A spring in my step . . .

I seem to have found my 'mojo' again!  I'm fairly buzzing with enthusiasm, energy and general happy feelings.  A very welcome change from the lethargy I was experiencing just a few weeks ago.  I suspect it may have something to do with the prospect of a new house, but I think it's as much to do with the fact that we recognised there was a problem and made the effort to work out what it was, and then do something about it.

Although I didn't make any New Year resolutions as such, a few days ago I did jot down some things that I would like to try to make an effort over this year.  Most of them are tasks or projects that I never seem to get around to finishing - or starting, for that matter.  Constantly being surrounded by half-completed tasks is, I have come to realise, quite depressing.  I know I am going to feel a whole lot better in myself if I deal with some of these, a bit like decluttering accumulated junk - not that these projects are junk, but they've been hanging around, sitting in corners or nagging at the back of my mind for a long time.  Time for action!

Here's the list I came up with:

• finish one project before starting another - I can but hope!
• try at least one new baking recipe a week
• make some Christmas quilts
• knitting and sewing for us - there's a long list of projects that are waiting for completion
• become volunteers
• make the effort to get out and about more
• read from a book list
• make more of an effort over meal-times eg tablecloth; napkins; crockery
• go through clothes, altering/mending where necessary
• make and use a housekeeping journal
• keep on top of emails and texts  - clear out-of-date ones
• treat myself, just occasionally!

So, how am I doing?  Well, we are now volunteering at the donation-centre one morning a week, and really enjoying it.  It provides us with some structure to the week, we meet a nice group of people, and we feel we're doing something constructive and worthwhile.

I'm slowly getting a household journal together, and know that I work particularly well with lists - they keep me focussed, organised and things actually get done.  Having information together in one place makes a lot of sense and I've succeeded in reducing the pile of little notes I used to leave myself, so that feels good, too.

I am concentrating on finishing my daughter's 30th birthday quilt before I start or continue with any other sewing-related projects, although I did have to sneak in a quick alteration to a dress as it needs to go off in the post asap, but it was on the list for today, and it got done so that's very satisfying.

And today I took myself into the kitchen and did some baking.

Last Christmas, N gave me two baking books and I have frequently leafed through the pages, drooling at the lovely photos of yummy-looking cakes and biscuits.  I have decided to just work through one book at a time, start at the beginning and make each recipe in turn.  So today, the first recipe was Stem Gingernuts.  I was organised, having checked the ingredients list in advance so I could buy the extra items I needed.  I had the usual problem of finding baking trays that are small enough to fit in our narrow oven so I had to use an interesting selection of tins to fit all the biscuits on.  However, the biscuits look just like the ones in the photo, and even better, they taste good and gingery!  I've made a few notes in the book alongside the recipe - I reduced the amount of sugar slightly as I always find recipes too sweet, and I managed to get 30 biscuits rather than the 24 suggested - so that will be helpful as and when I make them again.

One of the benefits of working hard through the day, apart from the sense of achievement at getting things done, is that by the time I go to bed I'm that tired I actually sleep.  A definite bonus!