Just a week into the new year but for some strange reason it feels much longer. I've always loved January, I think because it was a big birthday month in my family, kicking off with my dad's on the 12th, shortly followed by my brother's. But now we just have the one, my girl's, towards the end.
Yoga and tai chi classes re-started this week and I was so ready for them, not just for the practice itself but for re-establishing a little routine into my week and reconnecting with friends. The theme for our Wednesday yoga sessions is 'Empowerment'. I foresee a lot of challenging poses in my near future (not that they're not usually challenging).
The first daffodils of the year appeared in the supermarket so, of course, I popped a couple of bunches into the basket, and the hyacinth bulbs (blue, with a bit of luck) I planted before Christmas appear to be faring well in one of the bedrooms.
Typepad informs me that I read 61 books in 2019, which surprises me somewhat (I know it isn't a competition but that's the most I've read in a 12 month period since starting this blog). Some were memorable, others I couldn't begin to tell you what they were about (though that probably says more about my memory than about the books). Christina asked about favourites from 2019 and I struggled to recall the titles I'd enjoyed most. So I'm now trialling a simple (1-5) star rating system for each book I read this year so that the standout ones really do, well, stand out. The current book at bedtime is White, a shortish novel set in my absolute favourite part of the world, Antarctica. Just needs a foot of snow outside to add to the reading experience.
Eating chez nous is still on the indulgent side of healthy, and there are far too many sugary snacks being consumed, but the addition of two new recipe books to the collection should help to shake up the menus. Soonish.
In the absence of mince pies and Christmas cake (we still have non vegan ones), I baked a batch of fudgy, nut laden brownies using this recipe. I didn't dust them with icing sugar. Well, no point in over-egging the pudding (or whatever the equivalent is in veganese).
Although sea glass is to be found on the beach just a bit further up the north east coast from here, I've never collected it. Actually, I'd never handled it at all until I participated in a mosaic workshop last weekend. It was highly enjoyable. A group of seven of us got stuck into embellishing wooden coasters and picture frames with beautifully hued pieces chosen from a huge pile of sea glass (plus bits of driftwood in my case) using tubes of grout (I really shouldn't have worn black) after hearing lots of interesting stuff about the glass itself. The end results were, oh, how shall I put it, rustic? Primitive? Artisan? Rough and ready? I'll maybe use the coaster as a plant pot stand and I think I know just the place for the frame (hint: it's a short word, beginning with 'b' and ending with 'n').
The venue for the workshop was a lovely yarn shop in a neighbouring town and, surprise surprise, I took the opportunity to stock up on materials for a new project. I chose a straightforward pattern to knit a sweater (and maybe the matching hat) for the littlest which just might keep the fingers too busy to dip into the treats cupboard. And pigs might fly.
I'm continuing with writing a diary after using a five year line a day one since 2015. My new one is a much prettier version, a Christmas gift, and, over time, I'll enjoy reading the entries from previous years on any given date.
Something of a tradition now, I haven't made any New Year's resolutions, preferring instead to choose a guiding word for the year which, once again, I've also expanded into a sankalpa. After much pondering, I've decided to go with compassion. Compassion for others, for animals, for planet earth, for myself.
I'll give it my best shot.
