The squirrel project

I'm going nuts

I make a concerted effort to acknowledge and take pleasure in something of small significance every day. I used to think that the whole practicing gratitude was a bit namby-pamby, but I really do believe that taking a minute to appreciate a moment is one of the most positive things you can do for your mind and your mood, and it takes a fraction of an effort to do it. I never write it down or journal it, because I never want to pressure myself or feel guilty if I don’t have the time to write it. But every single day, without fail I find something small to take pleasure in, to be inspired by, or to be grateful for. And the more I started to acknowledge these small things, the more they seem to appear.

On Tuesday this week, it was squirrels. Yes, those fluffy little rodents that are incredibly more ballsy in the city than I have ever come across before. Each time I step outside of my flat, I - quite literally - cross paths with a squirrel or two, and find myself side-stepping to avoid having an angry animal gnawing at my shoe. FYI, this is an entirely justifiable move of mine, as squirrels are constantly gnawing in order to keep their front teeth, which NEVER STOP GROWING, from getting too big for their little heads. Their teeth can also appear a shade of orange due to the levels of iron in them, necessary for keeping them strong. Can you tell I went down a bit of a rabbit hole with the squirrel facts? Moving on! It was on Tuesday that I saw two squirrels running round a tree trunk after one another, and I realised this is a sight I often see but I never really acknowledged the pleasure it brought. It felt exactly the same as if I was watching two puppies playing games, and I genuinely felt all soft inside (which is really odd considering I was brought up to see grey squirrels as the baddies, and they are actual rodents…)

I didn’t spend too long watching them because I also acknowledged that I would have looked a little strange doing so. In addition, I was wearing a large fur Cossack, and a part of me feared that the squirrels may be vexed I was wearing one of their friends on my head…*

*It’s a faux fur Cossack, but I don’t know if a squirrel would know that.

My encounter with the squirrels reminded me that I hadn’t cooked with hazelnuts for quite some time, and I instantly began to crave them. Luckily for me, it’s the perfect time of year for produce that pairs perfectly with hazelnuts, and so my menu was set. I chose to prepare a sweet-and-salty salad (the best kind) consisting of chopped red apple, thinly sliced red onion, a little blue cheese, Dijon mustard, white balsamic vinegar, some sliced olives, mixed salad leaves and plenty of pan-roasted hazelnuts, which I cook a little longer than they should be to burn them on the edges. Bliss. I'll also be using them to top a plate of parsnips, rocket and torn prosciutto. Blue cheese is a gorgeous addition to this mix too.

I've had a very busy week at work and won't be stopping this weekend, however Monday is my birthday (27!) and I'll be spending the day in central London getting my festive spirits raised and probably NOT buying the Christmas presents I should be. It's my day, after all.

I hope you have a fantastic week ahead. Drink some bubbly, toast those hazelnuts, and wear the shoes you want to.

Amie Elizabeth x

*Not all images in every post are my own. I will aim to caption/link the images to the rightful owner where possible.