A year of The Really Good Life
Well what’dya know, it’s a year today since I started this blog!
My first posts were about growing salad leaves, pickling wild garlic seed pods (which is something I’ve been meaning to do again this year but haven’t got around to it), some bargain batch-cooked dinners and about getting our first chickens – and our first egg.
What’s happened in the last year?
- We got the chickens – and got more but then lost two. But still ate a whole lot of eggs.
- Made fresh pasta from scratch for the first time – a big deal for pasta lovers like us!
- Made my first jams & chutneys – a whole cupboard full
- Made things from wood
- Learnt how to make soap
- Assist John in making his ultimately explosive cider ;)
- Learnt loads about making cheese
- Cold-smoked cheese and other things – yum
- Baked a whole lot of new stuff
- Refined some of my favourite recipes while trying to write them up
- Added a new (small) room to the house – will post pics in a couple of weeks when it’s decorated
- Had a “no spend” almost-month and kept a spending diary since the start of this year – which has made me more conscious about casual spending
- Surprised myself by not buying any clothes for seven months and counting
- Had some growing successes in our first year here – and our second year is off to a good start
- Planted lots of fruit trees and bushes/li>
- Made lots of new internet friends :D
I think the main thing that’s happened in the last year though is that between writing about things on here (and getting feedback – thanks for all the comments, guys!) and reading about all the exciting things other people are doing (both in the comments here and on their own blogs), I’ve been inspired to try things I’ve long wanted to try and experiment with other things that I didn’t even know I wanted to try!
Basically, it’s been a really good year :D
Other posts you might like:
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Taking Stock – May 2015
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Making a little more progress at the allotment
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Allotment, end of round 1 (ding ding)
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Yay, allotment!
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Taking stock – June 2014
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Do it better
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Stitching etc tips from the Knitting & Stitching Show
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No Spend November
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My winter to-do list 2013
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Taking stock: a ‘what I’m up to in my absence’ meme
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Plummy solid square crochet blanket
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Attack of the Crochet Claw
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My low-spend '11: buy less than 12 items of clothing in 2011
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Cold smoking cheese - taste testing the first batch
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Using up the glut: Marrow cake recipe
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How I line dry clothes in winter: my top five tips
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Spicy marrow chutney recipe
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Washing in winter: ideas for reducing laundry?
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Foraging for wild food: do you forage near roads?
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Your favourite fiction books with simple living characters/themes?
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How I spent my Tuesday afternoon
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We *heart* books too (warning: picture heavy post!)
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Portion control
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Baking things that'll last
Happy Blog Anniversary! I have enjoyed reading your blog, keep up the good work x
Congratulations on one year of blogging! It sounds like you’ve done a lot in one year – learned a lot and tried lots of new things!
You also write like you’ve been writing forever, rather than like it was a new venture :)
Congratulations Louisa..lovely blog from a lovely lady.
sara
Congratulations! I always enjoy reading. Inspiring, informative, and fun! Best wishes to you.
Happy Anniversary!Here’s to another year…
Happy Anniversary! and well done :) You’ve had a busy year.
Happy first year blogging!! I have only just found your blog but am looking forward to catching up with your last year and on to the next.
Yey! Happy blogiversary!
Thanks for all the birthday wishes and kind words everyone! :)
Happy (belated) blog birthday!!
I’m just catching up with 3 weeks worth of blog reading, I do enjoy your blog, really interesting and lots of different stuff going on.