Each month over at my collaborative blog Focusing On Life where I contribute twice a month, we choose a "word" or "theme of the month." I always start the year and this year my choice was "Beginnings". In my thought process I imagined that this would be the perfect word for the brand spankin' New Year. Let's not do resolutions, because you know we all seem to fail miserably at those, but beginnings was a kinda of guilt-free way to think about what kind of new beginnings would I like to do during the year.
Well, I definitely have not been the poster child for "beginnings" as now it is the 14th day into this new year and my Christmas tree, is still fully dressed and still standing proudly, lighting every evening by 4:30. By this time, and usually by the 1st week of January all the Christmas beauties have been tucked neatly into their bins and put away for another year. I have been draggin' my feet all year, literally.
About the only new beginning I have done for this year, is make the decision to let my hair grow longer and I started a new book. Now both of those are truly momentous....wrong. I will admit to having most every other Christmas pretty packed into boxes, it's just the tree that is still standing. My only excuse is I needed a new ornament box for storage and I dragged my feet about getting to the stores, now they are all sold out. That procrastination pattern took over again, and now I am stuck with figuring out how to store those beauties.
Oh yawn, this is getting boring. The above pic was taken with my 50mm and the lovely ranunculus was purchased to brighten my attitude. I added one of Kim Klassen's lovely textures that she continues to share with us even after the struggles and year that she has had, KK_100 and am now joining her over at her blog for Texture Tuesday.
I hope you have a lovely day....
"The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keep out the joy." ~ Jim Rohn
Until next time....
Pretty! Do you use a tripod w/your 50 mm? Thinking of getting mine out and can't remember how to use it! Something about old dogs, new tricks, - or old tricks, old dogs!
ReplyDeleteOh, my! What a thought-provoking quote! I think I'll have to appropriate that one for my quote doc. The ranunculus is lovely ... it should be great for keeping the blues at bay. I found tulips! Whoop!!
ReplyDeleteOh so pretty. A lovely pop of color in a dreary cold winter!
ReplyDeletebrilliant quote and gorgeous flowers such a pretty pink we all need a bit of colour....
ReplyDeleteSuch a great touch of color.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful image!!!
ReplyDeleteA lovely image.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad. Ours is still up and we are 1,500 miles from home and won't be home until February. So the tree will be up until February. I'm not sweating it. Beautiful photo of the ranunculus! That pink is surely a pick-me-up.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a long comment for your last post - I hope I pressed publish, but I fear I didn't. Oh, well - I just loved those Smokey Mt photos! I called my gal yesterday and begged her to take me earlier than the appnt I have for next week. I can't stand my (growing) hair many more days. I threatened to take scissors to it myself, so she's fitting me in tomorrow. So - my hair will be short again. I have no ability to get it beyond a certain (terrible-looking) point!
ReplyDeleteI too love the above textured image . . . I hope we can see the new beginning on that longer hair sometime soon. That for sure is an example of new beginnings . . .
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful edit on this Deanna, soft and gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteyou make me smile BIG.... and .... oh my word.... this photo....is absolutely BREATH TAKING...... i could not possibly love it more!!
ReplyDeletexo
Girl you are not alone...my tree is down but I have been dragging my feet since this new year began....Maybe February is going to be the month we get going...hahah Your really did a fantastic job on this shot....Your tree may still be up but your photographs are rocking.....
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about your tree--just enjoy it until you have the urge to take it down. :-) That's a lovely photo--the texture gives it an "aged" look that is very nice.
ReplyDeleteThis is so very, very beautiful.... I love it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo and edit! Do you enjoy your 50 mm? I think it's fine to settle in to the year. Give it time. My tree is down, but I still miss it every day. Why not enjoy yours a bit longer? :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful image. Don't give up, you can begin this morning, since everyday is a new beginning :)
ReplyDeleteLovely edit... I've been a bit 'frozen' in place lately since retirement due to injury... coming to a place finally admitting I'm a bit depressed and wanting to force myself out of this slump, but here I am it's 09:55 and I'm still in my nightgown, robe and slippers, drinking coffee... sigh.
ReplyDeleteI think lots of people in one way, shape, or form go through the after Christmas, long winter ahead slump, Deanna.
ReplyDeleteMaybe just time to be good to you, and let things happen when you're ready for them to happen. xo.
OH...I love your word for 2014! Beginnings...such a WONDERFUL word indeed. I'm kind of doing that myself. Lovely photo edit...gorgeous really. Big hugs
ReplyDeleteI knocked myself out getting all of Christmas packed away before I left for California for New Years - everything BUT the tree. My husband loves the tree and wanted it up until the 1st. Problem is no one will even consider taking it down and putting the stuff away because, and I quote: "I'll do it wrong". I could flatter myself in believing this is somehow a testament to my superior intellect, that because of my supremely high IQ I became capable of opening ornament boxes and put things back from which they came - but sadly I have to reconcile that is only because my family is Holiday Lazy. ooof! I looked at every Trader Joe's, Fresh Foods, Spoons (or what ever that store was called) for ranunculus while visiting my sister and not one of them had any. Bummers! This is a very lovely picture. I suspect you will be happily surprised with how many beginnings you get a shot at this year --- not every racer hits their stride at the sound of the gun.
ReplyDeleteYour photo is beautiful my friend. I have been enjoying all the shot you have been getting with your 50mm..
ReplyDeleteHugs~