Taking stock January Edition

These are always fun to look back on!

I’m definitely in holiday mode right now. This is my current view..

I love the afternoon light in this room. I’m resisting packing away the Christmas quilt from our bed. I really need to clean knitting projects off my chair so that I can sit there and write or read.

Anyhow..

Making: acrylic charity hats for Bags with Dignity
Getting: tired in the afternoons (nana nap anyone?)
Cooking: boringly mundane meals, spag bol, curries, mash and vege

Sipping: too much - need a few alcohol free days me thinks
Reading: Lights Out Liverpool (enjoyed so need to find the sequel)
Thinking: I need to get my brain in Kindy Director mode. Lazy holiday days are numbered.
Remembering: That I still need to post some Christmas presents
Looking: At windows that need washing and floors that need vacuuming.
Listening: to the birdsong, so many birds now
Wishing: Peace for this year
Enjoying: extra knitting time, and time in my garden
Appreciating: quiet time
Wanting: the cleaning fairy to visit
Eating: too much chocolate (put on 3 kilos over Christmas when I was doing so well before that!)
Finishing: a few WIPS and odd jobs
Liking: the possibility of baby cuddles soon
Loving: my new wisteria pergola
Buying: bunny hay and tomato seedlings - if they all grow we will have tomatoes coming out our ears
Watching: daggy movies on Netflix just for glimpses of Italy

Hoping: the cleaning fairy visits
Wearing: summer dresses despite it not being summer weather - thank goodness for cardigans
Walking: nope. Should be though. I miss it.
Thinking: I should clean out the pantry
Noticing: I am lacking motivation for aforesaid task
Saving: breadtags and soft plastics 

Waiting: for Summer weather
Wanting: my craftroom magically clean and organised
Coveting: Nothing really - just loving the feeling of abundance in my own life atm.
Feeling: Loved and lucky

Happy Thursday to you,

Keep smiling,

Nell

Xx

 

Happy New Year from our sweet Haven on the Hill.

I know it has been a loooooooongggg time. To be honest, I thought about giving away blogging altogether, but you know, after the fires, when I had only the clothes I stood up in, it was so wonderful to c ome back to this space, and see photos of my babies, and read Stories of our everyday life.

I’ve realised that I really only write for me, as a way of memory keeping, and keeping me grounded. I feel better when I’m writing.

At the start of the year I like to learn new things, so I’m teaching myself how to blog on the iPad, in the hopes that if it is easier I might do it more often.

Right now I’m enjoying lazy Summer holidays as the calm before the storm because this year I’m moving back into leadership at work - I’m equal parts terrified and exhilarated. I know that it will mean a steep learning curve, but I’m excited by the possibilities and looking forward to teaching the way I want to teach. I have a warm, funny, enthusiastic mentor, so it could be a year of amazing things.

A New Year always means new projects. I’m going to aim to make something each month out of my book collection “A year with my bookshelf” and also something from my Ravelry queue “A year with my craft queue”

2022 felt like I got the work/life balance right. I managed to finish more quilts than I ever have before (including a collaboration with Kirsty on a panel for Kat’s grandson, and a quilt for Narelle’s 50th) and getting 4 Christmas quilts done - one for each of the kids and one for the couch. I managed a few crafty weekends away too which was good (but I really miss Aldinga!)

Close to My Heart is ticking along. I’m running my regular workshops and thoroughly enjoying odd full day crops with my team. I’d like to do a weekend away with them this year!

I find “staycations” or holidays at home to be such wonderful things, because right now, three years on from the fire, and 20 months after moving into the rebuild, we are feeling quite comfortable and pleased with where we are at. We recently got lawns, and paths, and retaining walls, and the garden has come into its own. The house feels more nestled in with green growing things around it, and it has lost the “newness”

We had a lovely Christmas and New Year (my friend took this photo from the lawn on New Years Eve) It felt so good to be surrounded by family and friends, and for the entertaining to be effortless. We have everything we need. Life is good.