Hiding As ‘How To’ Videos…

I’ve watched How To shows for decades. How to cook. How to garden. How to update furniture. How to … You get the picture. And, over the years I have learned a lot. Like, how to properly prepare a room for painting or how to make many of the Mother Sauces (look it up). I have also learned there are lots of things (!) I have absolutely no intention of doing myself, but really enjoy watching someone else go through the process. 😀

Saturday is usually my day for catching up with the various folks who produce these shows. Channel surfing could often result in finding the various shows, some at rather early hours. In this day and age, however, a good portion of them can be found on YouTube.

Here are some of my favorites. The links go to the channel itself where you can learn more.

Salvaged by K. Scott is a wonderful resource to learn about furniture flipping – or just updating second hand pieces you find at yard sales, second hand shops and the like. Katie does an amazing job explaining, and showing, her process and the end results are often stunning. And, to be honest, not that difficult if you are willing to put in the time. That is not to say there isn’t a lot of work involved.

DIY In Progress (formerly DIY Danie) is a DIYers playground. Danie tackles a wide variety of projects from building her garage to creating furniture pieces. She isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, frankly I think she prefers them that way, and often finds unexpected and unusual solutions.

Quick Cuts is one of those channels I tripped over (no idea why, either) that focuses on overgrown garden clean ups and more. Set in Australia, I appreciate being able to see not only a beautiful part of the world, but one I would not be able to see on my own. George does an amazing job clearing out all sorts of properties and the results… <chef’s kiss> I turn the volume down, settle in my comfy spot and let ‘er rip!

Watching these folks do what they do feels a bit Zen to me. Restful, relaxing, and I get the added bonus of learning a bit, too.

Enjoy!

When I was a small child I used to sit on my mom’s lap on Sunday morning while she would read the funny pages to me. The ‘funny pages’ were the comic strips that were published, usually in its own section, in the Sunday newspapers.

As I grew up, I could be found stretched out on the living room floor reading the funnies by myself. As I made it into adulthood, the funnies were welcomed in whatever form I could find. including on the Internet.

For those of us of a certain age, we grew up reading the classics. Dick Tracey. Beetle Bailey. Peanuts. B.C. and a whole lot more. I have favorites that I read every day even though they went out of production years ago. For Better or For Worse, for example, tells the stories of a family and friends in Canada. Years after the strip ended production, the stories are still engaging, still relevant, and even still funny.

The comic strips (funnies) made way for the cartoons, some of which began production in the early 1930s. They all share a love of art and a love of story telling.

Recently CBS Saturday Morning brought us the story of Beetle Bailey turning 75. (!!!!) I remember reading Beetle’s adventures way back when. Check it out:

I like the idea of the retrospective. Lots of things have changed over the years while lots of things haven’t. I love the idea of the family carrying on Mort’s work and I especially love, and appreciate, that his techniques are being taught to new generations of comic artists.

Have you read a comic strip lately?

Looking outside as I write this, it is 90 degrees and HUMID. The idea that now is a good time to start prepping for the Holidays seems a bit… … … But the truth is, now is the perfect time to start prepping.

Mr. Carrington was in a local shop the other day and found, much to his disbelief, Fall decor items. In July. Boggles the mind, right? But the truth is one of the reasons stores start putting out their Fall and Holiday items is that buyers have need, let alone desire, for them.

Norine over at The Crafty Organizer put out a video recently that provides a lot of tips, tricks and food for thought on the topic. Check it out:

Granted, space could be an issue, but with preparation and thought, I think we could find options that would work for us. I like the reminder to go through our stash and see what we really have on hand rather than go out and spend on things we aren’t sure we don’t already have. I don’t have either the space or the budget so this is an important one to consider.

Many items for baking are less expensive at different times of the year. And if you have the space to grab some of those items it makes sense to do so. Freezer space is a premium but dough rolls don’t take up a lot of space and will save you time later on.

Check out Norine’s website for more information and tools.

When you find yourself in a rut (or two or three) sometimes it can be difficult to find inspiration and encouragement to move forward.

That meal plan has become dull and repetitive.

The closet is, frankly, boring.

The house just doesn’t … … …

The garden.

Now, everyone goes through times when life is just too much and there isn’t much left over for us. We all have our reasons. But sometimes we lose track of the most important thing in our lives. Ourselves.

You can’t take care of someone else if you haven’t taken care of yourself first.

When you take a plane ride or a cruise the first thing you are told is how to take care of yourself should an emergency occur. It comes with the instructions on how to find the emergency exits and use the flotation devices, etc. Once we know that, we have the ability, and the power, to help others.

As we deal with life in uncertain and anxious times, I think it is important to reevaluate our places, spaces and abilities to find those things that give us a sense of security, accomplishment and peace.

Lately I have been looking for those resources that give me ideas, provide inspiration (You can do this!) and encourages me to step outside the box.

Recently Mr. Carrington embarked on an overnight camping adventure that was not only peaceful but grounding. As he shared his experience it was clear he was reconnecting with the world without all the noise, hustle and bustle. You know, all the stuff we are inundated with each and every day.

I should share that it was Mr. C who inspired me to look at my deck and re-imagine it with plants. It was glorious!

