I Wrote a List

I was out in my back yard early this morning as usual, mug of coffee in hand, pottering around chatting to my flowers. I enjoy coming out here so much, it's such a tidgey little space with zero privacy (actually below zero privacy), but I love what I have managed to do with it this year. Quite simply, it provides me with a nice place to sit and ponder, to drink a mug of coffee, to hang out my laundry (when it's not peeing down with rain like it is right now), and to grow some brightly coloured flowers and a few edible herbs. And that's pretty much all I want really.

So I was sitting with my coffee trying to practice a little bit of Mindfulness, but my mind was not co-operating this morning. I felt unsettled and jittery, unable to just "be still". My thoughts were all over the place, leaping about like fleas, jumping from one thing to another, then back to the first thing again, then off on a completely random tangent altogether. It was maddening. And so for the first time in a veeeeeeeery long time, I was hit with the idea of writing A List. Yes! I shall write A List and note down all those thought-fleas that keep leaping about and making me feel all jittery and panicky. I shall round them all up and number them and make some sort of order out of it all and hope that it'll a) make me feel better and b) force me to actually get some important stuff done.

I know list writing is such a simple concept, but it is not something I am used to doing. I know lots of habitual list writers, and it always seems to me to be a very good way to proceed through life's busy days. I think I just forget that there is another way to go about things other than the unstructured, spontaneous, slightly chaotic way that seems to be the norm for me. And I can see the supreme usefulness of list writing when time is short and deadlines loom and a serious number of things begin to stack and teeter on my mental shelves.

So I did indeed make a list, it has 11 items on it (excluding caravan things), most of which are Work To-do's. It surprises me on a daily basis that I have become this working Mum. I still think of myself as a SAHM (stay at home mum) but I'm actually now kind of a WSAHM (working stay at home mum). These summer holidays are teaching me a lot about balancing my days (I'm deliberately choosing to use the word Balance instead of Juggle right now, it sounds calmer!), dividing the waking hours between the following ::

1. Mummy/parenting time ::  we have been doing a lot of crafting, stitching and baking together, but sometimes all I need to do to fulfill my role is just Be There for cuddles and attention-giving. We have watched films, looked at books, chatted. I am also needed at very regular intervals to provide food and snack material, this seems to be a big part of summer holiday parenting I've found.

2. Work time :: I am incredibly busy at the moment, with various bits of Attic24 work. I am writing (blog content, crochet patterns, magazine column), designing kits, preparing for various forthcoming events. I'm going to be giving a talk on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holymoly, yes it's true! I shall be at Texere Yarns in Bradford, placing myself in front of 50+ visitors, chatting about stuff, I can hardly believe it, but there you go. If you are oop north and fancy coming along, you will be very welcome...I think the first session is fully booked now, but the second session (1-2pm) still has spaces.

I'm crazy busy with Yarndale stuff, we are just finalising the brochure copy ready to go to the printers this week, and I am ploughing ahead with my yarn bombing plans. If you offered to help me with yarn bombing (either via Facebook or Ravelry) thank you very much, it's number 6 on my list and I'll be in touch very soon. The Mandala's are now all in, catalogued and stored ready for their big reveal in September. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who contributed, all 1,182 of you from 49 different countries around the world (wowsers, this project has been incredible!). You can see every single mandala online now (Yarndale Pinterest), which I am very proud of as it's been a humongous amount of work for me to achieve that.

Ahhhh, my gorgeous coastal ripple blanket, it's been fully integrated into our household now as you can see and is being used for daily sofa snuggling. I need to apologise for the Ta-dah being so late and all, I know many of you are getting impatient waiting for it and I am sorry. I had meant to have it all ready for Monday, but then had to prioritise my Yarndale work cos the deadline at the printers was looming and I couldn't change that. The kiddies too needed my time this week, we've been stitching up a storm here (making felt toys, I'll show you the results in a day or two). I had to give them my time and attention with that really, they were so keen (Little Lady and Little B) so we've been on numerous trips to the shops to purchase felt and thread and have really had fun making stuff. Anyhoooo, any time now, after I've published this post, I will get cracking with finishing up the tutorial I am writing (for edging a ripple blanket) and I will try hard to get that out to you as soon as I can. It's high on my list, I'm on it!!

