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Ruth Vorstman

@ruth_crafts

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Knitter, scribbler, reader, daydreamer. Expect walks and some fitness, textiles, landscapes, architecture, theatre.

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It says something about my work (in Sustainability) that my reaction to this sight was: 'yay, there's going to be recycling provision on my commute' (very definite win), closely followed by 'where's the food waste to go, then?'. I'm now looking forward to the update to the update, @westmidlandsrailway , when the food waste bins are put in and the full benefits of Simpler Recycling are actually delivered #westmidlandsrailway #recycling #reducewastetolandfill a paired bin set-up (and now I consider accessibility I wonder how visually impaired people access this?!) At the rear: a black bin holder, labelled 'non-recyclable waste' and clearly noting 'no food' and 'no glass'; at the front: a green bin holder, labelled 'dry mixed recycling' - paper, card, plastic bottles, aluminium & steel cans - clearly noting 'no food' and 'no glass' (as well as 'no liquids') by @ruth_crafts

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4 months ago

Morning break - levelling up for D&D (may have had a minor altercation turn into a *healers' down and out, rescued by the Rogue* incident), mentally preparing for batch cooks and grateful for sunshine, 'new year' energy, and yoga.

#IveGotABearInMyCoffee #MorningPages #MakeItDnD #SeptemberStarts by @ruth_crafts

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10 months ago

Hot girl summer dinner win - everyone else is either grazing on bread rolls or has stuffed themselves at the summer fete. I have one of three *large* portions of roasted veg & squash bulgur wheat salad with goats cheese (and a mini pork pie), and in a bid to make space in the freezer (batch cook day) a soda with orange, rosemary & cranberry ice cubes.

#HotGirlSummer #saladsforhotdays by @ruth_crafts

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a year ago

Your semi-regular post rehearsal reminder that if you fancy a choral evensong, are in or near Malvern, or have access to youtube (no, I don't have the link), then I'll be singing Batten's O Sing Joyfully, Responses by Byrd, Mag & Nunc by Sumsion in A, and Like as the Hart Desireth the Waterbrooks (Howells) next Sunday evening, 22 June, from 18:30 (BST) at Holy Trinity Church, WR14 4LR

(facetious yet honest question: has Like as the Hart been co-opted for thirst trap memeification yet?)

#choralevensong #holytrinityaugmentedchoir #singing A flyer for Choral evensong sits on a wooden ledge, surrounded by Maltesers, wine, and a large soft drink by @ruth_crafts

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a year ago

Finally taking the plunge now I've completed *half* the distance planned (practice walk on Holy Saturday took in 8 hills and 11km): on 3 May I will be walking the 19km of the Malvern Hills end to end as part of the Mayor's Peak Challenge, raising funds for Malvern Cube Youth.

(Link to support is in bio - any donation is very much appreciated!)

Why am I taking this on? Personally, it's time to up the ante - from regular walking built into my daily life (and chaos), to a real distance (19km) and serious elevation (I'm not looking at the numbers, but there are something like 13 peaks in the chain, and several of them you go up, just to go down... I last walked the end-to-end for St Richards Hospice 2 childbirths, 4 pregnancies, over 7 years ago. So that's me: taking on a personal challenge, seeing what I can do.

More importantly, why do I think this fund is important? Yes, I love Malvern Cube; yes I applaud all that's been done to bring together the community in this space: the U3A, NCT and Cube Youth all have a presence; but more importantly, I think it is *crucial* that youth services be supported. We all know that youth mental health services are under-resourced, over-stretched and under increasing demand. We also spend an inordinate amount of energy hand-wringing about the time our young people spend on their phones/devices. Where else should they find community? Where is there for them to go, to find their own identities in safe spaces? I went to the park last weekend, where a bunch of teens were using the swings, and a person I was near commented on how 'not everyone here seems to be a child'. What else are they? and where are they supposed to go? Cube Youth provide one such place, locally to me, so it seems only right to support them.

