A New Year

☆Happy New Year!☆

I know I'm a bit late, but it is my first blog post of the year! I do hope you had a good Christmas. We had a great one here with all our youngsters together and my lovely sister-in-law, A. It really was one of the best I can remember with lots of laughter, chatting, games, seasonal fare and relaxation. It also contained some creativity. A is a talented embroiderer (-ess?) and designed and sewed this lovely fern while she was here. She is very crafty and only started embroidering last summer.

I even put my crochet aside for an evening and joined her in sewing a quick festive design. I've got until next Christmas to decide what to make it into.



I discovered a little seasonal project here at the Loop blog and fell in love with it - a mistletoe garland. I mentioned my love of mistletoe before, so as soon as I saw it I had to make it, even though I had only a couple of days to go until Christmas and a to-do list as long as your arm. However, I was very determined and seized a few quiet moments here and there with a cup of tea to pick up my hook and get crocheting.



I finished it in the in-between period before New Year, and like how delicate and simple it is. All the decorations were put away last week but my mistletoe garland is still hanging on our back door.



I love having some books to peruse after lunch on Christmas Day when I feel full and drowsy, and this year I was lucky enough to receive some gorgeous reading material. A lovely book of poetry for the coming year, an almanac, a foraging diary and a book of mindfulness. I'm going to enjoy these.



Now we're all back at work and school (both for me - term started on 2nd January, so that put and end to the festivities!), and J has returned to university, it's time to look forward. Going back to work the day after New Year's Day felt like a bit of a shock to the system, but once we'd taken the decorations down it felt good to move into the new year.

At this time of year I'm drawn to anything that can replace the sparkle of Christmas. Something is needed to lighten the gloom of deepest, darkest winter, and for me that takes the form of candles, fairy lights and flowers - three of my favourite things in all the world. This little Christmas cactus has begun to flower and I'm thrilled. Last year I had one and all its buds dropped off, so I'm paying it extra attention this year. Isn't it the most beautiful pink?



The bulbs which I planted back in October have been in the dark of the garage until I brought some out just before Christmas. Now hyacinths buds are pushing their way up through the leaves and I can't wait for that familiar heavy, rich scent to waft its way around the room, giving a foretaste of spring.

Clover has been enjoying herself over the holiday and likes to spend the winter curled up in various places around the house, finding cosy little patches of warmth. It's nice to come into a room and find her quietly snoozing somewhere. Here she is next to the radiator in her basket with some of her Christmas toys. She so loves the heat.

I've realised that I have not yet introduced you to the newest members of our family, which is very remiss of me, as they moved in to The House with the Blue Door last spring. They are the sweetest little guinea pigs and go by the names of Luna (black and white) and Ginny (brown) and they belong to J, who loves animals. Although he is away at university for much of the year we agreed look after them when he's away and we have quickly become very fond of them.

Luna is very sweet and cuddly, the quieter and calmer one of the two - she can be quite feisty when necessary, though.

And Ginny is a skittish little adventurer with a quiff, and fur which grows in all directions. J named them after Harry Potter characters, and we already can't imagine life without them. These photos are of them enjoying the garden last summer.

See you soon xx