Saturday-8am

Grab a cuppa!  Lots of pics for you today.  :)

We have had sunny days (or short portions of days) so seldom that I tend to grab the camera when I see blue sky at all.

We've even had mornings like this... 

...which have turned into dark, overcast, grey days in a matter of a couple hours. 

But it's been warmer!  In the 20s and it's even 35 degrees right now.  Karma keeps asking to go out on the porch...and, yes...I left the old bathroom rug out there just to freak her out--LOL!  Made a box-fort in the far corner so Miss Snoopypants can't resist going over there to check it out despite the fact that the bathroom rug outside still totally freaks her out. 

I forgot to tell you that I went to turn on the bathroom light and the door angel fell down, hit me on my right arm, and smashed into about 20 pieces.  Hard to get a shot of the greenish bruise on my forearm--still sore.

I had to dig through photos to find a picture of her from 2010.  She was beautiful.  All my door angels were gifts.  

Yes, I had three door angels.  This one is still over the hallway closet. 

This one is over my bedroom door. 

So--I've been pondering...what kind of a sign is it when you get a smack down from a suicidal angel?

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Speaking of...a sweet, earthly angel sent me a paypal gift.  Jeannie told me to buy something FUN!  Jeannie makes these beautiful, intricate cards and loves supplies as much as I do so I knew what she meant, but I was going to be a bit more practical and order the lovely european paper tablets (Clairfontaine and Rhodia) and envelopes (they run a different size than our tablets) that I use a lot writing letters.  But when I went to order them from Goulet Pens my paypal order was rejected because they were out of the Clairfontaine tablets (my fav)...well, I took that as a sign.  Maybe I should get something I really would never have gotten myself...or at least not for a long time--LOL! 

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That meant going to my Dick Blick wish list.  Whoohoo!! 

I have watched people on youtube using the Golden High Flow Acrylic paints with their gelli plates for a long, long time.  They stay wet a lot longer...which is a good thing for people who move a lot slower.  ;)  I now have a set!! 

AND...last year they came out with baby gelli plates!  This is the smallest one--3" X 5", but they also have a 5" X 7", too.  Advantage?  This baby plate can be picked up and used like a rubber stamp!  It's so small that I should be able to sit down to use it so my sciatic leg won't interfere!!  

Thanks so much Jeannie!!  I really did get something FUN that I wouldn't have gotten for a long time.  (You know I would have eventually--LOL!)  
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Meanwhile...the January orders have come trickling in.  My Leuchtturm 1917 (do not ask me to pronounce that) journal arrived!   

It's the perfect journal to use for bullet journaling. 

It comes with contents pages... 

...and all the pages are numbered.   

 What's bullet journaling?

If you're interested, here's the very basics.  

If you search on youtube...well, people have gone wild adapting this system to their various needs.  This is just the launching pad--LOL!  Just awesome!  So flexible!  I knew I had to try this the moment I ran across people using it on youtube.
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Do you remember my red leather fauxdoris?  My smaller one has been trimmed down a little to adapt to pocket sized notebooks.  I even rounded the corners.

Since December I have been using it to see if I would like the bullet system.  These Word notebooks are lined with a little circle before each line--also good for bullet journaling, but too small.  Perfect for a trial daily-to-do bullet list, though...and I am hooked!

My fauxdori holds four small notebooks.  I also cut down the ones I had made to fit the new pocket size--so that's one of those for taking notes, etc.  Oh, in fact I even rounded those corners yesterday.

Then I have a Field Notes ledger notebook that I use to scribble down my prioritizing of the monthly ordering of goodies...okay--and actual necessities when I am forced.  ;)

Lastly I have the Field Notes notebook with the dots and slick pages that I use for wish lists.

Karma finds all my lengthy table time for organizing planners and journals a good time to relax in the brief morning sunshine.

My small January orders have been trickling in.  Have some calendar stickers to try out for the heck of it in my bullet, address pages and tabs for my Franklin Planner (which is going to be at my desk and where I plan to migrate all the more permanent information), and a punch for my filofax size planners.  Yes, I am far from being done organizing for the year. 

