2013 ~ Looking Forward

May health and joy and peace be thine

Upon this New Year's Day, 

And happy faces round thee shine

As plenteous as the flowers in May!

It has been a lovely quiet start to the New Year here.


Time to think and to create!


I've been pulling out old unfinished paintings to work on while my painting skills get refreshed.  To be painting again is such a joy!


The Christmas decorations are being put away and the rooms simplified.  The amaryllis, which had gotten lost among the Christmas decor now take center stage.  It won't be long and the basket of crocus will be in bloom as well.

While in England and Scotland, I spent much time thinking about the life I had been living, about the lifestyle I was experiencing in the UK and what I wanted to be different when I got back.  The trip changed me, clarified what I wanted out of life, and though I was already headed in that direction - it sped it up.  It made me realize that I don't want such a busy life that I don't have time to pause and reflect daily.  I loved being able to walk everywhere.  I realized that I was living comfortably, adventurously even, with just the contents of a suitcase and backpack, and that I lacked for nothing.   I also realized that I need to watch the books!  They are too easy to accumulate in large numbers!  There was also the realization that the fabric arts, lovely and beautiful as they are, don't stand the test of time... sadly.  But that paintings do, something my mother had been trying to tell me for years!  I found that I reveled in the time spent in worship in the big cathedrals and small churches across the UK and in the glorious music I found there.

My goals for 2013 are to pursue some of these things.
~ Spend time with my journal or blog daily, to pause and reflect
~ To walk more
~ To spend more time with people and to broaden my circle of friends
~ To live simply (which includes the subcategory of continuing to downsize my belongings!)
~ To not buy every book I want to read ~ try the library instead!
~ To paint more in both oils and watercolors
~ To spend more time in worship, which means finding a new church home in my new community

And the big goal for the year
~ To find a job that facilitates living the quiet, relaxed life that I want, with time for travel, writing, introspection and art

Wishing you all a Blessed New Year!