Wednesday 31 December 2014

Best foot forward


So here we go then, heading into 2015.


I like the symbolism of a new year stretching ahead of us like freshly fallen snow waiting for our footprints.


I will try to stride out purposefully. 
 
But of course I know there will be detours, obstacles and distractions along the way.

'Twas ever thus.


Now where's that lovely big present from my old friend Sal?
 Oh.... I'll open that later then.
 

Table all set for Christmas dinner. 
 Plus impromptu cat decorations. 
I wonder if I should try harder with hygiene in 2015?
 
 
A festive game of Creationary.
Willow only wanted to help...
 
 
Let's have some nice Christmas photos then, kids.
Alternatively, practice your Deranged Faces. 
Thanks.
 
 
But that's life, isn't it? You can plan and organise and have all the goals and resolutions you like, but sometimes you have to give in to the random flow of existence, and just see what happens.

And if you can laugh and enjoy it, so much the better. 
 


The big snowfall we had on Boxing Day was unexpected and disruptive for many, but it certainly provided a beautiful backdrop for my beloved Queen Jessamine.
 
 
And the kids enjoyed it.




Ahem, that's my posing spot, Nina!
 
See?


1970s Co-op maxi skirt and top - charity shopped
Boots and C&A Clockhouse suede jacket - Ebay
Pendant - gift
Belt - retail
 
(I'll pop over to Patti's to say hi to everyone at Visible Monday. Better horribly late than never.)
 
 
So whether you are a Jess, embracing challenges and opportunities with an adventurous spirit...


or like Charlie and Minnie, seeking out a safe spot from which to sniff the air and consider the future...
 
 
or a Wills, gingerly and somewhat reluctantly facing new conditions... 
 
 
we all make our way through life's vagaries in our own unique way, don't we?



Most things can be tackled with plenty of good will, a sprinkle of grit, and a shovel.
 
Wishing you all a very happy New Year!

xxxx

53 comments:

Vix said...

What an excellent post!
No dinner table would be complete without a cat or two, bless them.
Love your Co-op Aztec maxi and that gorgeous snuggly jacket and the kids have outdone themselves with colour, festive prints and posing.
Wills looks very hesitant in the snow, Charlie and Minnie a little distainful and Jess a natural born model!
I think my NYE might be spent like our cats' asleep on the settee by 9pm and pissed off by fireworks at midnight.
Have a fab party tonight and a most excellent 2015.
Love you! xxxxxxx

Vix said...

FIRST! xxx

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year !! :-)

Suzanne said...

Wonderfully written post Curtise!

You have more snow that me for a change ; )

Wishing you nothing but health, joy, love and many a great vintage score in 2015!

bisous
Suzanne

Patti said...

Happy new year, dearest Curtise! You're a treasure and I hope you keep writing and photo-ing about your life for twenty more years. Kitties on the table looks rather familiar, ahem, cough cough. I've given up shoo-ing them. xoxo

The Style Crone said...

Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family. Looking forward to following your style and your life as it unfolds in 2015. XO

Anonymous said...

So nicely written Curtise. I went back and read it twice! I love how all your critters helped lend visuals and examples for life's adventures in this post.
I'm hoping you the best in 2015 with lots of wide open untrodden paths to explore!

Bobbi said...

It's hard to have plans with cats and kids.
Happy New Year to you and your family!

Pennyblossoms said...

A post adorned with fur babies is always a winner in my book!
Wishing you all a wonderful 2015!
Zxx

Lizzie Cole said...

I love the snow - it looks amazing.

Lizzie Dripping

Miss Magpie said...

Have a wonderful New year's eve and here's to 2015.


Thought I'd let Vix get in there first this time :-P

Goody said...

Clearly the cats thought all the fuss was for their benefit and were waiting for their seafood supper.

Pretty snow, happy kids, looks like great fun.

All best for a wonderful New Year!

bahnwärterin said...

happy new year my friend!
wonderful that you have some festive snow - especially for your adorable kids!
love your C&A jacket, sooo cool!
and thank you for translating and reading and commenting my writings - it means a lot to me :-)
xxxxx

Becky said...

Cats are always everywhere!!! No stopping them!

at my dressingtable said...

A wonderful post ! love your outfit ,gorgeous children and cats.
Happy new year to you xxx

Tamera Beardsley said...

Oh how I have missed 'seeing' you my dear! I just love your take on life … it is always such a joy to visit here!