I’ve been indulging in creators who share recipes from around the world. I’ve discovered new to me foods and rediscovered some favorites from years gone by. Slowly but surely my weekly meal plan is evolving.

This time of year is, for crafters, the time when we start planning for the holidays. Projects are chosen, supplies gathered, the process started. Soaps are made. Quilt patterns are chosen. Holiday cards are designed.

This year I am contemplating upping my paper crafting game a bit. I’ve found lots of ideas for new designs and am close to making a decision (or two…) on new equipment.

Yes, the budget is tight. When is it not? Really, when is it not?

Which reminds me, I have also found some folks who have given me ideas and inspiration (yes, more of that) for managing my budget without feeling like I’m being punished.

Moving…Forward

It is easy to get caught up in all that is happening to the point of being overwhelmed. Anxiety can not only move in but take over our lives, if we let it. It is important to take a moment to evaluate where we are, what we are doing, and what we can do, or not do. We can’t control every minute detail of everything. But we can control some parts of the world we live in.

Change is a Good Thing. It opens options, provides opportunities and growth. That new recipe could be fantastic and lead to more amazing meals. The garden update could provide a calming space where you can sit and watch the birds, enjoy the butterflies, or simply enjoy the antics of the local squirrels. Home updates, no matter how big or small, could provide new enjoyment of the space.

What do you think?

May seems to be moving at warp speed. It seems like yesterday we were anticipating the end of April and now…

Prom. Graduation. Summer vacation plans.

The weather is slooooooowly shifting, too. Last week or so rain was always, always a threat. We were advised to keep an umbrella handy or to have a jacket on hand just in case. I checked the weather forecast for the next week or two and the temps are hovering around 80 and rain…rain seems to have put itself on hold for a while.

Gardens are starting to be a priority. The last hard freeze has moved past so it is relatively safe to start planting.

The mind boggles at how quickly things change, for good or for bad.

Here’s to the end of one season and the beginning of another! Before we know it, it will be time to return to our regularly scheduled lives, as in school will start and the weather will turn cold and … … …

Bring on the iced tea!

Wyse Guide recently posted this recipe and I can’t wait to try it:

I just received my latest order from Nut.com which included orzo. It sounds silly to be so excited by a bag of pasta but when you realize how ridiculously difficult it is to find in my area you will understand.

Caleb’s lemony chicken is perfect for a Spring meal. I can’t wait to give it a try!

Or spending a few days away from home can be both refreshing and recharging. Mr. Carrington recently spent a few days away from home to focus on work projects and take a breather away from the regular day to day. He was nice enough to bring us along, too.

Check out the first of the three vlogs here:

The cottage is just the right size. The village is picturesque. Frankly, it reminded me a lot of those English murder mysteries. 🙂

Sometimes I think we forget how just getting away from home for a few days can be so beneficial. In this case, the benefit of being an arm chair traveler is immeasurable.

Enjoy!

Upheaval of any kind tends to make folks hunker down and cling onto the known. The thing is that when life tends to be chaotic it provides us an opportunity (or two) to discover alternatives.

I’ve known folks who have lost everything to some sort of disaster and, once the dust has settled, every one of them has found new ways to move forward in their lives. As odd as it might sound, the opportunity to change a pattern and go in a new direction provides a life that might never been dreamt of.

Some folks are terrified of change but the reality is that change is a normal part of life. Without it there is no life. Change might be scary but it might also provide a way to explore new opportunities, learn new things, experiment with possibilities. Things that might never have been contemplated if the requirement had not occurred.

That is not to say that there won’t be some sort of trauma involved. Fear is an ever present companion as we tread life’s journey. It is there for a reason but we must be diligent about not letting fear control how we move through our lives.

The interesting thing about embracing change and moving forward is the discovery of things we never thought about before. Good or bad, new stuff/things/experiences/places/whatever makes our journeys interesting and exciting.

Not sure where to start? Start small. Go for a walk. Try something new. Play with a new color or texture. Once your comfort level eases, move ahead with another new thing. Keep a journal about your experiences. It doesn’t have to be a huge endeavor, just a few notes. In a few months refer back to it and see what stands out to you.

A friend reminded me that life is a series of pendulums. Each one swings to extremes but they all return to the middle. Everything changes an each movement is a learning experience.

Slow and steady.

Or, how to indulge in games to ease your stress

I’ll share a secret with you…the last few weeks have been extremely stressful around here and as much as I would like to say that I can handle all sorts of stuff, lately I’ve found more relaxation playing games.

Solitaire, Jewel, things like that… They allow me to focus most of my mental attention while allowing the rest of my brain to ease and relax. It is even better when I have an audiobook or the TV playing in the background.

I have found that by indulging in this for a few minutes at a time, I can contemplate whatever issue is on my mind at the moment while keeping my hands busy. Somehow this seems to work…

Some folks knit. Some folks crochet. Others do needlework or play cards. Me? I move a cursor around a screen… No shoot-em-up-bang-bang, just some relaxing collecting of colors and/or patterns.

My point here (and there is one) is to find whatever works for you that isn’t detrimental to you. Give yourself some grace and time to put yourself first.

One step at a time…

One more Holiday to go before the new year begins.

Sending hugs your way.

See you next year!