Fresh Beginnings & Sunshine...

With a new year comes the feeling of a fresh beginning.  An opportunity to start with a clean slate.  After all isn't that why I did all that extra house cleaning and organizing?  Well...actually I didn't do much organizing, but I did think about it and that should count.
Our weather is glorious with sunshine every day since January 1st.  I love the sunshine as it truly gives me energy and that gives me the desire to get things done.

So today I tackled the dreaded putting away of the Christmas decorations I had put up this year.  I didn't do that much decorating and never got a tree but for some reason I have a lot to put away.  I realize those mice I love so much and have so many of are very tiny and take a lot of care in packing them away safely for their hibernation until next December.  I really hate to put them away but my mouse house does not have room for Christmas themed critters and I can guarantee there will be no building permit approvals by Mr. C to build an addition to their current condo.

Ahh...blue sky!  I love seeing the blue sky so much I am taking a break from my chores to walk outside.  Oh yeah...we still have snow and ice on the ground as the first photo shows.  It was a white Christmas here as it did snow all day but didn't accumulate too many inches right here.  However it has been so cold every day and night that what we got has not been able to melt.

One area where I have completed the task of clearing the decks.  Mr. C would be very happy if all horizontal surfaces were this empty.  I will fill them up...just not today.

Back to packing away my treasures.  I did promise Mr. C when he got all the boxes out of storage that this year I would go through everything and reduce the stash.  Honestly I did try.  In fact I was able to eliminate one large box due to selecting items I will donate now that Christmas is over.  So I really did fulfill my promise to him.  I am just so sentimental and love all my old treasures I have had for so long.  I also realize that the products made now are just not the quality of past years.  Vintage and I get along very well.
Yesterday was the birthday of one of our "Ladies Who Lunch" group and therefore we spent the entire day celebrating and eating and shopping and celebrating.  We had lots of fun and it was good to just take a day to get away.  Tomorrow I better spend time in the studio putting away Christmas wrapping items and clearing the deck for real creative projects.  There are a few unfinished things that have been waiting patiently long enough.  I am ready to tackle them while the sun is still shining.
I feel like I am back in school struggling with my annual word selection.  Actually my word has found me and has waited for at least a year.  I will major in MAGIC with a minor in CALM.  Each of those words has been at the top of my lists for several years as I look back at my calendars.  This year I will focus on enjoying the magic that is in every day if we just let it happen.  I must remain calm in all I do and experience in order to enjoy the magic that is part of life now.
I am already seeing Valentine Hearts and reds and pinks and lace and lots of creative fun in your blog posts. May we all have Creative Hearts as they are Happy Hearts...