16 for 2016: October

Here are the targets I set myself for 2016, inspired by Cathy at Nanacathy

16 WALKS (of more than an hour)

13 done, 3 to go.

Walk 11. Glorious October afternoon walk with my walking buddy, on Maiden Castle, an Iron Age hill fort just a few miles from me.

Walk 12. 2 hour Beach clean walk on Ringstead Beach with Master R in his beloved Woodland Hoodie .

Walk 13. All day on Brownsea Island, walking, wonderful day with my daughter and her 3 kiddlies, we even saw a few red squirrels and some goooorrrrrrrgeous trees.

This oak got first prize as far as I’m concerned

I only had my little pocket camera, so the pictures don’t really do them justice

and the sweet chestnuts – wow

a feast for the squirrels.

15 HANDMADE GREETINGS CARDS

12 done, 3 to go

A card made out of two collaged postcards taped together with a duck tape hinge.

14 NEW ITEMS IN MY ETSY SHOP

8 done, 6 to go

I added this wig

13 SWIMS

11 done, 2 to go.

12 GARDEN POSTS

6 done, 6 to go.

The least said about this the better!

11 HAND MADE TOTE BAGS

Zero

10 TYPES OF HANDMADE BEADS

This one was made by simply sewing two crochet circles together an stuffing with yarn offcuts – simple!

7 done, 3 to go

9 PIECES OF TEXTILE ART (started)

3 started, 6 to go

None this month. This feels more like a wet weather project and the weather has been glorious! I was gardening in T-shirt and shorts today – bliss.

8 MORNINGS of SORTING and STORING

5 done, 3 to go.

Two more done this month: a weekend spent sorting out my workroom. I am trying to get some order in there. Trying, but not succeeding – I need someone organised to come in a set up a storage system – it is plainly not one of my skills.

7 PAINTINGS (or other pieces of art)

4 done, 3 to go

You can see them here.

6 BUS RIDES using my Bus Pass

2 done, 4 to go

None this month

5 NEW TYPES OF EXERCISE TRIED

4 done, 1 to go

No new ones this month. So far I have tried Pilates, Belly Dancing, a Dance Class, a Zumba-like class.

I think this target will probably stay at 4!

4 NEW PATTERNS for my ETSY SHOP

1 done 3 to go

At last! I have put a pattern on Etsy (and Ravelry and Craftsy)

No prizes for guessing which one …..

A couple of seahorses made for my sister to hang on the cute little tree in her kitchen. The house is a sewing box and the cupcakes are pincushions.

3 MASSAGES

1 done, 2 to go

2 WAYS TO HELP REFUGEES

The plight of so many people fleeing for their lives hurts my heart. The way our government behaves towards the refugees in Calais, especially unaccompanied children, hurts my heart. That I can do so very little hurts too.

Energetically I feel I am still recovering from a month spent by my mother’s bedside, in and out of hospital. I now know that I will not be going to Calais or Greece to volunteer as I had thought I would back in January when I made this list. The situation has not gone away, nor will it for many years, so there will be other opportunities in the future.

I will continue to crochet blankets and collect clothes to send and wait to hear what Liz Clegg does next, now that her Children’s Centre in Calais has been closed.  I am sure she will pop up again somewhere and when she does I will make another donation.

This article in the Guardian tells of her work.

Money is a form of energy, so although, I have not done what I set out to do, I will say that for the purposes of this challenge, donating money to Liz’s work, and to Calais Kitchens and sending blankets, squares for blankets and warm clothes are ways I have helped – even though it feels so sadly lacking.

1 NOVEL READ

DONE!

Hurray! ‘Enchanted August’ by Brenda Bowen got me there.

0 BEADS BOUGHT

Zero

Thank you Cathy for this idea, it is good to look over the things that have been achieved and review what hasn’t. I’m already compiling 17 for 2017.