The past couple of years my “New Year’s Resolutions” - if that’s what they were - were more like themes or intentions. That seemed like the right approach at the time, but I find myself in a different head space this year. I have instead very specific projects and actions in the real world that I want to do.
If there’s anything connecting my ideas together this year, it’s a commitment to beautiful things. So here goes.
1) Finish my crocheted Fairy Queen Coat. I bought the pattern a couple of years ago, or close to that, and only started it last spring or summer. But it’s a bigger project, so I’m actually progressing quite well. Because the Fairy Queen Coat is for me, and it’s not being made for any specific occasion or purpose, it has gotten bumped down the queue a few times as I took on time limited projects or gift projects or whatever. But I’ve always found it delightful to return to. It’s whimsical, pretty, and relaxing to work on.
3) Crochet a doll (and a tree, and some birds) inspired by our new dance. So far I’ve only chosen the patterns. I think this project will be super fun however.
4) Gift projects: something always comes up, so I’m sure there will be one or two of these, but I don’t have any plans yet.
5) A major goal is to expand my sewing skills. I’ve done a decent amount of hand sewing: repairs, alterations, small projects. However, I want to learn how to cut and sew an actual garment. And I have a project in mind: My own Billie kilt.
I’ve been stepdancing for over 20 years. I started off self-taught, then 14 years ago I found a dance teacher in my city and I have been dancing with her group since. Many of the ladies in that group are long term dancers though of course people come and go. We don’t perform often but occasionally something comes up and when it does, we wear black with a short plaid skirt of our choice. I have wanted to get a new one for a while. But I don’t particularly want a mass produced item: I want it to be special, something that honours my long personal connection with Celtic music and dance and all the ways it has been a powerful creative force in my life.
I have no Scottish ancestry, so I don’t have a personal connection to any tartan. However, there is a pretty tartan that is named after my province. So it seemed to me that that was the one to go with. I could not find a ready made skirt in this tartan, so, obvious conclusion: I will make one.
I will probably use this pattern:
And there’s even a video to help:
This project might have intimidated me previously but I don’t see that I have anything to lose, and I’m just going to go for it and assume the best. That’s what 2025 is all about!
6) Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I will have to clean up my sewing / craft area first, which is a utter, uninspiring disaster.
7) I have had a lot of success since September with preparing appealing, (mostly) healthy and enjoyable lunches for all the family. I have been making them mostly the night before and it has made our mornings easier. My goal is to keep this up. It’s been very satisfying.
8) With some birthday money, I bought The Divine Comedy by Dante. I have heard about it since my 20s when I had a friend who loved it, and most recently I read Rod Dreher’s Living in Wonder (that could be a whole other post) where he writes about how powerful it is. But I have never read it. I found a beautiful illustrated edition at a bookstore* and I have started reading it. It’s been a while since I read this much poetry but it is a good challenge.
*The bookstore where I found it also could be a whole other post. But we’ll keep the tone upbeat.
9) Next time I want a novel, like if there’s a long plane ride and/or theoretically relaxing vacation in my future (nothing planned yet) I want to read Kristin Lavransdatter.
10) Do more activities with family members, especially elderly ones. Try to overcome my aversion to phone calls enough to stay in touch more.
Finally, in the waning days of 2024 I made my first and most urgent New Year’s resolution: to go in person to a church service. I’ve known for quite a few years (since starting this blog actually) that I wanted to and/or should go, but I never actually did.
This month I went to a Vespers service at an Orthodox Church. One hour on a Saturday evening. I mistakenly went in the back door of the church - of course I did, that is so symbolically appropriate - and had to awkwardly ask someone to please tell me where to go. A nice lady showed me: I think she sang in the choir.
The church was very beautiful and smelled very good. Nobody has ever suggested I go to church because it smells wonderful, but there you are: I had to attend in person to learn that.
A few brief observations:
-Although the atmosphere is lovely, and there is a lot to observe with icons and sacred objects of various kinds (I don’t know all the right terms), there is nothing focussed on entertainment in the Orthodox Church. In fact most of the time I couldn’t tell what individual was speaking or singing: the sound seemed to come from everyone and no one.
-There is something about being in a space with people who are focused on something higher than themselves that isn’t like anything else. Too often interactions with other people are about them getting something from me, or me getting something from them, or all of us getting more stuff, or we are all in our cars making each other angry. Being in the church with people worshipping wasn’t anything like that. It was’t even like taking a class or talking with friends or walking in a park. It was different. I knew it would be different before I walked in, and that made me anxious and afraid and maybe caused me to procrastinate for five years (but who’s counting). I can’t say I feel totally comfortable now or that I understand. But the fear and anxiety of experiencing something different is gone.
-The service was mostly singing, of various prayers and I think Bible stories, but to be honest I didn’t follow most of it. Some people had yellow pieces of paper that looked a kind of cheat sheet: I think if I had gone in the front door I could have gotten one. But I didn’t have any expectations: this evening was entirely about showing up. One of the reasons I chose this church is because it is English speaking, but on this evening anyway, I can’t say it mattered what language they were speaking.
What next? I intend to go again, probably on a Saturday and/or Sunday next month. I likely won’t write about it again for a while. I feel like writing and thinking can turn into an excuse to not actually do anything. (What could I possibly know about that!)
I meant to discreetly take a photo on the way out, to prove I had really been there, but of course having come in the back door, I didn’t know which was the correct door to leave by either, and while I was trying to decide who to follow to get out I forgot. Here instead is a blurry still, not taken by me. To remember there is a first time for everything!
