On Content

The wind is roaring around the house, rattling our windows and I can hear heavy sheets of rain smacking into the gable end. Its a good backdrop to our warm fire, it makes it seem all the more welcome and its spurring me onto getting this post written that I have been fiddling with for over a week.

Have you ever felt your finger hover over 'publish'.  I haven't until very recently. If I am honest about what this blog is for me -its about my voice, the writing, or it has seemed to develop down this route recently. It  grew out of having things to say and words that wanted so badly to be strung together. And crucially I wanted to share them. Not in a narcissistic way but in the way I want to read words and thoughts, loves, and opinions that chime with mine (and sometimes challenge), which I do in your blogs, your stories and the journalism and books I love. My favourite words are about experiences, the emotion of family life, of loss, descriptive content about ordinary and extraordinary lives.

Recently I have written a series of posts that are quite personal. I am happy with them, they read like they are meant to in my head and my heart, but they are something different and I guess that makes me nervous. They are however, just a variation on a theme, of me really, and they are meant to be a more consistent bringing together of my internal voice. I will post them over the next few weeks interspersed with my usual updates. As ever I would love to hear what you think. I appreciate you being here immensely.

Catch Up

So today was the day I went back to work after a restful extra week off.  It wasn't so bad and its always never as bad as you think it will be.

Here are a few Instragrams from last week (follow me @bindsyoutome). Some beautiful highlights of my littlests perfect curls, taking my big boy out for cake and juice at our favourite place, a yogurt pot cake from the new Nigella book was baked and lots of chilling listening to music and watching films.

And the snow is coming, its cold but despite it I still hear the woodpecker in the woods behind my house, keep warm, Jo xx

At Last....

It was a lovely start to the year for me to win a Liebster Award from Jen at Little Birdie. 

Here is a little about it - 

"The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow."

My 11 Random Facts
1. I am a trained neighbourhood mediator.
2. I write short stories.
3. Its my ambition to visit Paris.
4. I live in Urban Outfitters stuff.
5. I have every Nigella book. Love her.
6. I used to paint scenery in a theatre.
7. I used to be vegan.
8. I mostly wear black.
9. My favourite book is Bright Lights Big City - Jay McInerney.
10. I am a little bit obsessed by getting to my Body Pump class.
11. I feel most at peace in the woods.

My answers to Jen's questions
1. Bourbon cream or custard cream?
Custard Cream - split in half and eaten separately! 
2. Camping or luxury hotel?
Neither, renting a cottage is our thing. 
3. What's your favourite word?
Powerful words like love, hope and truth. They can change things! 
4. What smell do you like the most?
Real vanilla essence. 
5. What's the worst Christmas present you have ever received?
Mmmmm none really, I am very lucky with nearest and dearest present choice.
6. Which is your favourite season?
Winter 
7. Lego or Playmobil?
Playmobil! 
8. Who is your favourite actor?
Aidan Gillen 
9. Bright colours or pastel colours?
Pastel mostly but bright green is my favourite colour!
10. What is your ideal day off?
Mooch around some vintage shops, lunch out and a walk in the woods with the kids.
11. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I could live off tea (as in cup of)- does that count???

And I pass this on to the following blogs that I read and appreciate. I have tried to pick people that I don't think have won this before (but I haven't checked so apologies if you have - hey its good to get twice!)

West End Maw
All Stitched Up
Just a Little Less
The Striped Deckchair
Wendylicious Art
Goodnight Prudence
Thimbles and Crumbles

I know its a lot to answer and please if you don't have the time or head space to do it then even if you do the 11 random facts its always fascinating to know a wee bit more about people!

Here are my 11 questions for you - 

1. Where is your most favourite place on earth?
2. What is your happiest memory?
3. What is your favourite book?
4. What scent brings back the most memories to you?
5. What prompted you to start a blog?
6. What or who is your inspiration?
7. Favourite cookbook?
8. Velvet or silk?
9. Do you believe in Karma?
10. Lamps or candlelight?

Thank you again Jen and sorry this has taken me so long. Life just got in the way I guess. Jo xx

(Image above is Snowberries so I am told - They look so spartan and white in the woods just now.)

For 2013

There are a hundred ways to say nothing at all and a 1000 ways to pass the time of day, to talk about the weather, to prevaricate and to avoid. I have never been one for small talk. I've tried but I have now accepted, with age, that you need to work with your nature not subjugate it!

Speaking from the heart is never 'wrong' - To me things left unsaid burn more than mistaken confidences, or blurted out true feelings. As long as you live with kindness, living truthfully is my way forward and its my aim for this new fledgling year. Jo x

A perfect start

We had a festive season full to the brim with family and it was really fabulous. Things just came together and despite our catering commitments it all got done, people were fed, happy and we hope left with good memories. New Year was quiet but spent with D's brother and mother - we haven't all been together like that for over a decade. So that was really special.

I feel an optimism about these early days of 2013. I know others do too and I have been excited to read about all of your plans and hopes for the days ahead. My year started off with a beautiful parcel arriving from Bee at The Linen Cloud, I was very lucky indeed to win her giveaway of The Fir Tree illustrated by Sanna Annukka. Bee generously included lots of other things for me, and much to my kiddos delight some treats for them. I don't normally win things and to win this, when I am such a Sanna Annukka fan was very exciting. Thanks for your kindness Bee, and I appreciate your encouraging and kind comments throughout the past year.

I also was just delighted to win a Leibster award from Jen at Little Birdie today. Jen's blog is a constant source of inspiration to me and she is also a jolly nice person too. So receiving the award from Jen, and also to be in the same company as so many other favourite blogs of mine has been an honour. I will get busy soon Jen I promise!

To top it off today I managed to fit in a wee bit of thrifting en route to the park with the kiddos today. I struck it lucky with this fab 70's owl money box. I love its funny wee brown face! While I was there I also snared a pair of new Clarks black biker boots (just the style I have tried to bag on Ebay and always been out bid on recently), a lovely scarf and a cute H&M smock. If that's not a good omen for the thrifting year to come, I don't know what is!

So 2013, you will be good - of that I am sure!