New Year but still much the same

Happy New Year.

It's been nearly two months since i blogged. I am not going to make excuses, my heart and mind are just is not in the same place, as it was when i first started blogging over a decade ago.  

Also nearly two years on: we are all still living through a pandemic; and every day is day to be grateful for and not to take anything or anyone for granted.  

I am not one for reflecting or making New Year resolutions, partly because i learned long ago that I was never good at keeping them, but there are two things that I intend to abide by.  To reconnect and continue to make new connections; and to ensure i take regular breaks whilst doing my day job.  I give it too much of me, and it gives me very little in return these days. 

It was another quiet festive holiday. Just D and me for our vegetarian Christmas Roast dinner and yes, of course our new fur friend who is now nearly 10 months.  I did have a go at making my own festive wreath for the first time.  I made it with seasonal leafy greens picked up from our forest walks with the puppy.  There were no red berries to be seen, so i decided to use the ornamental red chillies in the garden that were beginning to wane now.  My festive wreath was not abundant, but i was rather pleased with how it adorned our front door. 

I should let you know that I have not been doing any fancy or new experimental cooking.  Its another reason for the lack of blogging (not much to share); as well as feeling lethargic and brain fog. But what i have made regularly, are firm favourites that we return to often, many of which have been shared in my decade of blogging. 

There was plenty of cheese, crackers, olives, stuffed peppers, grapes, berry fruit and savoury snacks and a pumpkin feta pie in the centre garnished with pumpkin seeds.  

This cheese tray was brought over by my nephew and his partner O one evening.  It was such a delight to have guests, i nearly forgotten how it felt like to have people over. I know Sherry of Sherry's Pickings is taking a restful blog break from hosting In My Kitchen series, but I thought I'd still share a handful of things given to me over the festive season.  

My brother and niece came by briefly with pile high gifts. I was gifted lots of chocolate that D mostly ate. Tins with baking ingredients to make cupcakes, brownies and flapjacks. D got a jumper and socks!  You will also note some non-fiction books and a Nina Simone CD in the image above. These were gifted to me by D. I had watched 'Summer of Soul: Or When the Revolution Could not be Televised' and was reminded of the power of her words and songs. 

Okay, enough about me - how are my lovely and loyal readers doing? I will try and come by your blogs soon.