The huge project...the trial of patience...the battle with Miss Brother...continued.  But there has been another huge breakthrough!!  
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For two days I could not get past three stitches without her jamming.  I tried everything I could think of.  Have threaded and re-threaded that machine so many times I actually have it memorized--LOL!  Then a couple days ago I woke up thinking about the thread being too thick.  (I get a lot of solutions as I am waking up...think I get help.)  We bought heavy duty thread you can use for upholstery because this is a big heavy bag, right?
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So, I decided to look through my threads and see if I had a dark brown...tada!  Well, Miss Brother not only doesn't like thick, stiff fabrics...she apparently doesn't care for thick thread, either.  She would at least run and not jam.  Sews so poorly...

...that I sewed most seams twice...

...but at least she was moving.

I have never worked on a more exhausting sewing project.  Not even when I tried a tailored jacket many years ago.  Sorry, but I really needed another art break.  

I added the last bits of some ink samples all over the page.

Used the sample vials...a pill bottle...and created another paint shirt because I forgot to change clothes--LOL! 

Then last night I misted and splattered it with white dylusions spray to tone it down a bit.  

I got so carried away slapping ink all over the place that I am not sure I will be able to see the list when I write it--LOL!  But what fun!  Ahhhh!  I needed that!

I didn't get any more in the process pics of the tote--but I have managed to get all the sides together because Miss Brother would at least make a half-assed attempt to cooperate when she got her thinner thread.

Final step...hand sewing the bottom on.  

I knew there would come a point where there would be no way to sew this on the machine anymore.  I was shocked to get all the rest of it together, to be honest, on the diva.  Looks dreadful because her tension is terrible, but it will be together.  I gave up long ago on trying to make this look decent.  
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It's way bigger than we expected!  Like a big piece of luggage--LOL!  We knew this long ago and Leah said she didn't care if I didn't even finish it.  But this stubborn Swede was not going to give up.  I really wanted to see if I could figure out how to get this together.  I don't care if they never use it and give it away on freecycle or toss it in the dumpster...it will be in one piece in the end.  I wasn't going to let Miss Brother win--LOL!
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I am wondering if the tension will be better on more normal fabrics?  Seems crazy to have to bring a brand new machine in for repair.  And the two places I did bring my old machine to for repair couldn't fix her tension at all (she wasn't catching the bobbin thread).  Caroline told me there's one more place in town.  Caroline likes the quilt store for repairs, but I paid over $90 for nothing there, too.  ??  Let's hope Miss Brother relaxes and behaves now that she's free of the diaper tote.  We shall compromise.  I won't try thick, stiffer fabrics or threads on her anymore.  She. Will. Work.  At least, that is what I told her.  ;)  Fingers crossed!
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On a lighter note...I take Miss Karma's toy box away from her sometimes.  She hadn't seen it for about a month, so it's interesting again.

She doesn't really "play" with the toys.  
She pulls them out and lays on them.

Anyways, I you probably need another cuppa by now.  ;)  I am off to hand sew that bottom piece on the tote.  (Glad I own thimbles.)  Leah is off to girl's spa day this afternoon and Dagan texted me yesterday to ask if he and Ian could come visit--you bethcha!!  :):)
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I am so thrilled I am going to finally get this tote together that I can't tell you.  Miss Brother and I know each other a lot better...but we are far from friends.  I have lots of fun planner play ahead...and the art table is patiently waiting for me.  And Dagan and Ian are coming over to brighten up this grey day.  Life is good!!  :):)  Need to get some more coffee and start the day.
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"Sometimes I go about pitying myself, and all the time I am being carried on great winds across the sky."
Chippewa, translated by Robert Bly

Tuesday-10am

T Stands For Tuesday already!  

You can click on the link to see what the other ladies have been doing and drinking and thinking this week.  I haven't done much since we had our long chat on Sunday.  Was too (contentedly) sore to deal with hunching over Miss Brother--LOL!  Finally felt a little more flexible last night, so I decided that it has just been way too long since I've been at the art table.  I told myself I was going to try to keep up with some challenges this year...and brief trips to the art table I could probably handle.

