Happy Homemaker Monday

Joining today with Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.

The weather

Cool and grey - same old, same old! It hasn't been raining so I have been able to get outside and do some weeding. That is one problem with it not getting very cold in winter here - the weeds never stop growing!

Right now I am

Plotting and planning! I really want to sort out my vintage items so I can open a second Etsy shop. I have been going to and fro with this idea and have read any number of blog posts about the pros and cons of having a second Etsy shop. But I think it is the best way.

Thinking

Probably see above answer! What will be the best items to have in my shop?

On my reading pile

Today is the first day of the Visit Hogsmeade reading challenge (it runs 22-28 June), so I have quite a lot on my reading pile! This will, of course, be much too ambitious but I still like to choose a book for each category.

The categories are as follows:

1. The Marauder's Map - read a book with a map - The Way Home by Julian Barr

2. Three Broomsticks Inn - read a book that is part of a trilogy - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I have wanted to reread the trilogy for ages before I pick up The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

3. Madam Puddifoot's Tea and Cakes - start a book with a cup of tea - Houses of Stone by Barbara Michaels. This is an easy one as it could be any book I read; I always have my tea with me! This book was recommended to me and it sounds SO good. It has all the good things! 

4. Hog's Head - not the most popular (less than 10,000 ratings on Goodreads) - A Robot In The Garden by Deborah Install (has 1,858 ratings)

5. Honeydukes - has sweets/baked goods on the cover - Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan. Pretty sure I have read this before but Jenny Colgan is always a fun, relaxing read.

6. Zonko's Tricks and Jokes - a humorous read - Christmas At Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

7. The Shrieking Shack - read a horror or thriller - The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

8. Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop - book written by a person of colour - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

9. Owl Post - book you got via post - Transcription by Kate Atkinson

10. Dervish and Banges - steampunk read - The Bullet Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan

As you can see, I have no hope of reading all these in a week. But I will give it my best shot! 

The only rule is you must read your Marauder's Map book first as the map allows you to sneak out of Hogwarts and begin your visit to Hogsmeade!

The challenge is hosted by Book Roast. You can see the Youtube video explaining the challenge here. 

On my TV

I have been rewatching Glee over the last month or two. Yes, I am a Gleek!

I am now up to the final season and I never did enjoy this one or the fifth season as much as the others. This one has got slightly crazy, what with Sue Sylvester and her crazy doll figurine!

I do like rewatching series so I will have to decide which one I would like to head to next - maybe Doc Martin or The Crown or Victoria or Poldark or Pride and Prejudice? So many to choose from! 

I also watched Win The Wilderness, which is a reality series where couples compete to win a wilderness property in Alaska. The owners of the property are such an inspiration. The last episode, where they had to leave the home they had built, had me tearing up. I cannot imagine leaving a place that you had put so much into. 

Favourite blog post from last week

It would have to be Jes' May Newsletter over at Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth. It is just so great to have her back, sharing with us!  

Something fun to share

Not my cat, but I do have a black and white boy like this one. He has mismatched paw pads - some are pink, some are black. 

On the menu

I definitely need to get back to proper meal planning. Hopefully this weekly post will help me do that!

I am moving on to my next book in the 'actually use my cookbooks' project - The River Cottage Australia Cookbook, which I think is now out of print.

The original River Cottage TV series was one of my first inspirations.  I cannot believe how long ago that was! 

On my to do list

The big job on my to do list this week was to clean out the chicken pen completely. And I did it today! The chooks will be happy with their new deep straw. But guess who was even happier?! Flash very quickly found the straw and has happily set himself up in there, much to the chooks' disgust.

In the craft basket

My current three projects: 

Pool Party Leg Warmers

Naptime Doll

With Angora Tie - from my Adventures In Stitchcraft project

 

Looking forward to this week

Hopefully having lots of time for reading!

Looking around the house

I spent some time last week sorting out the piles of paper that had accumulated on one end of the dining table. It looks much tidier now!

I am also looking at my pile of knitting project bags. Each has a WIP that I need to make a decision about. 

From the camera

Two sets of triplets were born this week. Lambies are so cute!

Inspirational quote

This is some inspiration for myself at the moment.

I want to push myself to live the life I have always wanted to. I was watching Win the Wilderness and the owner of the house said something along the lines of being so glad that they built the house and had the time they had there as it is better to have taken a chance and at least tried rather than not doing it and always regretting it. 

Looking forward to a lovely week! 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Joining today wth Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.

