Friday 19 May 2017

Raindrops On Roses - May

These are a few of my favourite things.


Fountain pen. I love my red Lamy fountain pen, I've been using it to write in my journal. We used to have to use a fountain pen for a time at school and I got used to using one, however, after leaving school it was many years before I picked one up to use again. Consequently, when using one now, my writing is rather messy. I do wish I could write neater with it.


Knitting magazine. I was given this back issue from October 2016 when I visited the Spring Into Wool yarn festival. It's a magazine I haven't read before but I'm rather impressed by it. It contains some good articles, which I've found interesting, along with a great number of patterns.


Kindle. I wasn't convinced that I'd get along with a Kindle, how wrong I was. I do enjoy having a 'proper' book in my hands when reading, however, I wouldn't be without my Kindle now. It was a gift from Mick for Christmas 2014 and it comes in so handy when I have bouts of sleepless nights, as I'm having at the moment. As the Kindle is lit, it means that I can read without turning on the light and disturbing Mick.


Giddy Knits podcast. This is my favourite podcast at the moment. Helen lives in Surrey with her husband and two young boys and she shares what's on her needles as well as projects she's recently finished. At the moment she's gearing up to host the Summer Stripe Along, a craft along for knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, sewers, etc. It promises to be lots of fun with a host of entertaining events taking place in the Ravelry group. I'm sure I'll be joining in along the way.


Evening walks. I'm not one to spend a lot of time outdoors during the winter months but once spring's here, along with the lighter evenings and warmer weather, I love going out for a stroll after tea. We've had some gorgeous evenings just lately and we've certainly taken advantage of them getting out when we can. Archie loves having a change of scenery on his walks too.

What favourites do you have this month? How about joining me and writing a post about them?

44 comments:

  1. My favourite thing to do at the moment is sewing! I am a podcast addict but don't have any crafty ones on my list, just current affairs and science titles, plus a couple of health related titles. The fountain pen, I remember mine fondly. I got one when we learned joined up writing. I mostly write with pencils these days, love a good pencil with just the right softness. xx

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    1. I do intend to give sewing a go at some point, there's just so many other things I enjoy doing at the moment that there doesn't seem to be the time. I'm quite late discovering podcasts, I only have crafty ones on my list to watch at the moment. I'm a bit of a stationery addict so love pens, though I have to say that I rarely use a pencil these days.

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  2. Evening walks are just lovely. The longer days lend themselves to getting outdoors and it makes a great way to unwind after a day at work. X

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    1. I agree. I can easily sit down with my knitting after tea and not do much else for the rest of the day so it's lovely to get outside in the fresh air instead.

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  3. I have a fountain pen somewhere which I've not used in ages. I'm the same with my Kobo ereader, although it's not a lit one. I prefer early morning walks. xx

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    1. I'm trying to use my fountain pen more in the hope I can neaten my writing up whilst using it. I won a handwriting award when I was using one at school so my writing has obviously deteriorated over the years. I think early morning walks can be lovely too.

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  4. I also have a red Lamy Safari pen exactly like that, JO! I love my Lamy pens - I have the red one, a black one and a bright yellow one. The yellow is my favourite (I only ever use black ink). I bought it from Bureau Direct, they have lovely pens, papers, notebooks, etc. I bought a black Moleskin notebook a long time ago but I've not yet used it - it seems too nice to sully with my scribble! Indeed, I have a pile of unused notebooks, all of them so attractive I don't want to 'spoil' them - how daft is that? I also have some one-off notebooks from Farrow & Ball; these are not for general consumption but sent out as promotional material and I love those, too. I also have some lovely F&B postcards, and again, I find them too nice to use! How silly I am!!!
    What a good idea to write about 'favourites' this month - I might write about them myself, as you suggest on my own blog, but not today as I've some writing work to do (researching taxidermy right now for a forthcoming piece, that'll be fun!)
    Margaret P

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    1. I'm a bit of a stationery addict but I'm like you, I 'save' all my lovely notebooks as I don't want to spoil them either. We make a right pair! I look forward to reading about your favourites if you do write a post.

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    2. I must make a note to write about my favourite things, Jo! Have done a new post today, but not on my favourite things although some much-loved things are there, such as our large sofa and flowers - always flowers! And books, of course!
      Margaret P

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    3. Flowers and books are favourites of mine too.

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  5. It's the simple things in life that often provide the most pleasure. My garden is top of the list.

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    1. They do. I've always had a garden, they do bring a lot of pleasure.

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  6. I'm sat here cuddling baby Will who is top of my list of favourite things.

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    1. How lovely, I'm not surprised that Will is at the top of your list.

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  7. I felt the same as you about Kindle. Martyn bought me a iPad one year and I've gathered lots of Kindle books which helped my lack of bookshelf space.

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    1. I find the Kindle really handy for reading at night and also when I go away anywhere, it's good not to have books taking up space.

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  8. I love stationery too. I have so many notebooks that are "too nice" to write in. How silly, eh? I really should just bite the bullet and start writing in them. Maybe. :oD

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    1. I'm exactly the same, I save them for 'something special' but they end up just sitting there.

