WELCOME 2011!!!

Gosh!! It's already 2011???? OH NO!!! I'm not finished with my tasks for 2010 yet!! Anyone else have that feeling??!! I remember my parents saying that the older you get the faster the years fly by. I remember thinking how silly that sounded, since I knew that it was not a true statement. Time moves at the same pace no matter what your age. Now I get it!! hahahaaaa!!!

Reflecting on 2010 brings many wonderful memories, some challenges, and many successes. Looking forward to 2011 is a challenge in and of itself!! I have so many plans for improvement in my personal and creative lives, more projects and ideas in mind than any one year can hold, trips to take, grandchildren to watch grow, new designs to develop, continuing to work at mastering the art of vegetable and rose gardening at 6,000 feet in a fairly dry climate, learning to manage my time better and become a super organized person, bake more bread, eat less, exercise more, continue on my mission to buy American only, support local independent businesses more, work harder to promote Handmade in America handcrafts, exercise more, and on and on and on.

This is the time of year when I become super energized to clean. Clean the closets, clean the drawers, clean all the little nooks and crannies on the stove, microwave, refrigerator, etc. If only this urge would last all year long with such enthusiasm!! Wouldn't that be grand!!

I love the Christmas time of year, with all the decorations, the children looking forward to Santa, the cookies, the fudge, gathering with friends and family, and those fun kinds of things. I like to leave the decorations up for a long time, as a way of extending the excitement and comfort of the season. By the end of January, I will have put away most, but will have left the snowfolks and other Winter type ornies on the prim tree, and will add some hearts so as to bring the tree through the Valentine's Day time of February.

Here at 6,000 feet above sea level, on the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies, we have NOT had snow to speak of at all until New Year's Eve! At best we got a couple, maybe three inches at most, but that's more than we have had all Fall and Winter. However, the ski areas have been getting slammed, with feet of snow arriving for them! We have had very warm weather, as well, until New Year's Eve, too. We have now seen sub-zero nights, and not much warmer days for a day or so. Tonight is in the single digits, but maybe tomorrow will warm to above freezing once again. On New Year's Day a huge flock of robins came to visit! That has to be a sign of a wonderful year ahead!! I believe these birds do not fly South for the Winter, but instead they are found staying over in a nearby canyon. That is what I was told, anyway!!

I hope this finds all of you feeling refreshed and ready for another year of accomplishment, adventure, productivity, or whatever goals you might have. Thank you to those of you that stop by and visit my blog! Thank you to my valued customers, too. I appreciate those of you that follow my work and have provided homes for some of my creations! May bountiful blessings and great prosperity come to all of you during this new year ahead. Sincerely, Trudy