January Roundup
It's been a while...
Hello dear reader!
It’s been a while since the last roundup but thank you for sticking with me. After a fortnight of rebellion, the toddler is back to his midday naps, and the baby often blesses me with a nap at around the same time. So, here we are, sat typing with a baby snoozing across my lap and his brother tucked up in bed.
I’m caught each day with “pinch me” moments about our current family. I look down at my four month old baby and across the carpet to my 2 year old son. Two smiling, beautiful boys, that somehow are both entrusted to my and my husband’s care. It’s humbling, joy giving, tear jerking, and slightly surreal all in one. I don’t want these moments of double take to end and, thankfully, I don’t think they will.
In a couple of weeks, it will be one year since we moved to Ireland. That year has flown by, and I can easily say it was the right decision. It’s a blessing to have family close by and a real joy to be in the countryside. I’ve enjoyed getting more fresh air and feel much more aware of the seasons and the changing wildlife around me. As we hope to grow more of our own produce this year, I expect this awareness to intensify –and all for the better.
What I’ve been cooking lately
I am becoming an ever bigger advocate of the slow cooker (or crockpot, as Americans would call it). As I mentioned in my recent post on meal planning, I make something in the slow cooker each Wednesday, but often have it going multiple times a week. I’m all for minimal fuss, few ingredient slow cooker recipes (and I will share those one day) but lately I discovered a yummy sweet and sour recipe, and a very tasty korma curry. Both are very simple and I highly recommend.
What I’ve been writing lately
I had a piece in The Spectator questioning the default of doctor’s asking contraceptive choices so soon after birth. It felt good to be writing op-eds again!
What I’ve been reading lately
The first book I finished this year was JD Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy. I was a little late to the party with reading this one, but very glad I did. Vance’s memoir contains more sociological commentary than I expected, having watched the movie a few years ago. It’s a quick read and rather inspiring to think that that’s the childhood and early adulthood of the Vice President!
What I’ve been growing lately
This year we plan to do more gardening and growing of our own food. We must be a gazillion years away from being self-sufficient, but it’s exciting to think we’ll be a bit closer this year than last (not much closer, admittedly, but a tiny bit). For various reasons, we won’t have our polytunnel in place until later this year, so we’re using my in-laws greenhouse this year instead. We’re in the initial stages of cleaning it up and getting it ready for tomatoes galore. It’s amazing what you can do with a toddler underfoot and a baby strapped to your chest!
That’s it for this month.
As ever,
Portia