Savor Life

That's my only new year's resolution for 2012 -- Savor Life!

It was a good year 2011.  It was my year of metamorphosis, moving into the next phase of life.  As much as anything, it was a mental process but there were measurable milestones that helped me see progress.

My primary goal of better health yielded good results. In December a required health screening for  health insurance showed all tests well within normal. I've gained strength and stamina and lost weight with my exercise program.  I feel so grateful for good health.

My photography, gardening, painting, music, movies, and even cooking (yes, I'm returning to cooking), all call to me when I'm spending those hours working at a computer.  I am so ready to leave the working world behind in just one more year. 

Every day when I wake up, I think, "Oh, good, I got another one."  I've learned to lean into my hardships and deal with them, and to positively relish the joyful times.

And that brings me back to my resolution - Savor Life!  

Happy 2012 to all of us.

My Christmas Card to You

I had hoped to make hand-painted cards for everyone on my list his year, but found it was much more difficult than I had anticipated.  But I managed to make a few following two different themes and experimenting as I went.  Here are a couple of them plus the one with message I posted on Facebook.  I know they aren't the best, but they are what I managed and I felt happy to get these done.  It was fun anyway.

Happy holidays to all!

 Blizzard Bear

 Another Blizzard Bear

 All is calm, all is bright

Total Eclipse of the Moon - December 10, 2011

I am still using the auto settings on my camera or I might have gotten a better shot.  But isn't an eclipse a cool thing?  It gets you thinking about how centuries of people have observed these events, what it has meant, and what science has learned about the moon and its travels -- so far.  And certainly there is more to discover.

Please Come Home For Christmas

A video for the season.