3. Housewifery time :: this is probably the smallest segment of my balancing act, some days it's ludicrously small actually. But certain things do need to get done even during holiday time, namely the menu planning, food shopping, meal providing and the endless loads of laundry. I fling the vacuum cleaner around the floors every so often, empty the bins, load and unload the dishwasher, swish and swipe around the bathroom and perform some basic tidying of well used surfaces.

I've also been doing some essential and time consuming jobs of late, namely purchasing lots of new school uniform, getting feet measured and buying new school shoes, taking the Little Peeps to get pictures taken in order to get all of our passports renewed and a first passport for Little B. All these things eat into the days like you wouldn't believe.

4. Me time :: Thinking about it, I can't recall an awful lot of dedicated me-time this holiday so far, although yes there has been some. I've loved socialising with friends, pootling through Blogland (some lovely summery tales, beautiful holiday photos and great writing/reading out there) and magazine reading in odd snatches of available time.

I wish I had more time to crochet though, I miss my self-indulgent hooky time very much. All my crochet right now is Yarndale related and as much as I still love doing these things, it's not quite the same. I miss my blanket making. I have a tonne of ideas for other stuff. I need to write another list to catalogue the pile of Future Projects teetering inside my creative mind, there are rather a lot of them pinging in at the moment.

Right........now I've got all that off my chest I feel very much better, thanks ever so much for reading. On with the ripple tutorial.........................

 

♥...more little snippets from the Attic...♥

Working Saturday

Bluebells, Buttercups and Buffers

Crocheting Daffodils

Speedy September

Provence :: to market

Comments

[Jen]

Whoa! No wonder you couldn't settle! What a whopping list of tasks! I love a list. As a teacher, I have a special list book, with a page for each day. I informed all my children that if they needed me to do something, they had to make me write it in my book. If they asked me, but didn't supervise me in writing on my list, it was their fault it wasn't done! It completely worked! So many times they'd ask "Miss, did you x y z?" and when I asked "did you make me write it down?" they'd sigh and admit that no, it was their fault. Then they'd make me write it down to do later.. Tee hee hee.

[Jeanette in Illinois]

Lucy,
What an endearing post! I'm delightedyou made your list and can now put those energies into other more useful focuses, like a cup of coffee and sitting to admire your flowers...
I'm a HUGE fan of list making and I too have to make them to stop all the thinking and pondering...I must ask, what type of ink pen did you show in your photograph? I love it!!! I love using cartridge ink pens, they make for sure a pleasurable writing experience!
Hugs and love,
Jeanette

[Emma]

Ooh I love a good list. I'd get nothing done if I didn't make myself lists as I go. I love ticking things off them. They're also a great excuse to but cute stationery to make them with!

[Joy]

a lovely busy read from you and we thank you very much for sharing it all with us. I have offered to help in any way, shape or form with Yandale and will be arriving in Skipton pm six weeks today,25th September if you need me to do anything to help - just shout!! Xx lots of love Joy Xx

[Carie]

That's a lovely list to write - and a lovely balance to have found! I'll admit I'm a list writer extraordinairre for work, and a bit of a list writer at home too, especially when I want to make myself do the things that I'd quite like to procrastinate over, if they're on today's list then they have to get done!

[Farrah Lily]

Love all of your colorful flower and crochet photos today..it's rainy and a bit dreary here in NY and this brings a smile to my face. Hoping for more relaxing crochet time for you in the near future!

[Inge]

Very busy days!
Good luck with your talk on Sunday!