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Okay, I planned to do two weekly art challenges this year.  (I know...I know...quit laughing.)  The Journal52 group and thought maybe even DLP (Documented Life Project) since they have the option of going with a more art journal format this year and less planner.  But DLP made me sign up for something called "squarespace" in order to join the group on Ning and then I was getting a million emails but couldn't get on to the actual challenge page to read the challenges--duh!  It would go to a black page that said "no permissions".  They don't send you the actual challenge information in an email--but a link to the challenge information--where I am not allowed.  So, I tried signing up to their site using a different email address (because I have an old email address I rarely use) but I still did not receive permission to enter.  Well, I took that as a sign.  A quite obvious sign (lol!) that I should only try the one weekly challenge.  This incurable optimist is already two weeks behind in the first place, right?  ROFL!

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Well, I got started, anyways.  

Did I get to the challenges?  

Well...not quite yet.  

But I have dipped my toe in the water.  ;)

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Last night I got past the scary first blank page of one of the junk journals I made quite a while back (with the horribly cheap buckly student watercolor paper).  Had fun with layers of Dylusions sprays...just because I love the deep color.  Was surprised I chose hot colors instead of my usual blues, greens, and turquoises.  Maybe because it's so cold out here--LOL!  (Right now it's -5, feels like -27.)  

Still black coffee, girls...but in one of my new red Thermos cups. 

I worked little by little.  

Sprayed.  

Let it dry.  

Came back and sprayed some more.

Let it dry.

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I knew this journal paper wrinkles like crazy so I printed off a numbered list of 52 onto some white card stock.  I hand tore around the blank list and misted it with some walnut ink.  Thought maybe the stiffer card stock might not wrinkle as much as computer paper when I plastered it on the page with gel medium.    

Still buckled quite a bit, but it would have been absolutely puckered-horrible if I had used anything thinner and I probably couldn't have even written on it.  I even scraped the cardstock down flat as I glued it and put something heavy on it overnight.  Oh well--at least I finally have my "index" list page started.  :)  I have gotten past that blank first page--tada! 

I can't remember where I saw someone else on youtube make a list spot for Journal52 in the front of a new journal, but what a great idea!  I can write down the challenges so they're right there at hand--because, in all likelihood, I won't be able to get to them all this coming year.  (Did I mention I am two weeks behind out of the 2015 gate? lol!)  Anyways, I have dedicated a journal to this group, will finish up the list/index page, and do my best to try to catch up this week.  

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I am also--hold onto your hats--thinking I will try to actually join Jennibellie's Monthly Challenge group, too.  We'll see how this winter goes, right?  The next few weeks, for that matter--LOL!  

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I think I forgot to show you Ian's Christmas picture for 2014.

This is why I can never remember where I get ideas off the internet, folks.  Any ideas that happen to stick in my foggy brain long enough to steal...well, they just get stolen and it's not that I wouldn't want to give credit where credit is due...I truly have a mind like a steel sieve anymore.  Half the time I might not remember if the idea was mine or I stole it, to be perfectly honest--but this one I do remember I stole.  Fibro fog, folks.  I used to have a pretty darn good memory.  My compulsive listmaking was more for OCD fun than the necessity it has become today.  True.  True.   

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Anyways, what was I saying?  ;)

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We've had sunshine for days!!!  

So nice to see some blue sky.

From indoors. 

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Feeling more functional today, so I hope to spend some quality time with Miss Brother this afternoon.

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Oh,!  Oh!  McFamily plans to travel to Japan probably this year to visit Leah's brother Aaron who's stationed there.  Japan!!  Whoohoo!!  Talk about an adventure!  Ian won't remember it, but they can take pics and videos as proof--LOL!

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Caroline comes to clean tomorrow.

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Karma says hi.

I think that is all she wrote.  

For this post, anyways.  :):)

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Have a good one!!

