Favourite Photo of 2014

How do you choose your favourite photo of the year? It's not easy, especially if you're not that confident or experienced a photographer. 

Writing, not photography, first drew me to blogging. Photography was something I had little experience or knowledge of. To be honest, it terrified me. Far too technical and numerical for my liking. Yet, I believed photos enhance the written word so I gave it a go. Little by little my confidence emerged and my skills grew. 6 months into blogging I got my first DSLR as a birthday present and my interest in photography began. These days I love being behind the camera and using my photos to portray my vignettes of this beautiful world. Many minimalist bloggers forgo photos in their posts to give their writing more gravitas. I prefer to use photos in most of my posts to show simplicity, beauty and happiness in action. Something I won't be paring down is my love of photography. It's a vehicle for my creativity and I kind of 'get by' with limited technical knowledge. I hope the photos I share here on my blog capture the energy, intimacy and colour that make up my life. 

The above photo is one taken at Packwood House, Warwickshire in August. It's a place I've visited several times this year in different seasons. This photo was taken on a beautiful sunny day and I was with my mum and dad. As I crouched down by the side of my dad's wheelchair we took in the beauty of the house, the planting and the sheer delight of people, like this mum and daughter, on a day out. Their happiness mirrored ours and that's why it's my favourite photo.

Joining in with Susannah Conway's December Reflections project. A chance to ponder.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

This winter I'm endeavouring to keep up my intake of fresh veg by incorporating them into my lunches. But raw veg don't exactly excite at this time of year, do they? Homemade soup is the solution. Warming, flavoursome and colourful this soup combines nutrients and comfort perfectly. This recipe is adapted from Nigella. The method is easy and it doesn't require much attention. Using tinned toms makes it easier and more economical (I added a couple of fresh ones as I had some already). Red peppers can be expensive in supermarkets so shop around - I bought 3 for 69p yesterday at my local greengrocers in town. Support the high street and enjoy!

You will need (serves 4)
3 red peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped
2-3 medium red onions, roughly chopped
4-6 large cloves of garlic, left with skin intact
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil (enough to coat the veg)
2 tomatoes, roughly chopped
400g can chopped tomatoes
500-750ml of vegetable stock (not exact depends how thick/thin you like your soup)
Optional: Tabasco sauce (a dash to taste can be added to the liquid) or 1 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes added to the oil

Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/440F/gas 6. Add all the chopped veg to a high sided baking tray, drizzle over the olive oil and mix together with your hands. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes or until the peppers are slightly charred. Next make the stock and add to a large saucepan together with the chopped tomatoes and a drop of Tabasco if liked (I prefer not to add salt and pepper to shop bought stock cubes). Remove the veg from the oven. Take out the roasted garlic cloves and squeeze out the pulpy flesh into the stock (dispose of the skin). Add the rest of the veg to the pan and heat gently until just boiling. Once heated put the mixture into a blender and blend until fairly smooth. Serve and savour.

The Second Sunday of Advent

Hello. How are you? Hopefully well and rested after the weekend or, if you've been busy, at least feeling more organised. It seems to have been cold all weekend. Saturday saw a frosty start that lasted well into midmorning. I've been meaning to cut down the verbena in our little garden, which have been looking rather dull, but I'm glad I haven't got round to it yet as they looked amazing under the frost. It brought out their lilac hue magically. Our weekend has been fairly calm. On Saturday Hubs fitted 3 black pendant lights in our kitchen. The idea is to improve the lighting and general ambiance of the dining area in preparation for Christmas. He did a brilliant job and I was very patient. Next it's my turn - painting! Can't have scandi pendant lights without white walls now, can you? And a grey wall, obvs. Today, has been the kind of Sunday I would have dreamed of a few years ago when my life revolved around work. With no pressing housework or school work to be done we just took it slow. Late breakfast, church, a visit to Packwood House (my favourite local National Trust property) and home to light candles. I took a few photos.

The house, gardens and cafe were quieter than usual and it was lovely to roam around, even if it was cold. The winter landscape looked beautifully bare today highlighted by the low sun and long shadows.

Only the ground floor of the house was open but there were Christmas trees in nearly every room. They all had wonderful natural, quirky or handmade decorations. It's definitely inspired me to have a bauble-free Christmas tree. 

I haven't made any mince pies yet so made sure I chose one in the cafe at the end of our visit. Yes, those are teabags hanging from the tree!

Our home felt a bit bare after all the sparkle of Packwood but lighting the second candle of my advent tealights was the first thing I did on our return. It's all about making the most of the light at this time of year.

Thank you for reading, commenting and following here this week. Have a great week xo

Decluttering Before Christmas: Week 1

Just a little December declutter update.

