la nueva

A short walk on New Year's Eve

large herd of Elk, we were so excited we pulled over to take in the sight.

Silver Peak, in southern Colorado.

Ute Mountain a drive north of us

For the New Year, I baked some decadent chocolate cookies, which we took over to a party, along with a bag of potato chips. Under a clear, cold, starry sky, we joined friends by a bonfire, some of us with mugs of hot cider & whisky, others with bottles of beer. At the new year people said, "viva la nueva" and we passed around a bottle of champagne, each taking a celebratory swig, and watched as chinese lanterns rose brightly lit into the sky. And of course I had a kiss from my loving d.

Here we are in 2014. I thought about pulling some photos from the year, but instead here are a few from just this week.

I'm curious about 2014, am very okay with leaving 2013 in history. I keep telling myself to make a list, something resolute and hopeful, notes to guide my new year by. And may be I still will...I have lots of ideas to mull around.  My first step in starting the new year right is having signed up for a 6-wk photography course. I hope I'll finally grasp the science of f-stops and aperture, and maybe find some creative inspiration along the way. After that, I'll just keep looking for this la nueva.

unfolding

have put away the mantle decorations.
finished the leftovers.
the new year is here. unfolding much better than the last.
& my most determined (and only) resolution has been made.

my nephew called to tell me he lost his first tooth,
and how nice the tooth fairy is.

and I live on the plains, but think about the mountains.

resolving, renewing, 2010

in 2009:
-I watched my niece & nephew grow, learning new words and new stories.
-I followed my new president with admiration.
-I began to pull clutter from my cupboards & shelves.
-I found someone to take care of my lawn, so well that I never even have to think about it. (now for someone to shovel snow...)


















-I began to appreciate listening to Jazz & the Blues, as much as Country & Bluegrass.
-I began to seriously consider attending Grad School, again.
-I started riding a bike again. And even collected a new one.

-I lost my Ladybug.
-I was often surrounded by friendship. (and music)

-The bad days in 2009 seemed to take forever out of me. The good ones, I think I overlooked too often.
-I learned I need to wear proper footwear if stomping in tent stakes when camping.
-Attended a wedding that reminded me that love and friendship can go arm-in-arm.

-I wished someone would discover new Ray Carver stories.
-My poppies bloomed beautifully.

-I didn't travel much at all.
-I had warm evenings with friends over Christmas. And then enjoyed my New Year's in a place that reminded me of the past, but didn't prevent me from thinking about the future.

I've been forming my resolution. Mulling it over in my head. Trying to put it together in words that make sense. I sat in awe of another's resolution on the morning of 2010, and felt inspired to write my own down. For the past few months, I've been trying to push away from my tendency to hesitate. I'm going to continue with that path. Trying to let go of the hesitation that strikes me, when asked about change, about the future or about my own emotions. Be less afraid, trust myself more, calm my sarcastic defenses and try asking for happiness, rather than hope it will come if I sit and wait for it.

Also, I ought to travel a little. And remember to return my library books more often. Call my friends more. Collect new possibilities. And plant more poppies. And carry my camera with more.

A new year, a new decade...It feels like time to open a new chapter.