The sun is out so strongly this morning. The shadows it’s casting are so intense, so black, you would swear someone had been spray painting on my lawn and driveway. A week ago it was still mostly covered with snow. We had such drenching rain yesterday along with warmer temperatures that it all washed away.

I think Winter is slowly losing whatever grip it had. It never did have a very firm hold this year, always vacillating back and forth. Snow. Rain. Snow. Rain. Warm. Cold. Warm. Cold. If it’s not going to really be winter it might as well be spring. This side of winter is always so drab and dull. Normally I am a winter person but I find myself longing for sweet bird song (which has already begun), lush green grass, and the warm sun on my face.

We turn our clocks forward this weekend, so maybe that will put a jump start on the new season. I’m ready. I am tired of standing in the shadow of winter. Bring it on!

While taking a walk in the woods the other day with Sailor this rock caught my eye. To me it looked like the leaves had decoupaged themselves around it.

Today Mother Nature has been busy all day long creating patterns on everything in sight. She is using snow as her medium today. Lovely, fluffy, snow that has been accumulating all day long. Finally.

While she’s been busy outside, I’ve been working on my own pattern while sitting by a cozy fire inside. My chosen medium is yarn. I am attempting the Japanese Vines pattern from Michelle’s blog. Blogger Not Plain Jane is to blame for this newest obsession of mine: lace. I must have started this scarf at least ten times, only to frog it. Have you ever had something that you just couldn’t seem to get right? This was it for me. But I kept trying and finally have it going. It’s very addictive! The pattern is gorgeous (at least I think so). It will be a gift for my friend, Carolyn.

The color is actually a plummy purple but it looks more blue in the photos. Yummy indeed! The yarn is a silk/wool blend from String Theory and is wonderful to work with. It’s hard to put down now that I finally mastered it!

Now back to enjoying our snow ...

Finally we’ve seen the end of 2007. Done. Over with. Finis. I was not sorry to see the Year 2007 fade into the waning din of the fireworks our neighbors were setting off. It was not a good year for us. Too much sadness, upheaval, and grief.

Sorry I’ve been so boring lately, but really I’ve had nothing important to say. Day after day goes by without much consequence. Pretty pathetic, really, but at least it’s non-cataclysmic. All the words and thoughts I’ve had pent up inside me seemed to have dissipated over the holidays. ho hum. But I won’t sit here and apologize for my boring-at-the-moment life. I"ve got a New Year to look forward to. A fresh start.

I refuse to make any resolutions at the beginning of this year because I don’t keep them. Neither will I make lists of things I should do, because I won’t do them. Why make them only to break them? That’s just setting myself up for failure. Instead I will just look ahead with a positive attitude and hope things fall into place behind me. Like getting all my ducks in a row. How does that sound? Not quite like a resolution; more like forming my future by focusing in on what I want.

With that in mind I see the following things in my future:

Rick and I on a beach in Cancun two weeks from now, maybe exploring a few Mayan ruins, enjoying a well-deserved vacation.

Happiness.

There. That should about do it for now. My inner crystal ball can’t see any farther than the next several months.

If you’ve made resolutions for the New Year, here’s wishing you success! Let’s all embrace the light of the New Year 2008!