Almost the end of another year. The pictures I have chosen for my calendar are not necessarily the best photos I have taken but those that evoke a memory of a time or a place. I have spent many more hours out of doors this year - gardening, walking - watching the seasons turn and revelling in each and every one. Time is precious and I don't feel I have wasted it but observed and participated and enjoyed living life to the full.
Over the year I have posted hundreds of photos and have taken hundreds more; my camera seems permanently glued to my hand these days. I have also kept a daily diary which has been useful when my memory has let me down. There has been a constant struggle to find time to spend on the computer reading blogs and leaving comments, but I felt I needed to change my priorities so I set myself a challenge at the beginning of 2016 - to get out and about more exploring; to read at least forty books during the year ( my book list on Goodreads tells me that I have in fact read fifty nine); and to spend less time staring at a screen.
I have spent a lot of time in the garden too - attempting to simplify so that I can handle it more easily as I get older and less able to do a lot of heavy work. It has never been in such good shape and I am pleased with the results, not perhaps the garden of my dreams, but pleasant enough to be in and enjoy.
The only downside to the year was 'the flood'. That took two months out of my life - such upheaval and stress, upset and inconvenience - but we survived to tell the tale, and now, you would never know it had happened.
So, that's it - the year in a nutshell.
WISHING YOU ALL
A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
A big thank you to everyone who has visited me here over the past year
your comments always brighten my day.
your comments always brighten my day.
Elaine
A nice post and lovely pictures. Reading books and plotting come ahead on sitting in front of a PC for me as well. Like you I'm working on making working on the plot easier.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and to you too. You're welcome. It's always a pleasure to read your posts, enjoy the pictures and comment. Flighty xx
Hope you have a peaceful Christmas Flighty - thanks for all your encouragement over the past year.
DeleteMerry Christmas and happy new year to you too. My camera is also a constant companion.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue - I would be lost without my camera that's for sure.
DeleteWhat a perfect year Elaine (except the flood) and I just love that you met your goals. Sometimes I feel like I'm a slug, but am going to take a page from your book and set some goals for the new year. Best of holidays for you too Elaine.
ReplyDeleteI call them goals rather than resolutions then I don't feel as if I am forced to keep them - as it is it was no problem achieving the goals I set myself because they were so enjoyable.
DeleteDear Elaine the pictures you chose for your 2016 calendar couldn't have been any lovelier. What a great way to have tracked your year. I am going to take a tip from you and keep my camera closer at hand. Life does rush by and it is such a delight to have a record of each month. I so enjoy all my visits to your home and garden. Thank you for each delightful post. May you and yours have the merriest of Christmas and the best new year. Hugs
ReplyDeleteIt took forever to go through all my photos to find the favourites but it was a labour of love. I look forward to meeting up with you again in the new year. Best wishes.
DeleteA Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, Elaine!
ReplyDeleteThe calendar is beautiful - a rose in April astonishing, but as a (former) gardener I instantly believe you.
As to comments: yes, that takes a lot of time - thinking about them, reading the post before - and sometimes I think: it devours time. But then again I love comments back - and on my blog too - it gives me the impression that one comes really to know bloggers a bit more and being in a conversation. Some more tea, dear?
I really must try to organize my time better next year so that I can fit in more visits to blogging friends.
DeleteA lovely calendar Elaine. Best wished for 2017. Shall we keep blogging? I wouldn't know you otherwise :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Freda - yes, we will keep on blogging because of all the lovely people we come across who broaden our horizons.
DeleteA beautiful month by month review of your most meaningful photographs. A good idea to keep a diary too!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a simply lovely Christmas and renewed energy and enthusiasm for the New Year!
Thank you Sandra - my memory is so bad these days that without my ongoing diary I wouldn't be able to recall what happened 5 minutes ago :) Hope your Christmas and New Year is all that you wish for.
DeleteHappy Christmas Elaine. I like the goals you set yourself. (My favourite photo here is May - woodland and bluebells.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue - I wonder what my goals will be for next year. I remember the day we went to the woods and unexpectedly found the bluebells - it was a joy.
DeleteI never used my camera so much as during the years I am blogging now and I really love it. You made a lovely post about 2016 accompanied by your best memory photos.
ReplyDeleteWish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2017!
It is a good way to keep a record of everything isn't it - and when you look back on the photos you remember just how lovely the garden looked or even the parts that didn't look quite so good. Wishing you a happy and floriferous gardening year for 2017.
DeleteWonderful photos as always. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan - the same to you.
DeleteOne of my things to be thankful for this year is finding your blog. Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.
ReplyDeleteHello Lisa - thanks for stopping by for a visit. All the best to you for Christmas and the New Year.
