Welcome 2014!

A new year is like a fresh beginning.

A time to put the past behind you and start fresh.

I find myself a little superstitious at the years end.

I always make sure to pay all the bills before the year ends, and make sure everything starts fresh - this includes laundry, dishes and cleaning. I spent the first few days of January doing just that.

Washing away traces of 2013.

And I faced a fear I had.

 I was a very good skater in my younger years, but have only skated a few times a year since having kids. I always figured it was like riding a bike and it was something you never forgot how to do.

But last year, while skating with Little Country Girl, I fell and hit my head on the ice, requiring a trip to the ER and 5 staples to close the wound. She was traumatized by the ordeal and told me I wasn't allowed to skate any more unless we were at an arena.

 I really was not OK with that, but Mother Nature didn't build us a skating rink on the lawn this year the way she usually did. Maybe that was a sign? Looking at my old skates this fall I noticed that the stitches were coming out of the boot, the blades were loose and they were too tight.  I bought these long before I had kids, probably purchased 25 years ago, so I decided it was time for a pair of new skates.

Little Country Girl and I took advantage of a free skate at our arena last week.

She almost looked as nervous as I was when I stepped onto the ice with those new skates on.

I felt a little shaky at first - these felt so different than my old skates!

After a few laps, things were looking good... no falls, and I was getting my skating legs back.

I had forgotten that new skates needed 'breaking in' and my feet were sore after an hour.

But Little Country Girl was OK with that, she said her feet hurt too.

(She skates 3 days a week - I know her feet didn't hurt)

I've been wearing my skates around the house hoping to break them in a little quicker.

Now that I faced my fear of skating, I really want to go skating again.

Weatherman calls for a mild and rainy weekend, followed by a cold spell.

Maybe Mother Nature will give us a skating rink after all?