So it's New Years eve. I'm not out eating a fancy dinner, or at a bar, or even at Boston's First Night (my original plan up until this morning). I've found that as usual, I just simply want to say home.
There is something about New Years that brings peace to me. Perhaps it's the same feeling that some people get on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. But as we wind up one year, and look forward to the next, I find it to be a much deeper experience than writing a bunch of silly resolutions on a piece of paper (how many times have you written 'loose weight' or 'get in shape'? you people will hog the gym machines until March, until you forget about your resolutions).
It's time to look back over the past year and wonder what I wish I had done differently - and once those things are identified, I give myself permission for screwing up, and figure out how I could have handled the situation differently. I also think ahead to the coming year, and find a few important things to focus on - events I need to prepare for, changes I'd like to make (which sounds like resolutions, but aren't really - its not a "do it or else" kind of mentality), ways I'd like to grow. I think I do this same sort of analysis on my birthday, which conveniently makes it a bi-annual event.
New years is about light, and about peace - not world peace, as wonderful as that would be (on the other hand, what would drive our economy then? It would collapse, and the world peace would evaporate anyway) - but internal peace. My peace. Calmness. The absence of anxiety or worry. What has happened in the past year is past. What the future holds - who knows? It hasn't been made yet. But at this moment, this evening, I am at home. I have heat, plenty of food, and plenty of light. My family and friends are all safe and healthy. My husband and I are happy. We have warm clothes, a place to live. We all have more than we need.
New Years is also about rounding out the holiday season. In a way, it's the second coming of Christmas. One last holiday party. The final Hurrah until next year. The holiday lights are ablaze. Wishes of Happy New Year being tossed about. Final holiday gifts exchanged among friends. I can understand why people go out to party, but I have almost everything I need right here - and really, it's enough for me.
So Happy New Year. Hope you all have a happy, healthy & peaceful 2008.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Yay for shopping Local!
I know, I know... I'm behind. What else is new?
Hubby & I went holiday shopping today. We drove over to Maynard, MA to check out a new Jewelry store just opened by a friend of a friend called "Phoenix Rising". I picked up some fliers from the owner to distribute to some friends, family & neighbors to get the word out - it was a pretty cool store with some really reasonable prices. The owner makes her own jewelry, and it was beautiful. I purchased a really nice necklace for my mom which I really think she'll like (I'd describe it, but what if she reads this? It's unlikely, but you never know).
Here's their Open House flier - The open house was today & yesterday, but their logo is pretty cool, so I've included it. Linda was really friendly, and there were some great pieces in there...and I'm not a huge jewelry fan.
After that, we walked up the street to the Maynard Outdoor Store to purchase some more long underwear for me - I work outside, and it's now officially cold out (it's 17 degrees out as I write this - and our first winter storm is on it's way tomorrow night). I was actually pretty surprised by how much stuff they had and how reasonable their prices were.
Our last stop was Dunia. I hadn't been in there before, but I had seen their advertisements and they are a "Friend" of Harvard Local. I am SO glad I went in there. First of all, I liked just about everything that they had in the store (a rare thing - I'm pretty picky). I found a puzzle for my dad (of a Mandala - not sure he'll like it, but he goes through so many puzzles, he'll eat it like the rest of them and then donate it to the library, which I am OK with) that was made in Kula, HI - by my definitions, it's local, because I have a connection to that area. I'll admit my definition is a little skewed, but like it or lump it. I got a whole bunch of ideas for reusing all sorts of stuff that has lived out it's original life. I also found reclaimed cashmere yarn (not that I can use it, but maybe someday). Clothes, kids toys, home decorations, etc... but the best find was a "WrapSack" for my mom's holiday gift.
I know Steph is really going to like the WrapSack idea - it's just like "Where's George" only for these sacks that you give gifts in - and you don't have to use wasteful & expensive wrapping paper. I've logged in the wrap sack for my mom's gift and have started it on it's journey. I need to go back and get some more of these.
Dunia also had some furoshiki - same idea as WrapSacks, only not trackable, and more of a flat cloth than a sack (you can knot the corners of the cloth to make a sack, though, much like a bandana). I was interested in furoshiki years ago, and then completely forgot about them. But now that I have my very own sewing machine (that works), I hope to make my own - should be pretty easy, and the possibilities for personalization are endless.
Other than that, we're just gearing up for our first "big" winter storm... a lot of the ski areas around here are having a better-than-average early season, as far as I can tell, so I am really excited. I haven't been yet, but might go riding tomorrow night out at wa-wa.
Hubby & I went holiday shopping today. We drove over to Maynard, MA to check out a new Jewelry store just opened by a friend of a friend called "Phoenix Rising". I picked up some fliers from the owner to distribute to some friends, family & neighbors to get the word out - it was a pretty cool store with some really reasonable prices. The owner makes her own jewelry, and it was beautiful. I purchased a really nice necklace for my mom which I really think she'll like (I'd describe it, but what if she reads this? It's unlikely, but you never know).
Here's their Open House flier - The open house was today & yesterday, but their logo is pretty cool, so I've included it. Linda was really friendly, and there were some great pieces in there...and I'm not a huge jewelry fan.
After that, we walked up the street to the Maynard Outdoor Store to purchase some more long underwear for me - I work outside, and it's now officially cold out (it's 17 degrees out as I write this - and our first winter storm is on it's way tomorrow night). I was actually pretty surprised by how much stuff they had and how reasonable their prices were.Our last stop was Dunia. I hadn't been in there before, but I had seen their advertisements and they are a "Friend" of Harvard Local. I am SO glad I went in there. First of all, I liked just about everything that they had in the store (a rare thing - I'm pretty picky). I found a puzzle for my dad (of a Mandala - not sure he'll like it, but he goes through so many puzzles, he'll eat it like the rest of them and then donate it to the library, which I am OK with) that was made in Kula, HI - by my definitions, it's local, because I have a connection to that area. I'll admit my definition is a little skewed, but like it or lump it. I got a whole bunch of ideas for reusing all sorts of stuff that has lived out it's original life. I also found reclaimed cashmere yarn (not that I can use it, but maybe someday). Clothes, kids toys, home decorations, etc... but the best find was a "WrapSack" for my mom's holiday gift.
I know Steph is really going to like the WrapSack idea - it's just like "Where's George" only for these sacks that you give gifts in - and you don't have to use wasteful & expensive wrapping paper. I've logged in the wrap sack for my mom's gift and have started it on it's journey. I need to go back and get some more of these.
Dunia also had some furoshiki - same idea as WrapSacks, only not trackable, and more of a flat cloth than a sack (you can knot the corners of the cloth to make a sack, though, much like a bandana). I was interested in furoshiki years ago, and then completely forgot about them. But now that I have my very own sewing machine (that works), I hope to make my own - should be pretty easy, and the possibilities for personalization are endless.
Other than that, we're just gearing up for our first "big" winter storm... a lot of the ski areas around here are having a better-than-average early season, as far as I can tell, so I am really excited. I haven't been yet, but might go riding tomorrow night out at wa-wa.
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