.... could not pretend they did not hear it. The noise was Elephant landing.

And only a about an hour ago Elephant was up top. Right up on top of the peanut plant. And faced with a decision.
Early on Elephant had thanked the mice kindly but had been somewhat confused, so he had chosen the door with the letter G on it. After he had opened the door, he walked on in. The door then closed and locked behind him. He had looked down and he had seen the ground. And he had felt troubled about what do do next. He also had had thoughts about his grandmother and David Bowie but could not remember why.

Then he did, He remembered his ears. His enormous ears. His grandmother told him he could fly with them if he needed to. This was one such time. So that's what he did. He had flapped them and gently dropped down. He had flown. He had felt so very free. Then he had spotted everyone including the giant snail, with the long haired princess riding on top of it. Now where to land he had thought.
Anyway he had landed with such a noise. Right into a pile of...........

All the talk about drying flowers has reminded me of this wooden contraption that I have somewhere. You can press homemade paper on it. It is like a kit. I have never used it.

Thing is, I am getting quite bored now. I use to go driving a fair bit. Just like driving around to beautiful nature type places. And often would walk on the beach. But the beaches are closed and out of my area.

Maybe I should just have a go at making homemade paper

Hey Shelll

I love the idea of making paper, I actually saw on one of the home shows last week, they made paper and in the pulp put flower seeds, so when the person has opened the paper (used as gift paper), they can then throw it in the garden and poppies or whatever seeds you put in the pulp can grow, give life to the paper, I totally loved this idea...it felt like the gift has life.

Hey that sounds real good doesn't it. Putting seeds in the pulp. A beautiful idea actually.

Shell xx

Hello everyone..

When I was younger, I went on occasions to visit my grandma and grandpa...they had a gadget that they put the wet newspaper in that was the size of a house brick..They would put wet shredded up paper into it, then pull the handle down and leave it for a couple of days..until it went hard and dry, then use it instead of wood..it burnt slow and gave out some good heat..I think you can still buy them on eBay, but probably more modern then the one they used..

I love the sound of the seed gift wrapping paper...It would be another gift for the person unwrapping, and not knowing what seeds are placed their, another beautiful surprise when they start to grow...

My Care, love and hugs everyone...🦋💜🤗..

Grandy..

Aaronsis,

Yes I was given paper that turned into a plant.

Talking about stationery I want to start writingletters again.

I don't have anycraft supplies now so I tried to buy some stationery could not find anything so just bought a writing pad. I have not sent one letter yet as I don't have anyone"s address that O want to write to and I don't want to ask them as I want it to be a surprise.

I thought I could write to my new neighbours but would they think that was weird. I miss my old community and normally when you move you knock on the door and say hello. Now I can not do that.

Has any one started posting letters recently.

Hello Quirky,

That’s a lovely idea to write a letter to your neighbour..I think they will like it and have a pleasant surprise...

When I was a teenager, I had a penfriend that I used to write to..I was always so excited getting a letter from her..she was in Mexico....If you google..how do I get a penfriend..there are 9 different sites to look at..with thousands of pen pals wanted from all over the world..That is if your interested in doing this.... maybe would be best left until after the virus has left us....

hmm I think this is something I might look into later on...Thank you Quirky...for your post which started me remembering about my old pen pal...

Grandy..

Dear All~

There has been talk about writing and delivering letters, normally a wonderful idea, in fact I'm going to talk about something similar in a little while.

As you know the virus has the ability to live on different surfaces for different lengths of time. I do not know if leaving a hand-written letter for a neighbor is in any way dangerous - there may be conflicting opinions, and here is not the place for a discussion.

I would suggest however you seek the facts from a reputable source before handing the paper over to someone else such as a neighbor.

Croix (the wet blanket)

Dear All and Shell~

The idea of making your own paper is a wonderful one, used either to write on or as a wrapping it would give a unique feeling (and demonstrate your talents:)

We'll find what the elephant landed on in a minute or so.

Croix

Thinking on good memories could help with isolation.

I'm feeling depressed not being able to live my normal life but now I'm remembering good things that have happened to me in the past and they are really helping.

So... thinking back on good memories!

Dear All and Aaronsis`

I've been admiring your Easter avatar, the bunny and garland. Is something you painted yourself? It's sort of impressionist. Hopefully the bunny will not nibble the flowers away

Having paper with seeds as wrapping paper is a most unusual and well-thought out idea, to be able to do something constructive with some of the mountain of paper we receive each day would be very satisfying indeed.

Then one can have a surprise as to what might grow.

