Here we are at the start of a new, fresh year.  I am not sure whether to think about the achievements of 2016 or focus on the goals for 2017 so perhaps taking stock is an easier way to get started. Thanks Pip.

Making: nori rolls with leftover Christmas smoked salmon and avocado.

Cooking: smoko for hungry farming boys.

Drinking: too much of everything over the
festive season.

Reading: my favourite blogs that I have missed
over the last week.

Trawling: through
children’s clutter, determined to conquer it, at least for a little while.

Wanting:a pair of shorts that are not too tight,
too long, too baggy or too short.  The
perfect shorts must be out there somewhere?

Looking: at my tomatoes, several times a day.

Deciding: how to make the most of these
non-school days.

Wishing: I had bought some new reading material last time I was in town.

Enjoying: the lack of school routine.

Waiting:for the mail.

Liking:long, dangly snake beans growing in the
garden.

Wondering: how best to manage the little
projects that have evolved through my photos and social media connections.

Loving: my family, even with our distance apart,
idiosyncrasies and at times irregular communication.

Pondering: a real holiday
sometime this year.

Listening: to the holiday programming on ABC
radio, I love it every year.

Considering: planting a second round of summer vegetables.

Buying: a few staple clothing items which seem
to be lacking from my wardrobe.

Watching: a baby goat hop, skip, nibble and jump her way
into our hearts.

Hoping:our eldest is having fun on a mini solo
holiday with my mum.

Marvelling: at an understated but special piece
of jewellery given to me by my husband.

Cringing:at hot cross buns on the shelves
alongside the Christmas bargains.  I know
it has been well publicised already but consumer choice really has reached
ridiculous levels.

Needing:to get to bed earlier.

Questioning: the unnecessary pressure I put on
myself sometimes, particularly in regards to housework.

Smelling:fresh basil and sage brought inside in a big bunch.

Wearing:long sleeved shirts, wide brimmed hats
and occasionally swimming gear.

Noticing: how one afternoon we baked sourdough
rolls, made zucchini pickles and slaughtered eight roosters, without any of it
feeling like a big deal.  Real food, just
saying.

Knowing: that time spent in and around the cool,
calming water in our dam is always time well spent.

Thinking: about the wise words in this blog post.

Admiring: pretty paper
lanterns carefully carried all the way from Vietnam to outback NSW by my mum.

Getting: bottles of milk ready to feed Candy Cane the goat.  Candy for short.

Disliking: lovely friends leaving our town permanently.
This happens often unfortunately. Of course, I don’t actually dislike these friends,
that’s not what I mean.

Opening: cupboards that need sorting.

Closing: the same cupboards in despair.

Feeling: like January is so full of possibilities that I am not sure where to start.

Hearing: big and small motorbikes coming and
going from the sheds.

Celebrating: the celebrations are over for now,
time to wind it all up for a while.

Pretending: To have it all together (aren’t we
all?!) Copying Pip on this one.

Embracing: the summer months at home.

How about you?

How is 2017 feeling so far?