Wishing you a truely peaceful 2023.

We have spent the week between Christmas and New Year tending the garden and cottage.

A quiet Christmas spent together, starting to unwind from the year that was. For us 2022 was lots of chapters closing, I think that can be inevitable as your children age, pets grow older, we grow older, and of course life happens throwing some big curve balls. To paraphrase something I read; Goodbye to what was only meant to be in our lives for a season. Those Goodbyes can hit hard. It’s been a challenging year/years for so many, I hope this year we can have the opportunity to take precious care of ourselves and each other. Kindness.

Lil and I made Raspberry and Gooseberry Jam (never made that before) and at 10pm the night before New Years Eve I decided to make a short crust pastry case for a Strawberry Pie the next day. Never made the Pie before either but the weather was cool enough that late at night to put the oven on, the nights have been hot! The strawberries on the pie are coated in the Raspberry and Gooseberry jam. The Strawberry Pie felt like a good way to practice gratitude for everything 2022 was and celebrate.

And now as 2023 starts there are many new beginnings to look forward too. My online shop selling my photography Fine Art Prints will be opening soon. Honeybee and the Apple Blossom Chart are two of the prints that will be available. I’ve been diligently working away at it all, testing different archive museum quality papers, finding a printer that offers beautiful quality printing, reliable service and postage.

Do you choose a word or words for the year?

I ask myself what word or words feel right for me, not forcing the answer but letting the question sit quietly as I go about my days, letting my heart and my intuition guide me, the anwer always comes.

Self Care – the words I am guided towards.

Contentment – has been my foundation word for several years.

Take precious care and thank you for being here, it is wonderful.

Much Love, Jude x