Backwards and forwards

This morning I picked some baby spinach leaves and weeded between the lines

With the anticipation of a brand new year tomorrow I have been busy trying to re-organise the house (and myself) after Christmas.  It's a bit like at the start of a new school term, and being issued with new exercise books - I'm always full of good intentions.  Back to achievable lists, menu plans and keeping papers filed.  I've sorted through receipts, reckoned up the cost of petrol for the car this year (and was pleasantly surprised), checked through the utilities paperwork and sent quite a bit into the shredding bin and tidied up the sewing room.

Our new Year's Eve meal, made by N  - salmon en croute (the spinach from the garden was inside the parcels) and home-made chips, served on charity shop plates!  It was delicious.

I have jotted down some ideas for 2015, not resolutions as such but things I would like to do or sort out.  There are things for me personally (that's the 'being good to myself' bit and includes yoga), sewing projects that will be completed (but obviously that is an on-going list ;-))  ), challenges I'd like to have a go at, as well as the garden to tackle and quite a bit of 'snagging' in the house.  I hope that 2015 will be the year I finally make my own soap!  

This morning I came across this post from Frugal in Suffolk, a blog I've recently started to read, and related totally to the sentiments being expressed so eloquently.  Being frugal and debt-free is indeed liberating.  Knowing there is money to cover the unexpected is very reassuring but just because we have funds does not mean we spend recklessly.  We are very happy with the way we have chosen to live our lives and it brings us contentment.  Boredom doesn't cross our threshold and a productive garden puts a smile on our faces.  We can always find things to do because we don't rely on others to do them for us.  We try to use our time and resources mindfully.  Slowing down has been a lesson well learned.  Simplifying our lives has been a revelation.

2014 was a busy year for us with a house move (not without it's share of problems) and a wedding as highlights.  We've become volunteers, re-established contact with old friends, walked half the Wight (dare I tackle the full walk next year?), enjoyed some lovely holidays away, and were surprised at what we managed to do ourselves in the house renovation.  We've learned new skills and improved old ones.  

Next year, like that brand new school book, is waiting to be filled.  Whilst I may have plans in mind I have no doubt that there'll be a few surprises along the way - that's life - but I have every intention of getting as much out of life in the new year as I can.  I have my lists - I'm ready to go!

2015 - just some of the things I want to do:
try yoga
update/improve the layout of the blog
make soap
tackle some of the Island Trails (walking)
finish the bow-tie quilt
transform the garden