Just Do It

How about that for a maxim. "Just do it".

This is the wording we found on the inside waist band on a pair of exercise trousers, when we were out shopping. I just had to capture it in a photo. My daughter held them up so I could capture the phrase on my iphone.

This saying is a good one to take on board. How much better to "Just do it", than faffing around thinking about doing it. There is no point trying to do it. Where does trying get you? Not very far. You either do something or you don't do something.

Food for thought.

More Designs

Three more layouts, I did the majority of each layout at PaperArts and just finished them off today.

This is a double 12" x 12" layout done on kraft card. "mil" stands for "mother-in-law".

This one of the chickens in the snow is to do with repeating in design. I have repeated butterflies, photos, spotty paper, green scalloped paper on an asymmetrical.

This one is using colours brown, blue, yellow and orange a "Real World Colour" combination seen on floor tiles.

I think week 4 starts tomorrow and I have the rest of week 3 layouts planned and ready to take to the Charity Crop in Feb. I can prep week 4s to take too, as it is a very long crop.

Pub lunch

Had a lovely walk down to the village pub, yesterday, for lunch. It is 1 mile to The Swan so not too far. It was great to get out in the fresh air, what with being in all over Christmas then the snows, there hasn't been much chance so we took it quick.

I had lamb shank, it was deliciously tender, Rob had Roast beef with two Yorkshire puddings followed by Bailey's creme brulee. It was a good job we had a walk home to give our lunch a chance to go down.

This photo shows what a gorgeous winters day it was, luckily I had my iphone on me, good enough for emergency photos. It is pretty good taking outdoor pictures but indoor ones aren't so good.

Design Your Life

I managed to complete some scrapbooking layouts at Paperarts on Friday. Our evening crop was cancelled the week before because of snow, luckily this time, the snow had virtually all melted and we could meet up with friends again.

I am working on the Cathy Zielski Big Picture Scrapbooking class called Design Your Life all about design in scrapbooking. These photos were taken on my iphone, indoors at 3.30pm on a January afternoon. They could be better so I am going to take some more photos with my other camera maybe tomorrow.

A sale

I made a sale yesterday, the first sale of my hens eggs. That felt really good, so thank you to my stars Tilda, Scarlet and I am not sure which other one is laying.

This is Scarlet's first egg, laid beautifully in the nesting box, good girl Scarlet.

Tilda is the grey one and lays the pale eggs, she is an Old Cotswold Legbar. Haven't a clue whose bum fluff is whose from this angle. Anyway the dark ones are called Burford Browns and lay the dark brown eggs. Delicious.

The latest hen to lay is laying them in the hen house on the sawdust where they sleep at night! She doesn't seem to want to listen to me when I say there is a very comfortable nesting box she could use.

Creating the New Year

From GTD Newsletter.

What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2010?

My biggest triumph would be to run Beyond Chocolate workshops.

What advice would you like to give yourself in 2010?

Get on with it. Put the main priorities first, ie family, BC, C&G, moving my body, housework is to be fitted in around my main activities.

What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2010?

The major effort to improve my financial results would be to get workshops up and running.

What would you be most happy about completing in 2010?

I would be most happy completing the set up of my business C&G and bringing happiness to others.

What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2010?

Looking after my chickens and selling their eggs.

What would you most like to change about yourself in 2010?

I would most like to change the way I spend my time, so not so much sitting on my back side doing not a lot, but actually getting on with BC and C&G and creating and moving my body.

What are you looking forward to learning in 2010?

Happiness Psychology.

What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2010?

My biggest risk is my business, C&G and BC, as I might fail. I think that is almost preventing me from even starting.

What about your work, are you most committed to changing and improving in 2010?

Approaching work in a confident manner, be structured and know where I am going with it.

What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2010?

My ability to move, to learn to run.

What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2010?

Being creative by doing more C&G and evening personal creativity and going to crops with friends.

Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2010?

My family and Beyond Chocolate.

What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2010?

"Action", my phrase is “Up, up and away”

1st December

I am well prepared this year. With my daughter's help we have made Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, mincemeat for mince pies, some rustic decorations, hearts, stars and birds.


The Cranberry Studded Mincemeat was a recipe by Nigella Lawson in her Christmas book. Very easy to make and no suet required. It made 2 jars so I will be able to make plenty of little star topped mince pies.

All who were at home at the time of making the Christmas cake gave it a stir and made a wish, a traditional thing to do. We stirred and made a wish for our son who is away at Uni.

The preparations continue.