Well…long time no posts, I’d say. Time for me to start again. Amazingly 2016 is already almost two weeks old!!! Man, I had a great time. The highlight was of course traveling to Toronto, to see the Walker Boys and we all had a great time together. Did not bring the camera this time so no new pics there. I am using some older images of snowy weather. We have some decent snow here finally.
Anyhue, Universe Sketcher tagged me for the Three Quote Challenge. Now I have done this before but since The Sketcher has such a marvelous blog that spreads so much artistic knowledge and inspiration in the most creative way, I was honored by his request…I am all to happy to oblige and start my blogging year with three quotes that mean a lot me and I hope will inspire you too.
And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
-Rainer Maria Rilke
I love welcoming a New Year, making plans, looking a little critical at last year and on what to improve on. My New Year resolutions will not differ much from last year’s…stay in the here and now, being kind to Mother Earth and her inhabitants, keep on developing creative skills.
Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
-Oprah Winfrey
And I will have to develop some discipline. I have too many projects that are not finished..not my style!!! And I need some discipline in using my sketchbook (love it more and more…) and yes…physical excersise!! Thou shall not stay fit by hiking alone!! Swimming and rowing have been added to keep up strength and general good health. ( and I will do my best not to whine about it ;0))
Everything has been done before…but not by me!
-Octaview.nl
I know, I know, I have said so many time before: but this is my absolute life’s motto, applicable to all areas of life and it gives me great joy and motivation every time I think about this!
As always when I am challenged…I do not tag other bloggers but I would LOVE to see some volunteers!!
Love and Liefs, Johanna
Ps Ik was een tijd weg maar nu weer terug hoor. T hoogtepunt van mijn afwezigheid was natuurlijk t bezoek aan de Walker Boys in Toronto. Nu weer aan slag vol nieuwe plannen en goede voornemens: ik begroet elk Nieuw Jaar altijd met veel enthousiasme! (Ik ben wel verbaasd dat t al bijna 2 weken oud is…) Mijn voornemens zijn eigenlijk altijd t zelfde maar dit jaar voeg ik wat meer discipline en lichamelijke beweging er aan toe…en ik zal mijn best doen er niet over te mopperen;0)
Als je een interessante blog aan je lijst wil toevoegen…kijk naar eens Universe Sketcher! 
So wonderful to see your post finally. I’ve had you on my mind. Love the tea cups and corner sketch. Cheers to another peaceful creative year !
Thanks you MOna and cheers to you too!!!
Beautiful photos!
I wish I could motivate myself this new year. At least I’ve started knitting again, now I have to get to the loom! And I’ve put new batteries in my camera so that, too, is a start.
Happy New Year and thanks for a lovely blog.
You are welcome…and you know what, you started knitting again so just go from there;o) 2016 still has a long way to go! xo Johanna
Glad you’re back to posting after a lovely holiday. Happy new year. I like your quotes and your plans for the new year. They seem a variation of mine! I look forward to more lovely drawings and photos and reflections and stories from you this year!
Thank you Lisa!!
Beautiful images and inspiring poems Johanna. On with a new and creative year!
Cheers to that!
What a lovely post to start the new year Johanna! So nice to see your lovely illustrations again too. Have a wonderful year!
You too Pauline, cheers!
Oh, what a wonderful post and what beautiful pictures. Very inspiring! So glad you’re back. And as Sharon noted above, on with a creative year. (That could be my motto!)
I am sure it will…your blog always shows it! Cheers, xo Johanna
Thanks so much, Johanna! Without creativity, life would be pretty bleak.
Mom and I LOVE those uplifting, positive quotes, J., and we always look forwa d to seeing more and more of your artwork. But of course, my favorite part of the post is the gorgeous snowy-nosed Charley. xoxo
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Do you like snow Cupcake?? Charley does and she always manages to have a little snow on her nose…I wonder why it does not hurt her? She must have a very warm nose..and thank you for tyour kind compliments .xo JOhanna
I do like snow, J., but NOT when it touches my belly. If it gets that deep, Mom has to shovel a clear patch for me to go out, and she has to carry me! Snow on the belly is OFF LIMITS!
You know what: Charley does not mind but I do not like my belly in the snow either;o) stay warm little girl! (And mom too)
A wonderful family holiday, lovely photos, AND the best selfie ever! I always like your art work, but I LOVE this one – perfect. 🙂
Thnak you Judy!!!
Wonderful “come-back” post dear Johanna!Lovely photos,quotes and sketches too!I’ve just come back and try hard to put everything in order … My inbox a real nightmare …
Happy,Healthy and Prosperous New Year my friend 🙂 Hugs to Charley >3 xxx
I know…coming back and indeed where to start. Do not get overwhelmed dear Doda, you worth waiting for! xo Johanna
So refreshing post! Lovely, thank you!💖
Thnak for your kind and lovely comment! Wishing you a great day, Joahnna
So very nice!
Thnak you, I am happy you enjoyed my post!
Missed you! Welcome back – looks like a lovely start to 2016.
Thank you! I have indeed a good feeling about the coming year ;o) xo Johanna
I really like your illustration and the photos of you and Charley.
Thank you Joanna!
Beautiful photos and lovely sketches. I am so pleased you have been enjoying yourself with your boys in Toronto. Great quotes! Here’s to a successful and contented year Johanna! Clare xx
Thank you Clare, and Cheers to you too! xo Johanna
🙂
A wonderful way to begin the year, with sketches and photos and quotes from you. I’ve been away from home for more than a week. I almost feel like when I get home, I get to begin again! 🙂 Happy New Year, Johanna. I wish you the very best.
