Granny squares

I've starting trying out crocheting again.  I haven't done any since I was about 7, so it was a sharp relearning curve to be able to do it.  Thankfully there are some seriously good tutorials on YouTube if you're interested.  Check out Teresa and Mikey.  I've been planning on doing this for a while and the deal was sealed when I found a really orignal but simple blanket design uning granny squares in a magazine.


Mum had given me some wool to use and practice on, it's really ugly colour, but it works for just getting better at sewing the squares.  I don't want to start on the real thing, so this will do.  What do you think of my first square?  Not too baby for a first try in over 20 years!  Now I only have to make 225 squares for the blanket, and that's after I've made enough practice ones to feel that I'm good enough to start.  I don't mind though, I started this as something I could do pretty mindlessly.  And if it works out I could be making blankets for all the family! 

Visiting family and self image

The past weekend we headed up to visit my parents in Tamworth.  We hadn't been up for a while so it was good to see them all, but the visit had more purpose than just this.  Firstly my partner needed a break away and he always feels better after having a break away from the city, secondly I needed to deliver Flat Puglet to my sister who had agreed to carry on his travels around Australia, she's also a big advocate for recycled pets and recently gave a cat a forever home herself.  That was another reason for our visit, we really wanted to meet the newest member to our family, my sister's new cat, Cindy.

The most important reason for our visit however was my dog Richie.  Richie was a gift from my parents when I got into university, however after I finished uni I went to live in Japan for 3 years and couldn't take him, so he stayed with my parents and got to like farm life, so I could never take him away from that when I returned to Australia.  Richie is getting old now, he's 13 years old, has arthritis, is deaf and almost blind with cateracts. 

A few weeks ago was a wake up call that he might not be with us for much longer as he was really struggling.  Mum was taking him to the vet to see if there was anything to be done.  Purely by accident in the process of this she took him off some eye drops he'd been given by the vet and made remarkable improvement.  So the ideas being tossed around that he might need to be put down were given up, but the dread I felt about it remained.  So I really wanted to go up and spend some time with him. 

It was good to see that while Richie is not doing as well as he once was, he is okay.  The other dogs there take care of him, which is a little ironic since before all this he wouldn't have anything to do with those young, energetic girls.  The important this is that he's okay for now and I got to see him again and so if he must go I will feel more at peace about it.  I certainly don't like the idea of him suffering.

Monday was a hard day for me.  I've been dieting and exercising a lot lately, but it's hard to constantly deny yourself.  Well not that I do really, I still have little treats, but when your partner is eating chocolate everyday it feels like denial.  I ended up balling my eyes out on Monday after I couldn't resist some chocolate, the dogs new instantly that something was wrong and started barking and trying to get through the windows to me.  That alerted my partner after a bit that something was wrong.  So we ended up having a long talk about not making it so hard for me to succeed at these challenges for me.

I think what was really important about it was the negative way I viewed myself and how I need to keep working on improving that.  And I really am working on it.

Work, Flat Puglet and no ATCs

I haven't blogged at all this week because I've been doing so much!  I had a few meetings for work, gotta keep building those relationships.  I even though I might have had a day booked, which got me really excited, but it fell through.  Still they said they'd like to book me at some later point.  So I'll just have to keep that door open.

Flat Puglet also arrived this week.  Flat Puglet is traveling around the world to spread the message about rescue pets, that they're just as good as kittens or puppies, if not better.  So Flat Puglet and I checked out Sydney.  We even went on a Sydney Ferry which I hadn't done in years.  Anyway, my entry will be up on the site in a few days.  In the meant time, here's a sneak peek with a picture that isn't going to be there because it didn't turn out as well as I hoped.

I'm a little disappointed in myself for how little art I've been doing of late.  I really have been neglecting it, and it's the ATCs especially that are making me feel bad.  I'm feeling pressure to do them and it's only making the inability to do them worse!  I'm thinking about taking a break from them and cancelling myself as a moderator.  It might help me get my grove back.

Oh BTW, check out this great list of 101 Things I love about Dogs.

How do you measure up?

