Nellie Bligh

 

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.