"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Looking back and looking forward

on this year that is quickly fading away. It has been a year of  discoveries, challenges, and
realizations of how I want to do things in the following New Year.
So here is a glimpse back on 2012..........
In January,
 
I discovered a new gardening method called bag gardening, where one can simply cut open bags of fertilized soil and grow their garden without digging into hard ground. I was mildly successful with this, however, I think I like to garden by tilling the earth or using raised beds better.

In February
I got interested in restoring vintage items...........a chair.............and also my grandfather's old trunk that had recently been handed down to me. This turned out to be a new thing that I love to do.

In March
I started getting an abundance of eggs from my chickens, which led to a great year of selling fresh eggs from my home.
 

In April,
the prairie was full of fragrant wildflowers of every shape and color.
I spent many hours walking and taking it all in.

In May,
I decided to put a use to some of the things I collect. I came up with the idea of using my old light globes as plant containers. It turned out to be a wonderful idea!

Of course, as many of you know, nature captures my attention the most.
In June,
there was an abundance of grasshoppers and large crickets. Even though they are very destructive, I find them whimsical and the most agreeable model for photos.

In July,
I was challenged with where to draw a line when it comes to being friendly with wildlife.
A male racoon decided to take up residence in Sophie's large dog house. He seemed friendly , however, he soon tried to take over every thing. I had to capture this creature and once it was in a cage, he was not as friendly as I had thought. Thankfully, he was relocated and never returned.

In August,
I was able to release two birds, Twitter and Tweet , back into the wild.  I had been tending to them for the past few weeks. They grew to be healthy and strong and flew away. It was a bittersweet moment.

In September,
The cotton fields were filled with colorful blooms from the cotton plants.

In October,
the Zinnia gardens that I planted late on purpose, proved to be a wonderful thing to decide to do. I had beautiful blooms all the way up to November.

In November,
as in each year, it was time to get the greenhouse ready. I placed all of the outside plants into the greenhouse shelves, covered the greenhouse in plastic and got the heater installed, ready for the cold winter days and nights ahead.

In December,
the grounds were covered with a light dusting of the first snow for the season. A beautiful and quiet world......when all of this happens.
Looking forward with this new year just around the corner, I am already faced with new challenges and decisions that will need much prayer and thought upon.
Change is good I have been told so many times............but I like things to be as they are, especially when they work out so well.
I am looking forward to this new year with hope, faith, and determination to make it the best year yet.
How about you?
Are you looking forward to a new year of great possiblities?
What are some of your best moments for this past year?
I would love to hear!
 

17 comments:

Mary Ann said...

I loved this look back at your year, the pictures were so descriptive. I'm going to plant zinnias late this year, too... what a grand idea!

Nancy J said...

What a wonderful year, and yes changes are sometimes hard to make, accept and fit into, and I , maybe you too, am a "peaceful personality" and like to stay put, avoid confrontation, and put off decision making, but the year ahead will see changes here too. I hope you can face whatever 2013 brings with courage, good health, happiness, and,always, friends by your side. Greetings from Jean.

Country Gal said...

I am always looking towards a great year ahead and all the changes and challenges it brings may they be good or bad . Wonderful post and photos . I to love nature and photographing it ! Hope you have a Happy New Year !

Mel said...

Thanks, for sharing your walk thru this last year. What lucky birds, Tweet & Twitter were that you took them in and cared for them, You have a big heart!

My prayer for 2013 would have to be for our country & our leaders, may we find a peaceful solution.

Happy New Year!

Connie said...

You had a busy and productive year. Love the grasshopper picture, although if there were very many of them around, I think I would have been intimidated by them. They are so big! The raccoon would have scared me--they can be nasty at times. I'm looking forward to the new year. Wishing you all the best in 2013! :)

Michaele said...

What a wonderful post. I see I missed the raccoon capture. You and I were doing the same thing last summer : ) These would make good calendar photos.

Sherri Farley said...

You've had a busy productive year. I love your bug and wildlife photos. I plan to accomplish many things in the new year, at least my head is buzzing with lots of ideas! I just retired, so hopefully I can finish some older projects too.

Tami said...

What a wonderful walk down memory lane. I'm new to your blog but I look forward to visting often in 2013. Happy New Year!

Debbie said...

What a good idea, to review your year in pictures. Your idea for planters was certainly a good one. I enjoyed another year of blogging with you and look forward to 2013!
Happy New Year!
Debbie

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

You have had an eventful and interesting year, Kathleen. And what a lot of discoveries you have made along the way. Thank you for sharing your voyage!

CottonLady said...

A wonderful year in review! Such pretty pictures, too!

I, too, have some huge changes coming this year...ah, the life of a farm owner!

I am trying some bag gardening this year with strawberries. Bermuda grass took over my raised beds the two years I was unable to garden at all, so bags on top of the cardboard and weed barrier cloth will be my way to garden this year till the grass is killed. I'm also looking into a greenhouse to help combat this drought. Want to raise as much of my food as possible.

Happy New Year to you and your family. Blessings!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Kathleen, happy new year and thanks for the year in review post. Our year has been a wonderful one with road trips to visit new places and meeting several blogger friends. Thanks for sharing your life online and for visiting our blog and commenting it. We so appreciate your taking the time and read all comments.

magnoliasntea said...

What a fun look back over the year! I really enjoyed your posts in 2012.
Happy New Year!

Diana said...

Stopping by to tell you how much I've enjoyed getting to know you Kathleen. Wish I could drop by for a cup of coffee. Wishing you a Happy and wonderful new year. love to you,Diana

A Colorful World said...

I had missed a few of these posts! It was good to get to see them now. The new year may bring many changes for all of us, but I am praying for God's blessings for us all. Hope your year is filled to overflowing with them!

janice15 said...

I enjoyed looking back with you..it was a wonderful stroll...I hope all of us bloggers have a great new year..and good things to come..with blessings with love Janice Happy New Years...

Paula said...

It was wonderful to look back over your year... I hope and pray 2013 is full of wonderful surprises and blessings for both of us!