A Failed Minimalist

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Temperatures are dropping and it has been a freezing cold and windy day with intermittent showers of hail so I stayed indoors. Even the dogs turned back on their dog-walk and went home.

After an early lunch (and I have no idea why I decided it was lunchtime when it was actually 11.30 – odd!), I went to my shed and made the little chap on the far right.

And then I decided to try an experiment.  I have been looking at all the family things that I brought home with me when my mother died and am trying to decide what to sell – I just have so much stuff.

Transcribing Great-Great Aunt Kate’s diaries has made me realise that Kate sold things she didn’t want and maybe I should too.  She was always going to shops and flogging jewellery and books, etc. while I seem to hang on to everything regardless.

While I was considering what to do with all this “stuff”, I found an old Polyphoto booklet of Aunt Kate, so I took it to pieces carefully and made a rough film of the photos – I think I will make a better one using the scanner.  This first one was just an experiment to see if it would be worth it. I think it would.

So here is an example of something I could sell ….. I have no idea how to describe it.  A vintage toy – the head is made of bisque with hand-painted face and a silk material stuffed “body”.  The tongue protrudes and wobbles – ugh!  That can go.

And I love these but I don’t really need them….. They live in their little box in a drawer. I find them occasionally and think how cleverly made they are but possibly sell?

I also have a plethora of old jewellery.  Mostly Edwardian, like these antique 1900s diamanté filigree dress adornments.

I was thinking I could buy a large oval gilt frame and display all the pretty sparkly jewellery in it on a blue velvet background.  Well, that’s the plan.

I am rambling because I just can’t make my mind and I hate selling family things but then my house is full, full of stuff that lives in boxes that I rarely look at.  I am a failed minimalist.

Fierce Weather

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I can only described today’s weather as fierce.

Trying to get to the feed shed this morning proved nearly impossible in the gale force winds.  At one stage, Flossie and I just couldn’t move forward but in the end, we managed.  The shelter from the lee of the big shed was helpful.  I worked out that if I could reach there and hung onto the side of the corner, I could cope with the full force of the wind as I had to walk into it.

We finished feeding everyone in record time, possibly because we were blown everywhere!

This time, i found it tough both mentally and physically, which then made me anxious so have been drinking chamomile tea to try and calm myself down all day.  I should be used to this by now.

The horses and ponies are fine, which is the main thing. The rugs are doing their jobs and those without are plenty fat.

I also saw the sheep in the far distance of their field later this afternoon – I had left their field gate open and told them to make their own decisions.

I spent my morning adding another page to this blog for the handmade felted sheep.  Please give it a look.

And I also joined Substack and have absolutely no idea what it is for or does – a bit like Linkedin – that’s another website I don’t have a clue about but am on.

Tomorrow’s weather is not much better.  I think we are just now in a never-ending round of storms for the rest of our lives. Snow apparently tonight. Yay (not). Winter has not gone.

The Dream vs The Reality

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This was the dream.

And this is the reality.

When I opened the parcel, a small flat pancake of a bed was inside, but as it was vacuumed packed, I prayed it had potential and would spring/fluff up into the bed of dreams.

“Pamper your cat with our self-warming and soothing Cat Nesting Bed that is finished with a luxurious faux shag fur and mimics the cosy comfort of a mother’s fur coat! Paired with deep crevices that allow your pet to burrow, your fury kids will have a full and restful sleep! The Cat Nesting Bed is designed to give 100% comfort for that Pawfect kip!”

Spring, it did not.

Was it the bed of dreams?  Ummm, not really.

This is their LARGE size.  Seriously?

And this is what happens all the time – ditto for this bed bought to fit a collie.

On the islands we don’t have a pet shop so can’t actually see anything in real life.  I know if I had seen this, I never would’ve bought it.

I am very fed up, on Monster’s behalf.  Off to look at dog bed caves now for him.  Poor old Monster.  He’s not very impressed either.  I don’t blame him.

Sudden thought – It might make a good foot warmer in my shed or a little Lambie warmer.

PepperPot Update

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Pepper is feeling much better again and thank you all for your kind words.  I am sure they helped her.

All four legs seem to work 100% and she is back to being very enthusiastic about food. She has this horrid habit of trawling the ground while she runs looking for anything edible, even if it isn’t.  Nothing stops her and then she is ill again.  She never learns.

This morning Pepper asked to go with me when I was taking the Eggbox (Jimny) out for a spin as it had had a flat battery through not being used very much.  I shoved her in the back and off we went to see a friend and her two Shetland Sheepdogs.

There was lots of running around.

Plus a bit of growling but no fights. The dogs were just establishing boundaries.

Well, Pepper mainly.  She was the only girl and she had to make her point of who was going to Rule the World.  Her, obviously. Them’s her rules.

I had a cup of coffee, a good chat and then Pepper and I went home only to find this…..

While I was having a rest on my bed, I heard weird heavy breathing.  When I looked over to Ted’s unmade bed, I saw Monster had secretly taken up residence, which made him the weirdo as that is only Ted’s bed.  No one else ever sleeps there.

Pepper arrived upstairs and could not believe her eyes either.

It was a very odd thing for Monster to do.  So not like him.  He has been a bit lame recently so I bought him a new bed, which has not got here yet.  I wonder if he will continue being strange once it arrives.

Rugs Back On Again Chaps!

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The horses and ponies managed a few days without their rugs but next week’s weather forecast is looking horrendous and it looks like the snow will return.

I am not happy but at least I have Flossie until next Sunday.

So, we decided to put on everyone’s thicker rugs with high necks.

This is Fivla in her 4′ 6″ Horseware Rhino Pony Wug 100g Turnout Rug.  It arrived just in the time for this latest weather onslaught.

Vitamin’s wearing the same version, only in a 4′ 9″ size.

Again, the essential high neck and I know she is comfortable and will stay warm, whatever happens.

Bibble is sporting his new rug too.  Another Horseware Rhino Wug Turnout Rug 100g. He takes the “horse” version but this time in a rather sporty Irish Tartan so we renamed him “O’Bibble”.

Haakon and his wife, Kolka, have to wear last year’s model which I know is a good fit and perfectly good.

I went down later with needle and thread to sew a strap under Kolka’s tail flap as it had gone.. She was very good and stood quietly while I sewed.

So that’s them ready. I am glad I bit the financial bullet and made this investment.  Horseware rugs are absolute best in my book therefore I will sleep at night knowing I can’t do more.

Meanwhile, Tiddles is in his one new rug. Sadly, the 100g was not available in the UK and apparently this high neck will not be manufactured again, so panicking I scoured the internet and found one his size in the USA.  A friend is bringing it over in Spring for him.  So the 0g will have to do for now.

He was very happy to put his rug back on.

I wonder if they know the weather is about to get very bad.

d

The other ponies remain fat and don’t need anything.  So fat, in fact, we are thinking they won’t get any extra hay either, though I may capitulate on that.