It's a new year!

My brand-new, yet to be stained with coffee, daily calendar sits on my desk, teasing me with all those empty pages to be filled. There is the promise of a new slate, a chance to do things this year that I wish I'd done in 2011 -- or not to do some of the things I did last year.
As far as I'm concerned, a clean slate is all January has to offer. Yes, I am a warm-weather person. I'll take the August heat over January cold anytime; even curled under my electric blanket with the dog cuddled against me I long for summer to appear.
So far, the winter here in northeastern Kentucky has been more like an extended fall. Snow flurried past my office window earlier today, but dissipated about as soon as it fell.

That's me, bundled for winter, with my beauty queen grandgirl, Celeste.

 

My idea of a perfect winter evening is a long, hot bath with lots of bubbles, then sliding on my thick, fleecy jammies and slippers. Wrapped in my favorite robe, I head to the kitchen to make a cup of hot chocolate, then tune the TV to a favorite show –"House," perhaps, or "Criminal Minds."
My idea of a terrible winter evening?
Wrapping myself in a dozen layers, grabbing the shovel and clearing off the sidewalk and driveway as I grumble about how much I hate winter. When I finally get done and go back in the house, the routine's pretty much the same – except the bath is to ward off frostbite, the hot chocolate is simply to warm my innards and TV shows always seem to feature cold climates on those nights.
So how about you? Love winter or hate it? I'd love to know!

P.S. Need a good read for when you're trapped inside? Check out "Double Dog Dare" by Jennifer Johnson, new from Turquoise Morning Press.