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Sunday, January 2, 2011

Resolutions

You are never too old to set another
goal or dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis
I've enjoyed visiting numerous blogs over the last couple of days. And while extending good wishes for the new year, I've been inspired and entertained at reading what my blog friends think of New Year resolutions. To each his own, right? Some people thrive on the freshness of a new year and the time of reflection and the making of goals. Others obviously despise the tradition and are quite blunt about putting their feelings out there in writing. And there are lots of opinions and thoughts somewhere in between the two extremes.
I've enjoyed them all!
******
I guess I don't really make strict resolutions. But I do seem to use the turning of
each new year as a time to reorganize. Whether I plan on this tradition or not,
it does seem to be a contagious bug that bites me as the new year turns.
I think it starts with getting a new calendar! It's fresh and clean and asking
for all the dates to be filled with upcoming birthdays, events and 'to-do' lists.
I relish the time between Christmas and New Years to fill it out.
I also buy a new little spiral notebook for a personal list keeper.
Mine for 2011 is in the picture above. Being a list maker, I enjoy putting
in writing what I need to do in the coming year for my home, my 5 men,
and myself. I also have some pages in there for wishes, goals and dreams.
*******
It occurred to me sitting here at my desk and looking at my
spontaneous little still-life, that I also like blue. haha. And although I don't
plan on buying things that coordinate, these pieces certainly look like I do.
And the men here must take notice, too, as the little 1.5 inch iPod Nano
was a gift from them. It was in my stocking, complete with 35 of my
favorite songs already downloaded, courtesy of Taylor. (isn't it
great to have tech savvy teens around?) And the apple-green earbuds
are perfect. That green is quickly becoming a favorite compliment
to my blue I see,..happily by accident!
*****
However you bring in the New Year dear friends, I hope it's wonderful ~
with resolutions or without!

47 comments:

  1. I do like all of your coordinating blue. Lovely. And, my own children seem to be getting pretty tech savy. Although, when you grow up with it I guess you have to be!

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  2. Great post. No resolutions, but I too want to be a little more organized. Hope you have a super New Year. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Marty ~ I think a little organization is a good thing! HNY to you!

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  4. What a beautiful still life, like something out of a magazine. Having tech savy young people around is the best. I don't know what I would have done without them. Your Taylor is so sweet to have uploaded your favorite songs! Happy New Year to You and Your Five Men!

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  5. Janelle ~ I know..wasn't that sweet? It was part of his Christmas present to me. I wish I had half of his knowledge of that kind of thing!

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  6. What a lurvly gift from Taylor - great idea for the future too!

    I too make no resolutions, I tend to call it goals. Beautiful post!

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  7. Happy New Year Betsy to you & your 5 gentlemen. I think that maybe I need to take a leaf out of your book Betsy & organize what I can of my year ahead of time.
    I, sort of, have a resolution for 2011 ... and that is to do more of what makes me happy.

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  9. Katherine ~ do more of what makes you happy..now that is a wonderful goal. Life is too short not to!

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  10. Betsy~What a lovely post. The same thing happens to me this time of year....I tend to make list and gather my thoughts and plans for the new year although I don't consider myself a resolution maker...I guess I actually am.

    Wishing you all the very best in the new year ahead.

    Doreen

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  11. Happy New Year to you and your men!
    I'm the resolution type, but I don't usually post my personal resolutions as my blog is mostly about books. Even without the resolutions, though, I still feel the turning of the new year and the urge to get organized.
    This year, though, I seem to have a lot hanging over from 2010 to clear out, so I imagine I'll be midway through January when my new year begins LOL.
    Gorgeous picture, btw. Makes me want to get a new notebook too! :D

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  12. For years I've made new year's resolutions...and then at the end of each realized how I'd failed to keep them. This just made me feel lousy. So I decided to follow a suggestion I think I heard over at Quoteflections....using just one word to keep in mind for the new year. I think one word can change many things without a list or sentence. Mine will be persistence. Whatever works...right...we're all individuals...different strokes for different folks. It's what makes the world such an interesting place.
    Like all the blue, and the Nano was a sweet gift.

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  13. Maggie's Garden ~ persistence..I love that. You can apply it to everything! I know what you mean about the resolutions. I've learned to be more realistic. For example, I found myself dehydrated several times last year. But instead of saying "I will drink 8 glasses of water every single day" I'm thinking "I will drink more water" is more reasonable and attainable. :)

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  14. Oh Betsy, love your little still life picture today... I get excited when I get a new notebook or journal...Being a list maker too, I related to all in your post.

    My granddaughter Monica is my computer whiz kid. These teen are soooo smart.

    BTW I left you a little message in my comments for Sunday.

    I had fun with my sketch for Mr. Toast Theme Tuesday...on resolutions!! Hee Hee.

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  15. Ok Wanda...I'll come over and take a look at your comment.

    I just finished my CT post this morning. This was a fun one!

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  16. I love notebooks too. I did get rather a lot for Christmas though (and last birthday) I'll be able to open a stationery store soon!

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  17. Happy New Year to you Betsy! I agree with you totally...I'm bitten by the new year bug each year and love January for getting things done. If you were closer I would be there to help with the tree :)

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  18. Happy New Year Betsy! I just love the newness of a New Year! The first thing on my agenda is filling out my new 2011 calendar! May your 2011 be Blessed with your 5 Men! :)

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  19. Happy New Year to you Betsty. I don't make new year's resolutions anymore but I do enjoy seeing a new year in and hoping for the best. :-)

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  20. Same to you Betsy, I hope 2011 brings all you hope for and more. I'm absolutely dreadful at lists. There's not a grocery day that I don't come home without something essential. Cheers :)

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  21. I think you're going to love that cute little iPod! I resolved every year for the past several years to clean out my Christmas decorations, toss out the stuff I haven't used in years... rumpled bows, etc. etc.... and FINALLY I did it! Not sure I made any other "resolutions" but I'm glad to finally accomplish an old one!