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"Today is a smooth white seashell, hold it close and listen to the beauty of the hours." 

Anonymous

Sunday-10:15am

Proof we saw sunny days...

...and got a little bit of snow with our blizzard conditions this past week.

Barely enough to cover the lawn, but I'll take it.  
Looks more like winter with a little white out there.
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Leah sent me another video of Ian eating his solid foods...and now trying to get used to water in a sippy cup.  (Which he treats like a very wet chew toy--LOL!)  I noticed he has become an intent observer of everything around him...so much more so than three weeks ago when I saw him last.
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The video ends abruptly because Leah said she went to grab the sippy cup before it dropped over the edge of the highchair and knocked the camera over.  Anyways, for those of you who were looking forward to an Ian fix...enjoy.

On sunny Friday (warmest day last week--12 degrees) Dagan picked me up after work and we went to the Natural Pet Center.

Karma isn't spoiled, is she?  Yes, one bag was already opened before I thought to take the picture.  I store the foods in jars and tupperware containers.

She also got a new string toy.  I seldom buy her toys because the only ones she really likes are toys on a string...

...and I basically do all the work...while she observes... 

...and occasionally grabs the toy in her teeth as it flies by and doesn't want to let go.  But she can bite a string clean through so quickly that I can't let her keep the toy for long--LOL!  This new toy has a plastic "string".  May slow her severing down...or ease the process.  Not sure.  But don't feel sorry for Miss Karma only getting the very occasional string toy.

She has quite a collection on top of the bookcase in the entryway over her almost ten years--LOL!  She sits underneath, looks up, and cries when she wants me to entertain her.

Karma's string chomping was the original reason why Leah and I purchased supplies for making our own cat toys a few years back.  We can repair and replace strings and make various new cat do-dads.  ;)
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Meanwhile...yesterday...another sunny morning...

...we had our McFamily Christmas!  

Note the intent observation now with little Ian--LOL!

He's not just laughing at everything these days.  I swear he is trying to figure out all those everythings now--LOL!  Okay--got to throw in a funny pic.  The camera used to be Dagan and Leah's so she knew how to set the timer...and the flashing light obviously entertained Gramma more than Ian--ROFL!

But we got a decent picture, too.

I got my own "mistletoes" canvas to hang on the wall.  Leah made these for all the grandparents and great-grandparents...and one for themselves, of course. (Leah's and mine are a little smaller, for you grandparents who were wondering.)

And then...look what I got for Christmas!!

Are you like me and wondering what the heck they actually are--ROFL!  Well, the top "screen" that stands up...drum roll, please...is a picture frame that rotates pictures and videos!  And, yes--that's a little remote control in front of it!  And Leah can load pictures and videos to it..from her place!!  OMG!  And below that is a new-to-me tablet!!  OMGosh!  It is so small and light!  Has a touch screen.  Dagan has one of those cool new laptops that twists and contorts itself into a tablet so he never uses this one anymore.  Whoohoo!  This one is small enough to fit in my purse even!  Wow!  Do they keep me in the techie world or what?!  :):)
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But--no--I can't show you how either of them work until Dagan and Leah come over next time and actually connect them into my wifi system over here.  LOL!  I may be kept within the techie world, but I do not know how to actually navigate without extensive assistance and instruction.  ;)
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Besides all that excitement...the main thing I have been doing since I saw you last is struggling with the new sewing machine.  I did get the little 4-way screwdriver from Amazon so I can remove that plate there if the thread get badly jammed.  Pardon me--when the thread gets jammed. 

There is not much leeway under there for a screwdriver, as you can see.  Why they wouldn't include one with the machine that actually fits is beyond me.

