Here we all sit today . . . on the precipace of a brand New Year. There are less than 24 hours left of the old one and the new one is sitting there waiting, like a big huge empty blank page . . . just waiting for our pens to write upon it. What we write is largely due to chance, but then again, the choice is ours in how we decide to deal with whatever happens our way . . .
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and
put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light
and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God,
trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and
the breaking of day in the lone East.
~Minnie Louise Haskens
When I was a child the common image of New Year was a very old Father Time, ambling out of the room with a Baby hot on his heels, ready to replace him. New Years to me meant that after my parents woke up there would be some Happy New Year hats to wear and a few noise makers to play with, preferably very quietly as my parents would have sore heads, lol. I don't think my parents missed going out on New Years Eve for the whole time they were married, and indeed after they broke up. It is only in the past few number of years that they have stopped. My father might still be going out on New Years Eve . . . I don't really know.
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred Lord Tennyson
The New Year is an opportunity for change and new beginnings for sure. I am not a resolution maker . . . New Years Resolutions smack too much of failure for me . . . and so I just aim to be a better me, which is my every day resolution really, because every day I try to do better. Sometimes I manage splendidly and other days not so well. I think it is the same for each of us. There are things I would like to do this next year. Whether or not I am able to accomplish them remains to be seen. Only time will tell!
I'd like to cut back on sugar consumption, and not just refined sugars, but natural ones also. I think I am a sugar addict. Oh but it will be hard because almost everything has some form of sugar in it. But I am going to try and probably fail, but at least I will have tried.
I want to write more and craft more and eat less. Tis a fine balance . . . especially when you are a glutton like myself, and live, breath, enjoy . . . . food and cooking. It is a special joy.
I would like to go to the Temple at least once a month. Now this might seem like an easy one to accomplish . . . and the temple is afterall only two hours away . . . but in going I have to conquer my fear of the Motorway and Motorway driving . . .
I would like to walk some each day, weather depending. I know it won't be far because my arthritis makes that difficult, but I can try to walk a little bit and as they do say, every little bit helps, and who knows, maybe with each day it will become a little bit further.
A few years ago I set the goal to make sure my e-mail inbox was kept at a manageable level and I am happy to say that here I am with less than 100 in it, still. That is a goal I conquered and kept. Yay me.
I want to continue on with my reading of the Book of Mormon and its study.
I want to write a new book. And finish it. And find someone to publish it. It should be a bit easier now since I am already published, and I have some very sound ideas rolling around in my head. All I need to do is to make myself sit and write.
I want to paint more. I did not produce very much over this past year. Not very much at all. It was a dry year paint wise, no pun intended . . .
I want to go to Box/Bath and also Anglesey and back to Scotland, but most of all I would love to visit my mom . . . before its too late. But to do that I need to lose weight and earn enough to do so. I don't want my mom to see me as overweight as I am. She was always disgusted by overweight people . . . and I wouldn't want to disappoint her in that way, plus the money is a big thing. We don't do credit.
I want to continue with the downsizing and decluttering. I make empty spaces and then like magic they get filled up again. I need to do better at that.
I want to make it up to the Lakes in the Spring, to Castle Cottage, and finally meet Susan Branch at the picnic planned for that occasion, but again . . . weight. I need to lose weight first . . .
I want to read more books . . . and make my own marmalade.
And so it goes. There is nothing here too
unattainable I don't think.
We shall see.
Anything could happen.
and probably will.
The wind is blowing ferociously this morning. You would think it is the end of March, not December. December is going out on a Lion's teeth.
A thought to carry with you . . .
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛.°Now and then, in this workaday world,
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛.°Now and then, in this workaday world,
things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion,
and what a comfort that is.
~Louisa May Alcott •。★★ 。* 。
In The English Kitchen today . . . Nutella Swirled Banana Bread. Golly gee whiz!
Have a lovely Sabbath Day, don't forget!
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And I do too! Stay safe and stay warm! And a very, VERY Happy New Year!
