Dear you,

It's been a while since you've written a letter. It's been even longer since you've received one. Letters are powerful things; they make your heart soar as they flop through the letterbox, wondering who could be sending you something that isn't a bill, an advertising leaflet, or a frustrating 'Sorry We Missed You' card. It's heart-warming to realise that someone cares enough, in this technologically-focused society, to put pen to paper and pour their thoughts, feelings, ideas and musings out before you with openness and honesty.

You tried, a few times, to recapture the art of letter-writing. You even sent a few out once. But the effort, the very act of setting aside time for others - even with the kindest of folk - can sometimes be a struggle. Life gets in the way. Emails marked 'High Importance' need responding to within moments, dirty crockery that has graced your work surfaces for longer than it should have needs washing, clothes need putting away, the bills need paying... and so it goes on. There will always be an excuse. There will always be something you should be doing.

So it's time to stop. Stop trying to please everyone all the time. Stop trying to be the best at everything and instead focus on doing the best you can do with the time and tools available. Stop making excuses and start prioritising. Family. Friends. Love. Laughter. Without these, what's the point? Start being kinder and make time for others without watching the minutes tick by, anxiously contemplating when your to-do list is going to diminish. You need to realise that it never will, not now, not ever.

I don't really know where all this has come from. Sometimes you sit down and the words just appear on the page without you really realising their origins. Sometimes that's the best way.

This is the first letter, but not the last. Keep going.

Love me.

Photo via Unsplash.

February is all about… the end of winter, vast numbers of pancakes, the start of lent and being thankful for love.

Something to eat: Pancakes! Every time my mum asked me what I wanted to eat as a child I would reply pancakes. They were for special occasions only, and I remember savouring every last bite and always wanting just one more. Today I eat them as I have always done with a sprinkling of sugar and far too much lemon juice. Want a fool-proof recipe? You can never go wrong with Delia.

Something to visit: For those with children or those who work in education, February means half-term. Check out fun activities or places to visit in your area with the National Trust - perfect for making the most of the great outdoors as spring unfurls.

Something to make: DIY chalkboard mugs are the perfect way to show a loved one you care, or to have a little fun with during the office tea break. Check out this easy tutorial here.

Something to celebrate: Valentine's Day. Love it or loathe it, celebrate it or boycott it, it's definitely here to stay, and it explodes onto our radar in the middle of this month. Dan and I don't usually go out for dinner or have a traditional Valentine's date as such, but we do like to try and spend it together, appreciating each other's company and taking a step back to be thankful for what we have.

Something a bit different: Start Valentine's Day as you mean to go on and give alphabet dating a try. Simply plan a date based on each letter of the alphabet - this could be bi-weekly, monthly, or however often you choose.

Purple

Green

Orange and Red Inspired by Sarah over at Mitenska, I spent a quiet evening alone this week sorting through photos that I have taken over the past year for this blog and segmenting them into colours. Colour is such a powerful influencer of mood in our lives and as reminiscing over past events, moments in time and progression in the garden can also have the same effect for me it was a lovely hour or so well spent.

Purple, green and rich burnt oranges and reds have always been among my favourites; rich earthy, jewel-like tones appear on my nails, in my home and in my flower vases. Although I can appreciate the elegance of pastels, it is the urgency and passion of these colours that really appeals.

Which colours are you drawn to?

I've never been one to shy away from early mornings. As teenagers, my sister and I would be ready to leave the house for school by 7.45am at the latest and sometimes we would rise early with my dad on a Sunday to bake bread and enjoy an early breakfast bun straight from the oven. As I've grown older and wiser, these habits have not only continued but have developed into a set routine. On a weekday, my alarm sounds at 5.50am after half an hour of my new lumie clock awakening my senses, tricking me into thinking the sun is already peeping over the horizon, and I haul myself out of bed just after 6am. Weekends can vary, but I'm usually up by 7.30am and often rise earlier. I like routine. I like the feeling of getting out of bed and realising that I'm the only one in the house on the move, but my routines are slackening.

With a puppy whining for attention and an old house without a working shower (only baths for us!) it can be very difficult to find any time at all for myself. Roll the clock back seven or eight months and I'd have time to write a blog post or two and still leave the house for work at 7.15am, but I feel like I'm losing grip of this previous, quiet time. So I've decided to reclaim my mornings; starting tomorrow I'm going to inch back the alarm until 5.20am is once again bearable. Here's why:

1. I like silence. Some people can't stand it, they need noise to feel relaxed, at ease, but for me the absence of sound is when I can truly allow my mind to rest. Before the sun rises sound is at a minimum: no whirring of the boiler; no cars rushing on the roads; no TV or radio blaring out; just the stillness of the morning.
2. Making exercise a priority is something I have put off for far too long. The problem is that once I get back from work and make dinner, any motivation to get moving again is long gone. So to solve this, I'm going to try to get moving in a morning instead.
3. I want to enjoy eating breakfast again. A rushed slice of toast as I fling open the car door, or a half eaten cereal bar once I get to work does not an exciting start to the day make. Having time to make porridge or even pancakes on those days where I need a lift is definitely something I want to focus on.

