Me On A Monday January 3rd, 2022

Good Morning & welcome to a new year & a new month.

Last year (2021) I did not settle on One Little Word (OLW) for myself but this year I've got something brewing about. What about you, decide on a word or phrase to guide you through 2022?  

On December 31st I was invited by Sandie of Itchifingers; 5 in 5 on the 5th fame, to join in her Zoom meeting for a Winter's Eve Gathering.  It was a most delightful hour spent with so many like minded ladies.  The big pond between us did not create any problem 😉.

Sandie had us think about a word or phrase we would like to use as a guide thought for the next couple of days or weeks & it was through this sharing that my 2022 OLW started to brew.  More to come once I've tidied up the idea.

During the early part of the holidays as I prepared for my 12 Days of Blessing, which was to start December 26th, but COVID's Omicron variant stepped in to upset that plan.  I had settled on the charity I wanted to spend 12 days purchasing 12 gifts for; I had chosen a Women's Rescue/Shelter as often the women & their children leave in the middle of the night without much.  I was making up 12 boxes of things they might need and/or enjoy having.  With Omicron numbers rising dramatically the charity asked that everyone hold off on donations of things & asked for money instead.  So I've had to have a re-think of my 12 Days of Blessings. I sent a cheque to the shelter & I'll keep my 12 boxes until the charity accepts them in the spring.

When I was initially planning my 12 Days of Blessing & looking for inspiration, I did a search within my library system to see if I could read anything about 12 Days of Christmas, and/or 12 Days of Blessings.   The search came up with a book,  Christmas Days, 12 Stories, 12 Feast for 12 Days by Jeanette Wintrson. It was truly a surprise find & one of the most enjoyable books I've read all year.  There were 12 short stories, some with an element of magic, some with a smidgen of miracle & some had plots of coincidence.  After each short story, there was a recipe of sorts.

Other stories I read during the Yuletide, there was The Santa Suit - from the first paragraph the ending was known (well to me at least), & it was SO sweet that my back teeth hurt, but in the end I shed a tear or two. Also on the Christmas line,  I had my annual read of The Christmas Cookie Club & new to me, A Boy Named Christmas (of which they just made a movie based on this story).

I am currently reading Off The Record, a memoir by Peter Mansbridge (Canadian news icon); a little much to do about nothing. I am also reading Louise Penny's & Hilary Clinton's book State of Terror.  I know the Louise Penny fans are all agog with this one, but I am not impressed, so far.

In keeping with books, I'll sign off with; The new year is like a new book, 12 new chapters, 365 new pages & you are the author. Write yourself  the most beautiful story possible.