Celebrations...

So, it's a double celebration here today.... Firstly I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and secondly Mothball and the Magpie is 1 year old today!!

Firstly - a New Year, how exciting is that? A chance to think about new beginnings, new projects, new promises and also a chance to reflect on the year just past.
2013 was a mixed year for me. I kept my resolution of trying new things - I began blogging, was a film extra, stuffed a rat, went outside my comfort zone LOTS and made some new friends. Work has thrown up huge challenges, I have struggled with anxiety and insomnia and have seen how quickly life can change when someone close was diagnosed with a serious illness.

Inspired by an article I read in The Simple Things, I have decided not to make any New Years Resolutions this time. The inspiration usually wears off quickly and I find myself feeling guilty that I haven't made it to the gym twice a week or that I still went to bed with my make up on and I never quite got round to reading War and Peace. Instead, the article suggested making a simple pledge that is more all encompassing. I liked this idea a lot! Plus it meant that chocolate and shoe shopping didn't necessarily have to be curtailed :)
I had also mostly completed my Unravelling the Year Ahead 2014 workbook from Susannah Conway which includes an exercise where you choose a word for the coming year. My word was 'Meaningful' and so I thought I would write a pledge around that. However, the more I tried, the more it sounded pompous and too self important when all I wanted to say was that I wanted to make the most of everything, every opportunity and to make every moment count for something. Like buying new shoes and savouring every morsel of chocolate and being grateful! I am still working on the wording for the pledge - watch this space.

And secondly, my blog is a whole year old! I can't tell you how exciting this is. I am loving blogging more than ever and through it I have already found some fabulous friends and linked to some other inspirational blogs out there. If you'd have suggested this time last year that I would have guest blogged with a new friend in America I would have laughed! Thank you again to Kristen for this opportunity :)

Here's to a fabulous New Year for all of you, I hope you enjoy it - I'd love to hear if you have any resolutions or pledges even if they don't involve new shoes or chocolate :)

Taking Stock - (from yesterday)

This post was written under the influence of a bit of alcohol.... then I had major problems with my laptop meaning I could not post it yesterday.
Today I am struggling to understand Windows 8 on DD's laptop and having to call for assistance every 10 seconds "help, it's all gone tiny", "How do I get back to....?" etc. I didn't want to waste my stock taking from yesterday so here it is, just 24 hours later. It's unedited and in all it's Sunday evening glory.

These prompts were borrowed from fellow blogger Marylin at Softthistle (I've just worked out how to put a link into my text - yay, go me!!) (please let me know if it doesn't work btw)

Making: Fruit leather from the billions of apples I have in my porch. Getting bored very quickly with the peeling and coring however L

Cooking: A roast for 7 people. Getting everything ready at the same time is always a bit of a problem but I seem to have opened the cava a little early….

Drinking: A glass of cava…... Well, more than one to be totally honest!

Reading: Hannibal – for about the 15^th time. I love this book. (Thinking now I should have put something more cultural??)

Wanting: All the elements of the roast to be ready at the same time. Just to prove I can do it.

Looking: Out of the window at DH cutting wood and filling our woodstore ready for the bad weather.

Playing: Ellie Goulding and Tori Amos alternately. Go girl power!

Wasting: Too much time on Facebook – the downside of having it on my smartphone.

Sewing: After the craft fair I am taking a sewing break. No more tweed hearts for a while.

Wishing: That I could decide which techno type tablet would suit my needs best. So much choice, so little technological knowledge. That and world peace. obviously.

Enjoying: Being in a warm busy kitchen after doing jobs in the garden earlier.

Waiting: For all my dinner guests to arrive – I’m actually feeling sociable (and a little fuzzy)

Liking: The fact Christmas is still exciting and I'm not too jaded with all the rubbish adverts/commercialisation yet.

Wondering: How much sleep I’ll get tonight – damn insomnia!

Loving: The prospect of a new photo prompt. Check out #decembermagic on Instagram.


Hoping: A certain friend gets well soon……

Marvelling: At the fact I have started my Christmas shopping and actually have some idea of what to get people this year.

Needing: Another glass of cava… this blogging lark is thirsty work…hic!

Smelling: Roast chicken and spicy fruit leather.

Wearing: Camo jeans (still think I might be a little old for these) and the biggest snuggliest jumper I own. Also very unfetching slipper socks.

Following: A whole bunch of new blogs – new friends, new links, loving it!

Noticing: The weekend is just not long enough.

Knowing: This week at work will be busy and I need to make sure I don’t overdo it.

Thinking: I really need another glass of cava!!

Feeling: Really inspired with my blog and wishing there was more time to devote to it.

Bookmarking: New blogs, Youtube guides on how to do technical type things and tablet type comparison sites.

Opening: My arms to cuddle stroppy teenagers… whether they like it or not!

Giggling: At the rubbish jokes we are telling each other. A frogs favourite footwear? Open-toad sandles!!

Hooray - now I'm off to dish up some parts of the roast, to turn up the oven on other parts and to refill that glass, just one more time I promise!