Daily Project Round 9

[SpiritOfEdna]

Hello!

New thread for when we are ready.

Happy New Year, Happy New Thread

Whether you want to do one extra thing a day while the kettle boils or a list helps with a kick up the bum to Get Things Done - all welcome.

@Aria999 @autumnangel @WinterFrogs @crivit @FoolShapeHeart @FourSeasonsLobelia @mumofoneAloneandwell @Mumtobabyhavoc @Peridot1 @petalpower @RunningKatie @SingleThreadJoiner2 @SunnyViper @SydneyCarton

Dentist done. Half term and the dc are fast asleep so I'm doing some paperwork and doing life admin in the quiet.

Thanks all for the tips/encouragement for marmalade making.

Now you both mention it,
@WideOpenBeaches @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia I do remember my mum freezing seville oranges, but I always thought it was because she wanted to make a second batch later in the year. But it makes sense that cell walls might break down more easily. I'll do an experiment next year...if I remember!

Love audiobooks - pretty much everything I do is accompanied by one. And also love anything read by Nicola Walker.
But for sleep I've started using the sleep stories on the Calm app. They aren't interesting enough stories to get me hooked in and keep me awake 😁

Today I have no appointments- yippee! Just need to walk the dog, do some washing, cook, buy milk and a load of other little jobs that keep life going. But no real project for today.

@BerfyTigot I've made both blueberry and peach jams and it's dead easy, fyi. You really should give it a go. Super satisfying and also makes lovely little gifts. ☺️

@BerfyTigot I quite like white noise as well, youtube has ad-free rainfall, crackling fires etc for up to 6 or 8 hours

I use the Finch app, and that has all sorts of Soundscapes, but only up to 30 minutes unless you get a paid subscription

I used to YouTube waves on a beach. Very soothing, fyi. 😊

Older children sleeping in comes as such a pleasant change, doesn't it?
I hope you are all enjoying half term!

I love audiobooks also. Actually- I have a book club book that I might just get on audio. I drive more than 2 hours a day with the school commute and the news is too depressing.

Yesterday i started a jigsaw! I have literally never in my life done a jigsaw before. I tipped the pieces out (It's one I bought for the Dcs about 4 years ago) and said 'where do I start?' DH suggested beginning by separating out the straight sided ones. It's a Paddington Bear one. I'm in sore need of something soothing and gentle right now. It's so odd. i was totally baffled by how to start the jigsaw. I wondered if i should begin with a smaller one that was not 1000 pieces.

@Baital I will probably only ever enjoy gardening in moderation too. I'm going to babystep with it, just like in the house.
I have made it to consistently clean and tidy, and now I plan to aim for slightly more...stylish? cosy? One thing I do know is that I'm completely incapable of dealing with much stuff. All turns to chaos very quickly indeed. I'd like it to look warmer though. It's a bit bland here.

I listen to audiobooks when driving as well @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia. Those or my faithfully repeated spotify playlists. Never the news, unless it's a podcast. I quite like Newscast and The Bunker, though I've not listened to either for ages.

I use the YouTube videos of waves or crackling fires for the visual effect rather than sounds. I like to have them on when I'm reading or working in the front room, with the volume fairly low. In a hot spell I put rain sounds on ( seriously!)

Went to sleep last night listening to Rebecca read by Anna Massey. Timer was set for half an hour and i probably heard about ten minutes. It's win win with the pillow speakers. Either a good sleep or a good listen.

@SpringingIntoSummerLobelia see how you go with your 1000 pieces, but for me, starting with 300 or 400 was best. I have only ever completed one adult jigsaw as suddenly my home was full of people and DH was wfh for 5 years, but I've no excuse not to start again. And this time thanks to @BerfyTigot and @Baital I will consider listening to a book at the same time.

@Baital I've just discovered Finch across on the Flylady board, but I'd just got the paid for Flylady app and a health one. Finch does sound fun though. How are you finding it?

Are you beginning to feel ɓetter @Mumtobabyhavoc ?

I did not achieve my photo album yesterday but for the best as I've just received a mother's day money off code.

Hello to everyone else on our lovely thread 🍰 ☕️

Yes, usually start with the straight pieces. Then find areas of the puzzles with easily picked out colours and sort it into smaller 'puzzles'. So.if there's sky, put all the pieces that are probably sky in a heap together. If there is a brick building, pick.out all the pieces that are probably brickwork etc. If there's a path of flowers, or a tree...

Basically find ways of breaking it up into a number of mini puzzles, and do those then piece them together.

