NEW FOR THE NEW YEAR PEN, SMOCK, OUTLOOK

There is something so good about starting a new year. Look outside and you can't see much change in the landscape unless there happens to be a snow covering the ground. However, there are infinitesimal changes which you probably haven't noticed, being so busy with the holidays.

The days seem suddenly longer. They've been getting that way since about the 21st of December. But who had time to notice? My sunrise is two pine trees north since I took time to notice the exact spot, and the sun goes down in a tangle of Mt. Auburn trees it hasn't touched since this time last year. I love it when it goes down in this particular spot. It reminds me of Moses' burning bush and I listen intently for any inner voice that may be speaking to me.

The birds come in greater numbers to the feeding stations. This is probably not due to a new year but colder weather. In addition to the bought seeds for them, I take out every edible left-over crumb from my table, every left-over kernel of un-popped popcorn and apple cores. Even the seeds out of the acorn squashes, which I cook from time to time, go on the trays that protrude from the feeders. Should I happen to burn a pot of dried beans (which I manage to do about twice a year), the birds are delighted. They seem to flap their wings in appreciation when I serve them burnt Great Northerns or Pintos.

A new notebook, which is always a must gift to myself, is a joy to open. I riffle through the blank pages and wonder what words it and others will hold this year. Noting that the notebook I chose to start with had 200 sheets of 8 1/2 x 10 inches, narrow ruled, I stopped to do a little calculation. Counting the words I've put on a page at random of a used notebook there were 210; 210 times 200 is 42,000 words. Since I write on both sides that is 84,000 words a year. Good night! More than my spoken words, I imagine. Some days I go all day with but one spoken word, "Hello," only to have someone slam down a receiver, indicating a wrong number.

I start out each year with a new smock too, a gift I make for myself. Not that the old one's worn out, it is just that I think I need a change of I started to say venue, but since I'll be right here, I should said, just for a change of view for those who unexpectedly drop in to find me sweeping, mopping, dusting, making up bed, scrubbing bathroom fixtures, picking up papers, polishing silver, washing curtains, typing, cleaning off the stairs, watering plants, picking up ravelings, kneading dough, sharpening the butcher knife no wonder I have so many written words! See, I tend to pad everything. I'd more than likely be sitting in a rocking chair near a window re-reading Nicholas Nicklebey, or, later on in the season, sitting in the porch swing marveling at the great wonderful exciting outdoors.

Back to the smock. It's hard to buy one. They aren't readily found any more. Besides it wouldn't have the hand crocheted trimming which I rip off the old one and add to the new one, unless I want to have a whole new look. In that case I just add new crochet. I mean new old crochet because I've been saving crocheted work for years. I'm afraid it will go out of style some day, like smocks.

I buy the most colorful print I can find great pink cabbage roses on black perhaps, or huge red poppies on green. I want the little black spiders that haunt the baseboard corners to see me coming and run for their lives.

My smocks have two big pockets for pens, pencils, handkerchief, picked up ravelings, little scissors, letters anything that I come in contact with during the day and don't take time to put away even screwdrivers and spools of thread can be found in the pockets. I remind myself of our old mail carrier who delivered mail on R.F.D. 2 Elvins, Mo. by horseback with saddlebags bulging on each side.

Another good thing about starting the new year is to look high on the maple trees to see, already, the red leaf-blossoms etching messages against the blue sky which, in your mind, you may make read anything, such as "It'll be the best year ever," or "Don't miss a thing," or even, "It's '93, let's be!"

REJOICE!