Tuesday 24th March
Rental inspection day. Ugh. I nearly had a panic attack because that’s the sort of person I am. Anyway, it went well except for a mild telling off about the back garden which has been so hard to keep on top of due to energy levels and the rain/shine supercycle. I vow to do better though! I have set a daily alarm so that I might go out and do a little bit on the regular. Perhaps that will help to tame the weeds etc? I am optimistic!
Breakfast was tinned tomatoes on toast again (with lots of oregano, black pepper and Maldon salt) because I am liking that so much. Also the usual giant cup of coffee to get the systems running.
After the inspection, I nipped to the shops to get some hair dye, keratin mousse and hair ties due to ridiculous regrowth. When I got home I forced myself to apply the hair colour because I know I feel a tiny bit less tired with shiny hair.
While the dye was doing its magical thing, I read Maggie’s Substack and felt instantly better about how hard I’ve been finding it to write lately.
June’s first birthday gift from me – a cute playhouse!
Wednesday 25 March
“It’s not easy not to live where you come from.” Rachel Ward <– I feel this every day of my life!
I started the day with a soft-boiled egg, toast and coffee, and began watching the documentary Rachel’s Farm. So interesting. I’m meeting a friend for coffee this morning, so I need to gather all my energy for that.
Getting dressed: Old op shopped Kmart blue jeans (ankle freezers!), a striped tie-front puff-sleeve ASOS shirt (also old!), pink Saltwater sandals (bought back in December.)
… I met my friend at the market and we chatted the morning away and exchanged belated birthday gifts (hers to me – a bunch of gorgeous Teddy Sunflowers and me to her – a lovely green fountain pen.) Then we parted ways and I picked up the ingredients for Thai Beef Salad (rump steak, limes, fresh herbs, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion).
After that I hurried home to rest for a few hours and then ventured out into the garden to begin that ongoing Tidy Time project. Each day that I feel well enough I am going to spend 15 – 20 minutes doing gardening jobs. Today it was weeding and then putting down newspapers on areas of grass that have invaded my makeshift garden beds. I’m going to buy some compost in the next day or two to pile onto the newspapers. Also, I need to put some edging on the beds, but not sure my budget will stretch very far, so I’m looking at different ways to do this with found materials (roadside rubbish bricks, sticks and stakes.) I managed to make a little bit of a difference in a small block of time, so that was bolstering. Still SO MUCH to do though. Never plant a big lawn, friends. Your tenants will have to battle it forevermore.
After all that I had a very warm bath and read Opal for a while, soaking off any incoming aches and pains (hopefully) and paying into a potentially good night’s sleep.
Potato and Spinach Dhal felt nourishing and cosy.
Good things
This crocheted vest caught my eye.
I’ve been craving Mario’s Penne Amatriciana, so I’m going to have a go at this recipe this week (it makes too much, so I will halve it!)
This little wrap top is such a cute make.
A bunch of delicious-looking apple cakes to bake.
This dress is so pretty, I wish I could afford it!
I want to get June some of these gorgeous lucite blocks.
This week’s Feeling A Bit Sh*t newsletter is full of good things (and free to read if you can’t afford a subscription!)
Baby’s first pigtails!
Thursday 26 March
Up at half-seven to attend to the pets, wash my face and brush my hair. After that it was coffee and breakfast-making (baked beans on grainy toast) followed by a bit of gentle morning video watching. This morning I need to go buy some compost and I’m also going to see Rin and June at some point (for the first time since they got back from Singapore!) Exciting! I also need to drop some books off to the op shop this morning, to clear the boot so I’m ready for that garden shop trip.
Getting dressed: Old op shopped Kmart blue jeans (ankle freezers!), a striped tie-front puff-sleeve ASOS shirt (also old!), long white tank, silver Birks.
… I finally got to see the little family and give June a cuddle. She was so pleased to see me and seemed bigger and more clever and cuter in every way, of course. It was only eleven days in between visits, but it felt like a month. We played while her mum and dad set up the new little house I bought her for her first birthday (which is next week!) Everyone was very pleased with the gift, June possibly most of all. It’s now lined with blankets and pillows and is the perfect place to slow down, read a board book and contemplate the toddler world.
After that, I went to Bunnings for that compost and also picked up a box of cut flower seeds and some ranunculi corms. It had started raining by this time, so I met Max nearby (he’d just finished a lecture at uni) and then we did some chores at Officeworks and headed home.
It’s too rainy to garden today, so I had a hot bath and read Opal and then rested before making that Thai Beef Salad and resting again. Big. Day.
