Epiphany

 We have decided to keep the tree up until Candlemas, I think we did the same last year!  I'm just not ready to let go of its comforting presence and it is so cheery to look at too:

Where The Map Begins ~ A Blessing for Epiphany

This is not any map you know,

Forget Longitude, 

Forget Latitude,

Do not think of distance or of plotting the most direct route,

Astrolabe, sextant, compass

these will not help here.

This is the map that begins with a star,

This is the chart that starts with a fire,

With blazing,

with ancient light

that has outlasted

generations, empires,

cultures and wars.

Look starward once

and then look away,

Close your eyes and see how the map begins to blossom

behind your lids,

how it constellates

its lines stretching out

from where you stand.

You cannot see it all,

cannot divine the way

it will turn and spiral

cannot perceive how the road you walk

will lead you finally inside,

through the labyrinth

of your own heart

and belly

and lungs.

But you step out

and you will know

what the wise who travelled this path before you knew,

the treasure in this map

is buried not at journey's end

but at its beginning.

Jan Richardson, 'Circle of Grace, A Book of Blessings for Each Season.'

I love that the treasure is found at the beginning of the journey and not at the end, that gives me a sense of hope and very much ties in with a Benedictine philosophy that, 'each day we begin again' and listen with the ear of our heart to your words O Lord.

I will not lie, I'm struggling with awful inflammation in my low spine and at one point it became too painful to even sit.  I have some pretty strong anti- inflammatory medication that has begun to take down the swelling and the gentle walking is helping to try and shift everything into place.  I also have an Osteopath appointment next week, Praise God!  However, if I'm not careful pain can really start to drag me down, so having these challenges such as an outdoor hour keep me focused and distracted. Seeing the little shapes being coloured in on the nature mandala wheel is also a real encouragement to keep going. 

Since the 2nd of January I have so far clocked up a total of seven hours outside, which is no mean feat for someone with a chronic health condition.  It has not all been plain sailing and there have been times when I have wanted to stay huddled next to the fire, but every time I have ignored that inclination my spirits have lifted for being in nature.  This morning I took a very slow walk to the nearby river and I sat on the bench to soak up the sounds, finish my prayers and just be in God's presence:

In addition to the challenges we also have a joy jar on the table with squares of paper and a pencil and it is openly available for folk to add something that brought them joy that day.  I'm hoping by the end of the year it will be full of such moments that we can share and reflect upon.

Whilst I was on my walk Pip was busy turning this masterpiece into thank you cards for family and friends:

Christmas Week and New Year

Ben travelled back with Mum H on the 27th and so  we decided to be brave and take Pip out for lunch on the 30th as we figured it would be crazy come New Year's Eve.   In fact it was positively heaving at our chosen venue, however thanks to be God, we had a table at the far side and were sheltered by a huge Christmas tree.  I was so relieved we were not seated in the main part of the restaurant it resembled a rugby scrum 🙄. Despite the nagging Covid worry rambling around in my brain we all enjoyed our meal:

Pip taking a photo of her food to show Ben as he'd been out for lunch with Nanna earlier in the week - she had Chicken Caesar Salad.

Dave had Tuna Nicoise.

Mine was goats cheese and beetroot salad and sweet potato fries.  It was utterly delicious but I no longer seem to be able to tolerate any dairy including goats cheese/milk which is a shame. 

On New Year's Eve we had a visit from some friends, it was lovely to catch up with them and the kids had a fab time.  By the end of their stay I wasn't feeling too great (not Covid just a usual chronic health crash) and in truth I just wanted to go to bed but had promised to make dessert for our New Year's Day family meal and so I set too in making keto friendly Boston Cream Cake. To my surprise and delight it was a real winner 😊

Gluten free, dairy free and very low carb Keto cake.

