Satiating creative pursuits

The above picture is a drawing from C.S Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - the story of which, I have been in love with ever since I was a little girl. Like Lucy, we sometimes wish to peer into our future, plan for our goals and realise our dreams.

I spoke to my friend Simon on the phone a couple of nights ago and he told me that he had written a new 5 year plan, for his life. In essence - his hopes for the next 5 years. He bought himself a banjo and is going to find a teacher to help him learn how to play. I think this is a noble and a sensible pursuit. His wife may think it expensive and time consuming! However, every man and every woman needs a hobby.

What sustains you outside of work? What is your 5 year plan? Has your plan changed? Mine has changed of late - Simon has inspired me to re-plot my goals. Why? I feel I have so many things to do and achieve in this life and not enough time to do them.

I have so many creative pursuits on the back burner. Another mosaic project is dancing in my head. I want to create a sign that hangs beside our front door which reads: Lily Kate Cottage, thus naming our home after our beautiful girl.

There are so many little, somewhat trivial things that I am saving up for/would like to buy in order to make our home more comfortable. Little items that swirl in my mind:-

--- thick and heavy, straw coloured curtains for our bedroom, to block out the light, since our neighbours cut down their tree, that used to block the street light!

--- a duck egg blue, antique light or wall sconce, in the shape of a tulip's bell to put above the chair beside the fireplace.

--- a freestanding light to stand beside the couch, to create another reading spot.

--- an exquisite ivory dossier, with quality paper for me to place photos of miss Lily and the pressed flowers and leaves that she has given me over time. Complete with drawings and scribbled comments, pieces of her hair ribbons etc.

--- would a dishwasher be too much to ask? For those of you that have one, do you recommend one? I am not sold on the idea yet, but people who have a family seem to love their dishwasher.

--- another visit from the electrician to install more power points in our old house, that was built at a time when only one power point per room was installed (if that). They didn't have all the appliances and mod-cons of today. With the increase in price of electricity, and the effect on the environment of carbon emissions, this should be at the bottom of our list, I know.

What's driving you? What do you source and scour when you get out and about? What's on your wish list?

Off to ice my favourite, homemade cake - Lime & Poppy Seed - Yum!

Paul is building a bed for our little, campervan Rosie. He is talking to me about what lengths of wood he will need. He will go pottering about in the timber yard up the road today. I can tell this makes him very happy.

Happy hobbying! Whatever you are into!