I was writing on my calendar today (doctors appointment, 10:40, Friday, Don't Forget) and realised with a bit of mild shock that there's less than a week left of January 2010 and it'll be February next week. So I thought that today rather than having my customary afternoon snooze on the sofa while Little B sleeps, that I'd pop in here to write my January Post whilst it still is January.
The above Attic view was taken on New Years Day, and the hills went on to become a lot whiter when we had quite a lot of heavy snowfall during the first week of the year. In fact, my view of the hills this month has been more often white than green, and very wintry-looking indeed. There has been such beauty in this view during January, and as I've spent most of the month indoors looking out the windows, I've really appreciated how lucky I am to have this view to gaze upon.
So :: a new month and a New Year, and I'd like to show you my new calendars that'll be taking me through the next twelve months. Heehee, I've got five of them on the go this year! Possibly a bit excessive, but hey, you can never have too much seasonal eye candy in my opinion, and really the pages of these calendars (for the most part) offer exceptional eye candy. Beautiful. Inspiring. Yummy.
The Laura Ashely calendar there on the left is my main writing-on calendar which lives in the hall and attempts to keep me on the straight and narrow path of Organisation. It has a hard job for sure, my memory really is shot to bits these days.
The other four calendars were all freebies which came with various magazines :: the glorious Ideal Homes calendar and the bossy Country Homes calendar are the same two that took us through last year, plus this year there are also calendars from Prima magazine and Homes&Antiques. Plenty to go at each month.
I do really love the Laura Ashely calendar, I've been buying it for a number of years now. The little stitched and collaged fabric images for each month are really charming I think.
This next one is the Ideal Homes calendar, and as we have come to expect is beautifully photographed. These images really do capture the essence of Seasonal England, and kind of make me breathe out with a big contented sigh and go aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Just lovely.
The Bossy Calendar has changed it's sponsorship this year :: in previous years it's been Laura Ashley, but this year its gone very woolly and is sponsored by British Wool. But it's still very pretty, and the Bossiness remains intact. Brisk winter walking :: chop chop!! Wrap up warm and get out doors! Well, yes, I possibly will make more of an effort to spend time walking outdoors this week, just as soon as I'm no longer exhausted by walking the school run. Baby steps for me right now, baby steps.
This rather brown-looking image is from the H&A calendar...can't say that January has got off to a flying start with this calendar, but it does get prettier and more inspiring (and less brown) as the months progress.
And lastly, this is the January page from the Prima calendar...pretty damn cute eh? We're in for a treat with this calendar, the images for each month are just gorgeous. Well ok, make that GORgeous, said with feeling.
So...a quick little summary of the month/year so far, quick whilst Little B is still asleep and I still have a snippet of day left to call my own....
Well January has completely rollocked by for me in a haze of sleep deprivation, recovery and adjustment, and has been one of the most personally challenging months I can remember in a long time. No two days (or nights) are the same and I'm living with the slightly disorientated feeling of Constant Muddlesomness that comes with getting to know a new baby. We don't really have any sort of routine going yet, and there's the constant flying-by-the-seat-of-ones-pants feeling that new babies generate. And then there's the Decisions :: ohhh so many, many little itty-bitty decisions to be made each day (and night) and so much guess work involved with babies! I would be lying (blatantly) if I told you that I'm loving every minute :: true there are some magical and delicious moments, but also a great deal of frustration and a good many stressy bits.
But I know this :: it WILL. Get. Easier. This is my daily mantra.
This week I'm feeling considerably stronger than last week, and every day a little bit more of my Self returns. I'm walking a little easier, sleeping a little better, finding a little more balance. Still haven't managed any hooky time, but have decided to introduce Little B to the cafe this week and give him his first taste of Thursday morning knit-and-natter. I am excited (not been since before Christmas!) and nervous (it's a small cafe and a crying baby will be veeeeery stressy!), but overwhelmingly I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and attempting to regain a little teeny bit of space in my week for creativity. Oh, and cappuccino and chat, I can't tell you how much I've missed it. I don't ask for much, honestly I don't. Two hours a week, that's all. Actually, would settle happily for one hour a week. Just the one will do nicely for now.
Well.......better go now as it's Milk Tanker time, it's been lovely to catch up with you all and surprisingly reassuring to find that my brain can still just about string sentences together and hasn't turned completely to mush. Pheww.
See you all soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
