Health: stretch

Honesty - stretching for the light!

Flexibility has been raising it's head around here again. As in J and I are losing it! Me, I'm just not active enough. J lives in a world designed for shorter people and has always had back issues as a result but these are made worse thanks to long hours spent driving.

I don't have his excuse but for the last few months I have been finding it uncomfortable to get up in the mornings. I always used to be a fidget in bed but now I seem to stay in the same position and I can really feel it when I wake, my body is so stiff. I'm only in my 30's so I really ought to do something about this!

I have lots of books and fancy routines I could follow but back to this years plan of 'just do it' I'm ignoring the research and using common sense. Every time I want to watch the TV I stretch. Starting with a full body stretch I work my way down the different parts of the body. Slowly I'm becoming more mobile.

I enjoy stretching and I love how it makes me feel when I have finished. Yet again I have to ask myself, why did I ever stop?

New toy for me!

Okay, so I've had this for about a month now and it's even been mentioned in my planning but I've yet to blog about it. So here it is, a rather poor photograph of my Singer 15-96. It doesn't work though most parts will move. I foresee this being a winter restoration job and I can't wait to get my teeth into it but I don't want yet another half done project lying around so I need to put it on the back burner for now.

I've always wanted a treadle sewing machine and having tools that don't need electricity just seems like such a sensible idea. Also I could do with a new sewing machine as I use mine a lot but it just isn't up to the job. It is a cheap Brother that has done me well so far but unfortunately its stitch isn't very straight. I can't afford to buy better so I've gone backwards to the old reliable singers.

There is a lot of work to do on this but when it is finished it will look good and also be useful. Thankfully singer parts are readily available. I may possibly change the machine itself but I won't decide on that until I've got it running.

June review, July planning

Last months plan:
Wellbeing: Keep my blog updated.
Home & Garden: Rearrange bedrooms/living space
Health: Stretch
Celebrations: Midsummer
Arts & Crafts: work on the sewing machine.

How did I do? Pretty well! No progress on the sewing machine but I'm not upset about that, there will be time when the weather goes downhill.

Now for the next month:
Wellbeing: Make sure that I take time to appreciate my garden
Home & Garden: Keep on top of the veg patch
Health: Stretch - keep going!
Arts & Crafts: Puddle art to do
Self Learning: How to store our harvest

Fruit

Apples

How is my garden growing today? Well, the June drop has finally started, lots of little apples on all of the trees and some on the ground. They'll need more thinning before they get too heavy.

Damsons

The damsons are looking pretty good too, I'm going to be busy come autumn. Ideas are needed on how to preserve these.

Gooseberries

My gooseberries are so big the plants are keeling over. I haven't had gooseberries for years and I can not wait! I don't think that there will be enough for preserving but we should get a few good meals out of them.

Strawberries

And finally my peek-a-boo strawberries. These are planted under the gooseberries and are doing really well. So far most have been left alone by the birds despite not being netted. I'm sure that they will cotton on soon though so we need to be on the ball with picking.

I still can't tell which currant is which but they should start colouring soon and I'll then know how to look after them properly.

Stourhead

Borders - something my garden doesn't yet have

We regularly visit Stourhead gardens. They are a lovely place to amble on a pleasant afternoon though preferably without my boys who take it in turns to complain as we progress through the estate.

I am always slightly underwhelmed by Stourhead. I grew up not far from it and was always told what a great place it was but we were never able to visit. This meant that it's magnificence grew in my mind to such proportions that reality could never eclipse the fantasy. I still enjoy going though!

Great use of slate

My favourite bit is the walled gardens. I always enjoy seeing a good vegetable patch and dream that mine too may one day be just as organised. I think that the use of slate to label what is in the beds is fantastic, this is an idea I would like to use myself if I can source some cheap slate.

I love espalier trees

This final image is to remind me that I love espalier trees. The problem is that I haven't a clue where I could put them in my garden. Something to ponder.

None of these are the standard views of Stourhead which can be found with a quick image search. These may be less inspiring in the traditional sense but to me mean much more.

Nine Springs

 

There is a park in Yeovil called Ninesprings. I have vague recollections of visiting it in childhood with another family. We dragged our boys around it recently.

My boys are not walkers. They groan at the thought of being dragged out on yet another boring day out. But this park agreed with them from the start. I picked up a map from the noticeboard and we made our way up the hill completely avoiding the stream. My lads ran, fought, ambushed and generally had a lot of fun playing with illegal sticks and doing their best to wind us up. They had already agreed that it was an okay place before we even reached the spring.

The Spring. They loved it. They immediately stripped off and started paddling despite the temperature of the water. This is a lovely little grotto constantly being fed by fresh spring water. We must have stayed here for almost an hour.

The remainder of the stream downhill varied, some bits were great, others stagnant. But it was fun. And we can't wait to return again but hopefully with some suitable footware for them to paddle in!