Farewell 2014

Is it just me or is the fact, yes FACT! that it will be another whole new year tomorrow really rather shocking?? I can't begin to think what it has in store but I am looking on it in a positive, open minded way. Andrew and I shall march forward and conquer our little list of goals we have written down and 2015 shall, I declare, be the year we LOVE OUR LOTTIE. It's a movement, a state of mind, I hope you shall join us.

Over the past few days we have been doing some lovely things....

On Monday we took Mamma G with us to Carnfunock for a lovely walk. We have been so lucky with our weather, no snow and only the slightest bit of frost so the days have been gloriously still, cold and rosey cheek making :) We were quite overjoyed watching some squirrels run about chasing each other and seeing so many little birds active and eating from the many fat balls in the trees. I didn't have may telephoto lens but this (I swear) is a squirrel...

The gardens were closed which was a downer as I really wanted to see what they had that was looking good this time of year but, hey the trees, the sunset and the moon were gift enough.

After our walk we had coffee and scones in the nearby Ballycastle Hotel which was so cosy and christmasy, if you discount the haunted turret and the terrible myth that goes with it...oooohh

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Yesterday we went to the allotment! I know, I couldn't tell you the last time I was there! But shockingly it looks good :) All the work we did at the end of autumn really paid off..we even have food ready to eat (leeks) and purple sprouting broccoli doing well (we'll surely get some this season). There are big plans afoot for 14b so stay tuned, it's going to be a good allotment year!

And remember :

Hugs and love and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Carrie xx

Happy Holidays

I engage in far too much negative thinking during winter. I end up with the darkness and the miserable weather invading my heart and causing it to be such a sorrowful place. It's very difficult to fein joy at this time; my chronic depression doesn't take a break and my acute anxiety goes into overdrive. I rarely go out, preferring to hide within a book and my blanket. Plus I don't really like to see the bare bones of the landscape, the deathly looking trees and the bare soil - it all seems too much like a skeleton, without life or hope there of.

However, Edith Sitwell said "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home". I love this quote and could not wish you, dear reader, anything more than this sweet feeling of contentment. It is my dream to feel it deep in my soul myself, here at home with my hubby and little Maggie.

Our gifts are wrapped, we have a carol concert to attend this evening and Mamma G is coming to spend Christmas dinner with us - the sloe gin has been an absolute triumph this year and the champagne is chilling in the fridge for 'jingle fizz' cocktails in the morning - hehehe. No matter my mood, we shall have a cosy home full of love and good food, may you have the same xxx

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The holiday harvest was taken from the Allotment today...parsnips, leeks, kale (we don't do sprouts!)

Andrew's photo collage :)

If the weather permits I hope to back there at 24a before the year is out! Until then my friends....

A heartfelt thank you to all who commented on my last post, we are healing, slowly x

With love
Carrie

Getting back to normal

"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er wrought heart and bids it break"
Shakespeare -  from Macbeth

We lost Andrew's sister on the evening of the 29th and have been numb ever since it. There shall always be a missing element and particularly at this time of year when it is so natural to think of ones family and being together. But we are thankful her fight is over and her life ended (though much too soon) peacefully.

This week has seen a return to the more common path that Andrew and I have walked together for many years. He has returned to work, housework is being done, Maggie getting tickles etc. We have no decorations up, it doesn't feel right but tomorrow shall be busy with Christmas present buying.

Thank you for your comments and best wishes from the last post.

Love Carrie
xx