Christmas Wreath Making

    

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I love having plants and greenery in the house, and Christmas is certainly no exception.

Tom questions my vases of "twigs" (dried seedheads!), sprigs of Holly and endless houseplants but in the winter I just NEED themwhen there's nothing in the garden to keep my fingers green!

We both love real Christmas trees, but we've had a fake one for the past couple of years now.

I'm not a huge fan of it but it's big and fluffy and easier then a real one, plus I don't want to have a real one while we're renting. I keep thinking that when we eventually buy our own place and have our first Christmas it'll be much more special with our first real tree as well.

d is for...

Drama drama drama!

The last few weeks have been pretty mad for us.
It feels like everything has been turned upside down and we're just adjusting to how different things are.

Firstly I decided I just couldn't bare to work full time in an office anymore.
There are other things I want to do and I've felt at a standstill because I had no time or energy to try anything else.
I'm lucky enough to be with someone who will support me and wants me to do what will make me happy. To be honest, I don't think he could cope with my moping for much longer either.
So,I walked into work that Monday with my letter of notice in my shaking hands and explained to my boss that I wanted something with less hours. He completely unexpectedly told me he didn't want me to leave and I could reduce my hours if it meant staying! I didn't even think it would be an option, and I really do like where I work so it's the perfect outcome.

c is for...

Let's have the real stuff, from the cafetiere.

It still feels luxurious and indulgent even though we never get it right and it's always too strong and dark.

The smell reminds me of my mum in the mornings and of coffee shops when I'm meant to be doing something else. 

It's bitter and sweet and makes your hands shake and your eyes sharpen as it goes down.

I got up early yesterday to clean the house;

so now the weekend is here, i'm sat at the table with him in our pyjamas and I have a tidy home and two days in front of me wide open.

What are you going to go?

There's pots of paints upstairs, a half knitted blanket on the sofa, a bag of bread flour in the cupboard and plants outside that need potting.

I'll have the last dregs from the pot while I decide.

Gemma
xXx

b is for...

Piles and piles and rows and rows.

Old friends that I've known for years that I know by heart, 
and unread stories that still smell good with crisp pages.

Sometimes I wonder what I'd be like if I hadn't read all these stories 
and didn't have all these things in my head.

Gemma
xXx

a is for...

I live many adventures;

Through dreams and endless books,

I close my eyes and I can be anywhere I want to be.

My life however, is far too typical and grey.

I work in an office, I cook dinner in the evening, I wait for the weekend.

On very rare occasions however, we take ourselves away to live the dream.

This summer we visited the little Greek island of Kefalonia.

I love everything about holidays. Being able to spend time doing whatever you want, in the sun and with no worries. But knowing that you will return to your safe little home at the end of it, to relive it all in your head for the next year.

One day we hired a car, bought a map, packed lunch and drove round the whole island.

It was my favourite day of the year. Driving down dirt tracks to tiny beaches, surrounded by the smell of rosemary and paddling in the bright turquoise sea.

Obviously we got lost and argued over the map, but it was lovely to explore such a beautiful and unspoilt place.

Oh darling, lets be adventurers.

Gemma
xXx

Now Blank Page.

After years of following and reading other blogs, I've taken the plunge! 
I am creating my own corner of the internet!

I work long hours and find there is less and less time to do the things I actually really enjoy in life. I know so many people feel the same, that by the time you get home in the evening you simply can't be bothered to get the paintbrushes and that new canvas out that you've been dreaming about all day, and you're just too tired to go outside and plant out the little seedlings you've been tending to on your windowsill for weeks.

But these things should be the most important parts of your day, because they're the parts that make it worth while. And by ignoring them and letting them slide by, there's less and less colour in your life.

So here's a blank page I will fill with colour.

Gemma
xXx