Welcome to 2019

The year started out fine, and January had it all with blood moons and few haikus thrown in for good measure.  I joined a creative writing challenge and got honest with myself digging around in a Sandbox.

Dean and I had been in our new home for a year – Wow! – and I discovered that a broken arm wasn’t enough to slow me down, though it did mean no work for a while.

I agonised while teaching my left hand how to do things, including writing, and yet also discovered I could type one handed, albeit very slowly.

I didn’t share any gardening photos taken during March while I struggled with my broken arm.  I struggled with many ordinary mundane tasks and yet, I did manage to win a Toastmasters speech contest – plaster and all – and went on to represent my division on the district stage.

I went on to win that contest on the District stage with a speech about making spaghetti.  I was thrilled and honoured to have done so, and so proud to have represented my club.

By this stage, my arm was out of plaster, yet still in a brace, as the bone had not finished healing.  It would take another three weeks for that to happen.

Finally, I got back to do what I enjoy most, my garden and taking photos of the flowers that I tend to grow sometimes.

April through May was a particularly good time for my Black Bat Plant and the flowers it produced and I shared their progressive photos.  I also made myself pancakes, met a fellow blogger and went Stargazing Brian, Julia and Dr Karl.

I was really quiet in June – life happened.  I was busy tending my garden through the cooler weather and disappointed that most of my zygocactus had reverted to their primary pink colour.

With blankets, a thermos of coffee, and camera at the ready, Dean and I sat and enjoyed a spectacular lunar eclipse that was the result of three celestial events that almost converged.

Oh and I attained my Distinguished Toastmasters Award (that actually happened late June), caught a bee, witnessed magnificent Mars and wrote about the best movie experience ever.

Once again, blogging took a back seat, but this time it was due to my decision to change the look of my blog.

It was time-consuming selecting the right theme, testing the pages, posts and other content, and ensuring it still fit my personality.  I like the choice I made and with little else to do, I then prepared for September and a photo challenge that called for a photo a day if you so chose, and I did, sharing all the ‘pink’ flowers in my garden.

Joining Becky’s ‘In the Pink’ Square in September photo challenge was one of the best things I did all year.  It kept me on my toes, sharing photos of the pink flowers and plants in my garden and researching details regarding exactly what they are.

I loved this challenge and decided I would join in the fun again some time.  That would happen much sooner than I initially thought.

After a photo a day for September, I stepped back and barely posted once a week throughout October.

But that’s ok because work picked up and Dean and I were out and about (slaving away) most days, arriving home exhausted, and blogging simply wasn’t a priority.

I was a little busier than in October and stepped towards what I also love doing here on my blog – writing stories – ok, telling stories.

I shared my recipe for Spaghetti and the associated backstory, wrote about my notes on everything, and then prepared for December and My Christmas Time Square in conjunction with Becky’s ‘Time’ Square in December photo challenge.  This was exciting.

The last month of the year finally arrived, though at times it does arrive all too soon, and my Christmas Time Square commenced with a photo and/or a story each day.

Once again, I enjoyed – nay, revelled – in the commitment to post something about Christmas every day.  Yes, I played catchups once or twice, but looking back I see I posted (precisely) 31 times.

I look forward to Becky’s next square photo challenge in March and having as much fun then as well.