I really like all of the planning and speculation that comes along with the start of a new year – 365 clean, bright squares on the calendar expectantly waiting to be filled with exciting things! The start of a new year feels like a good time to try and put your own little world to rights and I suppose that's why so many of us make new years resolutions. I did OK with mine last year although I never did get around to sewing very much and my email inbox is even more stuffed now than it was back then. On the positive side though, I did manage to spend some extra much needed time with Amy while my husband had Toby. That's something that needs to happen a bit more this year, but we'll take it step by step and hopefully balance out what both children need a little more evenly! I also did really well on the food front – I did end up making virtually all of our own bread, cakes and biscuits and relying far, far less on supermarket food for meals. The plan is to take that a step further this year and produce more of our own food. Which is why I am so happy with our joint christmas pressie this year…

…a chicken house! It's ready for residents but H is currently busy clearing the area where it's going and building a run. Once it's all in place we'll be going to collect our 3 chickens and hopefully not too long after we'll be enjoying some fresh eggs! Amy and I are so excited and she's already got a shortlist of names for them!

H and I have also been busy in the garden setting up raised beds ready for veggie growing. I can already tell that 2009 is going to be a more outdoorsy kind of year though hopefully I'll still have a little energy at the end of the day for a spot of bunny knitting!