Oh the Promise of the New to Come....

It's that time of year.

Everyone is hurried, worried, and busy...cold, and happy all at the same time.

But it is also the time of the year to get a jump on making plans for the coming year.  I wonder what I can do to make next year more peaceful, more relaxed, more productive.

I am lining up books to read and projects to start.

This is my list so far (I say so far because I am addicted to books...I can't seem to stop buying them!)

This year, I am reading:

-Heat (Bill Buford) About learning the tricks of the trade in the restaurant business..with insight and humor.

-The Art of Non-Conformity (Chris Guillebeau) If you feel you never fit in, or travel to a differnet drummer, this book aims at giving you the tools (or at least the incentive, or the ideas,) to live differently

I have been knitting for a very long time.  I have done sweaters, scarves, blankets, lace, hats, mittens (never gloves)  Last year I wanted to learn how to knit socks.  But most tutorials on socks are so complicated..at this point in my lfie I do not need complicated....I finally found a book on another way to knit socks...

-Socks from the Toe Up (Wendy D. Johnson) I am determined to learn this..maybe it will be my first project besides planning the garden next year.

-Of course I am also reading and cooking through Dorie Greenspan's Around My French Table and I just ordered Baked Explorations  ( Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito) (who own a Brooklyn based Bakery) to also cook through

-and my big creative project for the year-and this for me will be a tough one, is to work my way through-

-A Writer's Book of Days (Judy Reeves) This is not a new book, but it is what has been considered an ideal writing coach..  I am not sure, yet whether I will post what I do as exercises or just write about them...there is an assignment for every day. I might also during the year check out some of her other books.

These are my book projects. (for now..like I said..I am addicted to books...)  Of course there is also that bathroom project.  Our plumber is going away this week, to Hawaii to visit his daughter, and won't be back until the end of the month..so that is a bit on hold for now...

so for now-here is a pic of my sweet Lass ...from this fall

and here are some Fall pics from our driveway .....towards the park..

back by the stall (looking towards the house....I hope to be able to add more pictures..our camera is old but serves a purpose..for now.  Of course at the present moments the back is COLD and bare looking.....Here comes winter which has been early for us in S Eastern NY this year!  Maybe it will be over quick...

Until then..see you later