Yesterday was blissful. I had been dreading the weekend a little, as Carl has to work the entire thing, and entertaining a three year old without a break in bad weather when you cn’t drive to go anywhere indoors and interesting. However, Jessica was invited for a sleepover with her Nanny and Grandad from lunchtime Saturday to this morning.
She was very excited to go, and I have to say that the thought of some time for myself. After I waved her goodbye, I made a pot of tea, lit some candles and sat down in the quiet.
It was a proper Januaryish Saturday, chilly and overcast, which quickly turned to drizzle. The perfect weather for not going out if you don’t have to.
The perfect weather for hunkering down and snuggling under a blanket, reading Country Living Magazine and watching A Vicar’s Life. Then for turning out a cupboard or two, and settling to knit and watch Little Women which I had recoreded over Christmas.
I am knitting a little dress for Jessica in soft grey. I started it a long time ago but abandoned it, so I ripped it all out and started again in the next size up. I know how easily I get distracted, and I have a few exciting projects for this year which will give me less crafting time than usual, so I am working it up in age 4-5 with the idea of it being worn from Autumn onwards.
I put a beef stew into the slow cooker which we ate in the evening with jacket potatoes. It was a new recipe and I was pleased with how it came out, so I will be making it again.
Carl had to work from home on the evening, but luckily it is the kind of task where I could sit with him and watch a film. We watched Miss Sloane which is a political thriller and I really enjoyed it. It was an interesting story with some good twists and turns, but it was also really refreshing to have a strong female lead without a romantic subplot.
And so to bed with a hot water bottle and book. Although I always miss Jessica when one of us is away from home, I also really enjoyed the solitude in the day.
This morning we have had sleety snow and Carl is working (although from home today) so we are going to bake soon, do some painting later, and for now she is playing in a quickly constructed den.
Little Sips of Tea 
The weather is about to look up I believe but meantime we all seek a remedy or two if we can . See my post on marmalade if you like .