Year End Musing!

Wow!  Gone a bit without visiting my blog.  Not the end of the world, but still something I wish I could "do" more faithfully.

Never been to good at New Years Resolutions.    Guess I did succed in somethings during 2016.  Managed to log 15 books read, with one title twice.  Started wearing a Fitbit in January; I've logged 2,689,785 steps.  I'm sure that will increase some in the remaining few days.  I will not make promises or firm goals for concrete bench marks in either area for 2017.  I just want to keep moving and reading.  I'm already compiling a list of books I'd like to read, so hopefully I'm off to a good start.  As for moving, just keeping at it and in need of new sneakers.  Got to take care of the feet!!!!

Other things I REALLY want to accomplish:

1. a sky scarf - I've talked about it here before.  Three to five shades of daytime sky colors and knitting a row of the appropriate color for each day.  Not sure how this will pan out, but have three colors already and thing I have the pattern narrowed down to a couple different stitches.  Will write more later.
2. trying more "new" recipes.  Nothing elaborate or fancy, just new to us.
3. getting out more with Kevin
4. getting out more with friends
5. blogging more
6. finding my crafting nitch

That seems good enough for now, no need to be overwhelming here.

To bring thankfulness up to date:

1. time to read
2. roaring fires
3. good coffee
4. boys doing well in school
5. time off
6. getting out and walkin
7. apple picking
8. Simon put star on Christmas tree
9. seeing Christmas lights with friends
10. matching pajamas

And with this quick post, I'm wrapping it up.  Lots left to accomplish today.

Almost the end

of January!  Today, the 30th, and 31st.  Did you make any New Years Resolutions?  Have you broken any of them?

I've never been keen on making a long list of desires to accomplish.  This year, I kind of mentally decided to pick a new thing the first of every month to work on.  Would continue the ones from the previous month as well.  January, I've bitten the reading bug.  Five books since the first.  I started another and it was an utter chore to read.  As I've been getting a lot of recommendations, I scrapped number 5 and moved to 6.  Here is what I've read so far:

1. Wonder
2. Book Thief
3. The Giver
4. The Snow Child
5. Walking by Thoreau (book I scrapped)
6. Counting by 7s

So far I have enjoyed all but Walking so far.  Counting by 7s took a bit to get into but it did grip me about 2/3 of the way.  Probably read that far "waiting" for the "I want to see how this ends" feeling.  Still need to pick a new book, but may wait a day to catch up on other things.

As for February, I am not sure what I want to make a habit of.  It might just be a tweaking of my desire to get fit.  Bought a Fitbit a few days ago.  That has been surprisingly motivating.  Need to add strengthening to the walking and water aspect though.  Snow removal has a way of introducing muscles that haven't been used in awhile.  Will see how that goes.  But have also been mulling over more drawing, coloring, crafting and the like.  I am surprised at how much I've missed it the last few years. It had taken a back seat to life and I am enjoying the process of finding things to do, to create, and even designing things.

Guess another resolution would be to come back here, more often, to note the "Joy in the Ordinary".  Had seen something with those words on it, in December, and it stuck wit me.  Most days, I am looking for the little things and finding the joy in it.  Since the our last birthday celebration, here are some of the things that have brought joy:

This is what the sky has been like, on occasion.  Beautiful!!

• sunlight reflecting off of fresh snow
• neighbors, who pitch in to get a job done
• hot tea
• time to wander Micheal's
• friends
• reading
• not loosing electricity
• fitbit
• easy meals to prepare
• time to put feet up

3rd day of the year

Any resolutions kept?

         Any resolutions dropped already?

I'll just say I haven't started yet.  Been a rough few days.  What I thought would be a simple bathroom fix isn't.  It's becoming stressful.  We're beginning week 2 of it.  Not fun.  3rd time in just over 12 years this bathroom has gotten an overhaul.

The day was a mess ~ to put it nicely.  This is as raw as I feel like being when I don't know know who all is reading my blog.  To me it was just a crazy bad day!  Resolutions are hard to think up and follow through on bad days.

On the bright side, I did do a little grocery shopping and came home with a few bananas and an avocado, so that's a small step toward healthy, right?

Three things to be thankful for, as it is the third:

• fruit and veggies
• chocolate chip cookies made and cleaned up by someone else
• smell of oil based paint finally dissipating

Here's one New Year's Resolution:

to have a beautiful picture with each blog post.

It maybe relevant to the post and still beautiful

or I may just search the web for something that strikes me.

This came from a website called:

wonderfulengineering.com