The weather

Grey, cloudy and a bit drizzly. Dare I say that I love this weather?! An unpopular opinion, I know, but I love to stay inside in front of the wood fire.

Right now I am

Looking forward to this week being over! It is the last week of school (although they have only been back for two weeks anyway) and it has been so quiet here during the week.

Thinking

That I hope the world will change for the better soon. There are so many wonderful opportunities out there for change, if only we will embrace them.

This quote almost seems like a cliche now, but it is so true.

On my reading pile

I read A LOT! I cannot resist a reading challenge so I have my year long challenges in my online reading group and then I join in with various Booktuber challenges as they pop up.

I also read concurrently - I cannot seem to help myself from having a few different types of books on the go at once. 

Currently, I am reading Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura as part of my year long reading of Japanese translations. It was first published in 1982 and translated to English in 2001. It is about a medieval Japanese fishing village. They live in extreme poverty so when a ship is wrecked it is a time of rejoicing as they can scavenge the cargo. Then a ship is wrecked that has a cargo they are not expecting. I have only read the first chapter so I am not sure if we are going to end up in some dark place when we find out what the cargo is. 

I have just picked up The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love and the History of the World frm the Periodic Table of Elements by Sam Kean on my pile.  How's that for a title?! This is for one of my year long challenges - Non fiction - with this month's theme being Science. 

Someone recommended Sam Kean to me as being an interesting and engaging science read. 

And continuing on with Tell Me Why by Archie Roach. This is for my Geography category - read a book from/about Australia. 

On my TV

I have just finished watching Virgin River on Netflix. This was an enjoyable series to knit to. Lots of my favourite tropes - city girl moves to a small town, how will she fit in, gossipy interfering older ladies, gorgeous love interest which of course does not go smoothly, the usual! I may give the book series on which it is based a try.

I may try Homecoming next. I have heard if you liked Black Mirror, you should like this. Anyone watched it?

And of course, waiting for the next season of Jamie (otherwise known as Outlander!) 

Favourite blog post last week

This one by Bex at Subversive Femme as it reminded me that I have this pattern book and now I am definitely planning on knitting this jumper. I am thinking I will knit it in my Ravenclaw house colours of blue and bronze. I am getting together a few different possible combinations so I will be asking for opinions! 

Something fun to share

Just a fun fact! I love my kitty!

On the menu

I have at least one new recipe to try - from my attempt to actually use my cookbooks to cook from rather than as just decoration.

We will definitely be having homemade pizza one night - always a winner.

On my to do list

I have MANY mini skeins to wind for my shop update and some more dyeing to do.

My big project for this week is to sort out and organise my three pantry spaces.

In the craft basket

I have instigated my three projects method, whereby I will work on three projects and rotate new ones in as I finish. This means I have a project to suit every occasion! 

Looking forward to this week

End of school for term 2!

Looking around the house

Don't ask! Looking a bit like a bomb has gone off as I am sorting. Why does it always have to get so messy in order to get tidier?!

From the camera

My little sweetie, Flash.

On my prayer list

I'm going to have to say the whole world. Can we learn and change?

Bible verse

Have a lovely week! 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Joining today with Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.

On the weather front
Rain, rain and more rain! That being said, the whole of last week was sunny and warm. What a blessing for our week away at the beach. We definitely went away at the right time as now it is starting to really feel as though winter is on the way. The fire is lit and I have brought my camp kettle out of the cupboard to use on the wood heater. Bliss!


Reading
Do not expect anything deep here - I am definitely in holiday reading mode! Lots of light, enjoyable reading. Last week I made my way through three books - it is amazing how much reading you can do when you are not worrying about the laundry (that has definitely caught me now though!) and you are only cleaning a teeny tiny cabin. And the boys were happy to dig in the sand and explore rock pools for hours.


So I read:
Threads of Love by Judith Miller - historical romance in which a young girl is sent to be a nanny for children who have lost their parents. You can guess what happens! Enjoyable easy read.

The Chocolate Tin by Fiona McIntosh - historical romance set during and after WWI in England. Based around the chocolate tins that were sent as Christmas gifts to the British soldiers by Princess Mary. This became very much a side story though to the life of the main character. Very enjoyable read as it twisted off in a whole new direction, which, although predictable, was well written and kept you in suspense. I am looking at the library for some more of this author's books.

The Fence by Meredith Jaffe - written in 2016 and set in this time. Wicked humour in this one - loved it. Kept my interest the whole way through. Based on new neighbours and their argument over a new fence between their properties, which rapidly escalates into a full-on war. Such a simple subject choice but it is used to show how our behaviour can be so ridiculous at times. The ending is brilliant.