Do you have a morning routine? Do you find it easier to get things done in the quiet of the early mornings?

Joining in with Laura's The Year in Books last year was really one of the highlights of my blogging journey thus far. I have always devoured books with a passion, but when I started my new job a couple of years ago I found that reading quickly fell to the bottom of the pile of priorities that never seemed to get any smaller. Selecting one book to read over the month has pushed me to find time for reading whenever I can: snatched moments before the sun rises; relaxing for longer than perhaps I should with a book in the bath; sprawled on the sofa in front of a roaring fire. As a result, I managed to read slightly more books over the year than the aim of twelve, so this year I'm continuing. Alongside I'll be reading books for a book club I am becoming involved with; sometimes the books will be the same (like this month) but sometimes I'll be trying to get through two.

This month I'm reading The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. As it has received rave reviews from both critics and friends alike, I'm looking forward to delving into the world of seventeenth century Amsterdam and the curious characters that the book seems to contain. The blurb promises tiny creations, secrets of a new household, and an elusive miniaturist who seems to hold the fate of others in her hands so I have high hopes. Perhaps it might even beat my favourite from last year - Burial Rites - which really did blow every other choice out of the water.

As always, for more recommendations or to take part in The Year in Books, head over to the link-up at Circle of Pine Trees and while you’re there, catch up on the other lovely posts written by Laura.

There's little else I need to say on the matter really. Let's think positively and choose happiness!

Unusually, this week's lovely list features just two posts. That's not to say that all of the other posts I read were not enjoyable - far from it - but simply that these two stood out for me and really made me think about life and happiness.

Snowdrops-Creative-Countryside

Do you make a conscious effort to be happy every day? Do you wake up in the morning and focus on the positives of the hours that lie ahead? I have never looked for the silver linings in life; I am the one to dwell, fret and stress over every tiny thing that might lead to something negative, and, as silly as it sounds, it can be difficult to allow myself to be happy without worrying about something. This post on how to choose happiness has this week allowed me to consider that there might be a different way. It explores the idea that if you wake up every morning with a determination to be happy, truly happy, then you will be. Sounds simple, doesn't it?

Sometimes we can get so stuck into a routine of dreading every Monday morning and every seemingly stressful situation that we convince ourselves it will be awful, when more often than not the result is far less terrifying. I'm guilty of following this toxic cycle in a number of aspects of my life, and reading this article made me question what on earth I have been doing it for. Surely if there's a chance to be happy we should clutch it and not force the feeling of dread upon ourselves? While the theory is all well and good, I know putting it into practice will not come easily. But I've already noticed a shift, a slight movement in the right direction. I'm really trying to choose happiness at every opportunity.

Snowdrops-2-Creative-Countryside

The second post on today's lovely list has reaffirmed my belief that dieting is just not the way forward. While eating healthily and seasonally are both important to me and my way of life, I don't believe that depriving yourself of the things you truly enjoy (the things that make you happy) is worth it. Life is too short, as this post on why we should ditch the diets and love our bodies instead makes clear. If I want to go out and eat a chocolate brownie, I will do. And I'm not about to feel guilty about it just because everyone else is surviving on water and celery all January long.

If I am going to wake every day and choose happiness, well then I'm going to have to choose some wonderful foods as well. Surely what's important is what's on the inside rather than the desperate desire for the 'perfect' body? There's no such thing, for a start.

Life is supposed to be joyful, it's supposed to be about laughter and smiles and doing what you love, so why wait? I hope these posts inspire you as they have done for me. Let's ditch the diets and choose happiness together!

Blog Signature

If I'm honest, I'm still hung up on the cranberry and wild rice recipe I discovered in December's eat seasonably post; it has provided much needed relief after wading through mountains of roast potatoes (not that I'm complaining!) and takes so little effort that I'll be continuing to whip this up for a quick dinner alongside oven-baked salmon after work.

If you're on the look-out for other healthy foods to kick off the year, why not try kale? Oven baked with sea salt to make crunch crisps or steamed as a side, its earthy taste accompanies a whole range of seasonal dishes. If kale's not your thing then fear not, for January is the month when oranges take centre stage. Stock up on seville oranges and try your hand at marmalade (easier than you think!) or make the most of the short season for blood oranges. The deep red flesh of these fruits is delicious squeezed as juice or added to a sponge cake in the same way you would use lemons.

Root vegetables such as parsnips and carrots are still in supply and can be added to hearty stews if the weather turns bleak once again, or if you'd prefer something a bit different why not experiment with Moroccon cooking? One of my Christmas presents was a tagine pot and I am very much looking forward to experimenting with recipes to suit. I've already got my eye on this chicken and almond pastilla as well as a traditional lamb tagine.

January's produce from our own plot is minimal (and this year non-existent), but with a few choice vegetables and a cupboard full of spices we're looking forward to experimenting a little more with what we have.

