And You'll Be Bright…

All the things you'll love,
All the things that may hurt you,
All the things you shouldn't do,
And all the things you want to...
They're calling your name...travel safely.

It’s the New Year and everybody is thinking about resolutions. We all want to improve or change ourselves or something we do. It’s a tradition. But I’ve decided I won’t make any resolutions. Not big resolutions anyway. Why? Because I think I’d only be setting myself up for failure. Instead of posting a list of things I most likely won’t accomplish I decided to try something new.

I’m not being negative. I’m being realistic. But sometimes I can be negative. That’s something I do want to work on. I have a friend, “Miss B”, who is the most positive person I’ve ever known. When the sky is full of clouds she finds the rainbow. So, I’m going to try to be like her when I grow up!

I’ve also decided I’ll do little things. I’ll call them “mini”loutions. I might choose to drink 8 glasses of water. Just today. I’m not going to say I’ll do it for the whole year. But I could do it for one day. Or maybe I’ll eat more fruits and vegetables. Today. I really think I can master little resolutions. That’s not to say I’m not going to try to lose weight, become more organized, and spend more time with friends and family. Isn’t that what the top resolutions usually are? But I’m not going to resolve to do all that then not make the grade.

I’ll also take things in stride. And I’ll look for the bright spot in whatever happens. If you look hard enough you can usually find something. Isn’t that right “Miss Bee”?

This may not be the year I grow up but I’m going to give it a shot anyway. Not everyday. Just sometimes. And who knows? I might like it so much I’ll keep doing it!

What comes will come.

What goes will go.

The wind will blow where the wind is blowing.

Let go of where you think you're going.

We'll never know why it flows where it's flowing.

It’s the last strip of the knityear project! It didn’t seem to take so very long. Or maybe it’s just that time seems to pass faster the older you get. Anyway, it’s a new strip, kind of fitting, since it starts on the first day of the new year. And since it’s the New Year I’m optimistic that it’s going to be a good one. It’s day
276, January 1, 2011. It’s going to take some time to get that down! I picked a yarn that’s pink and green with a gold sparkle through it. It’s peaceful but has the sparkle of the new year, new beginning. Day 277 is January 2. I’m sick. It’s probably whatever Callye and the kids had. Coughing and congestion. I’ve just been laying around all day. Have to feel better because I have to go to work tomorrow. I picked green Paton’s grace. I’m feeling pretty green today! And here it is, the end of vacation. It’s Day 278, January 3. I’m really reluctant to go to work. It will be okay when I get there. I think I’m just ready to retire and not work for a while. But then what else would I do? I picked maroon worsted. Just kind of there.

I did do a couple of things during vacation though, besides cook, clean and wrap presents! I made a Loop D’ Loop scarf. (Ravelry link) It was fun and it’s really kind of cute. I used a skein of novelty yarn, a ribbon with a gold sparkle.

Wrapped three times.

Long

Wrapped double.

I liked it so well I made another in some crazy psychedelic colors.

Spread out

Wrapped

I also finished Ty’s scarf and made a cowl out of some white and blue I got at Tuesday Morning. So I was a little bit productive in a fun way! I’m ready for the year. What comes will come and what goes will go. And I’ll be bright.

Ty's scarf

Blue and white cowl. Better picture later.

We've always been what we will always be.

I'm so convinced we have to get there, we can part the sea.

So bring the dead to life, turn your blood to wine.

All your life you have waited for this moment to arrive.

And you'll be bright.

This Looks Like A December Day…

This looks like a "time to remember" day.

And I remember the spring, such a sweet tender thing.

It’s the last day of December. It’s New Year’s Eve. It’s the end of the old year and the beginning of a fresh new one.

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com/ New Year cookies!

It’s a time of reflection. A time to think about what could have, should have been. It’s a time to realize some things will never happen. And maybe it’s a time to realize there’s a reason they don’t.

And love's summer college,

Where the green leaves of knowledge,

Were waiting to fall with the Fall.

It’s also a time to reflect on the changes and improvements one strives to make. It’s a new time, the slate wiped clean. It’s time to resolve to do better, do more, do something.

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com/ Resolution cookies.

I can’t say 2010 was a bad year. But there were certainly some down times. And I expect 2011 to be the same. It’s natural.

Bryce under the lighted trees in Johnson City.

Johnson City, Texas, court house grounds.

But I’ll look forward, wish for the best, and do what I can to make it a happy new year. There’s always hope.

 And where September wine,

Numbed the measure of time.

Through the tears of October, now November's over,

And this looks like a December day.

The end of December is the end of my third strip. It’s the fall strip in the series. It seems shorther than the others but I haven’t really measured. When I do I’ll let you know! Day 271, December 27, brought contentment. Things had gone well, everyone traveled safely. It was also a little hurried. We were going on a whirlwind trip to Austin. Alan had a workshop and Bryce and I had to go shop! We ate German in Fredericksburg and then got to go to Ikea. That’s a treat in itself. The night was finished with Kirby Queso then on to the hotel for a night of snoring. Apparently we all do it, or so they say. I have my doubts. I chose a blue and white wool blend that I’m making a cowl out of. Day 272, December 28, was a hurried day. There’s so much shopping to be done and so little time! Bryce and I went shopping while Alan was learning. I have to say he’s the best shopping buddy I have. He’s not afraid to go to new places and we like the same thing. He doesn’t whine that he’s tired but he does get grouchy if you don’t feed him! We found some good things and had fun. I did anyway! The trip home was uneventful. Stopped at Coopers and ate more than our share of meat. Then I slept almost the rest of the way home. Kind of getting sick I think. I chose red sparkly yarn. It was a good day. Day 273, December 29, was a pleasant day. It was another fast shopping trip day. We hit the thrift stores for fun and found a few treasures. There was an orphan hand knit sweater I rescued. It will become something else. I just couldn’t bear for it to sit on a rack alone knowing the lover that went into it. I chose some yarn from the sweater. It’s black with blue, pink and yellow interweaved throughout. It’s pretty yarn and was a pretty sweater. Very well made. Next is day 274, December 30 It’s a bittersweet day. The time passed so quickly. It’s time for Bryce to go back to Europe. There’s a great party he needs to attend! Ah, to be young and have no cares. It was hard, but not as hard for me this time. I know he misses us and I wasn’t so sure the first time! I chose a gold ribbon yarn. It’s for the golden times we had for the holiday and it called to me today. Day 275 is the last day for this strip! It’s December 31, a relaxed day. I’m most likely in pj’s for the day. The great plans for the evening will be to stay awake! Ha ha. We don’t have any Champagne but there’s plenty of other ‘spirits’ so if necessary I’ll console myself. I chose a Noro that has some purple, turquoise, green and gold in it. It’s going to be a new year, the beginning again. Maybe I won’t make the same mistakes. Maybe.

This looks like a December day.

It looks like we've come to the end of the way.

And this looks like a December day.