2018

“Beginnings and endings are so very sacred, to give honor to all that has transpired, every experience, every joy, every pain, is a doorway to the magical. Hold your entire year between your hands, every day, every thought, every breath. Now bless it with gratitude, love and humility. You have done more to transform this year than a thousand resolutions.” 

- K. Allen Kay

Another year in the books. Looking back through blog posts and pictures I see that, despite the craziness that has been unleashed in the world, I have been anchored to a lot of love and beauty.

In February I visited dear friends in Florida, a warm, sunny break from winter’s cold.


I managed to get out shoesnowing a couple of times and enjoy the magical colors of glistening snow.


We showed some much needed love to our house by having it resided and some windows replaced.

I spent an splendid week in Chicago where I got to meet two amazing blogging friends and soak in the delights that are the Windy City.

Martha and I spent much of the summer rebuilding a room at our cabin but also relaxed for a week while my sister and brother in law visited.

I saved a chipmunk from drowning.


I did a wee bit of hiking in the mountains which awakened me to just how much my knees have deteriorated. This year has been a year of reconciling my new limited physical abilities. It has not been an easy adjustment for me.

My youngest daughter got engaged in July giving us a new son and wedding planning became the new conversation.

We shared a family beach vacation in Rhode Island and all joined up in NYC for a Yankees game.

Beaner and I travelled to Greece and made unforgettable memories together. I can still close my eyes and see those extraordinary Santorini sunsets.

I learned how to make macarons and helped rescue 6 kittens.

Beaner gifted Martha and I with a trip to New York City for a really cool Mickey Mouse exhibit, viewed some of the special holiday windows and had an incredible meal at a hole in the wall Italian restaurant.

And the final icing on the 2018 cake was my oldest daughter getting engaged and her fiance surprising her with a dinner that included both families and many of my bonus daughters - her friends from childhood and college, some of whom made long journeys to attend.



While that list is certainly more than enough to say it was a very, very good year. I am especially grateful that I have had the health and resources to work and travel and relax. But what strikes me most when flipping through these highlights is that whether they were experiencing wonders around the world or just sitting in an adirondack chair by a tiny mountain lake, they were all shared with people I love. And what could be better than that?


I wish you all many blessings in the coming year and for people you love to share them with.