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January 6, 2012 By silverpebble 36 Comments

Resolve

Many bloggers have eschewed resolutions this year. I know that my own New Year’s good intentions have often been forgotten or set aside by the time Spring arrives.  Despite this I do have a few things I resolve to do more of in 2012:

Make time to bake. Once a week would be good.

Stop worrying about dust in the corners and have friends round to eat more often.

Make my own granola. The very word evokes jokes about macrame potholders, flares and lentils for me but it’s a good, tasty breakfast.* 
Take up a new craft. The jewellery-making used to be my main source of relaxation. Now that it has started to become more of a day job I need an alternative. Willow weaving is top option at the moment.**

Take daily walks round the village and in our wood. They are such good places to be and I often forget that. All these images came from a half hour walk this afternoon within half a mile of our cottage.

This bench is my favourite spot in the wood. Here there are dogroses, hawthorn (blossom and berries) and a walnut tree.

Sometimes the girls and the Mr come with me to the bench and we have a mini picnic. Fairy houses are built out of sticks (above is the remains of one built in October). We will be coming here more often.

A kingfisher lives here. I didn’t see him/her today.

*Any good recipe links gratefully received.
** Perhaps I can weave my own granola.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sue says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    Granola recipe here :o)
    http://thequincetree65.blogspot.com/2010/01/granola.html

    I make it every other week varying the nuts, seeds and fruit at will. We have a cranberry version on the go at the moment.

    I love your photos, especially the top one.

    Reply
  2. Magic Cochin says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    All good plans πŸ™‚

    Willow weaving… that's a nice idea.

    Celia
    xx

    Reply
  3. mandy says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    Happy New Year! Love your photos… I like the idea of not worrying about the dust in the corners ( oops I do that already, perhaps mine needs to be the opposite!)

    Reply
  4. Iz says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    There's this one: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1590/goodforyou-granola – gets good reviews, probably worth a try! I may even have made it once. Now I don't bother and just have rolled oats with Grape Nuts (reminds me of my Granddad), dried apricots snipped up and chopped hazelnuts and flaked almonds. We used to make up a batch including some scrunched up Weetabix, but now don't bother with that either. Maybe my resolution should be to stop slacking and put some more effort into making breakfast!

    Reply
  5. L is for Love says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    Yummy granola, home made is my favourite xox

    Reply
  6. Magic Bean says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:04 pm

    Hello there. I love that bit of the river but have never seen a kingfisher there. Next time we are there I will make sure the Beans are quiet and still and try to spy a blue flash. Granola making is very satisfying and very forgiving for those who never seem to have all the ingredients… ! Ax

    Reply
  7. Rachel says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:06 pm

    I, too, avoid resolutions, although I have noticed that some things end up happening more even when I haven't formally resolved to do them!

    Reply
  8. Miriam Weaver says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Happy New year, I love your photographs! I love granola, but I've never made my own, I really should give it a go.

    Reply
  9. Floss says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    I do think it's OK to make resolutions – the kind that can be achieved and that you can recognise when you HAVE achieved them! It seems to me that yours fall neatly into that category. Willow weaving appeals to me enormously. I can't wait to hear more…

    Reply
  10. by Teresa says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    I love the simple plans for attainable goals.. I also plan to walk more. I'm looking forward to your silver clay tute! ((hugs)), Teresa πŸ™‚

    Reply
  11. Toffeeapple says

    January 6, 2012 at 7:17 pm

    looking forward to seeing the woven granola…

    Reply
  12. Poshyarns says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Yikes a'lordy to the woven granola but I do own a secret urge to weave willow.

    Reply
  13. Anna says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    What a beautiful wood. You are so lucky to have it so close.

    I love granola but ready-made is so expensive, I should look into making my own!

    Reply
  14. Belinda @ Wild Acre says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    The east anglian landscapes around our homes are so similar, Emma. We are really lucky. For all things granola-ish I rate Jane's recipes at the smallbutcharming blog. Yum.xx

    Reply
  15. millefeuilles says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    Have a beautiful, peaceful, creative year, Emma. Your resolutions are simple and elegant (barring the granola weaving of course) and I am sure you will reap the pleasures of having achieved them.

    I am looking forward to seeing what you make of 2012.

    Stephanie

    Reply
  16. Thrifty Household says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    Granola- yes
    Woven granola-no!

    The rest sounds good though…

    Reply
  17. Pipany says

    January 6, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    Lovely uplifting post Emma and gorgeous pictures to boot. I need to make sure I get out more this year too x

    Reply
  18. Poppy says

    January 6, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    A perfect post to end my week. Beautiful pictures!

    Lou x x x

    Reply
  19. Monica says

    January 6, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    little moments. I'm convinced the secrets is in the little moments.

    So hard to remember though.

