Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A Garden Year

I love this stretch of days between Christmas and New Year's.
My first dollmaking project.

The hustle of Christmas has passed, things haven't gotten up to the full speed of the new year again. Here in Wisconsin it is almost always bitterly cold and snowy. It's a time for spending time together, working on projects, resting and catching up on all the things we miss out on during the busyness of the year.

Like TV. And sleep.
It's also the perfect time for reflection, for taking stock.

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. But I like the idea of a theme.

2014 will be the Year of the Garden.

It's not about a "new me", whatever that means, or radical changes.

It's about nourishing what's been planted. Pruning away what's unnecessary and harmful. It's about digging deep, about roots and sun and rain.

And it's about knowing that a garden - any garden - is a collaboration, a partnership between the gardener and God.

So here's to seeing what blooms in 2014.