Thursday 13 June 2013

Grinding to a halt - and trying to jump start the blogging mojo



Oh dear!

What happened there?

One minute it's all chugging along in a pretty standard way, and then WHOOOMP!  You have a few days away from blogs and blogging and return home to find you just can't get it all started again...Maybe the battery is flat; perhaps the starter motor has seized up; perhaps it's the spark plugs?

Whatever it is, I am attempting a bit of tweaking and rummaging today, in the hope that I can get the thing up and running again.  Otherwise known as 'doing a post'...

So, Mr U-t-B and I had a few days away to celebrate our wedding anniversary. 

We headed off to the Limousin countryside, perhaps best known for the pretty (but apparently quite fierce) cattle...








Okay, Monsieur Bull - I get the hint!

It may not sound the most glamorous way to celebrate, but I went over to his 'retirement project' to help him tidy his tools!




Oh the fun!  

Seriously though, I really did enjoy this!

That IS the 'after' photo - and though it may not look like it, it really is super-organised now!



Mr U-t-B has a lot of tools, and he is always so hell-bent on doing the next job, and the next one, and the next, that he ends up with a right old chaotic mess and then slowed down when he can't lay his clever hands on what he requires.  





Our quarters were rustic, but clean and with a beautiful view.  Owls hooting made the only night-time sounds, cuckoos in the daytime and bats were pretty much our only companions.




At Mr U-t-B's project, there is no electricity, unless you switch the noisy generator on.  So light is courtesy of solar lamps, hot water is provided by a 'camping' shower (which luckily is plumbed into an inside shower, as it was flippin' freezing outside!) and the much needed extra heat is provided by a paraffin heater.
No internet, intermittent phone signal - bliss!

The weather was pretty ropey - cold and drizzly, which meant we were only too happy to get on with the inside tidying jobs, so that in his next stint of work,  Mr U-t-B can turn this area into a bedroom.




The morning we were to set off for home, the sun finally decided to put in an appearance.




Driving home, we stopped for lunch and a wander around Chartres.
























Anyway, once back home I had a swap to take part in.

I had another attempt at making a textile ATC, this one trying to tailor it to my swap partner's likes.  




I decided that this was the one to send, as I hoped it was most in tune with the recipient's likes.  

I was then lucky enough to receive this sweet and beautifully made card from my other partner...






Thank you to Hilda, of inkythings.blogspot.co.uk.  I love the image of the girl, the colours and fabrics.  





It is now sitting happily in my workroom, where I can see it often.  I enjoyed taking part in Ali's swap, and if she runs one again, I'm sure I'll be signing up!





Well, I think that is quite enough as a test-run.  Hopefully back very soon - I have books and sewing to share...





15 comments:

  1. Fantastic retirement project there! :) x

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  2. What a wonderful retirement project, is it any wonder you didn't want to come back ... nice to have you here though x

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  3. Love the new blog design - very pretty and fresh! The few days away sounded good. Loved your birdie card. I very nearly stopped blogging recently - sometimes it seems a bit pointless, but I'm chugging on! x

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    1. My feelings entirely last week, but now I'm back I realise there was a little hole which can only be filled this way!
      x

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  4. Hubs would think he was in heaven with a workshop like that! I think we all go through the 'can't get back into it' thingy with blogging, but something always seems to pull us back. x

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    1. I think the break sometimes does us good!
      x

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  5. Your blog looks so pretty Alix, nice to see you still here.XX

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  6. We missed you while you were away ! Oh my goodness though, what a lovely place you were in !
    Your ATC is delightful as is the one you received... thank you for showing us x

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  7. For someone who's lost their mojo you've done pretty well. Lovely post and lovely project! x

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  8. I was just about to write...for someone who's lost their mojo...... but then I saw lovelygrey's comment. Seriously,this is a great back to blogging post. The photos of Chartres are amazing...and your tales of what you have been up to are brilliant. Welcome back. J.

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  9. Lost your mojo...........don't think so - lovely post.
    Happy anniversary.
    Is there step by step instructions to make ATC cards cos I would like to have a go....
    Julie xxxxxxx

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  10. Your little getaway looks fabulous! I love the idea of a remote little home somewhere without internet signal. And although it was cold, even the sound of a camping shower is appealing!! I think it's a case of "too much work, not enough outdoors" that brings that on :) love your stitching too! xx

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  11. I keep reading about ATCs (and these are lovely), I've googled the term but I'm still not that clear - a liitle piece of art, on a card, a miniature?
    I need someone like you to sort my shed! It is a disgrace.
    Looks like you had a lovely trip.
    Carol xx

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  12. Thank goodness you were on hand to colour code and size order Mr U-to-B's tools, that job definitely needed your creative eye :)

    Looks like a great project the Mr has taken on, especially when the sun comes out.

    Pretty pretty ATC, very you. Love the one you received too.

    As for the quokka, I just adore that little creature :)

    xx

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  13. Thank you all for the encouraging comments!
    x

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