Journal, Mama

A Ta-Dah! List

Kate

I don’t remember where I first heard this idea, and a quick Google search reveals that it is nothing new, but this is something I have decided to start after another day off where I spent the day feeling restless and annoyed that I hadn’t Got Things Done. The idea of a Ta-Dah! List is that instead of (or as well as) starting the day with a to-do list, you write a list at the end of the day of all the things you have done – ta-dah! It is all too easy for me (and maybe for you too?) to feel guilty about the things I don’t achieve – it is helpful to reflect on what I do achieve instead.

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Crafty Things, Mama

A Quilt Made with Love

Kate

On Evelina’s first birthday, I proudly presented her with the quilt that I had lovingly made for over a year (so started when she was not even yet born). I had chosen gorgeous Tilda fabrics and roughly followed a pattern. My inexperience did not matter because the end result was lovely and special. When I had Austin, I wanted to do the same for him. And I did. It just took a little longer.

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Words

Reading a book (or fifty)

Kate

Last year, I set myself the usual challenge to read 50 books. Since I managed to do this in 2019, I was determined to keep the streak going and I did! I enjoyed a wide range of books.

I re-read some books – the most in a year I think (Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, On Writing by Stephen King as well as texts that I teach like Romeo and Juliet, Stone Cold and A Christmas Carol). I listened to quite a few audiobooks and I read a lot of non-fiction. Last year was not really a year for reading fiction for me – I couldn’t seem to stay focused on it with all the madness going on.

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Journal

Making a list – 21 in 2021

Kate

Another new year tradition of mine is to make a list of things I would like to do or achieve in the year. This is not a list of resolutions but more a way to track all the exciting, fun things I do during the year.

I reserve the right to edit the list throughout the year, especially if I end up doing something particularly interesting or impressive: I would hate to not be able to tick something like that off my list and there are always things I put on the list that are totally unrealistic!

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Journal

A Word

Kate

If you have followed me for longer than a year then you will know by now that I like to choose a word of the year. Last year’s choice was BOLD and boy, did we all need that word given the year that we have had. Since 2020 went against all our expectations, I am not really sure how much this word ended up helping me but I am not sure any word would have been up to that task really. 

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Journal

20 in 2020 update

Kate

With just a few days to go left of this year, I thought it might be amusing to look at what lovely things I imagined I would get up to this year in my 20 in 2020 list. My first impression of this list is that I actually did more of the things than I expected and the things I haven’t done are not really because of COVID.

Here is my list for 2020:

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Words

A New Routine

Kate

It is definitely a characteristic of mine that when I am faced with increasingly chaotic circumstances, I respond with lists and routines. This is ironic given that I find it impossible to stick to a proper routine myself but I definitely like to impose them on others, particularly the kiddos (and really, by kiddos I mean Evelina as I defy anyone to impose anything on Austin). I was also driven by something more meaningful than a need for routine, though. I have been finding my days spent mainly between working, cooking and cleaning, and entertaining Austin; Evelina was definitely getting the short end of the stick when it came to my time. I wanted to spend some meaningful time with Evelina and Austin so I decided to adjust our morning routine to make sure that every day, we were spending time, learning and discovering things together.

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Mama

Extra Time

Kate

The days are either crawling by at an unprecedented snail’s pace or flying by in a forgettable blur. I can’t actually believe it is Saturday already and yet last weekend seems like an age ago. It’s tempting to obsess about time, how I ought to be spending it to be more productive. I am trying my best to resist that urge. I keep thinking about all the things I haven’t done (of course, it is too easy to forget all that I do manage to achieve) but I have to remind myself that the main reason for this is because this is not a holiday. I am still working as well as looking after my family and home. Occasionally, I find myself feeling slightly wistful for those who are languishing in quiet homes with no-one making constant demands on them and their time.

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Journal

New Sounds

Kate

It was so mild this morning that I was able to have my morning cuppa outside. As I sat and enjoyed the stillness and the unexpected warmth, I became aware of a strong and confident birdsong dancing on the morning air. In our suburban housing development, with its many houses and small gardens, we don’t always have a lot of bird activity. This morning, though, instead the usual drone of the motorway and busy main road nearby, I was able to enjoy a little bird which I eventually located to the top of our house, just before it flew away.

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Journal, Mama

Soaking up the Sun

Kate

Today the weather was so glorious. I know there are many that don’t have access to a garden and whilst ours may not be large, it is certainly enough for us to be able to splash in the paddling pool (I am using ‘we’ here rather loosely since I did no intentional splashing) and eat our barbecued dinner on a our patio. We are so lucky.

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