Off to a good start

A week into the new year and I'm finding my feet again.  Getting back into familiar routines (homework Monday morning, voluntary work Friday, for a start) gives shape to the week rather than the vague drifting we've done over the festive break.  We're trying to fit in a walk each day, although it's been pretty wet this week and very muddy underfoot.  Trying to come up with a varied route of between 3 and 4 miles when the footpaths are almost impassable has proved quite a challenge.  More often than not we stick to pavements; boring but drier.  Never mind, at least we are getting out and about, and yesterday we saw our first squirrel of the year, running across the road right in front of us.  It's colouring was much darker than the usual russety-red (no grey squirrels here) - dark brown fur, which was quite unusual.

January will see us eating down the freezer and store-cupboards.  We emptied the freezer earlier this week, gave it a quick scrape to remove the ice build-up then repacked it, listing the contents as we went.  As usual, one or two surprises lurking in the depths, but all those lovely vegetables from our garden will provide some lovely meals.  With that list, and tins and packets in the kitchen, we will draw up a menu plan to get us through this month and probably well into the next.  I need to make  a veggie stew and a lentil loaf (to be portioned out and frozen) so I have some meals when N has the sausages and meat pies that I don't eat.  A quick (and cheap) shop at Tesco today, and we're set to go.  

There's been a lot of sewing and dressmaking going on, too.  Clothes being altered, new ones being made (to replace clothes that no longer fit), bags being repaired.  I find that I'm achieving more if I sew for short lengths of time, rather than the whole day.  In between, odd bits of tidying up or sorting cupboards, decluttering - any one of those odd jobs that keep being put off for a rainy day - well, we've had plenty of those, so perhaps it's not surprising that things are getting done.   I spent one evening this week sorting through papers, filing and shredding.  Goodness knows how I manage to accumulate so many bits of paper, most of which aren't necessary.  It's something I need to be more vigilant over, and get into the habit of dealing with paperwork straightaway.  Clutter builds up so easily and quickly and it's something I'm determined to keep under control.