That Writer's Habit

I would like to say life has been pretty busy around here lately as an excuse for my blogging absence, but that wouldn't be the whole truth.

Life has been busy but no more than normal, winter hibernation has also had a hand in things but I guess it is just a case of falling out of the habit. It is hard to come back to the blog after a long gap, strange as surely it would be harder to keep blogging week after week, finding the inspiration to write, but I think the habit of writing is what is most important.

I have been up to blog worthy endeavours lately it is true, I have been ploughing my time into expanding my Etsy store with naturally dyed sock yarn (can't wait to list those), and been posting more about that on Instagram.

We are also getting ready to breed our own meat birds from our established flock rather than buying in hatching eggs this year, we are crossing our Indian Game hens with both our buff orpington and Welsummer cockerels to see which we prefer, and perhaps breeding some cream legbars after that to sell on.

I'm also trying to get through some of my fabric stash making my own clothes, I've got so much filling up the old caravan earmarked for specific projects, and I need the space as I am turning said caravan into a dyeing studio for my work (think vintage style).

These are just a few of the things I've been upto lately amongst others but that's enough to be going on with for today, hopefully I will now be able to get back into that writers habit.

My Witchy Temple Room Tour Video

I decided last week to do a wee tour video of my witch 'craft' room and altar space and giving more detail than a written blogpost or instagram photo could do. I hope you enjoy the tour :)

A Year of Great Change

The past few years have felt as though we are constantly creating change in our life and lifestyle, purchasing the smallholding, moving 600 miles away, moving to an island, renovations on the cottage, getting married, in some ways it has felt a bit of a whirl and has certainly flown by.

This year appears to be heralding yet more big changes for us with the first being the final phase of the renovation. Last week we finally submitted planning permission for the conversion of the barns, but after having no kitchen for over five years I find myself wanting to hold back on actually getting started.

It feels too big and overwhelming a project, scary unknown territory and the unknown element of not knowing how much the job is going to cost due to doing the work ourselves.

It is easy to fall into the trap of putting up with how things are even if they are not perfect, and then holding back, resisting jumping into the scary unknown.

But change is inevitable, we cannot stagnate or we risk going through the motions in our lives.

So we pause.......  breathe...... and then we jump.

Imbolc Activities - Creating New Candles from Old

The other day on the blog I mentioned that the season of Imbolc, or Candlemas would begin in a few days, and I thought yesterday to make a brief video of one of the activities I would be doing as part of my preparations.

So if you would like to see a rare video of me chatting about candles feel free to click on the video below :)

Our Handfasting Anniversary - 3 Years and Counting

The past Four and a half years have gone so quickly since we moved here to the cottage, lots of changes endings and beginnings. One of those beginnings was the start of a new phase in mine and John's relationship when we (literally) tied the knot three years ago on our land with a Handfasting.

A small group of family and friends joined us for a quiet simple ceremony in the garden performed by friends of ours who are registered pagan celebrants, making the whole thing legal and without a separate registry office event.

This patch of land we are caretakers of already holds many memories for us, how many more will it hold in three, ten or twenty years from now?

Sometimes when the wind is howling around the roof, or when it's so cold you need to light the woodburner in august, moving to a warmer location feels a blissful daydream; but we are now bound to this land, it is a part of us as we are a part of it, together Handfasted.

Living our Childhood Dreams (or Life Lessons from Xena Warrior Princess)

Making our Childhood Dreams a Reality

When I was a child I used to daydream about what life would be like as an adult. I would picture myself riding my Clydesdale horse to the nearest village to pick up supplies, long hair flowing, full-length woolen dress and cloak, basket on my arm.

I imagined friends and neighbors coming to me for help with their ailments, a herbal remedies and ointment for aches, a charm or talisman for the home, a cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake to offload, all conducted in my cosy cottage by candle light, the smell of incense in the air.

A romantic fairytale image perhaps.

I used to imagine what it would be like to live in a huge house like Misselthwaite Manor from The Secret Garden, but mostly I imagined the secret passageways and rooms, and of course the secret garden itself.

I would devour books which had the wise woman character in them, ones that would touch some inner spark in me, guiding me gently towards my passions in life.

I have a great love of mathematics and science, logic brained am I, and had other fantasies of being some sort of scientist.

How can Xena Warrior Princess give us career advice?

Sometimes we look back on our childhood dreams with nostalgia, or scorn or perhaps bitterness, but I believe our childhood dreams give us insights as to the person or life we are truly meant to be.

I don't necessarily mean we are supposed to be modern day Xena Warrior Princesses, but certain elements of our fantasies show us our true soul needs.

For example, if I had big dreams of growing up like Xena, I would mull that over and pick apart what it was about being Xena that I loved so much. 

Was it the kicking ass part? Perhaps I would be in my element being a martial arts expert or a cage fighter.

Was it the saving the day part? Perhaps I would be better as a police officer or working for womens refuge.

Perhaps that is putting it a bit too simplistic, perhaps I am so off the mark, but perhaps it may help someone?

