Following on from my last post and after reading the various comments I decided that if my life is going to be bonkers in 2015, then I should also apply the word ENJOY (thanks for the suggestion Jude). Which brings me rather neatly to my Five on Friday post for this month... Five things that I have enjoyed this week.
1. Breakfast.
I always enjoy breakfast and it is probably my favourite meal of the day. It is usually some form of cereal together with fruit and I like to vary the combinations. Yesterday it was porridge with a spoonful of honey, a splash of milk and a sprinkling of mixed seeds and blueberries. Yummy!
2. Amaryllis
I have never owned an amaryllis before so I was thrilled to be given this by my friend Val before Christmas. I am a serial killer of house plants so I was even more thrilled to see it grow from the rather phallic looking green stem (as my youngest son pointed out to me) and bloom in time for Christmas Day. And it has continued to produce more blooms and positively flourish. I'm enjoying this very much!
3. A Good Book
I always enjoy a good book and I'm loving the book I've chosen this month. I enjoyed joining in with Laura's Year in Books last year so have decided to do it again in 2015 and the book I have chosen for January is The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. I'm already half way through and I'm loving it as the story unfolds revealing its secrets, totally transporting me back to 17th century Amsterdam.
My book for December was Love Nina by Nina Stibbes, a book of letters from Nina to her sister during the time she was a nanny to a well known literary family in London. As I predicted it was a light and easy read, laugh out loud funny at times and easy to pick up and put down. I also read The Behaviour of Moths by Poppy Adams. A dark and disturbing tale of sisters Vivien and Ginny, a reclusive expert on moths, that is full of secrets that gradually surface throughout the story.
4. Cooking
Cooking is rarely anything but a pleasure for me and this week I've enjoyed putting together light and tasty meals that have been a contrast to all the rich food eaten over Christmas. Last night I had some red cabbage to use up so made this winter coleslaw by Nigel Slater which was crunchy and full of flavour. We ate it with some frittata and I was feeling very virtuous... Until I followed it with Christmas cake and a glass of whisky!
5. Lists
I am a great list maker... It's the only way I can ever get through those bonkers days. And there is nothing I enjoy more than crossing off items on my lists. Yesterday I got through almost everything, even my Italian homework, except for "write book blog post". I had intended to write a separate post for the year in books but never quite managed it... So I've sneaked it in here instead.
So that's five of the things I'm enjoying this week, although not the only five!
I am joining in Five on Friday, taking five minutes from our day to enjoy five
things. Please go and visit the other people who are also blogging about
Five on Friday this week.
Amy from Love Made My Home
Helen from Woollybluebells
Joanne from A Whole Plot of Love
Debbie from Saylor Street Cottage
Rosie from Corners of my Mind
Lil from House with Hearts
lovely post! I am in awe of that breakfast! Also a big breakfast fan, I don't function without it :) looking forward to reading your thoughts on The Miniaturist!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I have to have breakfast before I can do anything. I'm with you on the other four things on your list too. That coleslaw sounds good.
ReplyDeleteMe too!!! I love crossing off lists!
ReplyDeleteI think all healthy eating should be followed by Christmas cake and whisky! ;)
Happy weekend,
V x
Yummy breakfast and coleslaw! I have seen several people are reading The Miniaturist and it is intriguing me and driving me a little potty because I want to read it because it sounds so good, but I daren't get another book right now!! I hope that you have a great weekend end enjoy making and completing your lists so that your year can be bonkers, but you can enjoy it too!! Thank you for taking part! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Five on Friday, I love the look of the winter coleslaw, and your breakfast. I am a list writer too. Enjoy your weekendxx
ReplyDeleteYour breakfast looks very appealing - I love porridge especially with fresh fruit in it and blueberries are a favourite. All the books look interesting, I must make a note of the titles. Lists, yes when I was working I used to make them both at work and at home now I'm retired I only seem to make them before Christmas and around holidays. I have some red cabbage left so must look up that winter coleslaw it looks just the kind of thing I would enjoy. Have a lovely weekend:)
ReplyDeleteI love coleslaw...one of life's delights! The books look very good, I especially am interested in The Minituarist so look forward to reading your post on that x
ReplyDeleteGreat post! That breakfast of yours looks yummy! I am only getting back in the whole eating breakfast thing but yours looks mouthwatering...
ReplyDeleteTake care
Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)
Good books and good food..that'd make my week too!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Home-made coleslaw has been a life saver here lately. Love the look of your breakfast, very healthy.
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of breakfast, usually only have toast and coffee, unless we're traveling then I stoke up a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm a list maker too, makes me feel like I'm in charge, LOL.
Good post.
Great Five on friday. You make very neat lists. x
ReplyDeleteI love breakfasts, and lists! Not over keen on cooking as it tends to be so mundane. Isn't your amarylis magnificent. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteI bought my amaryllis in the post Christmas sales two weeks ago so we are at the phallic stage. My intention is to draw them as they grow but they are galloping skywards whilst I've yet to sharpen the pencil. See, life doesn't have to be bonkers Gina.... just procrastinate like I do and it sails serenely by! Keep seeing that book about the Miniaturist and wondering if I'd enjoy it. Sounds like I would from your description. Keep up the book posts in amongst all those other commitments and ENJOY. Good suggestion.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to carry on enjoying being slightly bonkers! As I get older I think it's expected of me not to change the habits of a lifetime!
ReplyDeleteColeslaw looks good, we haven't had a red cabbage in the veg box for ages now. Lists, breakfast and cooking yes. Killing houseplants? Also yes, but I am having some success with three christmas cacti. Reading novels, no. I'm hopeless. I spend more time reading non-fiction. I have a book on my bedside table since August!
ReplyDeleteYes to porridge and coleslaw and writing lists! That amaryllis is gorgeous, sadly I think I'd kill it off in no time.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Amy's blog! xx
Great post. There's an amaryllis here, too. The bulb was growing in its plastic bag and I only got round to planting it Christmas Eve. It's a tad stunted and leaning at an odd angle but pretty nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone in blogland is reading the Miniaturist -- I must check it out!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing porridge with seeds too and I shall know when the winter's over, cos the porridge will cease! Lists is just a way of life isn't it. Oh to be listless - in a good way! Happy New Year Gina! xCathy
ReplyDeleteThat looks like my kind of breakfast! I vary the toppings but eat porridge almost every morning.
ReplyDeleteA lovely inspiring post! The books you mention sounds interesting, I shall go and look them up. :)
ReplyDeleteJess xx
Love your lists. I make a daily list...even on vacation....I LOVE my lists
ReplyDelete