And so it begins

Started this scrappy trip around the world quilt a few days ago due to an impromptu and impossible to resist quilt along started over on Instagram.  Search #scrappytripalong to see the photos of lots of others making one too.  I'm oldredbarnco if you care to find me on Instagram.

As the earliest morning light streamed through the corners of the shades this morning, I began writing this post in my mind.  Wanting to sum up the holidays and describe my feelings of a brand new January. 

Humans are brilliant for establishing calenders but even more so for holidays and traditions.  For it is the guaranteed passing of days in anticipation of holidays and associated traditions that makes memories.

No photo captures the warm fuzzy feelings that bubble out of me as my family sits around the kitchen table playing cards.  Or the spontaneous jam session of voices, hands, tapping feet and clinking glasses as we listen to a jug band Christmas station on Pandora.  I couldn't capture with a lens the swell of love I feel for my mother as I watch her roll sheet after sheet of cookie dough out for my girls to decorate with sprinkles.  Or the sigh of reluctant acceptance of a rainy, rainy December causing more muddy dog feet wiping than hot tub soaking.

More strips cut for more scrappy trip around the world blocks.

The kids go back to school tomorrow and my gym card will be swiped for the first time in three weeks.  I will come home to an empty house and take comfort in the fresh deposit to my memory bank.

And attempt to vacuum up the last sparkle of holiday glitter.  My how that stuff has a way of avoiding a broom, mop or vacuum.

-dana