Welcoming a new year, with resolve

I admit, I'm a bit superstitious about New Year's day. I like to start the year in such a way that each following day builds on the first. And yes, I believe in making resolutions. Really, without setting a goal, how do we measure our progress?

So here's what I'm resolving to attempt this year.

I resolve to treasure my friends, to reach out to them more frequently, to let them know how much they mean to me, to treat our friendship as if it were the most precious gift I've been given. Indeed.

I resolve to do at least one thing every day just because it makes me happy. Sounds easy? We'll see.

I resolve to write something that I want to write. (And to continue to write those things that others are willing to pay me to write.)

And I resolve to send out positive energy into the universe.

I know, I probably should be making resolutions that involve exercise and losing weight and making money, but those just aren't striking any chords with me right now. So I'll stick with these and see how it goes.

Lessons from a cookie

My mission this past weekend was to bake as many gluten-free dishes and treats as possible. We had three guests who required gluten-free cooking, and all in all, I think it went pretty well.

Until that second batch of peanut butter cookies. Two lessons learned:

First, Jif chunky peanut butter has way more oil in it than Skippy Super Chunk. The extra oil make the cookies spread, looking less appealing. Unless, of course, you're a dog, which leads us to...

Second, if peanut butter cookies are cooling on a wire rack on the butcher block, Lucy will, in fact, find a way to get said rack onto the floor. I don't know how she managed it, but she pulled the cookies onto the floor. She was at least kind enough to share them with Izzy. So we had two dogs with upset tummies. And no cookies for our guests.

All duly noted.