Slow progress on my Snuggle Stitch Blanket.
Friday 27 March
My gosh it rained half the night and was very windy too. A little taste of what’s to come, although there are some hot days on the way too. I’m feeling much more settled now that the Rin’s back in Australia. Isn’t it interesting, the way we can be on edge without really knowing it, only realising once whatever is destabilising us has been remedied and things feel more right in the world?
I’m going to do some garden work today, if the weather eases. If not I will wait for a finer day and cosy down. I’m keen to get moving though and am regretting leaving the compost in the car overnight because I know it will smell like a bog when I open the boot.
Breakfast was tomatoes on toast although I accidentally flipped one slice into my lap, tomato side down, when I sat down to eat it, so that was good. Sigh. Clearly a bit fuzzy today, but keen to persevere. I watched this gentle video while I ate my half-breakfast.
Getting dressed: Old Kmart jeans, stripey long sleeved tee, pink Yale sweatshirt, fair isle socks, pink Merry People boots (it’s wet out there!)
It’s such a good day to feel cosy, reader. Windy and raining on and off out there. Chilly both inside and out. The windows rattling with bluster. Definitely the first day this year of putting an extra layer on. I am sure, because we are in Melbourne, that I will be BOILING by lunchtime, but them’s the breaks etc etc.
While I was thinking about the garden, I bought some seeds from Happy Valley Seeds. I chose nigella, a couple of different poppies, two sorts of sweet peas, and some asters. Hopefully I can get my act together and have a few beds heaving with pretty blooms, come Spring. Wish me luck!
Sunday 29 March
How are we almost a quarter of the way through this new year already? It’s bonkers, really.
Up at half-seven to make tommies on toast and a cup of tea, feed the pets and do the usual first-up morning things. The rain has kept me out of the garden, despite best laid plans, but it’s gone for now, so today might be the day! I’m going to compost some areas and prep some other areas for future composting. I also want to plant those ranunculi corms (today) and sprinkle some seeds (later). My veggie beds are in need of a total revamp, so I am going to pull everything out and then add more soil, compost, etc, in readiness for new plants.
Yesterday was a rest day due to illness, so I snuggled down with a heatpack and watched The Madison. Have you seen it? I really liked it. It’s sentimental and prickly and pretty. A weird combination, but somehow it works. I binged all the episodes in an afternoon, and felt very pleased.
Wednesday 1 April
April. Already. Gosh.
A couple of days ill with a tummy bug in there, but on the mend today … I think.
Up at half seven to feed the animals and sit on the back step for a few minutes, breathing in the crisp morning air. It’s going to be warm again today, but Autumn is coming. You can feel it on your skin.
Yesterday afternoon I managed to put the compost on the garden bed and tidy some garden rubbish. I need to do all the beds, so I will head to Bunnings in the next day or so to buy a few more bags in the quest for garden rejuvenation. The lawns need mowing again and honestly they take only two weeks to get back where they started from. Boo for lawns!
Breakfast was tomatoes on toast and a big cup of tea. Delicious. Then I watched the newest Kris Atomic video and dreamed of cruising along a waterway somewhere with an icy pole and a very old cat. I sewed in some granny square ends while I watched, vowing that this is the year I will sew in as I go. (Watch me break that vow!)
I’m waiting for some felt to be delivered today (I’m making June a birthday crown) and then I have to pick up some photos I had printed at Kmart. I’ll grab a few supplies while I’m out and then it’ll be home to rest rest rest and hopefully craft craft craft. In my life the best laid plans are almost always waylaid, so we will see …
The kids gave me an ASOS voucher for my birthday so I was able to buy some brand new clothes for the first time in ages! Thankfully it was the Afterpay Day sale, so I snapped up a bunch of things a huge reductions. Here’s what I got …
Topshop clean oversized deep cuff sweat in ecru
ASOS DESIGN cotton nylon blend pull on balloon pants in khaki
ASOS DESIGN waisted side spilt hem long sleeve tee in brown
ONLY oversized long sleeve t-shirt in brown & cream stripes
Wednesday’s Girl check ruffle detail mini smock dress in dark red
ASOS DESIGN ankle grazer wide leg jeans with front pocket in bright blue
I’m slightly regretting the ecru sweat because when I wear it I feel like I must be on my best, neatest, most careful behaviour due to the colour and ease of staining it forevermore. You live and learn, dear reader, I’m sure you will agree.
