It was a strange year for me. Lots of ups and downs. Things accomplished, and things left undone. Actually, that's fairly typical for me.

I started out the year with a new project, taking a daily self-portrait. I didn't get anywhere near 365, and it was challenging to find new and different ways of making them, but I really like how a few of them came out, so it wasn't a wash. Sometimes it was even fun.

Here are a few of my favorites ( behind a cut )

I had a lot of fun playing with them in different apps, especially Aviary and Snapseed. I took them all with my iPhone, and most of them were spur-of-the-moment and not planned. I'll probably continue to experiment with self-portraits when inspiration hits, but it won't be a focus for me this year. I need to find a new project to stretch myself. Any suggestions?

I walked down to Grandmothers' Garden, where the snow is melting and things are coming up out of the ground. Yay!

( greening )

I then walked down to the river, where the water is quite high.

( swamped )

I walked along the dike for a ways, then back through town. In the window of a junk shop, I saw something that looked very familiar. I'm pretty sure this backrest is the one I sold at my tag sale last fall.

( familiar )

I mean, how many of these can there be in Westfield? Especially in that particular shade of faded rose. That thing sat in my bedroom for many years. Several bedrooms, in fact. I had it a very long time.

It's day one of being totally thrown off by the time change. I had trouble getting to sleep last night, and it didn't help that I kept thinking of that lost hour. While I enjoy the later sunsets (going for walks after work comes to mind), I really hate having to reset my inner clock. I'm usually a zombie for a few days because of it. I don't dare take a nap, or I'll never get to sleep tonight.

I was chatting online with one of my cousins last night, and we revisited the idea of doing a family cookbook. I would love to do this, and I even volunteered to put it together. I thought doing it through Lulu would work, so nobody has to put out any initial cash and hope people contribute. Now all I have to do is get people to give me their recipes. *g*

We talked about how everyone has their version of Grandma's linzer torte, and swears that it's the original. She suggested we put everyone's version in there, and let people sort it out for themselves. I think that's the most diplomatic way to do it. ;)

The one I really want is Aunt Dorothy's potato salad recipe. It tastes exactly like I remember Grandma's tasting.

I'm a little afraid of what my Aunt Helen would send. It would probably have Cool Whip and lime Jell-o in it. ;)

Wish me luck! If I succeed, I'll offer it at cost, and anyone could purchase it. We have some fantastic cooks in the family. :)