I'm writing this beside the fireplace. It's been such a cold day. Outside it's beginning to go dark, and the sky is looking heavy and grey. It is typical of November. Snow is forecast overnight and it feels like winter is approaching.
I don't have very much to tell you. Life has been ticking along quite mundanely, and I've been intentionally keeping it that way. I'm constantly being reminded of the quote, 'If you don't make time for your wellness, you'll be forced to make time for your illness.' So I'm doing my utmost to take care of myself. I'm prioritising getting enough sleep, and eating healthy meals. On Sundays, I've been making a big batch of soup, and dividing it up for my lunches during the week. This week, it's curried carrot and lentil, and it's absolutely delicious. Having something already prepared makes for a quick and nourishing lunch. It also means that I'm less likely to make unhealthy choices.
I'm still at the stage of only thinking about Christmas and If I'm being honest, I'm slightly panicking that I haven't yet begun any actual preparations. No matter how hard I try not to, I always put myself under too much pressure at this time of year. Perhaps this might be the year that I finally learn to let things just 'be'. I've enjoyed a thorough peruse of the 'Christmas by Booths' book - IYKYK - but so far I'm lacking inspiration. Maybe I'll feel more festive later in the week, when we go to see the Christmas lights in the town. Or maybe tomorrow, IF we wake up to snow!
Even though it's turned much colder here, I've been getting out for a few walks. When I'm feeling lethargic, I find a good brisk walk helps to energise me and lift my mood. The woods where we often go are looking really quite sparse now, and most of the trees are bare. The ground is thick with mud and leaves, and there's a damp, earthy smell in the air.
It can be a challenge motivating myself to go outside when the weather is so depressing, but if I'm wrapped up well (and as long as there's very little chance of rain) then I soon feel the benefit. And, of course, there is nothing more satisfying than returning home to a cosy house. Warming cold fingers in front of the fire. Or even better still, around a mug of hot chocolate :)
Last week, I enjoyed Lily's first secondary school parent's evening, and I'm delighted to say that she's settled in brilliantly and doing really well. The teaching staff made some really lovely comments, and I especially liked the one about Lily being just 'an incredibly lovely person'. It made me feel quite emotional.
Back soon.
J. X
Sounds as if Lily's made a very good impression at senior school, very rewarding for you to know she is settling in so well. I love a cold dry day, always easier to go for a walk, here we have had rain, no snow forecast. Marlene, Poppypatchwork
ReplyDeleteIt's been a huge relief to see Lily settled and happy at secondary school. Long may it last. Xx
DeletePotato and leek soup we love Jules. I agree with you about walking lifting the spirits. Charles Dickens use to walk 25 miles a day. No doubt meeting his book characters in real life. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying my soup lunches. I'll be making another batch this weekend. X
DeleteHow wonderful! I’m sure she is. Those photos really capture Winter. You are wise to take care of yourself. It makes such a difference, especially later in life.
ReplyDeleteIt is always bleak at this time of year. Xx
DeleteIt sounds quite cozy when you get back into your warm house! Now, I am wishing you might give us your recipe for carrot lentil soup!
ReplyDeleteI'll be making some more this weekend, so I'll be sure to post it, Kay. Xx
DeleteNovember is a wonderful month to enjoy soup and I agree with you about batch making ... it's so helpful.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that Lily has settled well into her Secondary School ... just think in another few weeks she will have completed her first term there! The weeks simply fly by.
Stay safe, stay well, stay warm and enjoy the rest of your week.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. Their time at secondary school simply flies by, doesn't it. And I'm not sure I'm ready for Lily to grow up quite so quickly :)
DeleteI'm really enjoying my soup lunches, and I've noticed a massive difference in my wellbeing, for just cutting bread out of my diet. Xx
Your photos are so beautiful, though, even when they show the stark scenery of bare branches and seedheads. I'm glad you are taking care of yourself and going for walks. I generally refuse to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless. These images pretty much sum up what November looks like in these parts. Xx
DeleteThat quote about looking after your wellness makes perfect sense. I know from blog posts over the years that you throw your all into creating a perfect Xmas and you need every scrap of your energy to do that (me, I just ignore it until a couple of days before!)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and what a wonderful report of Lily's first year at big school! xxx
Thank you, Vix. I often feel torn at Christmas. I like to keep things fairly low key, but then the expectation of others needs to be considered. It's all about compromise, I suppose. One Christmas I will get my vegetable lasagne, although it will not be this year :)
DeleteI'm pleased to hear that Lily has settled in well to life at secondary school. We always want our children to do well in their studies but I remember getting my children's school reports and turning to the very end to read the personal comments first, they mean the very most of all. We woke up to snow this morning, it seems very early this year. I hope it's not predicting the winter ahead.
