Yup - Rained Out - This and That Saturday

Well, nobody wants to hear this, but more rain. Drizzly for yesterday's walk to start though the sun did come out later. Today, I got rained out and returned home. I think that might be the end of it for a while. Thankfully. We've lots of flooding in the lower areas of town. Luckily, we live on a hill, and things are holding up pretty well though the garden is a sopping mess. 

As I said, I didn't last long on the walk this morning. I came home when the rain started. Husband and I ended up going to a shop he wanted to go for to get a tool he needed, and we stopped at a thrift store. I did find a nice book, but I forgot to take a photo so that will have to be another post. 

When I came home, I tidied up a bit and did some listing, but weekends are for fun things, so I did a bit of this and that - a bit of reading, a bit of stitching, a bit of photography and listened to an audio book. Not a bad afternoon, quite relaxing

This is a book I picked up at a charity shop. A little bit of an interesting read, but it's more about curating a lifestyle than anything. It was fun to look at and a lot cheaper than a magazine! It's gone back into the donate pile. 

Not a long listen, but it was fun and easy

I'm still plodding along on this cross stitch. I hadn't done any on it for a while as the bit I'm on is rather boring, but I will complete it. I only have the backstitch to do now (I finished a bit more after this photo was taken)

I'm trying some flat lay photography. This was one I took with my phone. I want to try something a bit different from what I usually do. 

How is your weekend going? Any projects or plans in the works? 

Chilly

 It's one of those days when I can't seem to get warm. The temperature is hovering a little tiny bit above freezing all day and that's the temperature I struggle with. It is going back down tomorrow and will hover (daytime high) around freezing. I have decided to turn the little heater on to help try to warm me up. I haven't just been sitting still all day but it doesn't seem to matter how much I'm moving around! 

I walked this morning. It was dull, gray and icy. We didn't see a lot of anything except some robins. The lake is lightly freezer except for a track the beavers must be making from their lodge. My walking friend and I walked around for a little while and got in nice walk. I had no errands to run today so went straight home. 

I did some crafting. I also began tidying up a bit in the craft room. I know that I got some things ready for projects, but when the holidays came I tucked them away. So now I have to find up the bits I bought that were supposed to work together so I can work on the projects. It might be messier before it starts to get better. Hopefully once things are tidied up I shall be able to find the things I want a little easier. This is part of my year long goal. I had been working on the craft room and then the holidays came and it all went...well, I didn't get it done. There seems to be a lot around the house that is that way.

I am thinking of where to head next regarding photography. I've thought a little about opening an Etsy shop but that would require some research. I had - you might remember - thought about creating some cards using photos. I liked that idea and did get some done and then - you've guessed it - I got distracted. That seems to be the story of my life!

Photo today - some prints I ordered when the print place had a good deal. 

Say Cheese!

Today's thing that makes me happy and brings me joy is photography. I've always enjoyed taking photos but it's only in the last four/five years that I've actually learned how to use my camera properly. Before this I was using the automatic feature on my camera. I am happy to say that I rarely if ever use that function now. If you do and you're happy with it then that's okay. I really wanted to learn what all the buttons were used for and what they all meant but never had the time (or perhaps too many other hobbies to give it a good try!). However I decided that I was going to try to get to grips with my camera (hubby had bought me a really good one). It took a lot of work, a lot of frustration (still sometimes) but I'm really getting the hang of it. I really enjoy taking photos. When I'm out there with my camera I tend to forget about everything else and just see what I can see. My Mum says that now I see things that she wouldn't even think twice about. I think photography has made me more observant. 

In the last few months it has really kept me sane. It's given me time to forget about all that's going on in the world and try to see the beauty all around me. Speaking of which, I don't like Winter in Michigan but getting out with my camera and trying to see the beauty around me has really made me learn to appreciate a part of winter. I'm still learning - seems like there is always something new to learn. There are still so many things I want to learn. When I first started getting out taking photos I was a little weary of taking my camera with me. I felt kind of silly. Now I rarely go anywhere without it. At least in that part of my life I don't care what people think of me. I don't care if they think of me as the crazy lady who is always carrying her camera with her. In fact, I'm pretty sure some people that I see on my walk each day think that of me. 

If you find something that makes you happy, make it a point to get out there and do it.

Me and my camera today on my daily walk, looking for birds and bunnies (of which there were lots!).

I prefer being behind the camera rather than in front of it. This is one I did take of myself. I was holding one of my camera while the other was on a tripod taking a photo of me. I jazzed it up in Photoshop - something I am working on getting to grips with as I like the idea of photography and art. This was certainly a challenge!

Thanks for everyone reading and commenting. Check out Jacky's blog as she's posting what makes her happy too. Dicky Bird's Nest

Start of a New Week

Aaargh...I accidentally signed out of my blog account, couldn't remember my password so I had to reset it and now it's acting all strange. Every time I try to look something up it says something about signing in but I'm already signed in. Even when I'm writing this post it keeps telling me to sign in. Grrrr. It's driving me crazy.

That's the rant for the day.

It's blustery here today and the temperature is dropping. We are expecting snow tomorrow. I am all prepared. If I can't go out for a walk tomorrow I shall be staying in and crafting. I have been watching videos to make journals and there's one I'm going to give a try. A while back I bought a Cinch binding machine and (hanging my head) I never ended up using it. I got it out today and tried it. I shall be using it. I think 2020 might have to be the year where I use something/read something or get rid of it.