Getting dressed: Old Kmart blue jeans, striped long sleeve top from ASOS, silver Birks
Easter lamb lunch at my house
Easter happened in here somewhere … some of the best bits were:
- Watching some good things on streaming services – Riot Women (slightly cheesy in parts, but still loved it and can’t wait for Season Two), The Madison (as noted earlier in this post), (slightly after Easter) Trust Me: The False Prophet (shudder).
- Making a slow roasted Easter lunch of lamb with crispy baked potatoes and roasted asparagus, topped off with a fresh tomato, garlic and herb sauce (thanks for the inspiration, Jill Dupleix!)
- Working on those previously blogged-about crochet projects.
- Making a birthday crown for June, who turned one on Good Friday this year.
- Getting together with family to celebrate aforementioned first birthday.
- Taking delivery of that envelope of seeds – Nigella -Persian Jewels Mixed, Aster – Tall China Mix, Californian Poppy – Sundew, Sweet pea – Multiflora Colorama Mix, Sweet pea – Mammoth Mix, Iceland Poppy – Victory Giants Mix, Poppy – Shirley Double Flower Mix, and Poppy – Peony Double Cream. All from Happy Valley Seeds.
- Reading a new-to-me library book – The River Home by Hannah Richell.
June’s first birthday crown (made by me!)
Monday 13 April
Up early to feed the very noisy and loudly meowing cats. And also Peach. Breakfast was baked beans on toast and a couple of cups of tea. I’m going to help Rin go to the shops today, so I will pop over there mid-morning after June’s first nap. In the afternoon I am very much hoping to a) do some gardening because it’s been a bit too soggy for Tidy Time and b) start making some bonnets for June’s winter wardrobe, beginning with this simple and cute one.
Getting dressed: Khaki pants from ASOS birthday haul, black skivvy (from the op shop) and navy oversized vest found at Saver’s last week. Also black Adidas Gazelles (the ones from Saver’s!)
Max’s thirtieth birthday is coming up at the end of this month (can you believe it?!) so I am going to order his gifts later today too.
The garden beds are full of cosmos and other randomly thrown-about seeds that surprisingly bloomed at the moment. It reminds me of when June was born and I took a little garden posy around to her mum on the days I visited. Such an easy and favourite thing to do for a new mum, I think.
I might post this Dailies now and meet you back here in a week or two? Thanks for reading! Hoping this week brings many of your favourite things into your orbit.
Your pal,
Pip
x
PS: Sorry for any typos or mistakes!
If you fancy, buy me a coffee —> https://ko-fi.com/piplincolne
5 Comments
Easter lamb lunch and that crochet work both look very enticing. Xx
Happy birthday to June, the birthday crown is so beautiful.
Thankyou for the reminder to plant flower seeds for Spring. I did a big planting yesterday and then it rained last night which hopefully gave them a wonderful drink
Thanks for another lovely list. I also watched Trust Me: A False Prophet recently, I can’t resist a Mormon documentary (or reality show, if I’m honest, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is also excellent!). It’s so nice having some cooler weather, I love snuggling up on the couch in the evenings.
Hi Pip,
It’s always so nice to hear from you and see what you’ve been up to…an uplifting comfort read that’s full of good ideas.
Lovely to see June’s playhouse and gorgeous felt crown!
I liked checking out all your new clothes too.
Thanks for reminding me about Riot Women, apple cake, and adding bacon to my regular roasted tomato pasta. I might even pick up the knitting needles again soon, my daughter needs a new beanie.
Good luck with your gardening Pip (your landlord is lucky to have you) xx
It’s so nice to see you back here Pip.
Tim has been talking about wanting to move back “home”, which means the mid north of NSW. He said he can’t describe it other than saying he imagines it’s how Indigenous people feel about their connection to land; he just knows that’s where he feels he belongs. I don’t know if we will, we’ve lived here in Perth for close to 20 years now, but who knows, maybe we will pack up & head home.
I’ve been loving zucchini & tomato on ntaost lately. It started with needing to use up some toms & zukes that were past their prime, but then I loved it so much I made it again, but had no fresh tomatoes & used tinned instead. I shave a zucchini, fry it in some oil & garlic, add the tomatoes, let it get all hot & bubbly, then scoop it up with grainy toast. SO YUM!!! I bought a slab of tinned tomatoes from Costco because I figured if I have tomatoes in the pantry, then I always have a meal ready to go!
Have you watched Patience on ABC? It’s a British crime show, but not gory or scary. The actress is an autistic woman who is also autistic in the show. I really like it. It’s my after-dinner show.
Take care, Pip & good luck staying on top of the garden sitch! x