The diaper tote has been a long slow struggle.  More like an emotional roller coaster ride...an extreme test of patience and perseverance...trial by fire...trial by thread jam...trial by machine gun shuddering beeping computer failure that shockingly startled both Karma and I at first that now Karma can sleep through (heard it so many times) but can cause me to tear up.  The new machine and I are, shall we say, slowly getting to know each other.  
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We have formed a kind of semi-truce.  
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She has issues.  
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I have issues.  
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Number one: She is computerized.  She does not want me to forget that she is modern and fancy and robotic.  For example--she is programmed to stop sewing with the needle in the down position.  She does not care that you have tried to completely opt out of the sewing process and do not even have your foot on the pedal anymore--she will thumb her nose at you and finish doing her thing...which totally freaked me out at first (still creepy).  No amount of gentleness and sweet talking have any effect on Miss Brother. 

Number two: She does not like me to touch her wheel.  To raise her needle from the down position you must use a button on the front of the machine (see number one).  Even if you just want to move back that one stitch you didn't want her to sew--do not touch her wheel and try to do it manually.  It will just piss her off.  (Reminds me of the first seven years when Miss Karma did not want me to touch her belly--would put her teeth on my hand and growl if I tried it.)  Miss Brother will throw a hissy fit, tangle herself into knots, and refuse to move.  Her way or the highway.  

Now, keep in mind, I learned to sew in home ec class in high school.  I can't remember what year, but I was around 14 years old (that's almost 50 years ago).  The machine I had for the last 40 years functioned quite the same as the one I learned on in school and my mom's.  You used the wheel to raise and lower the needle and do a couple stitches here and there...all the time...every time you started and stopped sewing.  Hand on the wheel was just an integral part of sewing!  So telling me do not touch the wheel...well, it's like telling me to get in the car and drive--but don't touch the steering wheel.  It feels soooo wrong.  My hand automatically goes up there.  Just like I automatically go to raise the pressure foot with my left hand because the lever was in the back on my old machine, when I have to use my right on this one.  (That's easier to learn because there's nothing back there where the lever in my mind still resides--LOL!--but still find myself automatically reaching with the wrong hand sometimes--hey--four decades.)  I am gradually learning not to touch Miss Brother's wheel.  Doing quite well, in fact.  The inevitable jamming is an excellent deterrent...but still...it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.  Some old dogs, anyways. 
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Number three: She does not like sewing through thick, stiffer fabric.  (Honestly, I wouldn't want to try to hem a pair of jeans on Miss Brother.)  Even after I basically retrained myself not to touch her friggin' wheel, she will still jam and throw fits if the fabric is too thick.  Even when I went so very, very, very slowly that she didn't stop and kept going for many slow inches...(I mistakenly got excited and felt success within my grasp)...she was just toying with me.  Miss Brother had not caught but a stitch or two of the bobbin thread.  So she had not actually sewn one stitch.  The bitch.  She would probably tell you--"Didn't you notice that you can barely push and drag that amount of fabric under my needle?  Do you think they made me with less fabric space for no good reason?  Duh!  Humans!"
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So...the battle continues.
I will get this tote together if I have to do it without her.  I can promise you that.  There were needles, threads, thimbles, and hands long before you were welded together on an assembly line, missy!!

Not today, though.  
After being out and about two days in a row...well, you know.  I don't have to tell you.  But I am soooo happy!!  Finally got to see McFamily.  Everybody is on the mend--yes, Dagan caught it in the end, too.  Didn't even get home till 11pm.  Gramma got to cradle Ian while he took a nap and feed him his dinner...which freaked him out a bit because only Mom has been behind the spoon.  Talk about stares!  ROFL!  I wish we had gotten a picture of the sideways glare I got.  I'm chuckling out loud right now just remembering it.  All three of us burst out laughing!  But Ian accepted the change and ate the most he ever has at a sitting.  (You may have heard Leah say she was going to try giving him more at a time in the video.)  Ian's getting the hang of this eating from a spoon thing...likes sweet potatoes...and has a ferocious grip if he manages to grab ahold of that spoon, let me tell you!  He is one strong little boy--LOL!
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Anyways, hope you all have/had a really nice weekend!!  Some of you on the other side of this big marble are heading on Monday already.  What a world, eh?  That we can chat and share our lives...near and far...across miles, oceans, and time zones.  ;)  
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Have a great week.  
Plan to see you Tuesday!  :) :)
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"There is an endless net of threads throughout the universe. The horizontal threads are in space. The vertical threads are in time. At every crossing of the threads, there is an individual, and every individual is a crystal bead. And every crystal bead reflects not only the light from every other crystal in the net, but also every other reflection throughout the entire universe."
Rig Veda  

Tuesday:9:45am

Good Morning!  

