Reflect to Resolve to Improve

Time for a little change of environment. 

With the Christmas decorations away I felt like going a bit funky 

- bold colours and a bohemian influence. 

It feels uplifting and empowering.

Just the way to start new year, especially with my long list of 

learning, dreams and goals all laid out in front of me.

Yes those toes are mine!




Some goals are for dreaming,
or are at least for farther into the future than 2014
as it's always nice to imagine and writing it down adds inspiration in my life.
(Think travel... Egypt)

Others are more immediate and easier,
(stand up straight... 
please call me on this one if you ever see the slouch creep over my shoulders!)
while some take a lot more time and effort!
(learning a language).

I like to categorize my goals by the following titles:
Work/Language/Health/Friends/Family/Travel/Knitting/Financial/
Learn To/Reading List/Just Do It/Visit
and I guess I like it so much I've done just this every year for quite some time.

It is always interesting to look back to see what I managed to accomplish last year as well.
Reviewing can be a good reminder of successes and ideas yet to be fulfilled.
I am proud to say I accomplished my work, financial, friends, family and other goals.
I took good care with my health, too.
However my reading list, knitting list and travel lists were 
only 43%, 57% and 50% met respectively,
and I failed miserably in the language and learn-to sections.

In honest reflection I do think 2013 was a pretty good year over all!

Here's a few goodies in store for 2014:
I want to perfect my home made pasta and bread making.
I want to either (or even better both) finally take my bike tour I've wanted to do for five years
from Passau to Vienna along the Danube, and climb mount Kilimanjaro.
(I must also see some sunshine pretty quickly before my skin actually becomes transparent.)
Language learning should be a little easier with all the foreign pilots at my base, 
so really there's no excuse!
I want to use all my Irish wool acquired over the past summer....

All of those things will be blogged about and I sincerely can't wait to do them!

I'll be looking at everything a little differently this year as well... !!!

I love my new glasses <3

Cross Country Skiing!

It was such a lovely day yesterday (-2 in Canmore and a nearly cloudless sky) 

so I'm especially glad I picked it for my first cross country skiing in a long time.  

Long as in 20 years or so long.  About time I revisit it!

 We (Allison and I) skied at the Nordic Center in Canmore, 

where the trails are groomed for skate skiing and tracks are laid for a more traditional approach, 

rentals for two hours is $20, and $10 for the ticket.

Driving time is about an hour each way so it's quite possible to do prior to afternoon reserve!

I wish I had taken more photos and made the mountains more of a focal point of the backdrop, 

but here's the one shot I did take. I can't decide if I like better in colour or black and white.

A few things around the house:

Another little knitting project completed. 

A gift of time and know-how for a friend who supplied the yarn :)

Below is the first 2014 pasta trial.

A Carbonara. Who can say no to bacon and Parmigiano Reggiano? 

The pasta itself was delicious but it's not yet ideal.

The great thing is that I've found a few people happy to help in the kitchen, 

making the experience not only better but also who would like to share their specialties with me! 

(Just think Brussels and Chocolate!!! And a Galardo pasta enthusiast!!!)

And just for fun:

A Seared Chum Steak; Japanese Flavours