Thank you melanie, that makes me very happy. Cheers to 2016 indeed! xo Johanna
I love a creative new year. After reading your post Johanna, I’m more than ready to jump in, yippee!
I look forward to catch up on your blog!!! Thanks Cathe, xo Johanna
Glad to have you back, Johanna. You’ve been missed. Glad you had a great time..:)
Thank you George, happy to see you again too! cheers, Johanna
Your wonderfully thoughtful resolutions put mine to shame 🙂 My motivational words for the new year are “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears” ~ Nelson Mandela. Charley’s snowy nose is a delight 🙂 x
Ha, nonsense…you work so hard you do not need new years resolutions apart from the wise words from Nelson Mandela!!! xo Johanna
You’re back–yay! Happy New Year and it sounds like you have all your goals firmly in place–they are fine goals, indeed. I look forward to the sketches–I wish I would do this, too– and more photos–that one of the yellow bird is spectacular! My cats were very pleased to see that you included one of their tribe in your drawing . . .
Indeed I keep that drawing away from Charley…she would be insulted and pouting endlessly;o) The yellow bird photo I took years ago in Canada but I love it too..it posed so nicely for me and than with those red berries, so lucky there! Thank you dear Kerry, xo Johanna
Beautiful post and nice to see you back Johanna! Your photos are really stellar. Glad you’re enjoying your sketchbook!
Thank you Laura!
Beautiful pics and lovely New Year quotes. It’s just turned cold here, so hopefully we’ll finally get some snow. Mind it will probably bring the whole country to a standstill if we do!
We lived in Canada for 7 years and only with the most severe blizzards, thing came to a still stand. here in Cincinnati it the same as England and The Netherlands…Apocalyps with two inches of snow ;o) But thnak you for your kind words, xo Johanna
Apparently the excuse is we don’t have snow often enough. Mind we have our first snow this morning – two inches!
Hi Johanna,
I’m glad you had a great end-of-the-year time, and i wish you all the best for 2016. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your wonderful sketches and pictures.
Take care,
pit
Thanks Pit and cheers and good wishes to you too!
What a wonderful post Johanna! I love the quotes, especially the last one-what a perfect reminder for anyone engaged in any kind of creative pursuit-or life pursuit for that matter!And Miss Charley looks beautiful as always!
I love that quote, it is so simple but so to the point. I am happy you loved it too! With a kind nudge from Charley too! xo Johanna
Beautiful photographs. Nice to see you back!
Thanks Maylou!
Welcome back, J. I’m glad you had a nice visit with the Walker boys and time in Toronto to play.
I enjoyed all three quotes. I think they fit you beautifully, too. Your photos continue to stun. The one of you with Charlie continues to be one of my favorites. Happy New Year.
Thank you Alys! Cheers to you too!!
Thank you!
Hello Johanna! Really enjoyed the quotes, such great thoughts as we strive though the first month of the year. I love the photographs – the bird above the snowy red berries is absolutely stunning!! Great to see your sketching. Take care! 🙂
Thnak you so much for all your kind words and it makes me very happy you loved the quotes so much! xo Johanna
‘Everything’s been done before but not by me.’ I can’t count the number of times I’ve found myself thinking that.
Great post. 🙂
Thank you Carol, and lovely to meet you. Your blog is absolute bliss and I look forward to see more! I am happy you enjoyed this post. Cheers, Johanna
Aw, thank you, that’s wonderful to hear.
Good to read about your life again! May the new year welcome you with a friendly face! And much color:)
Thank you Sabine that is lovely! Wishing you an excellent 2016 with nothing but goodness too! xo Johanna
Happy new year Johanna. Inspiring quotes, and beautiful photographs. I’m glad you were together with your boys over the holidays. 🙂
It was bliss indeed and no snow during our traveling which I thought was very kind of Mother Nature;0) Thnak you, Anne, stay warm xo Johanna
Loved the photo with the warm glow of a cabin light. Welcome home, Johanna. :O)
Thank you Paul!!!
;o)
Such beautiful photos. Always love the ones with Charley! So glad you had a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year! Love your quotes! Missed ya! Oh, wait, I was gone, too! 😉
I hope you enjoyed your holidays in your new home…cannot wait to see the photos! xo Joahnna
Johanna, your photos are wonderful, and that drawing is lovely! I’m so glad to hear that you’ve welcomed in the new year with contentment.
Thnak you Laurie and I sure hope your year will be filled with contentment too! xo Johanna
Good to hear from you and best wishes on carrying out your intentions. They sound like great goals.
Beautiful images. I love the bird one, and your dog.
Hi Polly, thank you for your kind compliments and your visit! I visited your blog and it is a delightful place…can I subscribe by email I wonder. I saw only the option of google+, cheers Johanna
Happy New Year Johanna. Enjoyed your post. I look forward to more in 2016.
Thanks Carol ! and you too..xo Johanna
Amazing photos. Good luck this year! 🙂
Thank you!!
My favourite quote is probably the third one. It is very encouraging. Glad you had such a lovely time with the Walker boys. 🙂
What a lovely post. Great quotes and I absolutely love your photos. And of course your illustration.
🙂
Such fantastic photos and artwork, as always, Johanna – and your “new years” quotes are perfectly apt!
I hear you on the “discipline” front, especially creatively…I am sitting in piles of works in progress right now and it feels a little overwhelming. 😉 Tackling them is my goal for the next two months…I’ve promised myself I won’t start anything new until these things get done, lol!
Have a wonderful weekend! Do you still have snow there, or has it all melted?
Good luck Sheryl!! It is a hard feeling when you are overwhelmed like that but what a relief it will bring when you sorted it out…go for it!!!
We had some lovely spring days but are covered in snow again…nice too ;0)
have a great weekend, xo Johanna