Keeping up with the ...

Jones' challenges!

When I was younger the phrase keeping up with the Jones' was an often heard one.  It means to keep up with those around you in terms of things  such as getting a car/new curtains/new clothes etc.

In these days of recycling and upcycling it would be frowned upon, these days the challenge seems to be to have less and spend less, much as I was brought up to do.  We never really considered ourselves as less well off than others though because where we lived it was just what was done.  My mother being one of five girls helped because everything that had life left in it was passed on to someone and I still try to do that today.  I think during the 80's and 90's there was almost a stigma attached to having something that wasn't new which was a great shame.  I was watching last Sunday's episode of Call the Midwife earlier and a young dad whose children were not thriving was talking about his younger brother who had died and he said 'things have improved since then' and they had and some things continue to do so.

I would be lost without my internet connection.  I use the internet all the time, to find out things, to share things, to keep track of things yet for young people, and sometimes not so young, it can be a dangerous place.  I like to share my scrapbook pages, some of the things I knot or crochet, some of my photos, my thoughts but I also like to keep many things to myself.  It is all about finding a balance, something I am still working on in terms of my health.  Recently I have been using a walking stick as my left ankle has been really bad and i have found it helped a great deal.  The stick I was using had been loaned to me by the hospital when I had previously torn the ligament in my knee and was barely able to walk.  As it had made such a big difference to the amount of pain I was in and my ability to walk I decided I would try and buy myself one.  The hospital one has a rounded top and isn't always comfortable to lean on so I opted for a flat handle and thanks to the internet I am now the proud owner of not one, but 2 snazzy walking sticks.

I have also been busy with the many challenges I have set for myself.  I have finished Truth Lies Bleeding by Tony Martin, my 3rd book of the year and my 2nd for my Scottish book challenge.  This one was definitely a challenge and as I got to the end and reflected back I couldn't say I enjoyed it much.  It did keep me reading and keen to find out more of the story and some of the characterisation was excellent.  Sadly though I felt I was none the wiser about the main character and I actually didn't like many of the characteristics he was given in the book.  I may or may not read another of this author's books but if I do it won't be for a while.

I have also been keeping up with my scrapbooking and have completed 3 pages recently, including 2 at a crop.  It is a long time since I was so productive at a crop so I am hoping that this is the start of an upturn in my desire to scrap.

The week 2 challenge on UKS was to choose 3 of the following and make a page -
1. hot tropical or warm summer colours
2. ribbons or flowers
3. birds or butterflies
4. sparkle and bling
5. break open your new stash after the holidays
6. use your favourite photo from last year (2013)
7. ice cream
8. sand or water
9. frame the photo
10. scraplift from someone else's work and please do credit them when you post your LO picture

I went for numbers 2,3,4,5,6 and 9 for the first ever 12x12 page I have made using only Webster's Pages paper.  Normally these papers scare me and much as I find them pretty, I never quite know what to do with them.  However just before Christmas I bought the Postcards from Paris collection pack from my friend Angela and I am determined to use the whole pack!  1 page down and a few more to go.

This week's challenge is to use at least 3 of the colours shown.
Use a photograph taken outdoors.
Add some triangles, at least 2, and create some layers or a cluster of embellies.

I had volunteered to make a page for Maggie to show as an interpretation of the challenge, which I loved.

These were taken on one of our many trips down by the river where Sean was climbing trees and showing the kids how to do it, which I found a bit stressful.  Needless to say the kids thought it was great fun!  I hope I can find the balance in how far and how well I can walk so that we can spend time by the river again.  Fingers crossed.