First the good news. Here's what I've decluttered so far:

• A bag of clothes that have been stored in the loft since creating my minimalist wardrobe - donated to a charity shop. 
• Several hardback books on gardening and cooking which I no longer read - also donated to a charity shop.
• Various kitchen items including a hard boiled egg slicer (retro orange 70s kitsch - nice) - donated to a charity shop.
• Some of my 15 year old's outgrown clothes - passed onto his younger cousin.
• Emails deleted - I'm down to an empty email box and I'm also gradually unsubscribing to those companies that keep plaguing me almost daily.

Deciding to declutter before Christmas has definitely helped motivate me to clear unwanted items that have been lingering in the loft for too long. Also, my aim to give some things to charity rather than try and sell them feels good during Advent. This week I also discovered #streetbank's campaign Advent Challenge.The idea is to give something away for each of the 24 days of Advent by donating items to those in your neighbourhood by giving items to friends, family, work colleagues or local charity shops. Alternatively, you can be generous in imaginative ways such as donating items to a local food bank (I've just discovered a collection box in my nearest supermarket) or by taking cakes to work. Thanks to Sue, Jane and Pensive Pensioner for blogging about how they've started this challenge. I love this.

Now, for a confession. This time of year puts pressure on us to look perfect and have perfect houses. I'm skilled at not buying clothes on impulse but I've realised that at this time of year I do have a desire to spend more on household items such as cushions, candles and plants. I've already bought hyacinths and a poinsettia as a nod to Christmas and today bought a cushion for our red tub chair. I bought it at the charity shop where I was dropping stuff off. It's nauticalness spoke to me from across the till. I'm pleased with my new cushion as I think it adds character and sits well with our Cornwall prints but next time I think I need to drop my unwanted items off at the back door rather than walking through the store. I better watch out...

The Best Day of 2014

I've been looking back through some of my photos of 2014 and found these of a day out in Liverpool in August. We wandered past The Cavern Club, around the Albert Docks and then headed to Crosby beach to see Antony Gormley's Another Place. With 2 teenage boys a family day trip is a rare event. We won our lovely boys over with promises of finding cool music stores and a fish and chip supper in a seaside cafe. Eating out is always a winner with teenage boys and you're never too old to visit an ice cream van. In between we sneaked in a bit of art and a stroll along the beach. My boys failed to fake interest but my camera thought pish to that and was in a playful mood. Not a perfect day but a perfectly typical family day out with the usual highs and lows. We all took something away from it, I hope. 

Thank you to Susannah Conway's inspiration for this post and Heather for drawing my attention to the December Reflections project. It's something I shall dip in and out of this month. 

How's your December going? Not too hectic, I hope. 

The First Sunday of Advent

Goodbye autumn, hello winter... December, you're almost here ♥

This first weekend of Advent has been about resting and gently easing ourselves into this new season. 

I started the weekend on Friday meeting friends for a drink and then volunteering for our local Arts organisation. As photographer, I was lucky enough to be on the front row for Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin. Amazing music to chill out to and the perfect antidote to the retail frenzy that's seized the internet and even my little city. 

Bah! Black Friday!

Sunlight, hyacinths, stollen bites, lighting the first of my 4 Advent candles (just 4 tea lights in a row), walking into town for coffee, spying pretty pink cyclamen in hanging baskets and lights reflecting in water have been my simple pleasures. Welcome this season of waiting.

Have a great week ♥ ♥ ♥

Gratitude not Grudge

It's so easy to let the little things get you down at this time of year. The ice that's needed scraping off the car and 'cost' me an extra 5 minutes in the morning. The extra shopping trip to buy ingredients for my son's cake stall at the school Christmas fair on Friday. The Christmas cards that sit despondently in their box as I avoid their bashful glances. 

But if you look at it another way, there's gratitude waiting in every one of these things and countless other moments that make up a day. 

This week I've been getting to work later but have enjoyed the wonder of an ice filtered landscape - who needs Instagram? This evening I had to go shopping unexpectedly but my son has filled the house with the irresistible smell of homemade shortbread (we've eaten the broken ones and more baking will be needed tomorrow, yay). The Christmas cards are being ignored but - if I think about it - I 'm looking forward to writing to and hearing from far away friends. 

Gratitude not grudge is the way.

Happy middle of the week and a peaceful Thanksgiving to those reading in America xo

Keeping Sunday Simple

Keeping Sunday simple with: 

♥ A new church service with a good friend - much needed time for friendship, reflection and prayer. 

♥ Home for coffee and croissants. The best croissants we've had - from a local farm shop. Brunch is possibly the best meal of the day. 

♥ New haircut from a new hairdresser with a degree in creative writing and songwriting. I was impressed. Not so impressed to find out I'm 50% grey in places. OK... I did ask. 

♥ Walking not driving.

♥ Nature's colour lift of red berries, pink skies and golden leaves.

♥ The warmth and comfort of home.

Thank you for reading here this week. 

You're all welcome xo