the shirt. Not a very big pocket but that will have to do! Another repurposed project was to make the insert for my new cushion and for this I used old pillow stuffing. As I'm a bit of a hoarder I strip out the stuffing from pillows, wash and dry in the sun and put in those vacuum bags to store for later on.     I thought it would be a good idea to make my own inserts. They will last much longer than a brought one and can be taken out and washed repeatedly without falling apart. I think I'm going to do this for all the cushions I make now. I used calico for the outside. Cheap and tough!   In the garden the Furcraea has now produced abundan...