for today...

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... the snow is slowly thawing, and freezing, and thawing and freezing. It's dark, and the air is cold.
I am thinking... about hot chocolate, and blankets, and just *how many* things I have left to do
I am thankful for... a roof over my head, and central heating, and hot water. Very thankful.
From the learning rooms... the pile of 'nearly done' phd chapters is growing. I'm aiming for a full, decent draft (again!) before Christmas. And I might just make it.
From the kitchen... pancakes. again. Much as I'd love to be making biscuits, and mince pies, and festive cakes, the focus is all on the phd. I'll appreciate it in the end, I'm sure.
I am wearing... more clothes than is reasonable in a centrally-heated house. And a scarf. And a blanket. And a hot water bottle.
I am creating... plans, and following them through, in a feat of organisation I don't think I've ever witnessed in myself before. I wonder if it will last?
I am going... nowhere right now, if I can help it. I don't *need* to be anywhere until Wednesday (and then I need to be in London, which is pretty far away right now given all this snow...) But until then, small, walking-distance, local journeys only, to the cafe, the charity shop, the library, the fields for some fresh air...
I am reading... chapter drafts, over and over and over, and encouraging words about writing, from people who know better than me
I am hoping... that the snow melts enough for us to be able to go on holiday. I'm not sure I can bear not having a holiday *again*. So please, clear roads, or at the very least, a functional rail network... please...
I am hearing... the central heating, and an occasional plunk as a bit of snow melts from the roof
Around the house... piles of things that should be somewhere else. Things are getting a little free-and-easy in the tidying up department this week... but that will have to change, we're having friends round for festivities at the weekend!
One of my favorite things... hot chocolate, and a hot water bottle, and a blanket, and a sofa (oops, that's four things)
A few plans for the rest of the week: writing, and reading and rewriting. Maybe a little dancing. Tea and cake. A trip to the dentist (possibly connected to the cake...). The last of the Christmas preparations. A small and festive gathering of friends.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Just to remind myself that the snow really is beautiful, and that there's exciting things waiting around the corner...

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for today...

Outside my window... darkness, and reflected fairy lights

I am thinking... about getting an early night with a book

I am thankful for... a cheerily tiring day, wallpaper that finally stuck to the wall

From the learning rooms... a finished (for now!) phd chapter and a satisfied smile

From the kitchen... lots of veg, with grilled potatoes and a tiny bit of cheese

I am wearing... warm trousers, a jumper, and a scarf - it's getting cold out there!

I am creating... new linings for the living room curtains

I am going... to make up the bed, and possibly sink straight into it

I am reading... a book about Orkney, and being soooo impatient to be back there

I am hoping... for a more restful night tonight

I am hearing... very little other than a ticking clock, it's peaceful here right now

Around the house... walls are being painted, and furniture moved from one room to another, and back again

One of my favorite things... a little wooden bench overlooking the hills

A few plans for the rest of the week: stewing apples, making the living room fit for living in, a new phd chapter, training courses, remembering to take the car for an MOT (oops!)

More from the Simple Women's Daybook here

for today...

Outside my window... the sky's grey and the city lights are starting to twinkle

I am thinking... about being weighed down by my things-to-do list - always a sure sign that I'm too tired

I am thankful for... a car and a partner that got home in one piece last night - even if it was at 2am

From the learning rooms... a still-not-finished PhD chapter, but it'll be done tomorrow!

From the kitchen... yet more pancakes, of course

I am wearing... new shoes! A rather uninspiring, but comfortable, charity shop find

I am creating... extremely cheery bits of customising for my uninspiring new shoes! Photos to follow...

I am going... downstairs, to tidy up, and then to rest

I am reading... a story about a North Yorkshire rural policeman

I am hoping... that tonight will be restful, and tomorrow more energised

I am hearing... power tools from the street. So many people building, making, doing...

Around the house... a bit of sweeping and tidying and putting away, and contemplating bigger projects for tomorrow

One of my favorite things... curling up on the sofa with a blanket

A few plans for the rest of the week: chopping branches, a little creativity in the garden, starting to think about Christmas (did I really just say that???)

Not a hugely positive rambling from me today I'm afraid! I'm far too tired after last night's fiasco, and really should have taken a nap earlier. However, I didn't, so I'm heading for an early night instead. Back tomorrow with photos of my cheery little shoes project which took all of five minutes and lifted my spirits enormously!

More from the Simple Women's Daybook here

for today...

Outside my window... the sun's trying to sneak through the clouds

I am thinking... about reassessing my priorities and where I put my time and energy

I am thankful for... a positive hospital visit today and a body that seems to be righting itself without medication

From the learning rooms... a fog of despair and a mind full of drudgery (oh dear!)

From the kitchen... pancakes, mostly!

I am wearing... new red and white stripey pumps, a black-and-yellow-and-pink-and-green-and-red-and-white swirly skirt, and my new kingfisher green cardigan!!!

I am creating... a present for a friend for no particular reason

I am going... upstairs to the attic to work on a chapter, just as soon as I've finished this cup of tea.

I am reading... books about doing qualitative research, and wondering why on earth I didn't read them several years ago

I am hoping... to get all this writing done before Christmas. Fingers crossed, oh, I'm hoping so much on this one!

I am hearing... Peter curled up on the sofa with a lemsip watching a film in the next room

Around the house... washing that needs doing, floors that need sweeping, piles of things that need to be somewhere else....

One of my favorite things... a nice cup of tea, of course

A few plans for the rest of the week... Saturday morning tea-and-cake at the Women's Institute, more writing, blackberry picking, a little tidying and rearranging, taming the unruly garden, a visit to the library, and an evening in alone with the sewing machine

More from the simple women's daybook here