Walking is my favourite form of exercise; it's leisurely, the scenery can be beautiful, and it can be (for some at least) quite literally on your doorstep. For me there's no better time to explore outdoors than winter; there's something about  returning home, windswept and chilly with rosy cheeks, that allows you to feel truly connected with nature. The prospect of a warming hot chocolate and pulling a blanket over your toes is enough to conquer even the bleakest of weathers, and over the past couple of weeks Dan and I have taken full advantage of our time off, taking Bella walking through the wolds to discover scenery old and new in a wintry light.

The frosty, fresh mornings have meant our wellies have remained (largely) mud free and it has been a joy to crunch and stride through the fields and delight in so many tiny things: tufts of Lincoln Reds caught on barbed wire; the soft popping sounds of the pheasant shoot on the other side of the valley; silhouettes of branches that frame the sunrise; and vast, vibrant blue skies that herald the start of the new year and seem endless over our heads.

These last few days I have sorely missed our walks; leaving and returning for work when it's dark outside makes exploring a little more difficult, but I wait in earnest for the weekend. It's easy to get caught up in daily life and forget to appreciate the joys that a simple walk can bring, but this year I am determined to make time and continue to explore. The Lincolnshire Wolds is often overlooked in favour of other beauty spots, but for me the rolling hills and patchwork fields are second to none.

For most people, today marks the first day back into the swing of working life for 2015. It's never easy to spring out of bed on days like today, but I'm hoping that my Christmas gift from Mr CC (a lumia lamp) will ease the pain of rising quite so early and switching my brain back on. The past week or so has been a haze of films, twinkly lights and piles of chocolate wrappers; I'm sad that the festive season has drawn to a close, but am truly looking forward to what the year ahead has to offer.

I love the idea of selecting a word to focus your energies on throughout the year, and Sarah has chosen 'creativity' - read all about why in her post here. Choosing just one word is quite a task for a logophile like myself, but considering the resolutions I have made and the plans we have for the year ahead, 'bright' seems like a positive choice. I'm determined to focus on creating joy and light in my life and that of others, making sure to always see the silver linings through tough times. The name 'Eleanor' is also said to mean 'bright', which is a happy coincidence. Have you selected a word for the 2015?

Discovering a new blog that becomes a favourite straight away is a such a wonderful feeling, and Craft Fox has become just that this week. Head over to this post where Josephine gives tips on making the perfect mini roast potatoes.

With so many lists and resolutions flying around it can be easy to dismiss and move on, but this set of thirty goals really resonates with me. I might even try a few myself...

Steph's blog posts are always so inspiring and really capture the essence of the countryside surrounding her home. These wintry photos are no exception.

Are you ready for a fresh start? Are there any posts I've missed this week?

January is all about... fresh starts, cold mornings, making marmalade, emerging life and feeling grateful for the new year.

Something to eat: Whether you make your own marmalade or not, adding it to a sticky, greedy pudding is the perfect thing for a cold Sunday afternoon after a long wintry walk. Try this recipe.

Something to visit: A farmers' market. Kick start those healthy eating resolutions and buy fresh and local.

Something to make: Plans for the garden or veg patch. Or if you've neither of these, plans for the year in general. January is a great time to get organised for the year ahead; I'll be buying my seeds from here and planning out what produce to grow.

Something to celebrate: Burns Night.  The annual celebration of the Scottish poet takes place on Sunday 25th January; it's a time to join together after the revelry of Christmas and toast good health with a good measure of Scottish whisky. Bagpipes and other traditional tunes accompany a Scottish feast which of course includes haggis. Find out more here.

Something a bit different: Start a photo diary. Last year my resolution was to take more photographs and I certainly achieved that. Why not go one step further and take a photograph every day?

1. Make more preserves, specifically marmalade, jams and pickles, to see us through the year without having to pop to the shops all the time.
2. Stop buying things I don't need. In a similar vein to the resolution above, I'm frustrated that I forever allow myself to buy things from the supermarket that invariably I either don't need or could make myself.
3. Always have nature in the home. I try to bring flowers in during the summer months but I want to feel a part of the outside world for more than just three months of the year.
4. Explore more. There's a veritable feast of nature's delights on my doorstep and sometimes I need to step back for a moment and make time to forage and wander.
5. Be brave with new recipes and try to avoid frozen food (fish finger sandwich anyone?) even when I'm busy.
6. Be self sufficient in more than just potatoes and onions. Ideally I want to avoid buying lettuce, fruit, tomatoes and a few other things.
7. Raise a turkey for Christmas. This one has been at the back of my mind for a couple of years and I'm determined that we give it a go at last.
8. Take more photographs. I have tried to do this over the past few months and I really think I'm getting there, but I want to start the new year with a fresh enthusiasm for documenting our life and the seasons.
9. Allow myself time: time to write; time to recover if I get ill; time to spend with loved ones rather than at work; time for myself every so often. This past year time has been my most precious commodity and I've not always spent it as I would have liked.
10. Be happier. Whatever it takes.

What do you have planned for the year ahead?