T'was a Good Year

Happy New Year from our home to yours!  This is how we plan on spending the evening - a glass of sparkling cider, by the fire, safe and sound.  I thought I'd go through my iPhoto and see if there were some photos from the last year that I could share with you.  Ready? 

Early last year I got some hyacinth bulbs and when they bloomed it was magical, the color and the fragrance.

Our chickens began laying, so exciting!  The dark brown one is from our Cuckoo Maran.

Here is Rooster Rock on a frosty winter day.

I tried to bring happy colors to our winter time and made this crazy colorful cat.

While volunteering at Multnomah Falls in the winter, you're likely to be there at least once when the falls are icy.  People flock here to see it like this.

Hubby and I attended the First Nations Powwow in Salem, Oregon - click on the name for a video I took.

Beautiful male dancer in his regalia of feathers and beads.

February brought thoughts of love and Valentines.. these are two brooches I made using felt, beads and sequins.

My 2 beloved pets, Buddy and Lucy.  We lost Lucy this year, from old age.  I miss her sweet personality.

Our youngest grandsons visited us often on the farm.. Caleb just loves Buddy.. :-)

Finally Spring began to arrive and we celebrated Easter by having an Easter Egg Hunt for the boys and a BBQ on the deck afterwards.

I needed a sewing machine to stitch up things for my crafty endeavors so hubby and I found this vintage Singer and it runs like a dream!

Spring is officially here when the Trilliums are in bloom in our forest.

Fun on Easter with our 4 grandsons.

I made my 2nd Ruby Shawl - this one in Spring colors.  I have a Fall one, too.  I love these as they keep my neck so warm!  I used Deborah Norville's Serenity yarn which is microfiber.  

One of the things I'm thankful for this year is meeting 4 northwest bloggers.  First on their blogs and then we met in person for lunch and these friendships have really enriched my life.  From left, Gracie, (me), Taci and Betsy.  

Dayle and I ventured for the first time to the Tulip Festival at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn.  Wow, that was fantastic!

A highlight of my year is when my lilacs bloom.  I have white, dark purple and 3 varieties of lavender.  I need a few more varieties, don't I? :-)

If you want chickens, I recommend Ameracaunas - they have laid eggs much better than the other breeds we have.  And they are green!

We have some hummingbirds that have stayed here all year.. I adore these little guys.

My completed bunny - I bought the kit from Alicia Paulson of "Posie Gets Cozy" fame.

I also completed SIX.. I repeat... SIX crocheted teddy bears for my SIX grandkids.  :-)

Right before the 4th of July, we got our new gazebo put together.  I love this thing!

In early July we took our two youngest grandsons to Kahneeta at the Warm Springs Resort, on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation on the other side of Mt. Hood.

On the way home we drove over Mt. Hood and my-oh-my, the best shots of the mountain are from that side, what do you think of this!  It's from the roadside!

My six grandchildren in a rare instance of being together.  One of the great sorrows of my life is that my daughter Amy moved to Ohio two and a half years ago and I don't get to see my granddaughters but once a year or so.  She brought them for a visit in July and I loved every minute of them being here.  I plan to try to fly there in late March during their Spring vacation.   

In August we went on our 10 day annual Shaklee Reunion camp-out at Waldo Lake.  Here are my 4 grandsons posing for me on the point where we go to see the sunsets.

Enjoying a summer evening on the deck.. I started a new blanket with KnitPicks cotton and then.. my youngest grandson asked if it was for him as he didn't have a blanket made by me.. and so.. I started one just for him and this one is on hold.  :-)

And then we had the best Autumn in my memory as far as weather goes.. just gorgeous.  

And then.. I got the inspiration to make my first apple pie.  My mom was renowned for her delicious pies and the gene must have skipped a generation because they scared me.  :-)  So, I amassed the ingredients and set to work.  It was comical because I used one two crust recipe for just the bottom and had to make a 2nd two crust recipe for the TOP!  But it was yummy and I will make another one.. next fall.  :-)

Gracie and I met for lunch in Sandy and then visited her favorite yarn store, then went on a photo expedition!  This is one of my favorite shots of Mt. Hood.. with the white farmhouse and fall color.  

We took our trailer and headed to the beach for a week to celebrate Dayle's birthday.  My 3 siblings and 2 of their spouses joined us and we had lots of fun.  This is a favorite shot for me each time we go to Newport, Oregon - Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

The quiet before the meal was served on Thanksgiving.  

And then the feast.  

 And to wrap up the year.. that big event that was just here.  :-)

I hope that wasn't "too much info".  If you made it this far you get a gold star.  I am thankful for you, my readers, you've really made this blogging thing a positive experience for me.  I hope I've brought some happiness to your life too.  

Have a wonderful year ahead and I look forward to getting to know you better!

((hugs)), Teresa :-)