Wishing you and yours a most joyful New Year!

xoxo
Tamera

Melancholy and Menace said...

Looking lovely! Your children are adorable and your kitties so cute! All that snow, wow! Not a single flake down here yet. Just lots of ice.

Happy new year to yourself and your family xx

Fiona said...

Lovely words Curtise. Your place looks wonderfully homely...cats on the table, happy smiling kids, washing on the rads and oh look, there's my xmas card on the bookshelf behind Willow. Loving the Aztec maxi, it looks uber warm...always good in my book and perfect for venturing out in the snow. What was in the box from Sal I wonder?
Wishing you and yours, a healthy and happy year. Getting hammered tonight? xxxx

Señora Allnut said...

mwhaha, fabulous attitude, dear lady!!, love to read your post and see all those cute cats and funny children enjoying some snow!! and such a fabulous skirt and jacket you're wearing!!!
Best wishes for you and your family (and shovels for everybody, ;DD )
besos

Jayne H said...

Fab post Curtise, the snow does look lovely and gorgeous cats. Happy New Year to you and hope it's a good one for you and all your family xxx

Sheila said...

Meh, what's a little cat hair between friends? :) I love all your kitties, and look at that snow!

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to you, Curtise!

Ivy Black said...

Glad you all had a lovely Christmas and some snow too...send some our way could you?
Have fun seeing in the New Year. I'll be in front of my fire with a tipple or two. Rock n'roll, baby!
Happy New Year to you and your gorgeous gang. Here's to a fab 2015 and hope to see you in it as soon as possible!
Loves ya.
xxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

I see you got some snow! Is it gone already? We got ours the next day too, but it's not going anywhere as our temps are in the single digits and below! Yikes!
You look cozy and cute in that jacket and skirt. Have a very Happy New Year! :)

joyatri said...

You've summed up and illustrated so many little pleasures. But it's really all about the little pleasures, isn't it. What fun that you got a good snowfall. I won't see snow till I go home in a couple weeks. I'm a softie when it comes to letting any animals in my home do what they want, too.
Thanks for your new year's wishes. I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2015! xx

Vicky Hayes said...

Bless you and your lovely family Curtise, cats and all! Wishing you all good things for 2015 xx

Kylie said...

Nina's gonna give you a run for your money one day Curtise! probably sooner than you think too!
Snow!!! What a dream (although it hasn't been too hot here...yet!)
Cats bums on the table?! That will never do!!!
Now please tell me which one of your brilliant kiddos is the artist? (I'm talking that beautiful study in orange/green/pink to the left of numero uno son) I love it! Pass on my admiration.
Annabel was sulking in all of our Christmas snaps - that's why the ones on the blog were blurry - she looked like such a misery guts in all of the good ones of the rest of us.
As far as your cats go, I relate the most to Minnie and Charlie.
Lovely post Curtise. Thank-you x

Val said...

Lovely end of year contemplation. I read a blurb about life coaching and planning your life, but I'd much rather plan a little and let the rest surprise me. Don't want to force serendipity.

Best wishes for you and your beautiful family in 2015!

Sue said...

Lovely lovely post with a covering of SNOW!!! As someone who never gets to frolic in snow I personally thank you, it looks such fun, although chilly, as I sit in warm temperatures down here in NZ. Happy 2015 to you and yours and I look forward to what you blog about this year, thank you for your blogging friendship!! xx

Angels have Red Hair said...

Love the snow … I'd love a white Christmas … just once :0)
Wishing you and your gorgeous family a very Happy New Year.
xx

Ulla-Marie said...

Mjao!

kobieta niewidzialna said...

Happy New Year Curtise!

Mim said...

Happy New Year to you and your family! And your splendid cats. A meal isn't complete without cat hair - surely that's one of your five a day?

From Anna with love said...

I love your colorful outfits and your gorgeous cats!

Porcelina said...

I love your thoughts in this post, particularly the last bit about tackling things with grit and a shovel!! I look forward to seeing what you get up to in 2015, Happy New Year lovely lady! x

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Ooh you got snow! How properly festive! The kitties look very content and the kiddies look, er, deranged. Glad to see you're putting them to work with shovels. Wishing you all a very happy new year. xxxx

Mother of Reinvention said...

I'm a bit late to the party but would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year. Here's wishing health, wealth and happiness to you all. What a thoughtful post. 2014 was not a great year so here's to grabbing 2015 by the doodads and going for it! Hope you all had a fab Christmas. Xxxx

Forest City Fashionista said...