The Accidental Time Traveller by Sharon Griffiths - sort of a historical romance I guess, as the main character travels back in time to the 1950s. I am only halfway through this one and it is not grabbing me as much as other books. That being said, I am still finding it enjoyable, especially all the little slip ups Rosie makes in mentioning things from the twenty first century that just weren't talked about in the 50s.

Watching
I am still watching Victoria. I didn't get a chance to watch any while we were away and it is due back at the library. Looks like I am in for some marathon nights!

I'm hoping
To be able to convince my family that devices are not all that necessary! Unfortunately hubby included. There have been numerous books published about going back and living without modern technology of whatever sort, and believe me, I have probably read them all! Even in the book I am currently reading, The Accidental Time Traveller, in which the main character is a reporter, she admits that it is not a detriment to not have news feeds constantly at your fingertips. It is actually a blessing and makes for a much calmer workplace.
But the boys have literally become addicted to their devices and I can pretty much source any arguing directly to either phones, Xbox or TV - sharing them, who is on when, that sort of thing. I would love to call a complete withdrawal of all devices but hubby isn't on board for that (although he can see the problems they cause), so it will have to be a time-based withdrawal.

I don't know when this statistic is from, but I would say it would be a higher percentage than that and it is affecting them younger and younger.


How do you all manage device time?


I'm learning
I'm trying to learn how to simplify my life and rid myself of all the extra baggage, whether it is physical (think decluttering!) or mental (worrying over nothing, getting depressed over things I can't change, etc).

This will be a long work in progress!


Crafting
I took knitting away with me, but I actually didn't even get it out of the bag. Must be the first time ever! As mentioned above, I mainly read. So still knitting away at a few bits and pieces and sorting out yarn.


And I will try not to do this (but let's be honest, I probably will!)

Grateful for
My lovely little house and farm. It is always lovely to go away, but I find it equally lovely to come home again. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am and complain about it being too small (especially as oldest daughter is asking if she can move home again to save money!), but it is a gorgeous little house and I have a whole eight acres to play with.

I am definitely guilty of hitting the boys with that old chestnut - 'be grateful, there are children that have nothing.' But I also have to remind myself of that and make sure I am being thankful.


Dreaming of
Same as last week - always dreaming of my farm plans! Lots of colour planned, so many flowers in my head. Happiness is lots of flowers!

Favourite photo
Rock pools at Point Lonsdale.

Devotional, scripture, key verse


Not really a verse; just something to remember!

Have a blessed week, everyone!

Period Drama Challenge - Banished, A Review

 

Here is my first review for the Period Drama Challenge with Miss Laurie at Old Fashioned Charm.

I am reviewing an 7 part drama series called Banished. It is set in 1788 at the first settlement of Australia.
The First Fleet consisted of approximately 1,000 convicts and 350 free men and women. After landing, they needed to establish shelter, food beyond the stores they had brought with them and some semblance of an ordered society to ensure the safety of all. Imagine Survivor but in long dresses!

I must admit to not being overly impressed with the three main characters.

Not with their acting but with the actual character portrayal. These three were convicts and much as I know that Governor Phillip was very understanding (considered lax by some of the soldiers) with the convicts, it seems that these three had the run of the place and could pretty much do what they liked. Pardoned from hangings, pardoned from beating up soldiers - the main convict character seemed to me to just be a bully - and got away with it.
I think it possibly has to do with the love of the underdog. Australians particularly seem to want to venerate the supposedly downtrodden victims at the expense of the lawmakers and keepers. Everyone wants to have a convict ancestor, not so keen on having a redcoat! It seems to have been taken too far in this series and makes the actions of the convicts and the soldiers supposedly guarding them seem unrealistic, although I guess as the soldiers were outnumbered by convicts 3:1, they would be careful about provoking them. And it was noted by Governor Phillip that the soldiers were often 'reluctant' to undertake their duties.

Of much more interest to me in this series were the secondary stories - the fact that the blacksmith was a 'protected' convict as his role was so vital to the fledgling colony; the back story of the 'use' of women convicts by the soldiers and the ballot system that existed (and was sanctioned by Governor Phillip) to share them among the soldiers; the Reverend and his wife.

I must admit though to thinking that, for a colony that was at starvation point and down to very strict rations, everyone seemed very well-fed and very clean!

