A Fresh New Year

The winds of change are blowing.....

Can you feel it?

It's a brand-new year and I have been 

feeling the need for a fresh new start. 

A clearing of the mind, body and soul.

Mother Nature was feeling the same way!

Storm clouds swirled around and around.

In the middle of a moonless night, the 

 wind came roaring through the tree tops.

By morning, all was calm and the sun
was shining through the clouds, 

but Mother Nature left behind quite a mess.
Sixty miles per hour wind scoured the forest. 

The electricity went out. 

A large tree-top fell in the driveway. 

Every surface was covered in debris,

with branches, twigs, moss, and pine-cones everywhere.
It was a true wind-fall!
Nothing was damaged except a few dead trees.
We were lucky.
Many were not.

We had so much to do.  

Ramblin' Man took care of cleaning the debris off the driveway

  and I took care of sweeping the deck and walkways.  

It took us all day, 

but the sunshine was so beautiful. 

We have much more to do, but the
weather has been sunny and mild.

Perfect for working outside.

It's been surprisingly warm for January. 

Although, we did get our first dusting of snow 

the evening after the storm, but it quickly melted.  

We lost our electricity for two days, 

but kept warm with 2 wood-stoves 

and used our emergency water, candles and supplies.
We've been through this many times before. 

Surprisingly, these little pots of pansies stayed firmly 

on the deck rail through it all,
but the metal trash can lids
flew right off! 

I've caught up with the housework and the laundry
and all is back to normal once more.

I've also put away all the Christmas decorations, 

and am sewing new cushions for my daybed right now.

I'm so over the Grinchy green :)

One of my goals for this new year is to
find more time to sew.
 I love spending time in my own little space.
I had to wait 20 years and sacrifice two daughter's to get this room.
xx

This was always the 'kitty' room, too.
The quiet place at the top of the stairs,
tucked away in the corner.
The perfect place for a cat-nap.
Or to sit in the window to watch the birds.

There might be a fairy here, too!

Since we lost our dear old tabby-cat,
Maggie, last spring, (she lived to be 18)
 I can bring Birdy-Boy, the cockatiel, in for a little visit
while I sew. He loves to sit in the window.

I've had my little buddy for 20 years.
He was a lost pet that I found on the roof!
He has his own palatial cage palace in my 2 son's
former bedroom next door. 

I made some winter arrangements with wind-fallen 

twigs and craft-store flowers to freshen things up. 

The pine-cones came in a beautiful flower

arrangement from my daughter on Christmas Eve. 

I wish that I had taken a photo - it was so pretty.

I've been having a love affair with red lately. 

Especially red gingham. 

It cheers up my rustic little kitchen.

I found the vintage hanging lamp in a local antique shop 

over the summer and the Mr. installed it for me.
(Sorry for the dark photo, but I wanted to show you the lamp)
xx

I just found this handy electric tea-pot.
It's great for heating water very fast.
It has an eerie blue glow when it is brewing! 

It matches my red coffee maker and retro style radio. 

The radio is an 'emergency' radio, and can be charged 

with a built in solar panel, D batteries, or kinetic 

energy by turning a crank. It can charge a cell phone, too! 

We listened to the news channel during our outage. 

There were 800,000 people without power,

here in western Washington state. 

My hardworking little kitchen.....

Everything I need is close at hand.

I love to cook, but I'm getting bored

with the same old things. 

One of my goals for the new year is 

to try some healthy new recipes.

I'll share them if they turn out well! 

This is where the magic happens....
Well, most of the time.
xx

A little touch of red makes me so happy 

on these short January days.

I am taking advantage of this unusually warm January weather.
to catch up on some garden clean-up, too.
I know from experience that this weather won't last.

Old Man Winter might be only taking a nap.

I've started collecting some interesting windfall bits for winter potpourri. 

I'll add some essential oils, (cedar and bergamot) some dried 

orange peel, cinnamon sticks, and other whole spices

that are too past their prime for cooking.

I need to find a pretty bowl or basket on my 

next thrifty shopping trip. 

I'll share it all when I'm done.  

Kai keeps watch while I sweep the deck. 

Living among tall trees is messy, but also magical.

Magical during a gentle rain on a still, silvery morning.

Magical as the autumn sun illuminates golden leaves.

Magical when diamonds sparkle on snow covered branches.   

At least I try to remind myself of all this magic

 while I'm sweeping and raking and picking up

dozens and dozens of branches. 

xx

My New Motto: Life's messy - clean it up!  

It forces me outside for some fresh air and exercise.

It does clear the mind, body and soul.

xo

I'm learning when to lean into the wind, 

and when to go with the flow.  

xoxo

My New Year refresh includes 

repeating over and over......

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference. 

-Irish prayer-

Wishing all of you serenity at the start of this new year, Dear Friends. 

xoxo