A couple sky pics I caught since I last posted.

It's zero degrees this morning. 

Nope, sorry.  Just double checked and it's -1 degree now. 

We had a few moments of sunshine just a few minutes ago.  You can see the proof across my table there...and one of my new red Thermos coffee cups (yes, it's T Stands For Tuesday day!).  I am so loving these new red cups!  That's my current daily journal (turquoise Quo Vadis) and a stack of letters I am working on next to the lamp.

Still barely a dusting of snow.  As you can see the mottled lawn isn't even white with snow...still...yet. 

We've had wind chill warnings from the National Weather Service for days.  Miss Karma and I have been at home and haven't gone anywhere.

If she's not in my warm lap (where she is right now after we heard birds chittering away this morning and she was all excited to go out on the porch to investigate...for a little too long...being optimistic for spring and the return of her beloved swallows...I'm like her giant hot water bottle)... 

...she's usually in one of her beds up off the floor. 

But one of her new favorite places to sit or lounge upon... 

...are the new little red rugs in the kitchen.  She loves them! 

I haven't seen McFamily for over two weeks.  But I have a couple of pictures from Mama.  OMG!  Ian is getting so big!  Getting so much better at sitting up by himself now at six months old.  

On Mama and Daddy's bed with his jammies on...and his trusty pacifier. 

Ian's been sick with the cold/cough/chest thing that's going around...and Leah's gotten it, too.  They are both on the mend last I heard.  I hope to see them again pretty soon.

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I'll see Dagan (unless he catches this crud) because he's coming over after work on Friday (his half day) and we're going over to the Natural Pet Store.  Time for Karma's late Christmas present...some healthier dry and canned foods.  I haven't been getting her food from there for ages.  

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Karma had been eating the dry Felidae for a long time.  I thought I had finally found a single dry healthier food she loved and then she suddenly decided she didn't like it anymore.  So for some time she'd been loving the grocery store foods (like Meow Mix and such) but now has decided she doesn't care for them anymore, either.  Sits and cries at her dish and just looks at the food like--you're giving me this...again?!  Miss Karma can be a pain in the butt  discerning like that.  So, I am going to buy a few brands (along with her former favorite Felidae) and hope they still have some small sample packages to buy, too.  :)  I love her, but I've never had a finicky cat before.  Kind of annoying.  My previous cats always ate whatever I gave them.  Miss Karma gets away with murder, I tell you.  ;)  Not that I don't make her eat it.  But I have to live with her whining and complaining until she gets something new--LOL!

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Anyways, until Friday I am probably going to be nice and warm at home with a cat in my lap.  Oh, and since I haven't been feeling the best for some time...I am absolutely thrilled that I can do my federal housing review by mail!!  I had a review at 9am today and finally connected with my worker yesterday.  Such a relief!  I can't even tell you!  (Without going into detail, it is getting to be harder and harder for me to physically make that trip every year.)  I have been able to do the State review by mail for over a decade.  So relieved.  Whew!  Happy me!  

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I was thinking about how my Secret Cashwise Santa has been a positive thing for my soul all year long.  Since I don't know who it is...well, you know how they say to be kind and nice to everyone because you never know who could be an angel in disguise?  Not that I am normally mean to anyone...but I think you know what I mean.  That goodness just spreads.  Keeps that "angel in disguise" thought in my mind all year.  Like a reminder to be nice to every single person I meet.  To remember to smile at every clerk or delivery person or person in the hallway and every email or blog comment I receive--even if you can't see me.  ;)  A reminder that even a person's thoughts have energy.  So my very soul thanks my Secret Santa the whole year long.  :):)  I used to think I wanted to know who it was, but now I don't think I want to know.  I want to remember those mystery angels all the time...every day.  Bless you!!