I did some crafting yesterday and today. I am pleased to say that I have managed to keep up with my December Daily -- one day to go (yah me!). I am also pleased to say that I completed the 30 Day Seasonal Photo Challenge in my online camera club that I am a part of. It might not sound much to others, but I am really pleased as I struggle to complete things like this.

I've been thinking a lot about things I'd like to accomplish next year and my word of the year. I haven't really come up with either. I have a few things tossing about in my head. Perhaps I will write them down and see if I can make head or tails of the thoughts or what direction they are taking.

Anybody else thinking of ideas for the New Year?

Back from Camping

What a wonderful week it was! We spent the week camping the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There wasn't a raindrop in sight! How lucky was that? When I looked before we left most days looked iffy for rain and as late as Saturday night (the last time I could get phone service) Tuesday looked to be stormy and wet. There was absolutely nothing! The days were bright and sunny, the nights a little cool, but couldn't have asked for better. I shall have photos to share at a later date.

I can honestly say that I am really, really thankful to live in a place where there are flushable toilets and running water! For three of the days camping we were in a rustic cabin where we had to collect water from the lake and filter or boil before drinking and a stinky (extremely) outhouse. I know it was only three days but I was so pleased when we came across our first flushable loo that I could have cried. Very wimpy of me (but true). The walk to this rustic cabin was a steep decline (all with carrying bedding/food and supplies) of almost a mile. That also meant it was a steep climb back to the car afterward.

The views were amazing though. There was a rowboat and a canoe at the cabin. These are the only ones on the lake. Hubby rowed us out (I braved it as I'm not a fan of boats) to watch the sun set. So very lucky! My happy place was sitting in the boat when it was on shore and looking out onto the lake. It was so very peaceful and there were absolutely no distractions (obviously no electricity either). Hubby collected wood and built a small fire in the wood stove to heat the cabin before bedtime. I was a little creeped out as there were mice too (shudder) but I not only survived it, I enjoyed the time there. It was with a mixture of both happiness and sadness that we left it behind (would have gladly have stayed with the minimum of water and loo).

As I said I haven't sorted those photos yet, but I do have one of a place we stopped at

Apparently the name means The Big Spring and it is Michigan's largest natural spring. Husband remembers visiting it when he was younger (a lot!).  There is a raft/boat that it attached to a rope across the spring and you move the boat by turning a wheel (usually done by energetic kids!). The raft/boat had changed but not much else. In the middle of the raft there is an opening where you can see down into the lake and the huge fish jumping there. Fishing isn't allowed so they are huge! It was an interesting place to visit, the water so very clear. Pretty sure I wouldn't have minded drinking that water!

Now it's back to cleaning, sorting and washing the piles of smelly, dirty clothes lol. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Random Mutterings and some Crafts

I managed a few cards - and photographed them! I'll share three today and three more tomorrow.

I didn't have a car today but I wanted to get out so I walked down to where I usually drive to walk. I didn't manage as much of a walk around the park as I usually do as I had to walk there and back (and the skies were beginning to look a little grey). I made it back to one street from our street before it started to spit with rain. Not bad. I didn't get very wet. I hadn't taken an umbrella or a coat (was wearing a sweater) as it wasn't supposed to rain until later. I should have known not to trust what the weather said!

I did sort a book out today. I did read some of it and it was very interesting, but it's been a while and I know I won't get through anymore so it's time to let it go. I did find a lovely bookmark in it though which I shall be keeping!

Finally, I decided to put on hold the photography blog I was doing (have removed the link). I hadn't kept it up as I hoped and I was wavering all over the place in subject matter. I decided instead to do one on Tales from over the Garden Wall - all about the goings on in my garden.  I spend lots of time, in all seasons, watching and photographing what's going on so I thought I'd try organising those thoughts. We shall see how well that goes!

January Goals

Instead of New Year's Resolutions I decided to do monthly goals. These seem as though they will be a lot more manageable. I did make a couple of year goals but these are things that can be worked towards throughout the year. 

YEARLY GOALS

Crafty Goals

* Learn to crochet - I started this with Mum last year but there were so many lovely days when I visited her that we didn't spend a lot of time inside! I'd like to be able to surprise her when I go with some sort of (small!) finished crochet.

* Use what's on hand! I have a lot of craft items and I want to make sure I use what I have. I did really well with this last year especially with cross stitch as I bought very few (some magazines) new items! I refrained from buying any kits at all - this was quite challenging while I was visiting mum!

Photography Goals

* I want to learn how to do long exposure photography - this is something I will probably do when we're camping.

* Black and White photography - I've been doing some of this, but I got a lovely book for Christmas so I definitely want to do more!

Financial Goals

* Be more conscious of where our money goes - spend less, use more of what we have. Be conscious of what I'm spending.

* Save more!

Okay. Enough of that. Those are general goals. 

JANUARY GOALS

I hope that, by posting these each month, it will help me keep on track. 

Financial

$25 per week each holiday fund 1 and holiday fund 2

$10 per month book spending (this is a REALLY tough one for me!)

$10 crafty spending (I will be going to daughter's at the end of the month and I'll set myself a separate limit for that trip)

$100 per week for food/paper products

Keep track of spending!

Craft

Start new knitting project

Start new cross stitch project

Start a 2019 photography journal

House

Wipe all the walls and ceiling in the kitchen

Meal planning weekly - including 1 new recipe per week

sort table/cubby between chairs in living room

sort things by my chair including cubes. 

sort out 15 books/10 other items to donate/sell (that would include actually listing on Ebay lol).

This is my list for now. I did keep up with my 2018 photo journal (I'm waiting for December photos to arrive!). Here's a few pages. I really enjoyed this. It was a very manageable project.