    Reply
  20. periwinkle says

    January 6, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    I haven't made any resolutions either I've just said that I will try to keep my shop updated with more seasonal things like not knitting Easter things a few days before the actual day if that makes sense.. I like the dust idea, I might take that on board too x

    Reply
  21. driftwood says

    January 7, 2012 at 8:42 am

    gorgeous photos Emma! I think you would love willow weaving, although it can be quite tough on your hands. I've done a few courses, and made sone very wonky baskets!

    Reply
  22. French Knots says

    January 7, 2012 at 11:06 am

    You live in a lovely area, it must be very inspiring to have so much beauty on your doorstep.

    Reply
  23. dottycookie says

    January 7, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    If you need a willow weaving companion, do shout. It's been on my list for a long time too – did I ever show you my obelisk? Maybe we could organise a joint session with Nadine – ooooh!

    Reply
  24. The Coffee Lady says

    January 7, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    My mum and her mate used to use the phrase 'muesli weavers' to describe the residents of a local village known for its endless craftsworthiness. I like the wood.

    Reply
  25. Curlew Country says

    January 7, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    Oooh I do adrmire your craftiness. I'm pretty hopeless at anything like that it has to be said but willow weaving does sound fun.

    What alovely place to live. Enjoy your walks. That was my resolution last year, to get to know the paths around our village better and we definitely have. A walk after tea on a summer's evening is bliss.

    Happy, happy New Year Emma to you and your family!
    Stephx

    Reply
  26. Gina says

    January 7, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    Excellent resolves! I think I'm going to bake less, especially as we are still working through the Christmas baking. I don't think I've ever tried making granola though

    Reply
  27. Fiona says

    January 7, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    I think willow weaving plays havoc with your hands.

    Reply
  28. Mrs. Micawber says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:42 am

    I especially like #2. And the daily walk – for me, fresh air = fresh ideas, without fail.

    Worthy goals all. Perhaps getting out every day will help you enjoy winter a bit more. πŸ™‚

    Here's a quote from one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books: '"Throw back your arms and breathe deep, deep!" cried Laura. She knew that cold is not so cold when you are not afraid of it.' (Not that it's so very cold in your neck of the woods, by all accounts.)

    Lovely photos.

    Reply
  29. Thimbleanna says

    January 8, 2012 at 6:54 am

    Oh, you lucky girl! You live in such a gorgeous area. Good luck with your resolutions. And remember, just because you could weave the granola, it doesn't mean you could eat the willows!

    Reply
  30. Annie says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Willow weaving is great fun, if hard on the hands. I grew up on the edge of the Somerset levels, I miss willow country!

    Reply
  31. Jenny says

    January 9, 2012 at 7:31 am

    Willow weaving sounds like a great idea, I would quite like to give it a go sometime too! It is good to have an alternative crafty 'hobby' to the one we do as our day jobs! Mine is currently crochtet πŸ™‚ Happy New Year, hope 2012 is a good one! x

    Reply
  32. noknittedknickers says

    January 9, 2012 at 7:45 am

    I've been making granola from Delicious Magazine recently And it's pretty, well, delicious. http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/articles/how-to-make-granola
    Much better than the woven version, I hear.
    C.x

    Reply
  33. Country Rabbit says

    January 9, 2012 at 9:54 am

    A lovely country post x i ended up feeling better this year by not starting it off with an endless list of 'what i should do!'. Instead im taking each day and fulfilling it- making each day count. Rather than trying to live by a list…your jewellery i really admire, im sure your next crafting adventure with your wonderful talent and ability will take you happily into a hobby between your job. willow weaving sounds wonderful ;0)

    Reply
  34. Freda says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    I haven't made a resolution, but I've chosen one word 'lighter' to represent my hopes for 2012 – and what happened? The lights went out for 90 odd hours!
    So enjoying Making Winter – a brilliant idea (and love that little beehive..) all best for 2012

    Reply
  35. Calico Kate says

    January 14, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    I didn't make resolutions as such either but I did make decisions and plans tho.
    Good luck with all your – esp the baking, bake before you go on a long walk then it will be cool and ready to eat when you get back and you will have earned it! That's my excuse anyway!
    CKx

    Reply
  36. Ginnie says

    January 18, 2012 at 4:21 am

    Excellent resolutions and gorgeous pictures – you are so lucky to have all that so close to home.

    Here's a granola recipe from Amy Karol's Angry Chicken website – she put a bunch of recipes she makes frequently on one sheet and offered it as a free pdf to her readers. The instructions are minimal – 350 refers to the oven temperature: 350F = 177C

    http://angrychicken.typepad.com/basics.pdf

    Reply

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My name’s Emma Mitchell: designer-maker, naturalist, illustrator, mum and now author. I’m an ardent fan of cake, yarn and hedgerows. I’ll pop a brew on if you’re staying… Read More…

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