Croix

Dear All and MM~

Yes you are right, memories can be a wonderful release, I remember some of yours from

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/store-your-happy-memories-here-

(yes the elephant is next)

Croix

Dear All and Grandy~

Thank you for the memory, many of my father's parishioners used these in London when coal and gas was very expensive, I think they even paid a little for a pile of newspapers. As far as I remember getting them truly dry to burn in winter was a problem.

Now, another thought about writing, which takes rather different slant. Every year Mrs Croix and I try to find last year's Christmas and Holiday Season Card list, and often have to start again.

Perhaps now might be a good time to compile or renew the list -but - with every entry see if you can make contact now. They to are probably in the situation of welcoming a chat, what do you think?

And now...

----------------

... landed with such a noise. Right into a pile of... wagon wheel wrappers (empty of course). This made a very satisfying scrunch however brought everyone's attention around to wondering where they came from - even the giant snail (who did not mind a wagon wheel on occasion) turned an eye on a stalk in their direction.

The walrus tried to look unobtrusive, which is rather hard for such a substantial beast. Then the singer said "All my wagon wheels from my satchel have gone!". Truth be told the walrus had been hooking them out with a tusk, eating then and spitting out the wrappers while everyone else was watching the elephant climb -and fall.

This made the princess cross with the singer, as she had been hungry and he had never offered her one, she spun around on the snail's shell with her long hair narrowly missing ...

----------------

Hello Everyone

Just found this thread (thanks for the heads up Croix). I realise you have all gone past Haiku poetry but I wanted to add my jot. I love writing Haiku poetry. This is a description of what makes a Haiku and how to write.

Haiku
Haiku, Japanese verse that is traditionally composed of seventeen syllables in three lines - the shortest form of poetry in the world (5/7/5).

Haiku seeks, in a handful of words, to crystallize an instant in all its fullness, encouraging through the experience of the moment the union of the reader with all existence.

The reader sidesteps conventional perception, startled into a momentary but full understanding of the poet's experience. By locking poet and reader into the same reality, haiku helps us to perceive the ultimate unity of all realities. Haiku transforms the most mundane of moments into something special.

Haiku requires the personal involvement of the reader. The haiku poet, knowing that words are not enough to capture the fullness of any moment, inscribes a partial idea that leaves an all-important space for the reader to fill in. As you question what the poet has omitted, the poem comes alive through your own memories and feelings.

Here are a couple of my efforts.

The red bottlebrush
Flames in grey green foliage.
My heart is pierced.

The sun is hiding
But its warmth can still reach me.
The full light would burn.

Will you come with me
To join me while I journey?
To find the way home.

On white winter rock,
Gecko basks in warm delight,
Head up hails the sun.

Satisfying to write but not easy. Getting the correct number of syllables in each line means trying words both for length and to find, as much as possible, the full meaning of what I am trying to say. Sometimes I am unsure what I want to express and feel I am groping in the dark.

It doesn't matter about the language. Follow the rules in your own language, the one that is understood by your own family and friends plus your surrounding environment. If no one speaks Japanese then why try to write for that language. It's a personal expression of sight/feeling/awareness.

Mary

Dear All and Mary~

Thank you for the lovely explanation, and also your examples. I think the discipline imposed by the rules of Haiku makes one ponder longer and that's probably a good thing. I particularly like the one about the journey.

Some of the more famous from Japan have been an integral part of a picture or scene, to see some examples with occasional English translations have a look on YouTube for Matsuo Basho. There is one particularly good video by RaulSantiagoSebazco depicting Matsuo's walk around the island and the scenes and words it generated.

They have their own mood, and that is something often helped by music, or simply by sounds. Many have gone to sleep lulled by the sounds of rain on the roof, waves on a seashore, forests and even the wind. While it is possible to buy 'relaxing' sounds they can be expensive, and maybe are not 100% what you like all the way through.

You can make your own, choosing exactly what you want and then sticking them together in a playlist (or an audio editing program for the more adventurous).

There is a huge range of sounds, from steamers to seagulls, all at:

https://freesound.org

In fact there are so many (around 400,000) navigating to what you want can take time, however they are neatly organized and searchable. Each allows you to play it on the spot to see if you like it. All are quite free for personal use.

For the more technically minded the editor I use is called 'Audacity', it is free, in the public domain, and works on both windows and Macs.

https://www.audacityteam.org

Croix (who is hinting he would be really interested to know what happens to the princess' hair:)

The princess' hair, being long swirled out around her head and body gradually wrapping her up in her own ropes of hair. This caused her her to lose he balance on the snail's back and she fell off onto the sand. At that moment she saw Walrus surreptitiously put the last wagon wheel in his mouth which made her even more cross and she tried to reach the Walrus to grab the wagon wheel. Unfortunately she was still tied up in her own hair and started to roll along the sand while telling walrus to save her a piece of wagon wheel.

