Pip-Life Taking Stock

Taking Stock: Hello April!

April 2, 2018
Pip meetmeatmikes

Soooooo. It’s APRIL everyone. I know. How? It’s some kind of witchcraft, I tell you! Also it’s my Mum’s birthday! Happy birthday MUM!

Family photo - pip

that’s me in the blue. and my sister in the apricot. and my mum in the green.

Even though I have not been blogging as often as usual, the good news is that I have been doing heaps of other things. I am going to write some of them here, in case you are in a bit of a fug and looking for some fresh habits of interesting new things.

Quite a few people have been asking for various crochet how-tos, for some of the blankets I have made over the last year or so. I am honestly trying to find the energy to put those together, but it is hard to find time when I am busily staring into the river looking for a platypus or looking up things I’ve read about in books or trying to find a pair of vintage binoculars (in a brown leather case, with a leather strap only). Obvs I have a lot on.

Here is a taking stock for April (but really it’s mostly what I’ve been doing in MARCH!)


Making : A hot water bottle cosy. #WinterDayPrepping (Also making Madeira Cake and brownies and pumpkin soup and dinner rolls and other things. Yum!)
Cooking : AKA more making. Cooking roast chicken and also lots of steamed veggies. I started getting deliveries from CERES again (well, ONE so far!) – and I remembered how great the fruit and vegetable boxes are. The veggies are so delicious. Just steamed with some fresh herbs and butter and freshly ground black pepper. (I got a steamer from Savers after the one we had disappeared somewhere…)
Drinking : Gen Mai Cha from Tea2. Ari and I had some Gen Mai Cha on my birthday and it was so nice, so when I drink this it makes me think of my birthday. In a good way. (It’s green tea with nutty rice in it, if you haven’t tried it before.)
Reading : The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. I am loving this book. I’m trying to read womens’ nature-ish writing for the whole year. So far, so good! (I read H is for Hawk and The Fish Ladder in January and February).
Next read : The Wasp and the Orchid by Danielle Clode (if I can get to Readings to grab a copy!) I spotted it on Saturday and didn’t buy it (because I have a whole big pile of books to read already) and then I found this podcast about it and now I am kicking myself that I didn’t snap it up because I know I need to read it next!)
Wanting : Some new white runners. I have worn mine out and they look like crarrp. (That’s a more polite way of saying crap.)
Looking : At books about flowers and herbs, too.
Playing : Clair de Lune * insert heart-eye face * I know nothing about classical music, really. To be clear.
Deciding : To blog a little more. I really need to pull my socks up and stop overthinking it.
Wishing : For more PEP. Pip pep.
Enjoying : Daylight savings being over! Is that weird? I’m so FINE with no daylight savings.
Waiting : For something that is taking a long time.
Liking : Lonely Isles. Fair Isle Bird Observatory and Guesthouse. Laetitia Vancon. (All via Amy Liptrot’s book, The Outrun).
Wondering : About spiritual homes and how strong the pull of where you come from/were born/grew up is – and if that is a sort of foundation for fallback for many of us.
Loving : Breakfast books. Every morning I read a chapter of my book over breakfast and it’s honestly one of my favourite bits of my day.
Pondering : The new wildlife
Considering : That there are moonbows. A lunar bow. Like a nighttime rainbow. Amazing.
Buying : Hawthorn Honey from some cute people at the Camberwell Market yesterday. I also got a Justin Bieber t-shirt.
Watching : Sneaky Pete, Call The Midwife and Enlightened (again!)
Next watch : I am not sure … Maybe Ugly Delicious.
Hoping : For a family dinner in the city this week.
Marvelling : At Planet Earth II’s penguins and freaking scary chasey snakes.
Cringing : At what’s happening with Facebook and their ethics/data breaches.
Needing : A new purse. I like these ones.
Questioning : Which bits and bobs around the house I don’t really need.
Smelling : Bug spray. Gross.
Wearing : Comfy pants. Plus comfy shirt.
Following : Cygnet Kitchen
Worrying : About a faraway dog I can hear crying all day, every day.
Noticing : Our supermarket had sold out of tonic water over Easter. Diet AND regular. I imagine everyone in their houses is eating chocolate eggs and drinking G&Ts. (Not me though.)
Knowing : Easter is over, everyone! If you got a break, I hope you did some nice stuff.
Thinking : About the symbolism in paintings (something else I don’t know a lot about!)
Admiring : Two rabbits, one possum, twelves ducks, eight coots. At the river today.
Sorting : Books. Getting rid of the ones I have read or have changed my mind about reading.
Getting : Crackling knees. Why is that? A sort of snap, crackle, pop.
Bookmarking : Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Apples
Coveting : Apart from a purse and some sneakers? A velvet-y tracksuit. Because I am a mild and fuzzy sort of gangster, obviously.
Disliking : Roseanne Barr
Opening : A jar of salsa
Giggling : At Santa Clarita Diet – but it’s toooooo gory so I can’t watch it very often.
Feeling : Relaxed, tired, rice-bubbley at the joints.
Snacking : On corn chips and salsa
Hearing : Mariachi music on TV

Hope you have been doing some salsa-involving stuff too!

x pip

Meet Me At Mike's Meet Me At Mike's Meet Me At Mike's Meet Me At Mike's Meet Me At Mike's


If you would like to do this, here is a blank list for you to cut and paste somewhere that works for you. x

Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Next read:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Buying:
Watching:
Next watch:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Cringing:
Needing:
Questioning:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Worrying:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Coveting:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Hearing:

7 Comments

  • Reply Em June 11, 2018 at 2:34 PM

    Thanks so much for the The Outrun recommendation Pip. I read it by a blustery beach near Lorne. Made me think of the islands of Tassie, Fair Isle jumpers and the deliciousness of introspection. You always put me on to winners!

  • Reply Monica April 29, 2018 at 2:06 AM

    I’ve been missing this post! 🙂 Yours is very full this month! LOL! I post mine at the end of each month. So, here it is
    https://thecurvesintheroadoflife.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/taking-stock-april-2018/

  • Reply Jenijen April 11, 2018 at 2:18 AM

    Hi! After a very long time out from blogging, your Taking Stock lists are inspiring me to start up again. Thank you! 🙂

    I heard that since Drew Barrymore is vegan, all those creepy body parts she eats on the show are made of gummy candy. That made it so I could watch without worrying that I might pass out. Hope it’s helpful for you as well. xo

  • Reply Zora April 9, 2018 at 5:36 PM

    You are inspiring in various ways. Cake also looks delicious, do you have the recipe. Yum

  • Reply Sue April 6, 2018 at 5:57 PM

    I love this idea Pip, totally going to poach it, lol xx

  • Reply Jane @ Shady Baker April 3, 2018 at 9:50 PM

    Thank you for always sharing so many good vibes Pip x

  • Reply Kate April 2, 2018 at 8:13 PM

    I really enjoyed reading this list Pip. So many great links for me to follow.
    That purse reminds me of my primary school bff mum. She had a similar purse. I really love it. Perhaps I will look at something like that when mine finally dies. It has feel good memories for me

    I really love your idea of reading a chapter at breakfast. My mourning routine doesn’t allow for that, but I’m sure I can make a space somewhere else in my day.
    I have been on one platypus spotting walk since you inspired me, sadly I didn’t see any that day, but I will be back.
    I love green tea so now I’m intrigued to try the one you mentioned.
    I hope you do blog more often, but that’s entirely selfish.
    Cheers Kate.

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