Seriously overdue...

I just don't seem to be able to get the life balance right at the moment! It seems as though I could spend almost all my waking hours at work and still not feel on top of everything. I can't decide if this is a subconscious way of avoiding facing 'stuff' at home (or rather lack of anything particularly positive at home) or if there's not much positive on the home front because I'm spending way too many hours at work! Either way, I seem to be in a bit of a stuck place just now and all my good intentions at the beginning of the year have gone a bit out of the window!

So this is a bit of a catch up and confession post...

Confession no 1... I have completely failed to get out there and do the scavenger hunt thing. I love looking at how other people turn the words into images but I've decided not to beat myself up about not managing it myself.

Confession no 2... It is looking a tad unlikely that I'm going to meet my own goal of taking alphabet related pictures each month! 

Confession no 3... And if I do, guaranteed I'm not going to post on time at the end of the month -January being case in point!

So now I've got that off my chest... here comes a random selection of catch up photos... Some of these were deliberate attempts at the photo challenges, some just things I want to record...

I loved this bright blue post box outside a house in a little village near where my son is living in Shropshire...

The colour looks odd on the next photo - it was taken under street lamps on my phone - but it really made me smile when, after a very long day at work I came out to this on my car...

You have to admire the perfection of the circle and if anyone's of a science-y frame of mind, the little 2 was a clue to me as to who the culprit was - we have been working on a project to do with oxygen...!

Another finished object...

I found a couple of skeins of gorgeous Debbie Bliss Alpaca and Silk blend in the bargain bin, just enough to knit up this lacy cowl for a friend who is a 'purple' girl. It was so lovely to knit with, beautifully soft and warm.

I didn't manage to take a single photo of anything beginning with A for January! You wouldn't think it would be so tricky to think of things but it was a bit like that board game where you have to name things against the clock - suddenly nothing comes to mind at all!

I did manage a few things for B...

Potted bulbs...

Pretty bow...

This is the prettiest little parcel of tea ever! It was part of a Christmas present and contains jasmine tea flowers that open up slowly when you put hot water over them. Lovely.

Bubbles...

Bunting and baubles...

Blue sky...

It has to be said, given that it is 17th February now, its not looking good for C and D for February but hey, can't worry about it!

In terms of my challenges to myself each month, this is how January shapes up...

• Photo challenges - bit hopeless, as above...
• Crafty stuff - better... Finished scarf for eldest son, cowl for friend and have very nearly finished crocheted baby blanket for my friend. Not sure I've done much successful stash busting - the pile seems to grow as fast as I use it, can't think how that happens...
• General living
• go somewhere new - had never been to Stafford before... Sorry Stafford, but you didn't set me alight. Although, to be fair, it was the most miserable wet day and I'm sure in sunshine it might have been more appealing...
• Doing things I might have said no to - played badminton...and enjoyed it!
• Catching up with friends - terrible! Haven't managed this at all! Must try harder!!
• Learning about something - finally watched a Tarantino film, not the new one, but Inglorious Bastards, recommended by my sons and happened upon on late night TV one night... Honest opinion??? It was ok, quirky and darkly humorous but probably not really my thing...

So, belatedly, that's January in a nutshell. Best go phone a friend if I'm going to get anywhere with that one this year...!

Til next time...

Sx