Simple Pleasures

[Hrty]

Had quite a few ups and downs over the last few months but life can be very good at times. Had our not quite 2 granddaughter for a sleep over last night. Waking up hearing her chatting to herself in her bedroom followed by sharing a slice of toast and jam whilst reading her a story certainly lifts the spirits.

[uzininemm]

Morning Hrty

I actually think you have found the secret mentally in dealing with things, I also find it is the simple things in life which now mean the most to me, somehow before being ill I had forgotten how to appreciate what these can bring to me.

Yesterday I ticked off no 1 on my bucket list, (St Giles, Stoke Poges) and whilst there sitting in the sun and listening to the birds everything else didn't seem to matter.

[Hrty in reply to uzininemm]

I've been struggling a bit with low mood and anxiety with my recent blip. Spending time with the kids and grand kids really helps. After mum and dad picked her up we pootled down the allotment and came back with raspberries, courgettes, cauliflower, carrots , tomatoes, spuds, pears and the first pick of borlotti beans which I've just shelled. Good for the soul. Something which we hearties need to feed at times and can be too easily neglected when we feel down.

[uzininemm in reply to Hrty]

Excellent, and i really do get where you are coming from, I had my nephews stop over last weekend (they are 11 and 9) and the eldest wanted to listen to music and one of his choices was purple rain by prince, I was over the moon 😀.

I have recently just decided to try borlotti beans next year in the garden and my plot too and you are right as well as being good for my physical health the mental side can't be underestimated either.

[Cee-Cee1]

I completely agree, Hrty - when my 3yr-old great-niece comes for a visit she makes me laugh from the minute she walks through the door and I'm still smiling when she leaves. They're such a tonic, just watching them enjoying simple pleasures so much gives us a lot to think about and we'd do well to follow their example. One of my other nieces would play in Mum's garden when she came to stay and we'd quietly open the window to listen to her - she'd chat away to herself and her toys, but always with an American accent! 🤪 She's a teacher now but I still laugh when I think about that 30 years later! The creatures, plants and flowers in the garden bring me untold joy these days - except, while I was leaving their food out this morning, I accidently stood in a pile of hedgehog poo in my brand new fluffy slippers - Yuck - slippers in the bin! 🤣

[MummaSoap in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Oh my gosh - I nearly choked on my tea reading that last comment!! 🤣🙈 poor slippers but an amusing story that I wasn’t expecting! Thank you for sharing and bringing a smile to my face 😂😁

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to MummaSoap]

I'm just cross about my new slippers, Soap.🤪 My sister bought them as part of my Christmas pressie last year and I only started wearing them yesterday😁 but when I'm enjoying watching the hedgehogs trundling about tonight I'll probably forget about them.🦔🦔. I'll make sure to look downward rather than up when I'm leaving food out tomorrow morning though! 🤣😆

[Hrty in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Could have been worse, I have a tendency to walk about in the garden in my bare feet 🙃

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Hrty]

Oh No - I hadn't thought of that Hrty - I do that too! Won't be doing it now though🤣😂😁

[MummaSoap]

I’m so pleased to read this post and you’re so right!

My children are often a tonic for me; I love watching them play together and chatting away to each other, themselves or their toys - it’s so precious!

My youngest has been serenading us with “let it go” this morning and I got told in no uncertain terms (by a 2 year old) that I’m not to join in and my singing is bad 🤣🫣

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[Hrty in reply to MummaSoap]

She also loves picking cucumbers from the greenhouse and then discovered the alpine strawberries my wife has been growing. We quite often share a pear or orange which is a real joy.

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Hrty]

That's lovely, Hrty - you've a little budding gardener on your hands. She sounds like a real wee sweetie. 😍

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to MummaSoap]

Oh Dear, Soap - Hrty has a budding Carol Klein on his hands and you've got a little Simon Cowell! 😆They do make me laugh with the things they come out with. 🤣💖

[Yumz199725]

Ahh thats so cute! Bet she keeps you on your toes aw x hope your ok?

[Hrty in reply to Yumz199725]

At the moment, just like her elder cousin was, she's at an age where she's very much grandma's girl except where grandad has food 😀. With our grandson, grandad became cool when he could play with my Scalextric 🤣.

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Hrty,

That sleepover time with your granddaughter sounds so lovely! It brought back happy memories of having my two little grandchildren stay the night with me when I lived in Texas. They still live there, but they are now 18 and 21 years old. Makes me feel old as dirt. Lol 😂

When they visited, we would watch old movies like “Them” with the giant ants and old B&W “Flip the Frog” cartoons. They would eat snacks or the homemade cookies that we made. Often, we would all play outside. Happy memories! Thank you for reminding me! ❤️

[Hrty in reply to Smitty1956]

Lovely to watch a young child and the enjoyment they take from the world.