What a lovely day.  So cold and drizzly all day, I've loved being snuggled under my blanket and breaking out the colder weather clothes.  Nothing like long sleeves hanging over your hands to make you feel good.  Don't know why, but it always works for me.

For the last year we've been told by the media that Australia is currently the most obese country in the world, which is seriously concerning to me and was one of my motivators for my current weight loss regime.  The Australian government is even running a campaign to encourage everyone to get active, it's called "How do you measure up?"  I think it's great no matter where we are on the world scale, what surprised me when I started researching for this entry was that I can't find any statistics to back this up.  We're certainly high on the list at no. 6 in the world, but we're certainly not on top of the list.  Wonder which list was being quoted when they mentioned it in the media. Maybe I made a mistake and it was childhood obesity?

Regardless, along with following the weight watchers plan to monitor what I'm eating, I'm also taking the "How do you measure up?" programs suggestion to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.  So I'm walking every morning.  Today I saw these cockatoo in the park, and they barely moved when I got close!  Just goes to show that good things can come from exercise.  ;-)

Cleaning and creativity

There is something lovely about the feeling of a clean house.  New sheets on the bed and fresh towels in the bathroom.  Everything just seems nicer.  If only I actually enjoyed the cleaning part, but it's done now and I got the enjoy all the good parts. 

I've been playing with mandala zentangles, they're relaxing to draw and be free form about.  Here's one that I drew last night.  If you'd like to see more samples then check them out here, it's where I got inspired.

I also did some bamboo cards today, it was fun to play with inks and watercolours to get a simple effect.  I learnt how to do this from Yanghaiying's YouTube channel and you can see the tutorial here. 

I made a few of these cards so if you're interested in trading for one of these ATCs leave a comment and let me know.

Listing my little things.

Today I was a bit late getting up to take my morning walk, the garbage truck woke me at 5am and that always spoils my sleep, so it was hard to get up.  I did however and I'm glad that I did.  Today a few good things happened.  I'd just like to specify first though that generally I tend to try to appreciate the little things in life.

So first off I was happy because I completed my walk in record time.  In fact I've run out of excuses and must tomorrow extend my walk.  Hopefully this means I'll have a good week on the scales this Saturday.

Then walking home I checked the mail and there was a letter for me!  I've recently wanted to start writing letters again, not emails, but lovely hand written, sent through the mail letters.  So I went to a website (a bit of irony there) and found a few people that sounded right to me and asked them to exchange letters.  It's been a long wait, but today one arrived.  In fact she was the lady that was kind enough to start our letters to each other, all the others asked me to.  So I had a lovely time reading her letter, get to know you sheet and looking at the ATC she sent me.  Her handwriting is so pretty I'm a little intimidated as mine really isn't after years of mostly typing, but I'm not going to let that stop me.  I'm going to start my letter back to her after this.

Today is cloudy and gloomy, my favourite kind of day, so I got to wear my ballet slippers and cardigan and feel all snuggly. (note: it's summer here right now) It was a lovely feeling, something so comforting about wearing such comfy and warm clothing.

The last of the good things that happened today is that I've put a submission in for suggested classes at two of my local community colleges.  Hopefully this will lead to more work for me down the track, but in the meantime I feel good and hopeful that I've put the submissions in.

Oh today I've been remember all those childhood rhymes.  You know:

All Right Vegemite
Far Out Brussel Sprout
Roll Over Pavlova.

They were a series of Children's poetry books here in Australia.  Do you know any more?

A companion

So being at home so much has been getting to me.  I get very lonely and really would like a dog or a cat to keep me company.  I spend far too much time reading animal blogs and watching YouTube.  If only if only if only I lived somewhere I could have a pet.  I'm never going to make that mistake again.  And I can't wait til we have enough money to move!

I thought I'd share this little video though.  I never knew pugs could come in white...he's so adorable.



BTW if you're in Australia and are thinking about getting a pet, check out these sites that have dogs and cats up for rescue and mature adoption. 

Pet Rescue
Dogz Online

Okay just one more...so cute...and yes there is a slight pug obsession going on today.