On New Year's day, the thought of putting the Christmas things away made me sad, so I left them up until the weekend, when I was ready to have my living room back to normal. I still need to carry the storage bin out to the shed, but the living room looks so much tidier now with things back where they belong.

Today I am eating a boring but satisfying lunch of chicken leg quarter, brown and wild rice, and steamed zucchini and summer squash, which I know suits my body better than the holiday food. We still have a bit of gourmet cheese in the house but I will eat it sparingly, and I'm done with celebratory lattes. Life is good.

I just bought a lovely piece of original artwork for my office from a local artist whose work I really love. It's a painting of a bird called a Say's Phoebe, which we see near our house all the time, and which I also see in the area near my office. Very excited.

I went to the gym yesterday, and will go again today. It feels good to be moving and exerting my muscles again and I know I will feel better in general if I exercise consistently.

: oh yes Allison I agree I am really
: pleased to be getting back to
: normal again

: although life is far from normal
: these days with various adventures
: and hobbies I have to be a bit
: adaptable these days, it seems
: routine is not applicable , but
: there are those cornerstones
: always there whatever
: circumstances

: I adore Christmas and keep my
: decorations up till twelfth night,
: and its weird that something I
: love so much brings a relief
: afterwards, but there you are ! I
: think I tend to over do things.
: There were a few times of over
: indulgence, all friendly foods but
: far too much. Which I know well is
: nice at the time but leaves me
: really tired afterwards and a bit
: grumpy

: somehow there is a peace and quiet to
: having things tidy again as well,
: sitting room seems twice the size
: It surprises me every year

: Although I put my things away, I did
: leave out some candles, so I think
: I will be in a Christmas scent for
: a while, but I do like a quiet
: time early morning. Specially when
: it is so dark

: and I am finding myself really
: looking forwards to mealtimes...
: baked salmon, broccoli, cheese
: sauce...lots of crockpot stews and
: braises this time of year, one
: pot: not much washing up,
: cocooning. Its like the delicious
: foods of celebration have gone,
: but the attention to feeling good
: continues

: I'm working on the idea I want to go
: swimming as well, I have been
: waiting for the schools to go back

: your brightening up office plans
: sound so nice for all. what a
: difference that will make