But there’s no such thing as a completely fresh start. Everything new arrives on the heels of something old, and every beginning comes at the cost of an ending.
–Jennifer E. Smith, The Geography of You and Me
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s a gorgeous sunset taken outside of Mesa, Arizona in November, 2008 at my grandparents’ 50th anniversary party. If you look closely, you can make out saguaro cacti. A simple snap from my Kodak Share camera.
People who say that yesterday was better than today are ultimately devaluing their own existence.
–Karl Lagerfeld
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, taken from my hotel window in December, 2017 while visiting family before Christmas. No special lighting or effects, just a snap from my smart phone.
The splendid thing, about falling apart, silently…, is that, you can start over, as many times, as you like.
–Sanober Khan, A Thousand Flamingos
Below is the original photo used to create this image. All I can say, is sometimes you have to look down to see a rainbow.. I caught this oil-slick rainbow at dusk after a rain just outside my office building with no special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.
To new beginnings. To the pursuit of…somethingness.
–Cecelia Ahern, Thanks for the Memories
Below is the original photo used to create this image. This is an image from Pixabay.
2017 was by far the busiest year I’ve ever had. I have obligations almost every night of the week (either writing or dancing) and many creative projects that have kept me in a constant state of productivity. I can honestly say I’ve accomplished more in the past year than I have in the past five years. Or, at least that’s how it feels.
Writing Recap: For my second draft of Tree Dragon, in addition to drafting a complete story board, I’ve written 101 pages (32,094 words) of my novel in progress. Also, four short stories were posted to the website.
Reading Recap: I’ve gobbled up 43 books (Audible and Playster), some of which I’ve noted in my weekly/monthly 7-Butter-flydays. I’ll list my 2017 reads in a separate post.
Blogging Recap: While I strive for consistency, my blog suffers when my life gets busy. (So say we all.) I’m proud to report that in 2017 I’ve posted:
– 133 – Kaleidoscopes with quotes
– 24 – Butterfly Quotes
– 23 – 7-Butter-Flydays
– 9 – Butterfly of the Week
Top Blog Posts: Here are the top seven most viewed blog posts from 2017:
– Breathing Underwater, a short story
– 7 Bullet Friday – A bit of fun
– Schrodinger’s Pocket, a short story
– Quote of the Day – Don’t cry because it’s over…
– Potato Dreams, a short story
– Honey/Sheahanna/Chicory, a three-perspectives short story
– Quote of the Day – Success begins…
Movies Recap: I didn’t blog about this, but I did see a fair number of movies in the theater in 2017. I thank my boyfriend, Greg Smith, movie critic and writing coach extraordinaire. Thanks to him, I saw 33 movies. I’ll list these in a separate post, most likely ranked in order of my favorites. Check out Greg’s websites, Reel Heroes and Agile Writers.
Travel Recap: I didn’t travel much in 2017, but when I did, I went places:
– Shawsville, VA – my home town. I got to visit four times last year.
– Chicago, IL – July, 2017 for a family reunion
– Buffalo, NY; Glens Falls, NY; Philadelphia, PA – December, 2017 the holiday visit tour. Greg and I visited his family before the craziness of the holidays set in.
Closing Thoughts: My goals for 2017 were high and for the most part I succeeded. I intended to move forward on revising my novel and that’s going well. I hope to finish the second draft by May 2018 or so and then prepare it for a beta read by the end of the year. Another goal was to blog more regularly. I’ve managed to get a good start with a daily post and hopefully, when my life evens back out again I can start layering on my regular posts again.
Best wishes for a bright, shiny happy New Year!
I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks; and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end. (Jo March),
–Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Below is the original photo used to create this image. This one came out of the archive. It’s a stormy Atlantic Ocean from a trip to Nags Head, North Carolina in the late 90’s. I had one of those awesome film cameras that took panoramic shots. Film negative saved to CD.
And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.
–Meister Eckhart
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, taken from my hotel window in December, 2017 while visiting family before Christmas. No special lighting or effects, just a snap from my smart phone.
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Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
–Marie Curie
To see the inspiration behind this original digital art, please see the story here.
As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning.
–Criss Jami, Killosophy
Below is the original photo used to create this image. This is an image from Pixabay.
At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done–then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.
–Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Below is the original photo used to create this image. It’s a gorgeous sunset taken outside of Mesa, Arizona in November, 2008 at my grandparents’ 50th anniversary party. If you look closely, you can make out saguaro cacti. A simple snap from my Kodak Share camera.
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