Aims and plans for 2017

Monday, January 02, 2017

Blah blah, blah.
Yes, I know how dull it is to hear about peoples' unrealistic resolutions to get a beach body and become a super successful human being. I can't deny that my hopes and plans for the new year include some aspirations but hopefully I've kept mine within the realms of possibility and practicality.

Something which has become profoundly clear of late is the realisation that unless I get up and take steps to making something happen, it's just a wasted thought. Get off your backside and make it happen or pipe down; that's the truth. Words are easy, but action speaks for itself.

With that in mind I want to make some simple changes to enrich my life and how I reach out to others. Firstly, I wan to be more careful with my language. Often in real life I swear a lot and it's mostly uncalled for (swearing at the microwave for example). Words carry more weight when used infrequently. Eating meals at the table as opposed to on the sofa is an important one. Sitting up properly and enjoying food instead of absent-mindedly lifting my fork up and down ought to be standard anyway, I've been so slack on this over the last couple of years.

C and I are discussing holiday plans. There may be some changes on the horizon.

Naturally, the obvious 'adopt a healthier lifestyle through a good diet, exercise, sleep and balance' has to be an aim although I don't feel like now is the time to quantify any specifics. Our allotment produces so much each summer, and to a lesser extent over inter too. I want to use more creatively, waste less and get the balance right of what we grow. Wasting less in general needs to be prioritised. Before Christmas we tried to eat our way through the contents of the freezer and it's shocking how much just gets shoved in there only to be forgotten and abandoned. We still have a bag of frozen strawberries from 2015 that were going to be made into jam... More homemade food would be lovely, simpler food and comfort food. Less nonsensy food. Drinking more water and less alcohol.

We already make quite a few things from our own and foraged seasonal produce. I cannot imagine ever running out of jam; even giving some away still leaves plenty. As well as strawberry and raspberry jam we make gingery apple jam, pickled onions, cabbage and beetroot. Rosehip syrup, elderflower cordial. I make courgette pickle - which has been fantastic and courgette chutney which also was a treat. Onion chutney, redcurrant jelly (sadly the recipe we followed didn't perform!). I want to forage much more. Nettles, roses, edible flowers and leaves. Nuts. More, more, more.

I want to grow so many flowers. My plans for this are coming along nicely and I can't wait to get started. We also have lots of vegetable plans too.

Keeping things simple is so much easier said than done. I want to make more things, be creative, practice skills, learn new ones. Make cards. Wrap neatly. Put thought into things. Completing the tidying and furnishing of the craft room will get things more on track with this. Buying a unit for storage will be a good start.

Supporting local businesses is really important to me and I want to further this as well as lending my support to good causes. Being more open and giving with my heart. Expressing more gratitude and really relishing the little things.  I want to write when it feel right. Taking time for myself on creative things, relaxation or investigation is more than ok, it's a necessity. The more I indulge myself in what I want to do, the more it pays off in what I have to do.  So no more feeling guilty about drawing a line under chores to break off to read a book or write up a blog post.

This turned into a monster of a post but it's superseded any kind of winter wishlist (plan: make it to spring) and it feels good to sit here, airing my thoughts. Oh, and I want to give the blog interface a facelift but that's going to take a good lot of time so we shall see. Plenty to come this year, who knows what, but I am thrilled to have you along for the journey.

Take care,
love, Sophie

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Sometimes I am sent items to feature as part of a post and these will be clearly mentioned as part of each post.Everything else is bought by myself. Any sponsored or collaboration posts will be clearly marked. Each post is my own content and all opinions are honest.