Walrus was so surprised he dropped the wagon wheel and the princess rolled over it continuing to roll ...........

.... to roll and roll right down the grassy slope. She soon found herself amongst a large patch of garden peas. The princess now just sat there staring all around her. She was feeling a bit bewildered actually. It had been a very long day and so much had happened . It was quiet in there amongst the peas. So very peaceful. She managed to untwine a long piece of thin rope from the scarecrows middle. And with a slight toss of her head she plaited her hair. Then tied it with the rope.

The royal princess felt in need of rest. Her eyes just wanted to stay shut. But she was also feeling hungry still. So with gentle hands she pryed of some of the squashed chocolate wagon wheel from her dress and ate that. She also picked handfuls of fresh ripe peas and stuffed them very unlady like into her mouth.

Then seeing a tap, she turned it on and had a long drink of cool refreshing water.

Sighing and feeling content, peaceful and so very tired she fell asleep. Asleep in the patch of peas.

Meanwhile walrus, Elephant, puppy ( whose name is difficult to remember) Snail, the singing Dude and someone else were.......

Dear All - plus Mary and Shell~

You have certainly moved the story along, though I'm not sure a walrus would ever relinquish his grip on a wagon wheel - though I guess you never know, perhaps it was a kind one

The princess was very sensible to eat the wheel she found, you never know when another will appear.

NOW I'd like some advice from anyone who might have an idea:

I've been on a diet for a long time and maintained a reasonable weight. Now of course without being able to leave the house, and in trying to deal with all the little upsets in life that are normally forgotten the impulse to snack is getting stronger and stronger. (Probably all this talk of wagon wheels has had an influence:)

I'm afraid I'm going to weaken and start nibbling between meals.

What do you folks suggest as the best ways to handle this?

Thanks

Croix (who does not want to have to buy a larger waistcoat)

One suggestion to take your mind off food is to get out and exercise. Exercise is one of the reasons you are allowed to leave the house. According to the Vic Police commissioner when interviewed on the radio said if it looks like exercise it is exercise. Is there somewhere you can drive not too far distant where you can go for a walk suited to your needs. As long as it is not a popular crowded area walking with your wife should be fine and give you a break from home.

Hello Croix

Now..I myself should be taking a leaf out of my own book here so...yes well..isolation is going to leave us on one of two teams...fat or fit...I am trying to choose fit, however being at home working and having access to a full pantry is a hard thing to avoid.

So I think having snacks that are healthy to munch on in between meals, might be some nuts or berries or some yogurt, but preparing for these times is what I find works, try not to have the Wagon Wheels in the cupboard to start with, set yourself up to win.

Also sometimes when we are "hungry" we are actually just thirsty so maybe some nice teas, herbal or hot water with lemon, some other way to ingest water as I find drinking water a chore. It does fill the belly up and also flushes the yukky stuff out and does even help with feeling refreshed and mentally awake.

Now with all of this good advice I should be a size 8 by next week.

I would love to hear also from others what they are doing too to manage the eating in this time...

Good luck and stay strong, keep the good snacks on hand and dont be tempted by the Wagon Wheels..lol

Oh I forgot to mention the third team...pregnant, but if you can manage that I will be shocked...lol

Hugs

Sarah

Pregnancy would be hard to explain.

Along with drinking water or whatever liquid you prefer I find having a long drink of water before eating a meal helps to fill you up a bit. You eat a little less at meal time so have some spare capacity for snacking. Use a smaller plate for your meal so you don't feel deprived. The meal looks largish and after your water you feel satisfied, though I cannot speak for walruses. Don't fall for the temptation to eat everything on your plate if you don't really want it.

Snacking is a problem I have always found. Of course you could have surgery but that may be a little drastic. Make sure there are no biscuits etc in the house to snack. No matter how hungry you believe you are if you haven't got it in the pantry you cannot eat it. If your snacking is helped by eating nuts etc that's great but again keep the portions small. Half a dozen nuts for example. Prepare some carrot sticks and nibble a couple of those between meals. Cut an apple into quarters and eat two. Eat the rest later (after the next meal not two minutes). Good for the diet in general. You can spoil yourself occasionally and dip the carrot in yoghurt or similar.

Find something to do that needs your entire attention. TV is all very well but leaves your brain free to fantasise about food. Fix one of your fixable computers, plan your next project, imagine how it will feel when you buy a size smaller pants.

