The simple woman's day book - March

I sometimes take part, and clearly not often enough, in The Simple Womans Daybook, which reminds me to take each day at a time, embrace it and enjoy it, to shut my diary and not think of everything and how to tetris it all in to the hours I have in my week. But I need to take time to appreciate taking the time to sit, ponder and think.

I don't do this much, I'm an 'ants in my pants' kinda gal, I don't sit, I'm allergic to it.

I think I'm powered by solar energy or something - (!) during daylight hours I tend to be beavering away at home or at work. Or probably, more likely I'm actually fuelled by bread and the gigantic amount of food I generally eat - given my level of daily calorie consumption and my stature being very 'ant' like, I need to conciously work and play through my life like a tazmanian devil to not limit my abilities to actually fit through doorways! Today I was inspired by this lovely lady......to have a peedie sit and have a wee think and join in.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… The lapwings are back, dancing in the skies and making utterly ridiculus noises, the curlews are also returning. Hen harriers and Owls are a daily sight from the house and the track and I know I must never take them for granted. I live in a truly amazing place.

I am thinking…how lucky I am. I am loved, I (and my family/friends) are healthy,  my cupboards are full and I've a very diverse stimulating working week ahead! And a cute dog.

In the kitchen…surrounded by hand picked flowers (daffodils - what else at this time of year?!) and a beautiful mothers day card - banana loaf half eaten and the signs of family life cluttering up and adorning most surfaces! I really like this. I like the clutter of family life.

I am wearing…Stripes and wellies - I love stripes - a stripey blue t-shirt - blue jeans and odd socks - one is spotty, on is stripey - I don't think a day goes by when I actually wear a matching pair (lifes just too short for the conformity of wearing matching socks). I like the secret subversiveness of it. I am also wearing my purple wellingtons, but shhh dont' tell anyone, we're not allowed to wear them in the kitchen.

I am going…on the plane tomorrow (again, I know, I was also on one last week,  this is why I'm a tree hugging environmentalist, my carbon foot print is epic and I have to redress the carbon balance). Tomorrow its for work - which will also be fun, liking your job tends to result in doing alot of fun stuff, which folk appear to want to give you money for. Its a win win situation!

I am wondering…about getting another puppy - will that fit in with our  life?

I am reading…a sustainable development textbook about waste management systems and recycling - the title is too heavy to put here - but its a good read and a great reference book! One dug out from my very non flowery undergraduate degree box - which I hadn't thought I'd ever need again, its been up in a dusty attic for many years now - just goes to show you doesn't it! Who knows what turns life may bring so don't chuck out things you think you'll never need again!

I'm also reading a Mr Men book - I love them so and being dyslexic, I'm terrified of reading outloud - However, I know reading outloud helps me to get over my fear of it - so if you're going to listen to anything like that - Mr Men are very cool and make me giggle.

And, a book on pruning as I've a pesky, not keeping to the right bit of the garden, Rowan to prune to help a lady this week and I want to do it right.

Reading is clearly all about diversity here!

I am hoping…to visit Graemsay, one of the Orkney islands I've never been to, I'm very excited! I should get there this week and do a bit of gardening with a lovely chum!

I am looking forward to…a trip to Brighton in May. Firstly I've never been and that will be exciting. Secondly I'm meeting such dear chums for a whole weekend I'm just giddy with excitement!

I am learning…… how to use my sewing machine more and I'm going to a workshop to make my very own bag. That will be exciting! I use to be able to sew alot - made my own clothes but funny when you get busy how little things like sewing can often seem a far distant thing.

Around the house…chaos! Children dashing about - dog chasing his bone. Kitchen full of cooking smells, sunlight dazzling through salty dusty windows, windowsills bursting into life with plants/seeds, chickens attempting to move in every time the door is opened to the garden. And the sound of a multitude of instruments filling my ears! Chaos!

I am pondering…about my polytunnel and if I can safely get the cover on it when my family visit at the end of the month.

A favorite quote for today…Well I wanted to steal/borrow Cheri's quote which is very pertinent to me at the moment.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucious

However I think this one is where I'm at today:

"Sometimes in life, you find special friends. Those who change your life just by being a part of it. Those who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Those who make you believe that there really is good in the world. Who convince you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friends lift you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friends gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friends follow. If you lose your way, your forever friends guide you and cheers you on. Your forever friends hold your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend or friends, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."
---Unknown

One of my favorite things (aside the family obviously)…my campervan - Darwin, he's been sulking and due to lack of funds he's been sitting petulantly staring with his back to us for months. However, his much needed spare parts are ordered and he's going to get a bit of love and a trip to the garage for some minor operations to enable us to have adventures in him again very soon.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Trip on a plane, kiss goodbye to Mr F again,  invigilate an exam, organise a class, attend a workshop, plant a hedge, trip on a peedie ferry, prune a rowan, tidy up a rockery and rampage through my paperwork. All the while, I'll also be 'stalking' sorry I mean parenting/terrorising the children and walking the dog on a gud few beaches. Might even manage lunch with a chum. Sounds OK doesn't it?

A peek into my day…(A single photo which peeks into my life) - I love how making a huge flock of recycled chickens for a childrens workshop on reycling.....(whcih was amazing fun, sorry I mean was work and amazing fun)

Can inspire this - a hand made mothers day card from the cellist in my life our flock of chickens in our tree with Peedie (our dog) looking to see why they are up there! Isn't it beautiful - her last card was amazing but this one is sublime!

If I were peedie however I would be wondering why the chickens had turned so colourful (summer clothing?) why they are hiding from him (are his bonios in the tree?) and how on earth a tree in Orkney could aspire to such a uniform, unlopsided shape (clearly growing behind a huge dyke)!

Happy living to all of you - the simple things really are the most important.

If you wish to join in with the Simple Woman - the link is here.