How I made my dreams into my reality

Looking back on my own childhood dreams shows me a lot about the person I was always meant to grow up to be.

I was destined to be a country girl, the city was never meant to be a happy place for me, a simple quiet life is what I crave and where I am most in my element even if I no longer have the urge to ride across the hills in my tartan dress like Lorna Doone.

Studying natural remedies and the craft was also where my heart lay, and is still where I am at my most confident, but I also have a need to back up the reasoning for why a remedy works with science too, not to the point of dismissing something which I know works, but it makes me want to do a happy dance when I can back up with science something I already know to work.

And as for The Secret Garden and Misselthwaite Manor with its mysteries, well John built me a secret bookcase door, I know I can't believe it, it makes me so happy, childhood dreams made into reality !!!!

The First Drop

It's turning out to be another one of those busy but not really busy sort of weeks. Seem to be on the go all the time, but nothing overly exciting happening.

We're plodding on with the renovation and today I managed to start hanging the wallpaper in the hallway at last, it is one of only two rooms we have done in the cottage which has a patterned paper for a feature wall, I wasn't sure how it would look not being a lover of plain walls but I think it will turn out just fine.

I'm thinking I may do a blog post on wallpaper hanging tips, I have done enough papering over the years you'd think I would be an expert, I can assure you I am not but there is some stuff I have learned over the years which could be helpful to someone else, could be fun :)

P.S. I couldn't resist posting another picture of the lambs in the paddock, they are just so darned cute!!

The Family Knit and Natter

 Last year we (aka me, mum and sis) decided to start meeting up once a week for our own crafting bee. I don't drive and don't get out much so it makes for a nice social event at our place.
Truth be told we usually end up gossiping so much that not an awful lot of crafting gets done but it's good.
Mum usually gets set up on the wheel or carding, although today she was knitting too.

 Baby sis is usually knitting away on some commision or other for her Drifting Gipsy facebook page.
Last week she was working on a scarf for a friend, this week a pair of legwarmers for a member of her OU tutor group.

I'm still nibbling away at a hat I am knitting for myself, it is a slow going project which perhaps will be ready next winter.

But most of my time this last half of the week has been nursing this little one above. Poppy cat is under the weather right now, I think it's eating too many Orkney voles, but it is rather like having a newborn in the house again !!

In fact it is time for another feed before I get dinner on for John, so I will sign off for now but any positive thoughts sent this way for Poppy would be welcome, thank you x

Fear and Courage

The past couple of days have been spent making final tweaks to my latest crochet pattern, which I hope to have ready and sent out into the world by the first week in April.

I am quite nervous about the whole thing, this being the first pattern I have written to actually sell, a full size garment rather than a small accessory tutorial.

I guess that is why it has been taking me so long to get it finished, the fear of WHAT IF??

What if no one likes it? What if no one buys it? What if people ridicule it? But if I don't even try then I have already failed.

Most artists must have the same fears in regards to sending out a piece of themselves into the world.
And art IS a piece of yourself in whatever form it takes, whether that be painting, writing, pottery, music or crochet.

So in a couple of weeks I will gather my courage, hold my breath and press that publish button, then sit back and hope.

But for better or worse it will be DONE.

If I Was A REAL Blogger

If I was a real blogger I would have a spectacular blog, with professionally designed layouts, fonts, pictures and 'branding'. 

I would own a snazzy DSLR camera and take arty shots, 100's a day with photos that would make a grown man weep (although I admit the above one impressed me).

But I'm not a real blogger.

I could be a food blogger, I could post daily recipes showing the world my chef like skills with a skillet, serving up amazing meals to my quickly expanding husband, whilst managing to keep my figure svelte like, receiving sponsorship from fab foodie companies that I could never afford to shop from myself.

But I don't have a kitchen.

I could be a homestead blogger, posting weekly the bumper harvests emerging from my plot, how I planted 30 rows of cabbages and still have time for yoga before I munch upon my freshly picked lunch.

But its bloody cold out there, blowing a gale and the ground is sodden from all the rain.

I could be a fashion blogger showing my outfit for the day, pretty dresses and cardigans, handmade accessories made from charity shop thrift, makeup and hair tips for the country girl.

But it's blowy out there so hair is either tied back or windswept, makeup is reserved for trips out, and my outfit for the day is usually leggings and a tunic unless a trip to kirkwall is on the cards or company is coming.

So you see I can't really be a REAL blogger, not really.

I shall just have to be a completely and randomly ME blogger instead.

The Valentine Plans

 

I had good intentions this valentines day of making a fuss, I had it all worked out. John was working but it was a Friday so once he was home from work the evening could begin, also he was breaking up for two weeks holiday so even better.

I had chosen the food based upon his favorite dishes, no heart shaped pink blancmange for us, but there would be gorgeous Chinese spiced braised pork using one of our favorite recipes by Bill Granger : (recipe found here), with trifle or tiramisu to follow, and homemade strawberry and rhubarb wine to drink.

