Tonsilitis

I have been dying upwards for nearly two weeks now with a horrible septic throat.  Every time it seems to get better that same evening something worse happens.  I even went to the doctors to get antibiotics (which I do not like taking) and she said that because the swelling was going down I didn't need them!
I have had to cancel my weekly volunteering as it is quite strenuous, physical work so am fed up with not being able to do much. 
Can't even garden as the weather has taken a turn for the worse.

Hopefully, will be fully recovered by next week.  I have bought a DVD though about Qi Gong,after reading Myle's web-site and as soon as I am able I will start practising.  I used to do Tai Chi years ago but having moved to a much smaller house there just isn't enough room and gradually over the years I have forgotten how to do it so Qi Gong will be  a good substitute as lots of the exercises I am used to doing already.

I need a recipe for a good tonic, have been mixing frozen blueberries, raspberries and redcurrants with honey, garlic, juice and milk and have found it very refreshing.  I am constantly getting ear, throat and nose ailments and am determined to detoxify my body (if it's not too late!)

The garden in the spring.

After quite a long, dry season it has been raining all week, quite heavily.  It is wonderful to go into the garden in the morning and see all the plants sprouting up by leaps and bounds and the seedlings appear.  Spring is the most magical season in the year and I am very lucky to live in a climate that has enough rain and enough sun.
My garden is in complete contrast to my house which is minimalist.  The garden can contain all the colours you want and all the drifts of flowers overflowing pathways which would be so annoying inside.  I have things dangling from trees making noises, and crystals and shells in amongst the rockery.
I also place pots and ornaments that I no longer want cluttering up the house, in the garden.
At the very bottom of my garden I have a new arbour built by a friend's husband with (hopefully later in the year) roses either side and opposite, where  I can see it when I am sitting in the arbour, I have placed a wooden sculpture of a meditating man.
It is such a calm and relaxing place to sit and ponder even with the many different plants and flowers and the noises from the busy road below.  (My house is set up quite high).
A garden definitely is an oasis: on weekends my neighbours mow their lawns, power-wash their patios, use drills and other noisy tools, have barbecues, talk loudly on their mobiles but it is as though I am in a bubble and nothing can touch me.
We all have differing uses for our gardens but we are so lucky to have them as many new-built houses have the merest little yard as though in these busy times a garden plot is of no importance.

Put your feet up and relax!

It's a lovely day but my throat is sore and my glands are swollen so I feel a bit iffy. I  have lots to do in the garden but have a busy day tomorrow and wonder if I should just rest and get better.  The trouble is I feel a lot of guilt because I am not working if I don't have something to show for the day.  I know it is  good to do nothing but it is also a very difficult thing. 

We have been brought up with the 'work ethic' and 'the devil makes work for idle hands' etc.  I don't even really feel well enough to write this blog but haven't done it for a couple of days so feel guilty about that!
And I only have one follower (thanks Birdie) so who on earth will know?

I must be going mad, after all, this is like talking to yourself.  Oh well, I am going to make a cappucino and put my feet up (then I will make myself a birthday cake to celebrate tomorrow).

Multiple belongings?

Why do we need to have more than one or two items of the same sort? Yes, it is a good idea to have a spare - for instance I ALWAYS keep a spare iron because if the one being used breaks down and you are on the way to a job interview it becomes necessary.  I know some people would say that I haven't enough faith in the Universe to provide but perhaps the Universe expects me to use a little common-sense?
However multiple pens, (as Birdie said), pencils, other stationery items, spoons, underwear, coats, shoes etc. etc. are the sort of things that you might have found in my house before I clutter-cleared it.
I do have  a lot of bowls and side plates but I am very clumsy and a bit afraid to throw them away however when I get down to two of each (two people in my house) then I will be content just to buy another when breakages occur.

(I have just counted my bowls and I am ashamed to say I have sixteen! But they are all nice so which ones shall I get rid of?  I think I am a bit of a hypocrite!)  Ok, I need help.

Blind Spots

I have been clutter-clearing for years now but it is surprising what your eyes don't see.  For instance - I no longer buy Christmas decorations and gave my tree and ornaments away years ago (I don't see the point of storing lots of stuff that only gets used once a year for a couple of weeks.) Instead, every year I buy dried twigs and seed pods that have been sprayed silver or gold.  As they are not especially Christmassy I leave them in their vases all year round. This is just one of my blind-spots as looking for something to clear out last week I suddenly realised that I had three tall vases of dead stuff that I never looked at and didn't especially like!  So into the dustbin went all the grotty, dusty stuff (no-one seemed to want my old, dead flowers!)  My mantelpieces look so much nicer free of clutter.
When you have cleared a lot of stuff away what is left is either essentials or complete rubbish which you haven't yet identified as such and that needs a long hard look at and perhaps a bit of lateral thinking.
I am now looking around for my next blind-spot (I hope it doesn't turn out to be the dog or cats!!)

In The Garden

I have had a wonderful weekend spending most of my time in the garden.  I prepared lots of pots on my patio for growing vegetables as hopefully I will become more self-sufficient.  I am going to grow the veg near the back door as my garden suffers from lots of slugs and snails and I haven't always got to urge to go slug hunting at night.
I have a large planter with Pink Fir Apple potatoes in it and am adding more soil as they grow (you are meant to get a bumper crop but we will see!) I have an apple tree and a large clump of rhubarb and lots of herbs and garlic actually in the garden as the slugs don't like them. but have sown parsley, chives and dill on the patio. I have also used some of the large pots to try to grow courgettes.  I never seem to have enough space for them but hopefully one in a pot might be ok.
Lets hope this glorious weather continues but we could do with a few down-pours overnight.
Happy gardening.

Collections

Why do people collect things? Especially useless things?  I know that when I was much younger I collected stamps, match box covers, vegetable labels and elephants?!  Funnily enough though, I soon got fed up with a collection and would pare it down to just the most beautiful or interesting items so even then I must have had a leaning towards minimalism.
I don't collect any useless things nowadays but I do collect DVDs, CDs and books.  I have dealt with the CD collection by putting all my music onto my computer and donating the CDs  to charity.  I have bought a Kindle and so I don't actually buy any new books (most of my Kindle books are free) unless I see a particular book that I want in a charity shop.  I am gradually reading the books I do have and deciding straight away if I will ever want to read it again and then passing it on.
As to DVDs: I have hundreds and they do represent a lot of money but I no longer buy any unless it is something very special; instead I belong to a rental thing which is pretty cheap.  However I am having fun by watching my DVDs gradually and then, like with the books, deciding if I will ever want to watch them again and passing them on.  It is amazing the stuff that has been hidden on the shelves for so long so is a bit of an adventure making a random choice.  It is also amazing how a film from years ago which was so wonderful now looks dated and badly acted.  Only got about 200 more to watch and a very tall book shelf of books but at least NO MORE is coming in!  Have a good Easter holiday.