Motherly Advice...stay busy...

 

Some days I struggle to get anything done.

 

Other days I'm a whirling dervish. I don't know what that is exactly, but Mum used to say it a lot.

 

Mostly, my mantra is 'do one thing, then do one thing more'. Mum said that a lot too.

 

But still, some days it's harder to do even 'one thing'.

 

I do it though. Doing one thing, then one thing more is how I stay busy and productive.

 

Some days I choose which sort of 'one thing' I'm going to do.

 

Some days, cleaning and decluttering just ain't my thang, you know what I'm saying?

 

That's okay. I find other things to do one of, then one more of.

 

Yesterday I was supposed to be sewing and finding a new desk. But I didn't. I just didn't. I fluffed around on Pinterest a bit. I did a couple of loads of washing. At least I did that one thing.

 

Husband and I had a Thai inspired baked fish for lunch. Isn't it pretty? He's home on Tuesdays so we always try to have a particularly delicious lunch.

 

Other things I've baked recently, include Bacon and Egg pies, and Custard. Such simple things, yet so comforting, and full of memories.

 

Other things I have kept busy doing lately...

 

I looked at lots of tassels on Pinterest. I hate and love Pinterest in equal measure. You sit down at 11am, and the next time you look up it's 3pm. Well, not really...but it's a vortex for sure. Handle with care is my Pinterest mantra. Set the timer, Pinterest away until it buzzes, then get up and walk away.

 

I liked these buckled tassels so much, I made some myself.

 

I prefer my diamante buckle. I have no idea where to put this. But I love it, so for now, it's laying elegantly on my desk.

 

 

Other tassels I admired were these fuchsia ones on a delectably emerald lamp. Adding that to my list of Chinoiserie Things to Do.

 I admired the graceful lines of this pretty vase...

 

...and the Springtime colours on this antique planter...

 

..then found a vase the same shape, with a design in the same colours at my local op shop...lucky me!

 

 

 

 

I'll be filling it with a suitable floral arrangement today. I just looked in the garden, but it's sadly bereft of anything suitable. The Bromeliads have all finished for a minute, the Clivea are just starting, and I missed out on my heirloom Gerberas because I wasn't watching. My friend Jane says I should get some Frebeesia.

 

Here's the pic she sent me.

 

 

Janes' great. She's helped me appreciate my tropical garden, and weaned me off pining for the roses I am destined to be incapable of growing. I think we have some Frebeesia actually. I'll ask Husband later. We have lots of things in the garden that he just plants and waters and we have no idea what they are till they flower. Gardening in ignorance might sound strange, but it's loads of fun.

 

Speaking of fun, I also admired lots of things on Pinterest that I cannot possible afford.

 

This Italian Chinoiserie inspired sideboard caught my attention. I didn't even click on it because I just KNEW it was expensive. I'm going to have a go at making something look like it though. How hard can it be, right? A bit of gold trim, a decal or two, some faux bamboo?





 

 

I loved this fabric since I first laid eyes on it. It's out of my price range too. For now. I have a chair just like this. I'm not sure I could bear to cover it in this fabric though. Where does the eye look, really? Chair or fabric? Fabric or chair? It's a bit confusing. Mine is dark wood and dark green leather. I found it in a thrift store for $50. Bargain. I think it's staying green.

I saw this brass shell planter on Pinterest.

 

I wished one into my life. $6.50. You know where from.

 

Tassels...I love them. I do not like the price of them. I found a curtain tieback at the thrift store. $3 and with the makings of all kinds of fun.

 

I pulled it apart.

 

I got two tassels, and the makings of two more out of it. That diamante buckled tassel I made, above...that's the hollow slide adjuster from this curtain tieback, some costume fringing rolled up and wiggled inside it. I'm nothing if not inventive.

 

I beaded a bit of florist wire and put a loop on it to tie onto my bedside table.

 

 I added a potential DIY artwork to my ever lengthening list of things to help me stay busy. Because really, if you have to do just one thing, then one thing more, then surely sometimes that should be something you LOVE to do.

 

 

I tried to persuade Husband to add a Chinoiserie inspired bookshelf to his list of things to do. He wasn't convinced. He has a long list as well.

We both love being busy. We both love having a long list of things to choose from when we have a day where we just need to do one thing, then one thing more.

 

It's a great strategy.

 

How do you stay busy, when busy ain't your thing?