Precious things (3)

Once upon a time I went through a period of illness. It was a very long time ago. Even now though, moments of that experience stay with me and very occasionally I think back to that time and how it partly moulded me into the person I am now.

During that time when I thought all the things that I have subsequently achieved were unlikely to happen I was given a stone…a small piece of green adventurine by a good friend who’d just gone to Uni. I carried that stone me with for ages and collected a few more along the way. In theory, adventurine is a stone that brings good luck – I guess it did for me. Every type of stone has a meaning – you can see what they mean here.

I chose most of mine for their colours and the way they felt in my hand rather than for their meaning.

Interestingly, when I was pregnant with both my girls I felt drawn to seek out my stones again and carried a piece of rose quartz in my bag. Rose quartz is a stone of unconditional love.

Every now and again I seek out my stones, for me they are a precious thing.

You can see others’ precious things here:

Sarah at Mitenska

Leanne at Today’s Stuff

Bee at The Linen Cloud

I am trying

Yes I know I am trying in all senses of the word.

:: I am trying to Get. Stuff. Done. I’ve written and rewritten my do list today and I am getting through it. I just had to put a couple of items on the list that I’d already completed just to give me more impetus.

:: I am trying to be patient when hearing my child read. Give me my due, for the most part I am. Unless she’s making no effort and then I feel really annoyed. She doesn’t know this yet. I guess you have to get her at the ‘right’ moment. And me at the right moment too.

:: I am trying not to be too disappointed it’s raining. Again.

:: I am trying to get bulbs into the garden in the few moments that LittleR is asleep. She loves to be outside but has to constantly monitored leaving no room for bulb digging.

:: I am trying to look forward to a few days off.

:: I am trying to believe that these all won’t be 5.30am get up times.

:: I am trying not to wish my children’s lives away but really do hope they start getting up after 6am! That seems far more civilised.

:: I am trying to be more prepared for that thing that happens as the same time every year in December. 

:: I am trying to hold off on buying a new notebook to prepare for that thing that happens in December.

:: I am trying to think of some more personal gifts for friends. I’ve had an idea of embroidered decorations…we’ll see…watch this space.

:: I am trying not to be too cross with a school that gives 2 days’ notice for a costume on the theme of ‘a hero’.  Yes, she does want to go dressed as Elsa.

:: I am trying to read a very dull academic paper and failing.

:: I am trying to look for solutions to the CD/DVD explosion we have in the corner of our living room. I’m thinking of recycling the cases and using an big CD/DVD envelope. We hardly play CDs now as they’re all on the computer. That means more space for cookery books!

:: I am trying to remember that in amongst all the trivial things, I am trying and that’s something.

(Don't you think the pink primrose at the back looks like she's waving and shouting 'I'm over here!')

Miscellaneous and happiness and random thoughts

Sarah over at Mitenska has had posts on miscellaneous things in her week. Gillian writes about her weekly happies. I'm going to do a combination of these two things. I not usually such a join-er in-er (is that a word/phrase??) but I can't not join in with these.

We survived our first half term. It was a whirlwind of getting stuff done, reading, trips out, family visiting, eating lots, treats, cinema visits (Daddy and daughter day)  and catching up on sleep. It has (almost) been a relief to get back into a routine and back to work/school - although I'm pleased this is my last working day of the week....

We had a fabulous day out in Whitby. The sun shone and the weather was warm (for the end of October). We made collections of stones (and brought a few home), played crazy golf, ate fish and chips and ice cream. It was a very good day. We all slept well after the sea air!

I traversed the entirety of Leeds to get a pumpkin on Halloween. A trip to big Tesco resulted in no pumpkin (but nappies - the real reason for going) but BigR did see Tesco staff members dressed up for Halloween, and from no where (when the music started) run into the centre of the store and start dancing (in time) to Thriller. Very random but very good. This resulted in much YouTube after to see MJ in action. She wasn't sure if he was brilliant or not.

I did eventually get a couple of pumpkins in our local veg shop. One was very anaemic....scary :) they're still sat on plates in our kitchen and going slightly fusty now so I'll have to spirit them into the bin later tonight (under the cover of darkness) so there are no protestations.

I made a ginger cake following this recipe. Yum. It's gone now.

I ironed and ironed and ironed to X factor. I think the ironing made X factor better. I finished all the ironing and gloried in that moment where there was no more ironing. Sadly, there's now more ironing. who though uniforms and being smart was a good idea?

I finished knitting my hat. It's blue and green not purple. It's a bit big. Maybe I should've made the biggest child's size? It looks a bit wonky here too but 'in real life' it isn't. I will be wearing it. Maybe I'll even model it?

I took more pictures of roses in the garden. Still yet more appear and flower (don't look at the black spot on the leaves) and it's November. Just beautiful.

I've been reading lots too....recipe books mostly. In bed.

Today I've been embracing The Smiths. Spurred by this post from Leanne. This isn't my favourite Smiths song but it's got very good jangly guitars. I love Johnny Marr.

The year in books - November

Another good month on the reading front.

I finished the first of the Cazalet series and loved it, Whats not to like about real family drama. I'm planning to download the rest but I'm going to have a rest from them in November.

I found out there was a sequel to a book I read (and loved) earlier in the year, The Rosie Project. I read about in the comments of someone else's a year in books post...but I can't remember where and now can't find it!!

Anyway, 'The Rosie Effect' was my second book of October. I really enjoyed this book too, although it felt more rushed than the first book. I read an interview with Graeme Simsion who said the first book took him more than a year to perfect and get Don's voice right and the second book came much more quickly. In some ways it showed. There were some really good moments in this book but I found Rosie's character a little stilted (and not the woman she was in the first novel which can't just be explained away by her pregnancy) and the plot a little more obvious. In some ways this shouldn't be a great surprise we know the formula for this sort of story. In spite of these actually very minor complaints, I'll be reading the third book which is surely going to happen.

I'm still reading Stephen Fry's autobiography. It's a little (a lot) self indulgent and although I usually find his writing style fluent and very readable, I'm just not into it this month. I'll be continuing with this in November.

Also in November I'll be reading "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves" Karen Joy Fowler.

Joining in with Laura.