Recap of my 2011

Quick ReCap of 2011

New Year’s Eve 2011 was spent with good friends: Christine, Meski, Lisa, Jeannette and Shelly at Shelly’s house. Her dog Kiva was with us too, Kiva was growing quite old and it would be her last new year. The group of us went to a Pow Wow. And yes it was indoors, I’m still not into roughing it. It was my first and it was very exciting. What a great way to set things in motion for the new year.

Maybe I should state how much New Year’s is my favorite holiday! And due to being a teacher, I get two of them!

I’m a person who has learned there is great power in intention. Don’t make resolutions, not that I don’t say: “this year I will lose weight, or this year I will save money.” I do like to plan, but that’s a little different from a resolution and a resolution is a little different from an intention. This was the year when my intention was to explore adopting a child. In February, I began classes to become a foster parent. I felt pretty certain I was doing the right thing and in May I “graduated” with my group of about 10 people. Summer came, the perfect time to start with a child, but there were no calls. By fall I did a lot of soul searching and decided that adopting and foster care were not for me. I love children, but the time and effort for me being alone would make it very difficult. I just didn’t have a large web of people to rely on, and really, it does take a village!

In between all these life changing decisions I traveled a little. In May, Christine and I went to NYC for a Yoga Journal Conference. We did three different Yoga classes while we were there. Most of the participants were women, but of all ages, reminding me that healthy has no age limits and that I need to keep myself fit. Not that I did in 2011. I didn’t run any 5K races, didn’t do Yoga, didn’t lose weight.

I did go to Chicago in July! That was fun. I always wanted to just visit a random city for a weekend. That’s precisely what I did. It was pretty serendipitous, the best kind of travel.

Two big changes were made on my house. I had my beautiful Douglas Fir cut down because she was too close to the house (and 90 feet tall). I also pulled out the carpet in the living room and had the hardwood floor refinished. Otherwise, house changes are slow moving since they can be so expensive.

In August my peach tree gave a yield of three dozen peaches. I made a few crisps (I don’t like pie) and froze some that Ellie and I had picked at Fix Brothers orchards. I gardened a little, mostly keeping up the flower beds and growing tomatoes. Mom came to visit in August and spent a few days.

School started, and then it didn’t! Excessive rain following only a week after Tropical Storm Irene cause flooding and my school was closed for four days (they closed the school’s county, but the school was fine). So the start of the year was odd. Soon, we were back at it, and what a wonderful group of students I got for this year! I’m still teaching Special Education, still grade 6. In fact, I’ve been at the same school for 15 years. I’ll retire in 13 years! Hard to believe how quickly time passes.

School’s kept me busy throughout fall and here it is…winter and a new year!

Christmas was spent with Mom and cousins Dana and Kim, their families, and my mom’s sister Pat and husband Roger. Then Mom and I lounged around for a few days. I even made her watch the Buffalo Sabres play hockey (and she says she kinda liked the action). So here we are at the end of the year!

If I left anything or anyone out, forgive, but tell me! LOL! :)
I love New Year! Hope it finds you well and blessed!