Happy New Year!

Anticipating 2016 tomorrow and a new birth year for me leaves me hopeful and excited to begin again anew.

This year's word is execute - to act on, to complete, to follow through.  A very heavy word.  But this is the push I think I need.  I now have more time to work, to see my ideas become real.  The pressure of age and fewer years to experience is a very definite motivator. 

My relationship with the New Year has always been a special one because my birth corresponds with the calendar year.  Even with acknowledging that relationship I have always felt September was the beginning of the year-- a close to the summer, a new school year--.  January sits in the middle of the winter.  It really does not offer a change from the day before.  The days are too short- too dark.  It is cold in most of the United States.  Heavy coats and boots are not fun to put on and old bones get cold more easily.  I know that's not true, but it feels like it. Hibernation or curling up with a good book are more easily done than braving drafts and sitting at the sewing machine under artificial light. Even hot cocoa doesn't replace a cozy blanket. Hand stitching in the lazy-boy may be the activity of choice. Slow stitching has been embraced by many in the last year or so. I like the idea.  I may try Liz Kettle's stitch meditation.  I know I need to put together hand work for the evenings.  I really like hand work.  I should organize and prioritize so I can pick up, stitch, and repeat when the opportunity arises.  I have many such projects started.  So 2016 may be a year of finishing as well as creating.  I hope so.