January brings many new things each year - Sales Tax payment (You're welcome, Governor Janet!), orders for fabric and batting, an appointment to have the Pfaff serviced, planning for what I need to concentrate on making to start the year and the decisions about which shows to participate in this year. I have said I'm going to cut back this year and there are definitely 3 shows from last year that will be dropped. My criteria for dropping shows: how long a drive for how much money earned, how the show is managed, and what sort of audience was attracted. One show I've done for several years won't make the schedule this year because it's just too far for too little return. I hate to drop this but it's in the Spring (not a prime buying season for quilted items) and it's far enough away that I need to leave home before dawn in order to get there with plenty of time to set up and then I have a long drive home at the end of the day. I love the people who manage this one - they are pleasant and helpful and their venue is so easy to access but it's just too long a day. Another 2 shows I'm dropping are local and 2022 was the first year I had done them but just did not yield the results I had expected. (Not enough publicity perhaps as I did not see much.) And the 4th show is again one I have done for several years but a change in location 2 years ago severely affected attendance and it is again too far for a one day show. This year's plans include applying for membership in another craft organization so that I can participate in their shows, including one that is a more manageable drive for me. We'll see if and how that works out for me.
Another January activity has been clearing out obsolete paperwork from my home office and trying to get more organized in that room. I have a nice pile of donations headed to GoodWill after I sort through the fabric scraps in the studio to see what can join the clothes and out of date inventory on that trip. I also have performed a deep clean on the kitchen and some areas of the bedroom.
Fortunately the weather has not provided much in the way of snow to shovel. I had to clear the front walk once with the shovel and last week was able to just sweep the inch or so away. Today we're dealing with the snow/sleet/freezing rain trifecta.
Also have been reading a bit more. Latest book finished (in 1 sitting) was by an acquaintance who was good friend of my dear friend Judy. Sandy details her journey through 2 brain surgeries to remove a non-cancerous tumor and how that journey changed the way she "consumes" health care. Those of us of a certain age were taught that the doctor was always right and we should not question their diagnoses because we do not have the expertise they have. What we all need to remember is that we are the ones living in our bodies and we know better than anyone when something is not right within. If you sense your medical professional is not hearing you find one who does hear you. It's difficult in these days as we often find our first contact with health care to be physician's assistants and nurse practitioners. It does not instill confidence especially when dealing with a serious health issue. And COVID has made this all the more difficult.
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