This is a lovely post, and right now, I don't know which kind of kitty I am, or how I am feeling about next year. The best laid plans of mice and men, etc.

I think the table looks just perfect with the cat edgepieces ;)

I can't believe that you have snow, and we don't. Global warming really is messing things up.

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

Of course the cats are on the table...it's Christmas after all...that photo really makes me laugh. It also weakens my resolve to train my cats not to jump on the table. I mean, really? What is the point?

And SNOW! Sounds just like Vancouver...a little snowfall and the city shuts down. In our defense, our coastal climate generally makes for black ice and dangerous driving conditions!

Happy New Year to you and those blessed beasts...um I mean kiddos! xo

Olga Rani said...

What lovely photographs - all that snow, cats and you in your colourful outfit. Happy New Year to you, dear Curtise, and to all members of your family, including cats!

Charis said...

Insanely jealous that you got snow!!!! We never get any down here in Oxford :( Happy New Year!

freckleface said...

Just before I read your comment about Nina, I thought, oh, that's Curtise's posing spot. Classic. Watch out, there's a blogger-in-waiting! Cats as table decorations, kids with deranged faces, board games and a cosy, welcoming home; that's Christmas. Yes, I love the idea of a chance for a new start. I wonder what it will hold? I look forward to seeing what exciting adventures you get up to. Happy New Year my lovely. Xxxxx

Mrs Bertimus said...

Whenever I feel over whelmed with all the stuff I have to do, or a little lost along the way I shall read this fab post.
You are a tonic and a treasure.
Happy new year to you x

Beth Waltz said...

This post is among the most thoughtful and beautiful cards of the season I've seen, Curtise. Blessings on you and your loved ones in 2015!

P.S. Yes, of course, my cats sit on the table and march on the counters.

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

Happy New Year Curtise - you all look like you are having a wonderful Christmastime!!!!

Peaches McGinty said...

Aww! Feline table decorations! mine do that too, nothing wrong with a bit of cat hair in the dinner, we're used to it haha! wasn't the snow lovely though? I was chuffed with it, I like the feeling of a fresh start too and going with the flow, it's the only way, we can't stop life! it looks like you all had a wonderful time! and I wish you and yours a Very Happy New Year *clinks glass*!! here's to a bloody good 'un! x x x

Shawna McComber said...

OH Curtise I nearly cried seeing Jess. It is impossible to keep cats off the table and no sane person puts anything to do with controlling cats into a New Year's resolution. I know you are sane.

I love your skirt and your elegant posing. Your cats and kids and fabulous blog. Thanks so much for sharing it all. xoxo

Melanie said...

Those cat table decorations are so realistic ;) And you got a white Boxing Day too, how lovely, though the cats seem split over how good this actually was!
Happy new year to you and yours xxx

Natalia Lialina said...

I have finally made it to your wonderful festive post, dear Curtise! Thank you for this great pleasure to getting to know you. I love seeing all the photos you take with so much heart and a great eye for both the composition AND the moment! Love seeing the little corners of your lovely, warmhearted home, your wonderful kids and lovely cats! Love reading your thoughts, reflections, all the things you share with us, sad and joyful. And of course love seeing your wonderful, colorful, inspiring outfits! You are one of a kind, beautiful, thoughtful, kind, passionate person and gorgeous woman. It is such an honor to be your friend, even if only online. With lots of love xxxxxx

Trees said...

It looks like you had a lovely Christmas and that snow looks WONDERFUL to me - happy 2015 lovely xoxo

Cristi said...

Had to pop by and wish you a very Happy New Year!!! Looks like you had a wonderful time with the family, kitties and lucky you snow! We had the bitter cold but sadly no snow.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who lets their cats on the table-they are part of the family after all.
Last year was a bit rough, so those safe spots are looking pretty good to me. Always love your metaphors, this one is spot on!
Wishing you, the family and kitties all the best for 2015!!!:)

ArgentGal said...

This is such a lovely post! The snow looks like so much fun for everyone and all the pictures are just purrrfect. ;) Happy New Year to you and yours!

Catherine said...

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU! So good to see kitties and happy families in these end of year posts. I love your skirt too! its lovely!

Unknown said...

Glorious snow-holiday pics of you and kits and kids! Cool, sort of Nordic Goddess look for you, Curtise! Charming and hearty with no little sex appeal!
This has been a shovel kind of week, here, and have come through with a smile, in part because of blogs and women who write them, just like YOU!