ReplyDeleteExactly this! Naturally, I want Lily to be the very best she can, but that personal comment meant so much. Xx
DeleteWonderful news about Lily settling in well at Secondary School. Of course she is a lovely person, she is your daughter! It is nice to hear that teachers take the time to give you good feedback and have kind words to share. It got very cold over night, yesterday we had our first frost. It was a bit of a shock to the system to be honest, after a few mild but gloomy weeks. I'll remember the quote you are sharing from now on. So very true xx
ReplyDeleteThat's very sweet of you to say. Thank you, Christina.
DeleteParents evening went well, and it was nice to put a face to the teachers I didn't already know. Xx
I love that quote Jules, that is so true and so important to remember. There is indeed nothing quite like coming into to a warm, snug house after a walk at this time of year and I so agree with about it being hard to get yourself motivated to go out but once you are out you wonder why you haven't gone out before now.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear that Lily has settled well at Secondary School, that is so good to hear, and like others have commented of course she has had such lovely feedback, she has you for a Mum. Take care of you xxx
That's very kind of you to say. Thank you.
DeleteYes, nothing beats returning home to a warm, cosy house, after a walk in the cold air. The minus temperatures, this week, came as quite a shock. Xx
Glad the parents night went so well. The comment made me smile remembering way back in the day when my daughter was young. She's now 40....so it's been awhile, lol. I was doing well trying to get out and walk and managed quite a few days in a row, then the ugly weather was here and I've not been back out. I need to make more of an effort. I 'm not a fan of fall and winter. Cooking ahead sounds like a good idea, though it's been years since I've done that. Used to use every pan I had and used one of those seal a meal things to have stuff ready in the freezer. It saved lots of time and made clean up easier back when I was working lots of hours at the hospital; but since I'm retired it doesn't seem necessary now.
ReplyDeleteIt can be hard to motivate ourselves to get out when the weather is wet and miserable. Cold I can manage, but not rain, and we've plenty of that here today.
DeleteIt feels very satisfying to have my lunches already prepared and I'm feeling a huge benefit for cutting bread from my diet. Xx
Hi Jules!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to hear that Lily has settled in nicely. I relate so much with your area -as in my northwoods corner in the states it's very much the same: cold, stark trees and preparing for snow ahead. And I try to get out for brisk walks too as it sure helps with EVERYTHING at times it seems. I think we all do put so much on ourselves this time of year. I try to calm and focus on the gratitude and family and the real reason for this whole season ahead.
Blessings to you dear friend. xoxo
Until now, the weather has been typical of this time of year. Today, there's a storm on the way, so I won't be venturing far this weekend.
DeleteI'm going to try and keep Christmas much quieter this year, but I'm sure we will still have a wonderful time. Xx
Glad that Lily has settled in so well. Another milestone achieved. Your soup sounds delicious. Homemade soup here too keeping the cold at bay. Lovely atmospheric photos from your corner. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. Soup is so quick and easy, isn't it. Batch cooking is working well for me. Xx
DeleteThat's lovely to hear about Lily , that's definitely a good start to school life. :) I wonder if you have had much snow? We are at the van next wknd but I think it will be much milder then. Sharon. X
ReplyDeleteWe didn't get any here, Sharon. It has been bitterly cold though. Xx
DeleteAn incredibly lovely person – what a delightful comment to hear from a teacher. Very rarely does that happen, Lily must be a sweet and kind young lady, and you have done a beautiful job raising her.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand, let’s make this the year we’re not going to get panicky about Christmas – There’s still oodles of time to prepare, and for me, I’m planning on keeping it as simple as possible - At least for me, I need to remember what Christmas is all about. Here’s a link to one of the best posts I’ve ever read about Christmas it was titled Just.Stop by Rebecca Teal - Hopefully the link works, and if it does, maybe like me, you’ll find something helpful in it as we try to simplify and enjoy Christmas.
https://www.farmgirlbloggers.com/11023
You never know quite what to expect when it comes to parent's evenings, so it was lovely to hear such delightful comments about Lily, even if I wasn't in any doubt, myself 😁
DeleteThank you, Mary, I'll take a look. Any suggestions that serve as a reminder to keep Christmas simple are very gratefully received. Xx
I think I might make another batch of soup. It's perfect winter warming food isn't it. And isn't it lovely to hear nice things about our children. You are obviously doing a great job as a mum.
ReplyDeleteIt really is. Especially when I'm working - I'm making good use of my little flask.
DeleteThank you, Cherie. I'm so very proud of how Lily has settled into secondary school, and it's wonderful to hear such lovely comments from her teachers. Xx
You can’t beat soup at this time of the year! I’m a huge soup fan!
ReplyDeleteYou must be so proud of your daughter! It’s wonderful to hear comments like that and wonderful that someone else recognises Lily’s lovely personality. 😁
Thank you, Sal. It was lovely to hear such kind comments. And it was also reassuring to realise they do actually know her. Back in my day, the teaching staff often didn't recall the indivdual children they were meant to be talking about. 🤣
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