Goodbye January

I am glad to see January go, as it wasn't exactly the greatest of months for me.

On the 11th, our beloved family dog passed away. She lived a good, long life and would have been 15 this year, which is common of her breed's lifespan (Border Collie/Shetland Sheep Dog mix). The house feels terribly empty without her presence and sweet temperament.


Fast forward a little to about mid-month. It was then that I had to fax my university a semester withdrawal form letting them know I would not be attending the classes I had signed up for. Sigh. I'm just another citizen of the world feeling the recession blues. My plan is to return to university in August, but the fact that I am not there now has me bummed. I'm trying to remain positive by telling myself that this is just a little "hiccup," but sometimes that is easier said than done.

Song for the moment: "Chin Up, Cheer Up" by Ryan Adams

With all this extra time I now find myself with, I have outlined a few things to help fill the hours:

• Enjoy vast amounts of literature
• Start painting again (I've missed this and it might just become therapeutic)
• Volunteer somewhere

I'm off now to make a toast to February with a freshly brewed cup of Lady Grey.

Taking on new things

I've compiled a small list of things I would like to do in 2009 -- experiences that I think are worth having.

1. Ride a horse.
Simple enough. I find it somewhat funny that I grew up and live in the countryside, yet have never ridden a horse before. It seems as though it would be quite exhilarating.

2. Try snowshoeing.
This is something I've been wanting to do for a while now, but often shy away from because I have weak knees and don't care for extreme over-exertion. Then I remind myself that I can always wear an athletic knee brace and stick with flat terrain. L.L. Bean has some terrific, drool-worthy snowshoeing equipment and winter gear!

3. Set some of my poems to music.
This is an idea my friend Erin and I threw around a few years ago when I was writing poems like it was my job (there's a notion!). I still think it sounds like something fun to dabble in. Erin possesses the musical skills, but I'm game to take on another challenge. I have always been impatient when it comes to instruments. I'd really like to overcome that and learn to play the guitar and auto harp.

4. Try learning another language.
I studied Spanish in high school and wouldn't call myself proficient, but I could manage speaking it and writing assignments without immense difficulty. Unfortunately, most of my knowledge of the language has slipped away. I can still recognize basic words, but have lost my grasp on the grammar and such. I recently stumbled upon e-mail based language courses for beginners through the BBC website. It looks worthwhile, so I may sign up for one in conjunction with other methods for teaching myself (most likely books).

A fairly modest list, in my opinion. Hopefully by year's end I'll have corresponding check marks to go with it! Until then ...

I'll spend some time reading;
a definite favorite pastime, as often exhibited in my pictures.


I took this shot twice, but oddly enough both tries came out blurry. I rather like the end result.

I pulled these cable knit tights out today after nearly forgetting that I had them! They are very cozy.

Blouse and shoes: H&M, Skirt: Gap, Tights: gift