#inclusion #youth #BuildingCommunity #YouthMentalHealth by @ruth_crafts

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a year ago

At the beginning of the month, I thought idly about having a finishing focus in February. I had Christmas stitching & knitting that was lingering, and I wanted to make more time for crafting, while maintaining the 'progress' element & not just starting all the things.

So here's the haul (and no I'm not going to admit how much of these got done today!): 2 pairs of space pyjamas (fabric from #croftmill), in #brindilleettwig patterns (#RingerTee, #PuffPants, and #CuffedPants I think), a somewhat delayed festive Gingerbread #RingerTee one pair of #MonkeySocks in #birdstreetyarn #MistletoeKisses, and one pair of my own improv pattern, in #OwlAboutYarn #AutumnLeaves self-striping.

The latter is the longest 'in-progress' - cast on when I was in labour with my first-born (for whom the larger pjs are made).

Not bad, though I need to improve my 'little and often' rate!

#ahandmadelife
#aknitterslife
#reallife by @ruth_crafts

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a year ago

Listening to #WhatNow with Trevor Noah & Robert Putnam on social capital (and the crucial importance for both mental health and giving people a sense of community and connection) as I walk into sing this morning, and remember the #MalvernMaleVoiceChoir taster evening tomorrow

#malvernhills #singing #reallife by @ruth_crafts

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a year ago

New year, same me: this pair of socks *will* get knit; second sock progress after choir practice tonight. The pub's quiet, mind. The cold, the storm, or dry January?

#reallife #aknitterslife #amumslife #outoutonmyown by @ruth_crafts

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2 years ago

The recipe... the reality - not bad at all! My 'adventures' (i say that because 'trek' will make me sad) in batch cooking saw this chorizo, chickpea & fennel tagine made yesterday with one half eaten and the other half frozen for a dinner mid week. #batchcookbook seems to work, though it reads to me as a book written to match a trend, by someone who enjoys cooking to entertain and isn't responsible for 9+ meals a week for 4, most of which need to be ready within an hour of finishing a 7.5 hour working day.

Do you have favourite easy-freezable meals? we've had a shift here from quick-cooks to 'cooks from fridge/freezer' because of working patterns / family life patterns and I'm very much collecting recipes!

#homemadefood #ahandmadelife #cooking #familymeals a recipe book on a work surface, open to a page which shows a hearty-looking chickpea & tomato stew-thing by @ruth_crafts

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2 years ago

Actual footage of new year journalling - is this a new me? I hope it's an evolution: I've been using task and time management to help me outsource my brain to apps for a couple of years, but have come to realise that I need to invest more time to reflection, and to carving out time where possible for my priorities. So, @knitsonik to the rescue - I've started her fabulous bullet journalling course.

This suddenly feels more like LinkedIn content, but I'm a full year postpartum, and it also feels like the right time to hold onto personal development and learning; to remember that I am not 'done' professionally, and to keep on nudging the juggle.

(And yes, I've leant *heavily* into the ND need for three drinks this morning)

#journalling #buildinghabits #settingintentions #courseprogress by @ruth_crafts

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2 years ago

Christmas sock project progress. Onto the first toe! #mistletoekisses from #birdstreetyarn with berry heel & toe from #thelittlegreygirl festive minis from 2023, in the #knitty classic, #monkeysocks

Beautiful knit so far, so just hoping I can avoid second sock challenges... by @ruth_crafts

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2 years ago

Well, we made it! And I think I have a new 'standard' birthday cake recipe, so that's a win too ☺️

One whole year of our rainbow baby full of joy, giggles, dimples and (now) very toothy grins - along with the roars and wails of she who has not been fed / who has been cruelly abandoned / who has bitten her own finger. Nowhere is safe, and no-one should be alone - if there's a box, we need to be with it; if there's a piece of crockery, we need to grab it. We're chatting without words, crawling with purpose, and cruising without a plan.

#RainbowBaby #OneYearOld #HappyBirthday #Cake by @ruth_crafts

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2 years ago