January

What to make of January? A month of good intentions, though I learned long ago not to make huge whopping resolutions that can only make you feel like such a loser when you break them. So now I just go about my days trying to appreciate the good things, like our fish pond, which is frozen over now but will come to life again ...in April.

And here's our tree of birds. Mostly mourning doves waiting for a chance to take over the feeder. Sometimes they sit there for hours, not making a sound, meditating on food.

A while ago we had some dratted freezing rain which kept us inside but made for some cool pictures like these.

Jailbird, Jailbird through my window...

Lately I've been doing what many of you have been doing: sorting through stuff with new resolve to start the year fresh. For me this involves a bit of a cull in my studio-again-and I've managed to turf some old canvasses and watercolours that had nowhere to go but the orange garbage bag. Then I had a relapse and thought I'd recycle the paper, turn it into papier- mache and make...masks...or bowls that I could decorate. Not a good idea! I soon remembered earlier attempts at this craft and what a lot of work it is. And as if to confirm my thoughts, Sam and Bridget got hold of one of my efforts before it was dry and tried to eat it. Yum, wallpaper paste!

So here I am down in the studio still wondering about the significance of everything. At least it's clean again, for now, and things ARE taking shape, just not papier-mache things.

The following pictures show our darling kitties helping me.

"I'll get you, Sam!"

" Now I'm the King...er...Queen of the Castle!"

"One false move and I'll flatten you!"

"Ha! Look at me up here. If I hold this pose maybe nobody will notice. But that's crazy because I know I can't sit still for more than a second." (And with that she climbed to the top of the drapes.)

"Well, I don't need to do all that posing, I just have to look gorgeous."

So cheers, everybody and here's to good intentions.