[niki murray]

You can't beat a good list.....once I've done my list I can clear my mind out:)

[Carmela Morrissey]

My Dad wrote a list every morning, for as far back as I can remember( which is over 60 years !) at the top of the list every day was "Make a list" ! When he finished making his list, he crossed off "Make a list" ... He said it was a positive way to start the day, feeling he had already accomplished something!

[Alicia larrain sanchez]

Lucy such lovely post !! last week I did the same I bought this note book and pencil with all Must have to do at home for my family etc
I do love so much to read your post makes me so happy that women all around the world have almost the same needs of pretty and lovely lifes and to share them

[Mary]

I think you are great!

[Anne]

Writting things down helps a lot! I used to have mild panic attacks at night when i was still teaching. I put a little book and pen next to my bed and when i was scared i wrote it down. Helped so much! Once it was on paper, it wasn't as scary anymore! 😊

Take care Anne
http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de

[Helen]

"thought fleas"
What a perfect word! I get loads of those.
Some make it out of my mouth into commitments to do stuff...generally for other people so I'm afraid I'm a neurotic list maker to try to ensure I get through everything I've committed too!

[Karen]

You are doing wonderfully well. Life is busy. We are also buying school shoes, clothes and supplies. Preparing for the new school year seems to be eating much of my crocheting time. This busy time will pass quickly and in two weeks life will settle into the new pattern for Autumn.

[maypole]

I love writing lists, even though I don't adhere to them. Don't know how you can even think about the tutorial, with all you have going on, people will be patient.
I can't put my hook down since I recently learned to crochet. I LOVE it.

Now relax.

[Jill]

I can remember a time when my life was nearly as busy as yours but that seems an age ago. It sounds as if you're coping very well and staying on top of everything. Organization is the key, congrats.
Your garden is spectacular! What a beautiful place to sit for a quiet moment. It should be photographed and in Country Living. Well Done!

[Emm.A]

I write lists about EVERYTHING! I wouldn't be able to manage my life if I wouldn't do that! ;)

[Caroline]

I also write things that I've already done on my to do lists! Feels like I've achieved something too!
My shopping lists are usually a problem though, as I often leave the list at home!
Enjoy your break in Filey - my 20 something daughters both flew the nest last year but we always went to Filey as often as we could. :-)

[Winwick Mum]

Lists are great. Sometimes I write things on my list that I've already done just so that I can cross them off straight away and feel that sense of achievement! Hopefully you'll get a little more "me-time" during your holidays xx

[Kokopelli]

Yes, waiting for the "Tadah" post for the coastal ripple blanket. Especially what colors you used, as I love it very much.

[Janet]

Thank you so much for taking the time you do to write your blog and share your day to day living with us. I love your work and love reading your blog. It makes me smile and inspires me to get out my hook! Enjoy your vacation next week!

[Barbara]

I'm an avid list writer. I love the satisfaction (and sometimes relief) of ticking things off as 'done'. I've even been known to do something not on the list then write it down just to tick it off!!!
Well done on the mandalas - it's going to be an impressive display.

[Ellice McLaren]

You are amazing to be able to fit so much in your day . I remember when my girls were young, it was go go go. I seemed to achieve a lot more then. Hope all goes well with your talk. Keep the lists up, even if you don't look at them later it appears to set the action in motion. The mandalas are so colourful. I hope to be in Yorkshire at the end of the year. I am from Australia.

[Claire @ mrsbrownmakes]

Lovely post Lucy, so much to fit in. I love lists for emptying all those pesky jostling 'to dos' out of my head, and it's always so satisfying to cross them off. xx

[Carole]

Wow Lucy I need a lie down after that busy post. I so enjoy reading your blog, as you know, and have been for many years. I still love reading it and still find it so inspiring. It is the only blog I definately read every time you post and check daily to see if there is a post. Thank you so much and try to get a bit of me time, as you deserve it so much. I've been feeling a bit low recently but I always love & appreciate your blog so so much. Take Care
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx