last day of may

i think this new season...for me...has to revolve around simplicity and creativity.

i am very lucky to be at home with my daughter full time. i want to keep embracing the days we have to spend together and the simple routine we enjoy. autumn will bring a few changes because next month she will begin at playschool for a few mornings every week. i am tiny bit anxious about this. letting her go that little bit but of course understanding how ready she is. that changes have to come. it will give me a sliver of extra time to put in to my own creative work. my personal challenge is to try and start to work on bringing in a small income so that i can be there to collect her every day. paper fabric thread paint at the ready.

so a list of hopes...plans and promises...
the garden. keep on keeping on picking the runner beans and making sure we use every one of the veggies we've grown. that means courgette pickle. and perhaps holding back on eating so much so i can gift some too. i have a wonderful recipe which i will share. beetroot. any beetroot suggestions? and then there will be a tidy up. chop chop.

and the herbs to enjoy in stews and risottos. food food. lots of simple cooking and a vow to not fear yeast and get to baking with some. cinnamon rolls. i think i could eat one every day through autumn. the loveliest spice.  

skin. to see what is making mine so problematic in recent months. i am just beginning to try out using the most basic method of cleansing with olive oil. with a tiny bit of lavender added. can i stick it out a while longer to see if things settle? i was so inspired to read about rachel's advice...i'll revisit the subject and let you know.

wardrobe. a change and a reshuffle. refining and ebaying for me. definitely making sure i find a way to spend the toast gift voucher that my husband bought me last december. no i do not have amazing willpower or such a vast amount of lovely clothes that i do not need to use it...he didn't realise that i wouldn't be able to use it online. and so i need to get me a personal shopper near to a store! i really haven't bought more than 5 new pieces of clothing (and 2 of those 2nd hand) all year. that feels good actually. i am going to make myself something this autumn...but make more for elsa. and from the fabrics i have hoarded away. overflowing from the cupboard in my studio. pinafores and bonnets and tutus and capelets. stitch in to the night by the woodburner!

i re-read my words. it's just my same old list really! there are other things. thrifting and quilts and friends and christmas gifts that are on my mind. but to wrap up for tonight and looking ahead i hope to focus on the things that make us happy as a family this autumn. simple for us...plenty of music and dancing in the kitchen...and mum's plum jam.