Blogtober Day 15 :: Tuesday
Back to morning walking today and out into the cold we went at 7am. When we set off, the night was still clinging on and I found that my eyes didn't quite know what to do with the low half-light. I felt like I wanted to open them extra wide to let more daylight in, and everything looked like it had a grainy black and white filter over it. The sky did eventually lighten a little (7.35 in the above photo) but my goodness it was a gloomy ol' start to the day.
Takeout coffees again for us this morning because the Mr is busy, busy busy and hasn't got time to stop for a morning break at the moment. I am so grateful to have an exceptional coffee shop within a few minutes walk from home, they roast the beans right there in the shop so you can imagine how tasty and fresh the coffee always is.
I think making time to sit and enjoy a very good cup of fresh milky coffee (or any favourite drink) is like morning meditation/gratitude journaling all rolled into one. I don't need to write down my gratitudes on paper because I talk them through in my head multiple times a day as well as typing them out to share with you here. And I think the act of simply sitting still and being in the moment (no phone distractions) while sipping a fantastic coffee definitely gives me a sense of inner peace and calm which would rival a meditation session.
Above photo - a most delicious salted caramel Stroopwafel, a gift brought home from Amsterdam by the big boy-child. If you look closely you can see I'd already taken two bites out of it before I thought to take the picture, I just couldn't hold back. My goodness, these things are good mood boosters. Way better than meditating any day of the week.
I was late heading out to do my food shop today because I was prancing around taking photographs and the morning simply disappeared in a puff of creative camera faffery. The front of my house faces east and it's definitely the best time of day for me to take photos, even when the light levels are as poor as they were today. You can see the above photo perfectly demonstrates todays gloom, it felt as if the sky was falling down. Oh, that's just reminded me of the Chicken Licken story - hands up if you know what I'm talking about??!!
No matter how gloomy the weather, there is always colour and joyful little visual snippets to be found if you keep your eyes open. I do try and remember this and practice what I preach (some days this is easier than others).
I sat and did some admin on my laptop this afternoon, online banking, repeat prescriptions actioned, emails that needed to be sent. My little desk in the corner of my bedroom is so messy and piled with random stuff that it's currently unusable, and I am quite ashamed to confess that here in public, please don't judge me. It would only take me a little bit of effort to clear and tidy so that I can sit there again, so I'm declaring it a number 1 item on my to-do list for tomorrow. You can hold me accountable.
Instead of sitting at my desk I sat on my bed, propped up with squidgy pillows and swathed in colourful crochet. I've pinched J's laptop lap-desk (which I totally ridiculed him for buying), and I hate to admit it but it's actually really useful and I use it all the time. (it's this one if you'd like to imagine it a-top my stripy blankets).
Bedding wash day today, it's one of those jobs that's a chore but the results are well worth the effort. I love my old soft and slightly faded Cath Kidston pillowcases, I have a lovely collection of them bought over the years (first ones bought in 2008 in a local shop sale). I made sure to re-make my bed earlier on before sitting down to write to you, so I know that it's all done and ready for me when 9 o'clock ticks around and my brain shutters want to close. There's nothing worse than reaching that shutter-slam point of tiredness in the evening and then having to wrestle with a king size duvet cover. Goodness, I do so love going to bed, it's honestly such a sweet spot in my day, an underrated pleasure especially when it's Clean Sheet Tuesday.
Now then, before I love you and leave you and sign off on Day 15, I've got something to tell you. Some news of sorts, well it's more news of forthcoming news....
.....and it's inside this big white box. I've been sitting with this box for quite some time, and the news it contains inside is BIG. This news has been in my head for almost a year, and I tell you it has been the biggest challenge keeping it locked up tight and not telling a soul. The granny square on top of the box isn't really any kind of clue, it's partly there for scale, and also to tell you that this news has made me very happy and smiley and I'm excited to share more with you very soon. The lovely team at Stylecraft have declared that Thursday 17th is go-go-go day, so expect Blogtober Day 17 to be all about The Box.
Something SPeCiAL is coming......!
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