Whenever I return to NYC a part of me feels I've returned home. My heart always leaps a little as I see the approaching skyline. It's strange...coming from the girl whose heart is also entrenched in the New England coastline. I am thrilled to my toes to be spending almost 4 days here, and doing so with a dear friend...an amazing painter, Sue Danielson.  It's art in the city time!

Another photo from my commute last night.  

I've been super busy these last few weeks.  Trying to get back into a routine but that will have to wait until next week because I'm away again this weekend.

Blizzard tonight.   My 20 minute commute took almost an hour and a half.  On the plus side, it's really pretty out.

Well…I had a belated birthday adventure planned for Saturday evening.  On Saturday morning I needed to cancel it.

Instead of outdoor ice skating, then walking for Chinese food, and then a short walk to my house for cake and fun, I spent the bulk of the weekend battling a nasty stomach bug.   Finally, after some organic ginger tea in the afternoon, I was able to keep some light food in my stomach.

This afternoon, although I'm feeling better, I've been drained.  It's been kind of nice to have free HBO this weekend because I couldn't do anything other than lay there and drift in and out with movies in the background.

I hope to reschedule for February.  And I'd rather not spend another weekend like this one.

Here is another photo taken on Sunday.  This was right across the road from the restaurant in Westport.   I love stone fences and had forgotten how much I enjoyed them until I moved to RI and saw them everywhere.

Taken while on my beach/snow adventure.  Such a great day!  

This my favorite of the 330+ photos I took.  I'm really proud of it. 

Today's adventure was a day at the beach.  I have ached to go to the dunes after a snowfall and enjoyed a couple hours with a friend walking the dunes and shore.  It was cold and wonderful.

I really am a beach girl...in all seasons.

Before spending an afternoon painting, I wanted to spend some time outside in my new snow boots.  I took a walk along the canal on this gorgeous albeit below freezing day.  

Taken yesterday evening before the big storm hit later in the night.

Part of today was delightfully spent with some good friends in their home.  Four of us, each curled up in our blankets, enjoying episodes of "Bomb Girls" on Netflix.  I've had it queued up for a while but had yet to watch it.  It's an excellent show.  

Phoebe, resident cuteness also part Boston Terrier and Mexican Xolo, revelled in today because she had a choice of 4 blankets and 4 pairs of laps.  She did hop around and enjoy all laps.

I made a choice to stay in this evening and be with myself. 2013 has been probably the most difficult and scary year thus far. There have been some amazingly magic moments tucked within, but the anxiety and fear would loom large.

I've had years involving deep heartbreak, the kind I wouldn't wish on my enemies, but…this, this was different. It wasn't about heartbreak which, regardless how brutal, we get through…in some fashion, even if a part stays with us. 

No, this year was about financial questions and wondering how I'd pay my bills and the low esteem that comes with rejection after rejection from sending out a multitude of resumes. Averaging 10 to 15 resumes sent each week, I received a handful of responses….to then be the "almost but not quite" girl. I didn't have a partner who could pay the bills while I looked for work. There were times when I'd have no idea how I'd pay rent. It's just me. RI has a rough job market. It affected me on a core level. It definitely affected my painting practice, which I'm struggling to regain. And yet...I knew I needed to trust myself...and all would work out, yet still made for many sleepless nights.

But now, I have a job. I've been returning, albeit slowly, to a more rigorous discipline of exercise and more importantly, to my painting. And, I wonder what 2014 will bring. I try to leave a few unopened presents for the new year. Anticipation. A little mystery. And patience. 

So tonight, I am thoroughly enjoying being surrounded by my deep red curtains and twinkly holiday lights. I chose to bake my mom's Toutiere (Canadian meat pie) and enjoyed it with pickled beets and red wine, then followed by some very nice chocolate that was gifted to me. 

It's a time of reflection and soothing myself after being battered around these last 12 months.

Happy and magical New Year to all of you!

The sheep ornament was purchased to remind me of the times I attempted to "baaahh" like a sheep and would fail miserably. And also the glee I'd feel when I saw sheep in fields.

The round ornament was my first ornament purchased in RI....last year.  It's one of Providence's iconic buildings on the canal at the mouth of the bay.  Like all my ornaments, they remind me of something.  And the fish?  I love the water.  Like fish. 

From my trip to Boston the Saturday before xmas.  Look at those orange feet!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Tonight, while going to get mail.  Photo taken at the yoga place next to my mailbox place.

Yesterday was a day trip to Boston.  After a delightful walk to the train station, I leisurely took my time buying my ticket, grabbing coffee and going to the restroom. Then I checked the board to find my track number only to discover it was supposed to have left a minute earlier. A guy raced past me and I tear off after him. We managed to hop the train with 30 seconds to spare, laughing and hi-fiving each other before grabbing our seats.

From my window.

Snow a few nights ago.  It was so lovely.  Today, it's warm and all melted.  

Over 30 years ago I introduced my mom to a wonderful holiday animation called "The Snowman".  We both love it for the simplicity of story, the animation and…especially for this song "Walking In The Air".  We watched it again last year, my first xmas at home since 1998 when I moved to Seattle.  Here is a video of the song.

And because I've got big like for my little tree…here is another photo. 

A photo I took on Friday the 13th, all the while forgetting it was Friday the 13th.   I cut through a parking lot to get to work and saw the birds in the tree.  I had to loop around again to photograph them and was gifted with a few birds in flight.

This is my first real little tree during my first holiday in my first apartment since I've returned to New England from Seattle.  

Last year, in December, I was renting a room.  It was a wonderful apartment but not my own space.  This year, it's my own home.   I intentionally try to make my living room the most relaxing room.  This space is coming along but there is more I want to do to it once I become permanent at my new job.

Over the weekend I picked up a little tree and spent Saturday evening setting it up.  My neighbor from downstairs came up and she helped me decorate.  We spent a great evening sharing stories, getting to know each other, having dinner delivered, watched a movie, put up the tree and enjoyed some brandy.  A nice time.

I love my little tree.  The wooden star at the top was made in the mid 80s by my first girlfriend.  This tree holds a disco ball, a flamingo, a Gumby, a girl softball player, musical instruments, a turtle, a whale, a bird, little fishes, a Seattle ferry boat, a pig with wings, a firecracker…and so much more.  

I choose my ornaments to remind me of the people that either are still in my life or have touched my life.   My tree is filled with stories.

First snow.