With the last day of days upon us and the end of the calendar year here as well I thought I would make a list of things that were important to me this year.  Then I thought I would post them with photos.

1. Daughter Caitlyn graduated from Springfield College with her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

2.  Helped my father transition into assisted living.

3.  Took over the care and feeding of Fort Pelham Farm.

4.  Learned to hook rugs.

5.  Learned to weave.

6.  Gardened and canned in competition with sister Sue.

7.  Loved my dogs.

8.  Watched loons in a sunset on Lake Winnipesaukee.

9.  Began blogging more about the past and present.

10. Got a little more serious about eating local food.  If I didn’t grow it much of it came from local farms.

The year has been a stressful one but out of that stress good things have come. I have learned a lot of things this year.

I’ve made an effort to learn new crafts and along the way I have met some truly amazing people.  Pottery was not mentioned in the list but I have to say that class taught me one thing I really needed to know.  I am not a potter, I will never be a potter, move on.  I spent great time with my sister this year including the aforementioned pottery class.  I laughed a lot.  I found out that there are a lot of crafts I know how to do but there are many things that I should stay away from.  Textiles are good for me, so is woodworking (your very basic kind).  Anything that you can measure and keep square works.  Pottery is so . . . uncontrolled.

I have learned that life is too short to have the past get in the way of renewing old friendships.  I have been reminded about this over and over and over again.  What’s done is done, move on.

I’ve learned that digging in the dirt will clear your head faster than anything else I can think of, plus you end up with something good to eat.

Sometimes you just have to ignore all of the noise.  Rowe is the best place in the world for that.  No cell service.  We do have wifi and currently tv but I think after the first of the year the tv will go.  There are always the DVDs.

The next 11 days will be spent disconnected from work, internet, the outside world.  What I’m really afraid of is not wanting to come back.