Happy Thursday! I have been doing a photoshop course and have downloaded GIMP (a free photoshop alternative- nothing sordid!). So this is my attempt at a collage using some of my favourite photos from Mongolia*.
* Explanatory note for first time visitors! Myself and my boyfriend spent a year gallivanting around the world. We tried to travel as sustainably as possibly and avoid flying. I have been sorting and editing my favourite pictures and writing bimonthly posts.
The lovely Irina from 101 Dress has nominated me for a sunshine award. Thank you very much! Irina is going 101 days without buying any clothes and writing about her challenge, I can relate as I am also trying to buy nothing new. It is a really interesting read so make sure you pop across for a snoop.
Here are the criteria for accepting the Sunshine award:
- Include the logo of award in the post or put it on your page
- Answer 10 questions common for all the nominants
- Nominate up to 10 other bloggers whom you find interesting
- Put the link to the bloggers you nominate into your post and let them know about it
- Thank the person who nominated you and include link to his or her blog
What inspired you to start blogging?
Myself and my boyfriend started blogging when we were travelling, mainly to tell our friends and family how we were getting on and put up our photos. I really enjoyed it and decided to start Tales from a Teapot. I write about my crafty pursuits, green living and everyday adventures. I like taking pictures and telling visual stories.
How did you come up with the name of your blog?
Tales from a teapot is meant to represent all the stories told over a a steaming pot of tea.
What is your favorite blog that you like to read?
There are many. I have recently started using Blog Lovin as well as the WordPress Reader to keep track of them. I love Her Library Adventures, Whole Larder Love and One Sheepish Girl, as well as the blogs in the blog roll at the bottom of the page (although this need to be updated, I have discovered more lovelies since).
Tell us about your dream job.
I want to work in something I care about such as environment, sustainability, international development, poverty alleviation or gender equality. I am currently interning with Re-dress an amazing organisation looking at human rights and environmental impact in the fashion industry. I am working on their social media so don’t forget to like their facebook page!
Is your glass half full or half empty?
Mainly half full, although I have moments of despair when I think about the unsustainable path we are following at the moment and the massive and growing inequalities that exist.
If you could go anywhere for a week’s holiday where would it be?
After travelling the world I am looking to stay close to home for the next while. I love County Clare and want to visit soon. I also want to West Cork on a cycling holiday.
What food can you absolutely not eat?
I am avoiding fish at the moment because of the problems with overfishing.
Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Milk chocolate.
How much time do you spend blogging?
It depends. I try and post twice a week and it takes about three hours or more to get a post together.
Do you watch TV – if so what are some of your favourite TV shows?
I don’t really watch TV. I hate soaps but am trying to watch an Irish language soap a couple of times a week to improve my Irish. I do watch films and box sets and am watching New Girl with one of my sisters and West Wing with my boyfriend.
This was really difficult and there were other blogs I also wanted to include, but I stuck to the ten rule! My Sunshine Awards go to:
http://129twigandvine.com
http://angriestpear.com
http://wildsherkin.wordpress.com
http://greenjamjar.com
http://rebeccalouisehancock.wordpress.com
http://julieriso.wordpress.com
http://acraftybritinberlin.wordpress.com
http://tracksoffoxes.com
http://winterowls.com/
http://bealtainecottage.com/
One of the things that I really want to do this year is learn more about growing my own food. I have started by planting some tomatoes, lettuce and herbs. I have also bought a strawberry plant. I have limited growing space because Molly (the dog) thinks the world has been invented as one giant play thing for her amusement and plants have evolved for her to dig and chew. There is space for a few pots behind various dog proof obstacles and barriers.
I have done a bit of back garden growing before and some wwoofing (willing workers on organic farms) but have a lot to learn and have already made some mistakes. In fairness, most of the mishaps have been related to not using common sense. For example, I have learned the importance of labelling pots so you don’t have to just guess what is in them.
I have also learned in the past week that it is not wise to plant in soil used last year without cleaning it first (how to do this eludes me but there is a method out there). This would have been handy information about three weeks ago when I first planted my lettuce. I wasn’t sure if the first little leaves were real lettuce or last years weeds. Since the pots weren’t labelled I wasn’t even sure what they were meant to look like. I am pretty sure I haven’t been cultivating weeds at this stage, which is always nice to know. I will definitely be more organised next time round.
The tomatoes are thriving, but my chives are looking sad. I used compost from my wormery as a topsoil and am not sure if it is a bit too rich. I have been given a couple of books so I can make sure the soil suits the plants next time.
On the wormery front, there are also caveats about simultaneously having a dog and a wormery. Molly found a fun game where she would pull the lid of the wormery, distribute the food waste around the garden, possibly eat some worms and then chew on the lid so it lets in rain. The worms have now been saved from her wrath and sit in the small dog free zone.
The photos are from the flower garden, which I can take no credit for. I have been given a beautiful SLR as an early birthday and Christmas present (which incidentally was used so I am not even breaking the nothing new challenge!) and have been busy snapping away.
Have you any gardening plans this year and have you had any mishaps?
We traversed from Moscow to Siberia on the longest railway line in the world, the Trans Siberian. The view was strangely monotonous considering we passed through 5000 miles. We expected massive variations in the landscape but instead saw Taiga forest followed by more Taiga forest!
Having said that, we were not bored. It is funny how easily you can pass three days on a train just reading, chatting and generally relaxing. It was a true lesson in slow travel and slow living.
We shared a cabin with two Russians, Sergei and Tanya. Tanya became our Russian Mammy and looked after us for the trip. Sergei provided us with some colourful experiences. He was a lovely generous man. The first day he gave Emmet a badge of his soldiers hat as a welcome to Russia gift and the next day he bought us ice creams, which felt like being on holidays in the 80′s again! His friends next door bought us traditional Russian snacks, dried fish and potato cake. We managed to explain the rules of a card game through signals and terrible sketches and passed an evening playing cards. He loved a drink and spent the three days in various states of inebriation. He also snored like a trooper. We had to organise our sleeping patterns to avoid been woken. The funniest moment was when he farted in his sleep. It was so loud he woke himself up with a fright.
We got the train to Irkutsk and from there got a bus to Listvyanka on the side of lake Baikal. This is where these pictures were taken. Although, it was the start of spring, there was a freak snow storm, which suited us, it was beautiful.
I’d love to hear about your favourite slow travel moments and the characters that you met.
The cold snap meant a late Spring this year, so it is nice to finally see some signs of the changing seasons. I am looking forward to the warmer days and the colour returning to the landscape.
I have finally made all the granny squares I need for my cushion and am now putting it together. Very exciting.
I am dreaming of my next project, doodle stitching in embroidery hoops while getting inspiration from one of my favourite craft books Granny Chic.
The current reading list…
Baking chocolate brownies, crumbles, cakes and cookies. I need to stop soon before I give myself and those around me diabetes.
Hanging out with Molly and planting some herbs.
Fishing with my Dad in the Liffey.
Exploring Dublin since my return and instagramming my adventures.
