Taking stock in all that's happened in 2013.
First... thirteen was definitely not unlucky for us this year. Just the opposite was true. I don't know that it had anything to do with luck really. I believe it was because we took a more deliberate approach to finding happiness in the simple things. This proved successful. Here's the recap.
January
Tom and I found ourselves working for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. It was definitely a new road for us. We had to adjust back to a two-shift household. On Friday nights, I would get up at 1:00 am when Tom would arrive home. We'd sit in the garage discussing motorcycles, and making plans for the things we wanted to accomplish in 2013 until early dawn. We managed to do it all.
February
Snow...snow...and more snow! The old ski hill reopened in 2013 and the entire county has been taking advantage of it. Taught our neighbor's daughter how to ski. Tom enjoyed an occasional snowmobile ride. We just hunkered down and enjoyed the beauty the snow provided.
March
March arrived and I felt as if I had come out of a shell. I had suffered for many years under the delusion that all work and no play was just the way life was. I never realized the toll on your body that level of stress will bring. Turns out I was capable of relaxing and playing and enjoying myself. The balance I struggled with for years became my number one priority. Our mantra for 2013 was "find time to play." For the first time I felt like I was really enjoying my hobbies of welding, photography, blogging... and working in my basement art studio. I started and finished books. Amazing. We slowed our pace... and slept in because we wanted to - bam!
April
April is a month of awakening. The big plans Tom and I had made for our garden, during our weekly discussions at Sunday dinner, were beginning to materialize. April is a time to sew the seeds that will become the dreams of summer. The snow thawed, our seedlings sprouted. We once again wandered out into the sunshine. I enjoyed taking the dog for walks after work. What a blessing!
May
I began a new job in May. One that gave me a most rare and precious gift. Time. It was closer to home. The work ethic dictated that people go home to be with family and leave work behind. It provided the variety and creativity I had been seeking in a job. I struggled with what to do with myself... and so engaged in the things I love: gardening, photography and cooking. I was free to enjoy every minute of my day. Plus... I was able to enjoy my daily commute on my motorcycle.
June
Throughout the summer Tom and I took an active interest in life. From early spring we watched as two bird families built their nests in our yard. We would peek at the eggs hidden within and worry... wondering how many of them would hatch and grow to maturity. We littered the ground with yarn and cotton so the parents could add it their home and keep the babies warm and dry. We watched as the first little bobbly-heads appeared. We watched the feathers dry and form long wings. Then we mourned the empty nests when the residents vacated in fall.
July
Summertime is definitely my favorite season. The period between November and March is Tom's. It must be true about "opposites attract" because the describes us. In summer I set out to explore every inch of my garden. Each week it changes I try to capture its progression through photography. I set out to have the camera capture every golden, droplet of sunshine that spotlights leaves and petals. This year we added a vegetable garden which was entertainment for us all on its own. Every weekend we'd pull zucchini, tomatoes and peppers off their vines and add them to our weekend menu.
August
Summer goes by too quickly in Wisconsin. August always brings a bit of melancholy for me and a charge of excitement for Tom. We make haste to get in a few more weekend motorcycle trips before the rain and cold weather set in. I usually rise early on the weekends to get in as much sunshine as possible before the days start to get shorter. The sun shines warmly and the white fluffy clouds eclipse the glare and for a moment create a gentle coolness on your skin. The opposition of warm and cool, bright and dark... are a reminder of present and future. Live in the now but always look ahead.
September
Every season provides beautiful gifts of transition. The night brings cool air. The early morning sun illuminates the dew on the green blades of grass. Some mornings we'd awake to a bank of clouds, giving us the impression we were living in the highlands of Scotland - in Brigadoon. Take the time to stop and observe nature's beauty, it will take your breath away. Tom and I took a last trip on the motorcycles to upper Michigan. It was magnificent. We spent as much time outdoors as we could knowing was was coming in October. Snow!
October
France. This month I was consumed with all things French and have been living on the afterglow of my trip to the Loire valley ever since. I don't think I would have had the same experience, if I'd taken this trip a year ago. Because Tom and I had truly made the effort to "play more" and enjoy the moment, I was able to drink in every precious drop of that adventure.
November
Frost makes an appearance. Gripping, icy tendrils coat everything in the garden. I'm embracing the season knowing it begins Tom's favorite time of year. We prepare for winter. Tom hauls in the outdoor furniture. I haul out my winter menu. We gather that last remnants of life from the garden and together we make plans to live in the season. We slow down, snuggle up, and giggle with childlike joy just thinking about Christmas. This year will be like none before. We're doing what we want, at our own pace, and doing only the things we truly enjoy. Spending time together.
December
If its true, that magic happens when you wish upon a star... then our wishes came true this year. Tom and I love deeper than before. Laughed more than ever. This year our eyes and hearts were open and we saw so much beauty and wonder. I wish this gift for you. Happy New Year and here's to a wonderful 2014.
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