take a moment - do less

This time of year is so busy for most of us that I think we can often end up missing the point about what really matters.

Leo from Zen Habits sent a link to his new website and I watched this simple little movie that says it all (and is very timely). Have a look 'The Power of Less video'.

It has inspired me to do less of the stuff that really doesn't matter and more of the stuff that does.

poppies

I love fresh flowers in the house. All winter I bought tulips but as the weather warmed up, they were more difficult to find. I stood at the flower stall at the market one Saturday when the season had almost come to an end feeling a bit bewildered. There were no tulips. Funny how easy it is to become set in your ways.
It was Elsa who spotted the poppies. They were closed when we bought them and to be honest, looked like they wouldn't amount to anything special.

And then they opened.

The colours were soft and subtle and the petals so delicate. Papery thin and almost transparent - they were unbelievably beautiful. Chris grabbed the camera and took them outside into the afternoon light.

take a moment - cook

One of the best things in life is simple fresh food. My favourite 'accessible food' chefs are Donna Hay, Jamie Oliver and Stephanie Alexander.

Donna does great salads, Jamie's pastas are wonderful and Stephanie does the best classics (I've made this Christmas pudding and it is divine).

Check out what's in season right now and cook something beautiful tonight.