I've not had a word of the year for several years but felt called to have one this time round and my word this year is 'Faith.'  My faith has most definitely been tested this two years and not entirely due to Covid!!  I haven't lost my faith in fact I'm incredibly grateful to have a real person who is so much bigger than me and knows every hair on my head that I can turn to.  What I have missed is living the liturgical year and feeling safe enough to attend mass in person, assuming we are well enough to attend in the first place.  My hope and prayer is that this year we will live out our faith more liturgically.

In addition to spiritual matters I've decided to have a go at three rather broad year long challenges - de-cluttering 2022 things in 2022, 1000 hours outside and adopting some of the #Home Front Solutions adopted by women and families during the second world war.  I always do better when I have a focus and even if I don't complete all the challenges it's the trying that counts!  I'm also a visual person and had a lot of fun decluttering some magazines, cutting out relevant pictures and making a vision board for 2022:

I love the phrase 'put a pause in your day' a reminder to sit down with a cup of tea and recharge and most importantly to spend time with God.  I've welcomed the return of alfresco breakfast and coffee time with God for the last few mornings:

Outdoor Hours Chart.

Welcome blue skies this morning.

Yesterday's breakfast on a rather damp and dreary day ❤️

Christmas 2021

 Merry Christmas one and all 😊. Pip's health continued to hold and we have had a lovely few days.  We spent Christmas day at home and travelled to Grange over Sands on Boxing Day to see Sara, Tom and Oliver.  Pip had a visit from one of her 808 friends today, they both did lateral flow tests which were negative 😊

When I was at Booths on Christmas Eve purchasing a few last minute items I saw this mug and thought that would be brill for Mum H!  How right I was 😂

A Poppy Present!

The Keto Yorkshire Puddings were a real hit, they are made with coconut flour, tapioca flour, xantham gum, psyllium husk, four eggs and dairy free milk.  Mum H said, 'they tasted as good as regular Yorkshire Puddings.'

All in all it was a lovely day ❤️

Epiphany

 In an effort provide some cheer against a backdrop of another national lockdown, an NHS that is on the verge of collapse and later chaos over the pond, we attempted to celebrate three kings day.  I made mince pies as dessert for lunch and then later in the day wrote 20C+M+B+21 Christe Mansionem Benedicta 'Christ Bless This House.'

I've made a good recovery from my accident save from the original low back damage done on a previous fall eight weeks earlier.  I'm not surprised we are on another lockdown but I am weary of it and have struggled to remain focused this week.  I have another commissioned cot blanket that needs finishing as well as my Doula training.  I have recognised that I don't do to well in spreading myself thin, so I've decided to focus on the blanket first in the hopes of being a bit more organised.

Ben is missing college and the challenge has been to find practical DIY jobs for him to complete at home.  Pip is really missing her regular activities and we have therefore decided to trail ban online secondary classroom for a six week period to see if that may help.  All in all we are doing our best with the circumstances we are in :-)  

Here are some random photos of the past few weeks:

We bought tickets to 'visit' The Old Vic in London for their Zoom performance of A Christmas Carol not only was it very well done but they also encouraged folk to donate for a food bank charity.

Poppy's face says it all!  

One very exhausted ICU doctor asking people to do the right thing, follow the rules and not to gather in groups at New Year.  Unfortunately we have COVIDIOTS that actually believe the whole thing is fake! It's so upsetting to hear reports that doctors finishing a shift are met with abuse outside the same hospital where people are dying in large numbers from this new highly infectious variant :-(

Dave and I saw the New Year in against a backdrop of Pink Floyd in concert.  Little did we know that in a matter of days a stay home order would once more be given.  Hoping that this vaccine programme will work - they've even deployed the armed forces in logistical manoeuvres regarding transportation of the vaccine, as well as any other required services.

Keep safe x 

Solstice :: Birthday :: Christmas

 On Solstice eve Ben and I sat around the fire pit with a mug of hot tea in hand:

Pip was twelve on the 23rd and I made it home from collecting our Booths Chicken and Veg Box order just in time for the usual, Pip was born here birth photo:

Our present to Pip was a grey desk for her bedroom and both her and Ben had fun constructing it, I must take a photo to share as they did a fab job.

