Year: 2018 (page 1 of 10)

The Last Day of the Year

Quietly and gently, we entered into the last day of the year. Our morning pace had a nice rhythm. We split up to do our run, but ended up crossing paths, so I got a kiss halfway through my 5K. Always a bonus!

I ran past a favourite farm and my little herd of cows were outside eating their breakfast. I shouted my hellos and carried on down the road into the village. I took a brief break outside the church yard before turning around and running back up the hill, I had just so gloriously and speedily run down. Going back up was hard work. But, I did it!

Then I met Mr. Michie at our favourite coffee shop for breakfast. As I was reflecting on my run with him, I caught myself and started to laugh-out-loud. Sitting across from him, I was niggling myself over my running time. I managed to shave a decent bit off my 5k, but it still wasn’t as good as it had been a few months ago, before a minor knee injury.

As I laughed, I reminded myself that I was out there. Running! That’s the point!

Before I started this journey almost three years ago, I wasn’t much of a runner and the last thing I would have wanted to do was run 5K, let alone worry about the time it takes me to do it.

So, as this year comes to a close and I reflect on where I am, I’m happy. There are things I wanted to happen this past year that haven’t yet come to fruition. We’ve hit a lot of unexpected bumps in the road, but that’s life; we roll with the punches and keep on going.

But through all of it, running has been a constant.

I never thought that I would be a girl who got such a thrill out of running. I’ve always been a walker, but running – no thank-you! However, I have come to love it. It’s not just the physical side of it either (although that has been very rewarding), it’s the spiritual side too. Running in the open and being able to see nature around me is meditative. It restores the soul.

So as we enter this new year, I’m going to keep on running. Running through the woods, running down the lanes and past the fields, running toward my goals and running toward our dreams.

The In-between Days

Reading through various blogs and scrolling through Instagram, oohing and aaahing at people’s photos of snow, which I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for, I’ve seen many people who have discussed their dislike for this time between Christmas and New Year’s. The general feeling is that we are in a holding pattern, just circling, waiting for the next year to begin. That these are the wasted days before the next big hoorah.

I don’t feel that way at all during this “in-between” time. I think this is the chance to truly relax, to enjoy the season. For the world is quieter around you and you can take it all in. There is a natural slowness to our rhythms at this time and I savour that pace.

Unlike others I’ve seen who took down their decorations on the 26th, ours are still going strong and they will continue to do so until Epiphany (January 6th) and to be honest, maybe a little longer than that. Then the twinkle lights shall be replaced by more candles and a handful of spring blooms. But we are still in winter and I don’t wish away these days. I like to revel and appreciate the season that I’m within.

These “in-between” days also hold another kind of magic for us, as today one of the inhabitants of this little cottage celebrates a birthday. So there is a cake cooling on the counter, dough rising on the stove and a birthday meal soon to be prepared as per the birthday boy’s wishes.

But, everything is still being done at a languid pace as we continue to enjoy the last drops that this year has to offer. And I think that is how it should be.

{Linocut Vanessa Lubach // Pinned HERE}

Christmas Preparations

The cookies are baked and stored in tins, a “Pimped out Pumpkin Pie”, recipe courtesy of The American Pie Company is cooling on the counter. The turkey has been picked up from the butcher shop and a loaf of bread is on its second rise before being baked, cooled and cut up for stuffing.

There is a pecan cinnamon-sugar star bread in the freezer, that I made a few weeks ago, that will be pulled out on Christmas Eve to defrost and rise again and then be baked on Christmas morning and smothered in icing for breakfast.

Christmas music is playing, all the lights are twinkling. There is an excitement in the air, but a calmness to our pace. Tomorrow we shall work on final preparations for Christmas day and then Mr. Michie said he had a surprise up his sleeve for me. We’re going to see one of my favourite Christmas movies, “White Christmas” on the big screen. I can’t wait!

It always feels as Christmas will never come and then suddenly it’s here in a rush and a blur of lights and noise and torn Christmas paper and I don’t want to miss a thing! I’m going to savour every moment.

{Image FOUND // Pinned HERE}

First Batch

Today, I started my Christmas baking. This year, I’m making three different cookies to bundle up and give away. The first, was a batch of “snowdrops”. These are deliciously delicate, studded with pecans and each bite has hints of honey and vanilla and all of that is generously enrobed in powdered sugar. 

As I chopped the pecans this morning I couldn’t help but think of one of the first women I ever worked with, Mrs. Moss.  Her job growing up in the weeks leading up to Christmas was chopping all the nuts and fruit that her Mama would need for Christmas cakes, cookies and pies. I don’t ever chop nuts and not think of Alice Moss. 

I know I’ve shared her story here before and I’m gonna do it again today. She was such a special lady. It’s funny, but along the way, other people’s stories become a part of you. Maybe that’s how we keep them alive, as long as we continue to tell their story, their threads continue to be woven into the tapestry, for their story has become a part of our own story. 

The story I shared of Alice’s childhood during Christmas, can be found HERE.

The first part of her story and how she met her husband can be found HERE.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, London. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Last night, we were lucky enough to have snagged tickets to the encore performance of The Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Like numerous other people, I’m sure, this ballet means “Christmas” to me and I simply adore it. It was such a part of my childhood growing up. I was very blessed to live in a town that supported the Arts and our ballet company and symphony would put on a beautiful rendition every year. 

I have wanted to see this particular performance at The Royal Opera House for years, but for one reason or another, it just hasn’t worked out. But last night, was perfect. It was the first time we had seen a “live” performance at our movie theatre and we were both truly pleased. It was a wonderful way to see something like this. I know there are elements you miss by not sitting within the audience, staring at the stage together, your eyes wandering over the cast, the sets, feeling the crowds emotions around you. Here, the camera controls what you see. But that didn’t bother us. We felt just as much a part of this performance as if we were seeing it in person. 

Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Marcelino Sambé in the Royal’s The Nutcracker. Photograph: Alastair Muir

The cast was marvellous and we could have not asked for a better Clara (Anna Rose O’Sullivan), Nutcracker (Marcelino Sambé), or Sugar Plum Fairy, who was played by the beautifully talented Marianela Nuñez. This year, she celebrates her 20th year with The Royal Ballet.

During  the intermission, Mr. Michie ordered us hot chocolates. So we started the second Act, nestled in our velvet sofa, drinking hot chocolate, covered with mini pink and white marshmallows. It was perfect! It was a truly magical evening, a wonderful way to start our week and one more enchanting Christmas experience we’ve been able to do this year. 

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

I forgot to put my shoes out last night, so only Mr. Michie got a surprise. It was a pretty big Christmas chocolate bar that was wedged in his shoe though, so I’m hoping he’ll share a piece with me later.

{Image Phoebe Wahl // Pinned HERE}