@winterfrogs I am finding Finch helpful, I have the free version. I like the focus on self care, but I do also have a daily task/aim of doing something project related and one thing towards tidying / decluttering. Just one thing, no matter how small. Once I get started I sometimes get on a roll and do lore, but if not I am one small step further.

@SpringingIntoSummerLobelia I love a jigsaw! I started doing them when I got one as a present from DS. I was recovering from a hospital stay and had just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

To be honest, i wasn't even intending to do it. I thought I'd just open it up so that he thought I'd done it while he was away. And then i saw a few pieces which would fit together and i was hooked!

I really think it played a part in my recovery from fibromyalgia. A tiny little bit of movement, and something of no importance to think about.

Thank you @Baital I might download Finch too then.

Re jigsaw I found the corners first, then piles of similar colours and the straight ones.

My vast experience from doing my one! Though I grew up watching my brother doing 1000 piece world atlas ones!

I want to start doing them again for similar reasons to you all. No fibromyalgia thankfully but still a scattered nervous system after a crazy couple of years.

I like Finch and jigsaws! I have quite a few Gibsons ones, I did the Puzzle of Positivity over Christmas. Loved it for the colours and the funny phrases, that meant dc2 came by and helped on occasion.
Yesterday was a good but exhausting day, we did so much. Today we're off to meet friends for lunch. Then when we get home I'm going to tackle the paperwork pile. Hurrah!

Paperwork, oh you lucky, lucky thing @RunningKatie
Nearest gif I could find

Ok, I've just got Finch. Have to say that I'm a bit baffled by it, but then I don't really play games on my phone.

I do like the idea of getting reminders about self care though.

Anyway, today I refilled the bird feeders. Good to get them done, and I've asked Finch to remind me every Friday.

I have 'empty the bins' every Saturday!

Along with a daily 'take three deep breaths'...

You can set whatever reminders you like. One of mine is 'walk the dog'. I had months off sick with stress last year, and keeping track of the times I managed such a simple, routine thing helped

I love finch, it’s kept me going when things have been bad. I have “survive the day” because at a minimum I can tick that off every day. It reminds me that a few minutes of exercises, some connection and getting outside make me feel better.

I still have 'take three deep breathes ' as one of mine. Things better now, but last year that was an achievement

I think between Flylady and my tai chi health app I've got most of it covered, but Finch sounds fun. I've mentioned my fondness for the late, much missed, Michael Moseley's Just One Things on here before, but I also try to incorporate some of those into my days. He did a lovely podcast on breathing as one of the one things.

I've got laundry in the tumble drier, dinner is in the oven, and I've just sat down with a book. I had a lovely walk with a friend and a couple of ponies this morning so I'm all fresh air tired. No particular projects today but a thread somewhere on MN inspired me to buy two of those magnetic bar soap holders and they arrived this morning. Properly old lady style in my bathroom now.

Hope you're all enjoying your Saturday ☕️ 🍰

Good morning everyone ☺️
Feeling quite lazy as still battling a cold that's now s sinus infection. I have pressure around my eye so they feel very tired. But, anyway...

Got up and made oatmeal for dc and my mum; made a choc pecan banana bread; and put coffee on. Found a block of Callebaut in my baking cupboard so that was the choc I chopped up. I dumped the laundry basket into the wash and set it to heavy which is a two hour wash and my way of procrastinating on completing the task while still doing it. 🫣
It has just finished. So, going to hang that up now that I've had a latte and warm banana bread with butter. 😋😋😋

Hello all. Back from our week away - tired but pleased. Also v glad to hand over parenting to my H after he's had a week at home alone! (he couldn't take the week as leave)

I am very intrigued by Finch. Will it not become another Thing like Duolingo though?

One small suitcase unpacked and stored away already, and a load of laundry on. Pancakes eaten for dinner as we were away on Tuesday. Now off to a well earned bath!

Poor @Mumtobabyhavoc - I had such a rubbish sinus infection last year. Took a long weekend somewhere sunny to finally get shot of it.
Watching the curling, only watch it every 4 years, every time we learn the terms then forget them all again!
Having a long weekend which is lovely, I keep forgetting what day it is. Today I've bought a toothbrush, helped with homework, changed a bed and re-found a pair of jeans that dc1 has no memory of me buying. Tomorrow is lunch out with extended family, I'm the designated driver so can't even have a gin for courage.

Here is a holiday shot for you. It actually snowed more or less nonstop every day except for about half a day at the start of the week!
(trying to add photo)

Here it is? If not, I give up