Fast Away The Old Year Passes

 As another year draws to a close it seems a good time to look back at the year that was.

It seems January always finds me ready to scale back, pare down and embrace simplicity.  At this time of year I welcome the slower pace and use my time to clean and declutter my surroundings.  A new houseplant often makes it's way into the house.  Something to tend to until outdoor gardening season begins.

 

February brought a beautiful snowfall.

This is rather rare here so we grabbed the camera, donned our boots and went out for a walk.  So glad we captured it in photos as it was our last one since.

 March found me attending a gardening seminar.

This always makes me anxious for the gardening season.

Because it was still a bit early for that I enjoyed clipping a few early bloomers and recreating an arrangement I had seen at the seminar.

It made a cheery centerpiece on our Easter buffet table.

 With April came the blooming of the dogwoods.

What we lack in snowfall we make up for in a long beautiful unfolding of the spring flowers.  Springtime in the south makes you happy to be alive :).

After the procession of spring blooms, May brings something new every day.  A few that popped up in my yard... clematis, peony, that red and white flower (which I forget the name of :) and the purple and yellow iris.  Time to don the gardening hat and gloves and get it in gear before the heat and humidity arrive.

June... Swoon.

My first grandbaby.

I was privileged to be present as he arrived into the world.

What a beautiful miracle.

Oh how I love this precious child.

 

 

 Hard to tell by this picture, but our summer was basically a rain out.

We never even got to use the boat.  Although we tried once and the boat didn't cooperate.

On the rare occasions that it wasn't raining, the butterflies came out to play.  I never tire of their graceful beauty.  Thank you God for butterflies.  They add so much to our earth.

 By August we were picking tomatoes.

The rain gave us a profusion of cherry tomatoes.

They responded favorably to all of our rain.

Oh yes, August also brought a broken toe.  Ha!

Sorry for the photo.  Just documenting for my own sake here.

 Our nephew's wedding in Seattle gave us a wonderful opportunity to visit a part of the country we'd never been to.

Since we were so close we welcomed the chance to also visit Vancouver and Vancouver Island, BC.

That was September and it was a September to Remember.

 October and I loved spending time getting to know my little guy.

November

If I wasn't outside enjoying the beauty of the changing seasons, the kitchen beckoned.  Pumpkin bread and apple pie were just the thing to warm up the kitchen and send sweet and spicy scents wafting through the air.

I guess it will come as no surprise that the yearly wrap up would bring me back to him.

Middle age can at times make me feel... well... old.

Too many years without the happy sounds of young children in the house can be... well... a tad lonely (at least to me).

Amazing the joy one tiny little person can bring to a home.

Thank you God for babies to love.

Please guide me in my duties as a grandmother.

May he always know the love we have for him.

Amen.

 

And now, my friends, a new year awaits us.

It is my sincere wish that yours will be a happy one.

It can't be said too often how much I have been inspired by you as we walk together on this blogging journey.

Everything from household tips, new recipes, gardening ideas to wonderful ideas for creating memorable moments with friends and family.  That sentence leaves something to be desired in the grammatically correct department.  Ha Ha.  All that to say we never know what little thing we share that speaks to another out here in blogland.  

I'm looking forward to a fresh new year.

Who knows what will happen by this time next year, but how comforting to know that we are all here sharing and supporting one another through thick and thin.