Happy "In betweeny"!!!!!!

Hello!

And how are you my lovelies? :)

Hope you had a Happy Christmas.

My Christmas was lovely but different.

Usually I am busy, busy all day through but once Christmas lunch was done (with tons of help from Steve & my sons) well I was just about done too and spent the rest of the day in my chair with my Mom on "cups of tea" duty :)

I spent much of Boxing Day lying on the sofa!

But it was a nice time and I had some lovely gifts - an MP3 player with all my favourite songs on it. I am such a non techi person - when I unwrapped it I knew I'd like is cos it was pink and Steve had bought it but I didn't actually know what it was - lol! "Oooh lovely!" I enthused. "What is it?" I whispered!!

The kids at Sunday School think this is hilarious - several weeks ago they had decided to take it upon themselves to update me and had explained various modern gadgets of which I had no idea - they now are amused to know I have my own MP3!! It could not have been given at a better time - I am having many sleepless, painful nights so I can just snuggle down , plug myself in and listen to music waiting for sleep to come without disturbing Steve.

I also had money and vouchers, art stuff, smellies, slippers, a book, diary, pottery, eats and drinks. One of my vouchers is for Cath Kidston (swoon!)

And now the main bit of the holiday is over and most of our house guests are gone.

I love this in between time after Christmas and before the New Year and the return to work. Steve is home and the boys drift in and out with friends. the days are quiet and leisurely. Today we were sprinkled throughout the living rooms - some-one was painting, another reading, some were watching a film whilst others just chatted, and one poor soul was revising for exams :(

There is chilli in the crockpot and I am just enjoying being home. I have pottered - tidying the kitchen, organising food into date order and putting the longer dated stuff to one side.

I have been enjoying reading this library book.........





I am not a great one for making New Year resolutions (nor for keeping any I do make - lol) but I do make plans at this time of year - gardening, cooking and homey plans. In 2010 I plan to extend my kitchen garden, , try more new recipes, try to encourage others more by writing letters and offering praise and thanks more readily, become a little more self sufficient (this year I learnt how to make soap and candles - who knows what I'll get up to next year!) and use all my craft stash for this year's presents and cards. I have also revised my housekeeping budget and and my housework schedule - so that I am more efficient in these areas. Yep, this in betweeny time is a good time for a re-think.

Today I sketched out a plan for a new painting at our classes next year .......



I also relished doing stuff I wouldn't normally be doing on a Monday afternoon - I watched a Judy Garland film(Meet me in St Louis - where my US family lived until their move to Illinois), eating chocolate and drinking tea (and one glass of the naughty water!) whilst crocheting thinking - well at this time on a Monday I'd be doing the school run, ironing that day's laundry and fixing supper!!

And there is so much to look forward to - the front porch flower baskets offer a peep of Spring......

...... whilst indoors the second batch of hyacinths, crocus and this amaryllis.......

.......... offer a promise of some blooms soon.

So there is much to be thankful for, lots to look forward to, and plenty to do right now.

Hope you all hale and hearty and having a rest too :)

L.x.