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    2. Dear Anne and Jo, between the three of us and all our lovely 'saved-up' notebooks we could start a shop! I have at least ten unsullied notebooks of various types.
      Margaret P
      www.margaretpowling.com

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    3. We could. I've had this love of stationery since I was a child.

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  9. We had to use a fountain pen at school and I loved my pen. I haven't used one for years now, I don't tend to write that much, except for lists, I do love a good list xx

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    1. I love lists too, that's where my Filofax comes in. I enjoyed using a fountain pen at school, we all felt grown up when we were finally trusted with one.

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  10. A decent night's sleep. A cup of tea drunk at the right temperature (not too hot, not too cold), my Kindle, who's called Hygge Henry and has an alternate life as an Oxford graduate working in the City. Having the choice of a notebook, a Filofax or a smartphone for keeping my diary in. Working for a good boss. A training day to be a proofreader on Monday.

    Love the red pen... I have one like that and a metallic green one! What colour ink do you like? I have black, purple, green and aqua. It depends whether I'm in a colourful mood which one I use.

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    1. A decent night's sleep could be on my list too, I wake up during the night far too often. I'm quite boring actually, preferring blank ink to anything else.

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  11. And... I wanted to ask... have I ever asked you about being one of my A Weekend With... hygge blogs? I feature a different one every few Fridays. You only have to answer a couple of silly questions like how long & what you like about blogging, and let me use a couple of your favourite photos. You can see this week's here:
    https://howtohyggethebritishway.com/2017/05/19/a-weekend-with-jane-goble-of-posy/
    Let me know if you're happy to do it x

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    1. I'd be very happy to feature on your blog.

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  12. I'm probably one of the last holdouts when it comes to getting a Kindle. I'm always one of the last in my family to adopt new technologies, it seems, but I'm sure it will end up on my desk at some point and I'll probably like it.

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    1. I was very unsure about a Kindle, I didn't know whether I'd use it or not, but I love it. It's brilliant if you wake in the night and want to read without turning the light on and it's great for travelling, it doesn't take up any space in a suitcase. I pick up lots of bargains to read on it too.

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  13. I probably would never have bought one myself, but I inherited a Kindle and really like it for the small amount of fiction I read and books I know I'll only read once. I don't really buy into the mindset that it's not the same as a "real" book like a lot of people, it makes reading at night, on the train or on the beach really convenient.

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    1. I think there's room for both 'real' books and Kindles. I must admit that I do like the feel of a book in my hands but a Kindle is so convenient that I'm happy to forego that feeling.

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  14. I'm with you when it comes to fountain pens and Kindles Jo! I used a fountain pen through school and student days and have a couple now which I use for writing greeting cards, special notes etc. They make the act of writing pleasurable. I hope that your sleepless nights are short lived blip.

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    1. I agree, it does feel rather special when you get a fountain pen out to write with. I have bouts of sleepless nights and then all of a sudden they disappear again. I'm not sure what causes them, I'm just waiting for this episode to pass.

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  15. I agree about the kindle, I wasn't sure I'd like ebooks initially but it's brilliant for when I get stuck with only one hand during feeds etc.
    Thanks for mentioning the podcast, I'm so excited for the CAL to begin, I want to knit all the stripey things!

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    1. I think the convenience of a Kindle is brilliant, it's useful in so many different situations. You're welcome, I'm looking forward to casting on some stripey projects.

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  16. I've got a Lamy fountain pen in Dark Lilac. It's a joy to write with :) My current favourite fountain pen is my Sailor Procolor 500, but I also enjoy using my TWSBI's.

    99% of the books I read now are on my Kindle. It's just so convenient and comfortable to use.

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    1. Fountain pens seem to have become very popular again, I certainly enjoy using mine. I wouldn't be without my Kindle now, though I do still read quite a few 'proper' books too.

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  17. Seems that May for me is more 'manic' than thinking of anything other than fitting it all in. Seems like we have lots of "car" type bits & a couple of woodworking shows to visit & I'm way behind on blogging, sewing etc. Never mind, it keeps us out of trouble (giggle). I used a pen & ink at school too, but we had inkwells in the desk & if we were monitor for a week, one of our jobs was to fill them. That could be messy. Might have a quick look (when I have time) at that yarny blog. Have a good week, enjoy your evening walks & take care.

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    1. It sounds like you're busy at the moment, though busy in a good way. I remember using ink at school and getting splodges in my books so I can imagine how messy it could be filling inkwells.

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  18. I love the idea of a 'Favorite Things' post, Jo. I think I'll write one soon. I don't use a fountain pen any more - had to use one through school and you brought back memories. I love my Kindle too. P. x

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    1. I think many of us had to use fountain pens in school, it's not something that my kids had to do, though I think they'd have enjoyed using one. I shall look out for your Favourite Things post.

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  19. I enjoyed your post Jo, thanks.
    The lighter evenings are just so good, whether it be a spot of gardening, a walk, or just sitting enjoying some dappled sunlight ...

    All the best Jan

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    1. I love the lighter evenings but they're even better when the warm weather arrives too. We've just been for another evening walk, it's such a lovely time of day.

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