Reduce carbs in your main meals and remove all fat. I have seen amazing results in weight loss with people who have done this. I knew one woman who lost weight by rinsing her fried mince after cooking. I asked about flavour and she said she added herbs etc. Going a bit far I thought but whatever works. I understand walruses like fish so eat plenty of them. Good for the brain as well.

By the time you have read this you should have gone down a size already.

Mary

Thankyou for helping me to smile Mary. Your latest post as some funny bits in it 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

My pleasure Shelll. I find it hard to take everything seriously.

Mary

Dear All and Elizabeth~

I appreciate your suggestion. Unfortunately exercise outside the home is not really an option a the moment. If I had my wishes Mrs C would drive me to the riverbank and I"d walk a little way along it. Sadly precluded ATM. Walking around my garden during the warmer pat of the day bird watching is the best I can manage, it does have it's rewards but sadly is not that effective as an appetite suppressor.

Mrs C does indeed go for brisk walks daily, accompanied by Foxy Dog, and it does them both the world of good.

Croix

Dear All and Aaronsis~

No, we do not fall in the trap of wagon wheels in the cupboard, or any other over thetop attractions -sigh.

Actually your idea of simply drinking (non-alcoholic that is:) sounds well worth a try, I'll see how black coffee goes.

I'll try and avoid the third team, I'm reluctant to make Odobenus rosmarus history

Croix

Dear All and Mary~

I rather like you idea of how to take a bath:)

Yes water before meals may well help, though it's not so much the size of the meal, I guess it's more to do with not concentrating properly between meals, as you have suggested. And you're quite right, when I'm absorbed in a project I don't tend to get the nibbles, though I do use coffee on occasions to take a break and un-dull the wits.

Yes fish sounds like a good idea, I'll mention it to the officer-in-charge of shopping (Mrs C).

And yes, having read your screed I do feel lighter - in spirits at least

Any more tips from others more that welcome

And now ...

-----------------------------------

Meanwhile walrus (with the unpronounceable name), elephant, puppy ( whose name could well be baby Inspector Rex) snail, and the singing Dude but not the someone elsewhere (who was still sleeping of the effects of that 3rd Pan-Galctic Gargle-Blaster) decided it was time for a sing-song.

After much debate they decided on the Rawhide theme, mainly because the first 15 words are easy to remember (and remind one of wagon wheels too). So they started to sing "Rolling rolling rolling ...

-----------------------------------

Croix

Unfortunately the princess thought they were making fun of her and she became very cross. She decided to sing in opposition and started 'Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream' as a hint but ......

I am certain I would spill the wine if I took it off my knee so I will concentrate on my book 'Fifty Shades of Wine".

Mary

Dear All and Mary~

I'm not sure "Row Row your boat" and "Rolling Rolling Rolling" is going to give the most harmonious of sounds, in fact in a small space it might be quite overwhelming.

Just a small space all by itself can become oppressive, and I have the feeling that is one reason for the invention of Trompe-l'œil. For those of who whose French is as bad as mine it means "deceive the eye" and can be used to make a small space seem larger. A careful painting or sketch is made on a wall which appears to be a a window or doorway, with something beyond.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe-l%27%C5%93il

has a pretty comprehensive description of the art, and there are examples like this cupboard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Antonio_P%C3%A9rez_de_Aguilar_-_Cupboard_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

and Jackie Kennedy's Dressing room.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kennedy_PM_Rudelle.JPG

I'm sure if you look on the web you will find many how-tos, both text and video to get you started if you fancy the idea. I think if it was me I'd try it out life-size in pencil on paper and hold that to the wall to see what it might look like, then go for the full painting

Croix

Dear All~

I think one of the hard realities of this society wide disaster is that things are not going to be exactly the same as before COVIR-19 hit - how could they be?

As a result, unpleasant as it sounds, using some of your time for contingencies is not a bad thing. One possibility is that the place you worked is not longer there, or has changed. In such cases you may need to try for a job. To do that the ability to present yourself in the best possible manner is vital.

One tool to use (and be adapted to cover differing positions) is you C.V. Actually having an up to date one is very handy anyway. Just today I used mine for something that popped up out of the blue.

There's a site that talks a great deal of sense, even down to what not to say! It's written with younger persons in mind but everything in it is just as valid for any age:

https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-careers/applying-for-a-job/what-is-a-resume/how-to-write-a-resume

It takes a surprisingly long time and some imagination to come up with a comprehensive document you can take extracts from for specific occasions.

Croix (who would really like it if somebody helped the princess' story along, I'm curious ...👸)

P.S. More indoor ideas would be good too:)

Hey Croix, I am not sure where the princess story ended. Did you write the last bit or did Mary? You sort of did mention something about the 2 songs 🤷‍♀️