Everywhere I turn I see posts and comments that show people that can’t wait for this year to end and the new one to begin because 2016 was so “awful”. Personally, I don’t think the year and any more ups or downs than an average year. It’s more about attitude and how you decide to handle the obstacles and disappointments that you encounter.
Here are some of the highlights from our year:
My word of the year for 2016 was Courage. It took 5 months to actually move on that and publish my first patterns since 2013. However, once momentum started, I was able to publish 17 patterns this year, complete a tech editing course, and open an Etsy shop.
Personally we had a year with our annual trip to Florida, surgery for our daughter (crowns on her baby teeth!), and an extra camping trip where we ran into old friends. We attended 4 weddings/receptions this year and celebrated my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. A new great-niece was born. Our daughter took to reading like a duck to water and has become a leader and inspiration to her classmates.
In crafting, I completed a couple pairs of two-at-a-time socks, practiced dyeing yarn – with limited success, and came up with a plan for making polymer clay stitch markers. I got to live the dream and briefly tour the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival this fall.
We had a moderately successful garden planting this year, learned to make some more delicious food – like salt-crusted beef tenderloin and homemade Twix bars, and confessed to going poo-less. We lost a couple of chickens this year to mysterious ailments, learned that hostas are edible, and rebuilt the chicken run along with a cute fenced garden area.
So what’s in store for the new year? I’m still working on some plans. I’ve struggled to get past the procrastination phase after taking some time off. However, one of my idols, Tara Swiger recently had a podcast episode that talked about how the most important thing we could do in the new year is to be consistent. And it’s funny, but just tonight I heard a quote from the movie North Dallas Forty (I’ve never actually seen it): “the key to being a professional is consistency.” So that’s going to be my focus. I’m hoping that I can have more posts, more homesteading updates and recipes shared, but more importantly I will try not to let weeks go by without any word.
We may have an exciting development to announce this year, but if nothing else we plan to do some major decluttering and simplifying of our lives.
That was fun to read your year in review. Congratulations on publishing 17 patterns and opening your Etsy shop. I know how hard it can be to find time and motivation to get things like that done.
Thanks for the encouragement Abbi!
did I know you had an Etsy shop??
I don’t know … did you? 🙂
Congrats on your achievements in 2016, and best of luck with your goals for 2017!
Happy new year! Nice to read the review of your year. My plans for the new year is to continue knitting, use yarn from my stash and live simple one day at time. I also hope to post more often on my blog and visit blog friends more than I have done lately.
Thanks Marit! I can’t wait to see your knitting and sewing projects this year!