In the afternoon we met Beth and her family outside and enjoyed a very cold, socially distanced catch up and picnic :-)  Beth and Pip took a walk along the canal and fed the ducks.

The Number 12 with more smarties added later, couldn't let them go to waste!

Hot Vimto drink, "Cheers!"

Cosy Christmas Tree Lights

"Happy Birthday To Pip"

No pictures from Christmas Day as I fell on the ice outside the back kitchen door.  Not only did I land flat on my back but I also hit my head and had a cracking headache for the rest of the day.  The Government changed their minds last minute, due to the new Covid variant sweeping through the country and you were only allowed to meet with one other person outside your family.  We were blessed to have a short visit from Fr L and so we sat in the kitchen with our coats on and the door open!  

Hope you have had a blessed Christmas regardless of the restrictions :-) x 

Loss :: Birthday :: Christmas

Exactly one week ago today (22nd December) my Dad in law passed away peacefully at home with his family around him.  Poor Dad has spent most of his adult years suffering with one major ailment and then over the last few years other problems had arisen.  These past few months had been particularly difficult and around six weeks ago I mentioned to Mum that Dad seemed to have lost the will to live.  Despite my comment though, no one had expected the end to come so quickly for in a matter of days he deteriorated very rapidly.  As you can imagine the past few days have been a bit of a blur but we are all working together adding our own thoughts and helping Mum to plan a funeral that reflects Dad's character and interests.

Dear Dad, May you rest in peace and rise in glory xx 

Birthday

On Monday 23rd December Pip turned eleven years old.  We managed our usual birthday photo at 8:38 am followed by a quiz whereby Pip had to solve a riddle to earn part two of her present.  I had fun composing the riddle in the previous week and had hoped to organise a scavenger hunt but that wasn't meant to be:

A Birthday Riddle

It doesn't matter if its left or right

and Cristiano is the dude in the frame.

With no hands allowed and a clever hat trick

It's skill that's the name of the game.

You need to watch your step

as I'm more lost than rather found,

I might be a bit of a light weight

but I have no issues spinning around!

What am I?

After some pondering she worked it out ... a much needed football since the previous one had aquired a hole!  We also bought her a whittling knife and flint and steel which were put to good use later in the day.  As per tradition Beth arrived late morning and as an extra treat we 'borrowed' her for slightly longer, so she stopped for tea followed by cake and watching " Nativity 3."  Pip's birthday provided a welcome relief from the previous 24 hours and was definitely sunshine on a grey day.

 Finding the flint and steel.

 My goodness I don't have bags under my eyes but suitcases!!  In my defence we did not get home from being with family until 11pm and I finally fell into bed at 1:00am and up again at 8:00am ;-)

 Cheers!

 After lunch bowling session.

 Using the flint and steel to burn last year's Christmas tree branches in Ben's fire pit!

Beth whittling a wand for Pip and Pip stripping the branches for extra kindling.

 Toasting marshmallows and all the best folk wear ...

 ... sunglasses when the sun goes down :-)

 Eleven candles on two cakes, ready now, one, two, three and ...

... blow! 

 Happy Birthday dear gal and cheers to a precious friendship.

"Friends are like stars in the sky, you might not always see them but you know that they are there."

Christmas Day

We managed to attend mass on Christmas morning, followed by our Christmas dinner and opening of presents.  It was a fairly peaceful and restful day which was sorely needed.  I haven't fully recovered from the virus that I had two weeks ago and once again I am battling with a sore throat and swollen glands, always a weak point.

 Building with Christmas Lego.

 Cashew nut roast and assorted vegetables.

 Playing the pudding ping pong game :-)

The tree and Ben playing his battlefront game on the play station; he saved his Christmas money from last year and added it to birthday money and bought this in September.  He has a lot of fun playing online with Tom in Grange, it is quite strange hearing Tom's voice through the television :-)

Hope you are having a blessed Christmastide xx