A highlight of the series for me was David Wenham's portrayal of Governor Arthur Phillip. Fabulous actor - the TV series Seachange is one of my all time favourites.

Phillip had an enormous task ahead of him when he arrived in Australia, particularly as the new penal colony was largely abandoned by the mother country of England and left to struggle on by itself. Communications from England were sporadic and vague and Phillip had to assume total control of the colony. Luckily for his fellow First Fleeters, Phillip was a fair, calm and methodical leader, who saw from the beginning that Australia could be more than just a prison dumping ground.

Percival Serle wrote of Phillip in his Dictionary of Australian Biography:

Steadfast in mind, modest, without self seeking, Phillip had imagination enough to conceive what the settlement might become, and the common sense to realize what at the moment was possible and expedient. When almost everyone was complaining he never himself complained, when all feared disaster he could still hopefully go on with his work. He was sent out to found a convict settlement, he laid the foundations of a great dominion.

 Also watch out for this wonderful actor, Ryan Corr, and the story of his soldier character and the convict woman he loves. Very sad.

Ryan Corr is a fantastic actor and will appear in a later review in The Water Diviner. He also starred in a TV series I loved called Love Child (but I cannot feature it here as it is set in 1969!)

Overall, I would say Banished is worth watching, but it just did not seem wholly believable to me.

 

Period Drama Challenge

What fun! A new challenge, hosted by Miss Laurie at Old Fashioned Charm. As I adore watching period drama, I just had to join in with the challenge!

I have chosen to a Period Film Fanatic, which means I will watch and review 12 to 15 period dramas during the above time frame. Just between you and me, I would probably watch that many anyway!

From Miss Laurie, here are the requirements:

What Makes A Period Drama?A television costume drama, big screen film or TV series set in a historical era. They could be adaptations of classic novels, based upon historically set books, stories of historical events or even biographical flicks. For what eras are eligible I'd say anything from Ancient times up to the 1940's (like World War II). Also eligible are films that travel back in time or start in one era and moves to another (such as Lost In Austen, From Time To Time, Somewhere In Time or The Love Letter).

Here's a list of historical eras to help you out:

• The Ancient Era (Biblical times, 4000 B.C.-476 A.D.) 
• The Medieval Era (476-1450) 
• The Renaissance Era (1450-1600) & Elizabethan Era (1558-1603) 
• The Baroque Era (1600-1750) 
• The Georgian/Colonial Era  (1714-1811) 
• The Regency Era (1812-1830, also known as the Jane Austen era) 
• The Victorian Era (1837-1901) 
• The Edwardian Era (1901-1919. and World War I)
• The 1920's 
• The 1930's
• The 1940's (World War II films)

Now, what will I choose?! I am thinking that I may focus on Australian made movies, as this may bring some different choices into the challenge. So far I have about 40 on my list, so need to narrow it down a bit! Can you tell I prefer period to modern movies and series?!

So far I have:

Picnic At Hanging Rock - filmed in 1975, set in 1900.

My Brilliant Career - filmed in 1979, set in 1897.

The Piano - filmed in 1993, set in 1851.

Oscar and Lucinda - filmed in 1997, set in mid 1800s.

Rabbit Proof Fence - filmed in 2002, set in 1931.

Phar Lap - filmed in 1983, set in late 1920s/early 1930s.

The Lighthorsemen - filmed in 1987, set in 1917.

Gallipoli - filmed in 1981, set in 1915.

Ned Kelly - filmed in 2003, set in 1870s.

Against The Wind - filmed in 1978, set between 1798-1812.

Banished - filmed in 2015, set in 1788.

All The Rivers Run - filmed in 1983, set in 1890s.

The Water Diviner - filmed in 2014, set in 1919.

The Battlers- filmed in 1994, set in  the Great Depression.

The Sullivans - filmed between 1976 and 1983, set from 1939-1945.

Changi - filmed in 2001, set in 1999 and 1942-45.

Well, that is sixteen choices already, just in the Australian list. And I have more to choose from - and that doesn't include heaps of others that I would like to review as well! Like The King's Speech, A Royal Night Out, The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill and Came Down a Mountain, Miss Potter, Girl With A Pearl Earring and on and on!

I will plan on posting a review on Saturdays (maybe not every week!) and will start this Saturday with a review of Banished as I just collected it from the library.

I am not sure if I will be able to get hold of all these titles - some of them may be a bit obscure now - but I will try my best.

I cannot wait to see what everyone else decides to watch and review.