Definitely a new year

-

Happy 2024 to you! Despite suffering a small cold, I feel a lot like the mini figure pictured above. My youngest daughter sent me this photo a few days ago when she was putting together a Lego set. This chap's impish grin reflects how I'm feeling as January gets underway, so let me explain....

It's sunny today, also a little cool, one reason for my enthusiasm. Little by little the days are getting longer, what's not to like about that?

Yesterday my hubby and I went to the beach with dear friends who we haven't seen in a long time. The waves were large and impressive, the camaraderie marvelous.

The latest manuscript read-through continued this morning, an enjoyably easy way to delve into the writing as well as entertain myself, LOL! I'm happy with this initial peek at this first draft, stoking my interest in the next installment of this series.

But mostly, I am EVER SO GRATEFUL this year begins for me without the scepter of agonizing heartache. Who wouldn't be, right? Twelve months ago feels like much longer away, or maybe I'm truly coming to terms with the beloved we lost and how precious is this day. This day introduces new plans, innocent pleasures, post nasal drip irritating the back of my throat, but that's a small irritant. Better is how bright are the sun's rays, even if masked behind the treeline. How fabulous are New Year's greetings from loved ones, how unknown is a fresh set of months which aren't that different from those recently enjoyed except that 1 January makes me feel like, "Yeah, it's a new year. New ideas, new hopes, new dreams."

New novels, quilts, mindsets, dietary choices, ahem.... LOL! Lots of newness all around, as though the world was shuttled into a rift, hurled into a different universe. 2024 isn't much altered from 2023, but it feels wholly changed. It's one more chance to step into life with fresh eyes, renewed hearts, strengthened resolves. It's silly is what it is, but sometimes silly is SO NECESSARY.

Whatever 2024 means or brings to you, I wish for peace, joy, and all that makes you grasp life with energy, much like a mini fig settled into a spaceship ready to explore an uncharted galaxy!

Popular posts from this blog

Good to be home

-
Image
This Mandolin block was waiting for me last night; I added four perimeter diamonds and it was finished! Subsequent pics are all EPP made during our holiday. Despite a head cold that emerged late Monday/early Tuesday, our holiday was marvelous! I add this disclaimer because right now I feel pretty crappy, so if this post rambles, it's due to my current state of health. Ice Cream Soda block My goodness, there is a lot I want to say, perhaps the best way to get back into the blogging swing is to eke out bits here and there. The Gee's Bend Quilts Collection was AMAZING! Thirteen quilts were on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art , beautiful comforters I never thought I might see in person. All were hand-quilted, most were completely hand-stitched. Designs, colors, and purpose made me grateful for my minor contributions to the quilting world, as well as causing me to wonder at future projects and ponder my fabric stash. Much food for thought at that deeply touching exhibit, wh...
Read more

Always good to be home

-
Image
  Heading west on I-580, just having crossed over a lengthy bridge. My goodness, where has the time gone? I've been back for two days, but no moment has been free to post here. I enjoyed a lovely getaway with an old friend, some warm temps, and an environment wholly altered to where I live. All in all, a terrific holiday, and now guests are arriving, which will probably preclude my usual flow of entries, although I truly am hoping to release my next book VERY SOON, lol. Getting out of one's routine is full of positives, the sense of adventure, especially when going somewhere new. Spending time with a pal from the the past enhanced the sojourn, much over which to chat. She knew our locale well, for which I was grateful. And I didn't miss my hexie box at all, instead spending my downtime reading one of my old novels, again falling in love with the sense of writing merely for my own pleasure. Our impending visitors will preclude me from diving into the prose, but I'm certa...
Read more

Earthquake recovery

-
Image
Records and box sets spilled out, blocking the door to a closet. An unexpected beginning to our day yesterday; at 2.34 am a 6.4 quake roughly stirred us from bed. In all my years dwelling in California, I have never experienced such turbulence, and boy howdy, this one packed a punch. Several striking memories remain, reaching for my bedside phone, but finding it had been tossed to the floor along with a small bookcase. Putting on shoes as a 4.6 aftershock rumbled through. Locating my computer tower on the floor next to my desk (spoiler alert; once power was restored at 8 pm, both my machine and my husband's were just fine!). A large bookshelf was toppled, vinyl albums flung from shelves in the living room, a few dishes scattered on the floor. Several framed photos had fallen, but only two sported cracked glass, one from which I was able to extricate the picture. No structural damage to our knowledge, and we had hot running water and a generator going all day. For all that could hav...
Read more