DeleteMore walks and books, a simpler happier garden - definitely, me too!
ReplyDeleteThis year has been memorable in more ways than one. I hope to be even more adventurous next year - join me :)
DeleteThankyou Elaine for giving us a peek into your life. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy 2017.
ReplyDeleteThank you Judy - it was hard to condense the year down to a few paragraphs but it gave a glimpse of how I spend my time. Best wishes to you for next year.
DeleteHappy Christmas Elaine - lovely photos from your year 2016 - I am so pleased that you have been able to put the flood behind you and moved onwards.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rosemary. At the time you think you'll will never get over a disaster, but of course you do - we are made of stern stuff.
DeleteTaking a break while the apple pie cools to enjoy your photos. And thank you for your reading list; I think book lists are almost as good as receiving a book for a gift. Now which shall I open first?
ReplyDeleteI hope you find something to your liking from my list - as I do from yours.
DeleteI love your Snowdrops and Bluebells. I miss them over here.
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to seeing them - highlights of the year for me.
DeleteLovely shot of Wells in September Elaine. I can see in my mind exactly where you stood. Thank you for a year of blog posts, and your comments for me too. Happy Christmas and New Year and I look forward to seeing what you havecto say next year.xx
ReplyDeleteI love the quayside in Wells even when it is full of people, that shot was taken early morning before anyone was about. Glad you have enjoyed reading my posts - as I have yours. See you in the new year when we will share more of our adventures.
DeleteCongratulations on reading 59 books throughout the year. And the calendar is lovely with the geranium and its spiders web being my favourite.
ReplyDeleteThank you Elaine for another year of entertaining posts and wonderful photographs.
Merry Christmas.
Ms Soup
I didn't realise I had read so many or how I found time to read so many - I put it down to long soaks in the bath with a book and a cup of coffee every morning - decadence :) Thank you for your visits and comments - always appreciated.
DeleteBeautiful photos as always. Many Christmas blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah. Wishing you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
DeleteYou have chosen some wonderful photos for your calendar. October's is stunning! Happy Christmas:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosie. I remember taking that photo, not quite believing what I was seeing with the trees floating in the mist. It was a great autumn wasn't it.
DeleteYour pictures tell the tale of your year beautifully Elaine. Sounds to me like you have your priorities straight. I would like to get outside for more long walks in 2017. 59 books is an amazing tally. I'd also like to find more time for reading in the new year. I watch too much television in the evenings. Happy holidays! All the best in the new year!
ReplyDeleteHello Jennifer - nice to see you. It was a challenge to go through a years worth of pictures. Next year I shall put my favourites in a file as I go along then it won't be such a chore. I have the ability to read and watch television at the same time - my husband doesn't understand how I do it - I tell him women are good at multi-tasking :) Hope the new year is kind to you. Have a jolly holly Christmas.
DeleteWhat a marvelous set of photos! I enjoyed them all. I'm so glad all is now well and your home is restored. Have a marvelous Christmas.xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Snowbird - hope you have a wonderful time too.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Elaine. What a heart warming calendar despite the wet feet at the beginning of the year. Everything passes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lucille. Merry Christmas to you too. Wet feet aside, it was a good year.
DeleteHappy Christmas Elaine from across the pond...
ReplyDeleteSusan x
Susan - hello, I've missed you - happy Christmas to you too.
DeleteDear Elaine, Your images always delight me and it was lovely to see your favourite ones again. I too share the issue of taking too many pictures and sometimes struggling to get around to visit other blogs. I am glad you have managed to achieve your goals, despite that dreadful flood. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah. Oh the blogging thing is a perennial problem for me too - somehow we manage to keep going though. Hope you had a good Christmas - and wishing all the best for 2017.
DeleteAnd now, Happy New Year. What will be in store for us this time? Lots of good blog posts, I hope.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good Christmas Ann and that all your preparation worked out well. Happy new year to you.
DeleteElaine, these are beautiful photographs! Well done for achieving so much last year and for dealing with the awful flood. Wishing you health and happiness in 2017. Don't go anywhere without your camera - I love your photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sarah.
DeleteMissing your posts, Elaine; I hope all is well with you and yours.
ReplyDeleteGiven that I haven't posted all my Christmas presents yet I hope it's not too late to wish you a Happy New Year! (The photos are fantastic I think I like the poppies and the mist ones best.)
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with you Elaine - I have missed you♡
ReplyDelete- Almost the end of another year. The pictures I have chosen for my calendar are not necessarily the best photos I have taken but those that ...
ReplyDeleteหนังออนไลน์