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  22. Happy new year Betsy, and to all the five men!

    I've enjoyed reading your blog over the last year, and I hope to continue enjoying it. It gives me a little taste of life in the Colonies. . . .and no, I don't make resolutions. The only one I have for every year is to be nice to people.

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  23. Peg ~ I'm hoping that iPod gets me on the treadmill more often! :)
    Purging the Christmas stuff..that is such a wonderful thing to have accomplished! Please come and help me now! haha

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  24. Keith ~ well, I enjoy you, too! Being nice...what a wonderful goal. The world needs more of that.

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  25. As a young person I never made resolutions, probably because my parents were not into that kind of thing. But, as an adult I find New Years kind of like a fresh sheet of paper or a new notebook. By the end of the year I will have a brand new collage, another finished composition, and will be searching once again for a clean slate. (Must be that artist buried somewhere deep within.)

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  26. I'm not a resolution maker or keeper...too lazy I suppose, but I am in such a cleaning out mood. I started today with the fridge. In the last week, bowls of soup fell out and burst open on the floor twice...because there simply wasn't room for them in the fridge.

    Keep your fingers crossed that I keep with the job and don't wander in here to the computer too often...otherwise I'll never get the job done.

    ps love your blue nano!

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  27. I am not a list maker but need to be however I do need a new calendar. I have been drooling over my daughter's new calendar/organizer that her husband bought her for her birthday. She ordered it from erincondren.com and I think it would help me become more organized. I don't know where my daughter got the organizational gene from. It sure wasn't me.

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  28. the still life is really colorful .. I know you will enjoy each gift from your guys.

    I am not much for resolutions .. I make them every day it seems!!

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  29. with my fleeting memory, a spiral notebook has become a neccessity.

    happy new year to you!

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  30. Getting organized is a good goal for the new year. We went to Barnes and Noble and bought our 2011 calendar to keep track of everything. They have such a great selection.
    Your ipod and notebook do go good together. Love the blue...it is also my favorite color. You mentioned on my blog that you also like birds. I love blue birds especially...must be something to do with the blue bird of happiness : )

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  31. Happy New Year! I just stumbled across your blog! And I am so glad I did. It is lovely. I am looking forward to following you in the coming days!!!

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  32. I do lists too - but not as prettly as you. I'm envious of the iPod - aren't those little ones dinky?

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  33. Oh I love lists....just can't get enough note pads..I'll put that on my shopping list for tomorrow/ha

    Your blue and green are beautiful, I love them!!!!

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  34. Your blues are lovely, Betsy. I haven't had a moment to consider any resolutions or the lack thereof for 2011. But, in the next few days, I'll have some time for that. Wishing you and your men a healthy, happy new year!

    I love that your iPod had your favorites loaded in your stocking!

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  35. Tana ~ I loved that too..probably the most thoughtful thing I got! :)

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  36. I love each item Betsy! I think that Taylor is a GEM for starting you out with some great and FAVORITE songs!

    I have my notebook filled in too and I am just RELISHING my plan of ATTACK for tomorrow!!!

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  37. Happy New Year to you Betsy- I hope you have happy surprises all through the year and blessings to you and your family.

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  38. Betsy, A big happy new year to you! Love all of the fun new things on the side of your blog! I agree, i always try to "reorganize" on the homefront at the beginning of the new year, as for resolutions, I just like to start fresh....clear the head....still working on that this year...though! ha ha ha! Love the little nano gift too! oh how sweet.
    anyway, it's a pleasure to know you, i envy your strength - and positive outlook on life.
    and may you have a wonderful new year and fun filling out your new notebook! xxoo

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  39. Betsy, A big happy new year to you! Love all of the fun new things on the side of your blog! I agree, i always try to "reorganize" on the homefront at the beginning of the new year, as for resolutions, I just like to start fresh....clear the head....still working on that this year...though! ha ha ha! Love the little nano gift too! oh how sweet.
    anyway, it's a pleasure to know you, i envy your strength - and positive outlook on life.
    and may you have a wonderful new year and fun filling out your new notebook! xxoo

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  40. wow... an ipod.. cool... you deserve it... what is some of your favorite songs?
    xoxo
    Unks

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  41. Music sounds better through crisp freh apple green, no? Sounds perfect really. Looks perfect too. And I do have to laugh, at that notebook, knowing how much you love to make lists.

    I don;t really do resolutions per se as I'm horrid at sticking at them, but with that said, I do like the turning of a page and all that brigs with it. Time for new starts and such.

    Wishing you and yours the very best this year, Betsy. Now, once you;ve finsihed organizing can you pop over here adn help me get my plsce in order as well? I'm sure the 5 guys won;t mind tooo much! LOL.

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  42. What a beautiful and candid post.;) Your men are great, it must be so much fun to be the only girl.;)
    Blue is one of my favorite colours as it is the colour of the sky and the sea.;)
    Happy New Year dear Betsy,
    xoxo

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  43. Here's a New Year list for you Betsy. 1. Keep being you. 2. Keep blogging.
    Alan

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  44. Mmm~ well, you KNOW if you lived closer I'd be right there unpacking boxes for you! :)

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