I know I’m not alone in this, but gosh, how fast did January seem to zoom past us? We’re already one twelfth into 2015. Seems an appropriate time for a Taking Stock post, given that Easter eggs are already on sale.
Have you succumbed and snuck a sneaky six-pack of hot cross buns into your trolley yet? Those marketers want us to rush from one holiday to the next don’t they. You’d think they’d put the Valentine’s Day stuff out before Easter stuff.
I’m going to pump the brakes on February for a minute and take stock of the first month of the year. I’m using the list that Pip always posts at the end of her Taking Stock posts on Meet Me At Mike’s.
Here’s what’s happening in my world. If you want to get on the Taking Stock bandwagon, you can use the blank list at the bottom of this post. Credit it back to Pip please: credit where credit’s due, it’s easy and nice to do.
Making : Lots of art, and enjoying it so much. You can follow my ‘progress’ here.
I’m also doing another round of an online course called Inspiration Information, and I’m joining in with a month long creative challenge called #Tinkersketch, which you can follow on Instagram.
Cooking : I roasted a couple of capsicums today, I think I’ll put them through some pasta. I also made my first ever lamb roast for Straya Day. It was super tasty and fed me all week long.
Drinking : Soda water & cordial. I haven’t had a drop of soft drink all year. Feeling lighter.
Reading: how to look at a painting by Justin Paton. It’s a great book about art, and seeing what’s there.
Wanting: Work. I just ticked over a year of unemployment. Sheesh, enough already.
Looking: At clouds, everywhere I go. I’m obsessed by their shapes and colours.
Playing: If I can find a recorder, I’ll be playing With Cat Like Tread for Eden. I hope I can remember it properly. By the way, have you been watching Eden’s weekly newscast? You totally should. It’s awesome – check it out here.
Deciding: I’m trying to decide whether to write a bit about the highs and lows of being on Newstart.
Wishing: For a money tree, those bills aren’t going to pay themselves, and Newstart doesn’t cover them. Not even close.
Enjoying: The cooler days. I’m longing for autumn!
Waiting: I’m waiting to hear back about a couple of jobs I went for last week. Come on!!
Liking: Instagram – there are so many great creative people out there.
Wondering: Whether I’ll ever be able to accept the generosity of others without crying. It’s one of those things that is wonderful, and difficult. I’m looking for the lessons in it. I’m sure there are lessons in this season and I want to learn them all.
Loving: The sky. Instagram. Bed. Creativity. Making things.
Pondering: What else I can do to create some kind of income stream…. am I brave enough to try copywriting, offer my services in organising/decluttering, or maybe I should join a travelling band of ragamuffins.
Considering: How much I could make as a ragamuffin. It might not work, I’m a bit of a homebody.
Watching: The Block Triple Threat, for now. I love Scotty Cam, but all the redundant editing could be too much to deal with!
Hoping: I’m hoping to continue to be hopeful. Hope is a choice. I choose it, again.
Marvelling: That my blog is almost one year old!
Needing: Quite a lot, and not much. It’s a paradox.
Smelling: The aroma of #sundaybakingsunday – today’s scent was zucchini bread.
Wearing: Fave trackies today, with my trusty #teamstripes 17Sundays tee.
Following: A bunch of artists and painters on Instagram.
Noticing: That once you open your eyes to it, beautiful things are everywhere.
Knowing: This too shall pass. Most days I have pretty easy access to that mindset, some days, not so much.
Thinking: How great it is that I am part of an online community of people who practice encouragement, kindness and generosity. Their juju holds me up.
Admiring: Taylor Swift’s songwriting abilities. I’m an out and proud TayTay fan. #shakeitoff
Sorting: I still have to sort through my shoes, but I think #hoistthehangers has been a great success. Did you follow along? You can read about my adventures in decluttering here, here and here.
Buying: Just the essentials. Yes, essentials often includes chocolate. I’m settling for the Coles brand at the moment, it’s two-fiddy.
Getting: Ready for autumn, it’s my favourite time of year.
Bookmarking: I’m not much of a bookmarker, I’m a Bloglovin kind of girl.
Disliking: Counting every cent, every week.
Opening: This week I know I’ll be opening some awesome mail. I’m so excited about that.
Giggling: The babies in tunnels videos that are doing the rounds are pretty cute.
Feeling: Calm again. I’ll be okay.
Snacking: on #sundaybakingsunday goodies and corn relish dip and crackers.
Coveting: New bed linen, or trying a new moisturiser, or being able to buy anything that catches my eye. I miss being able to shop for pretty things. Speaking of which, I wouldn’t say no to this awesome dress by 17Sundays.
Wishing: For instant recall of every person who has done me a kindness in the past year. I’d love to be able to list you all. I really would.
Helping: Naomi pass time at the Apple Store last week was fun. You can check out her January Taking Stock post on her lovely blog here.
Hearing: Harry Connick Jnr today, while I was reading. I’m loving him on American Idol.
Would you like to take stock too? Go for it. You could do this on your Facebook page, or on your blog if you have one, or you could even take photos of all the things and make it a photographic essay on Instagram or Tumblr. Here are Pip’s latest prompts. Remember, credit where credit is due…
Making:
Cooking:
Drinking:
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Deciding:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving:
Pondering:
Considering:
Watching:
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Needing:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Admiring:
Sorting:
Buying:
Getting:
Bookmarking:
Disliking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Snacking:
Coveting:
Wishing:
Helping:
Hearing:
That’s all from me for now.
How are you enjoying 2015 so far? Tell me just one thing, or all of the things, that you’re enjoying or working on so far, in the comments.
Cheers,
Annette x
I Give You The Verbs 