I would fetch the small box of previously made valentines decor items from the loft,and add copiously to them from ideas found on my valentines pinterest board.  Music would be chosen wisely, and a romantic evening in front of the fire cosied up would be perfect.

Ah but good intentions are a wonderful thing. Spending so much time recently decorating the bathroom meant no time or inclination left for crafting at the last minute, I had forgot to get the pork when shopping, and hubby was on call and couldn't even have a drink.

But it is just one day out of the year after-all.

We have spent the weekend together working on the cottage, walking in the sunshine, taste testing this past years demijons, and we even got around to having the pork for dinner yesterday.

 So who is to say valentines must be celebrated on February 14th or never. Celebrate on the 15th, 16th, 24th or everyday in little ways.

(Above photo from a previous year)

Early February Thoughts

It has been a very snuggly sort of few weeks since the new year began, more so than usual anyway. The grotty weather we have been having here in the UK combined with that post Christmas lethargy has meant a lot of yarny projects by the fire whenever there has been a spare few minutes/hours.

Truth be told my days seem to blend into one, same chores and daily jobs, the never-ending job of polyfiller, sandpaper and paint which comes with renovating a property, settling in when john comes in from work to just flop in front of the fire to watch a DVD or something on the web (btw Sherlock was excellent in my opinion,and should be on every week).

I am starting to get new ideas for this year, new projects to start of the woolly kind, getting more rooms completed, and maybe finally having a real live kitchen (one can but dream).

Speaking of the cottage I am almost nearly there ready to say the bathroom is complete. One more week of DIY jobs, then just accessories and done ! It is our favorite room so far and has gone from freezing, to the warmest room in the house, I swear some days I'm tempted to take the kindle in there to read and thaw out.

Christmas Moments

 (Chocolate peanut butter balls)

(John's decorated Christmas cake) 

(Wouldn't be Christmas without Auntie Delia)

Images of Everyday Life

(preparing raised watercrust veg pie for new year)

I have been struggling to get back to my blog lately, not really knowing where or how to start a blog post. So to ease me back into it I will post little glimpses of what is happening around these parts at present, and if I feel inspired to write even better :)

Some Everyday Moments

Whilst uploading photo's for the Mad Tea party tomorrow I cam across some random shots that didn't warrant a post of their own.
The above was taken a week before the solstice at around 11.40 pm, still daylight. Actually it was much lighter than the pic suggests but the camera couldn't capture it too well.

Having a bit of a treat in the garden centre cafe after a morning of shopping, mmmmm. Umm there may have been other treats bought taken home for later..... (We'll just forget the up half the night in agony with biliary colic, yep indeedy).

And finally, a shot of our Poppy cat lounging amongst the daisies yesterday, just because.

Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax or ( Hooks and Yarn and Chai )

Whilst the rest of the UK appears to be having a bit of a heatwave, here in Orkney the weather has turned very autumnal today. It has been so cold I have even put the fire on. This is not necessarily a bad thing, I love having a fire on but it does use the fuel up.

I've decided to take advantage of the chilly foggy weather by drinking hot cups of chai and playing around with yarns, hooks and stitches, working on my next crochet design with the intention of eventually having some to list on Etsy. All exciting stuff for me (you can tell I don't get out much).

Also coming up this weekend is the annual Mad Tea Party (see button in side bar), so expect plenty of tea, cakes and shenanigans on Saturday.

That Cosy Winter Feeling

I just want to say thank you everyone who left me such lovely comments on my last post, they really do mean a lot to me and are giving me loads encouragement :-) 

Also I finally took the plunge and filled in my 'About Me' page at the top there, 

if you really want to know some scary stuff take a peek, 

but promise not to run screaming!!!

 If you are in the UK then you will be probably be sick of hearing about the snow

 and it finally arrived in Orkney yesterday (about time too).

I have been taking advantage of the snuggling down hibernating feeling it brings. 

Time to get back on the wheel and spin up some Shetland I have been waiting since before Christmas to get starting on :) Its Plyed up lovely and I have a fab Dye idea lined up for it too. Will show you soon as it is ready :)

 But for now, the obligatory snowy photos, can't possibly leave them out now can I ;-)

Have yourself a merry little christmas .....

It's Christmas Eve, can you believe it, whoohooo !!!!

Yesterday me and John spent the afternoon making mince pies and decorating christmas cakes.

I have been sooo busy this month that i have been terrible at updating my blog. Hopefully in the new year i will make a point of posting more often, and more going on as we up the veggie growing and crafts :)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Greetings to all those over the pond :)

New Skylights

Thankfully the weather this weekend was perfect for installing the new skylights we bought for the loft, I always feel sorry for the postie when we order things like windows and radiators from screwfix as the postman has to deliver them in the back of his little van, it was very funny when the new hot water tank was ordered.
Anyway John spent most of the weekend on the roof removing slates and these old rusted steel framed windows. We now have three nice new double glazed windows in the roof for when the loft is used as spare rooms. Give john a Gold Star.