Perspective

 Happy New Year!
There's something so fresh about the first day of the new year.  I was thinking about new approaches and beginnings yesterday afternoon, while I was tidying up my bathroom.  This painting, above, hangs in that room (and pretty much dominates it).  It's funny because while there doesn't seem to be lots going on in the painting (it's a simple landscape after all, painted in a slightly out-of-focus technique) to me it's quite powerfully full of potential.  I think it looks like a new slate, free of decisions, fresh, approachable.
Rather like the new year...we get to decide what kind of year we will have.
I hope yours is full of possibility and happiness, and that you are able to accomplish what you choose to!

 I had a really good day scrubbing, polishing and fluffing up the house.  MrBP was hunkered down in his office preparing for a really busy first week of January but we were able to sit down with a glass of wine by about five and settle for the evening.

 I didn't have the heart to take down the Christmas tree although I did start rounding up many of the decorations.  Middle Rascal is home until January 4th and she loves that Christmas tree... I'll wait until the 5th to take it down.

Today I'll do a bit of baking, nothing too fussy, maybe an apple strudel.  I'll definitely bake some more of that no-knead bread, in our family we can easily get through a loaf a day.  It's delicious with dinner of course but it also toasts up perfectly for breakfast and lunch.

Fresh bread in the kitchen... what could be better.

Wishing you a very happy first day of this new year!
xoxDani

New Year's Eve

 Well, it's the last day of 2017.  We were visiting my Aunt and Uncle in their High Park home yesterday afternoon and we toasted out the year.  They lost my Aunt's Mum this year and that was a huge loss, she was one of the loveliest women I have ever met.  Those sorts of losses definitely define a year for a family.
Looking back on a year generally gets one looking ahead too, and while I don't make resolutions with any seriousness I usually have goals in the back of my mind.  These goals generally have a theme of doing a better job of things, everything from running the house to having more fun with our friends to spending quality time with The Rascals.
By the time New Year's Eve rolls around I find I'm anxious to create a clean slate for the New Year, to organize and put away the holiday decorations, clean the house, sort the pantry and just generally tuck in to reflect and rest.
I'll be cleaning and sorting like a madwoman today, I haven't had much of a chance to tackle any domestics the last few days and I can't wait to get a start.  Everything needs a scrub and a polish once I've put away the Christmas things.  Then later on we might go to a friend's for a quick drink before returning home for some comfort food and a movie.

Tonight I'll cook a baked gratin of zucchini, garlic, beans and cashew cream, with a topping of breadcrumbs and nutritional yeast, all baked to perfection.

 I'll bake some bread too, using this recipe.

Zucchini and Bean Gratin

Whatever you're doing this evening I wish you a very cheery time and a really wonderful New Year!
xoxDani