It's Cold Weather...

This is Ben...my 10 month old grandson...ready for cold weather in his winter duds! We're finally having some "winter weather" here in North Carolina...but no snow!

Family photos in Mexico!

C'est moi! with Ben at Tulum in Mexico!

We forgot to take toys. We bought some things for him to play with...but he had MORE fun playing on his stroller...climbing on it and taking the items in and out of the bottom...plus he found things in the room to play with. They had a large wall mirror...and he spent a lot of time looking at himself and us in the mirror...and laughing at us! He is such a happy baby...laughing all the time!

Lunch by the pool!!! Ben and Ginger...my grandson and daughter-in-law...who is like the daughter I never had! She is great!

My son, Tony, and Ben...overlooking the ocean from the top of the hill at Tulum!

Photos from Mexico!

One of the tiled floors in the market at Playa del Carmen across from our hotel!

This little elephant greeted me upon my arrival at the hotel!

A couple of Mexican craftmen painting some bowls.

We arrived in the middle of a rain storm...but I awoke to this beautiful sky the next morning.

We walked into the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen. I don't think they're planning on having any problems with downtown shoppers! Look closely at his weapon.

Pottery from Mexico

These are some of the pottery pieces I bought while on vacation in Mexico. I love the beautiful, bright colors. Now, I wish I had bought some of the plates to hang in my kitchen.

Vacation in Mexico

What a great vacation I had in Playa del Carmen, Mexico...which is about an hour south of Cancun. Our hotel was right across the street from the Market, which made shopping very convenient and lots of fun.

Here's another view of the Market with all the beautiful colors they use.

This is a picture of the mosaic on the floor of one of the shops. There were lots of mosaics everywhere, decorating the floors of a lot of the shops. Beautiful!

A neat looking fountain in the Market!

We spent one day visiting the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

We spent one afternoon at the Aviary enjoying the beautiful birds.

Ben enthralled with the birds!

A Beautiful Journal

Here's my beautiful journal...writing in it gives me a lot of pleasure. The front cover is covered with tiles over a silky red fabric...such a luxurious feeling!

Happy New Year!

A new beginning...I love the new year...it's like all the mistakes you've made are all gone...and you can begin all over.

I love to make New Year's resolutions...but I try to make ones that I know can keep...and then I try really hard to keep them...so that I accomplish more of my dreams and wishes.

I resolve to be more creative every day...whether it's physically or mentally...whether I'm actually working on something...or whether I'm thinking of new ideas.

I resolve to be more organized...LOL! Everytime I organize...I can never find where I moved anything. And right now...my studio is in desperate need of organization...or merely getting it back in order from all the work I was rushing to finish before Christmas.

I resolve to do my income taxes earlier this year...well, I usually do them the week before April 15. I have been known to run to the post office right before midnight...but I have been better about this for the past couple of years...I did them the FIRST week of April. So...this year...being retired all of last year...I'm hoping to have them done earlier...maybe in March. I MUST quit procrastinating on the things I dislike doing.

Last year...I vowed to write in a journal every day. I bought a ten year journal and I DID write every day...so I resolve to continue doing this again this year.

And of course...as always...I resolve to lose 15 pounds...now that shouldn't be too hard...and I plan to keep eating healthy and be more active...that sounds better than exercising. Maybe I should buy a pedometer and see how much I walk each day...then I could strive to increase the number of steps I take...sounds good to me!

And lastly...I plan to continue stopping to "smell the roses each and every day" and to keep my priorities in order. We need to live each day as if it is our last day!