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I hope you are all having a good start to 2015.  I know some of you are sick, some sad, some frustrated...some are freezing and some are roasting...some already know they have huge challenges ahead this year.  But I hope that, no matter what the future holds, that you will gather pieces of happiness and joy along the way and that it will be a good year in the end.  Love and hugs to you all!!

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"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

Marcel Proust

New Year's Day! 11:15am

Happy, happy 2015!!

Miss Karma slept through the greeting of the new year.

No surprise.  LOL!

Last night I got out a couple candles, did my burning bowl ceremony, and picked an angel card for 2015.  LOVE!  What a great card for the new year!!

This card is all about when things seem too hard or I am feeling impatient to do more that I should surround myself with people who love and respect me...loving myself and finding the best in others...not to feel overwhelmed by life's demands or a lack of clear focus in my life because I am in a spiritual clarification phase.  I can't be all things to all people...discriminate between people who add to your spiritual path and those who detour you.  Allow others to help me...share in the creativity.  Acceptance of myself as I am will give me greater comfort and solace.  :):)
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What a wonderful card for 2015.  I think this should be my word for the year...LOVE!!  
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And speaking of love...this little man changed our lives in 2014 in more ways than we could have ever imagined.    

[Note: I forgot I had to get this video up on youtube before I could post it in here and that's why it is now 2pm--LOL!  Youtube was busy on such a monumental day, I guess--but Gramma is patient--lol!] 

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I am working out a new planner/calendar/journal system this year.  I started a couple months ago and have already learned that I cannot possibly get everything into one spot.  I love my Franklin Covey and am in the process of making it the main "information-station" for all my permanent lists (like addresses/phone numbers & birthday/Christmas card lists) and the monthly calendar.  But I need something smaller I can move about and throw in my purse for the daily stuff.  I am thinking of trying a couple of things--a smaller filoflax and making a bullet journal.  This is so much fun for organizing me!!  I'm sure by 2016 I will know exactly how I want things set up...and will probably use that system for the next fifteen years--LOL!

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I made my yearly goal list, too.  I think of it as just a big to-do wish list.  Kind of my yearly bucket list--LOL!  I'm lucky if I get close to touching upon even half of it.  I always think I can do more than I'm able to accomplish in real life, but I love having the motivation and reminders.

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I'm not much one to look backwards, but 2014 was a wonderful, exciting year!  In the coming year there will be a lot of exciting adventures with Mr. Ian.  (They are so much fun when they are learning and experiencing new things!)  I plan to attempt to keep up with some weekly and monthly art challenges in the coming year.  (Not sure if that will be attainable, but I want to try.)  I plan to get back to purging everything I own and will continue to give the apartment its well-earned facelift.  I want need to become simpatico with my new sewing machine.  Maybe get back to making more videos...  

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No matter what...life will continue to be interesting to Miss Karma and I in our little corner of the world.  I'm glad I have all of my online friends to visit with, too.  I've been in a fibro flare since about Halloween. (You may have noticed there has been little art/cards/sewing/anything extra going on, but I try not to let it dampen my days.) The flare seems to be slowly lifting recently--whoohoo!  

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I had really let this apartment complex get to me this past year, but I am back to being happy to be here in my very own sanctuary.  Have always loved my little apartment.  :)  I'm on three waiting lists for a senior apartment--but only want to move if it is the same or better than here, right?  At this very moment I am filled to overflowing with a bubbling gratitude and joy.  Bubble-bubble-bubble!  How could life get any better?  :) 

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Looking forward to this brand new year ahead. 

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Maybe dance to Happy every day!  (Yes, I'm still listening and loving it--LOL!)

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May this be a year filled with more bubbles than you could have ever imagined!!  :):) 

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"Happiness is to appreciate what you have; 

unhappiness is to dwell on what you don't have."

Rabbi Shimon Ben Zoma (2nd century)