Finding these glorious pink tulips, and daffodils was one of those signs - getting them home and popping them in an old jar made me almost squeal out loud with delight. Flowers are such a simple pleasure, and although I don't buy them as often as I used to, I do really like having them in the house.
Cookies are another pleasure here!! We made some of Nigella's yesterday (from Nigella Express) and boy do they taste good! It was bitterly cold outside with frost still shimmering on the shed roof in the middle of the afternoon, so it felt very cosy to be busying in the kitchen with the Little One, mixing and stirring chocolate cookies...
Not to mention eating them...
Ahhhh....another pleasure...freshly baked cookies, a nice cuppa and a good mag to browse!
Mind you, we are trying very hard to get that healthy balance in our little home, and cookies and Sweet Things are considered as a bit of a treat, albeit very Necessary. However, we have recently taken to eating copious amounts of this stuff too:
See that jar there in the middle? That's our very own blend of Trail Mix. You can use any kind of natural nuts, seeds and dried fruit that you enjoy, and I always keep a little tub of it in my bag for snacks on the go.
Ours has 100g each of the following, in case you'd like to make some yourself:
Sunflower Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Chopped Brazils
Almonds (the ones with their skins on as they're higher in nutrients)
Dried Cranberries
Dried Sultanas/Raisins
You can also throw cashews, pistachios and apriocots in, grab a handful when you're hungry - I promise it will help to keep your mitts out of the cookie jar (not that there's anything wrong with a bit of indulgence here and there though! :) It's great at boosting energy levels and is marvellously good for your skin and little internal bits and bobs.
A very Big Pleasure this week has been finding hooky time with the Sea Pennies Shawl. It's progressing slowly as I've only had the evenings to work on it, but every time I take it out I can imagine sitting outside first thing in the morning come summer, sipping coffee and eating breakfast under a blue sky, wrapped up warm in it's sea foamy oceany gorgeousness...ahhh, not long til we'll be doing that again methinks!
I also decided (after a practice and a good deal of frogging) that the larger circles weren't really working. I could then see very clearly in my minds eye what the shawl would look like made with 100's of small Sea Pennies, finished off with that wave edge - I think it's going to be pretty good!
Would anyone be interested in a Sea Penny tutorial? I just wondered if you would like to learn how to make them, and join them as you go...that way you might be able to begin your own Sea Penny projects too.
Let me know - if you do I will try and do a photo tutorial for you in the next week or so.
At this time of year when days are still inclined to be rather short and often grey and dreary, I think it's nice to have something to look forward to. Which is why I have exciting dates circled on the calendar that involve the Tent and Camping!! We are off to Adam Henson's Farm (the nice chappie off Countryfile) for a few days in the countryside come April! Oh, the very idea of getting the tent out again, my little red whistling kettle, that flowery melamine....
Remember this? (*happy sigh*)
I'd love to hear what cheers you at this time of year - will you share your thoughts with me?
Go on, you know I'd love to hear :)
Sending you warm chocolate cookies, a jug of colourful tulips, and quiet moments to appreciate the Small Stuff.
Love Julia x
