Make time to bake. Once a week would be good.
Stop worrying about dust in the corners and have friends round to eat more often.
Take daily walks round the village and in our wood. They are such good places to be and I often forget that. All these images came from a half hour walk this afternoon within half a mile of our cottage.
This bench is my favourite spot in the wood. Here there are dogroses, hawthorn (blossom and berries) and a walnut tree.
Sometimes the girls and the Mr come with me to the bench and we have a mini picnic. Fairy houses are built out of sticks (above is the remains of one built in October). We will be coming here more often.
A kingfisher lives here. I didn’t see him/her today.
*Any good recipe links gratefully received.
** Perhaps I can weave my own granola.
Granola recipe here :o)
http://thequincetree65.blogspot.com/2010/01/granola.html
I make it every other week varying the nuts, seeds and fruit at will. We have a cranberry version on the go at the moment.
I love your photos, especially the top one.
All good plans 🙂
Willow weaving… that's a nice idea.
Celia
xx
Happy New Year! Love your photos… I like the idea of not worrying about the dust in the corners ( oops I do that already, perhaps mine needs to be the opposite!)
There's this one: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1590/goodforyou-granola – gets good reviews, probably worth a try! I may even have made it once. Now I don't bother and just have rolled oats with Grape Nuts (reminds me of my Granddad), dried apricots snipped up and chopped hazelnuts and flaked almonds. We used to make up a batch including some scrunched up Weetabix, but now don't bother with that either. Maybe my resolution should be to stop slacking and put some more effort into making breakfast!
Yummy granola, home made is my favourite xox
Hello there. I love that bit of the river but have never seen a kingfisher there. Next time we are there I will make sure the Beans are quiet and still and try to spy a blue flash. Granola making is very satisfying and very forgiving for those who never seem to have all the ingredients… ! Ax
I, too, avoid resolutions, although I have noticed that some things end up happening more even when I haven't formally resolved to do them!
Happy New year, I love your photographs! I love granola, but I've never made my own, I really should give it a go.
I do think it's OK to make resolutions – the kind that can be achieved and that you can recognise when you HAVE achieved them! It seems to me that yours fall neatly into that category. Willow weaving appeals to me enormously. I can't wait to hear more…
I love the simple plans for attainable goals.. I also plan to walk more. I'm looking forward to your silver clay tute! ((hugs)), Teresa 🙂
looking forward to seeing the woven granola…
Yikes a'lordy to the woven granola but I do own a secret urge to weave willow.
What a beautiful wood. You are so lucky to have it so close.
I love granola but ready-made is so expensive, I should look into making my own!
The east anglian landscapes around our homes are so similar, Emma. We are really lucky. For all things granola-ish I rate Jane's recipes at the smallbutcharming blog. Yum.xx
Have a beautiful, peaceful, creative year, Emma. Your resolutions are simple and elegant (barring the granola weaving of course) and I am sure you will reap the pleasures of having achieved them.
I am looking forward to seeing what you make of 2012.
Stephanie
Granola- yes
Woven granola-no!
The rest sounds good though…
Lovely uplifting post Emma and gorgeous pictures to boot. I need to make sure I get out more this year too x
A perfect post to end my week. Beautiful pictures!
Lou x x x
little moments. I'm convinced the secrets is in the little moments.
So hard to remember though.
I haven't made any resolutions either I've just said that I will try to keep my shop updated with more seasonal things like not knitting Easter things a few days before the actual day if that makes sense.. I like the dust idea, I might take that on board too x
gorgeous photos Emma! I think you would love willow weaving, although it can be quite tough on your hands. I've done a few courses, and made sone very wonky baskets!
You live in a lovely area, it must be very inspiring to have so much beauty on your doorstep.
If you need a willow weaving companion, do shout. It's been on my list for a long time too – did I ever show you my obelisk? Maybe we could organise a joint session with Nadine – ooooh!
My mum and her mate used to use the phrase 'muesli weavers' to describe the residents of a local village known for its endless craftsworthiness. I like the wood.
Oooh I do adrmire your craftiness. I'm pretty hopeless at anything like that it has to be said but willow weaving does sound fun.
What alovely place to live. Enjoy your walks. That was my resolution last year, to get to know the paths around our village better and we definitely have. A walk after tea on a summer's evening is bliss.
Happy, happy New Year Emma to you and your family!
Stephx
Excellent resolves! I think I'm going to bake less, especially as we are still working through the Christmas baking. I don't think I've ever tried making granola though
I think willow weaving plays havoc with your hands.
I especially like #2. And the daily walk – for me, fresh air = fresh ideas, without fail.
Worthy goals all. Perhaps getting out every day will help you enjoy winter a bit more. 🙂
Here's a quote from one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books: '"Throw back your arms and breathe deep, deep!" cried Laura. She knew that cold is not so cold when you are not afraid of it.' (Not that it's so very cold in your neck of the woods, by all accounts.)
Lovely photos.
Oh, you lucky girl! You live in such a gorgeous area. Good luck with your resolutions. And remember, just because you could weave the granola, it doesn't mean you could eat the willows!
Willow weaving is great fun, if hard on the hands. I grew up on the edge of the Somerset levels, I miss willow country!
Willow weaving sounds like a great idea, I would quite like to give it a go sometime too! It is good to have an alternative crafty 'hobby' to the one we do as our day jobs! Mine is currently crochtet 🙂 Happy New Year, hope 2012 is a good one! x
I've been making granola from Delicious Magazine recently And it's pretty, well, delicious. http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/articles/how-to-make-granola
Much better than the woven version, I hear.
C.x
A lovely country post x i ended up feeling better this year by not starting it off with an endless list of 'what i should do!'. Instead im taking each day and fulfilling it- making each day count. Rather than trying to live by a list…your jewellery i really admire, im sure your next crafting adventure with your wonderful talent and ability will take you happily into a hobby between your job. willow weaving sounds wonderful ;0)
I haven't made a resolution, but I've chosen one word 'lighter' to represent my hopes for 2012 – and what happened? The lights went out for 90 odd hours!
So enjoying Making Winter – a brilliant idea (and love that little beehive..) all best for 2012
I didn't make resolutions as such either but I did make decisions and plans tho.
Good luck with all your – esp the baking, bake before you go on a long walk then it will be cool and ready to eat when you get back and you will have earned it! That's my excuse anyway!
CKx
Excellent resolutions and gorgeous pictures – you are so lucky to have all that so close to home.
Here's a granola recipe from Amy Karol's Angry Chicken website – she put a bunch of recipes she makes frequently on one sheet and offered it as a free pdf to her readers. The instructions are minimal – 350 refers to the oven temperature: 350F = 177C
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/basics.pdf