I know that many of us make New Year's resolutions to lose weight. I also know that right about now those resolutions are quickly becoming a thing of the past. During the month of January, I usually think about the resolution to lose weight, look at the weather, and then cancel my plans for a walk. Well, this year I am going to be better because I have an overweight pet.
February 2nd is Groundhog Day. Did you ever wonder why we celebrate Groundhog Day? The legend says that if the groundhog sees his shadow, we will have 6 more weeks of winter. If not, we should expect an early spring! Okay..... But why should we trust such a monumental decision each year to a rodent? Think about it! We have been counting on a furry woodchuck since 1887!
Happy New Year! Happy Chinese New Year, that is. January 23, 2012 marked the first day of the celebration known as the Chinese New Year, and the festivities will continue for 15 days, until the first full moon. Many Asian cultures including China, Thailand, and Singapore celebrate the festivities by having parades, ceremonies, and fireworks. It is the most important and celebrated holiday in the Asian culture, and it ushers in the new lunar year of the Chinese calendar. Each Chinese lunar year is associated with an animal of the Chinese zodiac.
Smithville Lake has become quite the popular place the last few weeks because, at least, three very special birds have taken residence there for the winter. The snowy owl, an owl that calls the Arctic Tundra home has taken a winter holiday and chosen Smithville Lake as its destination. Bird enthusiast and local residents alike have come out in droves to try and catch a glimpse of these birds made famous by none other than Mr. Harry Potter.
I'm not a cookbook collector. Although, I do have a stack of old canning manuals and revered tomes like The Joy of Cooking—I don't relish digging through dusty flea market finds for the perfect cookbook. I am, however, a cookbook looker. I love the new library books with the awesome photographs, even imagining myself as a food stylist, gleaning tips for my own portfolio of sparkling holiday meals.
Start the new year off with a splash--of watercolor, that is! For the month of January, the Smithville United Methodist Art Class is displaying fresh work at the Smithville Branch. Come check out a wide variety of paintings created by all levels from beginner to expert. This month the group welcomes some junior members to the display. If you like natural landscapes, you're in for a treat: seascapes, country roads, and covered bridges are featured. There are also exotic animals painted in vivid oranges and yellows, old cars, some modern art, lighthouses, barns, and much more.
Lately, I have been hearing more and more about schools planning to drop cursive writing from their curriculums. Apparently, many people have moved back to printing—or use a kind of hybrid mix of printing and script—including middle and high school students. They feel that their cursive is "hen scratching," and they can print more clearly. Many feel they keyboard more quickly and clearly and would do better using that method than wasting time learning the "archaic" art of writing.
The Golden Globe nominees have been announced. Hollywood's originality well has seemingly run dry, so it comes as no surprise that several, if not a majority, of the movies are based on books. I don't know about you but I always like to read the book before seeing the movie. I know I'm almost always dissappointed with the results, the books are almost always better, but I just can't help myself. These books also make great book club books. You can all read the same book and then take a field trip to see the movie.
My commitment to stay active in the winter is always challenging, especially when we get as much snow as we have the last couple of years. I try to take a walk every day, no matter what the weather brings. Last year, I found myself trudging through knee deep snow drifts and couldn't go as far or as fast as I was accustomed.
